From the Perspective of a Non-SEO Company
As a web agency, we get asked a lot about search engine optimization. In the past, we offered some SEO services, but we realized it requires a very different set of resources and we decided to dedicate all of ours to web design & development.
But we understand that a high-quality website, although extremely important, is just one part of an effective web presence. We’ve spent a lot of time working on our own search marketing for TinyFrog and have collaborated with numerous digital marketing companies over the years.
So from the perspective of a non-SEO company, we’ve compiled our best recommendations on how to choose the right SEO company for your business.
Choosing an SEO Company
When we talk to clients who are considering SEO services, we always recommend they first assess their website and online presence. We’ve seen a lot of businesses make the mistake of spending tons of money on marketing efforts, only to see poor results because their site is extremely outdated. You want to make sure that you are driving traffic to a strong foundation, so you can get the best results.
Next, as you research and meet with different SEO agencies, consider the following factors in your decision:
1. Do they have an established business & office?
When searching for any type of service, it’s important to look for a credible, well-established business. Because there are little barriers to entry for digital marketing and SEO, there is a lot of competitors in the industry. It’s helpful to find a local agency with an office where you can meet in person. When it comes to SEO, it’s better to work with an agency over a single freelancer. Digital marketing requires a lot of resources and it’s risky to rely on one person with limited skills or resources.
2. Are they looking at the big picture?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is just one aspect of digital marketing. It’s best to work with an agency that will look at the full digital marketing options – paid search, content marketing, online reputation, local search, etc. Every industry has different competition in organic listings and a quality SEO agency can guide you on which marketing steps would be the best fit for your business & budget.
3. Have you reviewed the SEO company’s online presence?
Similar to reviewing the website of a web design agency, you’ll want to take a look at the SEO and online presence of the SEO company you are considering. Keep in mind that keywords around SEO terms are some of the most competitive, for obvious reasons. For each business that you are considering, take a look at their online reviews and contact a few of their past clients. You can also search for any directories of top SEO companies. All of this research will give you a better sense of the customer service and the type of clients that the company has worked with in the past.
4. Are they charging enough for the services?
Be very careful of paying too little. It’s a bad sign if any company is charging very little and guaranteeing results. With SEO and digital marketing services, you can expect to pay a monthly fee which includes a certain number of services based on a timeline and scope. Talk with the SEO company about what would be a reasonable budget based on your marketing expectations. Be very careful of any guarantees or promises of lightning fast results. With search marketing, it takes time and requires diligent work.
5. Do they consider conversion optimization on the site?
Search engine optimization typically requires some adjustments to your website. You may be adding more text to certain pages, posting regularly to your blog, or adding more pages to the site. However, ask whether the SEO company will be considering best practices for conversion optimization in their recommendations for the site. The user experience of a web page is a very important factor for conversions and overloading a page with too much text can hurt the conversion rates of the site. There are great ways to add content to the site while maintaining a positive user experience.
Stay Engaged in Your Marketing
After selecting an SEO company and getting to work, our best recommendation is to pay attention and stay involved. You can learn a lot by observing the steps the SEO team takes for your business. You also know your business better than anyone, and your insights into your customers and target market will be extremely vital. If you are looking for help in this area, reach out to our team and we’re happy to connect you with some great SEO partners.
