Paying for SEO but Getting No Enquiries? What to Check
If you’re paying for SEO but not getting enquiries, check four things: what work has actually been done, whether you own your Google profile and website logins, whether your contract can be ended, and whether calls and forms are tracked at all. UK owners describe this as “throwing money away”. A clear task list usually reveals the problem.
Am I Being Ripped Off by My SEO Agency?
You may be if the agency can’t show a list of monthly work, reports only impressions or rankings for terms nobody searches, owns your accounts, or locks you into a long contract. These are the patterns owners raise on r/smallbusinessuk and UK Business Forums.
Why am I paying for SEO but getting no enquiries? Often the work is aimed at the wrong searches, such as words with no buyers behind them, towns you don’t serve, or information searches. Sometimes rankings are fine, but the website or profile doesn’t convince people to call. And sometimes enquiries are coming in, but nobody is tracking where they came from.
What should I ask my agency? 1. Which searches are we ranking for, and do people search them to hire someone? 2. How many calls, forms and WhatsApp messages came from Google last month? 3. What exactly did you do last month? 4. Is call tracking set up? If not, why not?
Quick checks you can do yourself – Search your main service and town on your phone. Do you appear in the map or the first results? – Open your website on your phone. Can you see the phone number and a button to call or message within two seconds? – Test your contact form. Does the message arrive? – Check Google Search Console for the queries bringing clicks.
When should I switch? If after six months you still can’t see a link between the work and enquiries, and the agency can’t explain why, get an independent audit before renewing.
| Sign | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| No visible work | A written list of tasks for the last three months |
| Rankings only | Calls, WhatsApp and form enquiries |
| They own your logins | Owner access to your profile, analytics and domain |
| Long lock-in | Copy of the contract and notice terms |
| Extra charges for “AI” | A line-by-line explanation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel the direct debit? Check your contract first. Give written notice and secure your logins before cancelling. For legal questions, take advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice.
