I manage an online shop that opened in March of this year. The store has been designed for optimal user experience, with detailed product descriptions, and appears to be functioning well. However, there has been no noticeable growth in recent months. The SEO company responsible for our positioning has assured me they are doing their job, but as I am not familiar with SEO, how can I tell if they are not meeting their responsibilities? I am also curious about their limitation of only allowing me to write a maximum of five blog posts per month, citing concerns about potential spam penalties from Google.
There are several red flags to be aware of when working with an SEO agency. A limitation of only five blog posts per month is a red flag, especially if your agency is citing concerns about potential spam penalties from Google. Google penalizes websites for low-quality content, not for frequent content updates. A well-written, informative blog post is likely to benefit your SEO efforts, and restricting you to a small number of posts could be a sign that the agency is not maximizing your SEO potential.
Another red flag is a lack of transparency in the agency’s approach. You should be able to clearly understand the strategies they are using and track their progress. If the agency is unwilling to share their methodology or provide you with data on their work, it is a sign that they may not be doing their job effectively. Additionally, be wary of agencies that promise unrealistic results, such as a guaranteed top ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). SEO is an ongoing process, and there is no quick fix for ranking high in search results.
Furthermore, be cautious of agencies that use black hat SEO tactics, such as keyword stuffing, link farming, and hidden text. These tactics can lead to penalties from Google, which can severely damage your website’s ranking. Make sure your agency is using white hat SEO techniques, which are ethical and sustainable in the long run.
Finally, be sure to carefully review the agency’s contract before signing. The contract should clearly outline the services they will provide, the costs involved, and the terms of termination. Be wary of contracts that are overly vague or that give the agency too much power.