Your thoughts on Pay-Per-Rank (Performance based) SEO firms

[paddlej]

I am seeing several Pay-Per-Rank (performance based) SEO firms popping up lately. The model is interesting. They only take on the work that they know they can achieve good results. Most seem advertise white hat SEO.

Overall thougts?

Anyone have any experience with these firms? Any recommendations?

[ResslerMotors]

It's my personal opinion that the only way to really review a SEO company is by talking to them.  I always ask:

1. What's your typical ROI?
2. What's a typical traffic growth?
3. What's the most competitive phrase you've ranked for?
4. Do you do link building?
5. Do you outsource your link building?

After this first wave of questions, I always ask for an example of their work, which I do an SEO background check on.  Check to see if they are following the basics (Title, H1, etc.), check to see the quality of links they provide and check to see if they own a network of websites that they are going to use to link to you.

Everyone would prefer that they found ways to convince webmasters to just link to you because of the quality of your content, but there are some companies that will either buy websites to create a network, or just pay webmasters to house links.  Both of these have some risk involved if the Search Engines discover that you are just housing a network of websites for the use of link building, or that you are paying for links.

[KeriMorgret]

My first thought is that rank isn't the same as performance for the site owner! You can pay them a lot for ranking for keywords that are not going to make you any money or have no competition and are so long-tail that nobody will search for them.

[watchcases]

I got a cold call from such a firm recently and was half tempted to turn them loose on a super competitive keyword and then reap the benefits of their links. Their methods were mostly going to be forum posts and comments, which wouldn't have done enough.

[paddlej]

Thanks Lucas, good info. Yes, that is my experience as well. Do you remember the firm?