🚨 Red Flags When Developers Handle Your SEO
Introduction
Hiring a web developer to build your website is a great first step for your online presence. But when that same developer offers to handle your SEO or digital marketing, you should proceed with caution.
While some developers do have SEO knowledge, many lack the expertise needed to properly optimize a site for search engines and drive long-term marketing success.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
⚠️ Red flags to watch for when a web developer offers SEO or digital marketing services
📉 How improper SEO can harm your business
✅ How to ensure you hire the right expert for SEO & digital marketing
🚨 1. They Say “SEO is Just Adding Keywords”
🔎 Reality Check: SEO is not just about keywords. A proper SEO strategy includes:
Technical SEO (site speed, mobile optimization, indexability)
On-page SEO (content optimization, meta descriptions, structured data)
Off-page SEO (backlinks, social signals, brand authority)
Local SEO (Google Business Profile, local citations, reviews)
🚩 Red Flag: If a web developer tells you SEO is only about inserting keywords, they don’t understand how search engines actually rank websites.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“How do you handle technical SEO, link building, and Google algorithm updates?”
🚨 2. They Offer SEO as a One-Time Service
🛑 SEO is an ongoing process, NOT a one-time fix.
📉 Google constantly updates its algorithms, meaning SEO requires continuous optimization and strategy adjustments.
🚩 Red Flag: If your web developer offers SEO as a one-time package with no ongoing strategy, it means they don’t understand how SEO works long-term.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“What is your ongoing SEO strategy to keep my rankings high over time?”
🚨 3. They Focus Only on Design, Not SEO Structure
💻 A beautiful website means nothing if no one finds it on Google.
⚡ Many developers focus only on aesthetics but ignore SEO fundamentals, such as:
Fast-loading pages (Google prioritizes speed 🚀)
Mobile-friendly design (Most searches happen on mobile 📱)
Proper site architecture (Clear navigation & URL structures 🔗)
🚩 Red Flag: If a web developer prioritizes flashy animations over site speed and SEO structure, your site will likely rank poorly in search results.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“How do you optimize websites for both speed & search engine performance?”
🚨 4. They Don’t Mention Google Analytics or Search Console
📊 SEO success requires tracking & data analysis. Without Google Analytics & Search Console, you have no way to measure whether your SEO is working.
🚩 Red Flag: If your web developer doesn’t set up Google Analytics or Google Search Console, they likely don’t understand how to track SEO performance.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“Will you set up and monitor Google Analytics & Search Console for my site?”
🚨 5. They Use “Secret” or “Guaranteed” SEO Tactics
🛑 No one can guarantee page 1 rankings—not even Google!
⚠️ Some developers use black-hat SEO tactics (keyword stuffing, spammy backlinks) that can get your site penalized by Google.
🚩 Red Flag: If they promise “instant results” or say they have a “special relationship” with Google, run away!
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“What ethical SEO strategies do you use to improve rankings over time?”
🚨 6. They Don’t Offer Any Link-Building Strategy
🔗 Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) are one of the most important SEO ranking factors.
📉 If a web developer never mentions backlinks, they don’t have a full SEO strategy in place.
🚩 Red Flag: If they say “we don’t need backlinks,” your SEO will likely struggle to compete in search rankings.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“How will you help build high-quality backlinks to increase my website authority?”
🚨 7. They Suggest Using AI-Generated or Duplicate Content
📢 Google penalizes low-quality, duplicate, or AI-generated content that lacks value.
✍️ SEO requires real, valuable content that answers users' questions.
🚩 Red Flag: If a web developer suggests using AI-generated content or copying competitor content, your site could face SEO penalties.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“How do you ensure all content is original, engaging, and optimized for SEO?”
🚨 8. They Don’t Offer Local SEO for Small Businesses
📍 If you run a local business, Local SEO is critical.
🏆 Ranking in the Google Maps Pack can drive huge traffic to your business.
🚩 Red Flag: If your developer doesn’t optimize your Google Business Profile or mentions nothing about local citations, your business will struggle to rank in local searches.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“What is your strategy for improving Local SEO and Google Maps rankings?”
🚨 9. They Don’t Optimize for Mobile SEO
📱 Over 60% of searches happen on mobile.
⚡ Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’ll rank lower.
🚩 Red Flag: If your developer doesn’t test your site on mobile or ignores page speed, your site will lose rankings.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“Will my site be fully optimized for mobile SEO and page speed?”
🚨 10. They Don’t Stay Updated on Google Algorithm Changes
🔄 Google updates its search algorithm multiple times every year.
📉 Outdated SEO tactics (like keyword stuffing) no longer work and can even harm rankings.
🚩 Red Flag: If your developer hasn’t studied recent Google updates, they might use outdated SEO strategies.
✅ What to Ask Instead:
“How do you stay updated on Google’s latest SEO best practices?”
🔎 The Right Way to Do SEO & Digital Marketing
If you’re serious about SEO, you need an expert—not just a web developer who “dabbles” in digital marketing.
At NORIN Digital, we specialize in:
✅ SEO Strategy Development (Technical SEO, Local SEO, Link Building)
✅ Google Analytics & Search Console Tracking
✅ PPC & Digital Marketing Campaigns
✅ Long-Term Growth Strategies
🔹 Your website is an investment—don’t let a web developer ruin your SEO before you even start!
📞 Need expert SEO for your business? Contact NORIN Digital today for a free consultation! 🚀
🔥 Key Takeaways
✔️ SEO is not just about adding keywords—it’s about strategy, backlinks, content, and analytics.
✔️ Web developers are not always SEO experts—and bad SEO can harm your business long-term.
✔️ Ask the right questions before trusting anyone with your SEO.
✔️ Work with SEO professionals (like NORIN Digital) to ensure long-term success.
💡 Next Step: Need a site audit or want to see how your SEO stacks up? Let’s talk! 🚀
