Finding the right SEO agency is not so easy. Some people think it’s a matter of simply making a few phone calls or sending out a few emails and phoning the cheapest agency that offers them the most keywords is the way to go. This really the worst way to go about finding an SEO partner and will only end up putting your business, in serious jeopardy.
The aim of this article is to stop you making silly mistakes when it comes to searching and securing an SEO agency. These are great tips and come from a wealth of experience from someone who has heard all the nasty and tragic stories from businesses Australia wide who have made the grave error of judgement in picking a horrible SEO company,
Theses are 5 rules and if you follow them, you will be on the right path to not only being more successful online but getting a much better Google ranking & customers who are ready to buy from you!
RULE # 1: What ever you do never and I mean never believe it when someone tells you that they can guarantee you page 1 position on Google for your main keyword rankings within 90 days. This is a common trick used by many SEO agencies to get you to sign up with them. It’s nothing but a scam. The reason being is that you are dealing with a 3rd party (Google) who will never disclose what their ranking criteria is. For an agency to tell you that they have figures this out and can 100% claim they can get you to page 1 is a complete and out right lie.
They even advertise this fact and use it as part of their sales pitch. The issue here is that so many people wont read this blog and like lambs to the slaughter they fall victim to these claims and lies. It’s a real problem facing many business owners who want to be on page 1 ( and are not fully aware of how SEO or Google works), like what they hear over the phone and sign up for a 12 month contract.
I do want to make a point there. They might be able to guarantee ranking for what we term ‘long tail keywords’ or phrases – basically anyone can do this. BUT, theses keywords when they do rank, have little or no value to the business as they bring in no traffic.
For example if you are a electrician in Sydney, you want to rank for the keywords: ‘electricians sydney’ NOT ‘ mobile electricians with low rates’. The scam is that they will rank you for the 2nd phrase not the first, and they never tell you this before hand.
RULE # 2: Try to find a SEO company that is ranking organically. Those that have paid to be there using PPC or Adwords and are on page 1 not because they know anything about SEO, ( which is what you want), but they are spending money to be there. This money MUST deliver a return on their cost per click and these guys will say anything to you to sweeten the deal to make the sale. This is where the guarantees come in and all that sales baloney! Don’t trust these guys or believe them.
RULE # 3: It’s preferable if you find a local SEO agency. One that you can go and visit rather than one in another capital city. I know this may sound petty as things can be done via email or skype, but you need to see that the people you are entrusting your internet marketing with have an actual physical presence. They may just be a sales front for some off shore SEO link building team and this is where you could end up in real problems. Think local when it comes to SEO.
RULE # 4: SEO is not about simply throwing masses of links at your site. There’s more to it and it’s now more of a full on digital marketing discipline and this is why you should be using an SEO agency that can offer services like web and user interface design/experience, improving conversion rates, social media and content marketing. If all they talk about is SEO, then I’m afraid this on’t work any longer. Google wants to see content added to your website and they do like to see social media activity.
Related article: Creating a Combined SEO & Content Strategy
It’s now all about SEO, social media, content marketing and making sure that the websites visitor has the best possible experience. also known as conversion rate optimisation, you now need to know what people do when they land on your site and always be tweaking it for better performance. Your prospective SEO company better know how to do this or else you WILL NOT RANK OR GET BUSINESS!
RULE # 5: If they want to sign you up to a 12 month contract – DITCH THEM. Most of these long term deals are designed to keep you paying month after month and they won’t really do anything. Best to pay as you go as this will keep your SEO agency on their toes. They need to perform and improve rankings if you are going to engage them for the next month.
These simple 5 rules are really here to help you STOP making fatal errors when it comes to your internet marketing and SEO. All I can suggest is you call us here at SEO Sydney Experts on 02 9360 8514 and we will clearly explain to you the whole SEO process in plain English and give you the raw truth and real deal about your businesses chance of getting to page 1.
I believe in a no nonsense, honest approach to SEO, so if this sounds OK – I am always happy to chat anytime about ways to not only improve you rankings but also your whole internet presence. I take a very holistic approach to this to make sure all bases are covered. This way we can be really competitive online – perhaps even better than your competition who seem to be getting all the business. We will soon sort that situation out.
