You thought hiring an SEO agency would be a turning point. Finally, some experts to handle your visibility, boost your traffic, and help your business grow.

They came in with slick proposals, audits full of red flags, and a plan that promised results in a few months. It sounded like a system, like they knew what they were doing. So you signed the contract, paid the first retainer, and waited.

But now it’s been three, four, maybe six months and you’re staring at another report full of jargon, green arrows, and charts that don’t really mean anything. And your gut says it: This might be bullshit.

You’re Not Crazy for Questioning It

They told you SEO is a long game. And sure, it is a long game, provided when it’s done right.

But what you’re getting looks more like a stall than a strategy:

• Rankings have improved… but only for keywords nobody searches.
• Your traffic’s up a little… but conversions haven’t changed at all.
• They’ve added backlinks… but they’re from irrelevant or shady websites.

When you ask questions, they throw phrases at you like “algorithm updates,” “technical SEO cleanup,” or “building authority.” It’s starting to feel like smoke and mirrors.

When To Expect Your SEO Efforts Are Working

So what now? Do you pull the plug?

It’s tempting to just cut ties and move on. But before you do, it’s worth asking: Is this just slow progress… or no progress at all?

Because yes, SEO really is a long game. But long doesn’t mean aimless. You should still see signs of momentum along the way. If you’re not sure what to expect, here’s a realistic timeline to help you figure out whether your agency is behind schedule or just blowing smoke:

⏳ 0–3 Months: Setup & Foundation (Don’t expect big results yet)

• Technical fixes (site speed, crawl errors, mobile issues)
• Keyword research and mapping
• Content planning and cleanup
• Basic on-page SEO tweaks

✅ You should at least see work happening even if rankings haven’t changed yet.

⏳ 3–6 Months: Early Gains (You should see some progress)

• Some target keywords may start moving up
• Backlinks starting to appear
• Organic traffic may start to climb slowly

✅ If traffic, rankings, or impressions haven’t budged by month 6, it is time to raise questions.

⏳ 6–12 Months: Compounding Results (Momentum should be visible)

• More competitive keywords ranking
• Higher traffic, better-quality leads
• Content starting to earn links or rank on its own

✅ This is when real ROI usually begins but only if the earlier months were done right.

🚩 When to Call BS:

• After 3 months, if they can’t show you what they’ve done
• After 6 months, if traffic and rankings haven’t improved at all
• Anytime, if updates are vague, the content sucks, or you feel gaslit when you ask questions

You’re in the Dark And That’s the Real Problem

What’s actually been done on your site? What’s been written? Are they optimizing pages, or just sending reports?

You realize you don’t know. And that’s not your fault, it's because they haven’t shown you.

SEO isn’t supposed to be a black box. If you’re paying someone every month, you should know exactly what work is being done and what impact it’s having.

So what now? Do you pull the plug?

Not just yet. First, you double-check.

✅ What to Do Before You Pull the Plug on Your SEO Agency

You want to be fair that maybe this really is a slow burn. But if you feel like you’re wasting money, don’t wait passively. Do a proper gut-check.

Here’s a clear, step-by-step checklist to help you find out if your agency is delivering or just delivering excuses.

1. Check Their Work Yourself

Use tools like:

• Google Search Console
• Ahrefs—Marketing Intelligence Tools Powered by Big Data.
• Semrush - Online Marketing Can Be Easy
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Look for:

• Are you really getting the backlinks they claim?
• Are you ranking better for meaningful keywords?
• Is your site still full of crawl errors, duplicates, or technical problems?

2. Inspect Your Website for Actual Changes

Go into your CMS and review:

• Did they update page titles, meta descriptions, or internal links?
• Is schema markup in place?
• Have speed, mobile performance, or image optimizations improved?
• Did they fix the issues they identified in their initial audit?

If it looks like nothing’s changed since the first month… that’s a problem.

3. Evaluate the Content They Produced

Read the blog posts, landing pages, or product descriptions they’ve delivered.

Ask yourself:

• Does this sound like it came from someone who understands your brand?
• Is it useful and readable or keyword-stuffed filler?
• Would your target audience actually benefit from this content?

If the answer is “meh,” you already know.

4. Bring In a Neutral SEO Consultant

Hire an independent freelancer even for just an hour. Get a second opinion and ask them to review what your agency has done so far.

They’ll give it to you straight. No fluff. No loyalty to the agency. Just the facts.

If they spot missed basics, shady backlinks, or generic strategies, you’ll have confirmation.

5. Ask Your Agency Straightforward Questions

Stop accepting general updates. Ask for specifics, like:

• “What exactly did you change on the site this month?”
• “Which keywords are we focused on, and why?”
• “What’s one thing you did that directly impacted traffic or rankings?”
• “How are we tracking business results — not just search results?”

If they can’t answer clearly and confidently, that’s your answer right there.

The Harsh Truth: SEO Isn’t Bullshit But a Lot of Agencies Are

Good SEO takes work, strategy, and real technical and content skills. But the industry is full of agencies that do the bare minimum, hide behind reports, and hope you don’t ask too many questions.

They count on you being too busy or too unfamiliar with SEO to notice that nothing’s really happening.

But now you know better. You know what to look for, how to audit the results, and how to get real clarity.

So What’s Next? Find an Agency That Actually Shows the Work

If this whole process has made you skeptical, good. You should be.

But don’t let one bad experience make you think all SEO is a scam. There are agencies that do things differently.

At FoxAdvert, the focus is on transparency, measurable results, and real collaboration. You see exactly what’s being done, why it’s being done, and how it’s helping your business grow, not just your keyword list.

No fluff. No smoke. Just work that moves the needle.

Learn more: Why You Need SEO For Your Business Growth

Final Word: Don’t Pay for SEO That Doesn’t Show Up in the Real World

It’s your business. Your money. Your time.

If you’re not seeing visible progress, if your questions are being dodged, and if the “strategy” sounds more like stalling, don’t give them another month. You owe them nothing.

SEO should be moving you forward, not leaving you in the dark.

Want a free SEO audit or second opinion from FoxAdvert?

No pressure, just real insight so you can make the right call.

>>> Book an appointment now!