What Questions Should I Be Asking an SEO Company Before Hiring Them?
When you’re trying to hire an SEO agency, it can be hard to know what questions to ask. You want to be sure you’re choosing a reputable, established company that has the experience to provide you with results you can rely on. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that your SEO needs will vary from business to business and that different strategies will be required for different goals.
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One question you should ask before hiring an SEO provider is how long their projects last. While many SEO companies offer their services for “set it and forget it” solutions, that doesn’t mean it’s always possible. Search engines like Google update their algorithms on a regular basis, and some of those updates could have an impact on your rankings. A reputable SEO provider should have a plan that includes ongoing work, so your rankings won’t suffer as a result of an algorithm change.
Another important question to ask before hiring a SEO firm is how they track their performance. A reputable company will be able to provide you with a number of primary metrics such as search engine rankings, backlink count, and organic traffic improvements. They should also be able to show you sample progress reports, which will detail how they measure your success. However, they should be able to customize a report to fit your specific needs.
The best way to determine if an SEO company is trustworthy is to check its reputation. Ask for references, case studies, and testimonials. These will give you a better idea of how the company has performed on behalf of other clients. Also, look to see if the company has local offices. Some SEO firms don’t have local offices, so you can’t depend on them to be available to you whenever you need them.
If you’re not sure whether an SEO firm is legitimate, ask for examples of their work with legitimate clients. Most SEO agencies will be happy to give you a couple of examples, but if they don’t have a list, or you can’t find any, it may be a red flag. Typically, if an SEO firm doesn’t have a portfolio of examples, it’s likely they aren’t experienced with high-level SEO.
Before hiring an SEO provider, you should also take time to ask them what they plan to do for you. This may include building links or adding content to your site. Be wary of SEO firms that use “old-school” techniques, such as putting your company email address on your website. These practices could get you a quick boost in rankings, but they are risky and may even lead to penalties from Google.
You should also ask your potential provider to outline their responsibilities and goals. As with any type of service, you’re looking for an agency that will respect your business’s priorities and objectives. Your SEO consultant should be able to present you with the most effective keyword variations for your niche, and a strategy that will be consistent with your business’s needs.