What do you hate most about SEO services on BHW?

[neverquitting]

I have a number of pet peeves about buying links on BHW, primarily stemming from spurious claims and a complete unwillingness on the part of sellers to maintain the quality of their product long term. The problem, of course, is that every seller has to compete on price, and putting in effort and quality means spending time and money.

I've been working on a PBN that's more like a money site network than the blatantly obvious stuff that dominates the Marketplace right now, but I'm not entirely sure there's a market for this type of service. I figured I'd solicit some input from others to see what they feel is really lacking and how I can provide something that actually offers value to the buyer rather than just selling them lies and fairy dust.

So what frustrates you the most and how can we make things better around here? Let's hear it!

EDIT: One thing I'd actually specifically like to solicit thoughts on is sending or not sending reports. I get the idea of protecting the network, but let's be honest, business on BHW operates on a sort of mutual distrust, and not sending a report leaves no way of knowing whether or not anything was done (especially if robots are also blocked on a network). How much transparency do you really want (with the understanding that everyone else would get the same)?

 

[Hawkster]

There are many things that piss many people off, my number 1 is - The seller sending a pm to a person who has asked an important question on the thread rather than posting the answer on the thread.


My Dog Just Farted And It Stinks

 

[archon10]

It's stupid to compete on price. Better to compete with higher prices for higher quality.

 

[neverquitting]

It's stupid to compete on price. Better to compete with higher prices for higher quality.

While that's a very high-minded principle, at the end of the day, selling on the Marketplace is about turning a profit. You make zero profit if there are no sales. Look at how many people believe you really can "reach Google page 1 for only $3" to see what price points generate business.

Would you pay $25 per post on a PBN that would easily pass manual inspection, for example? Or are you going to say, well I could get those same metrics from another guy for $15, so screw it?

 

[lightningblitz]

My list is....

1. Horrible TAT
2. Sending PMs rather than answer in the thread.
3. Horrible TAT
4. Lying about results - No, your service can't rank 'Payday Loans' with 100 shitty PBN posts
5. Horrible TAT
6. Networks going down (Happens ALL the time)
7. Horrible TAT
8. Poor Communication / No communication
9. Horrible TAT
10. No Reports - I highly doubt ANY work was done

Some people do NOT mind paying more for a good network that will be around, as long as it follows TAT, the seller is responsive, and SOME type of report is given. I get it, protect your network. Screen shots, domain stats, some type of report or 'Work Completed' is better that I get out of most sellers.

I have had Guest Posts, PBN, Web 2.0, 'Authority Lins', ect. all go down and the seller will not replace. Worse is once you get to a point of having many projects, chasing this work down OR checking every links weekly is a pain. I expect a seller to be proactive and check the links for me, and if they go down replace them. But, that is not what happens.

Oh yeah, number 11, Chasing Work. Forget TAT, it has been two months and I am waiting on a revision to an article and over a month for articles to come in from a seller. I am sick of chasing my work down.

As far as TAT is concerned, I run a business. I have multiple sites. I have clients. If I want 10 Web 2.0s built and pay you for 24 hour delivery, and PM you asking for an update at 48 hours, and get a reply at 72 hours "Report on its way" and I again, follow up 24 hours after this PM to be told "My bad, bro" I am pissed. If I order rush delivery for a project or a client, my head is on the chopping block because you are not a professional. I get it, we are on the internet and most work from home. But the level of professionalism is out of this world. I order and pay for a specific delivery time. I expect it.

I have almost got to the point I requesting a refund via Paypal for every late transaction and opening a Shit List. Nearly every seller does not follow the TAT, nor notifies the client it may take longer. In the real world, if my company fails to deliver on time for a client (Or I am late, or my product or service failed) I give a refund and they keep the product or I do the service for free. Do I expect this on BHW? No. But I expect the seller to tell me "Hey, I am going to be late, expect service to arrive in 2 additional days" or "Hey, some of the links will go down because we do not use unique accounts or proxies for submission, and if you want us to this is a custom order and would take extra time and money".

I am ranting now. I almost want to be able to moderate the Marketplace to shape things up because 99% of sellers fail TAT / under deliver / blatantly lie.

