How to Choose an SEO Agency

Know Your Goals and Desired Outcomes

Before you start looking for an SEO agency, it's essential to know your goals and desired outcomes.

Ask yourself what you want to achieve through SEO - is it to increase website traffic, improve search engine rankings, generate leads, or boost sales?

Having clear goals will help you choose an agency that aligns with your business objectives.

6 Attributes That Make the Best SEO Companies

When choosing an SEO agency, there are several essential characteristics to look for:

A Defined Process to Execute SEO Strategies

The best SEO companies have a well-defined process to execute SEO strategies.

They should be able to explain their methodology and provide you with a detailed plan of action.

A defined process ensures that the agency delivers consistent results and achieves your goals within the agreed timeline.

A Diverse Team of Specialists

An excellent SEO agency has a diverse team of specialists with expertise in different areas of SEO, including technical SEO, on-page optimisation, content creation, link building, and analytics.

Each specialist brings unique skills and knowledge to the table, which ensures that your SEO strategy is comprehensive and effective.

An Impressive Portfolio

A reputable SEO agency will have an impressive portfolio of successful SEO campaigns.

The portfolio should showcase their ability to deliver results for clients in your industry or niche.

Reviewing their portfolio will help you assess their level of expertise and determine if they're the right fit for your business.

Real Customer Testimonials

Customer testimonials and reviews provide valuable insights into an agency's performance and customer satisfaction.

A reputable SEO agency should have positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients.

Check online review platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and Trustpilot to get an idea of their reputation.

Industry-specific Thought Leadership

An excellent SEO agency is a thought leader in their industry, sharing their knowledge and insights through blog posts, webinars, and speaking engagements. They should be up-to-date with the latest SEO trends, algorithms, and best practices and be able to apply them to your SEO strategy.

A Crisp-clear Company Culture

A company culture that values transparency, communication, and collaboration is crucial in choosing an SEO agency. You want an agency that is responsive, easy to work with, and transparent in their communication. A positive company culture ensures a productive and fruitful relationship between you and the agency.

SEO Agency Red Flags

When choosing an SEO agency, there are several red flags to watch out for:

Guaranteeing Rankings

No reputable SEO agency can guarantee rankings or immediate results. SEO is a complex and ongoing process, and success depends on various factors, including competition, budget, and market conditions. An agency that promises instant results or guarantees rankings is likely using black-hat SEO techniques that can harm your website's reputation and get you penalised by search engines.

Quantity Over Quality Backlink-Building Techniques

Backlinks are an essential part of SEO, but they must be high-quality and relevant to your business. An agency that focuses on generating a large number of backlinks without considering their quality or relevance can hurt your website's rankings and reputation.

Ultra-Low Price

SEO is a complex and time-consuming process that requires expertise and resources. An agency that offers services at an ultra-low price may be cutting corners, using black-hat SEO techniques, or outsourcing the work to inexperienced freelancers. In the long run, this can harm your website's rankings and reputation, costing you more time and money to fix.

How to Work With an SEO Agency

Once you've chosen an SEO agency, it's important to establish clear expectations and a solid working relationship. Here are the steps to follow:

Prepare Your In-house, Front-facing Team:

Before starting the project, you need to prepare your in-house, front-facing team, including your marketing and IT teams. Make sure they understand the goals, timeline, and budget for the project and are aware of the SEO agency's role and responsibilities.

Discovery Session:

The SEO agency should conduct a discovery session to understand your business, target audience, competitors, and current SEO status. This will help them create a customised SEO strategy that addresses your unique needs and goals.

Research and Recommendations:

Based on the discovery session, the SEO agency should conduct research on your industry, keywords, and competitors and provide you with recommendations on technical SEO, content optimisation, link building, and other aspects of SEO.

Contract with Deliverables:

Before starting the project, the SEO agency should provide you with a contract that outlines the scope of work, timeline, budget, and deliverables. Make sure you read and understand the contract and agree to the terms before signing.

 Conclusion

Choosing the right SEO agency for your business is crucial in achieving your goals and desired outcomes.

Look for an agency with a defined process, a diverse team of specialists, an impressive portfolio, positive customer testimonials, industry-specific thought leadership, and a positive company culture.

Be cautious of red flags such as guaranteeing rankings, quantity over quality backlink-building techniques, and ultra-low prices.

Once you've chosen an SEO agency, it's important to establish clear expectations and a solid working relationship.

At Make Space Marketing, we offer comprehensive SEO services that align with your business objectives.

Our team of experts uses a data-driven approach to create customised SEO strategies that drive organic traffic, improve search engine rankings, generate leads, and boost sales.

Contact us today to learn more about our SEO services and take your business to the next level.

If you have found this blog useful why not read Working with a Digital Marketing Agency or How to Choose the Right Web Developer