SEO isn’t a magic trick—it’s a strategy built on trust, relevance, and long-term consistency. So why do so many businesses fall for backlink promises that sound too good to be true? In this post, I share a real-life story of a longtime client who swapped strategy for shortcuts, and what happened next was… predictably painful. If you’ve ever been tempted by “10,000 backlinks for $99,” this one’s for you.
Once upon a time, in the vast land of the internet, a noble business owner faced a tempting offer from a mysterious marketing wizard. "I will grant you thousands of backlinks," the wizard said, stroking his algorithmic beard. "You shall outrank all your foes and receive endless traffic!"
And just like that… my client vanished into the fog with the wizard, leaving behind a trail of solid rankings, high-quality backlinks, and one mildly bitter SEO specialist (me).
The Real Backstory (AKA: This Actually Happened)
I’ve known this client for nearly 15 years. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve ranked first page together. But like many relationships, this one had commitment issues. For years, he danced the cha-cha with my SEO services—on again, off again, for no longer than a few months at a time.
Still, despite the inconsistencies, his site was performing really well. I helped him rank for multiple local regions, and his organic visibility was as healthy as a kale smoothie. But then came the sweet siren song of a different agency...
Other Agency: "We’ll build you THOUSANDS of backlinks. You’ll swim in web traffic! You’ll bathe in leads!"
*Fails to mention those links are as relevant as a MySpace profile in 2025.*
The Backlink Mirage: Why "Thousands of Links" ≠ Results
Let’s clear something up: backlinks are great—if they’re relevant, high-quality, and earned. But throwing thousands of links at a site from shady forums, expired domains, or websites that haven’t seen daylight since 2009? That’s like feeding your website a diet of gas station sushi. Technically edible, but it’ll wreck your gut.
Here’s what’s really happened since my client took the leap:
- Lost valuable backlinks from relevant, high-authority domains
- Gained toxic backlinks from spammy, irrelevant sites
- Rankings for key regional keywords have started to drop
- Still no sign of those magical "quality leads" he was promised
Now I’m not saying I have a crystal ball, but this was entirely predictable. Google’s algorithm isn’t dumb—it can sniff out phony link schemes faster than a toddler sniffs out a cookie jar.
The SEO Snake Oil Checklist
If you’re ever approached by an agency promising the following, consider it your cue to run (or moo) in the other direction:
- "We guarantee thousands of backlinks in a week!"
- "We can guarantee first place on Google!"
- "Don’t worry where the links come from—they’re backlinks!"
- "We don’t need access to your site or analytics…"
Quality SEO is a long game. It’s about earning trust—not hacking the algorithm with duct tape and 200 directories in Belarus. When it’s done right, it doesn’t just improve traffic; it attracts the right people at the right time, ready to take action.
Blumoo Creative’s Not-So-Secret Formula
At Blumoo Creative, we don’t do magic tricks. We do strategic SEO that’s been marinating in best practices and data for over a decade. Yes, it takes a little time. But it works. It works for our real estate clients, our dentists, our microbreweries, and even for you, Dave (you know who you are).
We build backlinks too—but the kind that come from real relationships, earned trust, and actual relevance. Not $99 Fiverr packages promising instant fame and fortune. (Spoiler alert: that usually ends in Google penalties.)
Final Word: Don’t Feed Your Site Junk
Would you let your toddler eat jellybeans for dinner every night if a stranger said it’d help them grow faster? Hopefully not. Then don’t let your business website feast on junk links just because some agency said "it’ll boost your traffic."
If you want sustainable rankings, better visibility, and more leads—not just traffic—we should talk. And if you’ve already fallen into the backlink trap and need help cleaning it up? We’ve got the detox plan ready.
Until then, may your rankings be high, your links be clean, and your cows be blue.
Moo for now,
Gregg @ Blumoo Creative
We typically respond the same day.
