How To Avoid Content Service Scams
Irreputable companies are waiting for you…
The content service scams are out there.
Waiting for you to respond to their enticing email.
Waiting for you to answer their text.
Waiting for you to talk to them on the phone.
Well, after receiving numerous messages from a content/SEO/PR/marketing firm via various mediums over the course of a few weeks, you finally decide to hire them to help you.
After all, they’ll do it ALL for you… manage your website/hosting, write your content, post ads, provide search engine optimization (SEO), send out press releases… the list goes on.
This sounds fantastic, and now, you can get on with your core work.
But hold on…
When it comes to content service scams, remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Recently, a new client came to me asking about their website and SEO content. They hired a company a few months ago but hadn’t seen any results.
I looked into what was happening a bit more, and let’s just say it was ugly.
The new client didn’t have access to their website, passwords, log-on information, back-end hosting, or emails, so I told them to get it from the “marketing” company ASAP.
“Sure,” the client’s service provider said. “Not a problem. We just need a $2,500.00 fee, and we will send it to you within a month.”
What?!
Even though my new client was paying exorbitant monthly fees for their services, they were holding his information hostage and could do whatever they wanted with the content!
He had no choice but to pay the fee in order to take back control… and have access to the pertinent content, passwords, log-ons and more.
These types of technology, marketing and content service scams may sound like something that will never happen to you.
Unfortunately, they happen frequently.
No matter how smart you are, how much expertise and experience you have, or how highly-referred a service provider comes to you, it’s very easy to get scammed.
Several clients have approached me with this exact issue lately, so here are a few tips to help you.
How To Avoid SEO, Website, PR and Content Service Scams
1. Research.
Before hiring any service provider, conduct your own research. Why it may be easy to just hire someone who was referred to you, do your own due diligence. Check online reviews, samples of their work, the Better Business Bureau rating, and more. Know who you are hiring.
2. Get It In Writing.
Be sure your contract with the new provider gives you complete access to all of your intellectual property.
You should own the content they create, the reports they provide and the passwords and log-on information to your hosting, emails, social media, websites, and all other pertinent accounts. Plus, you need to be able to access this information at any time.
3. Start With A Trial Period.
Instead of signing a long-term contract, start with a trial process or indicate a certain time period in your agreement to be able to exit your arrangement if things don’t work out. Set expectations and deliverables and ensure those deliverables are met within a certain time frame.
4. Communicate.
If you have no idea what your service provider is talking about, and they explain things with a lot of technical jargon, ask for clarification.
You should understand what you are getting for your money and what is going on!
5. Know Your Goals.
When you hire a company to do your content, SEO, public relations, marketing, and other services, be sure you know what you want to accomplish from their work. You can’t expect a tech person to write good marketing content if they aren’t trained in SEO copywriting or to personally pitch media members if they have zero experience as a publicist.
Write down what is important to you and your goals. Then, hire the right people with the right skills and monitor results as you move forward working together.
Sorry. It Takes Time and Effort.
If you really want to have successful results with your content, SEO, PR, and marketing, it’s essential to conduct research and find the appropriate people and services specific to your goals.
Then, create a written agreement outlining deliverables and start with a trial period. Communicate regularly with the people you hire, and ask questions if you don’t understand reports, results or what your service provider is doing. Then, you’ll know what is going on at all times and exactly what you are paying for each month.
This takes extra effort, but it is well worth it as you’ll maintain control over your intellectual property, know what’s going on at all times and see better results!
Author Melanie Rembrandt is an award-winning publicist, content strategist and speaker who helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs have more time to thrive! If you want to boost sales, awareness and credibility fast with a unique combination of targeted SEO copywriting and public relations, get more information at Rembrandt Communications®, https://www.rembrandtwrites.com.
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