About the Author
Corey is the owner and President/CEO of Voltage. He has spent 18 years working in strategic and leadership roles focused on growing national and local client brands with award-winning, ROI-generating digital strategies. He's a recent recipient of the KCDMA 2019 Marketer of the Year award.
So you’ve decided to hire an SEO agency. As a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, we think this is a great idea. Keeping it in-house can make the most sense under various circumstances. But when it comes to things like time, scalability, experience, omnichannel support, human resourcing, and overhead costs, partnering with an agency can put you in the most optimal position to reach your goals.
At this point, you’re already all-in on going the agency route or you’re doing your due diligence before making the jump. Either way, it’s important that you go into the decision of choosing an SEO agency as informed as possible. There are many marketing agencies out there, all presenting themselves similarly, but not all will be right for your business.
In the Forbes article “Nine Tips For Selecting The Right SEO Agency,” I discuss what I’ve learned in his nearly two decades of experience working in the marketing world. Keep reading for a sneak peek of the tips.
1. Know your goals and ROI measurement beforehand.
Before talking with an agency, figure out exactly what you want to get out of your investment in SEO and exactly how you’re going to measure success. What are you willing to spend? When will you break even? When will it become profitable? Are you looking to increase your website traffic or conversions or both?
From the article:
Perhaps, you’re looking for other types of user engagement on your website? When you know your budget and the way you’ll measure ROI, communicate that with the agencies you’re interviewing.
2. Choose the right size agency.
Agencies of any size come with their own unique sets of perks and drawbacks. While a larger agency may be full-service, those additional capabilities may come at a steeper price. And while a smaller, boutique shop may come at a lower price point, they may not have the staff to provide ad hoc support when non-SEO issues arise.
Think about what kind of service you want. Then, find an agency whose size aligns with your budget and unique needs.
7. Get a full understanding of pricing.
What SEO work will you actually be getting? Does the rate include strategy, research, technical SEO, reporting, account management, content creation, link building, copywriting, development, UX? What is included in setup and was is part of the retainer?
SEO is a long-term investment. It can take months to see substantial results. So, it’s important to know what SEO tasks are included in the price you’re being quoted.