Running a business is one of the most fulfilling yet time-consuming tasks in the world. But in order to make your business succeed, sometimes you need a little help from the experts, particularly in search engine optimization (SEO) marketing.
After all, if your business can’t be found by Google or your customers online, does it truly exist? However, no two SEO companies offer your business with the same approach. Knowing what to expect from a reputable SEO company will make sure that your hard-earned cash and precious time are resources that are being used properly.
Before hiring an SEO company, these are the thing you should expect the following:
Track Record: One of the first things you should inquire about before committing to one SEO company is a reputable track record. It’s not necessary for an SEO company to have had worked with big-named or Fortune 500 clients; small and medium-sized businesses also contribute to a valuable track record. Without this information, there’s no way you can identify if an SEO company can actually achieve what they say they can.
Monthly Report: If you’re paying money for SEO assistance, being able to evaluate the success (or lack) of each effort is critical to the development of your campaign. Monthly progress reports should provide an in-depth look into a company’s SEO efforts so you can see what areas are failing and what strategies are working well.
Realistic Budget: A realistic budget is determined by the size of your goals. For example, if your objective is to increase online sales by 20% within the next 3 months, think about how much you’re willing to invest for those results. Generally speaking, the bigger the goal, the more expensive it can be. Also keep in mind that you get what you pay for; a budget too small may do more harm than good by affecting your rankings or using cheap tactics.
Clear Expectations: Before signing on the dotted line, make sure that both sides are clear with what the SEO strategy intends to achieve. Realistic and clear expectations are those that are met in intervals, rather than one big final goal. Intervals allow both SEO companies and clients to stay on right track while developing actionable steps that offer room for adjustment if a certain part of the campaign isn’t going as planned.
No Guarantees: Be wary of SEO companies that offer guarantees. No reputable SEO company will tell you exactly what they can achieve, because the truth is that SEO is unpredictable as best; we can only hope for the best results while following ethical and proper search engine marketing. If a company promises to get you on the first page of Google in a few weeks, it’s just too good to be true.
