Like many SEO firms, Search Placement has numerous internal websites that allow us to test new methods for optimization before we apply them to client sites. We just recently received an email from one such website promising to “put your site at the top of a search engines listings“. We get plenty of these emails but this one in particular caught my attention. Let’s take a look, shall we?

First, let’s look at the site. The email came from KeyPlacementSEO.com. The website’s SEO page talks about how keyword placement and inbound links can improve your site’s search engine placement. It also offers a “free website analysis”. Here’s my free analysis of the basics for KeyPlacement.com:

• Title Tag - Their title tags aren’t optimized…”Seo Engine Optimization“?!
• Meta-Keywords - None
• Meta-Description - None
• Headers - Page headers are images instead of text formatted with H1 tags
• CSS styles are not linked in an external file
• JavaScript is not linked in an external file
• No discernible tracking software

These are all elementary elements for search engine optimization and should be addressed even before launching a website. Furthermore, a quick check of the domain registration shows that the domain was just registered less than a month ago.

While this is all somewhat amusing to me, far too many website owners have gotten burned by ‘fly by night’ SEO companies like this one. In fact, many of our clients have had previous experiences with SEO firms that left them in a mess.

When considering working with an SEO firm, make sure you check their background! Ask for references and link building details. Make sure they provide regular, detailed reporting. I can’t stress this enough. It’ll save you from spending thousands on wasted marketing and potentially jeopardizing your web properties.