You’ve got a neat product idea and have started to get your business in full swing. Now all that’s left is to get your website up and running. If you don’t have one, you’ll have a hard time bringing in clientele.
You can’t simply have a website up and expect it to generate traffic by itself, though. You’ve got to optimize for SEO.
While you can do this yourself, if you’re not experienced, it can be challenging. That’s why many companies choose to outsource.
Want to know how to choose an SEO company that can deliver results for your business? Keep reading for a list of tips that you should keep in mind during the hiring process.
Look at Reviews and Get Testimonials
When you look up small business SEO companies on Google, you’ll get a long list to choose from. You can narrow things down by checking out reviews.
Don’t be surprised if many of the reviews you find on Google are negative.
Pleased customers don’t comment often, so you’re left to read a long string of complaints. Many companies have positive testimonials on their sites that you can check out.
This will allow you to see a good mixture of good and bad comments. You can also ask SEO agencies about their previous customers.
They should have no problem giving you a list of companies that you can get in touch with.
Ask these customers what they loved about working with the company. It’s also good to find out what they think the company could improve on.
Don’t Fall for Empty Promises
If you run into a company that promises to get you on the front page of Google in a month, that should raise some red flags in your mind. It doesn’t matter how experienced a business is, SEO is a long process.
Google has a complex system of algorithms in place. Proper strategies from a good company will help you, but it will take a while before you’re showing up on page 1.
Chances are, even if they do manage such a feat, they’re not doing it in an ethical manner. If you go through a company that doesn’t follow a certain code of morals, it can make your business look bad.
Check Their Website
You shouldn’t hire a business before looking at their website. Check to see if they’ve bothered to optimize their own site for search engines.
Do they pop up when you search their keywords? If the answer is no, you might want to rethink your decision.
If they can’t even get their own website together, chances are they’re not going to do wonders for yours either.
Look at Their Portfolio or Case Studies
The best way to find out if a company can deliver the results you’re looking for is to check out samples of their work. By looking at their portfolio or a few case studies, you can see if their style matches up to yours.
You’ll also get to see how they weave other SEO components into their work, such as social media and general web design.
Some companies have work that you can look at right on their site. In some cases, you’ll have to ask them for it.
Do a Little Research on the Team
Head over to LinkedIn and look up the company that you’re thinking of hiring.
You’ll be able to check out individual team members and learn more about what kind of background they have.
If they love what they do and seem passionate about the company, they’re exactly who you want working on your SEO strategy.
You never know, you could be connected to someone who works for the company.
If that’s the case, you can message them and get special insight into how the business runs as a whole.
Fees and Contracts
Every agency is a little different when it comes to fees and contracts. Some will handle your SEO strategy for an hourly fee. Others will lock you into a contract.
To this end, it’s a good idea to call several SEO companies to ask about their rates. This way, you have a couple of prices that you can compare.
Remember, just because you get a quote, that doesn’t mean you’re locked into anything.
Meet With Potential Companies
If you’re going with a local SEO agency (and even if you’re not), it’s a good idea to meet with them.
This will give you a chance to sit down and ask questions face to face. Don’t forget to let them ask a few things of their own as well.
You can also brainstorm ideas for your strategy with them. If they seem just as excited to work with you as you are to work with them, you know that you’ve found a great team.
Spread Your Wings a Little
Going with local SEO services isn’t a bad idea, but you want to spread your wings a little bit. You might discover a great St. Petersburg SEO company that you never would have considered before due to distance.
Your main priority should be hiring the right company for the job.
How to Choose an SEO Company That Will Deliver
You can have the greatest product in the world. If you don’t work on your SEO strategy, nobody will know about it, though. Most people don’t go past the first page of Google when they perform a search.
Learn how to choose an SEO company that will get you there.
Are you looking for more ways to increase traffic on your website? Check out the Business section of our blog for additional tips and tricks.
