As businesses around the globe face the impact of the infectious spread of COVID-19, ramifications are being felt across all markets. While companies reel from the repercussions, a unique opportunity has arisen for businesses to develop and implement new digital strategies. Notably, in terms of the cost of SEO services and how companies will have to reposition themselves in this time of uncertainty.
Let’s take a closer look at the importance of choosing the right SEO company during the Coronavirus health crisis and what to look for in an SEO company.
The Importance of Hiring a SEO Company
In the digital era, there are thousands of parameters that can influence the position of your website in search engines. While it may be a confusing science for many, a knowledgeable SEO company can help simplify the process and achieve convincing results. From choosing the right keywords that suit your business to developing improved content strategies, SEO companies are able to leverage their knowledge in the industry and translate it into a proven success that helps make your business more visible in the eyes of your targeted audience.
Let’s take a look at some of the things a professional SEO company should be able to provide your business.
Website Audit
A website audit is an essential place for every business to start and can be used to analyze any technical issues within the site and provide you with an assessment of what needs to be fixed.
Local Search Strategy
A well thought out local search strategy will add credibility to your business and ensure that it ranks the highest in your targeted area when specific searches are made.
On-Page SEO
From the overall layout of your company website to the type of content that is shown, on-page SEO is critical in ensuring that every aspect of the webpage is analyzed, and necessary changes are made to help increase search rankings.
Keyword Research
Keywords are essential not only for creating effective digital marketing strategies, but also when it comes to researching competing businesses and coming up with effective keywords that will set your business apart from the rest.
Social Media Strategy
Social media plays a significant role in SEO, which means creating an effective marketing strategy is even more critical to help you communicate with your customers more effectively.
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Choosing the Right SEO Company
While there are many SEO companies on the market, there are several key things to evaluate before deciding which company you will partner with. While it may be challenging to recognize the importance of each, the difference will be seen in the results that each company will be able to provide. Now that you know the basics of what any SEO company should be able to provide, let’s discuss more in-depth what you should be looking for when hiring an SEO company.
Ask About Your Goals
Before partnering with a company, it’s critical to understand what goals are most important to your business. Establishing a roadmap to success is vital to ensure both parties are on the same page.
Provide a List of Services
With so many SEO companies at your disposal, it can be challenging to determine which company can complete the tasks they’re selling to you. An SEO company should be able to provide you with a full list of the services they provide, as well as examples of each to support their work.
Regularly Update You on Their Status
Communication is critical in every partnership, and the same is true when it comes to partnering with an SEO company. The SEO company you choose to partner with should be able to send you regular updates and reports to explain how they’re helping your business succeed and how that success is being measured. Active communication not only keeps you in the loop, but can also help you avoid being caught off guard in the event that any strategy changes need to be made.
Previous Work Completed
Any SEO company you’re thinking about working with should be able to provide you with examples of previous work they’ve done that showcase what they’ve done for other businesses. Many should be able to provide you with case studies and testimonials to support their claims and assure you that it will be a beneficial partnership.
This not only gives you confidence in their work, but can also serve as a good indicator of whether or not what they advertise is accurate.
Your Budget and Their Price
The next step in determining which SEO company is right for you is having a clear understanding of your budget and which company fits with that allowance. The range of prices between SEO companies can vary immensely, so you will likely have to conduct some market research to determine which company fits with your needs and marketing budget. While it may be tempting to partner with a company that offers you the lowest price and highest return on investment when it comes to SEO, you get what you pay for, and paying extra for services is often more beneficial.
What to Expect
Depending on your goals, expectations will vary. The most important thing to remember is that no SEO company should ever guarantee your results or search engine rankings. However, no matter which company you decide to partner with, they should always be able to provide you with data and analytics to let you know what’s working, what’s not working, and what strategies can be improved upon to help your business reach its goals.
Avoid Guarantees
When it comes to digital marketing and SEO, nothing is guaranteed, and any company making you guarantees is reason to be suspicious. There’s no clear way to know whether or not particular SEO strategies will work until they are implemented. While there is some risk involved in that regard, companies that offer guarantees for their services could potentially harm your business in the long-term through the use of frowned upon techniques.
Schedule a Consultation
If you want to get a better understanding of what an SEO company can provide your business, ask for a consultation. Most firms offer consultations for new clients and will be more than happy to develop a strategy that has previously worked with clients similar to yours. Consultations provide you with an excellent opportunity to see how well you work together and what a future partnership could potentially look like.
Measure of Success
As previously mentioned, data and analytics are the backbones to the success of digital marketing campaigns. Before choosing an SEO company, be sure to ask each organization what tools they use to measure performance, how frequently they analyze performance, and how it will be presented to you. It’s also important to know that the company you partner with will be able to explain to you what everything means and why it’s crucial.
The Team
Depending on the extent of your overall SEO strategy, it’s essential to know that the SEO firm you hire will be able to carry out all of the tasks you hired them to fulfill.
Knowing who is responsible for carrying out each task and who will report to you is not only critical in the communication process, but will help you build trust with one another. Additionally, it’s essential to know that your needs won’t be ignored if you partner with a company with several other clients.
Analyze Their Content
Above all else, the SEO company you choose to do business with should be able to pass the “eye test” when conducting your research. While they don’t need to be ranked number one in every search engine, it’s vital that they provide you with credibility and an understanding that they know what they’re doing and are worth the money to hire them. Additionally, spending time to read reviews from past clients can also help you determine whether or not their work is effective, and if previous clients were satisfied with their services.
Think Beyond SEO
Data and analytics aside, partnering with an SEO company that knows the ins and outs of your business is an intangible metric that only improves your SEO strategy. Converting leads is critical for every business, which means the SEO company you partner with should have a clear understanding of what works and what doesn’t work for your business. Hiring a company that will be able to convert traffic to sales is an incredibly important aspect to consider.
Wrapping Up
While these are challenging times for every business, there are still plenty of opportunities for your business to try a new approach or develop a new strategy. Hiring a SEO company not only ensures that the digital marketing needs of your company are in good hands, but it also allows you the time you need to focus on the things that truly matter to your business in this time of uncertainty. By following all of the steps provided to you above, you will be able to partner with an SEO company that will treat your business with respect, compassion, and expertise.
Richard Fong is the founder and CEO of BlissDrive.com, a Los Angeles-based SEO company. Read about his latest post on the cost of SEO services during the Coronavirus pandemic.
