A Story of Resilience in the Face of Digital Deception
We recently had the opportunity to meet with one of our new clients, who unfortunately found themselves in a distressing situation after being scammed. This individual had been receiving a significant number of leads and calls from their website when they decided to invest in a website update, where they were promised to enhance their traffic quickly. However, the outcome was far from promising.
The company they engaged with for the website update not only failed to deliver on their promises but also caused significant damage! They not only got the client banned from their own Google My Business but also erased all account data, including authority, reviews, and history. Moreover, they replaced the client's original website with a generic template, featuring services the client didn't even offer! To exacerbate matters, they even set up a new Google My Business listing with incorrect information. When the client raised concerns about the missing reviews, the company offered to fabricate some.
The aftermath of this debacle was devastating for the client. Since the incident in May 2023, they have seen zero calls or traffic from their website. They've had to undertake extensive efforts to recover and rectify their Google My Business situation, with no success. Despite losing all their data and history, they were still forced to pay for the subpar website, with the company refusing to adjust the services listed without further charges.
In a desperate attempt to resolve the issue, the client reached out to Google directly (so they thought), only to fall victim to another scam. They believed they were communicating with a legitimate support agent, but ended up losing more money in an attempt to fix the problems.
This person has suffered significant losses, both in terms of time and money, and has seen a drastic decline in web traffic and leads (which makes sense). This individual has endured a considerable ordeal. We're grateful for the opportunity to assist them in turning their business around and regaining lost leads. They've been through enough so we've provided them with free reports and complementary services to help get them back on track.
Low prices and enticing promises can often be red flags rather than indicators of quality service. It's crucial to reflect on the offerings of any company carefully. When it comes to your brand and your reputation having trusted partners is key!
Here are some things to ask yourself?
Are they sharing valuable knowledge, tools, and research on their social channels and websites?
Are they staying current within their industry and yours?
Are they willing to meet and chat with me via phone or video call? Sometimes, putting a face to a name, or staying anonymous, can raise a red flag.
Are they asking me questions about my goals and intent, or are they just trying to push me through a funnel?
These are the green flags to look out for when seeking reliable digital marketing assistance.
It's important to have a digital marketing team that you trust and is there to keep your best interests in mind! If you want to talk about your digital marketing strategy reach out to me at trista@ftlom.ca
