21
May, 2019
Over the years, many clients have called us about SEO spam emails they’ve received. Some have been led to believe they need to take action immediately or else their business is doomed!
This blog is designed to comfort you (you absolutely don’t need to take action ASAP), and shed some light on these sometimes crafty, sometimes terrible, sometimes plain ridiculous SEO spam emails.
SEO spam emails usually originate from someone purporting to be a ‘concerned’ writer. Someone who reckons they have all the answers and knows how to make your ranking woes disappear. These emails come in various forms, yet essentially assert the same thing (‘Your website isn’t ranking. I’ll help you get to No.1 quickly. Get in touch. I want your $$$$.’).
If you’ve ever been the recipient of SEO spam, these sentiments might ring a bell:
- I’ve noticed your website, which is great, but it could be ranking so much better
- Currently you’re not ranking and it must be hurting your business
- Want to get to #1 on Google quickly?
Often these emails originate overseas. You can tell by the broken English, spelling errors, and unlikely greetings (Dear Great Sir (!)). It’s no wonder these sorts of shenanigans happen with SEO because, as a discipline, SEO is one of those things… the majority outside the industry rarely understands it, and the goal posts are always shifting (Google’s changed its algorithm, oh no!). What people do gather from what they hear and read online is that they need it. Now.
Naturally, when you receive an email from someone who sounds like they know what they’re talking about and promises the world, it can be tempting to take them up on their offer.
Unfortunately, these types of emails are nothing more than SEO spam and should be treated with cynicism. If something sounds too good to be true, it almost definitely is.
Don’t get us wrong – if your business has the resources to implement a long-term SEO strategy from a legitimate provider with a proven track record, SEO can be highly beneficial. Well planned and executed SEO is a craft and, like all masters of their craft, a high degree of knowledge and experience is required. As with any discipline, the SEO industry is full of exceptional professionals at the top of their game who approach client relationships with integrity.
The thing with SEO is that it’s a long game. Done properly, most SEO strategies take a minimum of six months to yield results. Also, not all SEO tactics are created equal. Some are high quality and sustainable, others are cheap and nasty. If you go down the path of engaging a faceless email writer promising the world, there’s no guarantee that the tactics they’re using will be ethical and legitimate. Careless ‘black hat’ SEO tactics have the potential to damage your business’ reputation and actually work against your Google ranking.
A word of caution: Google will penalise your website if it identifies black hat SEO practices on your website.
If you are interested in doing SEO the right way, it’s far more complex than those concerned writers would have you believe. Our recommendation is to do your research on highly regarded SEO providers. Request a meeting. Meet face to face. Understand the strategy they’re offering you. Ask questions about what type of content will be created, how they’ll go about obtaining backlinks and how long, realistically, the strategy will take to yield results (12 months isn’t unusual).