Having a Search Engine Optimization agency work alongside you can be a great boon to your business. It can improve organic traffic, site ranking, google advertising, and more. But, handing off the responsibility of your digital marketing to an SEO agency or consultant isn’t that decision. So, how can you find the right SEO agency for your business?
Have a Clear Goal in Mind
Ask yourself: what are your SEO goals, what services are you looking for, and what do you want to improve in your current digital marketing campaign. There are a plethora of SEO agencies and each has a unique specialization, niche, or services that can suit your needs.
Here are some common goals to help you get a better idea of what you want:
- Lead generation
- Improve site rankings
- Better online reputation management (ORM)
- Keyword research & ranking
- Branding or brand awareness
- Targeted ads
- Improve conversion rates
- Website accessibility (load speed, browser performance, device compatibility, etc.)
- Improve website content
By defining your SEO goals, you can determine how to use your resources accordingly and narrow down your search for the best SEO agency for you.
Research Prospective SEO Companies and their Past Experiences
Before you partner up with an SEO agency it’s important to do some background research into the market. By gathering some info you’ll get a clear idea of what’s out there, what kind of services they offer, and what’s the best agency/consultant for you. Check out client reviews and references to give you an idea of how well they work, how much you can trust them, and what they do best.
However, finding an SEO agency to work with isn’t just about finding the highest-rated agency, it’s also finding one that suits your niche. SEO agencies that have past experiences working with your niche already know how best to work with your unique selling point (USP). They’d know what draws in traffic, what increases engagement, and what content makes your business look appealing.
Ideally, you’re going to want to look at the main factors that will yield the best results for your business. This way you can be sure that you’re making the right decision and that you’ll get your money’s worth.
Talk to Them
So, you have your goals and you’ve done your research, now you should reach out to them. Whether it’s over the phone, video chat, or face-to-face you should set up an appointment with your prospective SEO agency. As with most partnerships, communication is key, and you’re going to want to gauge how well you can understand each other. Engaging in a conversation is a great way to find out how well the agency can understand your goals and ask important questions/clarifications.
Talking to them is also a great opportunity to learn how professional they are, how they respond, how they value their clientele, and how they’re planning on achieving your goals. You can further inquire about how their system works, the SEO services you can get, and even negotiate prices.
This is also a good opportunity to scope out any red flags or build rapport. Keep in mind that SEO is a long-time process and you can expect to work alongside the agency for years to come. Regardless of how long you plan on working alongside the agency, you’re going to have to spend a significant amount of time working with them to meet your goals.
Closing Thoughts
SEO can be a fantastic addition to your business’ potential. It can increase traffic, help meet KPIs, and increase your ROI but it isn’t magic. They can optimize your website and improve traffic but they cannot guarantee success, so watch out for anyone who says they can.
When you partner up with an agency it’s important to ask yourself if you believe they can get the job done. Because at the end of the day the best way to find the right agency is to trust your gut.