Outsourcing marketing processes can be a great way to efficiently attain your marketing goals.  That said, I've seen some incredibly bad solutions, especially for SEO services!  So just make sure you understand where they are posting and what they are posting!

Given our size, we get requests daily to provide free content to us in exchange for a link back to their client's sites.  In almost 100% of the cases, we decline.  Why?  There are several reasons why that type of content is of absolutely no value to us, such as the content is only tangentially related, at best.  For example, one person reaching out to us right now is talking about home buying tips.  Not only do we not deal with home sales, the target audience is completely wrong - our audience aren't home buyers - they are professionals working in the real estate field.  The marketing company only saw that we were in real estate, but didn't really care to figure out that it wouldn't make sense.  You would never be so careless with your marketing, but a bad marketing company may not be as discerning.

The second problem we encounter is that the SEO/Marketing company is often the one writing the pieces.  Why would we want content written by someone who has exactly zero experience in the field they are writing about?  This reflects badly on both us and their client.  Sometimes a hybrid approach can work - the marketing company does the leg work to get the piece published, but the article is actually written by the client company.  So it is not as if a 3rd party marketing company can't work - it just has to be within certain parameters.

So if we reverse this issue, let's see it from your perspective!  You hire a marketing company providing SEO services, but you don't find out where that content is being shared.  If they are not a quality firm, that means they might be sharing content who knows where, all linked back to your website!  This not only doesn't help your SEO, but it also makes you, by association, look like a spammer.

Let me share an example:  It's not perfect, as this guy isn't representing a real business, but rather an affiliate website, but I thought it would be fun to share a recent exchange I had with someone looking to get linkbacks.  (Yes, I may have been a bit too mean-spirited here...) 

Dear Admin,
Are you currently accepting guest posts? If so, I would be happy to write one for you want – The choice is yours! (The only thing I ask for in return is just one or two do-follow links back to my website). I am a professional writer with a lot of blogging experience, so you can count on me to produce quality content. As soon as you reply to a topic, I will get started right away.

My topics are mainly related to Cycling. Perhaps you like:

• The benefits of cycling for children and families • 10 reasons to get your kids on a bike • Why aren't more kids cycling to school?
• When can kids cycle on their own?
• Top Tips for Buying your Child's First Bike • What Age Do Children Learn to Ride a Bike?
• 5 steps for teaching your kid how to ride a bike • A guide to cycling on the road with children • 5 Great European Bike Tours for Families • 10 Tips for Bike Touring With Kids • Family Bike Tours, Bicycle Trips & Cycling Vacations • 10 of the best cycling holidays for families • The Best Family Cycling Holidays • Family cycling holidays with children

Let me know if you’d be interested in reading and possibly hosting and article, I’m excited about the possibility of working with you.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Either way, keep up the good work!

"Chad"

Wow, your content seems like a perfect fit for my site!  Or, at least it should be.  Here we have been wasting our time writing about real estate when we should have been writing more about cycling!  "What Age Do Children Learn To Ride a Bike?"  That's gold!  I'm sure some of our readers have kids who are the age of learning to ride a bike, and even if they aren't, who doesn't want to read about that?  I'm going to start transitioning all of our content right now, and I have you to thank for it!

Brent

Hi Brent,

Please check the attachment.

I think you are gonna love it. :)

Please review it and let me know

Looking forward to hearing from you

"Chad"

I think you have some interesting ideas.  But it doesn’t seem to have enough mentions of kickstands.  Our research is showing the kickstands are the driving force behind most new purchases these days.  If you can include more kickstand content, I think we have a winner.

Brent

 (Yes, "Chad" actually adds mentions of kickstands!)

Take a look and let me know what you think; I’m more than happy to make any changes you feel might be necessary.

Thanks,

"Chad"

That helps quite a lot, "Chad" – I think we are almost there!  I noticed you included several mentions of kickstands, which adds a lot to the piece.  But there is one other aspect we are hearing a ton about, which is bells on kids bikes.  Any chance you could include some mentions of bells in that situation?

Hi Brent,

Hope you had a great weekend :)

Please check the attached file.

looking forward to hearing from you.

At this point, I started feeling bad, so without further ado, here is his wonderful piece about "What age do Children Learn how to Ride a Bike?"  (I even gave him his links, but I wouldn't click on them if I were you.)

A child’s physical development will significantly impact a how first they start riding a bike. Children who are well developed have a higher ability to coordinate and master skills associated with cycling. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, most kids are fit to start riding a bicycle when they are five years old.

