Do I Need An SEO Agency? Your Checklist for the Best SEO Agency
Are you considering working with an SEO agency to improve your website’s search engine ranking? If so, it’s important to do your research and choose the best one for your business. The consequences of hiring a bad SEO agency can be disastrous. A bad SEO agency can damage your digital marketing efforts, website ranking, and reputation, resulting in a decrease in website traffic and lost revenue.
In this blog post, we’ll provide a checklist of things to look for when choosing an SEO agency. We’ll also discuss the benefits of working with an SEO agency and some common misconceptions about SEO.
By the end of this post, you’ll be able to decide if an SEO agency is right for you and know what to look for when making your decision. Thanks for reading!
What is SEO And What Does an SEO Agency Do?
SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” It is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. An SEO agency can help you with all aspects of SEO, from keyword research to on-page optimization and link building.
The team of professionals at an SEO agency will analyze your website and its content to determine which keywords to target. They will then create a plan of action to help you rank higher on SERPs (i.e Google search results) and attract more visitors to your website. This could include paid ads or improved content marketing for organic traffic.
There is a close relationship between SEO strategy and sales. Both are important in online marketing, and when done correctly, they can work together to improve your website’s visibility, traffic, physical sales, as well as your bottom line.
SEO involves optimizing your website and its content so that it appears higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). This can be done by optimizing the titles and meta descriptions of your pages, using keywords and phrases relevant to your business, and creating high-quality content that will interest your target audience.
Sales, on the other hand, is all about convincing website visitors to purchase your product or service. This may involve using effective copywriting techniques, adding images and videos that showcase your product or service, and providing clear and concise information about what you’re selling.
When these two aspects of online marketing are combined, they can be extremely effective in boosting your website’s visibility and traffic, as well as your sales. By optimizing your website for SEO and creating high-quality content that encourages people to buy your product or service, you can see a significant improvement in your bottom line.
“Do I need an SEO agency?” If you’re not sure, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you have the time and resources to do SEO in-house?
- Do you have the expertise to know what tactics to use and how to implement them effectively?
- Do you have the ability to track and measure your results so you can adjust your strategy as needed?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, then it’s likely that you could benefit from working with an experienced SEO agency. The right agency will have a deep understanding of how search engines work and what types of tactics are most likely to generate results.
The benefits of working with an SEO agency in summary:
- Increased website traffic.
- Increased leads and sales.
- Improved brand awareness.
- Greater online visibility.
How Can You Tell if an SEO Agency is Good or Not?
Not all SEO agencies are created equal. Here are some things to look for when choosing an SEO agency:
1. Experience and expertise.
It’s important to work with an SEO agency that has a lot of experience and expertise in the field. They should be able to show you examples of their previous work and explain what they would do to improve your website’s ranking.
What you need to look for here is that they are open about their strategy and techniques. The moment that they start saying what they’ve done before is confidential then that’s a bad sign.
2. A good track record.
Look for an SEO agency that has a good track record of helping its clients achieve better search engine rankings.
3. Results-oriented.
The SEO agency you choose should be results-oriented and focused on helping you achieve your desired results. They should also be able to point out what they need from your end. SEO is a team game and if they are truly results-oriented, they’re gonna ask for your help.
4. Affordable.
It’s important to find an SEO agency that is affordable and fits within your budget. Make sure you understand what their deliverables are and how long you are going to work together.
SEO isn’t cheap but it doesn’t have to be super expensive either. Find an agency that can give you a reasonable timeline for ROI and within budget.
5. Good customer service.
The SEO agency you choose should offer good customer service and be responsive to your needs. Can’t stress it enough – SEO is a TEAM GAME! Communication is an essential part of crafting a strategy and ensuring that you’re getting the results you wanted.
6. Ethical and honest.
The SEO agency you choose should be ethical and honest in their dealings with you. Make sure that they’re using legitimate SEO tactics. Bad agencies tend to use shady backlinks and black hat strategies that will damage your reputation before you even know it.
7. Keeps up with Google’s algorithm changes.
An SEO agency that keeps up with Google’s SEO algorithm changes will be better equipped to help you achieve better search engine rankings. (i.e best meta descriptions, optimum content length)
8. Provides a detailed report.
The SEO agency you choose should provide you with a detailed report of their work and the results they achieved.
Choosing the right SEO agency can be confusing, but following this checklist will make it easier for you to make a decision. By considering the things listed above, you can be sure to find an SEO agency that is right for you and your business.
What Should You Look For in an SEO Contract With an Agency?
When working with an SEO agency, it is important to have a contract or agreement in place. This will help to protect both you and the SEO agency and ensure that both parties are on the same page. Some things to look for in an SEO contract/agreement include:
1. The Services to be provided.
The contract should specify the services that the agency will provide, such as performing keyword research, SEO audit, on-page optimization, link building, and technical SEO.
