Any website owner is aware that it can be very lucrative if his/her website ranks high on search engine results page (SERP). In response to this awareness, an entire industry of “Search Engine Optimisation” (SEO) companies sprang up to help website owners achieve this feat. Usually, SEO companies promise their clients with first page ranking on SERP within a certain period of time. Some of them even guarantee that for their clients.
Now, I will break this myth: no one can guarantee this. I repeat: NO ONE can guarantee you #1 ranking in Google search results.
Wow! Who said that? Who dare to make such a claim! Well, let’s hear this straight from Google:
No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.
Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a “special relationship” with Google, or advertise a “priority submit” to Google. There is no priority submit for Google. In fact, the only way to submit a site to Google directly is through our Add URL page or by submitting a Sitemap and you can do this yourself at no cost whatsoever.
I have heard stories that some SEO companies claim to have former Google employees on their payrolls. Presumably, those former Google guys have secret insiders’ knowledge of how Google’s search engine works. But think about it:
- First, what role did the former Google employee played in Google? Even a janitor who worked for Google can be considered a former Google employee.
- Second, will a former Google engineer who had worked on the insides of Google’s highly prized and confidential search engine algorithm so ready to spill the beans to a SEO company? Do you think Google would have neglected to make such highly strategic engineers sign some form of non-disclosure agreement in the first place?
- Even if those former Google guys have some insiders’ knowledge, it is likely to be outdated by the time they serve you. As we all know, Google is always updating and tweaking their search engine algorithms. Their latest Panda update had shot down many website’s ranking, ruining many dodgy business models at a stroke.
I have even heard a rumour of an SEO company showing off to their seminar audience that they have achieved number 1 ranking live on stage. Really? Achieving number one ranking live on stage?
So, beware of SEO companies’ promises and claims. Pay particular attention to those who guarantee results.
