SEO optimization for small business owners using an external service provider? What counts when it comes to a contract with the provider — get individual advice from a lawyer now!

What is SEO optimization anyway?

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SEO optimization (Search Engine Optimization) includes all measures to make websites easier to find on search engines such as Google & Co. The aim is for your website to appear at the top of suitable search queries — and thus make more potential customers aware of your company.

Two particularly successful approaches are:

1. Blog article with SEO focus

Regular, well-written blog posts with important keywords ensure that your website is found on Google for more and more questions and searches.

2. Landing pages for individual areas of law or services

So-called “landing pages” provide targeted information about your services — for example on specific areas of law, such as Labor law, tenancy law or criminal law. Each landing page can then be individually optimized for suitable keywords.

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Service contract or work contract? — What you should know

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If, as a small business owner, you choose a provider with the SEO optimization of your website If you order, the question quickly arises: Is it legally a service contract or a work contract?

Work contract:

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In the case of a work contract, a specific success is owed. This means that the provider must deliver a fixed result, for example: “Your website will be number 1 on Google for keyword XY in three months.” If this goal is not achieved, the customer can insist on subsequent performance or reduction.

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Service contract:

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In the case of a service contract, the provision of an activity counts — but not a specific success. This is usually the case with SEO optimization: Your provider carries out extensive measures (e.g. on-page and off-page optimization, content creation), but does not guarantee a fixed place in search results or a specific increase in visitor numbers. The focus is on performance and effort, not on the “promise” of a particular ranking.

Conclusion: In most cases, SEO optimization is a service contract. The provider therefore owes no guarantee that your site will be in first place on search engines — rather, he must carry out the agreed SEO measures to the best of his ability.

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What you should pay attention to when concluding a contract

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Precisely because success is not guaranteed, it is particularly important for you as a small business owner to carefully review the SEO provider's contract and range of services. The individual measures and the type of service are often vaguely or imprecisely described — so you run the risk of paying a lot of money for little service.

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What should be in the contract?

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• Exact description of the services to be provided (e.g. number and type of blog articles, number of new landing pages, regular optimizations, etc.)
• Scope and goal of keyword research
• Clear regulations for reporting, monitoring and performance monitoring
• Cancellation periods and terms

Important: Before signing, leave the contract to a solicitor check. In this way, you can avoid potentially expensive contracts that do not help you get ahead in a targeted manner! As an experienced lawyer, I would be happy to review your SEO contract and range of services — get in touch now and get advice!

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Keyword selection and content strategy for your website - what should the provider “deliver”?

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For sustainable SEO success, the selection and clever integration of the right one is Keywords decisively. My recommendation: Work out an individual keyword strategy together with the provider. Ideally, the provider should be prepared to sign up before signing a contract relevant keywords which also rank well among the competition for your company.

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Important: A keyword does not only consist of one word but can also be a combination of several words, which is treated as “a keyword” in terms of SEO optimization. When searching for keywords that are suitable for your company, also use combinations such as in the example below for this law firm:

Keyword:   Lawyer Telgte Lawyer Münster Lawyer Telgte Criminal Law Lawyer Telgte Lawyer for Tenants Telgte Contract Law Telgte Immediate Termination Lawyer Telgte

etc

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If you give the provider a keyword list from a market environment analysis before concluding the contract with terms that rank well and relate to your service or offer, you can already use the keywords provided to estimate whether you are in contact with a professional provider who is really interested in your company and your SEO success. If you find that the keywords that the provider recommends to you do not match your company DNA and should be a list of words extracted from AI assistants that do not signal that they rank well, you should reconsider working with them as soon as possible and look around the market for an alternative provider.

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Why is that important?

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• Good SEO providers invest time in your line of business and your target group.
• You check in which areas your website should be more visible.
• A clean keyword list is a sign of professionalism and commitment.

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Please note! Publishing a list on the website that contains all the terms you want to use and that describes your service or product is perceived by search engines such as spam or so-called “keyword stuffing.” Such a procedure is considered valuable by many search engines and is classified as “inadequate” or “inadequate content” according to the algorithm of the most common search engine. When creating a ranking from the perspective of a user who visits the website, the search engines try to understand their “visitor experience” and check whether the content provided offers this. Therefore, always include your SEO keywords in headlines, texts, and posts instead of publishing a “blunt” list. An additional advantage gained is that you can use this to inform your potential customers about your offer, while at the same time providing valuable content from the search engine's point of view.

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Tip: Before concluding the contract, ask the provider to also give you a sample text in which some of these keywords are embedded in a meaningful, readable context. This allows you to quickly see whether the provider knows how to write content that is not only full of keywords, but is also Google-friendly and worth reading for readers.

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In the example of the “Depenbrock law firm”, a text that contains a variety of corresponding keywords would look like the following:

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“Rechtsanwalt Telgte and Münster - your expert legal advice for all cases

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Are you looking for an experienced lawyer IntelGTE or Münster? Regardless of whether tenancy law, employment law, criminal law, inheritance law, traffic law, civil law, family law or contract law — our law firm in Münster and Telgte offers you professional legal advice and dedicated representation in all areas of law.

