Stumbling upon an SEO agency is not a difficult task, there are so many out there. All you have to do is simply either google a digital marketing agency or an SEO agency and you’ll get a list of both paid and organic results to choose from. So, finding one isn’t hard, but picking the right one can be a challenge, especially if you haven’t worked with one before. That’s why you need to know how to choose the right SEO agency and what to look for during this process.
At this point, you might not even know what it is that you can achieve with search engine optimisation efforts. That’s something a trustworthy agency can explain with their proposal and a detailed SEO strategy. But, you can define what it is that you want to achieve. What are the goals for your online business? Would you like to rank better in search engine results, increase traffic or improve sales? These are just some of the things you can achieve with a long-term SEO strategy. Define your goals and make sure they are in line with your general marketing tactics.
You probably know at least one business that is happy with its SEO strategy and the agency they work with. Ask for as many referrals as you can so you’ll have plenty of agencies to look into. Also, ask for additional pieces of information, if they are willing to share. This will give you an insight into how that agency delivers on the promised results and what their attitude toward work is. You can learn a lot by asking other businesses about their experience in working with a digital marketing agency. Of course, take these pieces of information just as an additional source of information. Don’t base your decision based on one person’s experience.
Once you do your research and get as many referrals as you can, it’s time to do your homework. Look at every agency online and check their case study sections and reviews. Look for evidence of proven track record, past and current successes and positive reviews. You can learn a lot about their approach and their results if you dive deep into their portfolio.
First of all, you need to know that SEO is a long-term process and that quick results are just that - quick. Thus, you need to know that factors like algorithm updates, a market that changes constantly and growing competition can all impact your current ranking in SERP. But, you can overcome all of these changes and obstacles if you view SEO as a long-term process and an integral part of your digital marketing strategy. 92% of searches end on the first page of Google so you’re goal should be to land on that first page. With all this in mind, don’t make decisions based on price only because you can end up with a cheap SEO package that won’t bring any results. Focus on your goal, and look for an agency that can help you with that.
Let’s say that you want to improve your organic results and rank higher for a specific set of keywords. After the initial consultation with your chosen SEO company Sydney, you realise that you’ll also need to improve your content and you also learn about the benefits of Google Ads Campaigns. So instead of working with several different agencies, start by working with an agency that provides more than one service.
Look for an SEO agency that is transparent with their work, their optimisation practices and tactics, and who’s eager to discuss results with you in a professional, knowledgable and open manner. So seek an agency that takes pride in its transparency and reporting processes. SEO efforts are measurable so look for an agency that can discuss and explain the achieved results and progress in your SEO strategy.
You can easily check their expertise by looking the company up online. Analyse their website in great detail, especially if they have who we are section. You can also look them up on LinkedIn and check whether true experts with years of experience work for that agency.
The majority of agencies actually offer free consultations so take advantage of that. It will be time-consuming, but just remember that you’ll benefit from this in two ways. First, you’ll get tons of free digital marketing advice. Second, you’ll test their attitude towards work, their expertise and whether what they say on their website and in-person (or online) matches. After the initial consultation, you’ll easily have data and insight you’ll later compare against other agencies and the promises they make.
Even after the initial consultation, feel free to ask for a proposal. By doing this you’ll learn a lot about the agency’s ethics and attitude towards work in general and potential new clients. Are they even interested in signing up new clients? Or, do they perform consultations on auto-pilot following a pre-defined template? So, if you like them and you’re seriously considering partnering up with them, ask for a proposal.
If more than one agency passes this final test, you’ll have trouble deciding on which one to work with. Upon receiving an SEO proposal and recommended strategy, ask for clarification and explanation. If they lack the knowledge or don’t know how to explain their strategy and proposed steps, then you should probably steer away from that agency. This is a clear sign they aren’t as skilled as their website says they are. On the other hand, if they explain everything clearly and aren’t afraid to answer all of your questions, then you’ve stumbled upon a greater agency with a great attitude towards their clients. Not only that, but you’ll also have a team of professionals by your side who enjoy their work and love talking about it.
These ten tips are more than enough to help you make the right choices when choosing a trustworthy SEO agency. It won’t be easy, but you’ll know how to eliminate the bad ones quite fast so that you can focus on those who communicate well and have a proven track record.
Mike is an Australian business consulting specialist. He’s working with companies that outsource their IT maintenance. He often writes about technology, business, and marketing and is a regular contributor to several websites.
