There are a number of SEO companies operating in each city alone. With so many options, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose the right agency for your business. Hiring the wrong company can do more harm to your business. So, it is important to do your research before you select an SEO agency. Consider these three tips to choose the best one for your business.
Review their past performance
Successful SEO agencies will be backed by verifiable and specific results. You can easily check their performance by assessing the results they have delivered for their clients. Reputable agencies have nothing to hide. They proudly present such information on their website for the benefit of their prospective clients. You may find case studies on the website with data such as an increase in the percentage of organic traffic for a client along with the percentage of bounce rate and other metrics.
If you don’t find such information on a company’s website then send them an inquiry for the same. Request them for real examples when you first approach them for more information about their business. Also, consider their industry accolades such as awards.
Client testimonials are also great to assess a company’s performance. See to it that the testimonials are presented well with the clients’ names and business mentioned alongside their photographs and statements.
You can search online for local SEO companies by using your location in the keyword. For instance, SEO agency Miami is a good example of a relevant keyword. It will help you jumpstart your research.
Assess the transparency of their business
You wouldn’t want to see your money wasted by hiring an SEO agency that doesn’t really deliver. So, see to it that you don’t focus only on their performance but also on the way they conduct the business. Anyone can write glowing content on the website. But you need to see if they can back what they say.
Check if they offer free SEO analysis. It can be a good starting point to gauge a company’s confidence.
Do they mention the names of their clients on the website? A company that has a solid client base will not hesitate to present this information to their prospective clients.
SEO companies with transparent business practices will grant their clients 24×7 access to real-time results. So, you will be able to check your rankings on various search engines along with traffic statistics. Companies that are assured of producing the desired results for their clients will not hesitate to reveal information about their performance. With access to such data, you can see the company’s performance anytime you want.
Some reputable SEO companies work with only one business in each category and market. They may or may not reveal this information on their website (though businesses with transparent practices are likely to do so). Exclusivity is a good thing to have when you hire an SEO company for the job. It can be a relief to know that the same company is also not working for your competitors.
Reputable SEO companies with transparent practices will never insist on long-term contracts. Yes, it takes time for SEO results to show. But they will still not ask their clients to commit to them for the long term. They charge on a monthly basis. So, it gives you the freedom to terminate their services any time you feel the need to do so. Only companies confident in their performance will offer monthly contracts.
You can also check their business social accounts (if they have any) to know more about their business practices and ethics. Read their business blog to assess their industry knowledge and expertise.
Schedule a meeting
Once you have identified a good SEO company, schedule a meeting with them. It can be an in-person meeting, a video call, or just a telephone conversation. Unless you speak with the company executives, you will not know if they are a good fit for your business.
Ask them to define how they plan to tackle SEO for your business. Gauge their understanding of your business category by asking them relevant questions. Ask them about their fees upfront for the monthly work.