[Vandy_Travis]

You cannot guarantee or expect search result placement. Period. In addition, rankings are always in flux, and require additional work to remain well ranked. Do you expect the provider to continue to work on your SEO even after that period?

If they are a reputable SEO, they will provide you with an analysis of your current site, a statement of work for what they will accomplish for their fee, and note that rankings cannot be guaranteed. If they fulfilled the work, you just have to understand how uncertain SEO can be.

Then teach yourself the basics of SEO and save yourself the cash next time.

[sandron]

All their work are external(acquiring links). I didn't get any kind of updates from the provider for the past 5 months. We own a portfolio of successful sites and know the basics of on-page techniques. Since the network was mentioned here on HN in one of the Show HN posts, I some how fall for that, hoping in any case of dispute the network should resolve the issue by taking a fair position. We never paid for a SEO service before and this one was to pretty much to test if it is really possible.

We spent around $5k on popular freelance networks each month for various tasks(not SEO). In many instances the networks takes a fair position in disputes. But I was dealing with the founder of this network and he wasn't reasonable. It is a great lesson for me, since it is a startup doesn't mean they would treat their clients with great respect.

As an Entrepreneur the lesson is, sometimes we may loose a valuable client by our not so good attitude and judgement.

[jpluscplusm]

Agree 100% with this. Good points.