Choosing a SEO agency to help you get your website promoted is not the same as finding a company to design your website, which is a lot simpler. It now becomes more complicated. For this kind of project you really have to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal as well as value for money.
What not to look for in an SEO Agency:
Let’s start by look at what you should avoid at all costs.
*Companies who constantly advertise with big banners, trying to attract as many clients as possible, saying they are the best, are in fact the people you will want to avoid. Don’t just get caught up in advertising.
*You won’t find the number one company on the first page of Google. If you do a search and see terms like “best SEO agency”, you will know they have just been ranking those keywords and that does not mean a thing.
*Don’t get caught by email marketing. A lot of this is spammy, coming from newer SEO companies who are trying to make a name for themselves.
*When a site is written like a sales page then it should be a warning to stay away. If it keeps on telling you why you have to have the service and how little you are paying for it, then this a definite sign to stay away.
What to look for in a SEO agency:
Here are a couple of things that you should be on the look out for
*Find out about case studies. Request this information from them. This will give you solid proof.
*If you see testimonials, look for the client logos so you can actually get in touch with the person and ask for a personal experience. Some companies will just put up fake testimonials.
*Find out about their authority. Check their backlinks and find out what the community is saying about them.
What to do before you choose and SEO agency:
*Find some honest opinions and help from people who know a lot about SEO. This could be friends who have been working on sites for years. You can even go into some of the SEO forums, ask questions and you will find some very helpful advice coming along your way.
*Know what your want out of the project. Ask yourself what your goals are because otherwise you may not see the result you are looking for. If you are not sure what the first step should be then you can discuss this with them.
*Choose the top three agents that appeal to you and ask them for references.
* When you are looking at the prices, get a couple of quotes, but don’t go for the least expensive one. You may feel like you are saving a lot of money, by going to an agency who’s rates are more competitive, but people who charge more are generally more experienced and in the long run it would be better to spend the extra dollars. Of course, you also have to watch out for firms that are overpriced.