Wollongong, being the third-largest city in New South Wales, attracts tourists and travellers all year round. It boasts pristine beaches, beautiful mountains, botanical gardens, wetlands, and green parks. In fact, one can find 17 stunning beaches in Wollongong, from Stanwell Park lying to the north, all the way to the south in Windang. They are also patrolled throughout most of the year, especially during school holidays. Thanks to its incredible natural environment, pleasant climate, and business-friendly communities, Wollongong has become a premier destination in NSW.
As Google, Bing, and other search engines continue to struggle with accuracy and relevance on search engine results pages (SERPs), it’s important for businesses in Wollongong to get the SEO facts right. It is crucial to avoid getting duped by SEO scammers looking to rip off business owners and marketers.
More detailed information can be found here: https://www.clicksmarketing.com.au/seo/wollongong/
Here are the top SEO scams to avoid:
1. WordPress hosting
A common scheme of these fraudulent SEO campaigns is installing WordPress software that masquerades as a back-end solution for webmasters. The products, which range from package upgrades to premium e-commerce solutions, are not designed or backed by Google and do not give owners control over the customer experience.
Instead, SEO spam scammers take advantage of the fact that many businesses can’t afford to hire professional webmasters to administer their web properties. These fraudulent products are popular with SEO fraudsters due to the large customer base they target.
If the cost to deploy and manage a WordPress website is a business owner’s top concern, there’s no need to take on the maintenance and customer service burden of running a “real” website. A back-end solution like WordPress can be downloaded for free and tailored for each site’s needs, no matter the size.
2. Squarespace and Wix
For business owners who have already invested in a website, it’s time to turn to a cloud-based CMS like Squarespace or Wix to build an online presence and engage more customers.
However, websites hosted through these platforms often include SEO-based products that never mention the presence of Google advertising. These companies also claim that you can access customers’ accounts, use their analytics tools and make use of a keyword research tool.
Some of the SEO-based products used to build these websites include the use of JavaScript or Flash to boost rankings and keyword stuffing by creating content that consists of a myriad of targeted keywords. Naturally, they don’t help your SEO ranking in any way.
3. Social media engagement
In order to reach more customers, many companies turn to social media to increase their website exposure. Social media is an excellent tool for establishing an online presence for many businesses, especially in emerging industries like food or healthcare.
Unfortunately, not all social media marketing firms are legitimate. If a company suggests it will take over your social media responsibilities or promises to boost your social media visibility overnight, it is likely a fraudulent sales scheme.
4. Facebook & Instagram ads
More than 80 percent of marketers plan to spend more on advertising in the next couple of years, according to Mobeus Research. In light of this increased investment in online marketing, it’s important to understand what social media marketing companies do and how they target specific audiences online.
Several fraudulent companies provide highly convincing content and the promise of quick results. These companies offer fake Facebook and Instagram accounts with phony photos and content that look incredibly authentic.
An ideal social media marketing company won’t encourage duplicate posts and avoid manipulating, harassing, or targeting users based on their posts or content. If your organization is working with a marketing firm that operates without these characteristics, consider that a red flag.
5. Fake customer support
Companies that provide online support can create a fake support email address and post fake reviews to online platforms, such as Yelp or Amazon. These false reviews or a fabricated support email address can allow a company to offer fake support for many services.
Even the most legitimate businesses will create this type of fraudulent service to build customer loyalty or improve their image. If a company is posting fake customer service reviews or contacting customers on social media, there is a strong possibility that it is a fraud.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there are no shortcuts to digital marketing or effective SEO for small businesses in Wollongong. If your small business website does not meet the basic criteria, it could quickly turn from a competitive advantage to an embarrassment. Keep an eye out for such common SEO scams going around in the market to save yourself from further downfall.
