Understanding Junk Emails Targeting Your Business: Bogus SEO and Backlink Spammers

I. Understanding spam emails from form submissions

A. Definition of spam emails

Spam emails are unsolicited messages sent to a large number of recipients, often with the intent of promoting a product or service. These emails can clutter your inbox and, in some cases, pose a security risk.

B. How form submissions are exploited by spammers

Form submissions on your website are meant to facilitate communication between you and your customers. However, spammers exploit these forms by using automated scraping tools to send bulk messages to thousands of websites all at once. Often targeting small businesses in the hopes of making a quick profit.

C. Common characteristics of spam emails

Spam emails typically share some common characteristics, such as urgency, unprofessional language, and unrealistic promises. They’ll usually start by telling you there’s something drastically wrong with your website. They’ll tell you that your site is full of errors. Please be assured this is a marketing tactic and 2Brownies builds all our client websites to best practice standards. That doesn't mean there isn't room for a professional SEO program (which will further optimise your site) but all 2Brownies sites are built with strong foundational SEO principles in place.

They might then promise you a significant increase in website traffic or search engine ranking within a short period, at a cheap price and without any evidence or case studies to support their claims. In some cases, the person emailing you doesn’t even have a professional website of their own.

II. The origin of spam emails: low-quality email spammers

A. The profile of a typical spammer

Spammers are usually people or groups with little to no expertise in SEO, who rely heavily on taking black-hat shortcuts that can get your site banned.

They often do no research on their targets and rely on mass emailing to reach as many recipients as possible. Their primary goal is to make quick profits, with no accountability, even if it means resorting to unethical or illegal practices. (They are almost certainly in breach of the Australian Spam Act 2003).

When engaging an agency for SEO services, always look for a reputable website and a company with good reviews. Make sure the people running the business are easily identifiable and that you can have a conversation with them. If any of these details are missing, you’re most likely dealing with spammers.

B. Why spammers target small businesses

Small businesses are often seen as easy targets for spammers. This is because small business owners may not have the time or resources to differentiate between genuine and fake offers. Additionally, small businesses may not have robust cybersecurity measures in place, making them more vulnerable to attacks.

C. How spammers find their targets

Spammers use various techniques to find their targets, such as crawling thousands of websites for email addresses or using automated tools to send messages to large numbers of recipients. They may also purchase email lists from other spammers or data brokers. In some cases, spammers may even resort to hacking into databases or exploiting security vulnerabilities to obtain contact information.

IV. How to identify and ignore spam emails

A. Red flags to watch for

To identify spam emails, look for the following red flags:

1. Generic greetings: Spammers often use generic greetings, such as "Dear website owner" or "To whom it may concern," as they don’t take the time to research their targets and personalise their messages.
   
   
2. Lack of personalised information: Spam emails usually lack specific details about your business, industry or website, as spammers tend to send the same message to a large number of recipients.
   
   
3. Unrealistic promises: Spammers often make bold claims, such as guaranteeing top search engine rankings within a short period, without providing any evidence or a detailed plan to support their promises.
   
   
4. Requests for payment or sensitive information: Spammers may ask for payment upfront or request sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details, to gain access to your website or financial accounts.

B. Best practices for dealing with spam emails

To effectively deal with spam emails, follow these best practices:

1. Mark as spam: Most email clients have a "mark as spam" feature that helps filter similar messages in the future. By marking spam emails as such, you can train your email client to better recognise and filter them.
   
   
2. Do not respond: Avoid engaging with spammers, as responding can confirm that your email address is active, potentially leading to more spam emails in the future.
   
   
3. Use spam filters and security measures: Ensure that your email platform's spam filters are enabled and updated regularly. This is a very fine line. You want to filter out the worst of the spam emails but not filter out any legitimate business-related emails from potential clients. This means that usually you’ll have to put up with some junk emails in order to ensure you’re also receiving all legitimate messages.
   
   
4. Educate your team: Make sure your team members are aware of the dangers of spam emails and know how to identify and handle them. This can help minimise the risk of falling victim to spammers and prevent potential security breaches.

C. The importance of a professional approach to SEO and backlinks

There really are no shortcuts when it comes to SEO. While every website can benefit from an SEO program, that doesn't mean it's the best fit for you if your business is small and your budget is limited. There are afforable strategies that can help you get some traction in the search engines without an ongoing SEO program. We've written other posts on these topics:

The Importance of Website Backlinks

Backlinks for NDIS Providers Explained

Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Google Profile Listing

What is Off-Page SEO and How Will It Help My Business?

5 Key Marketing Steps for NDIS Service Providers on a Budget

And we have a "kick start SEO package" that is a one-off cost for new sites that helps to get your foot in the door with the search engines. It's a great place to start, especially when combined with some of the techniques we talk about in the blog posts above.

Working with a reputable digital agency, such as 2Brownies, can help ensure that your online marketing efforts are based on legitimate, up-to-date SEO and backlink strategies. Investing in long-term strategies can lead to robust and sustainable growth and a stronger online presence. We're here to chat and come up with a plan that works for your business and your budget.

A professional digital marketing agency will conduct thorough research, develop customised strategies tailored to your business goals, and implement industry best practices to improve your website's search engine rankings and online visibility. By partnering with a trusted agency, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your online marketing efforts are in good hands.

Just remember: Anyone offering cheap SEO either plans to:

1. Take the money and run, or
2. Use black-hat, automated techniques that come with a huge risk of a search engine ban

SEO done well is a relatively expensive and labour-intensive exercise. So, if you’re unsure whether it’s right for you, then get in touch and let’s chat. We will never sell you a service you don’t need or that won’t give you a good return on investment. Chats with 2Brownies are always free, so we might be able to bring some clarity to the situation.

Conclusion

Spam emails from bogus SEO and backlink spammers can be a frustrating and potentially harmful aspect of running a business online. By understanding the nature of these emails, their origin and the tactics used by spammers, you can better protect your business and maintain a strong online presence.

Remember to look out for the red flags mentioned above and follow best practices for dealing with spam emails . And most importantly, invest in a professional approach to your online marketing strategy by working with reputable agencies and focusing on long-term growth.

Keep in mind that legitimate SEO and backlink strategies require time, effort and expertise. The rewards can be worth it, but it’s always best to have a conversation with your agency partner. There are times when SEO isn’t going to be your best option and we can chat with you about other – often cheaper – ways of getting your business noticed.

And most importantly, don't let spam emails distract you from your primary goals or cause unnecessary stress! Stay educated, share this knowledge with your team, and partner with an agency partner like 2Brownies to maximise your online potential. Together, we can combat spam and continue to grow your business in the ever-evolving digital landscape.