Choosing a full-service SEO agency requires effort, and picking an excellent one is even more challenging. It can be challenging to locate a reliable firm to entrust with your valuable online presence, but fortunately, many exceptional companies are available. Hence, if selecting an SEO company has left you perplexed, fret not.
At Clutch, a platform that provides reviews of SEO and digital marketing services companies, we have conducted research on selecting the appropriate SEO company. We have analyzed our review data to determine the most commonly employed methods by companies in finding their SEO partners. You can discover how businesses similar to yours select SEO agencies and receive recommendations on what to consider while choosing an SEO company.
You can simplify the process of researching and evaluating by referring to our guidelines on how to choose the finest SEO company!
How do companies choose an SEO company
What is the criteria for companies to select an SEO company? In our evaluation, interview, and data gathering procedures, we inquire about their selection procedure and why they decided to collaborate with the current company. Although it is not overly scientific, we were able to group these subjective replies into several primary categories. (Note: A few respondents provided multiple reasons.)
Factor 1: Referrals and previously established relationships
A significant proportion of reviewers, who accounted for 45%, identified referrals and pre-existing connections as essential factors. This is rational since businesses may lack familiarity with SEO services and therefore depend on recommendations from trustworthy friends and associates.
Factor 2: SEO company knowledge and processes
Company knowledge and processes are the second most important considerations in selecting an SEO firm. This comprises customer service, staff expertise, transparency, reporting, and leadership. These aspects are crucial in enabling a business to succeed in serving their clients, as indicated by 43% of reviewers.
Factor 3: Case studies, client references, and online reviews
Past success, evidenced by details such as case studies, client references, and online reviews, is closely linked to a company’s knowledge and procedures. This was found to be a determining factor for approximately 14% of respondents.
Businesses choosing SEO companies the right way
While analyzing our reviews, we observed that nearly 20% of the businesses had encountered an unsatisfactory encounter with an SEO agency before discovering the appropriate match. This revelation serves as an indication of two things to me:
- Great agencies still have work to do in educating potential clients on what a successful SEO strategy and partnership should look like.
- Businesses need to take more time vetting their prospective partners along with many criteria to find the right fit.
If companies choose an SEO agency based solely on location, price, or cultural fit instead of the agency’s expertise and track record, they are not doing proper research before agreeing to collaborate.
Choosing a good SEO company
To select an SEO company wisely and logically is crucial. Hastening the decision-making procedure can result in partnering with an agency that fails to match your expectations, causing a tedious experience that doesn’t aid in the generation of search-based traffic, leads, or sales.
These steps are based on the essential elements that repeatedly surfaced during our interviews with businesses that have already joined forces with SEO agencies. Utilize them to select an SEO firm (and steer clear of the said circumstance).
1. Look at the SEO agency’s past performance
The importance of performance is significant not only for SEO agencies but also for businesses similar to yours. Your company’s track record is crucial in establishing your capability to deliver. It is advisable that you apply the same scrutiny when selecting an SEO agency.
Examine their previous achievements by reviewing their portfolio, studying their case studies and industry accolades, and perusing client feedback.
Having solid evidence of an SEO company’s accomplishments will allow your business to approach a consultation or collaboration with assurance. This will assure you that you have selected the right SEO firm to help you achieve your objectives of expanding your business.
2. Ask past or current clients about their experience
Subsequently, it is essential to establish a connection with previous or existing patrons. By perusing testimonials and conducting comprehensive interviews, your organization can gain valuable understanding of the customer’s journey. This will equip you with knowledge of the agency’s advantages and shortcomings, while affording you a peek into the approach and reporting system.
The Penguin update, introduced by Google in 2012, was aimed at penalizing SEO firms that employ unethical practices. Despite this, a handful of companies persist in carrying out these disreputable techniques. As a result, it is crucial that you select an SEO firm that is acquainted with contemporary SEO best practices and does not rely on outdated link-building methods that could have disastrous consequences for your website’s ranking in the long term.
The role of an SEO agency extends beyond mere establishment of a business and provision of elementary SEO services. It entails facilitating clients in executing sustainable strategies, as well as maneuvering through changes in search engine algorithms and stiff competition.
You will need an agency with experience to help you reach the finish line and achieve all your goals.
Obtain comprehensive knowledge about the SEO approach, operational procedure, and reporting of the company. This will provide a neutral perspective of your SEO supplier before entering into a financial association with them. Additionally, you may also address frequently asked queries such as:
- How fast does the agency return calls or emails?
- Do clients receive a dedicated point-of-contact or different ones?
- How much time do clients have to set aside to review reports and strategy decisions?
By utilizing this information, your company can make an informed decision when selecting the most suitable SEO agency. In addition, it can facilitate the process of eliminating unsuitable options, enabling you to concentrate on those SEO firms that meet all your criteria. As a result, your efforts and time will be optimized.
