Cheap SEO pricing Australia: 5 red flags

You’ll never hear us downplay the power of affordable SEO to get businesses noticed online.

We’re fans!

But please, for the love of the search gods, don’t be led astray by dirt-cheap SEO pricing with no substance. Bad SEO practices waste money, damage reputations and attract Google penalties that bury websites in the search results. 

Keep reading to understand the 5 signs of cheap SEO companies with risky services. 

We’ll then compare them to affordable quality agencies.

Why is SEO important for businesses of all sizes?

First, let’s quickly explain SEO:

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a long-term plan designed to make your website visible in organic search results when people look for things related to your business. 

You’re striving to rank your website on the first page of Google so your target audience can find it easily. Most of them won’t scroll past page one, so this is your best shot at catching their eye in the search results.

Organic listings are unpaid, so you don’t pay Google for prime placement. 

Rather, you earn page one listings with relevant and engaging content! 

A comprehensive SEO strategy covers three main areas:

1. On-Site SEO: Making changes to your actual content, like incorporating important keywords and ensuring the information is high-quality.
2. Technical SEO: Improving the structure and performance of your site so that technical algorithms – and human visitors – can navigate it easily.
3. Off-Site SEO: Promoting your website outside of your own domain, often through tactics like building reputation and networking (like securing backlinks).

Why is SEO important for small businesses in particular? 

A small voice in your head says there’s no point investing in SEO because bigger companies splurge on paid ads to secure page-one placement.

How does your limited budget compete with that?

Well, here’s the wonderful truth:

SEO costs less AND works better than paid advertising.

Over time, affordable SEO campaigns attract MORE quality visitors who have a clear purpose when searching. These people show interest in your offering because they’re searching for terms related to it. 

Unlike paid ads, which disappear the moment your budget runs out, SEO results can last for years, provided you maintain them properly.

5 red flags of agencies with cheap SEO pricing and risky services

When you see prices that seem too good to be true, run the other way.

Many services advertised as “cheap” or “low-cost” use shady tactics that cause more harm than good. Unfortunately, you’ll find that “cheap” often means unreliable customer service, disappointing search results and unethical techniques.

🔻ONE🔻Spammy backlinks:

Backlinks are links from other sites that point to yours, acting as “votes” of approval for your content. Google pays attention to this! High-quality SEO requires obtaining these links naturally from reputable, relevant sites.

In contrast, cheap providers often use spammy backlinks. In other words, links from irrelevant or low-quality sites can severely damage your rankings. Many companies buy low-quality links, which violates Google’s guidelines. 

Remember, Google values quality above all! 

If potential customers find spammy links associated with your brand, it can damage your reputation – especially if those links come from adult or gambling sites.

🔻TWO🔻Other manipulative techniques (black hat SEO):

When a digital marketing company advertises super cheap SEO pricing, they’re probably using risky practices beyond spammy backlinks. 

Black hat SEO techniques manipulate the search engine system to rank content higher quickly. While these methods might offer short-term gains, they often violate Google’s rules and lead to serious consequences.

Examples of black hat techniques:

• Keyword stuffing
• Hidden text
• Content automation 
• Link manipulation
• Comment spam
• Footer links
• Hidden links
• Mass-generating AI content without fact-checking it for reliability and accuracy
• Article spinning: rewriting content with modified synonyms
• Cloaking: hiding information from humans by using flash or animation to only alert search algorithms
• Hiding keywords and other content from human eyes by making the text the same colour as the background

If Google detects that you’re attempting to game the system, it will slap your content with a Google Penalty that could banish your site to the bottom of the results page. Recovering from this can take years.

Recovering from this can take years, so don’t test fate!

🔻THREE🔻Promising the world with no leg to stand on:

If an SEO agency guarantees you a top ranking on Google, this is suspicious.

No reputable agency can promise a specific spot because complex algorithms (not the agency) control search engine results. Overpromising is a common tactic used by companies that attract clients quickly without regard for long-term results.

