With so many companies providing SEO services, it’s very difficult to pin down someone you can trust. Allowing someone to access your site’s code and your personal information does require a certain level of trustworthiness and professionalism. Lots of companies offer ‘free search engine optimization’ to draw new clients in. The question is: can you trust them?

A first question to answer is exactly what the company means when they offer free services. As any smart business owner knows, it’s impossible to operate a business when all of your services are free. There is always a catch. It’s important to sort out how big that catch is before you jump on board.

The difference between free analysis and free SEO

You’ll often see SEO companies advertising that they will provide an optimization analysis for free. These sorts of offers appear right next to other offers of free SEO services, and this can cause a bit of confusion.

There are many, many SEO companies that will provide a free search engine optimization analysis. It’s practically standard in such a highly competitive industry, and you can talk to us at SEO Consult about free SEO analysis. Most companies, however, draw the line at providing any formal advice without discussing fees.

Companies offering free services should be looked at very cautiously. In order to provide this service, you will need to provide personal information. This puts you in a very tenuous position.

The difference is between providing a basic assessment, much like a mechanic giving you a quote, and providing actual services, like a mechanic fixing your car. If a guy with a wrench in hand approached you in the street, you’d be unlikely to trust him. Much the same attitude should be maintained for companies offering to provide you with completely free SEO.