Tenancy law - legal assistance for tenants and landlords in Münsterund Telgte

Whether tenancy law lawyer Münster or tenancy law lawyer Telgte — we advise you on all tenancy law issues. Whether you are reviewing a rental agreement, terminating the rental agreement or terminating an apartment due to personal use, checking a utility bill, or in the event of conflicts relating to rent increases, we will provide you with in-depth knowledge. According to Sections 535—548 BGBThe rights and obligations of tenants and landlords apply here. In the event of problems such as mold in the home, ancillary and operating costs, modernization or handover of the apartment, we will take care of your rights. We also represent your interests when it comes to a rental deposit, recovery, eviction action or sublease.

Employment law - From employment contract to dismissal protection action

Our specialist lawyers represent you in all questions of employment law in Telgte and Münster. We review your employment contract in accordance with Section 611AbGB, help with notice periods, warning, severance pay, fixed-term employment contract, assist with the works council or with bullying and discrimination. In the event of employer conflicts, we enforce your rights, possibly with an action for protection against dismissal in accordance with § 4 KSchG. We advise on continued payment of wages (§ 3 EFZG), parental leave, vacation entitlement, certificate correction and termination agreement. You can also take advantage of our employment law advice by telephone and the 24-hour lawyer emergency service.

Criminal law - your defense lawyer in the Münster and Telgte area

As a specialist lawyer for criminal law in Münster and Telgte, WiriHR is the point of contact in investigative proceedings, police subpoenas, charges, house searches (Section 102 StPO), arrest, as a public defender or in case of criminal complaint and file inspection. We defend you in the event of bodily harm (§ 223 StGB), theft (§ 242 StGB), fraud (§ 263 StGB) or narcotic offenses (BtMG) - including in juvenile criminal law. In traffic criminal law, we represent you in the event of a driving ban, driver's license withdrawal, accident escape (§ 142 StGB) or administrative offenses such as fines and speed cameras.

Inheritance law - legal advice in Telgte and Münster

In inheritance law, we assist you with drafting wills (Section 1937 BGB), challenging wills, demanding compulsory shares (Section 2303 BGB), inheritance certificate, estate settlement, gift tax, real estate transfer and all questions about anticipated succession. We are also on hand to assist you with patient directives and preventive powers of attorney, secure right of residence or inheritance settlement. We also provide expert advice on inheritance disputes, waiver of compulsory shares or the settlement of the land register transfer.

Traffic law - accident damage, fines and MPU

Did you have a traffic accident in Telgte or Münster? Your traffic law lawyer helps with accident settlement, compensation, compensation, accident escape or alcohol at the wheel. We review your fines (§ 67 OWiG), represent you in case of driver's license withdrawal, points in Flensburg, in MPU proceedings or road traffic offenses. We are also at your side in the event of police checks, red light violations, inability to drive or speed cameras, as well as administrative offenses or to avoid a driving ban.

Civil Law, Contract Law, Claims Management — Your Enforcement

As a specialist lawyer for civil law in Telgte and Münster, we review your contracts, help with contract law, contract review, contract amendment, contractual penalty, compensation and compensation. We offer effective claims management, manage payment procedures (Section 688 Code of Civil Procedure), foreclosure, represent you in court proceedings, in legal representation and in bringing an action. We also enforce your rights in settlement out of court or in appeals and civil procedural law.

Real estate law, residential property and neighboring law

Regardless of whether it's real estate law, residential property, owners' association, co-owner dispute or brokerage law — our lawyers provide you with expert advice. Even in the case of neighboring law (Section 906 BGB), appeal of a resolution, acceptance of housing, dispute with the administrator or regulatory law - we protect your owner interests.

Family law, corporate law and more

Our law firm in Münster and Telgte advises you on relocation, corporate succession, business consultants, succession planning operations, gardening law, GmbH law, commercial law, copyright, data protection law and Internet law.

Immediate help, online consultation & initial consultation

We offer online legal advice in Telgte and Münster, as well as digital legal assistance or support in English (Englishspeaking lawyer Telgte, Münster). We are also at your side in an emergency, for example as a lawyer for emergency aid, in emergency services, as well as for legal aid.

Contact your legal expert today, whether in Münster, Telgte, Handorf or throughout Münsterland. For clients from all walks of life for tenants, landlords, employees, employers, self-employed people, companies and private individuals. Rely on our experience as a specialist lawyer and our comprehensive legal advice, which always meets your individual needs!”

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Does the provider you have selected provide you with a keyword list and sample text before the contract is concluded? In doing so, he signals interest in you as a customer!

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Green flags and red flags when offering a contract — legal examination recommended

Look for the following signs of a reputable SEO provider:

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Green flags:
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• Willingness to create a comprehensive keyword list in advance
• Sending sample texts or content suggestions
• Transparent service description, regular reporting
• Clear presentation of what is included in the price

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Red Flags:
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• Promise of “guaranteed 1st place rankings” on Google (dubious!)
• Unclear, vague service descriptions (“We'll take care of everything”)
• No opportunity to include individual requests
• Sole focus on backlinks without content offerings
• Long contract terms that are difficult to cancel

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Conclusion:

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A thorough review of the contract by a lawyer is worthwhile! I'll help you put your SEO offer and contract through their paces — before you commit yourself in the long term and make expensive mistakes. Arrange a non-binding consultation now!

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