There is no one-size-fits-all approach to SEO services, and engaging in a bad-fit partnership can be expensive in terms of money and wasted time. As an agency leader, I have been a part of the procedure for a long time. Writing this post undoubtedly seems like self-serving propaganda. First, though, let me clarify that only some companies are a good fit for my agency, and I only want to work with some of them.
Below is a compiled a list of nine guidelines to guide you through selecting the best agency for your needs.
1. Establish and clarify objectives
Now is the perfect moment to start considering it if you still need to mainly convert organizational, sales, and marketing goals to SEO.
Inquiring about your goals from the outset is a good idea, whether they have anything to do with ROI, conversions, or any other metric you use to gauge performance. (Watch wary if someone offers to handle your SEO without researching the subject.)
It makes sense that with the agency’s assistance with the study, you would know what to anticipate from SEO. But make every effort to understand at least what ROI means to you. That could take the form of particular actions or the quantity of conversions you require.
You can also consider various sector standards and your personal performance baselines as reference points. Be clear on what success in earning money or reaching your goals looks like, irrespective of what you know or don’t. Gather as much information as possible before looking for an SEO agency.
2. Assess in-house resources
You’re likely searching for SEO services since you need more internal SEO knowledge or time to be successful. To establish a successful agency partnership, you or your team must put in some amount of cooperation or effort.
You will still want specific time commitment and accessibility for approvals, oversight, feedback, and performance reviews, even if you delegate everything to the agency.
Brands and companies frequently hang onto extra components or enlist the help of other parties to handle all of the SEO-related requirements, such as content, IT, UX, and any collaborative components.
Determine what members of your internal team should or could own. Be willing to work together or use the organization or other partners. This will assist you in determining whether or not the agency is appropriate for any or all of the requirements you will eventually have for the SEO job.
3. Take your budget into account
Using the combination of your goals, your understanding of ROI, and your internal resources or current collaborators, you should be able to determine some budgetary parameters.
You can qualify more quickly and narrow down the perfect agencies based on their scope, size, and fit, even if you wish to hear the agency’s first estimate. If, for instance, you can rapidly ascertain the general cost and the arena you’re in, you can proceed if the price is significantly higher (or significantly lower) than you had anticipated.
It’s acceptable to be ignorant. It is often even better to have it based on an ROI ratio instead of a set amount, treating SEO like an investment instead of a separate spending line item.
Be forthright with those facts and ask how the agency can assist you with any preliminary strategy or audit processes to comprehend achieving your objectives and the danger associated with various investment and budget levels.
4. Conduct research
Remember that particular dimensions hold significance when perusing websites, conversing with individuals who suggest organizations, or initiating any preliminary communication.
This encompasses the agency’s magnitude of your establishment. Or, more crucially, how well-suited they are to work for your business. Another thing to think about is your business’s growth stage and lifetime.
Agencies can operate as pure generalists, taking on any customer with a dollar to spare. A few consider specific parameters that help refine things, such as minimum prices, concentrating on particular markets or sectors, audiences, forms of conversion, or even the composition or organization of your staff.
Finally, spend less time and effort locating the places that best reflect your goals and identity. Refuse offers from agencies not in your league or align with your priorities.
The article is authored by Mr. Jeremy Lee from Sotavento Medios Singapore, which is a leading digital marketing agency in Singapore