As a web designer, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is delivering a website that not only looks fantastic but works seamlessly for my clients. I enjoy the challenge of creating beautiful, functional designs that help businesses stand out online. However, there’s one aspect of the industry that consistently grates on my nerves: SEO salespeople.
Don’t get me wrong—search engine optimisation (SEO) is incredibly important. A stunning website is only effective if people can find it. But the relentless and often misguided sales pitches from so-called “SEO experts” can be exhausting, not just for me but also for my clients.

The Cookie-Cutter Cold Emails
One of the most annoying things about SEO salespeople is their approach. My inbox is constantly flooded with messages claiming my website—or worse, my clients’ websites—has “serious SEO issues” or is “missing out on leads.” These emails are almost always vague, full of jargon, and clearly copied and pasted from a template.
The worst part? Most of these people haven’t even looked at the site they’re criticising. If they had, they’d know that I’ve already implemented basic SEO best practices like fast loading times, mobile responsiveness, clean code, and optimised metadata.
Fear-Mongering and Misinformation
Many SEO sales pitches are designed to scare people into hiring them. They’ll throw around terms like “Google penalties” or suggest that your site is at risk of being blacklisted—without providing any real evidence.
This tactic doesn’t just frustrate me; it confuses my clients. After receiving these emails, they’ll reach out to me in a panic, asking if their site is really in trouble. I then have to spend time explaining why these claims are often exaggerated or outright false.
Unrealistic Promises
Another red flag is the promise of guaranteed first-page rankings. Any legitimate SEO professional will tell you that rankings depend on countless factors, including competition, industry trends, and ever-changing search engine algorithms. SEO is a long-term game, not an instant fix, and anyone claiming otherwise is either misinformed or dishonest.
The Misguided Blame Game
Some SEO salespeople go as far as blaming web designers for all their clients’ ranking issues. While design and development do play a role in SEO, it’s unfair to suggest that a web designer is solely responsible for a site’s search performance. SEO is a collaborative effort that involves content strategy, keyword research, link building, and ongoing analysis—none of which are within a designer’s primary scope.
How We Can Do Better
To be clear, I’m not anti-SEO. When done right, it’s a valuable service that complements web design beautifully. But SEO professionals need to approach their sales pitches with more integrity. Here’s how:
- Do Your Research: Before reaching out, take the time to understand the website and its current SEO setup. Personalise your message instead of sending generic emails.
- Educate, Don’t Intimidate: Instead of using scare tactics, provide constructive feedback and actionable tips. This builds trust rather than scepticism.
- Collaborate, Don’t Compete: Web designers and SEO experts can achieve amazing results together. Respect the work designers have already done and offer ways to enhance it.
- Be Honest About Results: SEO isn’t magic, and clients deserve to know that. Transparency and realistic expectations go a long way.
Final Thoughts
SEO is a vital part of online success, but the way it’s sold often does more harm than good. For web designers like me, dealing with spammy, fear-based pitches is an unnecessary headache. More importantly, these approaches erode trust in an industry that should be all about helping businesses thrive.
So, to all the SEO salespeople out there: let’s focus on collaboration, not competition. When we work together, we can create websites that are not only beautiful but also highly effective at driving traffic and conversions.
And please—before you hit “send” on that next email, make sure it’s worth reading.