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Marketing + Shortcuts = Problems
3 Ways Cheating Google WILL Backfire
…And 3 Ways To Do It Right!
Unscrupulous people offer you lots of cheats as a surefire way to get the marketing results you want. Like any too-good-to-be-true plans, the results you get might be very different from the ones you’re promised. In truth, cheating Google will have significant consequences.
3 Obvious Reasons Why Marketing Cheats Do Not Work:
- Cheats are not sustainable. Google always catches on when people try to game the system. When Google sees a negative trend, they release updates that penalize you for the practice. Years ago, keyword stuffing (loading a page up with tons of variations of a search term) was a guaranteed way to get good rankings. The problem is that the stuffing made for poor results when the user clicked on the page. Then, GOOGLE PUNISHED SITES THAT USED THIS TECHNIQUE. It took some companies years to rebound once Google cracked down on it.
- Shortcuts and cheats are often not effective. People that are willing to scam Google are also willing to scam you! The 10,000 leads you just paid for might not be worth the time it takes to download them.
- Shortcuts and cheats can be unethical. This one should probably go without saying at all, but if you’re not being honest with your audience, you’re going to lose their trust.
“There is no shortcut to success,” says Mark Sherwin, President and Co-Founder of LeadsNearby. “If you’re not building a solid foundation for your marketing, you will fall behind.”
What To Look For When You’re Making A Marketing Choice
“The easiest way to evaluate a marketing decision is to see how you would feel if you were on the other side of it,” offers Nick Smith, Content Strategist at LeadsNearby.
“If you were going to buy a phone and found out the reviews you considered were all paid to praise the product, you’d probably be unhappy.”
Bob Misita, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of LeadsNearby, takes it one step further. “We actually had a person contact our client and offer to provide ‘legitimate’ Google reviews to him—for a price.”
Bob points out that, other than the obvious ethical breach, there are other major issues with this!
“Paying for reviews is illegal in Google’s eyes. Paying for reviews will get you banned. You won’t believe how hard it is to come back from that in this day and age.”
Everyone tries to put their product or service in the best light, but it is possible to go too far. If you do, you will pay a price.
Stick To The Basics of Marketing
“Google has given us a roadmap,” says Maria Pierson, who works on Search Engine Optimization at LeadsNearby. “All we have to do is follow it.”
→ Create high-quality content. “This is the most important thing you can do,” adds Bob. “If you’re not creating high-quality content, no one is going to pay attention to you.”
→ Build relationships with your audience. Jessica Bermudez, Client Success Director at LeadsNearby says, “Make sure you get to know your customer and have content that they care about. This will help you have a site people actually want to read. Google rewards that.”
→ Be patient. Nick reminds you that it takes time to build a successful marketing campaign. “Don’t expect to see results overnight. But, if you have a good product and do things the right way, the results will come. That will never happen if you get caught cheating Google.”
If you need more honest marketing advice, call Mark Sherwin at 919-758-8420 . Let him walk you through what it’s like to work with a marketing company that you can be proud of!
Update (April 2025): Google recently shared that it’s using advanced AI (codename “Gemini”) to identify suspicious edits and fake five-star reviews. They removed over 10,000 fraudulent business listings impersonating real locksmiths, blocked or removed more than 240 million policy-violating reviews in 2024, and took down more than 12 million fake Business Profiles.
This confirms what we’ve been saying all along: if you try to game the system with unethical tactics, you will be caught. Rather than risk getting penalized or blacklisted, focus on providing genuine, high-quality content and building trust with your customers—because shortcuts almost always backfire.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheating Google
Why is paying for reviews a bad idea?
Paying for reviews violates Google’s policies and can lead to severe penalties. It also erodes the trust customers place in genuine feedback, ultimately damaging your brand reputation.
How can I recover if I’ve used black-hat SEO tactics in the past?
Focus on cleaning up spammy backlinks, removing thin or keyword-stuffed content, and following Google’s guidelines. In some cases, you may need to request a reconsideration from Google if you’ve been penalized.
How do I measure effective audience engagement?
Use analytics tools to check your site’s bounce rate, time on page, and conversion metrics. Look at social shares, comments, and user feedback to gauge interest and engagement.
How long does it usually take to see SEO results?
Depending on your industry and competition, you can start seeing initial results within a few months. However, lasting improvements typically take 6–12 months of consistent, high-quality marketing efforts.
Why is high-quality content essential for success?
High-quality content helps you rank better in search results, fosters trust among potential customers, and increases brand authority. It’s the foundation of a sustainable, long-term marketing strategy.
