Can an SEO company guarantee rankings?

[Paz]

I'm increasingly being pushed to give predicted rankings for clients as well as traffic, ROI etc. and I really don't think I can give these, especially when I have little control over my sites' content.

I'm aiming for #1 rankings period, but I don't have reliable figures for monthly searches for a given keyword phrase and I don't know how well these will convert; that depends on the site and the clients' keyword phrases.

Reading Google's guidelines on choosing an seo company (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35291);

Many SEOs provide useful services for website owners, from writing copy to giving advice on site architecture and helping to find relevant directories to which a site can be submitted.

we do all these, as well as acquiring paid links, which they don't discuss... LOL

They go on to say
# No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.

Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings....

So I'm think I'm on solid ground when I say I aim for #1 rankings, but it'll take some time and you'll have to judge progress on a month by month basis.

Finally, Google say;
For your own safety, you should insist on a full and unconditional money-back guarantee. Don't be afraid to request a refund if you're unsatisfied for any reason

which frankly I'm not too keen on, but marketing people (and these are usually the departments sub-contracting the SEO) work in a world of ROI and not much else. SEO is highly unpredictable; it's more like trawling with a bigger, more effective net - it works most of the time but you can have good days as well as bad.

Any other ideas on how to respond to these requests for guarantees on rankings?

[Blazingpie]

Can they guarantee #1 rankings? I'd say no, unless the site was already ranking number 1, lol.

Personally, my response to any queries about guarantees is done upfront and with no BS: I state that they cannot be guaranteed because we have no control over the algorythms (I then point out the Google guidelines, etc to back me up). I find that I can work better with those that can comprehend that up front and understand the risks involved. This is also why I think that in many cases SEOs should be less concerned about that #1 ranking and more concerned about the ROI and conversion rates, as thats all that matters in the end if the aim of the site is commercial (and most are). Unless it's about PR management and branding, i suppose.

[Glen]

Can they guarantee #1 rankings? I'd say no, unless the site was already ranking number 1, lol.

Personally, my response to any queries about guarantees is done upfront and with no BS: I state that they cannot be guaranteed because we have no control over the algorythms (I then point out the Google guidelines, etc to back me up). I find that I can work better with those that can comprehend that up front and understand the risks involved. This is also why I think that in many cases SEOs should be less concerned about that #1 ranking and more concerned about the ROI and conversion rates, as thats all that matters in the end if the aim of the site is commercial (and most are). Unless it's about PR management and branding, i suppose.

Completely agree, i suppose on some level you could guarantee #1 for a very un-competitive term (in theory), but in general you really cant and shouldnt guarantee rankings

[Chatmaster]

I'm increasingly being pushed to give predicted rankings for clients as well as traffic, ROI etc. and I really don't think I can give these, especially when I have little control over my sites' content.
This is out of the question. Companies need to understand that we do not guarentee rankings. Paz I am in full agreement with your post but I also understand the position of the marketing companies. In terms of guarentees the only guarentee I would be willing to give is to work on the % of traffic represented by SE's to grow. In ito ROI, this in itself would be impossible to determine as the keyword targetted will determine the ROI. I simply cannot see the argument of any marketing company with regards to ROI as it is impossible to accurately determine the ROI for SEO, due to the fact that it has a much higher conversion rate than other marketing techniques.
So I'm think I'm on solid ground when I say I aim for #1 rankings, but it'll take some time and you'll have to judge progress on a month by month basis.
Agree!
which frankly I'm not too keen on, but marketing people (and these are usually the departments sub-contracting the SEO) work in a world of ROI and not much else. SEO is highly unpredictable; it's more like trawling with a bigger, more effective net - it works most of the time but you can have good days as well as bad.
No way. No money back guarentees, time is money and companies pay for that time, end of story.

[Blazingpie]

No way. No money back guarentees, time is money and companies pay for that time, end of story.

That i agree with whole-heartedly. With the freelance web development work I've done in the past, I've set up a number of hours that im able to dedicate to the job and then they 'buy' the amount of hours they want. I then fill those hours with work.

