Hiring an SEO expert can be really confusing. To many business owners, it is overly technical, and at the end of the day, all you care about is results.
If you want more traffic to your website, there are a few things to consider when hiring an SEO service.
- What is your budget? How much can you afford to spend on SEO services?
- What are your goals? What do you hope to achieve by hiring an SEO expert?
- What is your timeline? When do you need results?
- What is your level of technical expertise? Do you need someone who can handle all the technical aspects of SEO or someone who can provide guidance and support?
- What is your geographic location? Are you looking for someone who can help with local SEO or someone who can help with global SEO?
Once you have answered these questions, you can begin your search for an SEO expert. There are a number of ways to find a search engine optimization service, including online directories, word-of-mouth, and referrals from other businesses. Once you have a list of potential candidates, you can start contacting them to learn more about their services and to get a sense of whether they would be a good fit for your business.
When you’re interviewing SEO services for your business, here are some green lights and red lights to watch out for to make sure you end up with someone who genuinely cares about your success.
Green lights:
Experience
It’s all too easy for somebody to label themselves as an SEO expert, when really they’ve only been in the business for a few months. Make sure to check how long they’ve been doing SEO and what type and how many businesses they have worked with.
Testimonials
This speaks for itself. If the person or agency you are hiring has glowing reviews, you can feel more confident in working with them. See how they respond to reviews too. It matters how a business responds to reviews because it shows that the business is willing to listen to feedback and make improvements. It also shows that they are interested in providing a good experience for their customers. Good customer service is important for keeping customers happy and loyal.
Knowledge
A true SEO professional will have a much better grasp on what needs to be done to get you more traffic, and will explain it to you in a jargon free manner.
An SEO expert should be knowledgeable in a number of areas, including keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and content marketing. They should understand how search engines work and what factors influence rankings.
Interest
An SEO expert will have the experience to approach the work as a multi-faceted goal. They will likely ask you many questions you might not have initially thought relevant. This is a good thing.
Red flags:
Cheap rates
When it comes to SEO, you truly get what you pay for. Do not be tempted by rock bottom fees. The cost of hiring an SEO expert can vary greatly depending on the specific skillset and experience they bring to the table. However, a good starting point for budgeting purposes is to expect to pay anywhere from $500-$5,000 per month for ongoing SEO services. Of course, this is just a broad range and your actual costs will ultimately depend on the individual expert you hire and the scope of work involved.
Empty promises
If an SEO expert guarantees success in a very short amount of time, you should very carefully consider if you want to work with them. SEO takes time. Don’t be tempted by guaranteed rankings.
There are many factors that contribute to why SEO takes time. For one, search engines take time to crawl and index websites. This process can take weeks or even months. Once a website is indexed, it can take additional time for pages to rank for relevant keywords.
Additionally, SEO requires on-going effort to maintain and improve rankings. Search algorithms are constantly changing, which means that what works today may not work tomorrow. As a result, website owners and SEO professionals must continually monitor the latest changes and trends to ensure that their website is visible in the search engines.
While SEO results cannot be guaranteed, by following best practices and engaging in ongoing optimization efforts, you can improve your website’s visibility and organic search traffic over time.
Hiding their process
If they keep much of their process behind a curtain, only giving you the bare minimum, it’s unlikely they will give your project the care and time it deserves.
There are a few potential reasons why an SEO company might choose to keep their process hidden from clients. One possibility is that the company is using black hat tactics that they don’t want to be discovered. Another possibility is that the company simply doesn’t have a solid process in place and is winging it, which wouldn’t instill much confidence in clients.
It is also possible they simply do not want to reveal their methods in order to stay ahead of competition. Either way, it’s generally not a good sign if an SEO company is being secretive about their methods.
Poor communication
Do you feel reassured when you talk to them, or are they expecting you to trust them with no proof? How do they respond to negative feedback, or pressing questions? If they’re never willing to give you a straight answer, or they disappear at crucial times, avoid them at all cost!
You need to be able to rely on your SEO provider to keep you updated on your campaigns and to provide transparent reporting. If you’re not getting the level of communication you need, reach out and explain your concerns. If they are unable to address your concerns, it’s time to find a new company.
There is no easy answer when it comes to knowing if you have hired a trustworthy SEO expert. However, by asking the right questions and doing your research, you can increase your chances of finding someone who is both knowledgeable and trustworthy. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that the SEO landscape is constantly changing, so even the most reputable experts may not be able to keep up with the latest changes. Ultimately, the best way to know if you have hired a trustworthy SEO expert is to ask around for recommendations and then do your own research to verify the expert’s credentials.
To get you started, here’s a list of trustworthy SEO companies in the United States.
If you’re looking for someone to help you with your search engine optimization, contact us to request a list of trustworthy referrals.
