Product category:
Search marketing
News Release from: Netrank | Subject: Choosing an SEO agency
Edited by the Marketingservicestalk Editorial
Team on 11 June 2008
How do you choose the right SEO agency?
Following the Google brand bidding announcement, an effective SEO programme is now crucial to boost your 'natural' immunity from competitors.
Finding and hiring the right agency can be a difficult process Here are some issues to consider
This article was originally published on Marketingservicestalk on 24 Aug 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Gain a comprehensive health check in relation to your site's current natural search performance.
Most good agencies will offer this service, free of charge.
Content and inbound links are crucial - foster positive debate/discussion.
Keeping SEO in house, you can retain control, learn faster and save money.
Why should you outsource? You will get specialist advice in relation to your site's architecture for search.
You will get diverse experience, a larger brain trust, a network of resources, quicker rankings and time savings.
You are always kept up to date with the latest changes to the search engine algorithms themselves.
What should you ask an agency? Make sure your agency is more than just a re-branded media agency; that they have a deep and comprehensive understanding of the technical requirements in building an SEO campaign.
Find out if they have a content team in house that is able to advise you how to make your on-page content work.
What is their approach to linking? Link programs are key to long-term success for an SEO campaign; however, Google has recently hit back at paid linking and we're waiting for the first big brand to be made an example of.
As many agencies are still engaged with this practice, it's vital you don't get caught out.
Make sure your agency is building links organically.
Ask if they have processes to identify sites of authority they need to be approaching for digital PR and link building purposes.
Meet your team: ensure the team you meet at the outset are the ones who'll be working on your account.
So often, the big guns come in for the win and the work is handed over to the less experienced.
What sort of monitoring system/reporting can you provide to us? You need to ask if they'll be using your site side analytics to measure their success in converting position to sales or enquiry.
Are they working with Atlas or an equivalent in order for you to get a clear and de-duplicated view on the strength of natural search as an acquisition channel?.
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