Looking for a Local SEO Agency? Here Are Some Key Questions to Ask…
SEO. It’s one of those things that business owners know they should be doing, but often don’t have the time or knowledge to do themselves. So, they turn to an SEO agency for help. But how do you know if an SEO agency is right for you? And more importantly, how do you avoid getting scammed? Here are some questions to ask before signing up with an SEO agency.
How Much Experience Do Your SEO Experts Have?
Before you sign up with an agency, take a look at their team page. Do they have actual people working there or is it just some web designer who knows nothing about SEO? You want to work with people who know what they are doing. On top of that, if their people have experience with your specific industry, that is a huge plus. Check their LinkedIn profiles to make sure they’re who they say they are.
Have You Worked with Businesses in Our Industry?
Failing to research the agency before signing a contract is how some people get scammed. If your SEO company says they can help you with your business, but they’ve never worked with any companies in your industry, it’s time to run. Likewise, if you’re looking into an SEO agency and they haven’t worked with businesses like yours, it’s not a good fit.
How Will You Help My Business?
Another way SEO agencies try to scam business owners is by promising the world without any proof that they can get results. Before you sign up with an agency or consultant, ask them for specifics on how they are going to help your business improve its search engine rankings. What strategies are they going to use? How long will it take them to see results? How many customers will you have to bring in every month for the agency to consider their job a success? Be wary of vague answers.
What Metrics Do You Use?
Along with asking what strategies an agency will use, ask them what metrics they use to determine success. Some agencies charge by the hour or the week, rather than charging for specific deliverables (like monthly reports). If that’s their model, it can be difficult to know if you’re getting your money’s worth. Do they provide monthly reports? What kind of data does each report include? If you can’t see what’s being measured, how can you know if they’re doing a good job or not?
What Would You Say is the Biggest Benefit of Working With Your Agency?
The answer to this question should show you why it’s worth your while to work with them. In the SEO world, there are hundreds of companies looking for your business. If you’re not getting any benefits from working with one over another, you need to ask some hard questions about what they provide and how they define success.
Do You Focus on Long-Term or Short-Term Results?
Some agencies just want your money and then move on after a couple of months. Others, however, will focus on helping you build a sustainable campaign that’ll bring you results for years to come. It’s important to find an agency that will meet your expectations and keep them high.
What Would the Process Be Like?
This point ties in nicely with transparency. If an agency can’t explain to you how they work, there’s no way you should sign up with them. SEO isn’t easy to do and if anyone claims it is, they’re lying. An honest agency will take the time to explain to you their process so that you’ll know what they’re doing.
How Transparent Are You With Your Work?
This one ties in with the first question. If an agency claims to be SEO experts, why would they hide anything from you? Transparency is key when it comes to SEO and there’s no reason why an agency shouldn’t share everything they’re doing to help you gain more traffic.
Can You Guarantee Local SEO Results?
There’s no such thing as guaranteed results. If an agency promises to provide top rankings for specific keywords then they’re either lying or they don’t know what SEO is all about. The truth of the matter is that nothing can be guaranteed in this business and you’ll often find yourself working with agencies that simply fail to deliver on their promises.
What is Your Success Rate in Providing Relevant and New Content?
Content is king when you’re trying to rank in the search engines. And it’s not just about getting a certain number of keywords on a page. It’s about having great, relevant content that people want to share with their friends and followers which helps your website earn social signals. If the agency isn’t able to tell you what kind of results they’ve seen from their content strategies, they aren’t going to get you the results you want either.
How Do You Track the Progress of Our Campaign?
A good agency should have some sort of tracking system in place that shows how many visitors are coming to the site and which keywords are driving the most traffic. This information will allow you to see how your rankings and traffic is changing and give you an idea of when you’ll start seeing results. A solid tracking system should also provide enough data so that when a client asks for more information they can obtain it without any problems.
How Long Will We Need to Work Together?
This is another important question as it allows you to plan and figure out what you’ll be doing with your website after the campaign has ended. It’s usually not good for business if you find yourself back in the same situation in a few years because you weren’t planning. A good SEO campaign should be able to provide leads and drive paid traffic for at least two years, although some agencies will continue their work beyond that period.
How Do You Select Top Keywords for Our Brand??
A good agency will not only look at search volume when selecting keywords but other factors as well. Search volume should always be considered, but it’s also important to consider how people are searching for your target keywords. It doesn’t do you much good if the majority of people searching for a particular keyword are looking for something that has nothing to do with your business.
What is the Turnaround Time for Results?
A good agency will be quick to provide their clients with results and the best ones know that speed is of the essence in this industry. It can take years before some companies see any sort of improvement in their rankings, so you need an agency that’s focused on making things happen as quickly as possible. It’s also important for an agency to fix any problems you’re having with your site since the results will be much more beneficial if they can get everything back on track.
How Do You Track the Progress of Our Campaign?
A good agency should have some sort of tracking system in place that shows how many visitors are coming to the site and which keywords are driving the most traffic. This information will allow you to see how your rankings and traffic is changing and give you an idea of when you’ll start seeing results. A solid tracking system should also provide enough data so that when a client asks for more information they can obtain it without any problems.
What Kind of Support Do You Offer After the Project is Over?
When your contract is over with an agency or consultant, what kind of support do they offer? Will you be charged extra for their services after the contract is over, or will they continue to provide ways for your website to succeed? If you’re not sure, ask them directly.
How Much Should I Expect to Pay?
A good SEO campaign shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, but it shouldn’t be dirt cheap either. Unfortunately, there are agencies out there that don’t do anything for their clients while others just run off with their money after a couple of months. A reasonable rate will depend on the amount of work that needs to be done, the number of keywords targeted and several other factors. It’s important to find an agency that won’t gouge you while at the same time not being too cheap because they probably aren’t doing their job properly.
If you’re looking for a local SEO agency, make sure to ask these questions before committing. Partner with a reputable digital marketing company that knows SEO and has the experience your business needs. With so many agencies out there, it can be difficult to find one that is right for you! Let us help by answering any of your questions about how we work or what services we offer. Our team will also provide an in-depth consultation on what our expert knowledge could do for your business online! Contact us today.