How To Choose An SEO Company

Search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t what it used to be. And we aren’t even talking about a decade or two ago–algorithms and search engines are constantly shifting, and what was a best practice last year could be obsolete in the near future. That said, SEO is absolutely vital for your business to be seen online. It’s key if you want to attract your ideal customers, drive meaningful traffic to your website, and be seen as an authority in your industry. You know you need a solid SEO strategy, and that a digital marketing agency can help with that, but how can you know if an SEO company is a good fit for your business needs?

Great questions. Let’s dive into the answers!

Professional Or DIY?

 If you’re having trouble finding that just right SEO company,  and you’re relatively  knowledgeable about how to   market your business, you might opt to try and handle your company’s SEO needs on your own. There was a   time when  this might have been an option,  but, as noted, SEO guidelines  and best practices are constantly   changing–it’s hard to keep up! If you’re already busy  running the day-to-day aspects  of your business, when   will you  find the time to research and  then implement what you’ve  learned, only to have to relearn things in a   few months? Most digital marketing agencies have whole teams of folks who specialize in SEO. Let that sink in,   and then realize that it could end up being an overwhelming and daunting task to go it alone.

 The process begins with understanding your target audience and pinning down some keywords that are   commonly used to find businesses like yours online. That sounds simple enough, but there’s a ton of research,   training, and deep knowledge that is behind each and every keyword. And these need to be reevaluated from   time to time–it’s never a one-and-done task. But SEO work goes far beyond keyword research, extending into     custom web design, content marketing, and more. SEO professionals can also dive deep to learn why you aren’t seeing results, and then formulate a tailored plan to get your search rankings back on track.

How To Pick The Right SEO Company

So maybe now it’s clear that you’re going to need an expert partner to help you make the most of your SEO efforts. How to find the right company for your needs? It starts by setting and understanding your own goals and objectives when it comes to SEO. This is the time to get granular and detailed if that’s your game, with some definite but realistic goals. A skilled Cleveland SEO company will be able to clue you in to any needed adjustments to your game plan. And if you aren’t sure where to start? They’ll help there too. Truth be told, you have to start somewhere. You can have lofty goals, but sometimes the beginning steps to gain traction are slow and plodding. The point, though, is that you’re working on moving forward.

Here’s what you need to consider when it comes to choosing the right SEO company for your business:

• Experience: To truly understand and effectively implement an SEO strategy it takes years of training and working experience–much like SEO gains, expertise comes slow and steady. That said, a professional SEO company would never rely on experience alone. Instead, they’ll be ready to do what it takes to gain ongoing education. Upstart companies can make claims, but they won’t deliver. One easy way to verify whether an SEO company can do what you need to be done is to check their portfolio, testimonials, or case studies. If they’re proud of their work, you’ll be able to easily find it. Look for SEO-specific gains that they’ve achieved for their clients. Check out what they share on their blog and social media accounts to get a feel for their level of SEO experience. 

• Understanding: Does this SEO company fully understand your business sector and your ideal audience? Have they worked with similar companies in the past? Every business is unique, but it’s always reassuring when you know that they know something about your industry. To get the very best results though, you’ll also want to have clear goals regarding your company’s proposed SEO strategy. Once you’ve shared your vision, a professional SEO company should trust your industry expertise and respect your opinion. They’ll still make informed suggestions based on their knowledge and experience, but the final word will always rest with you.

• Scope: SEO is vital, but it’s far from the only digital marketing service you’ll need for your business to gain online traction and find success. A well-rounded SEO company should know that every part of your digital marketing strategy can affect SEO results. So they should be able to accommodate all of your website needs, be it for web development, content, conversion optimization, analytics reporting and more. Having one agency handle all of these needs means that every team is on the same page, sharing the same data, and working together for your success. SEO is multidisciplinary, so it just makes sense to work with a digital marketing agency that can do it all. Wherever your business is located, and whatever your industry, a multifaceted Cleveland SEO company can help you make the most of your SEO budget.

• Communication: Because an effective SEO strategy can take some time, and is often the result of small tweaks, shifts and step-by-step growth, clear communication and transparency are vital to maintaining the agency-client relationship. You should expect regular, jargon-free updates with any actions outlined and the reasoning behind them explained. This is the sort of tracking that every SEO company should be doing, but getting a behind-the-scenes glance lets you know that they’re on the ball. An SEO company who is eager to share their findings and any results or setbacks shows themselves to be accountable for their work and their investment in your success. Feel free to ask your Cleveland SEO company how they measure success and which metrics they have in place.

• Ability: Once you’ve found an SEO agency that seems like they’ll fit your needs, it’s worth checking into their ability and knowledge. Technology is constantly shifting, and you want to be sure that they are up-to-date and in the know about what’s around the corner. It helps when an SEO company works in tandem with big technology providers, like being a Google partner. This kind of certification shows that they comply with key requirements from industry players and have a documented record of results. Every step taken to increase their knowledge and ability will benefit your business in countless ways now and in the future.

Beyond the things to look for, there are also some things that you likely want to steer clear of in your search for an SEO company. Red flags could include outlandish guarantees and promises. Google and other search engines are always making updates and tweaks to their algorithms, and while a skilled SEO company will be able to learn and adjust, guaranteeing a specific ranking in search results just isn’t realistic, unless you’re paying for the placement with pay-per-click advertising. If an SEO company promises top ranking, they either aren’t experienced or familiar enough with how things work, or they may be prepared to do something unsavory to get you those results. There’s also no way to guarantee that their trick will keep you where you want to be–on top of search results. That’s generally the result of steady work and incremental growth.

ready to get started?

 With a pro team on board–like what you’ll find at Alt Media Studios– you can find Cleveland SEO services that won’t let you down.

 Get in touch with us today to learn more and see how we can help you get noticed online.