Is Your SEO Agency Really Worth $5K A Month? Let’s Dive In!

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PabloEscoBearz, a marketing manager for a roofing company, took to Reddit to ask a very pressing question: "Is our SEO company ripping us off?" and if switching to a different one would be a better move. He shared some details that had his spider-sense tingling, and boy, the responses were pretty unanimous and..well, brutal.

If you've ever wondered how much you should be shelling out for SEO services or if the SEO agency you're currently working with is more interested in boosting their own revenue than yours, this post is for you. Spoiler alert: it involves questionable AI claims, dubious traffic spikes, and some pretty outraged Redditors.

The Initial Red Flags

Pablo noticed some peculiarities right off the bat. Namely:

  1. Unexplainable Traffic Spikes: Their organic and direct traffic had some crazy spikes, but this didn't show in an increase in calls or lead forms. Google Analytics reported 13,000 users from organic traffic in three months, but Google Search Console showed only 403 clicks. That's a jump-off-the-page discrepancy if there ever was one.

  2. Weird Indexed Pages: While Google Search Console shows 43 indexed pages, the SEO agency's report flaunts over 400 pages, including some real head-scratchers like pages about divorce law. Talk about niche marketing, huh?

  3. High Costs, Low Output: They were being billed $5,000 a month for what essentially amounted to one blog post per quarter. Their agency claimed that a custom AI scans their site and competitors, tweaking existing pages for better ranking. New content and pages? "Old school," they said.

Reddit's Judgment Day: The Comments Section Speaks

The Reddit hive mind didn't hold back. Here's a taste of what the SEO community had to say.

The AI Claims

Post Comment: whodis123

"Yes you are being ripped off. 5k a month and they should be posting way more than one a quarter. Their comments about AI is ridiculous. But simply put, for 5k a month are you getting leads??" Link

The Traffic Anomalies

Post Comment: unstoppable_guy

"They are just fooling you by providing automated bot organic traffic from different IPs. That's why this traffic is not showing in your GSC but is showing high organic traffic in Google Analytics. Just ask them about the strategy they follow to promote your website or check your website backlinks and targeted keywords using Ahrefs or SEMrush. If there are no quality backlinks on the targeted landing page, that means they are spamming…." Link

User unstoppable_guy suggests the traffic spikes could be from automated bots, not genuine leads. If you’re seeing a lot of visitors but not a lot of conversions, it might be time to dig deeper. Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush can help you evaluate the quality of backlinks and targeted keywords.

The Value (or Lack Thereof)

Post Comment: Computer-Psycho-1

"For 5K a month I would stand on the main highway in a bear suit and hold up a sign or something. You are getting ripped." Link

Post Comment: Fluffy-Emu5637

"Yes absolutely ripped off. 1 blog post a quarter for 5k a month is stupid. The AI BS is just their way of saying they aren’t doing anything." Link

Using humor to drive the point home, users agree that $5,000 a month for one blog post per quarter and a suspiciously magical AI solution is outrageous.

More Insights

Post Comment: Such-Mobile8224

"Sounds like you are getting hosed. For what you're spending they should at the very least be getting you 10 high quality links a month along with optimizing all your pages. Care to share the name of the agency?" Link

Post Comment: Louie-Ramos-SEO-Pro

"$5K a month for just that doesn't sound like good value for money. We charge our roofing SEO client here in Sydney for less than that & they are getting booked out week after week. From 4 trucks 7 years ago, they now have 20 because of SEO. I suggest you switch to a different one who can demonstrate to you real ROI. Good luck! 🤝" Link

Users like Louie-Ramos-SEO-Pro and Such-Mobile8224 offered benchmarks for what $5,000 should get you, including high-quality backlinks and robust page optimization. If your SEO dollars aren't bringing in tangible results, it might be time to reconsider your investment.

What To Look For In A Reliable SEO Company

If you’re starting to feel like Pablo and suspect your SEO agency might be cutting corners or overcharging, here are some tips to consider when shopping for a new agency:

  1. Transparent Reporting: Ensure your agency provides clear, concise reports. If their data doesn’t align with your Google Search Console, raise the red flag.

  2. Quality Over Quantity: Weekly or monthly content geared toward your industry is invaluable. One blog post a quarter? Nope.

  3. Realistic Strategies: Custom AI sounds fancy, but ask for concrete proof and case studies. SEO still heavily relies on quality content and backlinks.

  4. ROI Focused: For $5,000 a month, you should be seeing a significant return on investment. If not, it’s time to rethink your strategy.

Pablo's story serves as a cautionary tale for businesses, especially those in niche industries, to scrutinize their SEO investment. Like the Redditors suggested, trust your instincts and don't hesitate to question where your money is going and what it’s bringing back.

For more on Pablo’s SEO saga, you can read the full story on Reddit here.

And hey, if you’re paying someone $5,000 a month, maybe they should be doing more than one blog post every few months. Just saying.

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