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SaaS SEO Guide
SimpleTigerSimpleTiger
SEO
·
3/23/2018
·
 min read

How to Choose a Good SEO Agency for Your Business or Website

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Getting  your site to the shiny heights of Google’s first page is a dream for  most businesses; imagine grabbing the attention of everyone who’s  interested in what you offer.

According to one study, the first page of Google captures 95% of web traffic, while 67% of searchers go straight for one of the top five listings.

And,  even with new trends and fads cropping up by the day, SEO has remained a  stalwart part of every marketing strategy. In fact, marketers see SEO  as more effective than ever, with a huge 82% claiming it’s only going to get more effective as time goes on.

You  know you need to get SEO under wraps, but it’s difficult to know where  to start and, let’s face it, trying to master it all yourself is both  daunting and incredibly tiring.

In light of this, we’ve put  together a manifesto of sorts that shows you how to lighten the load and  choose the right SEO agency for your business.

Key Mistakes Businesses Make When Choosing an SEO Company

In  order to get it right and choose an SEO agency that feels almost like  they’ve been sent from heaven, you need to know where you’re going  wrong.

1. Trusting Google as a Filter

It’s ironic really.

When  you’re looking for an SEO agency, chances are you’ll start with a  Google search - it’s where all great web adventures start, right? And it  makes sense that a good SEO company should be able to get themselves a  good ranking.

But those top companies that pop up when you search for agencies in your locality or industry might not be the best fit.

Why?

Because  most decent SEO agencies will be too busy working with clients and  helping them rank on Google to worry about their own positioning. So,  take Google’s results with a pinch of salt.

That agency that keeps appearing first? They might have too much time on their hands (and not in a good way).

2. Believing There’s a Secret Answer

If an SEO agency promises you the world, run away - fast.

Empty  promises are unfortunately a big part of the SEO world and many  agencies will try and lure you in with their “secret answer”.

The reality is there’s no secret sauce to high rankings, it’s a game of hard work, strategy, and perseverance.

3. Focusing on Vanity Metrics

Knowing  why you want to hire an SEO agency in the first place in the first step  towards great things, but if that reason is because you simply want  more traffic you might find yourself sorely disappointed.

While higher rankings in Google do lead to an increase in traffic, SEO is about so much more than just numbers.

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5 Things to Take into Account When Choosing Your SEO Agency

1. Longevity in the Industry

First  things first, a company that’s been around for a long time has seen the  ups and downs of the SEO industry and weathered the multiple storms  that have hit it over the years.

New SEO agencies might seem all  shiny and spritely, but have they got their hands metaphorically dirty  in dealing with everything the industry throws at them?

Before you hire an agency, ask yourself these questions:

  • How long have they worked in the SEO world for?
  • Have they worked with a range of companies, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies?
  • Have they worked with brands you admire and know?

Agencies that can harness the needs of both big and small businesses aren’t just one trick ponies.

2. Goal Alignment

Each  and every business has a different end point in mind: maybe it’s a  percentage increase in conversions or a boost in industry authority.  Either way, the ideal SEO agency for you is one that understands your  goals and needs and puts those first.

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On top of that, their practices and their own goals should mirror yours so you’re both on the same page at all times.

3. Honesty and Transparency

The  SEO world has been marred from a past of “black hat” tactics, many of  which are still going on today. These tactics are detrimental to your  business and, with Google’s constantly-updating algorithm, could harm  any chance you have of getting to that much-coveted top spot.

You  want your SEO agency to steer clear of these questionable techniques and  be honest about how they’re going to get your website ranking.

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Today,  content and incoming links are two of the most important factors when  it comes to ranking, and a good SEO agency will understand this and  support you in building a solid, authentic link network and high-quality  content.

4. Proven Results

Spending out cash on an  unknown result is a terrifying prospect, but there is a way you can find  out if an SEO agency gets outcomes like they say they do.

First  of all, check the agency's website for a sizeable list of testimonials  and case studies. These are words that come straight from the mouths of  previous clients, and are the most trustworthy review you can seek out.

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However, one of the best ways  to get unbiased opinions about an SEO agency is to take a look at  online reviews left by employees and past clients. For this, you can  check out sites like Google, Yelp, or Glassdoor or, for more thorough  information about their working process and the explicit results they  achieved for past clients, request to see a case study.

Alternatively,  you can go one step further and request a reference from a past or  present client. Any reputable SEO agency will happily put you in touch  with one of their valued clients so you can find out more about their  experience and how satisfied they were or are with the service.

The majority of SEO experts will tell you that this is a vital part of seeking out the right agency, including Rand Fishkin who  says that it's important that you look at the kind of results the  agency has got for businesses in the past and determine whether those  align well with your goals.

5. Ask Questions

Before  you hire anyone - SEO agency or not - it’s key that you ask as many  questions as possible so your working relationship gets started on the  right foot.

The answers will help you determine whether the  agency understands what you’re looking for and the goals of your  business, but it also gives them a chance to get to know as much about  you as possible so they can go into the process with as much knowledge  as they can.

Consider asking questions like:

  • What processes do you use and why?
  • What work and resources do we need to do internally?

Educate yourself on everything you can and you’ll be able to make a strategic decision on which agency is the best fit.

Choosing a Good SEO Agency is Vital For Success

There are millions of SEO agencies out there, each one touting a different set of services and results.

While  this can seem overwhelming, all you need to do is find one who’s  processes align with your business goals and who operates in a  transparent and honest way so you can avoid any unnecessary hassle  further down the line.

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SimpleTiger
SimpleTiger
Sean Smith
Sean Smith
COO

Sean is Chief Operating Officer at SimpleTiger, responsible for operations, process creation, team utilization and growth, as well as sometimes direct client consultation.

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