Green flags
- Transparent monthly reporting you can actually read.
- Real case studies and verifiable reviews.
- A named human you can call.
- Honest timelines (months, not days) and no ranking "guarantees."
Red flags
- Guaranteed #1 rankings or "instant" results.
- Prices under ~$300/month (that’s bot spam).
- No reporting, no contact name, vague answers.
- Year-long lock-in contracts with no exit.
The best test: can they rank themselves?
Here’s the check almost nobody runs: does the SEO company actually rank for its own terms? Search their company name, their industry, their city, and their state. A real firm should rank for its own core keywords across multiple cities and its whole state, because if they can’t do it for themselves in their own backyard, how are they going to do it for you?
Ask to see the specific keywords and cities they rank for. A vague answer is a red flag; a screenshot of their own rankings across a competitive market is the green flag you want.
Common questions
Can any SEO company guarantee rankings?
No, Google’s results aren’t for sale and no one controls them. Any guarantee of a specific position is a marketing lie; run the other way.
What should I ask before hiring?
Ask what they’ll do each month, how you’ll see progress, for two client references, and whether you can leave anytime. Clear answers = legit.
Why is Fivenson different?
We are an Ann Arbor studio with 130+ five-star reviews, real reporting, and no lock-in, and you can always see the work and the clients we have done it for. We did not start offering SEO until we had proven it on ourselves. Our own core keywords, like web design and logo design, now rank across Ann Arbor, other Michigan cities, and the whole state. If we could not rank ourselves in a competitive field, we would not ask you to trust us with yours. We will also tell you honestly if SEO is not the right move for your business. We are in it for the long game, as a partner, not a fly-by-night company, because reputation matters more than any dollar amount, which is why we give you real value up front.