This can be a tricky one. There are plenty of SEO horror stories out there – where agencies have bungled, misrepresented or been downright fraudulent. In some ways, SEO is a unique industry – but in others, it is like any other business service. For example, you may not have the skills / time / inclination to do your own books, so you hire an accountant. Factors you’d consider would be business reputation, word of mouth and how they conduct themselves.
When you have a list of potentials:
- Ask around – your friends, online acquaintances and business colleagues may have dealt with them before.
- Google their name, and look for reviews. You can usually tell the difference between real and fictional reviews by sniffing out ‘marketing speak’ and whether the review is an OTT testimonial.
- Ask how they conduct their work. There’s a list of SEO strategies to avoid here.
- See if they have experience of working with your industry.
- Assess their customer service. If they can’t keep in touch with you to start with, they’re unlikely to later in the relationship.
- Decide what you want from your SEO. If your focus is on Pay Per Click advertising, why not check out your local Google qualified practitioners?
- Choose an agency that aligns with your budget. Bigger is not necessarily better, and a good agency will adapt their techniques to your price range.
Hopefully these tips will help you navigate the choppy waters of SEO.