Paid $61k for black-hat SEO that caused a 90% traffic drop and layoffs & then they ghosted us.
The agency leveraged their "Google Partner" status while implementing "black hat" tactics that have been penalized for decades. We have documented proof of their team explicitly directing us to implement keyword stuffing—requesting 15-20 variations per page—and creating 200+ "doorway" location pages.
Beyond our site, Verbsz linked us to their own spam network of 1,783 doorway pages, forcing us to disavow 500+ toxic backlinks. This negligence directly contributed to the layoff of 25% of our staff and nearly shuttered our 19-year-old treatment center. Since the damage occurred, Verbsz has completely ghosted all communications and ignored requests for a resolution. They are a severe liability to any business owner.
What was the project name that you have worked with Verbsz Marketing?
Williamsville Wellness Marketing and SEO
What service was provided as part of the project?
Web Development, Web Design, Digital Marketing
Describe your project in brief
Verbsz was hired to provide comprehensive SEO and digital marketing services to increase organic visibility for our addiction treatment center. The agreed-upon scope included:
On-page SEO optimization across all treatment and service pages.
Content strategy and keyword mapping to improve search engine rankings.
Technical SEO to ensure site health and compliance with Google guidelines.
Local SEO and link building to expand our reach in the Richmond, VA area and beyond.
Some web design and development.
However, the actual execution involved prohibited "black hat" tactics. They implemented aggressive keyword stuffing (15–20 variations per page), created over 200 "doorway" location pages for non-existent offices, and linked our site to a spam network of 1,700+ identical pages. Instead of the promised growth, these actions triggered severe Google penalties, resulting in a 90% traffic collapse.
What is it about the company that you appreciate the most?
The most 'impressive' aspect was their ability to maintain a professional 'Google Partner' facade while charging $61,000 to implement tactics that have been prohibited for 20 years. Their confidence in directing us to keyword stuff (15-20x per page) was unique, as was their ability to completely ghost us after our traffic dropped 90% and we were forced to lay off 25% of our staff. Their professionalism exists only during the sales process; their actual delivery was business-ending negligence.
What was it about the company that you didn't like which they should do better?
What I liked least was their use of prohibited "black hat" tactics despite their $61k fee and Google Partner status. They explicitly instructed us to keyword stuff (15-20x per page) and built 200+ doorway pages. This led to a 90% traffic collapse, forcing us to lay off 25% of our staff. Most egregious was their total lack of accountability; once our 19-year-old business faced near-closure due to their negligence, they ghosted all communications and refused to provide a resolution.
Rating Breakdown
- Quality
- Schedule & Timing
- Communication
- Overall Rating
Project Detail
- $50001 to $200000
- Completed
- Healthcare & Medical
