Is Your Law Firm’s SEO Agency Hurting Your Rankings? Here’s How to Tell

In today’s digital world, a strong SEO strategy is crucial for law firms. If your firm isn’t ranking on Google, you’re losing potential clients to competitors. But what if the problem isn’t your firm—but your SEO agency for attorneys?

Many law firms trust agencies to improve their rankings, only to realize later that their SEO efforts are actually doing more harm than good. If you’ve invested in SEO for legal firms but aren’t seeing results, it’s time to evaluate whether your agency is truly helping—or hurting—your business.

7 Signs Your SEO Agency for Attorneys Is Damaging Your Law Firm’s Online Presence

If your website traffic has stalled or dropped, your leads have declined, or your Google rankings are not improving, your SEO agency could be the issue. Below are seven warning signs that your agency might be damaging your law firm’s online presence.

1. They Promise Quick SEO Results

SEO is a long-term game. If an agency guarantees you “#1 rankings in 30 days,” be wary. Search engines don’t work that way.

Why This Is a Problem:

Google rewards consistent, high-quality SEO efforts over time.
Agencies promising “instant results” often use black-hat SEO tactics that get short-term gains but lead to penalties later.
Good SEO for a lawyer involves strategic content creation, link-building, and website optimization—none of which happen overnight.

What a Good SEO Agency Should Do:

Set realistic expectations (SEO typically takes 3-6 months to see results).
Focus on long-term strategies like content marketing & link-building.
Keep you informed with regular SEO reports.

2. They Ignore Local SEO – No Google Business Profile Optimization

For law firms, local SEO is critical. If your agency isn’t optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP), you’re missing out on local leads.

Signs of Poor Local SEO:
❌ No Google Business Profile optimization.
❌ Missing NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across directories.
❌ No local backlinks or citations in legal directories.

What a Good SEO Agency Should Do:
✔ Optimize your Google Business Profile for local search visibility.
✔ Build local citations on platforms like Avvo, Justia, and FindLaw.
✔ Ensure your NAP is accurate across all listings.

“Learn more about fixing Google Maps SEO for law firms in our blog: Why Many Law Firms Struggle to Rank on Google Maps and What to Do About It.”

3. Lack of Transparency – No Reports, No Data, No Access?

If your agency doesn’t provide monthly reports, keyword tracking, or Google Analytics access, they might be hiding something.

Issues Agency Might Cause:
❌ No clarity on which keywords they’re targeting.
❌ No access to Google Search Console or Google Analytics to track your traffic.
❌ Vague or generic reports with no real insights.

A trustworthy agency will:
✔ Provide detailed reports on rankings, traffic, and conversions.
✔ Be completely transparent about their SEO strategy.
✔ Offer data-driven recommendations to improve your rankings.

4. They Don’t Focus on High-Quality Content

Google prioritizes high-quality, informative content. If your SEO agency isn’t publishing blogs, FAQs, or legal guides, they’re failing your firm.

Warning Signs:
❌ No regular blog updates or legal articles.
❌ Thin or duplicate content that offers no real value.
❌ No optimization for legal-specific keywords.

Good SEO for legal firms includes:
✔ Long-form, well-researched content that answers common client questions.
✔ SEO-optimized blogs & practice area pages.
✔ Content that builds authority & improves rankings.

“A poorly optimized website can hurt your rankings. Find out how to fix it in Your Law Firm’s Website Might Be Driving Clients Away—Here’s Why.“

5. They Use Black-Hat SEO Tactics

Unethical SEO practices might get temporary gains but will eventually destroy your rankings.

Watch out for these black-hat tactics:

Keyword stuffing (overusing the same keyword unnaturally).
Buying spammy backlinks (Google penalizes low-quality backlinks).
Duplicate or AI-generated low-quality content.

A good SEO agency follows white-hat strategies:
✔ Focuses on quality backlinks from reputable legal directories.
✔ Creates original, valuable content that ranks naturally.
✔ Ensures on-page and technical SEO compliance.

6. Your Rankings & Traffic Are Declining Instead of Improving

If you’re losing traffic & leads, your SEO agency is doing something wrong.

What You Should Track:
✔ Has your organic traffic dropped in the last 6 months?
✔ Are your rankings worse than before hiring the agency?
✔ Are you getting fewer calls, leads, or inquiries?

A Good SEO Agency Will:
✔ Regularly track rankings & traffic changes.
✔ Adjust strategies based on Google algorithm updates.
✔ Provide clear solutions if rankings start to decline.

“Need expert insights on improving your search rankings? Read How a Law Firm SEO Expert Can Help Your Practice Stand Out Locally in San Francisco”

7. Bad Link-Building Practices – Are They Getting You Spammy Backlinks?

Backlinks are essential for SEO success, but low-quality or spammy backlinks can harm your rankings.

Warning Signs:
❌ Your site is getting backlinks from unrelated or spammy websites.
❌ No backlinks from trusted legal directories or news sources.
❌ Using Private Blog Networks (PBNs)—a Google penalty waiting to happen.

What a Good SEO Agency Should Do:
✔ Build quality links from reputable sources.
✔ Get your firm featured on legal directories & local news websites.
✔ Use organic outreach strategies for guest blogging & collaborations.

H3 Tag: How to Choose the Right SEO Agency for Attorneys

If your current agency shows any of the red flags above, it’s time to find a better SEO partner. Here’s what to look for:

✔ Specialization in SEO for legal firms – Not all industries have the same SEO needs.
✔ Transparent reporting & real-time data tracking – No hidden results!
✔ Focus on local SEO, high-quality content, and ethical link-building.
✔ A proven track record with other law firms.

At SocioSquares, we specialize in SEO for a lawyer, helping firms rank higher, attract more clients, and grow their business ethically.

“Want to avoid major digital marketing mistakes? Read our guide on 5 Costly Mistakes Law Firms Make When Picking a Digital Marketing Partner.“

Final Thoughts – Don’t Let Bad SEO Hurt Your Firm’s Growth!

If your SEO agency is failing you, it’s time to take control. SEO for legal firms should be a strategic, long-term investment—not a gamble.

Need an expert SEO team? Let’s talk! Contact SocioSquares today for a free SEO audit! 🚀