Businesses need to be more on top of their online marketing strategy than ever before, given the rapid changes in the digital landscape. SEO is one of the most difficult digital marketing services to get started with, especially when compared to other digital marketing services such as social media, pay per click, and reputation management, because results take a long time to emerge. You’re trusting the incorrect person if you don’t see results after six months of working with your SEO service provider.
“How do you go about hiring the best SEO company for your company?”
We talked to agency owners, SEO consultants, and internet marketing experts to gather their advice on how to find a decent SEO firm. If you’re ready to get your company on board with SEO, take the following suggestions from experts:
If I were hiring, I would consider the following:
- Reputation
- History of success
- Client contact information (current and previous)
- How they improved their own website, particularly the link profile
- A contract that includes a promise of satisfaction.
The response would differ depending on the client or company size. Clients at the enterprise level want a lot more from their agencies. Here are a few that are worth mentioning for the most part.
Study of Cases
Case studies will demonstrate your SEO firm’s previous accomplishments and outcomes. A client portfolio with success stories that indicate year-over-year growth is a great indicator of what the agency can achieve and commit to.
Experience in the Industry
It’s also crucial to comprehend the individuals that run operations. What is their history? How long have they been working in this field? What are the agency’s advantages and disadvantages?
If you’re a small business looking to do some Facebook advertising but your SEO firm specialises in e-commerce SEO or email marketing, this is something you should consider. Are they capable of executing the social media strategy and delivering results? It’s possible, but it’s also possible that it’s not. This is why it’s crucial to start with a series of discovery questions to get to know them.
KPIs
Yes, organic traffic is the most important aspect of SEO. The agency should, however, produce qualified, high-quality organic traffic that converts at the end of the day. One could argue that ensuring conversions isn’t the SEO company’s responsibility. However, during the last few years, SEO has evolved, and there is now a minor overlap between SEO and CRO.
They should, at the very least, be able to identify any difficulties with your website and either offer or implement solutions.
Knowledge of Industry and Technology
SEO firms must demonstrate their knowledge of search engine algorithms, technology stacks, platforms, tools, and other topics. You may get a decent understanding of their techniques, processes, and how well they understand how search engines work by looking at their website. Inquire about previous client outcomes and techniques.
Process of Reporting and Auditing
Examining an agency’s reporting procedure can provide useful information. Based on what they report on, you may learn more about what matters most to them and what their idea of a successful campaign is. It’s also important to note how frequently they submit reports. It’s not all about keywords and rankings, after all. It’s pointless to have an agency report on numbers that don’t matter to you.
You can also learn a lot about a company’s auditing procedure and how they audit your site. Before the engagement, don’t be hesitant to request an audit or, at the absolute least, ask a few questions about their early impressions of your website. If an agency refuses to provide you feedback, it suggests they didn’t spend enough time reviewing your site before meeting with you. False promises are more likely in this situation.
Businesses should always inquire about and search for:
- A quick rundown of their SEO strategy and processes to ensure that they are only implementing or executing SEO best practises.
- Past customer case studies focused on traffic and revenue growth.
- Sample work and previous reports — such as sample material, linking, and audit reports — to give you a better idea of the kind of work they can do for your company.
When speaking with a sales representative from an SEO agency or any of the company’s SEO personnel, you can put on a show. Some people are great at talking about SEO but not so good at putting it into practice. However, it is preferable to a company that cannot effectively convey what they do, how they do things, their process, their employees, or even basic concepts about their SEO principles – this is a red flag for me.
We’ll have to see if they can walk the walk and not simply talk once they’ve answered your questions and explained their SEO philosophy and approach, as well as justify their cost. From there, I’ll rely on previous case studies, clients on whom they’ve performed SEO, and it’s also feasible to request client testimonials and speak with some of their clients. If they agree, you can be confident that they had good SEO results with these clients and that they are confident in their job.
When selecting an agency, a company should seek for evidence that the agency has both the human and technological resources to complete the task. Since Google began rolling out key algorithms to ensure search quality and combat spam, I believe the SEO business has required to employ far more high-quality and ethical methods. It is critical for a company to conduct due diligence on the tactics utilized by their prospective agency.
To get a sense of how the campaign performed, ask to speak with agency clients who have been utilizing their services for at least 6 months. Check to see if your prospective firm has been able to optimize a website for a client in a highly competitive field – is it ranking well for a wide range of relevant terms, not just one, and has this resulted in traffic and inquiries? It’s not enough to rank first on Google; you also need traffic that’s valuable, relevant, and converts.
Guarantees are a red indicator to check for because no one can promise rankings. There are simply too many things that could prevent your website from reaching the top of the search results. Are they going to keep their word if they make a guarantee? Is it worth the paper on which it is printed? “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” goes the ancient proverb.
The promise of quick results is another red flag. This is frequently promised during the sales process to entice a customer. SEO isn’t quick; everything from audits and onsite SEO implementation to quality content and link development takes time, and that time is constrained by the client’s budget.
Most organizations would conduct a simple Google search to locate an SEO to hire. That’s a good place to start. But keep in mind that the point is to distinguish between people who put their minds to work and those who promise you the moon but provide nothing.
Always keep your end aim in mind: getting your company in front of customers. Because if you know where you want to go, the appropriate SEO company can help you get there.
Do you have any questions? We’ll show you what SEO can accomplish for your company if you talk to us.