[Chatmaster]

The problem is that an impatient client can push you into a position where they claim there money back guarentee and then a month or 2 down the line they get the benefits of your hard work. Especialy when it comes to clients that do not fully cooperate with your advice or requests (Which is probably most of them...)

The problem are however with SEO companies being so hard up for business that they make promises or add guarentees that are far fetched. If you really look into a guarentee I would suggest deviding your costing structure into a cost per hour and an added fee on which the guarentee would apply, therefore if you do get success (based on targetted traffic) it is an added incentive. It simply makes no business sense to work with a full money back guarentee, especialy when it includes specific rankings. It is not specific ranking that makes the money, it is the spread of selected keyword phrases that makes the serious money.

[(ry$$1e]

Strange enough this topic should come up...I was asked by a friend this weekend past to explain to her what SEO entails - how it is applied and what are the guarantees:-? Man was that a long and very frustrating conversation...to the point where I had to end it...LOL Only because she argued me saying how can I find it so interesting if there's no "guaranteed" positive outcome...?

Maybe i just didnt explain it well enough :oops:

Getting back to the topic, As we have all realised by now there is no SEO company that can guarantee a top 3 ranking in the natural search results...and promising a #1 in 3months??? LOL! its a joke! Sponsored listings yes...but all clients dont have the capital...

If you really look into a guarentee I would suggest deviding your costing structure into a cost per hour and an added fee on which the guarentee would apply, therefore if you do get success (based on targetted traffic) it is an added incentive.

"CM" could you possibly give me an example of what you mean in your above statement...If it means what I think you are suggesting then I would have to disagree on anything that has to do with amount of hours for a certain task where SEO is concerned...especially the tedious task of linkbuiling...I speak under correction though....:p

I guess theres not much left to say as its all been said already and i too fully agree with the argument on ranking guarantees...

Lets face it...we CANT guarantee a the #1 spot but we CAN guarantee all our hard work and effort for the SEO services that we will offer the client and we CAN guarantee 2 b ethical and honest in how we apply our services...Thats about it that we CAN guarantee...I think once you have convinced the client of this then u have halfway succeeded and can be assured of a no "BS" relationship with your potential client...

Remember the clients success is the company's success afterall! :p

(ry$$1e

[Chatmaster]

For example I quote a customer R350/hour the customer in return decides before the contract is signed how much he can afford. I would then be willing to offer the customer a discount of R100/hour on the basis that I get a bonus of R250/hour if I double his SE traffic in a set period. This will then be a money back guarantee that I am willing to offer. My costing is then done in such a way that I am still able to manage a profitable business. Added to the hour fee is a budget for paid directories etc.

Off course this would not be appropriate for all types of businesses but the rule imo is that I have knowledge to share and the customer gets the benefit of that, so if he wants to play hard case that is the closest he will get to money back guarantee from me. My rules for an SEO business are simple, no freebies, you get what you pay for and if I go into a commitment with the customer it is on my terms or else I do not want the business.

[Blazingpie]

yeah, I find you have to put your foot down else they will try all sorts of shenanigans. If they know u wont tolerate BS they wont give any ;)

[Chatmaster]

Well, you have to understand the customer's point of view. Especialy in South Africa there are several companies claiming to know what they are doing. They are leaving a trail of distruction behind them and customers get burnt by empty promises. Added to this they are dealing with spam and dishonest companies making all kinds of promises just to get the deals.

Further problem is the fact that many companies have no idea what SEO entails. For them it seems completely weird and confusing, making them very doubtfull that it can work. I have heard of big names in the industry giving a full money back guarentee. These SEO's normally specialise in a niche and has a network of sites they can utilise to ensure some kind of success. However I would specifically state that nominating keywords for ranking are crazy, if you look at improving traffic for the guarentee,... that might be a whole different story. However that would not be what I would do, I am a strict believer of payment/hour as my time is money.