Red flags / green flags

The signals that separate scam SEO from trustworthy SEO. Red flags (avoid, and never become): guaranteed #1 rankings, promises of fast results, “secret sauce” or insider-Google claims, no transparency, and implausibly cheap pricing. Green flags (build toward): transparency, client education, real case studies, realistic 3–6+ month timelines, and business-outcome reporting. In a guru-polluted market, every green flag doubles as a differentiator.

First used in: 4.6 · Ethics, guarantees & churn