How to Buy SEO Services: What to Check Before You Order

Updated

Buy SEO services only after you've matched the service type to your actual goal, confirmed how delivery and tracking work, and checked the seller's replacement policy. On a curated marketplace like ElanceMarket™, that means reading each listing's delivery method and guarantees before paying — not just comparing prices. If a seller promises specific rankings, asks for your account credentials, or can't explain how results are tracked, don't order.

Decide what kind of SEO service you actually need

"SEO services" covers several different jobs. Buying the wrong type wastes money even if the seller is legitimate.

Your situation Service type to look for
New site, no content structure Keyword research, on-page optimization
Good content, no visibility Link building / off-page SEO
Local business, physical customers Local SEO (listings, maps, reviews)
App instead of website App Store Optimization (ASO) — a separate category

ElanceMarket™ lists SEO alongside ASO, Android/iOS marketing, Quora marketing, YouTube marketing, and WordPress/eCommerce services, so you can pick the category that matches your asset rather than forcing a website-focused service onto an app or a marketplace listing.

If you're unsure which category fits, the marketplace's own search terms (Digital SEO, ASO, Keyword Research, eCommerce) are a reasonable starting filter.

Check how the seller delivers before you check the price

Delivery method is the single best signal of whether a service is safe for your account. On ElanceMarket™, listings describe delivery in specific terms you can verify:

  • Drip feed delivery — orders are delivered gradually over time rather than all at once. The stated purpose is to present natural growth and protect your account. A listing that delivers everything instantly is a different risk profile.
  • No account credentials required — the marketplace states it does not need your account credentials, so there is no path for your account to be accessed or banned through the order. Treat any seller who does ask for a password as a stop signal.
  • Real users and devices — the platform states delivery comes from real users on real devices, with tracking available in a dashboard. Ask what the dashboard shows you before ordering.
  • Free replacement — if part of an order drops, the stated policy is a free replacement. Confirm this applies to the specific listing you're buying, since terms can differ per service.

Red flags that should stop the purchase

  • Guaranteed rankings. No legitimate service controls search engine algorithms. A ranking guarantee is a claim the seller can't back.
  • Requests for your account password or login. ElanceMarket™ explicitly states it doesn't need credentials. Any seller who does is outside that safety model.
  • Prices far below comparable listings with no explanation of what's reduced.
  • No delivery timeline or reporting method described anywhere in the listing.
  • No replacement or refund terms stated.

What to confirm at checkout

Before paying, get answers to these five questions — from the listing text or by contacting support:

  1. What exactly is delivered? (e.g., keyword installs, reviews, link placements, on-page changes)
  2. Over what period? Drip feed vs. instant changes how the order looks to search engines and app stores.
  3. How do I track it? The platform advertises a transparent dashboard — confirm it covers your order type.
  4. What happens if delivery drops? Free replacement is the stated policy; confirm the window.
  5. Who do I contact if something goes wrong? ElanceMarket™ lists Skype and email support for tailored orders.

Start small, then scale

A staged approach limits your downside:

  1. Order the smallest available package in your chosen category.
  2. Verify delivery against the dashboard and your own analytics.
  3. Test the replacement policy if anything is short — this tells you whether the guarantee is real.
  4. Only then increase order size or move to a premium package.

ElanceMarket™ shows order counts on popular listings (for example, Android rating and review services in the tens of thousands of orders), which gives you a rough sense of track record — but order volume is not proof of quality for your specific site or app. Use it as one input, not the deciding one.

Bottom line

Buy SEO services by matching the service category to your asset, verifying the delivery method and tracking, and confirming the replacement terms — in that order. Price and order counts come last. If a listing can't answer how it delivers, how you track it, and what happens when delivery falls short, it isn't ready to buy from.