We already know that SEO is very important these days and is a major part of your online success. However, before you choose the right SEO agency or SEO freelancer, it is very important to clarify what your SEO goals are. And secondly, do thorough research to choose the right SEO agency for your business.
But how and where to start? We offer you a few steps to help you make the right decision.
Be specific about your business goals and find an SEO agency that can meet them
So as the very first step, clarify the reasons why SEO is needed for your business, how SEO improves your trading online, and why you need to hire an SEO expert. Some of the common reasons why website owners or business owners hire SEO agencies may be:
- They have a website but are not receiving any traffic
- They have a website, they receive traffic, but not customers
- They have a website but it’s not optimized for search engines, users or social media
Next, write down a list of specific goals you would like to achieve with SEO. Be clear about what to expect and what kind of SEO services you need. You shouldn’t hire an SEO agency just because of increasing organic traffic to your site. There are numerous other goals that you can achieve with SEO, and in most cases, your success relies on timeline and budget. Good business goals can also be:
- You want your website to be on the first page of Google search organically
- You want to increase your revenue by increasing sales
- You want to improve your online presence
- You want to attract customers who only use mobile devices, e.g. for online shopping
- You want to keep up with your competitors in terms of online presentation
- You want to find new customers in other digital markets, such as mobile
- You want to increase the number of users who sign up for your newsletter, downloads, etc.
- You want to focus on a specific audience or demographic
Your SEO partner doesn’t need to be close to your business at all. The whole SEO process is done online so you do not have to be limited to choosing the closest SEO agency.
Where can you find a good SEO agency?
In today’s online world, it’s no surprise the first place you should start looking is the internet. SEO agencies live online and these are the kinds of companies that you might not find in your neighbourhood like a supermarket. When searching, it is very important what words you enter into a search engine (browser). You need to know what is important to you, what qualities your SEO partner should have, and what you expect from it. Whether you want an SEO agency that is affordable for you, or whether you want a big or small SEO agency.
Your SEO partner doesn’t need to be close to your business at all. The whole SEO process is done online so you do not have to be limited to choosing the closest SEO agency. If your business is located in Dublin, for example, the SEO process can be easily managed by an SEO agency based in Cork or Wexford. Once you know what you are looking for, enter the keywords, for example: “True SEO services” into the search engine and see what results you get.
However, it’s not just the internet that is a good resource. Word of mouth and references from other people are also recommended. Ask for recommendations from your friends or people in professional circles who already have SEO experience. This is a very positive factor if someone has done a good job on someone else’s website.
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What to look for in a good and reliable SEO agency?
Regardless of how you found an SEO agency that you would like to hire, it is very important to review them. Do not hesitate, check the company thoroughly and make the final decision. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1 Look at an SEO company’s website
First, check out their own website. You can view all of their web pages to see if the SEO agency is worth your time. All you really need to keep in mind is the following four things:
Homepage
The homepage should be the best-looking page because it should present the company in the best possible light. It should include the company’s name and logo, the core services they focus on, and quick access to contact details. If their homepage looks old and outdated, don’t waste your time any more and look elsewhere. If this SEO agency is unable to keep up with the ever-changing trends in web design and SEO on their own site, then the chances of them doing it for you and your business are slim.
Case Studies
Case studies can help you to get a sense of what an agency is like in terms of skills, expertise and performance. Case studies are undoubted evidence that the SEO agency is delivering positive results to its clients. Every successful SEO agency is proudly showcasing the work they’ve done for other clients. It’s a good sign if you find the Case Studies page on their website, and even better if you’re satisfied with what you see.
Testimonials
Testimonials often prove that an SEO agency met the expectations of its clients. The fact that an agency even has testimonials on their website is a good indicator that the agency did a decent job for their clients. Remember, it’s not the volume of testimonials an agency has that matters most, but the level of trustworthiness conveyed therein. Do not underestimate new SEO agencies, either. They may not be as established in the market as their competitors, but that’s not to say they are not doing a first-rate job.
Blog Page
Don’t forget to check out the blog page. It is as important as any other web page on an agency’s site. If a blog contains recent posts on current topics, it’s usually a good sign. It means that the agency is in tune with its users, striving to bring them relevant and up-to-date content and articles. In general, blogs are an important aspect in gauging an agency’s proficiency. If you see an SEO agency that is not neglecting its own site or forgetting about its own users, you can be sure they won’t forget about your site, either.
2 Price
Every SEO agency has its own price list and its own way of charging for its services. The SEO agent’s price list should be transparent and not have any hidden charges.
The lowest price is not always a sign of success and the most expensive doesn’t always mean better service, either.
There is a multitude of schemes: You may be charged a one-time payment for the entire project. You may pay a deposit beforehand. You may pay for each hour of work. Or you may be offered different packages of services. The prices of individual agencies vary depending on what range of SEO services the company offers and the time they invest in each project. Also, the price will depend on what business goals you want to achieve. Make sure you know what you pay for, what services are included in the price, and how much additional services will cost you.
Remember that SEO is a long-term business. And if you want to see the results you expect and to achieve your goals, prepare to invest time and money and patience in a long-term partnership.
However, when choosing an SEO agency, never decide on a price-based basis. Find out which agency can offer you the best service within your budget. You do not need to necessarily hire the cheapest agency to save you money. Nor the most expensive, because the best SEO agency is not always the most expensive one. After all, it’s your reputation, effort, time and money at stake so choose wisely.
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3 Communication style
It’s up to you how you decide to contact the SEO agency and how you will continue to communicate with them, either by phone, email or personal contact. It’s not only the first impression that counts, but also further communication is very important. Your cooperation will be long-term and you need to have a proper working relationship. Do not be afraid to ask questions on the services you are interested in. This will ensure you are clear about everything. Choose an agency that communicates effectively because it is a prerequisite to a long and successful working relationship.
4 The first meeting with an SEO agency
During the first contact, the SEO agency should be interested in why you have chosen SEO and what your goals and expectations are. A genuine SEO agency will alert you promptly as to whether your goals are unrealistic, not reachable in a short time span, or if what you are hoping to achieve is not actually an SEO task. If the agency promises you everything you want with no exceptions, it should arouse your attention, because something is clearly not right.
A genuine SEO agency does not make unreachable promises, such as getting you to the first page of Google in a few days or weeks.
A genuine SEO agency can explain what steps they’ll take in order to reach your goals. They do not make any mystery about SEO because SEO is not a miracle. A genuine SEO agency does not make unreachable promises, such as getting you to the first page of Google in a few days or weeks. Getting to the top positions in search engines requires a lot of time, money and effort. Read more about “Why Is SEO a Long Term Process?” You also must be sure that an agency doesn’t use any abbreviations to improve your online traffic. Be aware of black hat methods, such as buying backlinks, keyword stuffing and cloaking. Black hat methods violate search engine rules and ultimately charge your website for it.
SEO is crucial to your business!
Your business can benefit from a trusted SEO Agency. We’ll get your business to the first page of Google and we’ll keep you there.
The SEO strategy for every business is unique, it takes time, some compromises between your ideas and realities. And in particular, it cannot be done within a few days nor a few weeks.
Summary
Finding the right SEO agency can be harder than it might seem. The current market is full of self-appointed SEO experts or companies that are overpriced. Do your homework and proper research before you hire an SEO expert. Your budget and the time the SEO agency is willing to invest in your project can be the vital difference between Success and Failure. We hope that the steps we mentioned in this article can help you choose the right SEO partner for a long-term run.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information contained in this article. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage arising from or in connection with the use of this article. It is always recommended to consult with a professional before making any business decisions.
