In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any business. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a powerful tool that can help your business achieve its growth goals by improving your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines like Google. However, optimising your website for search engines requires a certain level of expertise that most business owners don’t possess. That’s where an SEO company comes in. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to hire the right SEO company for your business.
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How an SEO Agency can help your business grow
The main difference between SEO and paid ads is that SEO involves earning organic traffic over time by improving website content and visibility, while paid ads involve buying traffic through targeted advertising. SEO focuses on long-term results and improving website authority, while paid ads offer immediate results and precise audience targeting.
SEO companies specialise in enhancing the online visibility of businesses by optimising their website and building a strong online presence. Through various SEO techniques, an SEO company can increase website traffic, improve website rankings on search engines, and ultimately boost revenue. One significant benefit of running an SEO campaign is the reduction in cost per acquisition through the attraction of more qualified leads organically. By optimising a website for search engines, businesses can draw relevant traffic from users who are already seeking their products or services, leading to more conversions. As a result, there is less need to invest money in advertising to attract customers. The benefits of a successful SEO campaign are that businesses can continue to draw qualified leads over time, resulting in a more cost-effective marketing strategy in the long run.
Related readings
- 6 Reasons Why SEO Is (Still) Important For Small Businesses
- Organic vs. Paid Search: Which One Does Your Business need in 2023
- Glossary of Digital Marketing Terms
Right mindset before you start
Before you start your search for an SEO company, it’s important to have the right mindset. There are no shortcuts to achieving success with SEO. It takes time, effort, and dedication to see results. Additionally, you get what you pay for, so be prepared to invest in quality services. Communication is also key to success, so be prepared to work closely with the SEO company and communicate your business goals clearly.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your website is going to change. SEO companies will likely make changes to your website, such as optimising content and improving site structure, in order to achieve better results. Be open to these changes and trust that the SEO company has your best interests in mind.
Are you a local business or a chain business?
Before you start looking for an SEO company, determine whether your business is local or a chain. Local SEO focuses on optimising your website for local search results/search terms and targeting customers in the immediate geographic area. This typically involves creating location-specific content, optimising Google Business profile listings, and building local citations to help improve visibility in local search results.
In contrast, chain businesses need to optimise for multiple locations, often across a large geographic area. This typically involves creating location-specific pages on the website, optimising Google Business Profile listings for each location, and building backlinks and local citations for each individual location. Additionally, chain businesses need to ensure consistent branding across all locations and manage reviews and ratings for each location separately.
Preparation steps to hire an SEO company:
1. Determine SEO Goals
Determine what you want to achieve with SEO so that your agency knows what your expectations are. Whether it’s increasing organic traffic, improving search engine rankings, or boosting conversions, having clear goals will help you evaluate the SEO company’s potential to meet your objectives.
By incorporating historical data and industry benchmarks, you can come up with realistic and achievable goals. Some goals to get you start going can be:
- Increase organic traffic by X%
- Attain high rankings for specific keywords
- Optimise backlinks
- Enhance internal linkings
- Minimise bounce rate
- Maximise feature snippets to improve visibility
2. Enhance your understanding of SEO
Before you begin interviewing agencies, it’s essential to familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of SEO. Here are some key questions you should try to answer:
- What are the key terms of SEO?
- How do you assess SEO performance?
- Best approach to keyword research?
- The importance of link building in SEO
- What are some black and white hat of SEO practices?
Understanding these critical SEO concepts will enable you to ask more relevant questions when consulting with an SEO firm. With a solid grasp of SEO knowledge and trends, you’ll be better equipped to make the right choice in selecting the best SEO agency for your needs.
3. Assess budget
Set a realistic budget for SEO services. Understand that quality SEO requires an investment, and extremely low-cost options may not deliver the results you expect. Find a balance between affordability and the expected outcomes
4. Check reviews
Ask for recommendations from peers, colleagues, or friends who have experience with SEO companies. Additionally, read online reviews and testimonials to get a sense of the company’s reputation and track record.
5. Research multiple potential SEO companies
Look for companies that have a strong online presence, good rankings for relevant keywords, and a portfolio of successful projects. Check their website, blog, social media, and case studies to learn more about their expertise and approach.
6. Review case studies
One of the most important things to consider when hiring an SEO agency is the quality of their work. Case studies can provide a clear picture of the agency’s track record and help you determine whether their services will be a good fit for your business. Looking at case studies will give you an idea of their experience and the types of results they can achieve.
7. Seek multiple quotes
Obtain proposals and quotes from multiple SEO companies to compare services, pricing, and offerings. Don’t solely base your decision on cost but consider the value and expertise they bring to the table.
