Is Your SEO Agency Holding You Hostage?
Avoid the SEO and Web Design Hostage Situation: How Evolve Agency Empowers Plumbing Companies and Service-Based Businesses
In today’s digital landscape, many plumbing companies and service-based franchises are turning to SEO and web design agencies to help them build an online presence. Unfortunately, too many of these businesses are encountering a frustrating trend — their websites and content are being held hostage by the very agencies they trusted.
The Hostage Situation: What’s Happening?
Imagine this scenario: you’ve invested thousands of dollars into your website, SEO, and content creation. Your online presence is growing, and your business is reaping the rewards. Then, for one reason or another, you decide it’s time to move on from your web design or SEO company. But there’s a catch — you don’t actually own the content or website design you paid for. The agency controls it, and unless you pay them more money, you’ll lose everything you’ve worked so hard to build.
This unethical practice has become all too common. Companies often find themselves in a bind, forced to either stay locked into unfavorable contracts or spend even more money to completely rebuild their website, content, and SEO strategy from scratch. It’s a costly and time-consuming process that no business should have to face.
Evolve Agency: Empowering You with Full Ownership
At Evolve Agency, led by top SEO expert Sandy Rowley, we take a different approach. We believe that the businesses we work with, especially plumbers and other service-based franchisees, should own 100% of the content, domain, and web design they’ve invested in. After all, it’s your business, and you deserve full control over your digital assets.
When you partner with us, you’re not just hiring an SEO or web design company — you’re investing in a long-term relationship built on transparency, trust, and freedom. We provide you with full ownership of everything we create for you, from content to web design. You’ll never have to worry about being held hostage or losing your online presence if you choose to move on.
Why Freedom and Ownership Matter
When you own your content and website, you have the freedom to make changes, switch providers, or rebrand without having to start over from scratch. This not only saves you time and money, but it also gives you the peace of mind that your investment is protected.
With Evolve Agency, you can:
- Keep your website and all content if you decide to part ways with us.
- Own your domain and website design from day one.
- Maintain full control over your SEO strategy.
- Have the flexibility to update or expand your website as your business grows.
A Better Way Forward
At Evolve Agency, we don’t believe in locking businesses into predatory contracts or holding their digital assets hostage. Our mission is to empower plumbers, HVAC companies, and other service-based businesses to thrive online without the fear of losing their hard-earned investment.
If you’re tired of the runaround and want to partner with a team that prioritizes your success and freedom, contact Sandy Rowley and her team at Evolve Agency today. Let’s build something that’s truly yours.
1. WHOIS Lookup
A WHOIS lookup allows you to check who owns your domain. If your SEO or web design company is listed as the owner or admin contact, they might be holding your domain hostage. Make sure you or your business is listed as the rightful owner.
- Tool to use: Whois.com
2. Google Search Console
Google Search Console gives you direct access to your website’s SEO performance. If your SEO company isn’t granting you access, they could be withholding key information about your site’s traffic and performance.
- Tool to use: Google Search Console
3. Web Hosting Control Panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)
Access to your web hosting control panel is crucial for managing your site’s files, databases, and backups. If you don’t have login credentials, your web company could be limiting your control.
- Tool to use: Access your hosting provider’s cPanel or equivalent.
4. Google Analytics
If your SEO company hasn’t given you access to your Google Analytics account, they might be hiding important insights about your website’s performance. Ensure you’re listed as the account owner.
- Tool to use: Google Analytics
5. Website Admin Login
Make sure you have admin access to your website’s content management system (CMS), like WordPress, Joomla, or Shopify. Without it, your web company can control what gets published, updated, or changed.
- Tool to use: Login to your CMS (e.g., WordPress admin dashboard).
6. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Access
FTP access is essential for managing and transferring website files. If your web design company doesn’t give you FTP credentials, they’re keeping you from fully managing your website.
- Tool to use: FTP client like FileZilla
7. Check Domain Name Registrar Account
Login to your domain registrar to ensure your website domain is under your account. If the SEO company registered it under their account, you may have difficulty transferring or renewing it.
8. Website Backup Tool
Regular backups ensure that you can restore your website in case of issues. If you don’t have access to your website’s backup files, your company may have too much control.
- Tool to use: UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy
9. WordPress User Roles
If you’re using WordPress, you should be listed as the site’s administrator. If your SEO or web company has restricted your role to “Editor” or lower, they may be limiting your control over the site.
- Tool to use: WordPress User Roles
10. SSL Certificate Ownership
Check if your SSL certificate is under your control. If your company owns it, they could remove it, causing security and ranking issues. You should have access to manage or renew it.
- Tool to use: SSLShopper
