Search engine optimization or SEO is important in every business. You may have a website, but if people do not know about it, it is also useless. This is where SEO comes in. People use search engines to find something on the Internet. These search engines then crawl the web to find sites that match the query and list them. A website that has effective SEO will be listed on the top of the search result, thus gaining more visibility. Users are more likely to visit your site if it has a high ranking on the search results.
If your business is located in Portland, you can get help from a reliable Portland SEO company to optimize your site and become more visible. Several companies offer SEO services, but not all of them are the same. You want to make sure that you are choosing the best to get top-notch service. Here are some of the things to consider when picking the best SEO agency for your business.
See how well they performed
No matter how well they describe their business or service, the best way to determine if they are a promising option is their past performance. If they did an exceptional job with their previous clients, it is a good sign that you are looking at an excellent SEO company. See case studies and feedback from clients. If their previous customers were satisfied with their service, and their case studies show a positive result, these are indications of superior performance.
Check their website
Visit their website and see if it loads properly, it’s readable, informative, presentable, and easy to navigate. If you see that it has all that, you are looking at a professional company since they took the time to create a quality website. Check their blogs too. If they have regular posts, it’s another good sign since they keep their site updated, which means that they are serious about their business. You don’t want to deal with an agency that does not offer consistency, even on its own site.
Since they specialize in SEO, they should be able to make their site on top of the search result. If they cannot do it on their website, you cannot be sure that they can make it happen on yours. For example, if the company offers SEO in a certain city, create a search with the keywords SEO agency (plus the city name). If they do not show up on the result, then that’s a red flag. If they appear on the first page of the search results, that proves that they know what they are doing, and they can help you achieve that on your site too.
Go to their “About” page and read about their history, and their mission, and vision. It will help you learn more about them and see if their goals align with yours. You may also find a list of awards that they received. These awards will tell you about their performance too.
Contact their previous clients
The reviews and feedback on their website will show the name and company of their clients. You may also request the contact information of their previous clients, especially those who agreed to be their references. Reputable SEO agencies will not be afraid to give you a list of references. Contact at least three of their previous clients to ask about the company. Find out about their overall experience, including how the company dealt with them, how responsive they were, and the result of their service.
Meet with the potential agency
After going through your search, request a consultation with the SEO agency that you are eyeing. Create a list of questions, and don’t be shy to ask them. It is your chance to get to know them deeper and also clarify any concerns that you have. A professional SEO company will be happy to answer your queries. Some of the questions that you may want to ask are the following:
- What specific SEO services do they offer?
- Do they have experience dealing with a company that is the same industry as yours?
- Will there be a dedicated person to handle your site, or will you be dealing with different people?
- How much do their service cost?
- How frequently will you meet for the progress?
Determine the budget
The SEO agency will give you a quote on how much the service will be. Cheaper is not always the best choice. Do not hire a company for the sole purpose of paying the lowest service fee. Consider the other factors mentioned, and determine which one offers the most competitive price without sacrificing the quality of their service. Consider your budget too. You don’t want to spend more than what you can afford. Find the right balance between the price and performance.
Do not fall for SEO companies promising to give you an overnight result. SEO keeps on changing, so it will be hard to determine how quickly you will get the results. However, a reliable and transparent company will keep you updated with what they are doing and the progress of their work.