What You Need to Know about SEO, Pt. 5

Previous Sections:

Part 1:  What is SEO and Why Should I Care?

Part 2: Does SEO Really Matter?

Part 3: What should I expect from SEO?

Part 3: Part 4: How Do I know if Someone Pitching SEO Knows What They are Talking about?

Now: How to find a trustworthy SEO service provider?

Self proclaimed SEO experts are everywhere so finding a good one can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. There are several problems in trying to find a trustworthy SEO, particularly for the typical small/medium business owner or company. Not least among the difficulties is:

• The sheer volume of self proclaimed “SEO Experts”
• Knowing enough about SEO to know what you need (which can take months) but not get snowed by a fly-by-night expert
• It is nearly impossible to compare SEO experts side-by-side
• Pricing can be all over the place and can have many variables such as vendor availability, interest in your project, depth, …
• Notoriety might point you in the right direction but can’t be counted on for making a decision
• The Search Engines themselves don’t really help you understand what to look for
• Discerning “claims” from “facts” can be extremely difficult

So what to do? While it’s challenging, it’s not impossible to get good help and there are a few strategies at least that can assist:

• Ask for case studies and read them carefully, also research them yourself. If the case study says they got a site to 1, 2 or 3 on the first page of a Google search for “x keyword” then go and see where that search leads on Google. Things change, but as long as they are within reason and the study is fairly recent it can be a good sign.
• Ask for references
• Hire an SEO consultant to help you vet and determine who the best firm might be to work with (this will cost you but will save you loads of time and money)
• While you have an SEO consultant working with you learn as much as you can

Some other things to look for:

• Again, case studies.
• Pricing model and what you can expect for the price
• If anyone Guarantees you a #1 Rank on Google be very cautious. SEO is complex and even if they can get you up there (briefly) there is no way they can be sure of sustaining that.
• Do they provide a sustainable framework with detailed plans for your SEO needs?

The reality of SEO is that it is a game with ever changing rules which require a sustainable plan to get results and keep them. Most SEO consultants (vs. firms) can help get you to first or second base, maybe even third but if you want to really optimize your SEO and get the biggest bang for the buck, you’ll want individuals who dedicate all of their time to this and who can back it up.

If you’re looking for SEO help or have a huge SEO project and need someone to manage it or consult with you, contact us to see how we can help.

Coming Up: Part 6: How long does the SEO process take? (hint: this is a trick question)