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Whether you have just launched your small business or have been running an enterprise for a while, your business website’s rank can make or break your business growth. For this, an SEO agency is your ultimate solution.
However, not all agencies are built the same. So, prioritize these factors to choose one!
1. Proven Track Record
The most important factor when picking an SEO agency is their reputation and experience. They must offer real case studies and success stories packed with detailed data, including rankings, website traffic, and conversions.
They must share references so you can learn about their experiences directly from previous clients. Know about their satisfaction with the results. This will help you judge whether they are reliable.
Check third-party review platforms like Google and Trustpilot. Consistent and genuine positive online reviews are a great sign.
2. Industry-Specific Experience
SEO strategies often differ between industries. The strategies that work for healthcare companies won’t serve marketing businesses. So, check whether they have experience working for clients within your industry. Their familiarity with your niche can impact the results.
So, if your business is in the software industry, you will benefit by partnering with a SaaS SEO agency. They are already aware of the industry-specific KPIs and requirements of technical content.
It’s best if they have already worked with your direct competitors, as it implies they know your market pretty well!
3. Clear and Effective Strategy
A reliable SEO agency must be open to sharing all the processes they will undertake for your project. This includes on-page optimization, keyword research, link building, and reporting.
Ask them for a sample strategy. They must be able to share their strategies to improve ranking, the tools and software they’ll apply, and how they evaluate project success and ROI.
Request an audit of your existing website and get their take on it. This will help you understand their strategy in action.
If the agency tells you something like it’s their “trade secret” and they can’t share their strategy, that’s a suspicious sign!
4. White Hat Link-Building Practices Only
Link-building (or acquiring backlinks) is an essential part of SEO tactics. So, verify whether the agency adheres to Google’s Webmaster Guidelines for this.
Ask if they approach link-building through PR, authority content, and outreach. Next, know whether they prioritize user experience and relevance in their on-page SEO efforts. In regard to content, check if they offer value for readers. All of these are known as white-hat techniques.
Make sure they don’t follow unethical SEO practices (aka black-hat techniques). This includes buying links, keyword stuffing, cloaking (search engines and users see different content), content automation, or spamming.
While black-hat tactics show quick results, they can attract serious penalties, leading to website de-indexing from search engines.
5. Realistic Expectations
Let’s be honest: SEO efforts don’t make a difference in a week or even a month. It takes time. Overall results also depend on your niche, competition, and the website’s health. So, if an agency promises you fast results, they are bluffing!
The most trustworthy SEO agencies will tell you to set realistic expectations, such as slow growth for up to 6 months. They will initially put more effort into boosting website rank (because only 0.63% of Google searchers clicked on the second page results) and user engagement. They will be upfront about the algorithm’s volatility.
6. Customized Solutions
Since no two businesses are identical, a trustworthy SEO agency will try to understand your exact needs.
They will research and ask questions about your brand and evaluate your industry and competitors. After understanding your target audience, they will create content aligned with their interest. They also ask if you want an audience from a specific region for local SEO tactics.
This shows their commitment to offering customized plans and not using cookie-cutter solutions.
7. Transparent Communication
Communication is the key to good collaboration. So, while hiring an SEO agency, ask them about who will be contacting you with updates and the frequency of the updates. Know whether they will create reports or upload everything on a dashboard ,and if the marketing jargon will be explained in plain English.
A reliable agency will include details regarding organic traffic, keyword ranks, and conversion rates in the reports.
8. Updated with Algorithm Changes
A good SEO agency doesn’t need to know every little thing about algorithm changes. However, they must be updated with the latest industry trends.
They must share how Google’s Helpful Content, Core Web Vitals, and other big updates impacted their approach. Know what tools they use and how they stay updated.
Closing Thoughts
With these factors in mind, you will find a compatible SEO agency in no time. So, begin your research and enhance your business growth with the right SEO partner!