The more you educate yourself on the basics with Internet Marketing, the better you will be on spotting Internet Marketing Scams and making better decisions for your website. These are a few Scams that you should be aware.
Guaranteed #1 Ranking / Special Relationship with Google
Google themselves mention that “No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google” and be aware of anyone claiming to have a special relationship with Google. This is totally false. No one has an inside person at Google.
Google themselves state that “no one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.” Be cautious of anyone making this claim or suggesting they have a special relationship or insider access to Google. These claims are completely false.
Even Google’s own employees have no control over who ranks where in organic search results.
Getting Listed in 48Hrs
Some companies promise to get your site on the first page of Google within 48 hours. In almost all cases, this refers to Google Ads (PPC)—not organic rankings. Paid ads can appear quickly, but they require a budget and don’t affect your organic visibility.
Organic traffic is free and earned over time by improving your website’s authority, relevance, and content quality.
Paid traffic comes from ad platforms like Google Ads, where you pay each time someone clicks.
Both have their place, but it’s important to understand what you’re being offered.
Submitting your site to 100’s/1000’s of search engines
There’s no need to pay someone to submit your site to hundreds of search engines. The vast majority of search traffic comes from just a few—Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Search engines find websites through links. If you have even a few reputable sites linking to yours, Google will eventually discover and index your pages. Manual submission is rarely necessary anymore.
Mass Directory Link Submissions for $9.99
Building quality backlinks is one of the most important aspects of SEO—but it’s not something you can buy in bulk for a few dollars.
What makes a backlink “quality”?
-
Relevance: Does the linking site relate to your topic or industry?
-
Authority: Is the linking site trusted and well-established?
-
Context: Is the link placed naturally within content, or buried in a footer or directory?
Low-cost directory submissions often land your site in spammy, low-authority directories that can hurt rather than help. Instead, aim to earn links from credible blogs, industry sites, local organizations, or business listings.
If you’re serious about backlink research, use trusted tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush.
SEO Email Scams
Scammers often send mass emails claiming your site has SEO issues or is underperforming. These are usually template-based, vague, and meant to create fear or urgency.
Red flags to look for:
-
They don’t use your name or website specifically.
-
The language is overly alarming (“Your site is missing critical errors!”).
-
No reputable contact information or traceable business.
Tip: Google the phone number or company name—they’re often listed on scam report forums. You can also copy some of the email and search for this piece of content within Double Quotes in Google and there’s a chance you will see other people reporting on this.
Google Backlinks Displayed
Companies may tell you “Google shows only 5 backlinks to your site—you need more.” This is misleading.
Google doesn’t show all your backlinks in search. Instead, use Google Search Console to view actual link data or turn to industry tools like Ahrefs or Moz for a more complete picture.
Is SEO a Scam?
Not at all.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a legitimate and powerful strategy to improve your site’s visibility and drive qualified traffic. But it’s not magic—and it’s not instant.
For most businesses, a balanced online marketing strategy should include:
-
SEO for long-term organic growth
-
PPC for immediate traffic and testing
-
Social Media Marketing (SMM) for brand building and engagement
Google also offers a helpful SEO Starter Guide if you’re looking to learn the basics yourself.
