How to Choose an SEO Company
There are thousands if not millions of SEO companies globally. Considering the vast choices at hand, selecting the right SEO company can be tough because you have to align its services with your need. Besides, your website is a treasure; therefore, you need to find an agency you can trust.
And that is why we have a detailed guide on choosing the best SEO agency that meets your expectations. What do you consider? What are some of the mistakes businesses make when looking for SEO experts? Stay tuned!
9 Strategies for Choosing an SEO Agency
Table of Contents
Set Your SEO Goals
Before you approach any SEO agency, it is essential to articulate your needs.
- What do you want to achieve by hiring an SEO company?
- What role is the agency going to play in your business?
When you have an objective, you will go for the right company. Some of the goals you can set include:
- SEO content marketing for more organic traffic
- Link building to improve your website authority
- Local SEO to boost your online presence
- Voice SEO to target audio searches
You can tell what SEO strategies and tactics you require when you have the goals you want to achieve and the desired outcomes. Therefore, choosing an SEO specialist who matches your needs will be easier.
For example, your goal could be ranking on the first Google’s search engine result page (SERP) when people search for specific words. And the results you expect are to attract this audience with engaging content and then turn them into your customers. Therefore, you need an SEO company that is good in SEO-optimized content marketing to run your website.
Check the Company's Past Performance
An SEO firm can prove its expertise in the industry by showing its past performance.
- Which clients have they served?
- Were they satisfied, or did they complain?
Dive into the company’s review and testimonials to check what they have achieved in their years of operation.
All you need to do is get into the company’s site to see what other clients say about them. Their ratings will help you to make an informed decision before hiring. This is because you can tell if they will deliver or not.
Ask for case studies to get detailed information about the SEO company. Request for examples of websites they have worked for previously and the results. If possible, ask for the latest case studies because the older the case study data, the less relevant it will be to prove what the company can deliver.
Also, you can be more specific by requesting client examples that align with your needs. For example, if you are an eCommerce company, request a case study of an eCommerce business they have worked with before. This will help you to know if the company suits you or not. Besides, you will save on time and effort.
Ask Current and Previous Clients about their Experience
Another key factor when looking for a professional SEO company is connecting with past and current clients to know their experiences.
Trevin Shirey, a senior business development manager at WebpageFX in an interview with Clutch said, “Contact information for current clients is really big. Make sure that you call maybe 3 to 5 current clients of a particular SEO vendor to vet them. Ask them how they like working with that particular company. Learn as much as you can about their SEO process, how the company is run, and their reporting. That way, you’re getting a third-party view of your SEO vendor before jumping into a financial partnership with them”.
Through past clients, you will learn the company’s strengths and weaknesses before hiring. Besides, you will understand the firm’s SEO strategy and reporting process. For example, does the support team respond to your calls or email?
With all this information about several SEO agencies, you can pick the best for you, a dedicated company that will walk with you in your SEO journey.
Research about the Team and Ethics
- What kind of team does the website SEO company work with?
- What do team members specialize in and their skills?
When you know the kind of people in the company, you can know if your SEO goals will be met or not. You can easily match them with their skills to see what to expect. When an agency has professionals that meet your objectives and deliver the expected outcomes, you can go ahead and sign a contract.
On the other hand, pay attention to the company’s ethics and integrity. Are the employees attached to the company’s vision and mission? Are they meeting their goals? Besides, how does the company handle its employees and clients?
A reputable SEO firm follows its visions and has set guidelines of principles. It respects its clients and sticks to its contract. Go for a firm that has built its reputation from past performance, and its employees are proud to be part of it.
Understand the Company's Process in Executing SEO Strategies
A professional SEO company has a tested and proven processing of achieving its purposes. They don’t jump into a project without outlining the procedures to follow for the best results. Therefore, when approaching an SEO company, ask about its performance processes. This way, you will know how and when you expect your goals to be achieved and enjoy the outcomes.
Every SEO firm has its unique process of winning. Most companies design it by serving several clients and settling with what helps achieve the best results.
For example, Digital Marksmen reviews your site manually. Then, we conduct an audience analysis. After that, our team does competitive analysis followed by content analysis. Then, we focus on link building, content promotion, and social media marketing. Finally, we consultatively support and implement technical SEO, content strategy, and content promotion.
