A lot of companies have contacted us after they have had a nightmare experience using offshore marketing companies. On the surface, these companies will look real and seem like they are trying to help you. But diving deeper into the company will show that they are only interested in your money, not the success of your business.
How to tell if a company is not legit:
1.) Don’t show their product!
They do not show examples of their work or what they will offer. If you can’t show what your product is going to look like, it probably isn’t good enough to show off. This also often means that they make everything exactly the same so they can copy and replace, rather than create.
2.) Do not have a U.S. based team.
When asking for a meeting, request an in-person meeting. If they deny your request or say that online is easier, it shows that they have outsourced their employees and are not fully committed to learning more about or taking care of your business. Sometimes these “U.S. based companies” actually outsource the work to other countries. A website edit could take over a week to complete, not one business day.
3.) Read Reviews!
Be sure to go online and look up the company and read any reviews that show untrustworthiness. Most offshore marketing companies will have negative reviews. Any 1 star reviews will show bad client-business relationships. Sometimes the marketing company will even reply to these negative reviews, arguing with the business owner rather than meeting and discussing in-person.
4.) Learn about the owner.
Check out their LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social profiles and followings. This will give you a great idea on if this company is owned by a real person, or just someone trying to get your money. It will also tell a lot about who the character of the person is.
5.) Vague or Unrealistic Promises.
Scam marketing companies often promise guaranteed results like “#1 on Google in a week” or “Instant leads and sales.” Digital marketing takes time, and no legitimate agency can promise overnight success.