If you’re considering hiring an SEO outsourcing company, then you probably recognize the value of having an effective SEO strategy and a capable team of experts to execute it properly. However, considering the fact that ranking algorithms keep changing and getting more difficult to crack, creating and executing a solid SEO strategy on your own can be quite a challenge. This is where professional search engine optimization services can make a huge difference.
Simply put, SEO outsourcing is handing all SEO-related activities to an outside provider, i.e. a specialized SEO company that will put in the required expertise, effort, and time in order to ensure a strong online presence. But what makes for a good SEO company? Determining which SEO outsourcing services best fit your needs isn’t always easy. We have created this guide to help in your search for the company that will take your brand to the top of the search engine results.
Why Should You Outsource SEO?
Is it better to put together an in-house SEO team of experts or outsource SEO services? Hiring and managing a team of SEO experts can be challenging, especially once your team starts to grow. The biggest advantage when you outsource search engine optimization is that it allows you to concentrate on running your business while gaining outstanding SEO results.
When outsourcing SEO services, you’re getting insight from experienced SEO specialists who have gained expertise through working with clients in different industries, making sure you get the most effective techniques and strategies for your brand.
When to Outsource SEO?
How do you know that it is time to start looking for an SEO outsourcing solution? Here are a few situations when it would be beneficial to outsource search engine optimization for your company.
When you want to see results faster. When it comes to organic search presence, SEO experts know exactly what works and what doesn’t. This means that they’ll be able to create a solid, long-term strategy that yields quick results and saves you from expensive mistakes.
When you want to scale your SEO process. Scaling your SEO can be hard if you are doing everything on your own because of the huge amount of work involved. When you outsource your SEO, you’re getting access to processes, technology, and manpower that allows you to increase the output of your SEO program tenfold.
If you’re struggling with SEO. Effective SEO is much more involved than just starting a blog or placing target keywords in the right places. Most business owners don’t have an in-depth knowledge of SEO and usually don’t have enough time to manage SEO campaigns. A good SEO firm will take care of your search engine rankings and organic traffic with an aim to increase sales and drive revenue.
How to Choose the Appropriate SEO Company
There are many SEO companies out there, so it can be difficult to make the right choice and select the one that best fits your business. The following checklist will help you narrow down your choices and make sure you’ve picked the appropriate SEO partner.
Define Your Goals
Having clear goals of what you want to achieve is very important when outsourcing your SEO to a third-party company. Some of the most common goals for working with an SEO outsourcing company include:
- Improving organic search results by developing a strong SEO strategy that includes content development and blog writing, link building, and distributing high-quality content throughout various channels for a wider reach
- Increasing your revenue using SEO as a sales channel.
- Improving downloads, free sign-ups, free trials, or increasing the subscribing list.
- Reducing your SEO budget by transitioning from in-house SEO to outside expert services.
Once you know your goals and the expected timeline, it will be much easier to pick an SEO outsourcing company that matches your business needs.
Do Your Research
The next question is where to look for an appropriate SEO outsourcing company. Like most people, you will probably start your research online. You should bear in mind that there are plenty of companies with similar business models and similar websites, all promising innovative approaches and great results. However, in many cases, this is all talk and no action.
One of the best ways to determine whether an SEO company is good is by checking customer testimonials. If the company has helped different clients to improve their traffic and boost their conversion rates, it will be clearly seen in their reviews and testimonials.
As an alternative, consider talking to your friends and professional network to find an SEO company.
Set Up Meetings
Once you have shortlisted three to five SEO firms, it is time to set up meetings or phone calls with them. This is important because it allows you to inform the SEO company about your goals and also to develop clear expectations from the provider regarding efficiency and time frame. Here are some questions to ask during these meetings:
- What SEO processes and strategies will they use to achieve your goals?
- What kind of resources will they need from you?
- What is their approach toward the ever-changing Google algorithms?
- What kind of work have they done earlier?
- What metrics will they use when creating reports?
- How will you communicate and report, and how often?
Don’t forget to check the company’s pricing, as well as the terms and conditions of the contract. Finally, ask for examples of sites they’ve optimized and keyword rankings they’ve helped these sites achieve.
Signs of a Bad SEO Agency
Choosing a bad SEO outsourcing agency can seriously harm your business. So, when deciding which company you should work with, knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to look for. Here are some signs that indicate a bad SEO provider.
Promising Instant Results
SEO is an organic process that requires time and patience, so if someone claims they can triple your traffic or take your site to Google’s page one in a very short period of time, you should continue your search. SEO providers must follow Google’s algorithm, and no one really knows exactly how it works. All they can do is put best practice techniques and SEO tools into play in order to slowly improve your ranking.
Poor Communication
If the SEO outsourcing company you choose isn’t one to communicate regularly, you won’t know exactly what they’re doing to earn your money. So, before you decide to hire an SEO agency, schedule a call and send them a couple of emails. If they exhibit poor communication skills, that’s your cue to move on. SEO campaigns often involve many hands dipping in the pot and therefore, ongoing discussions and reviews are vital. Without them, your SEO campaign will never amount to anything.
Not Asking About Your Goals
If the SEO outsourcing company doesn’t bother to ask about your goals and let you know how their SEO methods will align with those goals, you should consider looking elsewhere. Clear and open communication is the best way to find out whether the agency can help you achieve your SEO goals. On your part, you need to inform them about your expectations, whereas the SEO provider should propose a course of action and provide a realistic timeline to meet those expectations.
Final Thoughts
There are lots of SEO outsourcing companies, but it all comes down to picking the one that understands your SEO goals and needs the best. By combining the above-listed tips with your company’s goals, you will have a systematic approach to choosing the appropriate SEO company for your brand.
