Are you interested in seeing anonymized images that appear to be SEO successes? Let’s investigate why there are more stories of failure than accomplishment regarding SEO.
Despite some exceptions, many SEO professionals still need to be bold in proclaiming their accomplishments publicly. Even when successful, many remain unable to share their work. So, what can be done to end this “ghost optimization”? To better understand why this secrecy and negative attitude continues, we will take a brief look at why SEO experts seldom share actual success stories.
Interested In SEO Horror Stories?
Rivals could take your exclusive methods and imitate your SEO approaches. Even though this is a probability, it is vital to know who the competition is online. Most SEOs will announce “organizations that offer the same product or service in the same region.” The reality of search engine result pages (SERPs) is that you mainly compete against giant web companies.
For some time, the hashtag #seohorrorstories has been trending among SEO professionals. But why do SEO experts seem to focus on their industry’s failures and the missteps of their peers instead of their accomplishments? Is this simply a reflection of the pessimistic attitude of modern society, or is something else at play here?
Two factors have caused this situation. To begin with, the last few years have resulted in a continuous decline in civil discourse. In place of diplomacy, we are now witnessing more and more trolling. When even the president takes to social media to stir controversy, it becomes increasingly harder for others to remain polite in their conversations. Furthermore, platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have been exploiting people’s fear and rage to generate profits.
The way our brains often react without consulting the cognitive parts that are in charge of sensible thinking when presented with negative information can be thought of as our lizard brain taking charge. This has led to an atmosphere in the SEO sector often dominated by extreme reactions, such as shock and criticism, as seen in the #seohorrorstories shared online. To put it bluntly, this is a general sentiment usually conveyed in these stories.
These stories do more than serve as a warning. It is a way of making fun of those who were careless enough to get caught while utilizing old SEO methods. The idea is to highlight the missteps of others when they can’t show off their achievements. This way, they can come out looking better in comparison. Of course, this is speculative. The reasons behind the stories of disaster may differ. It’s typically not driven by pride or malice.
“Check out this unexpected graph- the increase is amazing!”
An alternative to complete failure or success stories is anonymized ones, where others can’t completely examine the data. Posts on social media with random graphs and no web links attached to them are common. The images are usually analytics screenshots that have been edited to hide the identity. However, the remarkable progress they demonstrate can’t be trusted.
Those who have achieved success commonly share stories about it, so I assume those stories to be true. They usually provide enough information to understand the situation without revealing the website or service they are referencing. However, people unfamiliar with the industry and potential customers need to learn who gives these graphs and if the data can be trusted. Why post these graphs with little explanation? I can only take a guess.
- Certain search engine optimization professionals attempt to showcase their proficiency in this manner.
- Others convey their accomplishments simply due to their delight in being able to do it.
- A few may wish for additional feedback regarding what occurred when things did not go according to plan.
It is worth noting that the #seohorrorstories are usually confidential. This way, a restricted peer review still occurs in a very limited circle. Although it is not much, it is better than having nothing.
Have There Been Any Remarkable Successes With SEO?
Over the past few months, I have tried finding narrative accounts of SEO superheroes. Still, I discovered few such stories compared to disappointing news from the SEO sector. Surprisingly, even the promise of free advertising did not make many SEO firms, internal SEOs, or consultants willing to share their successes or case studies with me. I decided to make a hashtag similar to #seohorrorstories, called #seoherostories, to motivate people to share these positive experiences, but I was the only one using it.
Do SEO Professionals Feel Embarrassed By Their Work or Scared to Present It?
Over the past 25 years, the SEO industry has gotten a bad name, and it’s understandable why some individuals don’t want to advertise themselves as SEOs. Unfortunately, many SEOs still utilize unethical methods, which could be why they feel embarrassed to reveal what they do.
Furthermore, they may be scared to expose themselves. After looking into why they might be afraid, these are the most evident reasons.
Manual Google Penalties
Going back to the early days of SEO, many practitioners were afraid of revealing their involvement with a certain project in the field of SEO, considering it to be the same as an act of suicide. Before the term “manual action” was introduced by Google, there were some cases when penalties were issued without warning.
Nowadays, there is no need to be scared of this as SEOs should not be viewed as criminals, and hiding is not required in most circumstances.
