Whether you run your own business or not, you're probably receiving the near daily spam in your inbox with subjects like..

 

"Affordable SEO Services"

"Rank (insert your .com here) Better"

"Looking for Top 10 Google Rankings?"

"Discounted White Label SEO"

I get them, and I probably get 2-3 forwarded to me from customers every week questioning "should I do this"?  Here are a few questions to ask yourself before responding to these types of emails.

1) Do you really want to trust a company to do your website's search engine optimization that regularly practices SPAM?

If they are willing to break the CAN-SPAM Act and disregard SPAM rules, why do you think they'll follow the rules of good, ethical SEO practices.  They can potentially do more harm than good to your website's long-term rankings.

2) If they send you email with misspellings or use poor English in their marketing materials, do you want them writing on-site or off-site material about your company? 

Here are a few samples..."Our SEO solution will help to increase the traffic and sales lead to your website which eventually will lead in ROI. We are looking forward starting a long and healthy business relationship with you." - and - "Let us do a 45 days trial program with us."

3) Who better to help understand your business and craft a local web marketing strategy than someone across the globe?

Just like anything else, you can commoditize SEO to a certain degree by performing a few tried and true methods.  However, every industry is unique and every business has different strengths and weaknesses.  A well established internet marketing plan should be managed by someone willing to take the time to learn a little about your business, your market, and your competition.

You've spent thousands on a decent website, and much more on your business.  Good, well-planned SEO is important to your long-term web presence and overall business success.

For more information on common seo abuses and things to watch out for when considering search engine optimization management, visit this Google article.

Steve Davey is the owner of PPD Marketing, St. Louis, MO.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it