If you are not as experienced with Search Engine Optimization as other entrepreneurs, an expert can help. Ask these questions before hiring SEO consultants.
You’re bursting with original ideas, innovations, and creative approaches to business.
No matter how hard you work, it seems like you struggle to get noticed. Sound familiar?
Many entrepreneurs and business owners find it difficult to get noticed, especially online. As more and more websites pop up each day, it becomes increasingly harder to rank and get found on search engines such as Google.
If your website needs some TLC to rank higher, you might be thinking of hiring SEO consultants to help our website rank higher, see increased traffic, and generate new leads.
Before hiring an SEO consultant, keep reading to learn the top seven questions to ask beforehand. That way, you can find the right consultant for your brand and ensure your marketing budget is put to good use.
1. Are We on the Same Page When It Comes to the Budget?
Before getting into the meat of the project, you and the consultant need to make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to the budget.
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as common consultant fees, as costs will vary greatly depending on your needs, the scope and size of the project, and the experience of the consultant.
Before signing a contract, talk to your consultant about your budget and timeframes and ask them to prepare a quote for the job. This will help you decide if their services are in your price range.
A word of warning— it can take a long time to master SEO, so expect to pay a fair price for SEO services. Be cautious of consultants who have prices that are too good to be true.
2. Does Your Company Follow Google’s Best Practices?
Always ask your consultant if they follow Google’s suggestions of best practices for SEO.
If they aren’t, your website risks being penalized by Google for not following their rules. Should this happen, your chances of ranking highly are slim to none.
Unfortunately, many SEO consultants resort to what’s known as ‘black hat’ SEO tactics. These are tactics that go against SEO guidelines—although these may have worked well in the past, search engines have smartened up and it is now much harder to succeed if you try to take shortcuts.
3. How Exactly Will You Improve My Website’s Rankings?
As an entrepreneur, you know how important innovation, honesty, and ethics are. So, look for the same in an SEO company!
You should ask exactly how the company will improve your rankings. They should be able to provide a clear, detailed strategy of what they will do to bring you results.
Don’t settle for vague answers—be sure you have a solid understanding of what the company can do for you before hiring them.
A clear plan is something experienced SEO professionals, like Jasdeep Singh UConn, are happy to offer their clients.
4. Do You Have Testimonials From Previous Clients?
References and reviews are an important consideration when hiring any new contractors, as SEO is no exception.
It’s not always easy to ‘see’ results of SEO, so reviews from previous clients are important to read. That way, you can see that your SEO consultant has a previous track record of success.
It’s even better if the consultant has experience with other entrepreneurs or businesses similar to your own.
5. How Long Will It Take to See Results?
As SEO experts know, ranking highly is a long game—don’t expect overnight results.
Don’t be afraid to ask your consultant how long it may take to start seeing results. Also, do they have any guarantees that they can help you improve your rankings?
Information on the time frames should be included in their initial project scope. Although it’s necessary to be patient with SEO, a quality consultant should be confident in telling you how long it will take until you start to see results.
6. Are You Up to Date With the Latest SEO Trends?
The field of SEO is certainly not static. Each year, and even every few months, SEO trends change. For example, voice and image search is becoming more important. Ask your consultant if they are up to date on the latest trends. If so, how do they stay on top of the latest news?
They may attend classes, workshops, or subscribe to newsletters. Whatever they do, they need to be switched on to the latest trends, as outdated SEO practices won’t do your entrepreneurial website any favors.
7. Can You Audit My Website?
As part of your SEO services, it’s important that you have an audit done on your current website.
To find SEO success, you need to know what’s working well with your website, along with what needs improvement.
A website audit can include everything from your website loading speed, the design and layout of your site, the quality of your content, and the overall user experience.
SEO is an overarching strategy, so your consultant should be willing to let you know how you can improve on your existing website.
Improve Your Reach By Hiring the Perfect SEO Consultants
Having the expertise of the right SEO consultants can help take your business to the next level. Reach the right people, increase your opportunities and sales, and get noticed.
Use the tips above to make sure you find the right SEO company that knows SEO inside and out and understands the complexity of your business.
With so much riding on the success of your website, start researching SEO consultants today and find the right one for you. Then, start enjoying the successes it can bring your business!
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