Most business owners know they need to focus on SEO. This is the only way to rank on the search engines and get the organic traffic that drives most businesses. To make SEO easier, many people hire an SEO company to handle this, but there are some things that you need to know before you do this.
Your Goals :
Before you contact any SEO company, you need to know what your goals are. There is no point in talking to an SEO company if you do not know what you want from them. It is also important to note that your goals will be different from goals other companies in your industry have.
When thinking about goals, you need to be as detailed as possible. Knowing that you want more traffic is a good start, but you need to look deeper. You have to consider what type of traffic you want and what level of increase you want. Only when you have detailed goals will you be able to hire the right SEO company.
Their Approach To SEO :
Once you know what your goals are, you can start contacting SEO companies. When you contact any company, the first thing you need to know is their approach to SEO. There are different parts of SEO and you need to know how the company handles each part.
Some SEO companies will only work on one area of SEO while others will offer a full service. There are also some companies that will do the research and create a strategy for your business, but you will have to implement it. Finding out the approach of the company will help you find the one that offers the service that you want.
What Metrics They Use?
After finding out about the company’s approach to SEO, you need to learn more about metrics. How does the company measure success? If the company does not want to answer your question, this can be a sign that they are not measuring the effects of the strategy.
The metrics being used by the company should match the goals you have. After all, there is no point in hiring a company that measures organic traffic only when you want to increase conversions. Ideally, when you ask the company about metrics, they should ask what your goals are.
Their Approach To Mobile :
Mobile traffic has been on the rise for years and is only going to increase. You need to work with a company that understands this and has a clear approach to mobile SEO. This is made more important by the move by search engines to implement a mobile-first algorithm.
Mobile SEO is different because the way people use the search engines on mobiles differs from desktops. If the company does not have a different approach to mobile, you might want to reconsider working with them. This can also be a sign that the company is using outdated methods and is not up to date with the SEO industry.
What Keyword Research Is Done?
Keyword research is still the basis of any good SEO strategy and you need to know how the company handles this. While the company is unlikely to go into detail regarding the research they do, they should give you a basic overview. During this overview, they should focus on user intent and not simply search volume. If the conversation you have with them is only about keyword density and search volumes, the company is using outdated methods.
What Do Their Reports Look Like?
This is something that a lot of people overlook, but the reports you get from the company are very important. If you do not understand the reports, you will not know if the company is helping you or not. While asking about report styles, you should also find out how often you will get progress reports from the company.
Reputable SEO companies will have sample reports that you can look at. They will also be willing to explain the different parts of the reports and how this might be adjusted for the data you need. You should avoid any company that is unable to provide you with information about their reporting.
What They Need From You?
The last thing you need to know before you hire an SEO company is what they need from you. Any good SEO company needs information about your business, your goals and the industry you work in. Without this information, they will not be able to create a custom strategy to help you achieve your goals. You should avoid any company that does not ask you questions about your business.
There are many things you need to know before you hire an SEO company. You need to understand your goals and how the company will help you achieve them. You also need to understand their reports and what you can expect from them.