Check the Company Specialization
SEO is a broad industry that has different specializations. Therefore, companies in this industry may specialize in a specific service line. Go to the live chat section and ask about any specializations. Besides, you can know through the company’s awards and certifications. Finally, the SEO team profiles can also help you.
You can match the prospects against your set SEO goals and expected outcomes to see if the services align with your needs.
Follow Prospective SEO Firms on Social Media
An SEO firm should have social media profiles. Through these platforms, you can learn more about the company. Get to the company’s Facebook or LinkedIn pages and read their posts. You will understand the tone, services, and knowledge. Please take note of the firm’s audience and followers too.
Besides, go to the blog and read a few of them. You will have a deeper understanding of what you can gain once you sign the contract. Finally, subscribe to the company’s email newsletter.
Fees and Contract
SEO agencies operate differently and have varying contracts and fees. Some may charge you per hour while others give yearly contracts. Therefore, know how the firm operates before signing any contract.
One of the best ways to settle for an SEO company within your means is having a budget. Be clear on what you are willing to spend daily or monthly. It will help you not strain financially or get poor services at a low cost.
Also, know what the contract entails, such as deliverables and prices. Ask questions you may have in mind concerning the contract and fees to avoid any misunderstandings.
To settle for an SEO expert, get different agencies’ contracts and fees structure. Then, compare the companies keenly and mark out the one that suits you. Choose a firm that will help you achieve your SEO goals and outcomes and fits your budget.
Schedule a Consultation
Whether you want to work with a local or international SEO company, have some time with the firm before signing the deal. Schedule a meeting through Skype, zoom, or any other platform or visit.
You will have the chance to have a one-on-one discussion. As a result, they will take you through their work processes and strategies to achieve the results you want. Besides, you will have the chance to connect and build a working relationship.
Also, the meeting session provides the opportunity of asking as many questions as you want. Be specific on the queries for clarity. Shirey makes it clear by saying, “People sometimes apologize for asking us questions in the sales process, but I think that the more questions that you can ask about past performance, the clearer picture you’re going to get about how skilled an SEO agency is and how well they’re able to perform. A well-rounded company isn’t going to have anything to hide, and they’ll have a whole bunch of clients that are eager and willing to share their experience working with them”.
Some of the questions you can ask are:
- Which channel of communication will we use, and how often do we communicate?
- What does my current contract entail, and when does it end?
- Have you worked with a company before with the same SEO goals as mine?
- How can I end my contract?
After meeting with the agency, you know whether they are worth your project. Besides, you can know their attitude and passion for their work. Finally, you can sense some red flags like overselling.
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing SEO Companies
Sometimes, you can fall for an agency that doesn’t suit your need. To avoid this trap, avoid the following mistakes;
Choosing a Cheap and Compromising on Quality
It is risky to settle for a low-cost agency to reduce your SEO cost. As the saying goes, cheap is expensive. You may lose it all in the end. A cheap company may not deliver the best results. This is because they may use a shorter process to achieve your SEO goals, thus eliminating some key things. For example, they may not conduct an audience analysis; therefore, developing content that doesn’t suit your target customers. Besides, it may cause lifetime damage to your website and domain, leading to business failure. Go for a high-quality yet affordable SEO company.
Going for a Black-hat SEO Company
SEO services don’t bear results immediately, which sometimes is frustrating. It takes about three to six months to start seeing the benefits.
You may be tempted to plug in a black-hat SEO agency to rank on the first page of Google within your first month. It is possible to see such results through unethical means, but the repercussions are costly. First, your page will be removed from the first SERP faster than you think. Second, Google can ban your website from its search results. That means you have lost your web presence, and your clients can’t find you through the search engine.
Choosing an SEO Agency Just because it is Local
There can be several SEO companies near me, and you remain stuck to them just because you can access them physically. You can work with any agency despite the location because SEO can be done anywhere at any time. Therefore, choose a company based on the results they can give you and not because it is in your country.
In summary, selecting the best SEO company for your business is a process. You need to do thorough research and window-shop. Take your time and effort to settle for an agency that matches your goals and expectations.
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