Is Your SEO Company Actually Doing Anything? Here’s How to Tell
Every week, business owners tell me they’re paying for SEO but have no idea what they’re getting. They see no results, receive vague reports full of meaningless metrics, and wonder if they’re being scammed. Usually, they are.
This guide helps you evaluate whether your SEO provider is delivering value or just taking your money, plus what legitimate SEO services actually include.
The Uncomfortable Truth About SEO Services
Most cheap SEO services are worthless or harmful. Here’s why:
- Real SEO takes significant time: Proper optimization requires 10-40 hours monthly minimum
- Quality content costs money: Good writers, real research, and original content aren’t cheap
- Legitimate link building is difficult: Real outreach and relationship building take effort
- Ongoing optimization is necessary: Google’s algorithm updates require constant adaptation
If someone promises comprehensive SEO for $299/month, they’re either outsourcing to overseas link farms, using automated tools that could get you penalized, or simply doing nothing at all.
Red Flags Your SEO Company Is Scamming You
They won’t explain what they’re doing: Legitimate SEO isn’t a “secret sauce.” If they can’t clearly explain their work, they’re hiding something.
They promise guaranteed rankings: Nobody can guarantee Google rankings. Google itself says this. Anyone promising “#1 rankings” is lying.
They focus on meaningless metrics:
- “We submitted to 500 directories” (worthless spam directories)
- “We created 1000 backlinks” (probably toxic links that hurt you)
- “Your domain authority increased” (made-up metric Google doesn’t use)
They don’t have access to your website: Real SEO requires on-site optimization. If they never log into your site, they can’t do proper SEO.
No custom content creation: If they’re not creating quality, original content for your site, what exactly are you paying for?
Vague or automated reports: Reports full of graphs but no explanation of actual work completed or specific improvements made.
No communication about changes: Google updates its algorithm constantly. Your SEO company should communicate how they’re adapting.
What Legitimate SEO Services Actually Include
Here’s what real SEO companies do each month and typical pricing:
Basic SEO Maintenance ($600-1000/month):
- Technical site audits and fixes
- On-page optimization updates
- Local SEO management (Google Business Profile)
- Monthly reporting with explanations
- Basic content updates
- Competitor monitoring
Standard SEO Services ($1000-2500/month):
- Everything in Basic plus:
- 2-4 pieces of quality content monthly
- Active link building outreach
- Conversion optimization
- Keyword research and strategy updates
- Social media integration
- Quarterly strategy calls
Comprehensive SEO ($3000+/month):
- Everything in Standard plus:
- Weekly content creation
- Digital PR campaigns
- Advanced technical optimization
- Multiple location management
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom reporting dashboards
How to Audit Your Current SEO Provider
Step 1: Request a detailed work log Ask for a breakdown of exactly what they did last month, including:
- Specific pages optimized
- Content created (with links)
- Backlinks earned (with sources)
- Technical issues fixed
- Time spent on each task
Step 2: Check their work
- Google your target keywords – are you ranking better?
- Check Google Search Console – is organic traffic increasing?
- Look for new content on your site – do you see it?
- Verify backlinks using free tools like Ahrefs Backlink Checker
Step 3: Evaluate the results
- Has organic traffic increased in the last 6 months?
- Are you ranking for more keywords?
- Are you getting more leads/sales from organic search?
- Can you see specific improvements on your site?
If you answer “no” to these questions after 6 months, fire your SEO company.
Questions to Ask Any SEO Provider
Before hiring (or continuing with) an SEO company, get answers to:
- “What specific tasks will you perform monthly?” Bad answer: “We’ll optimize your site” Good answer: Detailed list of specific activities
- “How do you build backlinks?” Bad answer: “We have proprietary methods” Good answer: “Through digital PR, guest posting, and relationship building”
- “Who writes the content?” Bad answer: “Our team” (often means offshore or AI) Good answer: “Native English speakers with industry knowledge”
- “What happens if we get penalized?” Bad answer: Deflection or “that won’t happen” Good answer: “We follow Google’s guidelines, but here’s our recovery process…”
- “Can I see examples of your work?” Bad answer: “It’s confidential” Good answer: Case studies with real results
- “How do you stay current with Google updates?” Bad answer: Vague response Good answer: Specific sources and continuous education mentioned
What You Should Realistically Expect
Timeline for results:
- Month 1-3: Technical fixes, initial optimization
- Month 3-6: Starting to see ranking improvements
- Month 6-12: Significant traffic increases
- Year 2+: Compound growth and dominance
Realistic improvements:
- 20-50% organic traffic increase in year one
- 2-3x increase possible by year two
- 10-20 new ranking keywords monthly
- Gradual increase in domain authority
What WON’T happen:
- Overnight success
- #1 rankings for everything
- Viral content every month
- Immediate ROI
DIY Alternative: What You Can Do Yourself
If you can’t afford quality SEO services, doing it yourself is better than paying for bad SEO:
Free tools to use:
- Google Search Console – Monitor your performance
- Google Analytics – Track your traffic
- Answer The Public – Find content ideas
- Google Keyword Planner – Research keywords
Minimum viable SEO strategy:
- Write one quality article monthly
- Optimize your Google Business Profile
- Get customer reviews
- Fix technical errors Search Console finds
- Build relationships for natural backlinks
When to Fire Your SEO Company
End the relationship if:
- No clear reporting after requesting it
- No traffic improvement after 6 months
- They use Black Hat tactics
- They can’t explain their work
- You’ve been penalized
- They miss scheduled calls/reports consistently
- Your gut says something’s wrong
The Value Equation
Good SEO is an investment that pays for itself:
- Average customer lifetime value × organic customers gained
- Minus: SEO service cost
- Equals: Your ROI
Example: If SEO brings you 10 new customers monthly at $500 lifetime value each, that’s $5,000 in value. Even expensive SEO at $2,000/month provides 150% ROI.
How to Find Legitimate SEO Help
Look for:
- Clear, detailed proposals
- Realistic timelines
- References you can contact
- Published content demonstrating expertise
- Professional certifications (Google Partner, etc.)
- Transparent pricing
Avoid:
- Unsolicited emails promising rankings
- Extremely cheap services
- Guaranteed rankings
- Secret proprietary methods
- Pressure to sign long contracts
- Anyone who won’t explain their process
The Bottom Line
If you’re paying for SEO and can’t clearly see what you’re getting, you’re probably being scammed. Legitimate SEO provides transparent, measurable value. It’s not cheap, but it works.
Don’t let the complexity of SEO let providers hide behind vague promises. Demand specifics, verify their work, and expect real results. Your business deserves better than empty promises and meaningless reports.
Remember: No SEO is better than bad SEO. If you can’t afford quality SEO services, focus on creating great content and serving customers well. That’s free and always works.
If you have web development questions, or are in need of having a website developed, please feel free to contact me at info@ecurtisdesigns.com.
