Keith Hodges
Outsourcing an SEO agency takes time and research, as it is essential to find an agency that shares your company’s ethics. The effort must be worthwhile and must get you a successful return on investment.
So what are the ten essentials to look for in a new SEO agency?
RELATIONSHIP POTENTIAL
An SEO agency, in house team or freelance SEO manager all must have potential for a great, trusting relationship. A client must be able to have delicate, honest conversations and regular meetings to tailor a business’s SEO strategy. Transparency is key on both sides, and can help regular progress on the account.
SECTOR EXPERIENCE
In the long run, an SEO campaign must aim at harnessing long term revenue for your business. Ask competing SEO agencies to demonstrate experience within your industry and, to show results.
KPI-DRIVEN SEO
Good rankings only show success, but wrong rankings can lead to a lack of conversions (or sales) and bad RoI. Ensure your KPIs are created around your various business goals, not the SEO agency’s goals.
EVOLVING CAMPAIGNS
Search engines like Google are constantly changing. A good SEO agency must be in the know, and be able to anticipate changes, ensuring future algorithm updates won’t cause a penalty or traffic loss for your business. Make sure your SEO agency is aware of new SEO trends.
ACCREDITATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
Your SEO account manager must be Google certified. There are also plenty of other industry body accreditations showing a further industry understanding. Question your agency’s certifications often, and keep up with their industry nominations.
SEO BASED ON STRATEGY
If your SEO company makes a decision involving your website, make sure it’s backed up with evidence. Ask how user experience will gain from these changes and how they will lead to more conversions.
SERVICES COVERED
SEO agencies might be specialised in different areas, such as content or technical SEO. Your business might need an agency that can cover all of them. Make sure the agency you choose is adapted to your marketing needs.
SOLVING PROBLEMS
Sometimes market changes, algorithm updates, bugs or hacks can affect your website. Your SEO agency must be able to solve the problem or adapt the campaign quickly.
COST TRANSPARENCY
A tricky subject, costs are an area to look at carefully to make sure you get what you pay for. A cheaper SEO agency may outsource work abroad to reduce costs, which can slow down campaigns and add up hidden costs. Always ask a breakdown of your spend. The right SEO agency must be able to show you RoI insights.
SOLID CONFIDENCE
Marketers need to be able to have confidence in their SEO agency, and to rely on their account manager at all times. This trust will lead to an effective, lasting relationship – beneficial for both client and agency. A good SEO agency must be able to smoothly incorporate SEO into your current marketing strategy.
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