Affordable Search Engine Optimization
When hiring an SEO company, deciding between the hundreds of firms who are competing for your business can be a bit overwhelming. We understand the problem you're facing. Hiring a quality SEO firm is not cheap. CertifiedMarketers offers affordable search engine optimization with ongoing consultations and reporting. How do you know who does quality work and who doesn't? With your business and dollars at stake, you can't afford to make a bad decision. We've put together this guide to help you find a quality search engine optimization company. First, we'll tell you about a few common services that reputable SEO firms should be offering. Next, you'll learn some valuable tips for hiring your first SEO company. Finally, we'll talk about the warning signs of SEO scam companies.
Services a Quality SEO Company Should Offer
Review of your current content and site structure - The company you hire for SEO should be able look at your existing site and assess whether you need more content or just need to optimize the existing content to achieve higher rankings. In addition, search engines have a hard time indexing many forms of dynamic and graphic intensive content (such as Flash). A reliable SEO Firm should be able to offer technical solutions when needed.
Keyword research - Choosing the right keywords for your search campaign is probably the most important aspect of SEO. If your company builds Premium Widgets that are expensive, there would be no reason to try to rank for the term Cheap Widgets or Free Widgets. Professional SEO firms will know how to find the best keywords to target customers who will convert.
Content development - Not only should a search engine optimization company be able to choose the right keywords, they should also have a team of writers who will target those keywords with quality content. These writers should be able to generate unique, keyword-rich, relevant content that will be optimized for search engines, but still read naturally for customers. Market research for specific locations - Many times, your customers will be located in nearby towns and cities. Other times however, your site may target customers worldwide or in a specific country. Even if the SEO firm you choose doesn't have a local office, they should have the knowledge and ability to gather market research from almost anywhere.
Link building - One of the most important factors in achieving high rankings is getting quality links from related websites. Professional SEO companies should be able to help you build links honestly and effectively. Competitive analysis - Even though achieving high search engine rankings is not an exact science, the SEO company you choose should be able to analyze your competitors. After analyzing the competition, they should be able to develop a comprehensive plan to help you compete with the highest-ranking sites.
Web Marketing Search Engine Optimization
Tips for Getting the Most from the SEO Company You Hire
Web designers want you site to look good, convey your branding message, and function well for visitors. Web Marketing and Search Engine optimization go hand in hand with any new development project. Think of your web design as a destination - it's what customers experience when they visit and interact with your website. SEO is like building a large network of roads from the search engines to your website. SEO companies are concerned with building relevant content that will lead to more traffic and conversions.
Set realistic expectations.
So many times search firms face questions such as, "How long will it take you to get my site to #1 in Google for the term 'best widgets'?" Unfortunately, it's never quite that simple. Instead of simply focusing on a number one ranking in Google, measure your results by more quality search traffic and conversions.
Focus on the right keywords.
Let's say you are a Chiropractor in Dallas, Texas and want to hire an SEO Company to help build your customer base. The word 'chiropractors' gets around 550,000 searches in Google per month, while 'Dallas chiropractors' gets just under 2,000 searches. Some clients think that going after the big keywords will pay dividends by maximizing their search engine exposure. However, achieving a high ranking for 'Dallas chiropractors' would be easier, less expensive, and provide more qualified customers than a high ranking for 'chiropractors' would. Work closely with your SEO company to select the keywords that will help best achieve your site's long-term goals.
Check the company's portfolio
One way you can gauge the quality of a potential SEO company is by looking at their portfolio of websites. You should also read any testimonials they have listed.
Ask for references
If you are unable to make a decision based on an SEO company's portfolio or testimonials, you should definitely seek references of past customers. Ask past clients, what their experience was like with the search engine marketing company. Find out if they would recommend them for your business.
Research the company yourself
In addition to the tips above, you should always conduct your own research by searching for the company's name in various search engines. Look for both positive and negative reviews of the service. If you find mostly good reviews with a couple of negative ones mixed in, be sure to ask the SEO company for an explanation before you hire them.
Summary
Although at first you may be overwhelmed with finding a quality SEO company, simply educating yourself on what to look for will make the task much less daunting. Reputable SEO companies should offer a number of services including keyword and market research, content writing, analysis of the competition, and link building. Always research the companies you are considering by viewing their portfolio, reading testimonials, and searching for positive and negative reviews from others. Make sure to understand that SEO is not an exact science so don't expect miracles overnight. Work intimately with the SEO marketing service you hire to choose the right keywords and measure performance by increased traffic and conversions. Watch out for companies that promise number one rankings, contact you by unsolicited email, act secretly and are known to use blackhat SEO tactics that result in only temporary rankings.
Certified Marketers - Online Marketing Company offers Professional SEO Marketing Services and would love to work for you! Click here for a free SEO consultation.
If you need more information on what SEO is or if your interested in hiring an affordable search engine optimization company, we suggest reading the Google SEO Webmaster Guide.