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The Truth Behind SEO Agency Guarantees in Korea

Index

First, let’s clarify that no SEO agency, including Growth Marketing Agency, should guarantee SEO services or claim to guarantee rankings on Naver, Google, or any other search engines. It’s impossible for anyone to guarantee natural search rankings on these platforms.

Of course, some SEO agencies achieve much better results than others.

Why Can’t SEO Agencies Guarantee Their Services?

No SEO agency can control how Google or Naver ranks websites. Even if someone worked as a developer responsible for the search algorithms at these companies, they could never fully understand every aspect of it. This is because the algorithms have been adjusted and refined by many people over a long period, making it impossible for one person to have complete knowledge of them.

To respond to changes in search algorithms, SEO agencies like ours take a reverse engineering approach. We analyze the changed search results, estimate the new algorithm, and do our best to optimize your website’s ranking on both Google and Naver.

Agencies that guarantee high rankings without upfront fees are likely engaging in unethical practices (like Black Hat SEO) or promising visible results that have nothing to do with the performance you expect.

Always check if the SEO agency you’re considering has case studies and references you can review.

Read Google and Naver’s official stances on SEO agency contracts that claim to “guarantee rankings” and be cautious.

If you’re wondering how to choose a good SEO agency, you can refer to our guide on selecting the right SEO agency.

What to Expect from SEO Agencies Offering Guaranteed Services

SEO agencies that offer guaranteed services usually include the following:

  • Guarantees for rankings on very easy keywords
  • Bait-and-switch tactics using paid search (keyword advertising)
  • Outsourced SEO services
  • Poor-quality copywriting
  • Risky backlink-building techniques
  • Sales teams that are better at consulting than delivering results
  • Focusing solely on the quantity of low-quality links
  • Automated SEO packages
  • Offering the same service to all clients
  • Other deceptive sales strategies

The Difference Between SEO and Paid Search

Let’s look at this in more detail. When you search for something on Google or Naver, you’ll see both organic search results and paid search results.

The Difference Between SEO and Paid Search
Paid search results appear at the top of the page, labeled as “Sponsored” or “AD.”

Google Ads / Naver Ads

These are ads purchased through Google Ads or Naver Ads to promote or sell a company’s products and services. When a user clicks on one of these ads, they are taken to the business’s website.

Businesses pay Google or Naver each time a user clicks on their ad, a model known as Cost Per Click (CPC). The cost can range from as low as 100 KRW per click to over 100,000 KRW, depending on the competitiveness of the keyword in the industry.

The search engine’s algorithm determines the order of ads in the paid section. This algorithm is based on the amount the business is willing to pay for the ad and the “Quality Score” of the website.

How Do Google and Naver Determine Website Rankings?

To achieve a high rank in organic search results, Google and Naver must consider your website an authority on the searched keywords. The more general and competitive the keyword, the harder it is to rank high.

For example, “Intellectual Property Lawyer” is easier to rank for than simply “Lawyer.” While search engines don’t disclose exactly how their algorithms work, industry experts agree that the following factors are crucial:

  • The number and quality of inbound links
  • The use of keywords in the website’s titles, headings, and content
  • The quantity and freshness of content
  • Website speed and usability
  • Online reviews and business reputation
  • Mentions on social media
  • Other factors such as site structure and code organization

For more information on how to achieve high rankings, check out Growth Marketing Agency’s guide to improving search rankings.

Are Conditional Guarantee Contracts from SEO Agencies Reliable?

Not all agencies deliver the results they promise. So, how should you choose an SEO agency?

First, let’s briefly explain what a conditional guarantee contract is. It’s a contract between the service provider and the client, where the provider guarantees a specific result, and the client receives that result. If the promised outcome isn’t achieved, the client is entitled to a refund.

Are Conditional Guarantee Contracts from SEO Agencies Reliable?

Why do SEO agencies recommend conditional guarantee contracts? It’s to secure their revenue.

Many companies choose SEO agencies to achieve the goal of ranking high on search engines like Naver and Google. However, if they don’t achieve this goal, they often end up paying without seeing results. In such cases, a conditional guarantee contract may seem like a safer option since the client won’t have to pay unless the service is successful.

However, you need to be careful when choosing an agency offering such a contract. Some agencies exploit these contracts by providing results that only seem impressive on the surface but don’t actually meet the client’s goals. These contracts are often designed to shift responsibility away from the agency rather than truly benefiting the client.

Therefore, it’s crucial to verify if the agency is trustworthy and if the contract is properly drafted.

홈플러스의 100% 환불 정책 포스터 이미지
In the fresh food industry, for example, the “100% refund policy” was a concern for potential abuse. However, industry insiders noted that the percentage of consumers who actually requested refunds was very low. Emphasizing a 100% refund policy helped to build an image of a trustworthy company. (Source: “맛 없으면 100% 환불”…악용 각오한 유통업계의 노림수 : 네이트 뉴스)

As online market competition intensifies, companies must choose an SEO agency to attract more customers on platforms like Naver and Google. However, it’s important to ensure that the agency is trustworthy and that the contract is well-drafted.

The services provided by an SEO agency can significantly contribute to your company’s growth and development, so make your choice carefully to achieve the best results.

Growth Marketing Agency Works Differently from Other SEO Agencies

In conclusion, reputable SEO agencies cannot and should not guarantee any specific rankings on Naver or Google. Unfortunately, there’s no “magic wand” for achieving top rankings.

At Growth Marketing Agency, we don’t make unreliable promises of success. Instead, we stay updated on search algorithms and continuously research ways to improve your website’s ranking, consistently delivering results.

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Yeawon Park - GP / SEO Content Specialist
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