some agencies offer 'guaranteed ranking' — 'top 10 in first 3 months' — how is this possible?

Guaranteed ranking trap: 1) Agency picks easy keywords and gets you 'top 10' (low competition anyway). 2) Client is happy, agency asks for more money for hard keywords. 3) When client switches agencies, those hard keywords are gone. 4) Money wasted.

When choosing an agency: Look for 'performance-based' (pay per sale) instead of 'guarantee'. Or ask for 'case studies' (past client results).

an agency once said 'guaranteed top 5' but we checked and the keywords were super easy (100 searches/month). all ranked in the 2nd month. client was happy then the agency tried to sell packages with 'harder keywords'. money money money.

Edit: asked below, I wrote the answer in the second message.

Do guaranteed agencies actually exist? Or are they all scams?

edit: big agencies (top 10 global) do 'target-based performance' but not 'ranking guarantee'. Performance = traffic, conversion. Avoid ranking guarantees.

guaranteed ranking = scam. nobody controls google. if an agency says it either the keywords are super easy, it's spam tactics, or it's a lie. kışka kaz.

Agency: 'guaranteed top 5.' Me: how? Agency: secret formula. Me: did you hack google? Agency: ...(silenti). Lesson: if they promise a guarantee, run.

I have a question. If rankings stay the same but clicks drop, the issue isn't your page, but the search result appearance.

I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

Exactly, and not many people know this. Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

Just leaving this note it might be useful.

We need to take it step by step. If rankings stay the same but clicks drop, the issue isn't your page, but the search result appearance.

Proven by experience.

I'd appreciate it if you shared the outcome.

How did you solve this? The answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.

A page with low traffic might be reaching the right people. Look at where sales come from. If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

The discussion got scattered let me summarize. Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.

I went through the same thing two years ago. When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

Let me summarize what's been said so far. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

I partly agree, partly disagree. Ranking is the result search intent is the input... Look at intent first.

The harder it is to reverse a decision, the slower you should make it. Proven by experience.

I have no experience with seo guarantee company, so I'm asking. The harder it is to reverse a decision, the slower you should make it.

Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

i'm in the same situation, that's why I'm asking then anyway when making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best.

just leaving this note it might be useful.

Let me clarify the technical side. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

Good luck with that.

I feel the same way. Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.

That's all, sorry if I went on too long.