It comes as no secret that local SEO continues to hold an integral part of every business.
It comes to the point that marketers see an increase in their effectiveness at 82%. That said, you can’t achieve this with rudimentary SEO efforts, it all boils down to finding the right SEO firm to help you tap into its capabilities.
Having the right SEO partnership can take you from where you are now to where you wish to be with your website. To help you in choosing the right local SEO agency, here are some factors you need to consider:
1. Have a Clear Set of SEO Goals
When looking for a local SEO agency, take note of the goals you want to achieve in this aspect. You need to figure out what needs improvement and bolstering first. Once you have your needs defined and set, look for an SEO firm that offers these or has the means to improve those aspects.
In case you are still unsure of what you need, this is when you have to go for digital marketing analysis. This should help you gauge what needs improvement. By letting you narrow down on which services you will need to avail.
With a clear set of SEO goals, an SEO company would have an idea as to which needs focus and improvement.
2. Look at the SEO Company’s Services and Specialties
You also need to look at the SEO firm’s capabilities and expertise. This way, you know if they have what you are looking for.
Start with checking their website. Do they specialize in a particular industry or service line? The services offered and case studies listed may come in line with what you want.
Look at their awards and certifications as well. This can be evidence that backs up their expertise on the matter.
3. Check the Reviews, References, and Portfolios
Another thing to check while you are also looking into SEO providers is their reputation.Take time to read reviews from previous clients. Good word of mouth always trump even the best marketing ads because it comes from people who got to try their services.
Don’t simply look for the positive outlook. Pay attention to listed complaints and how the local SEO firm worked to address these problems with their later endeavors.
Also, take note how they appear in the search results. Why hire an SEO agency if they can’t boost their own rankings?
Pay attention to the communication and work ethic aspects and see if the review on them runs on a positive note. These are just as important as you may work with the firm later on.
4. Follow Them on Social Media and Blogs
Take the opportunity to follow the SEO agency on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe to their newsletter or read through their blog posts too.
This way, you can also learn their knowledge and the priorities they go for. Take note that the intended audience in their content happens to be those working in the advertising and marketing industry. This may come as a surprise but if you get past that, you can find out more about their perspectives.
5. Look for an SEO Firm with Your Preferred Metrics
With your goals outlined and listed, you should have a list of metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). Not only does this give you a definite means to track your progress and improvement but it also determines what the SEO firm should look into.
Make sure that you and the consultant are on the same page with this portion. Make sure the SEO firm understands which metrics hold the most importance to your business. Some examples include the following:
- Organic Sessions (number of visits through organic search)
- Conversion Rate (percentage of visitors buying the product or signing up)
- Keyword Rankings
- Google Crawling Mistakes
- Page Load Time
These KPIs could hold different aspects with different ways of tracking them. To know the specifics of how this will go, make sure you and your consultant are on the same page.
6. Look for an SEO Firm That Tracks Your Data
You want an SEO firm that can track and measure your company data. This includes contact forms, phone calls, site visits, and click-through rates.
These all help make the right business strategies that work for you. Do you need to improve on keyword selection, should you target a different local demographic, or partner with different blogging networks for guest posts? The data tracked can help make better, more informed decisions.
7. Schedule for a Consultation
Before hiring a firm, schedule a consultation. Do this even if you’re not set on hiring them yet.
More often than not, the agency would be glad to oblige. Consultations can help in kick-starting creativity and passion. It also guarantees there’s no grey area in regards to what you want, what they can do, and how much they charge.
The consultation can also establish a trusting relationship and an open line of communication between you and the SEO agency. Take this chance to connect.
8. Have a Defined SEO Budget
Plan your budget ahead of time and have some allotted for SEO. With this said, look into the pricing and packages offered. This way, you can find an arrangement that falls in line with what you can afford.
You can check out our pricing list here and see what works for you.
Bolster Your SEO Efforts With a Local SEO Agency Today!
SEO enables your business to attract more visitors and traffic. This gives your website a chance at appearing at the very top of the search results. When picking the right SEO firm for your business, ensure that you can work together towards that goal of bringing more traffic your way.
Picking the right local SEO agency can ensure that you reach that goal. We offer services ranging from SEO solutions to web design and social media management. To get started with your requests and inquiries, contact us today.
