All small business owners know that marketing is essential for the growth of their ventures. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to decide how to allocate your limited budget to your marketing endeavors. You may have considered doing your own marketing but quickly realized that you don’t have the time or expertise.
That’s when you start looking for a local SEO agency. But how do you know if an agency is reputable and will deliver results? Here are eight things you should always keep in mind while hiring a local SEO agency:
1. Check Their Work History
When choosing a local SEO agency, it’s important to consider their track record and case studies. Make sure to look at examples of their previous work to get an idea of their level of expertise. Request examples of previous projects they have worked on and inquire about any case studies or client endorsements they may have.
Remember, any agency proud of its work will be eager to share the details of its previous projects. It’s a warning sign if the agency hesitates to talk about its ex-clients. The likeliest explanation is that the agency has a questionable portfolio. So, it would be best to steer clear of it.
Also, try to hire a local agency so that you can verify its claims easily. For example, if you live in Fort Lauderdale, try to hire a Fort Lauderdale digital marketing agency. In doing so, you can ask about the agency’s reputation and access its clientele more easily.
2. They Must Be Easy To Communicate
Moreover, it is crucial that you feel comfortable speaking with the agency. After all, you’ll be working with them closely on a regular basis. Be sure to schedule a consultation call or meeting so you can get a sense of their communication style and whether or not you’ll be able to develop a good working relationship.
If the agency is not responsive to your requests, don’t proceed further. There could be emergencies when you need to talk to the SEO team immediately. They are no good use if you can’t contact them when you need them. Hence, go for an agency that is always available for a meeting.
3. How Do They Approach SEO
Also, be sure to investigate their website optimization method. You want to make sure that the agency’s specialists have a good understanding of how search engine optimization works. They should be able to explain the various techniques they use in order to help improve your website’s ranking on SERPs.
To get a sense of their service and expertise, be sure to look at previous SEO campaigns and the SEO techniques they employed. They must have a history of raising their clients’ organic search traffic and ranks on search engine results pages. Stay away from agencies that make false claims or exaggerations about their past achievements.
Be aware of SEO experts solely concentrating on link building or a single SEO component. Choose a different firm if they fail to highlight issues like load time, page speed, on-page optimization, content marketing, web design, and a positive user experience.
There are numerous ways to go about SEO, so you’ll want to confirm that the company is doing ethical white hat methods that won’t cause Google to punish your website. Ask them about their link-building strategy and what other ways they use to improve website visibility.
A well-reputed SEO company will only employ white hat methods, so your website won’t run the risk of receiving a Google penalty. There are a lot of ‘black hat’ agencies out there who use underhand tactics, which may get results in the short term but could ultimately damage your website long term.
4. Are They Up To Date?
It’s also important to see if the SEO professional is up to date on the latest industry trends and developments. Google makes regular updates to its algorithm, so it’s essential that your specialist is aware of these changes and knows how to adapt their strategies accordingly.
A good SEO Company should be familiar with technologies such as Google Search Console (GSC), Google Analytics, Aherfs, and others for audits, testing, and other tasks. They should be able to explain how they do research, keep track of rankings and backlinks, and analyze their competitors.
The best SEO agencies will be able to keep on top of all the latest algorithm changes and developments so that you don’t have to – meaning your website will always be up-to-date with the latest best practices.
If the agency doesn’t stay up-to-date on the latest trends and changes in the industry, it will be impossible for them to keep your website ahead of the competition.
5. What Are Their After-Service Offerings?
Once the project is completed, will the agency be available for ongoing support and maintenance? This is important in case any issues or changes need to be made down the road.
6. How Do They Measure Success?
It’s important to find out from the agency how they define success, so you know they’re working toward your goals. Whether it’s an increase in organic traffic, higher rankings for key keywords, or more leads and sales, make sure the goals are clear from the start.
7. Compare The Pricing
Before making a decision, make sure to check prices from several agencies. Local SEO services can vary widely in cost, so it’s important to find an agency that fits within your budget while still providing high-quality results.
8. Are They Trustworthy?
Don’t forget to seek out referrals from others. Ask friends, relatives, and coworkers who have already utilized a local SEO company if they would suggest them. Getting first-hand feedback from people you trust is one of the best ways to ensure you’re making the right decision when choosing an agency.
You must make sure that the specialist you hire is someone you can trust. Talk with the agency’s previous clients or go through reviews to see if there are any red flags in their past work history. By taking these things into account, you can be sure that you’ll find an experienced and reliable SEO consultant who can assist advance your website.
Final Words
Before you dive deep into the market, there might be an overwhelming amount of local SEO agency options. But once you weed out the lackluster companies by assessing their credentials, your choice pool will narrow down significantly. Use the factors we have mentioned here as benchmarks when you are analyzing a local SEO company.