3. Meet the SEO company and ask questions
The last stage of selecting an SEO company involves interacting with the potential agencies. It is imperative to have a meeting with the agency before finalizing a deal. You can either arrange an in-person meeting or opt for a virtual meeting through video conferencing. This interaction can assist your team in determining whether or not the SEO company is suitable for your requirements.
Ensure that you prepare a set of questions when meeting with your prospective agencies. Some queries that you may include in your list of inquiries for selecting an SEO firm are:
- What experience do you have with our business’s industry?
- When should we expect to see results?
- How much do your SEO services cost?
To have a successful meet-and-greet, collaborate with your team and company leaders to develop a variety of questions. Your team may be interested in inquiring about strategy and reporting, whereas your decision-makers may focus on pricing and return on investment (ROI).
4. Best SEO companies provide services and results that delight their clients
While an SEO company might find it easy discussing what they could do for your website, in terms of SEO, the scenario changes entirely once you inquire about their track record with previous clients.
It’s important to keep in mind that a reputable SEO company will furnish you with examples of their previous work and accomplishments in the form of case studies and portfolios. Additionally, some companies may offer a detailed listing of their clientele and the specific SEO services they performed. Acquiring this information can help you gauge the effectiveness of various SEO companies.
Although it cannot be guaranteed that every project of a search engine optimization firm will be successful, it is important to ensure that the company has completed a sufficient number of projects. Additionally, reaching out to the firm’s clients and inquiring about the effectiveness of the provider in accomplishing its SEO objectives is an option.
It is important to verify the authenticity and references of SEO companies’ claims instead of blindly trusting them. This verification process is crucial in selecting a reputable and dependable SEO service provider that suits your requirements.
5. High level of understanding is a typical trait of a good SEO company
If you believe that SEO only involves increasing your website’s ranking or gaining more online traffic, reconsider your perception.
When selecting an SEO company, it is important to assess their comprehension of the vast range of elements involved in SEO, such as attracting website visitors, improving search engine rankings, enhancing brand awareness, and increasing business conversions through effective campaigns.
Although many SEO agencies assert that they offer a full range of SEO services, it is crucial to understand exactly what they entail. An SEO campaign encompasses several aspects, such as on-page SEO optimization, off-page SEO optimization, as well as technical components.
On-page SEO components consist of optimization techniques that are applied on the website itself such as meta tags, HTML, hyperlinks, internal links, and other elements, whereas off-page SEO factors involve processes like constructing high-quality backlinks and link-building.
In order to achieve your SEO goals, it is vital to ensure that the SEO company you are considering as the best understands your on-page and off-page SEO requirements. This way, you can identify the appropriate SEO services provider and reach your SEO objectives.
6. Make sure the SEO company has a proper plan that meets your expectations
Engaging the services of an SEO provider or expert for your business cannot guarantee success. Judging from appearance, it is challenging to ascertain whether an SEO strategy will be effective. Nevertheless, it is imperative to be informed about the plan that your chosen SEO provider or expert proposes.
Before selecting any SEO provider, it is important to clearly define your goals and objectives. After communicating your requirements, the potential SEO professionals should devise a strategy that will assist you in achieving your desired outcomes.
Merely being promised an uptick in traffic within a 5-6 month period is insufficient. It is imperative to establish a benchmark, for example, a monthly surge of 10-12% in traffic, to ensure the success of any proposed strategy put forth by an SEO specialist.
7. Good SEO companies adhere to SEO best practices
Your website is likely to experience a decline even with a highly skilled SEO expert if they do not adhere to the search engine guidelines. Although search engines often update and introduce new guidelines, SEO experts must be forward-thinking and adjust accordingly to avoid problems.
It is important to avoid being enticed by SEO agencies that guarantee effortless and rapid traffic. It is possible that they are utilizing unethical methods to obtain swift traffic, which may ultimately result in your website being penalized by search engines. Exercise caution and verify that the SEO specialist you engage follows the guidelines rather than opting for shortcuts.
8. Top SEO companies send consistent reports
Make sure that you receive regular and consistent SEO reports detailing the progress and success of your campaigns before hiring an SEO company. It is important to note that a reputable SEO company will provide you with a professional white-label SEO report on a frequent basis.
You might encounter SEO companies that only offer website performance reports upon request at some point.
Opting for an SEO company that provides reliable and frequent updates containing comprehensive information concerning the campaign and SEO strategy metrics is advised over selecting them.
Effective communication is a vital factor to consider when selecting an SEO company. It is imperative to ascertain whether the SEO company you choose has proficient SEO professionals who can communicate effectively and comprehensively explain the SEO strategy to you.
In case the SEO company is unable to guarantee you with consistent reports, you have the option to explore other alternatives.