The best way to introduce a child to a bicycle is starting them off on a tricycle. It is lower and very safe, and chances of them falling off are nil. Tricycles are easier to control and will help a child develop physically as they prepare themselves to start cycling a bicycle. Just like when on a bike ensure a child is using a helmet to avoid a head injury in case they fall

The need for a kickstand on a child’s bicycle

When you go out to purchase a new bike for your child, you may be shocked that most bicycles nowadays do not come with a kickstand. Is there a need for a bike to have a kickstand or not? The answer entirely depends on the type of bike you are buying and how you intend to use it.

If you are buying a kid’s bicycle, then it needs to have a kickstand. A bike without training wheels should have a kickstand so that it is not left just lying on the grass anyhow. Another thing to note if you start off a child with a bike that has a kickstand, it is also a way of instilling discipline in them. They will learn how to take care of a bike from an early age, so there will be no cases of leaving the bike outside overnight or for it to be rained on. Ensure the kickstand it the right size because if it is too long the bike will topple over to the opposite side when being ridden on the pavement. In case it is short, it is likely to sink into any dirt when riding it on the grass.

In a case where there are no trainer wheels, you can buy a kickstand and attach it to the bicycle. Models that come with a kickstand are those above the size of E-540, E-450, and E-620 ranges. If you have no idea of how a kickstand can be fit on the bicycle, you can always ask the shop owner to assist where possible.

Physical Readiness

For a child to ride a bicycle, they need to have a certain level of balance for them to coordinate perfectly. A child who cannot walk steadily on their own is a clear sign of them not being ready to be introduced to bicycles. The physical determinants for a child to be introduced to cycling are propulsion, balance, and the rotational speed of the bike’s wheels. During the learning process, training wheels will be ideal for the provision of stability, while self-propulsion or pedaling allows the kid to control speed.

The age of 3-4

Children between the ages of three to four years are in a stage of significant gross motor skills development. Slowly, they will start balancing on one foot, hop, climb, walk on their tiptoes, and finally skip. For three-year-old, they can use handlebars, pedal, operate tricycles, but they do not have sufficient balance to use a bike with only two wheels. As they continue practicing, children in this age bracket can begin riding without training wheels. What they require are foot brakes since they are not well-developed to use hand brakes.

The age of 4-5

By the time children get to the age of four to five years, they begin losing interest in simple ride-on toys, as they are ready to start using bicycles for older children. By the time they attain the age of five, the physical capability has developed immensely, and they can operate the bike smoothly. The only time a close eye should be kept on them is when they are on the main road since they cannot understand all the traffic rules. Kids in this age group are prone to injuries and fall, and maximum supervision is necessary to avoid such unpleasant situations.

The age of 6-12 years

A majority of six-year-olds are physically able to propel a bike without training wheels. They have also developed a sense of avoiding danger and severe injuries. You will realize that when you hand them the bicycle. Their coordination and balance will be excellent when using hand brakes. As they advance to the age of nine to 12 years, they can use handbrakes correctly, and multi-speed bikes become their favorite. At this age they also start involving themselves in risky stunts, riding too fast, or cycling in traffic. It is advisable to also keep an eye on them once in a while.

Significance of a bell on a child’s bicycle

Bells are vital in a child’s bicycle because they help a child to alert other riders that they want to pass. A bell can also be used to greet friends and neighbors’ without necessarily going at their door step.

Other accessories that can also be put in a kid’s bike could be baskets and tassels. The baskets are mostly found on girl’s bike for carrying snacks and water bottles, or selling fruits around the neighborhood.

Important tips

1.    When out to buy a bicycle, purchase the appropriate size for your children to ensure they are safe. According to experts, bigger bicycles are dangerous for children as they are likely to fall off. The size of a child’s bike should enable them to comfortably straddle the bike, leaving an inch between the bar and their crotch. When seated and holding the handlebar, your kid should comfortably put their feet flat on the ground.

2.    Never make a child start cycling a two-wheeled bike until they are ready as they might get injured.

3.    Buy the right kind of bike, not one that the kid will grow into to gain confidence when they start riding.

4.    When purchasing a bike for your child, take them with you as they will try out the various sizes until when you get the appropriate size. The value for a bike that is the right size is better than surprising your child with a new oversized one.

Buying a wrong bicycle size for your child could hinder their ability and confidence to learn cycling. First of all, the bike could make them prone to injuries as controlling it could be an uphill task. Any bike should be the right size for the child to whom it is purchased.