'Secret Sauce' Wannabes
The reality of search engine result pages (SERPs) is that you mainly compete against giant web companies. Rivals could take your exclusive methods and imitate your SEO approaches. Even though this is a probability, it is vital to know who the competition is online. Most SEOs will announce “organizations that offer the same product or service in the same region.”
– Google consistently places its services and promotional content above the search engine results.
– Sites with an extensive user base, such as Amazon or Wikipedia, are always at the top of the list.
Would a colleague or competitor in the same trade as you cause serious damage by inspecting your website’s SEO? Moreover, a tool like Semrush can be used to uncover your successful strategies for on- and off-page SEO, so why not make them public?
Client-Stealing Competitors
Another concern related to the competition is that other SEOs may find out who you are working with and, consequently, contact them and try to take your clients away from you. This has happened to me on countless occasions. However, I have always retained a customer due to it. Is this simply because I am a professional in the field? Probably not, since I was starting when this occurred. People are not likely to accept deals made in such a sly fashion. However, you can consider yourself fortunate to have them off your hands if they do.
Through my experience, I learned that taking on clients who are difficult to deal with can cause more damage than it’s worth financially. I found that many reasons people don’t want to show their work are based on fear and outdated beliefs rather than logic. One reason someone may not want to reveal their website address or the progress they have made is that the project is still ongoing, and it’s not wise to showcase it prematurely. Surprisingly, I only heard that as an answer once, even after I asked a few times.
NDA: The Dreaded Acronym
A lack of discussion regarding details like website links and clients’ names are usually attributed to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). This agreement could also be compared to a “gag order,” as SEO experts cannot share information about their work. John Doherty and Brendan Hufford, two noteworthy search marketers, acknowledged this limitation on LinkedIn.
Read Next: In Light Of Global Disruption, How Should SEO Be Approached?
Those who work in the creative field would find it extremely hard to share their work without revealing their identity. Consider the following situation if it involves designers, architects, and software developers.
“Take a look at this house situated in the northern hemisphere. The structure is built with brown bricks, and the south-facing windows are made from a local timber which I am not allowed to name here. I had to soften some pictures to ensure the owner’s privacy.”
So, why do we have to sign copious Non-Disclosure Agreements that forbid us from exhibiting our actual work or even talking about it with our family and friends?
Why is there such a requirement for secrecy? Are we working for the CIA? It could be that customers who require SEOs to stay silent about their activities could have one of the following motivations:
- These companies are deceitful and try to make people do SEO, which goes against Google’s rules or beyond legal limits.
- They are only interested in gaining recognition for themselves and their sales teams.
- It’s shameful to purchase SEO services as some still think it’s some sorcery.
The logical assumption is that it’s all about “trade secrets.” Nonetheless, there are several tools available that can be used to assess those so-called secrets.
Here are 3 examples of projects that are open to external feedback and assessment
After discussing the troubles associated with a deficiency of accomplishments in the SEO industry, let’s look at some examples that motivated me in the past year. Fingers crossed, these tales of SEO success will inspire you to emulate their success. From innovative startups to established brands, many have leveraged powerful seo analytics research insights to catapult their visibility online. One particular case involved a small business that, through strategic keyword targeting and effective content marketing, saw a 200% increase in organic traffic within a few months. These real-world examples serve as reminders that with the right approach and tools, success in the SEO landscape is not just possible; it’s within reach.
1: Misguided
People who own dogs often take on some of the same traits and characteristics as their furry companions, even in terms of looks. This can occur without any deliberate intention. But a UK-based SEO agency called Rise at Seven took this concept to a new level by creating a photo series in which the dog owners and their pets coordinated their outfits and hairstyles. This campaign proved to be a great success.
CEO Carrie Rose has reported noteworthy results in her study: “there has been 865% growth in yearly traffic to this section of the website, amounting to 134,757 page views.” She has elaborated on the method utilized and the aspects that have led to this prosperity, so it is essential to read through her analysis.
2: LiberEat
Olga Andrienko, famous for her leadership responsibilities at Semrush, presented the incredible success of LiberEat, which Mich McClure and the Hoojy team accomplished. She reported a 1000% increase in organic traffic in 3 months, which many people think is too remarkable to be accurate.
To prove the validity of her statement, she created an extensive Twitter thread showing what happened, why it happened, and how it happened. For those who want further evidence, she also wrote a detailed case study with plenty of screenshots, keyword examples, and figures on the Semrush website.
