No April Fool – Irreputable Companies Are Waiting To Take Advantage Of You!
Tips to Avoid Website, SEO and Other Communication Service Rip-Offs
I get it. You have a lot going on. But you need fresh new content on your website, newsletters, emails, social media, etc. so, you may fall victim to those exciting marketing messages you receive on a daily basis (I know. I receive them, too!).
After all, those SEO/PR/marketing companies claim that they’ll take care of everything for you. They’ll manage your website security, post new content, send out press releases… the list goes on.
This is fantastic! Or is it?
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Over the last few years, many new clients have come to me asking about their content and public relations. They hired an SEO or marketing company a few months ago but weren’t really sure what was happening or what they were paying for at the time.
After asking a few questions, it turns out that they had no access to their website, back-end hosting, domain names, social media accounts, and more. Basically, they lost control over all of their intellectual property, and when they tried to get this information, their agency charged them a service (aka ransom) fee to get the data back. Thousands of dollars and many stressful hours later, they were able to start fresh and resume control.
Don’t Let This Happen To You.
You may not think this will happen to you. Well, unfortunately, It doesn’t matter if you are highly educated and have extensive technical experience and knowledge. These unscrupulous business behaviors happen all the time. (Yes, I’ve been ripped off, too.)
I hate to see this happen, so here are a few insights to help protect you moving forward…
How To Avoid Site, SEO and Service Scams
- Do your due diligence.
While it takes effort, set aside time to research appropriate service providers for your specific needs. Check data, reviews, Better Business Bureau ratings, case studies, work samples, references, and more. Have some knowledge of a company before you contact them for more information.
- Get answers.
When you contact a new service provider, ask specific questions about how they protect your intellectual property, privacy and security and track data. Get it in writing that if you work with them, you will own all of the content created and have current passwords and log-on information for everything related to your website, social media, hosting, domain names, and other important accounts at all times.
Also, if you don’t understand some technical jargon or other aspects of your agreement, get answers. You need to know what you’re paying for!
- Be transparent.
Communicate your specific goals and ask for a trial period. This way, you can set expectations on both sides and see how you work together.
If you are dealing with social media, public relations, marketing, SEO, and other content, remember this is all about communication. It’s important to be transparent about what’s going on, when and why so that you send the right messages out to the right audience at the right time.
Enjoy Success… Not Scams!
Know that there is no “easy button” when it comes to your communications. Conduct the appropriate research, ask questions and find the right services to help you. Always maintain control over all of your intellectual property, know what messaging is going out where and when, and communicate strategies, tactics and results on a regular basis. This way, you’ll form a positive relationship with a reputable service that will keep your interests top of mind and provide the best results possible.
Need some help creating content that your audience will actually read? Contact us at info@rembrandtwrites.com to learn more!