Comments on: How to Spot Shady Internet Marketing & SEO Service Providers http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/ Search engine optimization, search marketing strategies, and web solutions company. Our efforts also include linkbait, niche content, articles, social networking, blogoshpere networking, application development, web development, site audits, and usability testing. Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:34:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tim Staines http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2967 Tim Staines Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:30:00 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2967 Linda, I wrote an apology comment last night, but it was not approved for some reason . . . no time to rewrite it now, but it was sincere. Will follow up later. Linda, I wrote an apology comment last night, but it was not approved for some reason . . . no time to rewrite it now, but it was sincere. Will follow up later.

]]> By: Tim Staines http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2966 Tim Staines Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:07:17 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2966 Linda, I do want to apologize. But here is the process whereby I was led to my comment. 1. You promote a company as a “very good SEM company” on a blog discussing SEO SERVICE PROVIDERS. 2. I visit your site via the link on your name. 3. I see the “Certified Partner” credential on your site, which you didn’t mention in your comment, and follow the link to the home page then immediately navigate to http://www.hubspot.com/products/ (please accept this link as part of the apology) where I find the Business Owners section with what I still believe to be services based on the previous points. 4. I write my comment. When I went back to check out how many times I missed the words “tools” and “education” after your reply, I found two occurrences of “tools” and zero occurrences of “education.” Though it may very well be completely unintentional, I’m sure you can see how that page seems to be designed to lead visitors into thinking that they might receive the ten services in the bulleted list for $250/month, especially considering I do SEO for a living and know that if I was targeting “tools” and “education” (my products) with that page I would have them on the page more than zero and two times respectively. Linda, I do want to apologize. But here is the process whereby I was led to my comment. 1. You promote a company as a “very good SEM company” on a blog discussing SEO SERVICE PROVIDERS. 2. I visit your site via the link on your name. 3. I see the “Certified Partner” credential on your site, which you didn’t mention in your comment, and follow the link to the home page then immediately navigate to http://www.hubspot.com/products/ (please accept this link as part of the apology) where I find the Business Owners section with what I still believe to be services based on the previous points. 4. I write my comment.

When I went back to check out how many times I missed the words “tools” and “education” after your reply, I found two occurrences of “tools” and zero occurrences of “education.” Though it may very well be completely unintentional, I’m sure you can see how that page seems to be designed to lead visitors into thinking that they might receive the ten services in the bulleted list for $250/month, especially considering I do SEO for a living and know that if I was targeting “tools” and “education” (my products) with that page I would have them on the page more than zero and two times respectively.

]]> By: Linda Sevier http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2965 Linda Sevier Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:11:34 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2965 If you had taken the time to look what they are all about, Tim, you would have seen that what they offer is education and tools for folks to do their own internet marketing. The $250.00 per month is for the use of the tools, not for someone to optimize their site. I am not an employee of the company but do use their product. I am a partner who consults with anyone who needs my services and also HubSpot clients who want some help learning about internet marketing or the tools and how to use them effectively. I recently became a partner because I have used the product with a number of my clients who have had very good results with it. There is nothing shady about it or me. I have been in the business of web development and sem for more than a decade and have many, many happy customers. If you attend the SEMPO meeting in Boston this December, you will be able to see what this company is all about. I am sure they will be happy to give you a demo. Or perhaps you are more worried about the competition? I didn't leap to conclusions like the others who said this was "made for sphinn" post. Too bad you couldn't have treated me with the same respect. If you had taken the time to look what they are all about, Tim, you would have seen that what they offer is education and tools for folks to do their own internet marketing. The $250.00 per month is for the use of the tools, not for someone to optimize their site. I am not an employee of the company but do use their product. I am a partner who consults with anyone who needs my services and also HubSpot clients who want some help learning about internet marketing or the tools and how to use them effectively. I recently became a partner because I have used the product with a number of my clients who have had very good results with it. There is nothing shady about it or me. I have been in the business of web development and sem for more than a decade and have many, many happy customers. If you attend the SEMPO meeting in Boston this December, you will be able to see what this company is all about. I am sure they will be happy to give you a demo. Or perhaps you are more worried about the competition? I didn’t leap to conclusions like the others who said this was “made for sphinn” post. Too bad you couldn’t have treated me with the same respect.

]]> By: Tim Staines http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2964 Tim Staines Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:03:10 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2964 If you want to spot a "Shady Internet Marketing & SEO Service Provider" just look for companies that offer packages that include SEO for 500 keywords and many other services for $250/month, this just isn't realistic. Also, beware of comments from people who have ads or "Certified Partner" credentials on their site for companies who they are calling a "very good SEM company" in their comment. If you want to spot a “Shady Internet Marketing & SEO Service Provider” just look for companies that offer packages that include SEO for 500 keywords and many other services for $250/month, this just isn’t realistic. Also, beware of comments from people who have ads or “Certified Partner” credentials on their site for companies who they are calling a “very good SEM company” in their comment.