By the way, why not check that agency’s online performance yourself?

Ask what popular search terms they rank for and then search for those keywords in Google (private browser for accuracy). If their website doesn’t feature on the first few pages (ideally page 1), then their story doesn’t check out.

🔻FOUR🔻 A one-size-fits-all strategy with unclear deliverables:

Cheap providers often lack the time or resources to customise a strategy for your specific business. Instead, they recycle the same packages and templates – treating your unique business, industry and competitors like everyone else.

If an agency can’t clearly outline exactly what they plan to do each month, you should be very cautious. This vagueness often masks their laziness: attracting clients with low prices but paying little attention until the frustrated client eventually cancels.

🔻FIVE🔻 Lazy reporting and unreliable communication

Transparency is fundamental to good SEO. However, cheap services often prioritise client acquisition over client relationships – which means they more or less abandon you after you sign the contract.

You may find yourself dealing with:

• Vague reporting: You won’t receive regular updates or clear reports showing metrics and progress.
• Minimal communication: Queries go unanswered and updates are infrequent, as cheap providers often try to stay off your radar.
• Inexperienced staff: Low-cost agencies often hire inexperienced account managers, meaning you’re paying for the learning curve of an employee who may not last at the company. Look at the “about us” section of their website to see if it mentions employee longevity.

How to choose the best SEO agency with affordable services?

Don’t worry, you don’t have to take out a loan to get your business noticed online!

Many SEO agencies offer quality services at reasonable rates.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Long history: Digital agencies often have a short lifespan because competition is fierce. Has the agency existed for more than one decade? They’re likely doing something right to survive a ruthless market! 
• Local team with extensive experience: There’s nothing wrong with outsourcing support services overseas. However, all core functions should be handled by a local team member who’s available for in-person meetings, when that’s applicable.  Another good sign: The agency’s team members have years of experience. Even better? Most of the team has worked together for multiple years, which indicates a productive and positive environment.
• Glowing reputation: Check their reviews on independent sites like Google. How many stars do they have? What do clients say about them? An average of 4 or 5 stars is a good sign, especially if more than 50 people have left a review.
• Industry awards also indicate quality services. Ask the agency if they’ve won any recent awards, or check out their website.
• Transparent fees: You should know what you’re paying for. Look for clear packages with transparent costs. Please stay away from companies that are vague about their services, or have hidden fees. 
• Reasonable SEO pricing that reflects the market: Expect to pay between $1,500 and $10,000 per month for ongoing services. Pricing depends on multiple factors, such as your company size, website health and project scope. Another consideration is the level of competitiveness in your wider market. Read more about the cost of SEO in our blog. 
• Proven success: Ask for examples of past achievements with businesses similar to yours. Talk is cheap; you need proof. Bonus points if the agency is willing to put you in touch with their clients directly (psst: many of our clients permit us to share their contact details with prospective clients).
• Transparent communication: A reliable SEO partner is willing to explain their process and provide clear, regular updates. They should offer monthly reports with metrics that show how they track progress.
• Customised plans for your unique business needs: A good agency will understand your specific business goals and tailor an individual plan to your budget, rather than forcing you into a generic, one-size-fits-all package.

E-Web Marketing Australia: affordable SEO pricing for award-winning services

• 25+ years of experience helping 3,000 small and medium businesses grow online.
• Talented team based in Sydney: most of us have worked together for 6 years on average
• Clients save thousands of dollars because we focus on cost-effective techniques backed by data. No hidden costs!
• Award-winning SEO agency: finalists in the APAC Search Awards (Asia-Pacific region) for multiple search categories.
• Flexible contracts let us adapt our strategy to suit your evolving business needs.
• Regular communication: monthly performance reports detailing your rankings, traffic, and all completed tasks, so you can always measure the progress of your investment.
• Transparent references: many of our clients permit us to share their contact details with prospective clients. Let us know if you’d like to speak directly with our clients to learn more about their experiences with us.

Call 1800 785 122 or fill out this form to find out more.