3: Unbeatable Blinds
The folks over at Boom Online have many case studies, but their campaign for Unbeatable Blinds made me feel good. It might be the artistic quality of the images they have shared as part of the campaign.
Despite not providing numerical details, their connections indicate their success: the content was featured in renowned outlets like Design Taxi, Bored Panda, Line Today, and The York Press, to name a few. With the level of interest observed from popular websites and regional newspapers alike, the website views and other key metrics will also be favorable.
Discovering Ways to Secure Customers Who Are Satisfied to Work With You
As an author, I do not provide ghostwriting services. Ghostwriters tend to become unrecognizable. Someone else gets recognition for their effort. They need to be aware of what they have created, so they cannot demonstrate their skills. When it comes to writing, it is fairly obvious. Prospective customers generally make it clear from the start that they are searching for a ghostwriter. Unless your finances do not allow it, you can turn down such offers.
SEO services can be difficult to sort out. It is rare to find someone openly discussing hiring a “ghost optimizer.” It is often only once the contract is almost finished that you receive a confusing Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) full of legal jargon. In other cases, you are given the NDA, or the company does not want to talk. This can be risky as you lose time and money and do not get the client. The NDA may aim to protect trade secrets, but it usually gives the client a lot of control to stop you from disclosing any information. This is why many who work in SEO or related fields (like marketing and advertising) choose to stay quiet to ensure they do not breach agreements.
It can take time to determine where the boundaries lie when speaking up. To ensure that you are respected as an expert in your field, you can take a few steps before, during, and after any project. Here are four tips to help you maintain your professional status. Before beginning any work, take the time to plan out the project. Ensure you are clear with the client in the initial conversations and remain resolute once the project is underway.
Focus On Tasks That You Have To Complete Independently
Focus on your projects or continue working on them in the background. When you have other channels to generate income and means of gaining respect that is not connected to projects for clients, you can have more control when choosing who to collaborate with. Being in a situation where you must depend on clients for money is always challenging. Engage with other people because it’s exciting and offers variety, not just because you need the money. Ultimately, it would be great if clients approached you because they appreciate your work on your projects.
Show Yourself as an Expert in Your Field and Beyond
Participating in networking events such as conferences, exhibitions, and meetups is a great way to demonstrate what you know and to promote yourself. Some think it’s best to keep their knowledge to themselves in fear of others taking their ideas. This is, however, a myopic attitude, as more than one individual can come up with the same concept. Whoever gets the idea into the public domain first or distributes it more extensively is usually credited with the discovery. Becoming recognized as an expert in your industry and even beyond your specific field is essential.
At the commencement of my journey in SEO, I worked to diversify my skillset and delve into other well-known territories such as web design, marketing, and blogging. In my view, SEO is usually perceived as only “technical SEO” and not the full scope of optimization for search engines. The number of people interested in the topic could be more significant.
Increase the Price for 'Ghost Optimization'
One effective strategy for demonstrating the value of a service or product is to charge a premium for something that is more challenging or valuable. Ghostwriting, for example, is often undervalued and performed by writers who are just starting and have yet to establish a reputation.
However, once a writer has built a name, they must charge fees reflecting their expertise and experience. It’s important to be confident in the value of one’s work and to communicate that value through appropriate pricing. Please do so to avoid being undervalued and overlooked by potential clients.
Similarly, it is important to communicate that there is an additional cost associated with ghost optimization services. These services are inherently more complex and demanding than traditional writing and therefore warrant a higher fee. The market for highly skilled SEO practitioners is relatively small, so it is important to charge what you are truly worth confidently. Feel free to demand fair compensation for your expertise.
Refuse to Engage in Unethical or Undesirable Work
As a professional, it is important to maintain a high level of integrity and to avoid engaging in unethical or questionable practices. This can be challenging, especially when working with clients who may push for faster results or attempt to pressure you into using tactics outside industry best practices.
In such situations, it is essential to maintain a strong sense of ethics and to refuse to engage in activities that could damage your reputation or that of the client. One way to do this is to communicate your stance on these issues from the start and to refuse to engage in any activities that could be considered “dirty work” in the industry.
Additionally, it is important to remember that SEO does not happen in a vacuum and that even if you don’t tell anyone about your activities, they may still be visible to others through publicly available tools.
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