For a small business, choosing a search engine optimization company requires a lot of research. You need to know what your goals are and ensure the company can meet them.
The right company means a rise in organic traffic or a decrease in your rankings. There are both good and bad outcomes, and it all comes down to the experience of the SEO company.
The right search engine optimization company can help you increase sales without going over budget. Here’s what you should consider before choosing your SEO company.
Qualities Of The Perfect Search Engine Optimization Company
Even for the best companies, SEO isn’t easy. The one you choose should explain it to you in terms you can understand, have concrete goals in mind, and an understanding of your industry. If they haven’t worked in your industry before, you’ll want to ensure they research what they need to know.
Here are some other things to think about.
Absolutely No Shortcuts
SEO comes down to goals. Meeting those goals means doing the hard work. If you speak to a company that’s looking for easy-wins and taking shortcuts, they’re not right for you.
SEO shortcuts include things like keyword stuffing and cloaking. Both can get you in trouble with Google and decrease your rankings. Pay attention to SEO specialists that say they know more than everyone else. They might not be doing things above board.
Know What Your Goals Are
The first thing you need is defined goals. If you don’t know where to begin, a great SEO company should be able to guide you.
It’s more than just increasing your organic traffic. Talk about boosting sales or decreasing your bounce rate. There are tons of KPI’s to meet, and a great SEO company should help you define them. Talk through your goals, let them know what you’re looking for, and walk away knowing they can meet them.
Ask How They Chart Your Progress
Now that you have your goals defined, you need to know that your search engine optimization company can give you metrics that make sense. There should be a few different reports that showcase the progress of your campaign.
Your goals should be part of these metrics, and you should visually see the ups and downs of your campaign. Not having concrete proof of how the campaign is performing means you can’t pivot when you have to. Here are some things to have on your reports:
- Conversion rate
- Organic sessions
- Keyword rankings
- Google crawl mistakes
- Page load times
Communication Is Key
The most important quality in an SEO company is their willingness to communicate. The last thing you want to spend your time doing is hounding a firm for information.
Ask for access to your campaigns through their various tools, and set up frequent calls to go over the data.
Typically, you work with SEO companies for many years, so test out their communication skills.
These days, around 90% of users only look at the first page of the Google search results. So, investing in a great SEO company can change the landscape of your digital advertising. With these tips, you’ll know how to find the right one.
