Shopify Guides and UpdatesHow to Avoid SEO Scams: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses
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Avoid SEO Scams

How to Avoid SEO Scams: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses

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Navigating the complex world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can be daunting, especially with the prevalence of SEO scams. 

To protect your business and ensure you’re engaging with reputable SEO agencies, it’s crucial to recognize common red flags and adopt effective strategies for due diligence.

Understand the Basics of SEO

99% of SEO agencies are scams. 

When it comes to off-page SEO, there are two key concepts you need to understand:

  • Authority: Determines where your website will rank in search engine results.
  • Relevancy: Decides if your website will rank at all based on its content’s relevance to search queries.

Key insights about off-page SEO:

1. Simply writing good content is not enough to secure a high ranking.

2. Authority is king. The primary pathway to achieving authority is through backlinks.

3. Quality of backlinks > quantity.

4. DIY approach = link outreach and guest posting.

Creating good content and getting discovered is the dream. But it’s hard to get this lucky when you’re a young business.

The top 1% of genuine SEO agencies possess portfolios of authoritative websites.

Experts like Grumpy SEO Guy and professionals found at Web Hosting Talk, with over a decade of SEO experience suggest that only about 5 companies worldwide meet this criterion.

Other good agencies claiming to do SEO can still help you rank, via not owning websites but having the power to get you on these websites (for a marked-up fee).

Remember, the sole objective of an SEO agency is to get you to top of search engine results for your targeted keywords.

 

SEO How To Avoid Scam

Recognize Common Red Flags

Be wary of these common indicators of SEO scams:

  1. Guaranteed Rankings: Promises of guaranteed top rankings are often unrealistic due to the unpredictable nature of search engines.
  2. Instant Results: SEO is a long-term strategy. Be cautious of agencies promising immediate results.
  3. Lack of Transparency: Reputable agencies will provide detailed plans and reports. Avoid those that do not share their strategies or progress openly.
  4. Unsolicited Offers: Cold calls or unsolicited emails from SEO agencies can sometimes be a sign of a scam.

Key Strategies to Avoid SEO Scams

1. Educate Yourself and Your Team

Understanding the basics of SEO and keeping up-to-date with SEO best practices can protect you from falling for exaggerated claims.

2. Verify Credentials and References

Look for agencies with verifiable testimonials and case studies. Genuine SEO agencies typically have a portfolio of authoritative websites and can demonstrate measurable improvements in SEO for their clients.

3. Demand Transparency

A trustworthy SEO agency will be clear about their methods and realistic about outcomes. They should provide a roadmap of their proposed strategies and regular updates on progress.

4. Beware of Low Prices

While budget considerations are important, abnormally low prices can be a red flag. Quality SEO services require investment in skilled personnel and tools.

5. Prefer Customized Strategies

SEO is not a one-size-fits-all service. Effective SEO strategies should be tailored to your specific business needs and goals.

6. Check for Ethical Practices

Ensure the agency uses white-hat SEO techniques. Using unethical strategies (black-hat SEO) can lead to penalties from search engines, including being blacklisted.

Take Action

If you’re a purpose-driven Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) founder looking to maximize your business potential through SEO:

  • Schedule a Consultation: Book a call with SEO agencies you deem reputable, to discuss approach and ask specific questions about how they would handle your SEO needs.
  • Review Contracts Thoroughly: Understand the terms of engagement, deliverables, and exit clauses.

By adopting these practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to SEO scams and build a fruitful relationship with a reputable SEO agency that truly understands and supports your business objectives.

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Jessica Bong is the founder of Soodo, a Singapore-based Shopify development and CRO agency. She built and scaled her own eCommerce brand before starting Soodo, and has since audited 60+ Shopify stores. Jessica also teaches eCommerce at Equinet Academy. Her hands-on experience running a live brand gives Soodo an edge most agencies lack.

