CAUGHT IN THE ACT: WE FOUND A DIRTY SEO IN SOUTH TAMPA

*the names have been removed in this story to protect the innocent*

It was a Monday afternoon when Julie* looked up from her copy of a Tampa Magazine* and asked, “Did you know that Google offers a premium monthly flat rate ad program?” At first, we were excited to learn about the prospect of employing a new digital strategy for our clients at Absolute, though confused as to how we hadn’t heard about it before. We investigated further, Googled the number on the ad, only to discover a local digital agency was employing dirty SEO tactics, spreading misinformation and impersonating Google to acquire clients.

SHAME ON YOU SHADY CREATIVE GROUP*. YOU GIVE SEO A BAD NAME.

The ad looked like it was made by Google with its logo, using its recognizable font and color scheme, listing a series of promises that no professional in the industry would utter. Here are the following violations committed by the offending agency.

• claiming false affiliation with Google VIOLATED
• guaranteeing top placement on Google VIOLATED
• claiming that ads will appear in Google Search at all times VIOLATED
• representing free Google products as pay-for-insertion products OK
• making false statements about how AdWords costs are calculated VIOLATED
• offering unlimited clicks OK

Source: Google third party policies

Unfortunately, false claims from self-proclaimed professional SEO’s are more common than you think, and they can often employ seo scare tactics to individuals and businesses in order to acquire them as clients. It’s a shady way to make sales, and we at Absolute just had to expose this dirty secret and defend the good name of SEO and digital marketing.

 

Dear Shady Creative Group:

You were dishonest and lazy,

You almost had us fooled;

But the truth now comes out,

And your reputation shall be schooled.

 

SEO is not something you can buy,

It is earned with hard work, sweat and tears.

Organic is not the same as Pay Per Click,

But Shady Creative thinks they’re slick.

 

True SEO’s work hard for their results,

Setting real expectations in the reports they serve.

This Holiday Season,

We hope you get what you deserve.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS