Do "big" SEO companies remove links after termination of service?

[CheapGames99]

Or worded differently:

Has anyone heard of "big" SEO companies removing links after termination of service?

I have a client who isn't particularly happy with the SEO he's getting from a big Aussie SEO firm, and he wants to terminate, however they've built thousands of links for him and he's a little concerned they might all get pulled.

Has anyone heard of this happening, or;

Do you think this is a legitimate concern?

I think its physically possible to remove backlinks like this because it seems the SEO firm in question is building links by using other client's websites.

I also wonder if they might have large content farm style sites where they place links for clients which might be quite easy to take down.

Please discuss!

[Gyi]

Have I heard of this? Yes.

Is it a legitimate concern? Yes, but the impact of the links being removed depends on whether those links are "being counted by Google." If these "rented links" aren't being counted (or contributing very little), then their removal won't really matter.

Are the links indexed? Are they on domains that rank? What are the PA's & DA's for these links?

[Mr.Rangen]

In my ten years, I have definitely heard of this happening. It's a bigger risk when your SEO provider has a private network of sites.Heck, I have even heard of people holding this over their clients; "If you quit you will lose all your traffic/rankings."

It's really no different than people paying YP for a directory listing, they are billed for "Search Engine Marketing" monthly and when they stop, the link is removed.

I view SEO similar to web design/creative -- if you pay us, it is yours, you retain ownership and that is the way it should be.

[EGOL]

Has anyone heard of "big" SEO companies removing links after termination of service?

Some companies own or have partnerships with large numbers of websites and place links out there for clients.  They control these links and can modify or remove them easily - with programs or with low-cost workers.

The monthly fee for SEO services is often a payment for paid links.  The links are actually "rented" by the month.

Do you think this is a legitimate concern?

Yes.

I think its physically possible to remove backlinks like this because it seems the SEO firm in question is building links by using other client's websites.

That is really sleezy to use the sites of other clients.  My bet is that they have bought a large number of websites that owners have gotten tired of for a couple hundred dollars each.  Its pretty easy to buy websites that owners have not touched in a long time.  They might have also grabbed expiring domains.

I also wonder if they might have large content farm style sites where they place links for clients which might be quite easy to take down.

There you have it!

[CPU]

If there is something in the contract that will affect the client negatively or if the old firm is suspected of being likely to cause problems then it may be that the clients best interest is suited by employing a reputable SEO firm to work on link building to strengthen the link profile before cutting ties with the old firm.

There will obviosuly be additional cost by following this approach however this would need to be weighed up against the possible rankings fall / traffic fall that might occur if the contract doesn't protect the client from the sort of situation described.

[StalkerB]

It depends. What's written into the agreement?

If they've built links on other people's sites then it will probably be too much of a hassle to contact all of them and ask them to remove it, so it will either naturally run out (if it's paid and you're not given the contact details) or remain there for the rest of it's natural life.

Alternatively if they run the sites they've been building links on (and it is the easiest way to guarantee clients will get links on sites) then they may remove them to make way for new clients links. I've certainly seen this happen.

It's important to note that Google doesn't overly care how quickly you get links, but it will certainly notice if you lose a lot quickly! Aa it means you've either bought them and they've expired or something has happened to make people lose trust in your site, either way it's going to raise some flags and possibly have someone look a little bit closer into your link profile.

Double check what's been agreed, find out who owns the sites the links have been built on and speak with the agency before you do it. If they're reputable I doubt they'll try and screw you over.

[DanHill]

One would think that they have paid for those links to be built and thus own them, but I guess it's all down to what it says in the contract at the end of the day.  I won't even touch on the ethical aspect of the whole question.