I never write about this stuff, but I am going to today. I received this stupid email that included a link to a “visibility analysis report”. I briefly looked, laughed and ignored it. Then the people emailed me again…
“Hi,
![false info 3](https://seoaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/false-info-3.png)
Uh oh, I don't show for for Comcast!
I hope you had a chance to take a look at the visibility analysis of SEO Aware that I emailed you a few days ago, as part of my research on Sarasota businesses.
I wanted to check if the information in your business online visibility report aligns with how you thought you appear on the Internet. I’d appreciate your feedback.
Thanks for your time,”
My “feedback” wasn’t all that nice and the reason it wasn’t nice is because they have been emailing tons of people in my city and these people have been forwarding these emails to me! Part of my feedback was:
“If you want to contact individual businesses and try to trick them into paying for your service that is your right, but you give very little data, you give inaccurate data and your either purposefully or ignorantly do not include information that is vital to their success.”
Why I Am SO Bothered by This
Let’s leave the current company I am discussing out of this. What bugs me about these type of companies is that they contact people and give them keywords that are not related or valid and say, “you don’t show up for this” and make companies think they need to pay for their services. A real SEO company would take the time to get to know the business, do appropriate keyword research and then make sure a site is doing well for those keywords and more.
I wrote about this in 2008 – So You Paid for SEO & Then An Email Comes Telling You Your Site Isn’t Doing Well…. I used an example of someone contacting a “Daytona Beach Boat Rental” business and telling them they don’t show up for “Florida” or “Orlando” boat rentals. Even those that are not great at the net wouldn’t search for an Orlando boat rental company if they were looking to rent one in Daytona. But these are the little slimy tricks some of these companies use to confuse business owners that don’t have an understanding of SEO, search behavior and online marketing.
HOWEVER, perhaps these companies feel these keywords are important and if that is so then they shouldn’t be in this business or taking money from anyone!
EXAMPLE
We were actually hired to create a new website and Internet marketing campaign for NeuroInternational. They received an email from LocalVisibility.org and were given a link to their “report“. Because of our time spent preparing for this site I know what this company does and offers. Obviously LocalVisibility.org took no time to figure it out OR they didn’t care, just don’t get it and thought they could just use any unrelated keywords and influence people into paying them. I don’t know which it is
NeuroInternational offers NeuroRehab services, NeuroBehavioral services and they offers supported living options for those with brain injuries. Their old site is down, but they could still Google or even call the company and figure out what services they offer. If you look at the “report” they received you will see these people don’t have clue.
They are not Psychologists, do not do physical therapy for the general public and they are not a mental health clinic!
Again, not a mental health clinic, psychologist, PT clinic, they do not offer gourmet cookies, cupcakes or cookie in general. They help automobile accident victims with brain injury and they don’t have random group homes.
This Type of Reports Makes the Company Invalid Immediately in My Opinion
Gourmet cookies? REALLY? LocalVisibility.org has shown me, my client and several other businesses in the area that they either don’t do their research and/or they are offering inaccurate information to try and make money off of businesses. Saying that NeuroInternational is not very visible because they don’t show up for gourmet cookies is COMPLETELY inaccurate!
Do Not Be Fooled by Emails like This
If you get an email with a report like this please review it carefully and determine whether or not it makes sense. Our client’s exact words with the forwarded email “Look at this crap”. That was how they felt because they reviewed the keywords and knew how inaccurate the data was. Those in the Internet Marketing and SEO industry need to continue to educate businesses on “reports” like these.
To The Companies That Offer These “Reports”
If you really just don’t know why these things are wrong please take a step back and consider learning the industry. Learn why this is offensive and wrong to those in this industry and why it is not fair to take money from people until you understand completely. If you do know this industry and you just found a way to make money tricking people I think you are basically stealing from businesses that work hard to for their money.
Melissa, I noticed your site doesn’t rank for Custom Texas Hold’em Surf Boards. Contact me if you would like more info how you can improve your rankings.
All kidding aside.
Melissa, great post. When I was first getting into SEO I got emails like that of localvisbility.org a lot. Once a volunteer actually replied (she accidentally got listed as a contact and was REMOVED) to get more information. The rep tried telling me we weren’t ranking at all for the term ‘kansas birth centers’ (we actually were a birth center) when in fact the site was (at the time) ranked in the top two. I tried telling him this and the guy actually said, “Well sir that isn’t my place to say. The computer is telling me you aren’t at all. I can’t argue with the computer.” Seriously? Complete crap.
Josh
I ignore tons of emails like this, but this time I had businesses contacting me and asking me to help over these reports. It is wrong.
I can tell by the keywords this company has chosen they have been using a computer program of some sort. Computer programs can be wrong…
Thanks Josh! 🙂
I unsubscribed from their emails which I never signed up for and am still getting emailed. Actually, several people in my office are getting emails. Very frustrating and this group is very unprofessional.
Aaron Norris
Aaron, I wish I could say I have heard otherwise. We have so many hits to this article every day, so I know you are not the only one.
This company sells leads to other SEO companies. They are in the business of doing whatever it takes to have these business owners opt in to receive “consultation with an expert”.
Companies like this give a bad name to the industry. No wonder small business owners always have their guard up.
Kevin
I am sick of this latest email spam tactic. I am now getting 2 to 4 every day. Such obvious crap.
Got another one today and decided to Google their domain name – for curiosity and no other reason. I would never respond to such unprofessional garbage. I never checked the link they put in the email because I’m sure they are tracking the open rate and I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of another click.
Glad you posted this.
Par