A strategic, organized online presence is mandatory for today’s businesses to succeed. Knowing this, leaders seek out search engine optimization (SEO) agencies in the hopes of improving visibility online and to gain qualified leads. But all too often, businesses receive pie-in-the-sky promises from agencies that fail to pay off. In today’s post we’re reviewing the top red flags to watch for when you’re looking to hire an SEO agency—and how Rocks Digital stands apart with expertise, transparency and proven results.
6 Red Flags to Watch for Before Working With an SEO Agency
With the proliferation of internet businesses, many people can state that they are expert SEOs without putting in the necessary work. Below are some red flags to be aware of if you encounter this type of “expert.” They’ll also help you think about top questions to ask before hiring a new SEO agency.
1. Guaranteed #1 Rankings
If an agency guarantees top rankings in search engine results, Google Maps, or immediate surfacing in AI Overviews or ChatGPT, just run. Multiple factors affect rankings and while some are known, no agency knows them all. This makes a guarantee of this type impossible.
At Rocks Digital we focus on strategic, long-term growth and data-driven results, not on empty promises. We look beyond rank to measure success, using Google Search Console and Google Analytics to monitor metrics including impressions, position, clicks, traffic quality, engagement and conversions.
2. No Transparency in Reporting
Agencies that don’t provide reporting, or that use high-level jargon without explaining what it means may be hiding poor performance or using improper (black-hat) optimization techniques. Reporting should be easy to understand, and measure agreed-upon KPIs.
Rocks Digital is proud to provide clear monthly reports that show keyword growth, traffic and leads. These reports can also be sent at other times upon request. Clients receive a link from us to view a dashboard with real-time updates of their website’s performance. And our team is available to discuss what you see jargon-free, along with any changes made to our strategies.
3. One-Size-Fits-All SEO Packages
No two businesses are quite alike—differences include service areas, online versus physical locations, store-front versus service-based, target clientele and so much more. This means that an SEO plan should be customized to serve you. Agencies with one-size-fits-all pricing or generic deliverables rarely have the range to provide the detailed work a business really needs.
Rocks Digital starts with a comprehensive SEO audit and competitor analysis. Our strategies are tailored to your goals, industry and target audience. We focus on what you need.
4. Lack of Focus on Content and User Experience
An enjoyable user experience and easy-to-understand, helpful content make a good business great online. SEO is about more than ranking and keywords. If those words don’t have substantive context and are not useful, they won’t lead to conversions. A well-developed content strategy must be part of an agency’s offerings.
At Rocks Digital, SEO best practices are foundational to our content writing. Valuable content builds trust with readers and robots. Our team ensures that your website attracts and converts visitors.
5. Outdated or Black-Hat SEO Practices
When an agency promises quick wins or timelines seem short, exercise caution. To accomplish this they may use black-hat SEO practices like buying backlinks, hidden text and graphics, or old techniques like overusing or stuffing keywords. These are all offenses that are penalized by search engines and will ultimately hurt a business.
Rocks Digital always operates above-board using white-hat SEO practices in accordance with Google’s (the industry leader) latest guidelines. We focus on providing sustainable results and long-term growth.
6. No Local SEO Expertise
Local SEO is key to your business standing out where it matters most. Whether you operate a brick-and-mortar or service-area business, there are best practices that will put you ahead of your competition. If an agency doesn’t hone in on Google Business Profiles (GBP), obtaining reviews and the all-important business citations, then they are not experts in local SEO.
Rocks Digital specializes in local SEO services and GBP optimization. Our team helps businesses dominate in their city or geographic area.
Checklist to Vet an SEO Agency Before Signing an Agreement
Now that you know what kind of agencies to avoid, let’s review the best ways to know you’re dealing with an agency that is as invested in your success as you are. A reputable SEO agency will have an active body of work to show the results they produced for their clients.
Look for a Portfolio
Ask to review their portfolio or inquire about current case studies. This work gives you the chance to see what types of businesses they’ve worked with previously, and the successes they’ve won for them.
Ask for a Sample Audit
Another way to know if you’re about to sign with the right agency is to ask if they can provide a sample website audit. Many good agencies walk through these as a way for you to get to know their team and their work.
Get to Know the Account Manager
Finally, as you’re learning more about an agency, ask who you’ll be directly working with for your regular check-ins. You want to know the person or team that will manage your account. At Rocks Digital, our Managing Partner takes a hands-on approach to on-boarding and gets to know every client right from the beginning.
We know this is a good deal of information to take in, but choosing the right partner for the online growth of your business determines the quantity and quality of leads you’ll have coming in. You want to be thorough in your vetting process and watch for red flags. Rocks Digital believes in honest strategies and measurable results, and in building long-term relationships that lead to your success.
Hire a Trusted, Results-Driven SEO Agency Today
Rocks Digital works with businesses of all kinds to boost their online presence. We offer optimization plans specifically catered to your needs and industry. We get to know your organization to present you online in a way that attracts the customers, clients or patients you’re looking to serve. Call us today at (214) 989-7549 or request your website evaluation.
