Beware of phony SEO pitches

The more real estate brokers and agents I talk to about search engine optimization, the more I hear stories about shady companies continuously contacting them, trying to sell SEO services week in and week out.

One of the worst examples of this is a recent "lead request" I've found on real estate company websites, typically from the assumed pseudonym of "Travis Crane." It reads:

"We would like to get your website on first page of Google. All of our processes use the most ethical 'white hat' Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized. Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal."

I've seen the message with the headline of: "Search Engine Optimization," "Internet Marketing Services" and "Get leads and sales from your website."

This is wrong on many levels. First, how can a company claim to "use the most ethical 'white hat' Search Engine Optimization techniques" while using some of the most unethical spamming techniques - submitting sales pitches through website lead and contact forms? Second, why would an 'ethical' SEO company use a pseudonym, a fake phone number (000-000-0000), and a fake address (224 Lawrence Road, New York, 11111)?

There are certainly other companies out there capable of delivering SEO for your real estate website. I won't argue that. But I'd avoid those submitting spam SEO pitches through company lead requests like I'd avoid the guy trying to sell you a "legit" Rolex from his trench coat pocket.

Delta Media Group's search engine optimization services are for real estate websites we actually create, design, program and host. Since we know the ins and outs of the system, we can apply the best methods to building it to cater to search engines.

Contact Sean Cutright at scutright@deltagroup.com for more information on Delta Media Group's Real Estate Search Engine Optimization services.