Search engine optimization has been an important part of any online presence for a long time. Whether it’s Google or another platform, getting good rankings makes a huge difference in website traffic and ultimately sales. As important as it is, SEO can sometimes be complicated and is always multi-faceted and ever-changing.
This is why it’s important to work with trained experts if you want to maximize your SEO strategy. While you may be able to learn some techniques on your own, nothing beats the skills, experience, and results a good SEO company can bring to the table. Knowing how to find a successful SEO company is the first step towards a better online presence and more sales.
What is an SEO Company?
An SEO company usually has a team of people who are dedicated to improving and increasing the SEO strategies of their customers. They’ll employ multiple tactics on your website and help set you up for success. Beyond this, they stay on top of advancements, trends, evolving best practices, and any significant updates to the Google algorithm that may impact your rankings.
Some companies are focused solely on SEO and related services, while some offer SEO services as part of a larger marketing agency. The type of SEO company you choose depends on your needs and the scope of your business.
How to Find the Best SEO Company
Once you’ve decided you want to work with an SEO company, you must start the process of finding one! There are many of them out there, so choosing one can be a little overwhelming. You may want to start with local businesses in your city, especially if you’d rather work with someone in person.
With the power of the internet, though, it’s entirely possible to do this type of thing remotely. If you find a company you love in another city or even country, you may still be able to use their services. While this creates great opportunity, it also means you must be diligent in finding a strong and successful company.
What to Look For
When searching for an SEO company, you’ll see lots of options pop up. Before you start contacting potential companies, it’s important to know what you’re looking for:
- Lots of positive, verified reviews on their website.
- A strong portfolio of client websites that are functional, easy to navigate, and look great. Bonus points if they’ve worked with large and reputable brands.
- Strong and attentive customer service.
- They should provide access to reporting and analytics, such as traffic, clicks, bounce rates, conversion rates, keyword rankings, etc. This information can be helpful to you in many ways, not just for SEO purposes.
- Transparency around their techniques and methods.
- Detailed case studies showcasing specific results and how long it took are great to see.
SEO Company Red Flags
Unfortunately, there are plenty of SEO companies out there that offer low-quality, ineffectual services. Some even use downright shady practices and may even scam you out of your money. While you’re looking for the must-haves in an SEO company, keep an eye out for the glaring red flags as well:
White and Black Hat SEO
One of the first things you should do is familiarize yourself with white and black hat SEO:
White Hat SEO
White hat SEO uses genuine, above-board SEO methods based on the criteria and ranking factors of Google and/or other search engines. They play to the algorithm requirements and utilize things like internal linking, keyword optimization, metadata, and the like to improve your rankings.
Black Hat SEO
Black hat SEO uses back-handed strategies to try and “play” the system and climb the rankings faster and easier. In doing this, they can charge top dollar for services without actually doing much work. These tactics might work in the short-term, but will ultimately hurt a website and its performance.
An example of these tactics would be stuffing a page full of random keywords and then turning that text white. This means it won’t show up on the page for readers, but the hope is that Google reads them. Unfortunately, Google has become smarter than this and doesn’t tolerate keyword stuffing – and will in fact penalize a website for a spammy move like this.
Everything is Guaranteed
Even for the top experts, nothing is 100 percent guaranteed to go a certain way. There’s no way of knowing how many other websites have strong SEO and are targeting the same keywords as you.
Promising Instant Results
Just like nothing is guaranteed, nothing happens instantly. If they’re making grand promises of results by tomorrow or the end of the week, walk away. Either they don’t know what they’re doing, or they’re shady.
It Seems to Good to be True
The old adage rings true here as much as anywhere else – if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. If their claims seem too impressive, or their costs are surprisingly low, things are likely not as they seem.
Their Plans are Vague
If their plans and ideas seem too vague and they don’t want to give you details, their plan is likely weak. A good and reputable SEO company has no issue going into detail about their plans and which techniques they think will work best for your needs. They’ll also answer any questions and, within reason, listen to and incorporate your own ideas if you have them.
There should be an open dialogue at all times and if you feel a question has been dodged or glossed over, go elsewhere.
Old Strategies
SEO techniques and best practices are always evolving. A good SEO agency keeps up with the times and changes its approach as necessary. If a company is stuck in the past and insists on continuing to use old and/or unsavory practices, look elsewhere.
Build Your Business With Successful SEO
SEO is paramount to any online presence, from blogs and e-commerce to retail and consultants. If you’re appearing on Google, you’re getting leads. Learning how to find a successful SEO company to partner with sets you up for both long and short-term success. We offer a range of marketing services including SEO – feel free to contact us today for a consultation and to ask any questions you have!
