Spotting SEO scams: red flags in cold emails and cheap packages
Every business owner gets the emails: "Your website is not ranking." Here is how to tell genuine offers from scams and wasted money.
If you own a website, you have almost certainly received an email saying your site has "critical SEO errors" and that someone can get you to number one on Google. Some offers are genuine. Many are not. Here is how to tell the difference.
Red flags in cold emails
- Generic greetings: "Dear website owner" or the wrong business name.
- Free email addresses: agencies with real businesses rarely send from a personal webmail account.
- Vague scary claims: "your site has 57 errors" with no detail.
- Guaranteed rankings: nobody can guarantee a position on Google.
- Urgency: "only two spots left this month".
Red flags in packages
- Huge numbers of links for tiny prices. These are almost always low-quality and can harm your site.
- No explanation of the work. If they cannot say what they will do, they probably will not do much.
- They want to own your accounts. Your domain, website, Google Business Profile and analytics should always be in your name.
- Long contracts with no exit. Reasonable minimum terms are fine, but you should understand exactly how to leave.
- Reports that only show vanity numbers such as impressions, with nothing about calls or enquiries.
Google Business Profile scams
Be wary of calls claiming to be "from Google" and warning that your listing will be removed unless you pay. Google does not charge for Business Profiles and does not make cold calls demanding payment to keep a listing.
How to check an agency
- Search for the company name and read independent reviews.
- Check they have a real address and a registered company you can look up.
- Ask for examples of work for businesses like yours.
- Ask exactly what they will do in the first three months.
- Never hand over passwords. Add them as a user instead, so you can remove access later.
A good agency will
- Explain things in plain English.
- Be clear about prices and terms.
- Focus on enquiries, not just rankings.
- Be happy for you to own everything.
Want an honest second opinion on an offer you have received? Get in touch, or start with a free SEO audit.