A Guide To Choosing The Right SEO Company For Your Small Business
Useful Tips and Tricks
93% of online experiences begin with a search. Mastering search engine optimization (SEO) is therefore key if you want to improve the online visibility of your small business, and drive traffic, sales, and revenue. Although SEO has the power to transform your bottom line, a poorly-executed strategy can also harm trust and credibility with consumers. That's why it's so important to work with a trustworthy SEO agency who can make your campaign a success. But with so many agencies out there all promising incredible results, how do you know who to go with? By clarifying your goals, looking for specialists, and checking they're honest and communicative, you'll be able to find the right match for your business.
Get clear on your goals
Before you look for SEO agencies, first get clear on your business goals. For example, do you want to improve your online visibility? Build domain authority? Or boost sales from organic traffic? Your specific goals will ultimately guide the type of SEO services you need. So, for instance, if you want to increase organic traffic, you'll likely be interested in keyword research and optimization services. Or, if you want to improve your domain authority, you may need off-page SEO services that include getting quality backlinks for your website. Having a clear idea of your goals and needs will make it easier for you to filter out agencies that aren't a good fit. You'll also be better positioned to give potential agencies a concise summary of what you're after, which means you're more likely to get accurate quotes and proposals.
Look for specialists
Although you may be tempted to go with an agency that appears to do it all, you'll likely get better results with an agency that specializes in the services you're after. So, for example, if you need to strengthen your domain authority and organic search rankings, find agencies that specialize in white-hat link-building services. Or, if your website structure and on-page SEO needs to be tweaked, look for agencies experienced in technical SEO. You can also focus on B2B SEO agencies if your business needs to reach other businesses, and not individual consumers.
That said, it's best to go with an agency that has some flexibility and specializes in more than one area. So, that way if you need to branch out into another SEO strategy, the agency will be able to handle it no problem. You're therefore saved from the hassle of having to hire multiple agencies at once.
Are they good communicators?
Shockingly, 70% of business relationships ultimately fail, with personality clashes often a prime reason. By checking potential agencies align with your values, attitude, and preferred communication style, you'll increase the chances of a successful partnership in the long-term. Your chosen agency should be responsive, open, and honest. This type of partner is more likely to generate a positive return on your investment than one who doesn't communicate and keeps you in the dark. So, ask the agency how often they'll communicate with you. Which performance metrics will they monitor? How exactly will they report the results? In particular, a good agency should report site performance and keyword position changes on a monthly basis ? whether good or bad, so you get the whole picture. They should also provide you with clear and realistic goals, timeframes, and deliverables that let you know the results you can expect and when. A good agency will also keep you updated with any strategy changes made.
It's also useful to get references from businesses who previously worked with the agency. Ideally, find three of the agency's previous clients, and ask them about their experience. You want to find out whether their goals and milestones were met, as well as how the agency was to work with on an everyday basis. Were they good communicators? Were they committed to the project? Was the client made to feel like a priority? Although website testimonials can be a good indicator of these things, they tend to only show the most successful cases. References from average clients can give you a more realistic idea of what to expect.
Choosing the right SEO agency can help you achieve your marketing goals. By finding the right agency for your needs, you'll successfully improve your online presence and give your business a competitive edge.