So, if you want to start a BST:

1. Be Honest with Clients (Like you would Local SEO)
2. Follow TAT like a Professional
3. Give a Report (Again, like Local SEO, show me what you did)
4. Answer things on your thread (It is a customer service thread weather you like it or not.)
5. Keep your network or work up - Or replace it and notify the buyer of what happened.

If the marketplace had 'professional' sellers, I see a big opportunity for other 'professionals' to make money from.

You see guys, and not knocking him as he is great, like Tommy selling a service for 5 X + what you can find it in BHW. Why use Tommy then? Aside from him knowing how to do his job WELL and getting results, he always gives: Reports, Follows TAT, and acts as a Professional when working with him.

You may get less clients but can charge a LOT more because people with serious money expect work to be done in a specific manor. Everyone has been burned in business by someone who 'does this on the side' and now go legit. If you product works like a guy who 'does SEO on the side' you get clients who want the cheapest work done but expect the biggest results. Or, you provide a quality service and get people who want 'Professionals' to do a job they can't or do not have time for.

Rant over. The Marketplace is a mess. If you get results and run this like a business, you can clean house.

 

[mickyfu]

Ones that are severe bullshit and allowed to exist. Panda safe, Penguin safe, Matt Cutts approved links, Whitehat link building, and outstanding reviews by one day old accounts that only ever feel the need to post one post telling everyone just how good the BST is.

 

[Not Ste Hughes]

I hate the fact mods allow posts which make claims such as "google approved" and other bullshit.

 

[luke6966]

How about the fact that quite a few, if not most, sellers are just scamming the shit out of you

Offer one thing then deliver something else

 

[deancow]

Selling (and calling it) PBN posts. It's not private if you are selling posts to it in a public forum.

 

[mudbutt]

Would you pay $25 per post on a PBN that would easily pass manual inspection, for example? Or are you going to say, well I could get those same metrics from another guy for $15, so screw it?

How can you guarantee the pbn would pass a manual inspection, especially if you sell it on a public forum? Answer: You can't.

 

[Shaunm]

The low post count reviews and bump posts on the threads are a big one for me along with the fact most people in there have no idea what they are doing.

 

[neverquitting]

How can you guarantee the pbn would pass a manual inspection, especially if you sell it on a public forum? Answer: You can't.

By that argument, mid-tier authority sites should be getting slammed by google because their links are being sold unbeknownst to them. And my comment was just tossing around hypotheticals, I'm not offering a service yet or in the near future. My business right now is content, though I freely admit I have plans to expand down the line.

 

[Deleted member 708208]

This thread I made sums up a lot that's wrong with so called "Agencies"

7 Reasons Why You Should Fire Your SEO Agency


My biggest pet peeve? The cartoon characters. I would not spend 1 cent on a company that rips
copyrights from barney and friends. Real marketers know you don't mess with copyrights for the fun of it.

 

[Lauriat]

I hate that sellers ask buyers to leave a comment 'i just purchased this' to bump up their thread. I think this should not be allowed.

 

[Shaunm]

This thread I made sums up a lot that's wrong with so called "Agencies"

7 Reasons Why You Should Fire Your SEO Agency


My biggest pet peeve? The cartoon characters. I would not spend 1 cent on a company that rips
copyrights from barney and friends. Real marketers know you don't mess with copyrights for the fun of it.

My post from your thread....

I think some BST sellers got this confused with the BST Must haves in their sales graphics and are trying to get as many of them in as possible.

Pretty much maintain my statement too lol.

 

[fullyniche]

Everyone share Matt Cutts approval.. I don't think..! Is Matt cutt says links approved by myself? Maybe...

 

[neverquitting]

I hate that sellers ask buyers to leave a comment 'i just purchased this' to bump up their thread. I think this should not be allowed.

I'm curious why you think this. I feel like (assuming these are real purchases) it shows some social proof that others see a value in your service (especially if it's a repeat buyer). Without a bump from new or completed orders, threads would be fairly barren, no? You'd have sellers intentionally being vague in their OP so people would bump the thread by asking questions.

 

[EatSleepSEO]

There are many things that piss many people off, my number 1 is - The seller sending a pm to a person who has asked an important question on the thread rather than posting the answer on the thread.

PM Sent.............

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

I hate some of the names, especially services named after the current trendy movies.

 

[mickyfu]

And what really pisses me off is sellers who want you bump their threads with transaction ids. I have had several not start work because I had not posted in their threads.