How to distinguish bad SEOs from good ones?

virtualmisc · 10-14-2009, 01:13 PM

How can 1 distinguish bad SEOs from good ones?
Someone please help me

MayaLocke · 10-15-2009, 07:13 AM

If they make guarentees they typically are not good, Google/Bing are unpredictable.

SEO.Expert · 10-15-2009, 11:35 AM

In most cases, seeing is believing...

Ask for many examples of SEO work that has yielded good results at search engines.

florra82 · 10-15-2009, 12:05 PM

Any methods to promote a website that do to follow search engine optimization guidelines are know as bad SEO.

Bullet · 10-16-2009, 03:17 PM

Ask to see their results and then ask for references. It's no different than hiring a builder.

**robjones** · 10-16-2009, 03:47 PM

Just a few things I've picked up from observation:

If they bill themself a "web professional"... but can't figure out how to read forum stickies or use a forum search... they aren't. (*a)
If they offer results that are only obtainable if the users download some toolbar... tell them to take a hike. Oddly, some fall for that nonsense.
If they offer something that sounds un-believable... it usually means it shouldnt be believed. Do yourself a favor. Don't.
If they suggest doing anything that is not above board (*b).... but assure you "you won't be caught", you definitely will. Run away.

**IMPORTANT:
(*a) This one item eliminates half you'll meet in webmaster forums because they post threads asking why they can't {insert action} right below a sticky thread explaining why they arent allowed to. If they cant read or follow rules that apply to them... they won't know or follow those that apply to your site.

(*b) If you need to ask if something is above board, the chances it's really OK are generally about the same as the odds I'll get a date with Jennifer Anniston.

edosauyi · 10-16-2009, 03:57 PM

Any seo that promises your site to be in page 1 in search results within a very short period of time is definitely not good. They will either use a kind of blackhat seo techniques that will get your site banned or will not do anything at all .

ROGERKLOTZ · 10-16-2009, 10:59 PM

if they promise results in days. it takes weeks, if not months to finally see the results in SEO strategies.

w3bmaster · 10-17-2009, 02:31 AM

Well most bad SEO's especialy those in India say crap like
100% guarantees
And give you a list of "stupid things" they will do
Like
Dir submissions
Se submissions
Meta tags
Bla bla (usualy basic stuff)

A good seo will tell you there is no 100% guarantee and say you will see results not give a stupid list of things they will do sadly many people prefer bull**** over the true ...

lxh · 10-17-2009, 03:01 AM

Well one sure thing to detect it is when they keep on pointing out that they'll get your site to rank #1 on google very fast, like its the only thing that is important by the way.. A good seo takes time, quick or black hat techniques won't do your site any good. Which a lot of seo company wanna bees uses.