Getting your business off the ground starts with making it more visible. Potential customers need to know what your brand is about and what products and services you offer.
However, with the massive number of spam websites and disreputable companies online, it can be difficult for a legitimate business to stand out from the rest of the herd.
A capable and experienced SEO agency can help you establish your digital brand and boost your online presence. Here are some of the most crucial considerations to keep in mind if you’re planning to hire an SEO agency.
Your Business Goals
Before you even start your search for the right SEO agency, make sure that you understand why you need to hire one in the first place. Some of the common reasons why business and website owners like you should hire an SEO agency are the following:
- Your website is not getting traffic.
- You are getting traffic, but not enough customers.
- Your website is not optimized for search engines, your users, or social media.
- You want to attract customers who primarily use their mobile devices for online purchases.
- You want to keep up with your competition when it comes to digital presence.
It’s vital to choose an SEO company that specifically creates an SEO strategy with your business goals in mind. You should also list these goals beforehand and communicate these with the candidates you’re considering. Some examples of good business goals are:
- You want to target a specific demographic or a particular group of audience.
- You want to boost your revenue by increasing sales.
- You want more users to sign up for your email list, free trial, etc.
- You want to improve sentiment for your brand by pushing the good reviews up and the bad ones down.
Experience
Always check how long the SEO agency has been in business. Remember that when it comes to quality of service and industry knowledge, nothing trumps years of experience.
One pro tip is never to trust an agency that promises first page rankings on search engine results. If you ever see an agency making guarantees like this, it’s very likely that they are new in the industry and have no idea what they are doing.
Case Studies
Established SEO companies are always happy to show off the work they’ve done for their clients. Ask them if they can show you case studies that highlight their work.
These case studies will give a great idea about how the SEO agency fares in terms of performance, skill, and expertise. They’re irrefutable evidence of the agency’s ability to deliver positive outcomes for their clients.
White-hat Strategies
While it may be tempting to just leave everything in the hands of the agency you hire, you should never disregard the strategies that the SEO agency will use to help you achieve your goals. A good SEO agency should rely on white-hat techniques to improve your SEO.
During your consultation with an SEO agency, ask them about the strategies they use. If there’s anything that confuses you or that you’re not familiar with, have them explain it to you in terms that you can understand. Ethical SEO agencies won’t hesitate to provide details to explain their practices.
Price
Set a reasonable price that you’re willing to pay. Rates tend to differ depending on the range of services being offered by the SEO agency as well as the goals you want to achieve. The rates for SEO consultants range between $80-$200 per hour. A one-time project costs between $5,000-$30,000.
Most SEO agencies will charge you by the day, by the hour, or for an entire project. Make sure that you know what you’re paying for and which services are included in their price. Additional technical services will increase your costs. For example, the SEO agency may still need to update your outdated site before they start their work.
Another critical factor to keep in mind is that effective SEO takes time. If you want to see the outcomes you’re expecting and to achieve your business goals, make sure that you’re ready to invest time and money for a long-term partnership.
Conclusion
SEO can be an intimidating subject, but it’s necessary to acquaint yourself with the basics, at the very least, when you’re looking for potential SEO agencies. Although there’s no guarantee that SEO will work for your website or business, hiring an established SEO agency with a good track record is your first step to seeing the results you want.