2. The Fees.
The contract should state how much the SEO agency will charge for its services.
3. The duration of the contract.
The contract should specify how long the agreement will last (usually 6 or 12 months).
4. The expectations of both parties.
The contract should outline the expectations of both you and the SEO agency, such as the results you expect to see, the frequency of reports, etc.
5. The cancellation policy.
The contract should specify what happens if one or both parties decide to cancel the agreement.
6. The rights and ownership of the website.
The contract should state who owns the website and who has the right to make changes to it.
7. The liability of both parties.
The contract should specify the liability of both you and the SEO agency in case something goes wrong.
8. Dispute resolution.
The contract should specify how any disputes between you and the SEO agency will be resolved.
By having a contract or agreement in place, both you and the SEO agency are protected and there is less chance of any misunderstandings. It is important to review the contract thoroughly and make sure that both parties are happy with it before signing.
How Do You Measure The Success of Your SEO Campaign And How Will You Know When it’s Time to Make Changes?
Measuring the success of your SEO campaign can be tricky, but there are a few ways to do it. One way is to track your website’s Google Analytics data to see how your website traffic has changed over time. Another way is to use some of the many SEO tools available online, the best being ProRankTracker (other rank trackers i.e Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz) to track your website’s ranking for various keywords. If you see that your website traffic has decreased or your ranking has dropped for certain keywords, then it may be time to make changes/improvements to your SEO campaign.
Search optimization is a long-term investment and it may take some time to see results. If you don’t see any improvement after 6 or 12 months, then it may be time to find a new SEO agency.
Can I Do SEO Myself or do I Need to Hire an SEO Agency?
SEO can be a complex process and it may be difficult for you to do it yourself. This is why many businesses choose to hire an SEO agency to help them with their SEO campaigns and digital marketing strategy. An SEO agency will have the experience and knowledge needed to help you achieve better search engine rankings. However, if you are determined to become an SEO expert yourself, there are a few things you can do to help you get started:
1. Do your research.
Learn as much as you can about SEO and the different techniques that can be used to improve your website’s ranking. Research online the current best practices so you can come up with a strategy right for you,
2. Use keyword research tools.
Keyword research is essential for SEO and there are many free tools available online, such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner and UberSuggest, that can help you find the right keywords to target for search engine traffic. You can also just check out what comes up immediately on your Google search console to figure out what people are commonly looking up.
With ProRankTracker, you can use two tools, namely Rankings Discovery and Keyword Suggestions. With Rankings Discovery, you can find and add keywords your websites are ranked for (that you might not be aware of), and view search volume for each of these keywords while using Keyword Suggestions, you can find additional keyword ideas based on the keywords you are already tracking.
3. Use SEO tools.
There are many SEO tools available online that can help you optimize your website for search engines, such as aHrefs, SEMrush, and Moz.
4. Create high-quality content.
Content is one of the most important factors for SEO and you need to create content that is both informative and engaging for your audience. Search engine bots scour the internet for the best content to push up in rankings so always make an effort to push quality content over quantity.
5. Optimize your website.
Make sure that your website is properly optimized for search engines by using the right keywords, titles, and descriptions.
6. Build links.
One of the most important factors for SEO is the number of links your website has. You can increase the number of links by publishing guest posts on other websites, participating in link swaps, and using other link-building techniques.
By following these tips, you can start to do some basic SEO yourself. However, if you want to see better results, it is recommended that you hire an SEO agency to help you with your SEO campaign.
How Much Should I Expect to Pay For SEO Services From a Reputable Agency?
The cost of an SEO consultant or agency can vary depending on the size and complexity of your website, as well as the level of SEO services you require. However, most SEO agencies charge a monthly fee for their services, which typically ranges from $250 to $1,000 per month.
SEO can be a complex and ever-changing field. That’s why it’s important to vet and research when you hire an SEO company that understands the latest changes in the industry and knows how to adapt your campaign accordingly.
In Summary
SEO is a long-term investment, and you should expect to work with an SEO agency for at least six months before seeing significant results. If you’re looking for immediate gratification, SEO may not be the best marketing strategy for you. However, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort necessary to see real results, choosing the right SEO agency can make all the difference. Use this checklist as your guide when vetting agencies and signing contracts; it will help ensure that both you and your chosen agency are on the same page when it comes to expectations and results.
Track Your SEO with ProRankTracker
ProRankTracker is the perfect tool for businesses that rely on search engine rankings to bring in traffic and customers. Its robust tracking system provides accurate, up-to-date information on where your website ranks for specific keywords, and its in-depth analysis tools can help you identify opportunities and areas for improvement.
Perhaps best of all, ProRankTracker makes it easy to generate detailed reports that will give you a clear picture of your progress over time. With ProRankTracker, you’ll have everything you need to track your search engine rankings and make the most of your SEO efforts.
So why wait? Sign up today and see how ProRankTracker can empower your business.
