How to choose the best SEO agency?

Although SEO agencies can help you bring in more business, they aren’t always what they seem. If you hire the wrong one, you may end up wasting time and money that could have been better spent on other things. With that in mind, here are five quick tips to help you choose the right agency so you don’t end up wasting your time or money on ineffective efforts that won’t benefit your company in the long run.

What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

SEO is all about improving your website ranking in search engines so that your web pages show up when someone searches for certain keywords. It’s important to understand that SEO is not a set it and forget it practice—it’s an ongoing process of monitoring and adjusting to ensure you’re getting found by customers who are looking for you. There are several different ways to improve your site, but they can be broken down into two main categories: on-page optimization and off-page optimization.

What Exactly Does an SEO Agency Do?

• audit,
• analysis of competition and recipients,
• website optimization,
• e-commerce positioning,
• local positioning,
• link building,
• content marketing,
• social media,
• SEM (Search Engine Marketing).

Checklist

1) Read Google’s Webmaster Guidelines

For starters, it’s essential to read Google’s webmaster guidelines. The guidelines explain how search engines crawl pages and how they index content. Understanding these concepts is a crucial part of picking a good SEO agency because most businesses already know what keywords they want to target, but not all companies understand what Google looks for in a high-quality website. Before you make your decision about which company to hire, consider whether or not their suggestions are aligned with these search engine standards.

2) Ask to See Their Services

Before you start working with an SEO agency, it’s a good idea to get a clear picture of exactly what services they offer and how those services work. Some agencies offer comprehensive campaigns that include everything from keyword research to monthly reporting—and some stick to a single aspect of search engine optimization like link building or social media. It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting before you make your decision. After all, you don’t want to spend money on an SEO service only to find out later that you were better off going elsewhere.

A few things to consider when choosing an SEO agency

• How long have they been in business?
• What are their credentials?
• Do they have references from other clients?

If so, ask them about their experience and if there were any issues during the process. It’s also a good idea to check out reviews of SEO agencies online—but remember that not all reviews are created equal. Some may be written by competitors or disgruntled former employees looking to damage a company’s reputation.

3) Check Their Experience

Before hiring an agency, it’s important to check their experience. If you have an e-commerce website, make sure that their services are compatible with your site. If you need help understanding what to look for when searching for an SEO company, here are a few tips:

• What is their SEO process?
• How do they use SEO and PPC together?
• What types of websites do they specialize in?
• Do they work with big brands or small businesses?
• Are they active on social media?
• Do they share content regularly and participate in industry discussions?
• Are they involved in online communities and groups related to your business niche?

The more information you can find about them, the better equipped you will be to choose a reputable SEO service provider.

4) Beware of Bait and Switch Tactics

No reputable agency will offer you a one size fits all package. The goals of a local business and an ecommerce site are wildly different, which means they require very different strategies. Make sure to ask your expert what he or she would recommend specifically for your type of business before hiring him or her. SEO is not something that can be rushed, either; there’s no need to hire an agency whose timeline doesn’t align with yours. While SEO services should be ongoing, it takes time to build up rankings—and if you’re in a hurry, chances are high that your results won’t last long term. In fact, some SEO agencies might even try to bait and switch by offering short-term results in exchange for an ongoing contract. This is a tactic best avoided at all costs!

5) Hire an Ethical Company

The first thing you need to do when looking for an company is ask around. Make sure that you’re hiring an ethical agency with a good reputation. Do some research and make sure to read up on reviews from customers who used their services in your industry so that you can gauge their effectiveness at working with clients like yours. It’s also important to look into whether or not they have any certifications or awards—this shows that they are dedicated to staying on top of their game, which will ultimately benefit you as well. If they don’t have any awards or certifications, it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t effective, but it does mean you should dig deeper into what makes them unique before making a decision.

Conclusion

Whether you are just starting an ecommerce business or you already have a business and want to attract more traffic, adding optimisation and positioning services is a vital step in maximizing your online presence. As with any service, it is important to thoroughly research agencies before deciding on one. The best way to do so is by reading reviews from previous clients and by asking questions that will help you determine if they can meet your needs. An agency can be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their ecommerce site’s visibility online, but choosing wisely can make all of the difference between success and failure.