So you have determined that SEO is right for your company website. You have also come to the realisation that SEO is a full time job and takes a lot of effort, time and expertise. So, the next step is researching and short-listing SEO agencies. Here are some tips on what to look for when short-listing and researching SEO companies:
1. Case-studies of clients
How do you know if an SEO company is the real deal if they don’t have any case studies examples or success stories? You want to make sure that an SEO company has a reputable reputation and has evidence of its strong performance, so take the time to check out any testimonials or client case-studies that they may have on their website. But beware that some SEO companies have testimonials that are not valid ie. using testimonials of their OWN websites. On another note, it is all well and good to have client examples on a website, but are they performing well? Do a quick search on Google and type in some keywords for that particular client and see how they rank on Google.
2. Keep an eye out for spam ‘SEO Professionals’
We all receive a flood of spam email every day. Try and stay away from overseas / spam email “SEO Professionals” that look particularly suss, as there have been known cases of clients having their site hacked with spam codes and the entire site wiped off Google’s index. If you are dealing with an out of country SEO provider that turns out to be a cheat you will generally have very little chance of prosecution or recovery of your money. Even at Arrow we receive emails all the time from SEO companies who will use scare tactics, such as “Your site map is incorrect and missing – get help today” These dodgy emails are very general and not looking at your specific case. Our advice is to keep your con blinkers on and stick to the legitimate seo experts.
3. Proof is in the pudding
If you go to a hair dresser you generally assume that the hairstylist has a great haircut – right? Well, the same goes for when researching SEO companies. Type in ‘SEO Company” or ‘SEO [insert city]” into Google. It is a very good sign when an SEO company can get themselves a high ranking on Google. If they can’t do it for themselves, can they really do it for you? Proof is in the pudding!
4. Don’t be swayed by pricing
‘You get what you pay for” should be a continual thought that goes through your head as you research SEO companies. Yes, there will always be companies out there who have budget pricing and claim to spend as much time on your website as other higher priced SEO companies. But, this is generally not the case. SEO is a time consuming process and demands ongoing effort. The rules are continually changing and while it may seem simple, it requires staying on top of ever-changing search algorithms. You want to make sure you get the best results, otherwise what is the point in hiring an SEO company. Cheap SEO can actually be a costly affair as you are spending money on being optimised but are not ranking high enough – Getting up to page 2 is not good enough. Try and keep in mind that return on investment is more important than looking for the cheapest deal.
Do you lack the time to even research an appropriate SEO company? At Arrow Internet we can answer any questions and concerns you may have about enlisting an SEO company. We know it is a big decision so we are here to help. Call us today on 1300 766 665.
Check back soon to see our next blog on “Top questions to ask an SEO agency”