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What our clients say

Real reviews from the Shopify brand owners we have worked with.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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Jessica's work is truly genuine and working with her is a pure pleasure. No hassle, good understanding on what our brand Wildness really needed out of Shopify. Nailed it , highly recommend to work with her! Thanks from Wildness Asia!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Ruth Ng 
 
 
 
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Jessica was an absolute delight to work with! She’s meticulous and super knowledgeable about all the technical things which I am totally clueless about. Best thing about Jessica is that she’s always very responsive and willing to help. You know she’s genuinely invested in your work and wants the best for your business. It’s my blessing to have found her, she’s definitely a trusted professional service. As a small business owner, we really need someone we can trust to make things work and Jessica is the person!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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The cooperation with Soodo was a blessing, Jessica's professionalism and efficiency makes it such a breeze to get the best possible results. I am more than willing to share my experience with anyone who are thinkning of doing their online presences in shopify and looking for a realiable, qualitative agency to do the job. Soodo - a choice you would love after making it.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Mike Chu 
 
 
 
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Working with Jess is a real pleasure. Responsive, independent and punctual, she's one that aims to pull a project towards completion by all means. Highly recommended for those who are looking to improve their page!
Got Questions?

Working With Soodo, Shopify Agency

What types of businesses does Soodo work with?

Soodo works with Singapore SMEs, bootstrapped eCommerce founders, and growing online brands who want a Shopify store that actually sells. Our clients include first-time store owners, businesses migrating from Shopee or WooCommerce, and established brands needing CRO to scale without increasing ad spend.

Do I need a big budget to work with Soodo?

No. New Shopify builds start from SGD $6,000, store optimisation from SGD $1,000, and migrations from SGD $4,000. Book a free audit call to get an exact quote.

Can Soodo help me if I am new to Shopify?

Absolutely. We handle everything from scratch — store setup, product uploads, payment gateway configuration, shipping rules, and brand design. Every project includes hands-on training, recorded video walkthroughs, and 6 months of WhatsApp support so you can run your store confidently after launch.

How is Soodo different from a freelancer or large agency?

Soodo is founder-led: Jessica Bong built and runs her own six-figure Shopify brand, so she builds your store the way an experienced operator would. Unlike large agencies, you get direct access to the person doing the work. Unlike most freelancers, you get a structured process, unlimited revisions, and real post-launch support.

How long does a typical Shopify project take from start to launch?

New builds typically take 2 to 6 weeks. Migrations take 2 to 4 weeks. CRO optimisation projects take 2 to 4 weeks for scoped improvements. Every project starts with a clear milestone plan so you always know what is happening next and when to expect your launch date.

Does Soodo work with businesses outside Singapore?

Our primary focus is Singapore SMEs, but we work with brands across Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia. We also work with international clients from US and Europe that do not mind the timezone differences. Soodo is experienced with Shopify Markets for multi-currency and multi-region selling.

What does a Shopify build cost in Singapore?

Budgets range from $5K SGD for a customised theme to $30K+ SGD for a fully custom build. We provide fixed-scope pricing with no surprises.

Do you offer post-launch support?

Yes. We offer 6-months of post-launch support. Most clients are able to self-manage the store with our comprehensive handover training and do not require a monthly retainer fees. Most of our larger clients continue to engage us for upgrades to their store such as performance monitoring, CRO improvements, and technical support.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus — which is right for us?

Shopify ($39–$399/month) suits most growing SMEs. Shopify Plus ($2,300+/month) adds enterprise B2B tools, checkout scripting, and unlimited staff accounts. We'll advise which fits your stage.

Can you improve my existing store's conversion rate?

Absolutely. Our CRO service starts with a full store audit identifying friction in product pages, cart, and checkout. Data-driven fixes follow. Most clients see measurable uplift within 60 days.

How long does a Shopify migration take?

Most migrations from WooCommerce, Magento, or Wix take 4–8 weeks depending on catalogue size and custom features. We provide a detailed project plan before we start.

Do you build custom themes or use templates?

Both. We build fully custom themes from scratch and customise premium Shopify themes for faster launches. Every project is tailored to your brand — no cookie-cutter output.

Can you help with Shopify SEO?

Yes. Every Soodo build is on-page SEO-ready from day one — structured data, optimised meta tags, fast load times, and content mapped to search intent. We also offer ongoing SEO retainers through our agency partners.

Do you handle app integrations?

Yes — Smile.io, Klaviyo, HitPay, EPOS, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and EasyParcel are some of the top CRM and logistics integrations. Brands that already use these platforms can easily manage them within Shopify as an app integration. For brands that need suggestions on applications, we will evaluate each app for performance impact and build custom solutions where needed.

What do I need to get started?

Just a brief on your business, customers, products, timeline, and budget. Book a free Meet and Greet call — we'll send a tailored proposal within 48 hours.

Book a Free Shopify Audit →
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