Having a strong online presence is a must these days to stay in the competition. For that, businesses hire SEO experts based on their niche and requirements. However, with hundreds of SEO professionals promising to be the best, finding the right one is a tough task.
Well, you might have read about the qualities that you should look for while hiring an SEO agency/expert across the internet. In this post, we will highlight some suspicious signs indicating that the SEO expert you want to hire is not right for you.
10 Warning Signs to Look for While Hiring an SEO Professional
1. They Promise Instant Rankings and Guaranteed Results
This is the #1 red flag. An SEO expert who promises top Google rankings in a very short span of time is suspicious. Anyone who claims to get your website to appear on the first page of Google, especially when it is new or lacks SERP appearance, in a week or 30 days, might be using unethical tactics.
Remember, SEO is a gradual process that requires a tailored strategy, technical enhancements, quality content, backlinks, and most importantly, time.
A trustworthy SEO professional will always set realistic expectations and focus on sustainable growth rather than empty promises.
2. They Can’t Explain Their Strategy Clearly
A trusted and proven SEO professional will always share their SEO strategy with their clients, along with a detailed plan of how success will be measured. On the contrary, a suspicious or vague SEO person will be unclear about their tactics.
For example, if you ask a question, “What will be your SEO plan for me?” a vague expert will give a wayward answer like “We will build links and improve your rankings.” On the other hand, a true SEO expert will share a tailored plan that will include:
- Keyword research and intent mapping
- On-page optimization plan
- Technical SEO audit
- Content development plan
- Backlink acquisition approach
- Reporting framework
3. They Rely on Black-Hat or Secret Techniques
To get quick rankings, suspicious SEO people often use black-hat SEO strategies that are banned by Google. Such techniques include keyword stuffing, cloaking, private blog networks (PBNs), or link buying in bulk. These strategies may deliver quick rankings, but in the long run, your website will be penalized.
In simple terms, these are unethical or unsustainable practices that could harm your website in a way that it may not be able to recover later.
4. They Do Not Provide Periodic Reports and Maintain Transparency
One of the most noticeable red flags to watch out for while hiring an SEO expert is that they deny sending you regular reports, monthly or weekly. These reports generally highlight key metrics such as:
- Keyword performance
- Organic traffic growth
- Conversion metrics
- Backlinks gained
- Technical improvements
A true SEO expert never denies sharing these reports to maintain transparency. So, if the one you have finalized avoids sharing such reports, be alert. The expert or agency might not be a good one.
Always demand visibility into what’s being done on your website and what results those actions produce.
5. Their Own Website is Poor
While hiring an SEO expert, always check their own website. A Good SEO practitioner will have a decent, user-friendly website with real case studies. Most importantly, it will also have detailed blogs on trending SEO-related topics. Additionally, their website will also rank for certain relevant keywords.
So, if the website of the one you’ve chosen is not good enough, consider it a big red flag and find someone else to get your job done.
6. They Offer Unrealistically Cheap Packages
We all want to get affordable SEO packages. However, to gain attention and book a client, some suspicious SEO agencies offer incredibly low SEO packages. So, if you’ve found one, do thorough research about its authenticity and results.
Remember, SEO requires time, effort, tools, and expertise. Hence, genuine SEO service providers can’t offer very low-priced packages.
Now, you might be thinking, How do cheap agencies work? Here’s a glimpse of what they might be doing:
- Automated backlinks from spammy sites
- Duplicate or AI-spun content
- No human review or technical improvement
- Outsourced work with poor oversight
7. They Ignore Technical SEO and User Experience
SEO isn’t just about keywords or backlinks. Technical aspects like website speed, mobile responsiveness, crawlability, and structured data directly affect rankings.
If your SEO expert doesn’t mention an initial technical SEO audit or site performance improvement, that’s a warning sign.
Similarly, user experience (UX) is a major ranking factor. Factors like bounce rate, dwell time, and site navigation influence how search engines perceive your site’s value. A good SEO professional focuses equally on on-page experience and technical foundation.
8. They Don’t Tailor Strategies to Your Industry
Every business is unique and requires a different SEO tactic. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.
If the SEO expert uses the same template strategy for every client—without understanding your niche, audience behavior, or competition—it’s a sign of laziness or inexperience.
A capable SEO professional begins with market research and competitor benchmarks. They tailor content tone, keywords, and backlink strategies to match your brand identity and audience intent.
Customization is key to effective long-term optimization.
9. They Lack a Solid Portfolio or Case Studies
Experience matters in SEO. Before hiring anyone, ask for case studies or examples of successful results.
- A reliable expert will provide:
- Before-and-after traffic data
- Keyword ranking trends
- Conversion achievements
- Examples of optimized content or campaigns
If they refuse or can’t show measurable evidence of past work, consider it a serious red flag. Many fraudulent SEO freelancers mask their inexperience by recycling online templates or claiming vague accomplishments.
10. They Don’t Keep Up With Algorithm Updates
Google updates its ranking algorithms regularly—sometimes with minor tweaks, sometimes with sweeping changes (like Core Updates or Helpful Content Updates).
An outdated expert who still uses 2015 tactics may do more harm than good. For instance, keyword stuffing or excessive link exchanges once worked, but now they trigger rankings drops.
The best SEO professionals commit to continuous learning, keeping up with:
- Google Search Central updates
- Industry blogs (Moz, Search Engine Journal, Ahrefs)
- Algorithm impact analyses
- Modern SEO tools and AI integrations
If your SEO expert doesn’t stay updated, their advice won’t reflect current best practices.
Bonus Tip
11. They Claim to be a Google Partner
You might have seen a Google Partner Badge on the websites of most SEO experts. We are not saying that the badge is fake; it is true, as only Google certifies. But some experts claim to have a special partnership with Google, and that’s completely fake.
The Google Partner Badge is given to those who successfully pass Google’s Ads product certification exam. This makes them certified to sell Google Ads Products.
And most importantly, organic SEO has no relation to Google Ads. So, do not fall into this “Google Partner” trap.
How to Choose the Right SEO Expert?
Now that you know the red flags, here are a few attributes you should look for instead:
- Transparent and data-driven approach
- Clear strategy and measurable KPIs
- Regular reporting with honest progress updates
- Industry-specific understanding
- Ethical, white-hat techniques
- Emphasis on conversions and ROI
During evaluation, ask questions about their process, tools, and timeline. A credible expert will welcome your curiosity rather than dodge specifics.
Final Thoughts
Hiring an SEO expert is a long-term investment, not a quick fix. The right professional can bring tremendous value by increasing your website’s visibility, traffic, and lead quality—but the wrong one can undo years of progress.
Always do your due diligence. Ask tough questions, review their track record, and trust your instincts when something feels off.
