SEO companies are a dime a dozen nowadays. Everybody and their puppy seems to be an SEO expert these days. What’s even worst is that improvising yourself as a SEO expert doesn’t need that much effort; all you really need is a nice website and a few gullible clients ready to part themselves from their hard earned money. But there are some clear signs that will show you that you’re working with a legitimate SEO service provider. Here are a few of them.
If an SEO service provider refuses to give you a clear rundown of the method they’re using and isn’t giving you regular updates, run! This is one of the clearest signs that you’re working with a charlatan. SEO isn’t voodoo magic; a SEO provider should be able to tell you exactly what he’s doing and give you updates every step of the way. They should also be able to tell you when you should start getting results.
Ideally, you want to work with a provider with a solid reputation that is respected in the field. If the provider is relatively new, ask for reference. Don’t rely on testimonies either, make sure that you conduct a Google search and see what people are saying about them. Go on their website and check their blog to gauge their level of expertise. Go on webmaster forums and ask other people what they think about their service. The more info you have on a certain company, the better.
Many fly by night SEO marketers will promise you the moon to get you at first. If a provider promises you overnight results for any keyword, this is another clear sign that he isn’t reputable. SEO is not that simple and takes time. A good SEO company might not tell you what you want to hear at first, but they have no problem being honest about the process, even if it means losing a few clients. SEO is a long term effort and investment, but one that eventually pays off in spades when done right.
While link building is one of the most important aspects of SEO, it is in no way the end all be all. Link building services abound on the internet and are completely obsolete in the current landscape. Some SEO “companies” are simply glorified link building services in disguise. Make sure that you run down all the services provided by a company before you hire them. Take a company like Snap Agency for instance. Snap Agency’s marketing services include things such as local SEO, email marketing, video production and social media management. That’s a clear sign that you’re working with a reputable agency.
If you want to make sure that you are dealing with a real SEO agency, make sure that they have a complete suite of products. Also make sure that they have a solid reputation and that they are respected in their fields. Make sure that they don’t set unrealistic expectations, and last, but not least, make sure that they are fully transparent and they are keeping you up to date every step of the way.
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This is very good advice especially for a small business owner who is unfamiliar with the differences between SEO agencies. Transparency is key.