Find out how much does a digital marketing agency cost here: https://digilari.com.au/articles/digital-agency-costs/
Interview: what questions to ask
When interviewing potential SEO companies, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure you’re making the right decision. Here are some questions to consider:
1. What are your SEO processes & practices?
Knowing an SEO agency’s processes will give you a clear understanding of how they work and what to expect from their services. This information can help you gauge the agency’s expertise and approach to SEO. Furthermore, you can get a sense of the tactics they use to achieve results and whether these tactics are in line with your business values and expectations. Ask an SEO agency what their SEO practices are to gauge if their approaches are up to date. Firstly, make sure the agency has the expertise and understanding of the latest trends and best practices in SEO. Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and an agency that isn’t up to date with these changes may not be able to deliver the results you’re looking for. Moreover, asking an agency about the changes in SEO can also provide valuable insights into their approach and philosophy. A good agency will be able to explain how they stay up to date with the latest trends and how they adapt their strategies to meet the evolving needs of their clients. Overall, asking about how SEO has changed can help you to identify a knowledgeable and experienced agency that can deliver the results you need.
Reading: What does Google’s latest algorithm update mean to your website?
2. What are your expectations for your SEO services?
Getting expectations in line is important for both you and the SEO agency. SEO is a long-term game, and it may take anywhere from 3-6 months to see results. Many (like… MANY) prospects believe that ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs) is an overnight process, but any SEO firm that promises to get you on the first page of Google in a week is simply not being truthful. While short-term results can be impressive, they are rare, and the focus should be on building a solid, long-term strategy that will drive sustainable growth. By asking what a successful SEO campaign would look like and what results to expect, both you and the agency can align your expectations, set realistic goals, and work together to achieve the desired results.
3. How to measure the results of your SEO services?
It’s important to ask SEO agencies about their KPIs because it helps evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign and make necessary adjustments to improve performance. Understanding the KPIs used to track success can help set realistic expectations, allocate resources and measure the return on investment (ROI). Prioritising KPI tracking ensures a targeted and effective campaign that helps achieve business goals.
The most important KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) of an SEO campaign may vary depending on the specific goals and objectives of the campaign, but some of the most common and essential KPIs that businesses should track and measure are:
- Organic Search Traffic: This metric represents the number of visitors who arrive at a website through organic search results. It is a primary KPI for measuring the effectiveness of an SEO campaign.
- Keyword Rankings: This metric shows where a website ranks on search engine results pages (SERPs) for specific keywords. Tracking keyword rankings can help businesses determine which keywords are most effective and make necessary adjustments to improve their rankings.
- Conversion Rate: This metric measures the percentage of visitors who take a desired action, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or downloading a resource. Tracking the conversion rate of organic search traffic can help businesses determine the effectiveness of their SEO efforts.
- Backlinks: This metric measures the number and quality of external links pointing to a website. High-quality backlinks can improve a website’s authority and help to improve its search engine rankings.
- Bounce Rate: This metric measures the percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page. High bounce rates can indicate a problem with website usability or content, and can negatively impact search engine rankings.
4. How do you communicate with your clients?
Effective communication is vital for a successful partnership with an SEO agency. Understanding how an agency communicates with its clients is essential to ensure they are responsive to your needs. Requesting regular reports on the SEO campaign’s performance is also important to track the search engine rankings, website traffic, and other key metrics. These reports provide valuable insights into customer behaviour, and the effectiveness of tactics and help businesses make data-driven decisions. Regular reporting allows businesses to improve their search engine visibility and drive sustainable growth, making it a crucial part of any effective SEO campaign.
5. Can you provide examples of previous SEO work (case studies)?
One of the most important things to consider when hiring an SEO agency is the quality of their work. Case studies can provide a clear picture of the agency’s track record and help you determine whether their services will be a good fit for your business. Looking at case studies will give you an idea of their experience and the types of results they can achieve.
6. Can I communicate directly with your SEO team?
Direct communication with the SEO team can help to ensure that your needs are met and that your questions are answered promptly. This level of access can also help to ensure that your goals and expectations are aligned with the agency’s services. It’s important to understand the agency’s communication protocols and determine whether they meet your needs.
Request a web audit of your website
Before committing to an SEO company, it’s a good idea to request a web audit of your website. A web audit will help identify areas of your website that require improvement and provide a clear picture of what the SEO company can do to help you achieve your goals.
Identify opportunities for improvement and develop a customised plan to boost your search engine rankings!
Related reading
In conclusion, hiring an SEO company can be a game-changer for your business. With the right mindset and by asking the right questions, you can find an SEO company that will help you achieve your growth goals. Remember to trust the process, be open to change, and invest in quality services.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Our reliable SEO services can help you achieve your growth goals and increase revenue.
