Are you the type of person who hires an accountant just because they speak well or look good? Do you look at their experience and the companies they have worked with? You should always look at things that have to do with their job. When hiring an SEO firm, you should look beyond the superficial. Below are some tips from Zero Gravity Marketing to help you.
Deciding what you need
Are you looking for reputation management services, link removal, ongoing SEO, a one-time SEO audit, PPC management, link building, content marketing, retargeting, or any other services being offered by SEO firms? If you aren’t sure about the services you are going to need, then start by looking at what job you want to be done. Are you looking to grow your sales by 20% over the next 12 months, or leads by 40% over the 4 months? Are you looking to improve your ranking, or do you want to have that feeling of knowing there is someone taking care of your SEO campaign? You should have a goal in mind because that is how you are going to measure the success of the SEO firm. Your goals need to be the center of your communication with the SEO firm. If you can’t measure the success of your SEO efforts, then it is hard to succeed in your SEO campaign.
Get multiple consultations in secret
Once you know what you want, you are going to talk with an SEO firm, and this can be in person or by email or phone, that is experienced and qualified so that they can figure out what needs to be done to achieve your goals. Most firms offer new clients a free consultation because they want to impress them to win their business. This is good for you because you get the chance to know more about the firm and the type of people you can expect to work with. Once you are done with the consultation, which can take a couple of days because they need to research your industry and website. They are going to send you a proposal with the services needed and their pricing. It is a good idea to look at more than one option unless you don’t have enough time or you are happy with the first SEO firm you come across. You shouldn’t let the firms know you are going this. There are some who let the firms know they are shopping around or talking with other SEO firms so that they can compete harder, but this can make them compete less. There are many SEO firms where clients fighting to work with them instead of them fighting for a client.
Getting case studies and references
When hiring an SEO firm, the first question you want them to answer is if they are going to help you get the job done. When a person wants to climb the Himalayas, they always choose an experienced Sherpa. It is hard for them to tell you how the future, but the best they can show you they are the right option is showing you what they have done for clients like you in the past. If the SEO company has worked with clients in the same industry as you in the past, then you will be more confident working with the SEO company because you know they have the experience. If your company is unique, it is a good idea to choose a generalist SEO firm instead of one exclusively focusing on your industry. When choosing an SEO firm, look at those that have worked with clients who have similar business models and the same services you need.
Making the firm tell you stories
A good SEO firm is one that tactically executes. This is what a good SEO firm does, and also employs a lot of creativity too. Creative people are great at telling good stories. A good story gives you the chance of knowing what the SEO firm is about. Case studies and references are important because it is like looking at someone’s LinkedIn profile. Before hiring an employee, it is important to look at their profile to know more about them. You are also interested in hearing them telling you stories about their experience, background, success, and failures. This is what has made companies conducting video interviews like HireVue very popular. Find as much as possible about the SEO company. Ask them when the firm was founded, their best client experience, their worst experience dealing with a client and how they handled it, and what they have improved on over the years. Even if you had decided to choose the firm before, you might change your mind after listening to their story.