]]> By: Linda Sevier http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2963 Linda Sevier Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:17:33 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2963 Good information overall. It is difficult for companies who are inexperienced with seo to know who to trust. I agree with Doug about SEMPO not necessarily being an indication of quality (I am a member though) but do agree that speakers at their conferences might be a good place to start looking. For instance, their December 2008 meeting in Boston is sponsored by HubSpot which is a very good SEM company. Good information overall. It is difficult for companies who are inexperienced with seo to know who to trust. I agree with Doug about SEMPO not necessarily being an indication of quality (I am a member though) but do agree that speakers at their conferences might be a good place to start looking. For instance, their December 2008 meeting in Boston is sponsored by HubSpot which is a very good SEM company.

]]> By: Milind Mody http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2960 Milind Mody Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:21:53 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2960 Nice article Brendan. But I agree with Doug about SEMPO (We are actually listed with them). I also disagree when you say avoid SEO companies found with paid search Ads. In your list, I would probably add:- 1) Client References / Testimonials. 2) Contact those clients and understand their experience working with SEO vendor. 3) What type of customer support do they offer (email/ chat/ telephone) and their response time to an average question by client. Nice article Brendan.

But I agree with Doug about SEMPO (We are actually listed with them).

I also disagree when you say avoid SEO companies found with paid search Ads.

In your list, I would probably add:-

1) Client References / Testimonials.
2) Contact those clients and understand their experience working with SEO vendor.
3) What type of customer support do they offer (email/ chat/ telephone) and their response time to an average question by client.

]]> By: Brendan Picha http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2958 Brendan Picha Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:04:46 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2958 Good advice Tim, totally agree. Good advice Tim, totally agree.

]]> By: Tim Staines http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2957 Tim Staines Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:47:45 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2957 Hi Brendan, I don't disagree with you that most of the big Sphinners are quality folks . . . I just think it's important to point out that there are many, many quality SEM's that don't spend much time there. Unfortunately, there isn't a really good, objective, easy way of qualifying SEM's. So buyers would be well served to take the time to learn a little bit about SEM for themselves before they hire anyone. Being able to ask the right questions of a perspective SEM is crucial to avoiding a bad situation. Here's a Tweet with a twist on your AdWords hesitation: http://twitter.com/timstaines/statuses/1011991018 Hi Brendan,
I don’t disagree with you that most of the big Sphinners are quality folks . . . I just think it’s important to point out that there are many, many quality SEM’s that don’t spend much time there. Unfortunately, there isn’t a really good, objective, easy way of qualifying SEM’s.

So buyers would be well served to take the time to learn a little bit about SEM for themselves before they hire anyone. Being able to ask the right questions of a perspective SEM is crucial to avoiding a bad situation.

Here’s a Tweet with a twist on your AdWords hesitation: http://twitter.com/timstaines/statuses/1011991018

]]> By: Brendan Picha http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2956 Brendan Picha Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:09:09 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2956 I can't believe you're agreeing with Doug either. I'm with you on the SEMPO credibility part, there's no quality filter which in a way makes it similar to AdWords. There is a large collection of companies here to research. I'll say that SEMPO may not be the best place to absolutely find a GOOD provider but it is a place to begin researching providers. Pertaining to Sphinn, granted most good SEOs don't bother with it but I do have to disagree with you here. I recognize just about all of the names (95%) listed here under the 'Networking' tab. I'm familiar with them and their quality work. Sphinn doesn't have the best rep for being populated with quality information but I would absolutely recommend a good majority of the people listed under the 'Networking' tab, sorted by submits gone hot. I can’t believe you’re agreeing with Doug either. I’m with you on the SEMPO credibility part, there’s no quality filter which in a way makes it similar to AdWords. There is a large collection of companies here to research. I’ll say that SEMPO may not be the best place to absolutely find a GOOD provider but it is a place to begin researching providers. Pertaining to Sphinn, granted most good SEOs don’t bother with it but I do have to disagree with you here. I recognize just about all of the names (95%) listed here under the ‘Networking’ tab. I’m familiar with them and their quality work. Sphinn doesn’t have the best rep for being populated with quality information but I would absolutely recommend a good majority of the people listed under the ‘Networking’ tab, sorted by submits gone hot.

]]> By: Tim Staines http://www.squareoak.com/blog/how-to-spot-shady-internet-marketing-seo-services-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-2955 Tim Staines Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:43:20 +0000 http://www.squareoak.com/blog/?p=186#comment-2955 I have to mostly agree with Doug (I can't believe I just said that) on the section titled "Some Good Places to Look for an SEO/SEM Provider." Yes, word of mouth is good, but SEMPO lacks any actual credibility since the types of firms you warn against throughout the rest of the post can (and do) pay for membership to make themselves seem more credible to SEM buyers. As far as Sphinn goes, 95% is better used to describe the percentage of good SEM's that do NOT regularly contribute there. I would actually have passed this post along to potential clients if it weren't for that last section. I have to mostly agree with Doug (I can’t believe I just said that) on the section titled “Some Good Places to Look for an SEO/SEM Provider.”

Yes, word of mouth is good, but SEMPO lacks any actual credibility since the types of firms you warn against throughout the rest of the post can (and do) pay for membership to make themselves seem more credible to SEM buyers.

As far as Sphinn goes, 95% is better used to describe the percentage of good SEM’s that do NOT regularly contribute there. I would actually have passed this post along to potential clients if it weren’t for that last section.

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