Rank and Rent: What is a rank ghost and can they help with seo?

So, what is a rank ghost?

The rank ghost is an old South African wives tale, typically told to people who want to rank for local terms, but can't rank their own site. The rank ghost promises results they cannot deliver .

These rank ghosts are most commonly found on Craigslist under the SEO section.

Although these rank ghosts can be found anywhere online, it's not uncommon to find them on Craigslist or Gumtree. Of course most of these rank ghosts outsource their work and they don't even do seo themselves - this would require advanced knowledge of search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing; which they do not have. However low level workers are instructed to make outlandish claims about their ability to rank websites, using tactics such as back linking farms (with purchased links which are toxic) along with a whole slew of other unsavory and ineffective optimization techniques that could actually hurt a local business website.

Are rank ghosts real?

Rank ghosts are no more real than witches, ghouls, zombies, or Jason from Halloween.

They are simply a figment of the imagination, used to scare people into parting with their hard earned cash.

Rank and rent schemes are nothing new - they have been around as long as online marketing has. And while rank ghosts may not exist, rank and rent schemes most certainly do. In fact, these rank and rent schemes are one of the main reasons why Google Penguin was created - in an effort to clamp down on black hat seo techniques that were being used to artificially rank websites.

So, if you're looking to rank your website for local terms, be very careful of any rank and rent schemes that you may come across. Stick with reputable SEO companies, and be sure to do your research before handing over your hard earned money.

Can a rank ghost rank my GMB in the map pack?

Doubtful. Most rank ghosts rank websites that are already ranked, and simply outsource their work to third world countries where labor is cheap. Some rank ghosts claim they can rank maps listings (GMB), but in most cases this would be impossible because these rank ghosts have no knowledge of local search engine optimization - which has very little in common with traditional seo.

If you're looking for a rank ghost that can rank your GMB in the map pack, then it's time to put away your wallet and bring out the garlic... because you are dealing with a bona fide vampire!

Can I trust Rank Ghosts?

Generally speaking, NO. If they state they can do what you want them to do but do not provide any references or case studies from past clients - watch out! The rank and rent schemes are nothing new, so there should be no shortage of information online from people who have fallen victim to their scams.

Do your research and be sure to ask lots of questions before hiring any rank ghost or seo company. And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Rank ghosts are an old South African wives tale and they do not actually exist - most rank ghosts can't even rank for a branded search on Google. If they could, you'd be reading their website instead of my blog right now.

Where is the best place to learn about rank and rent?

If you want to learn how to do seo the right way (without getting your website penalized) you should consider taking an online seo course. World-renown courses like the How 2 Rank 7-day seo training provided by James Jernigan from Baltimore City SEO have been proven to reliably generate traffic and leads for businesses all over the world. No rank ghosts required - you can do this yourself!