I cringe every time I hear about the SEO industry becoming overpriced. It's ridiculous. $1000 for an SEO audit is a joke. Are we supposed to believe there is some mystical magic to audit a website? With a little brainpower and time, anyone can audit a website in under an hour. It's not that hard.
Let’s take a closer look. What does an SEO audit include? It includes checking for broken links, analyzing your site speed, reviewing meta tags, evaluating keyword usage, and probably some other technical details.
There are plenty of free tools out there that can help you do this in no time. Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and even Screaming Frog are just a few that make the process incredibly easy.
Yet the SEO industry tries to convince you that you need their “expertise” to get you through this. They invent fancy jargon and overly complicated reports to make it seem like they're doing something incredibly complicated. This is a classic example of creating a problem in order to sell you a solution.
In fact, most of what they do can be learned through a few hours of research and a little hands-on experience.
And let's not forget the SEO “gurus” who charge exorbitant fees for their so-called expertise, many of whom don't have any special knowledge, they're just good at selling themselves.
They spread the myth that SEO is some kind of dark art that only a select few understand, which is infuriating because it exploits businesses, especially small businesses that don't have huge marketing budgets.
Ironically, the fundamentals of SEO have remained largely unchanged over the years: create valuable content, ensure your site is user-friendly, and build quality backlinks. Of course, algorithms are updated and there are new trends all the time, but the basic principles remain the same; nothing justifies the exorbitant prices these companies charge.
What really pisses me off is the fear-mongering. These SEO companies prey on people's fear of losing out in the Google rankings. They use words like “penalty” and “algorithm changes” to scare companies into thinking they have to pay a lot of money to survive. This is predatory and unethical.
Let's talk about long-term contracts. Many SEO companies lock their clients into six-month or year-long contracts, promising incremental improvements. They're banking on the fact that SEO results take time, but often don't do anything substantial after an initial audit and some tweaks.
Customers end up paying thousands of dollars for little benefit that they could have achieved on their own. It's time for businesses to wake up to this scam.
The absurdity of paying for links
There is no need to talk about the absurdity of paying for links. It is like a lawless world where so-called “link building services” charge exorbitant amounts just to put a hyperlink on a low-quality blog. Are you serious about paying $150 for a link to a site with a Domain Rating (DR) of only 20? It's robbery, frankly.
The whole concept of paying for links is fundamentally flawed. It's based on the idea that you need links to improve your SEO, which is true to an extent. But honestly, paying exorbitant amounts for links from mediocre sites is a scam. These services take advantage of companies' desperation to improve their rankings, promising great things that ultimately never deliver.
Let's face it, there are over 30 places you can build great editorial links right now for free. It just takes a little effort and some serious outreach. Write quality content, network with industry peers, and engage in true, value-driven collaboration. There's no need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on links that may not have a big impact.
And then there are paid guest posting services. Are you kidding me? Some of these services charge 90% or more than what you would actually pay to secure your guest posting spot. What are they charging such high fees for? Just to send a few emails and make a few phone calls? This is robbery and it needs to stop.
These companies often operate under the guise of “premium” services, but in reality, most are just middlemen looking to make a quick buck. They charge high fees for inclusion on low-quality sites, and the links they provide are often from blogs that have little to no real traffic or engagement. This is a classic example of quantity over quality, and it's the businesses that suffer the consequences.
The worst part is that paying for links is against Google's guidelines. It's a risky practice and the penalties can be severe. If you are found out to be buying links, your site's rankings can plummet and recovering from the penalty can be a long and difficult process. It's just not worth the risk and the expense.
What businesses need to understand is that there are ethical and effective ways to build links: Focus on creating valuable, shareable content that naturally attracts links. Build relationships within your industry and align with reputable sites. Join relevant forums and communities that can share your expertise and link back to your site.
After all, the best links are earned, not bought. They come from true engagement and providing real value to your audience. It's a mistake to think that you need to pay exorbitant amounts for links to be successful in SEO. This is a myth perpetuated by those looking to cash in on your hard-earned money.
Educate yourself and use the free tools available to you to take control of your SEO. It may take a little more work at first, but it will be much more powerful and cost-effective in the long run. Don't be fooled by expensive claims – SEO is not rocket science, it's a skill that can be mastered with a little effort and common sense.