Finding an SEO company in a big city is a gamble. Each company promises improved rankings and website traffic, but the methods behind those promises can vary drastically. You can perform a few quick checks to see who’s worth trusting before parting with your cash.
Know what you want from the work
Before calling any company, decide what your definition of success is. For most businesses, success means generating more calls, leads or sales, not simply more visitors. When comparing companies that offer SEO Leicester customers can rely on, ask each to explain how their work leads to extra calls, bookings or sales for you. Also ask how they will provide proof that they are getting you more business.
Ask for examples from your own sector
Work with an agency that has experience helping similar businesses operating in the same or similar location. That agency will know the local competitors and how customers in your area search for similar businesses. Request case studies that include quantitative data, and enquire if you can speak to a previous client. Avoid agencies that all they can show you is a list of logos.
Understand what you are paying for
SEO usually covers three areas: fixing technical issues on your site, improving content, and earning mentions on other sites. Which of these will be done in your first three months? Who will be doing the work? How many hours are included? A clear plan for what will be done in a given month is good. A lack of a plan is not.
Watch out for warning signs
Any provider who promises guaranteed rankings should raise suspicions. After all, no one really knows what search engines display, nor can they be fully trusted. Very cheap packages that offer hundreds of links should also make you sceptical, as should any provider who does not give you access to your own accounts.
Check how they report
Good reports are short and in plain English. Show enquiries and calls from search and what pages improved. Finally, include what was done that month and what’s planned for next month. If you get a report that’s mainly charts of rankings for keywords you’ve never heard of, ask for a report with information you can actually use.
Give it time, but set review points
Finding results from search work usually takes a few months. By that time, you should be looking at results from measures that you agreed to review after 3 months and 6 months. If there is still no progress after those measures are reviewed, you should be seeking an explanation and revised plan.
Look beyond the home page
Have the agency assess how it will approach your site rather than how it will improve your rankings. Slow loading pages, unclear menus and thin service pages will negatively impact your rankings, but improving your rankings can’t always solve the issue of slow loading pages, for example. Look for a provider that assesses these issues first, explains the problems it finds, and indicates agreement with the most important fixes.
Local reviews and listings matter
For business primarily serving customers in a limited geographic area, Google Business Profile and reviews can be as important as your website. Ask how the agency will help collect genuine reviews and keep your business information consistent across directories. Agency employees should have experience helping small businesses do the little things that make a difference, and win or lose, against larger competitors.
Be clear about the contract
Ask how long the minimum term is and how much notice is required. Learn what happens to your content and accounts when you leave. The best agencies won’t bind you for a year, and the best ones don’t need to because their work is good, not because their contracts are hard to get out of.
Trust your instincts
Choose the firm that will answer your questions directly and listen to your concerns. You will work with them for a long time and it is important that you can talk to them and that they will keep you informed.