4 Tips for Choosing an SEO Expert
With approx 80% of your Web site traffic being dependent on search engines, SEO and search engine marketing (SEM) is a very cost effective method of increasing the amount of qualified visitors reaching your site. Here are four tips to help you find a team of trustworthy SEO professionals that can get you the results you need.
1. Do they set realistic expectations?
The best SEO professionals are very upfront and honest when discussing your Web site’s SEO potential. They will partner with you to set realistic goals and chart out a game plan to achieve those goals, all with the mindset that first page rankings don’t happen overnight.
2. What does their track record show?
A SEO professionals past results with clients is a good indicator of the type of results you can expect to achieve by partnering with them. Ask your SEO company if you can talk with their current or former clients. At that point you can hear straight from the horses mouth how their SEO expertise has impacted their bottom line.
Do they currently employ ethical, white hat SEO techniques for themselves and their clients which help assure long term success? Or are they willing to use black hat techniques that can lead to short-term success, but long term failure? In SEO slow, steady, and ethical will always win the race.
Also take a look at where they as SEO professionals rank for their own industry or Web site. Make sure they practice what they preach.
3. Are they knowledgeable about how SEO impacts your overall Web strategy?
SEO is most effective when it acts as one integral part of an overall holistic Web strategy. Because SEO does not occur in a vacuum, it’s important for your SEO professional to be knowledgeable about SEO’s inseparable bond with social media, as well as SEO’s impact on site structure and content.
4. Do they welcome your questions and answer them fully?
The best SEO experts love their job and embrace the opportunity to teach others about the art of search marketing. Since asking questions is the best way to learn, your SEO expert should encourage an open relationship where you can ask whatever questions you’d like about the process and theory of SEO.
Take the time to get to know the SEO professionals you are thinking about hiring. Trust your instinct and do your homework. Your SEO team should partner with you to become an extension of your own internal marketing team.
*Photo compliments of http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisafer/2427399932/
