When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), many businesses want to know whether or not an SEO firm can guarantee rankings on the major search engine result pages (SERPs). After all, this is a heavily sought-after goal for many companies in the online arena. Unfortunately, the short answer to this question is “No”. SEO firms cannot guarantee rankings, and what’s more, it’s never a wise strategy to sign a contract with any SEO service provider based solely on such guarantees. Here’s why.
First, if any SEO firm were to attempt to guarantee SERP rankings, they would be knowingly guaranteeing something they cannot control. Google, Yahoo!, and Bing (the three major search engines) set the rules which determine the SERP rankings of websites. Factors that influence this may include the quality of links pointing to the website, the relevance of content to the user query, and keyword placement within a website (among other criteria). In other words, there is no way for any SEO firm to know and tailor the strategy to closely align with the exact criteria the three major search engines use for SERP rankings.
Moreover, SERP rankings are very dynamic. Even if an SEO firm managed to get a website to number one on the SERPs today, it’s highly unlikely they could do so with the same strategy every time and get away with it. The SERP rankings are constantly fluctuating based on changes in search engine algorithms, competition, and user preference. So, fair or unfair, no SEO firm could rightfully guarantee SERP rankings over time.
Additionally, SERP rankings are based on the keywords associated with a website. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to ensure that the chosen keywords will maintain their level of relevance and maintain the current SERP rankings over time. Keyword research and optimization is a necessary part of any successful SEO campaign, but that does not mean that the chosen keywords will be the same in two years’ time, as search trends may have changed.
Finally, the success of an SEO campaign is also largely dependent on the cooperation and involvement of the website’s owners. SEO firms are not magicians, but professionals whose job is to optimize websites for the best SERP performance. Obviously, the website’s owners have a responsibility to make sure content is continually updated and keyword research is integrated whenever necessary, to keep SERP rankings as high as possible. Without client involvement, any guarantees that an SEO firm would be offering would be null and void.
In conclusion, no SEO firm should guarantee SERP rankings; it’s an impossible promise to keep. However, that’s not to say that SEO firms cannot offer services that can drastically improve the visibility and placement of a website on the SERPs. The key is to research potential SEO providers and ensure they have an impeccable track record. Companies should look out for testimonials, results, and white papers proving their prior successes. They should also request a detailed breakdown of the tactics that will be employed and make sure that the SEO company is accountable for the results produced from the campaign. Finally, companies should remember that SEO success is a joint effort between the SEO firm and the website’s owner; therefore, both should work in tandem for the desired results.
