With its popularity and influence, Google has a huge impact on what people see in their search results. You would be amazed at what targeted, local SEO can accomplish for your business. With the right SEO partnership, you can improve your online presence, increase sales and decrease your advertising expenses, all while improving user experience.
Before you sign a contract with an SEO company, here are a few tips that every Markham business owner should consider before choosing a local Search Engine Optimization company.
Be specific about your goals and find a company that can meet them.
Don’t work with a company that sets ambiguous goals like improving traffic. You need clear and specific goals so that the right Google searchers are finding your site and to ensure that your company is seeing a direct and positive benefit.
To avoid any uncertainty, you should figure out exactly what you’re hoping to accomplish with SEO before looking for a company to work with.
Are you looking to increase sales by ranking for certain keywords?
Are you finding it difficult to reduce your website’s bounce rate or increase your conversion rate?
If you’re looking to increase advertising revenue, do you want to have a large audience or a smaller audience that spends more time engaging with your site?
Are you looking for assistance creating a social media following, making sponsored content, or any other services?
If you choose to work with a local digital marketing agency for your social media marketing, they may also offer SEO services, or vice versa! If your goals are focused around targeting customers in your local area, working with a local SEO agency that knows your target market is the best course of action.
No matter which SEO company you choose, make sure you’re clear on the type of results you’re looking for and what services you’ll require.
Don’t work with anyone who talks about SEO without discussing specifics.
SEO, the process of optimizing your website to drive organic traffic, is difficult and often misunderstood. People who claim that they have special insight into Google’s algorithms are usually lying.
Solid SEO requires a fundamental understanding of how search engines work, attention to detail, and an awareness of its constant changes. Google’s algorithms change almost weekly.
Buying links, keyword stuffing, and cloaking can lead search engines to demote your website in their rankings. These techniques are often referred to as Black Hat SEO because they violate the rules and regulations of search engines.
Once Google’s bots discover that you have been using these tools, they’ll demote your site in their rankings, which will then decrease your organic traffic. SEO companies who claim to have intimate, innate knowledge could be using Black Hat SEO practices. You will ultimately pay a high price if you choose these services.
Use word of mouth when looking for recommendations for the best local SEO.
The best companies usually have a long-term customer base who have referred people they know to the same service. This means that the best way to find a great SEO company is the old-fashioned way: word-of-mouth advertising.
Instead of using Google, ask people in your local, professional circles who they would recommend. It can also be helpful to ask other local, small business owners within your industry in the Greater Toronto Area because the companies they’ll recommend will already have experience in your field and in the area you are looking to target.
Choose a local SEO company that targets KPIs that are aligned with your goals.
Once you’ve outlined your goals and narrowed down your options, you should make sure that you and the company that you choose to work with have a clear method of charting your progress once you get started. What are your end goals? What is your marketing strategy?
Make sure that you and the SEO company you choose are on the same page when it comes to Key Performance Indicators. KPIs are metrics that can apply to any aspect of a business and can mean a host of different things within SEO itself. For example, a company with a new product will have different goals than an older company with an established clientele.
There is so much data available to us that it is easy to get bogged down with the wrong KPIs. It is important to find an SEO company that understands which KPIs are the most significant for your business. They should be able to take that information and create a report that you can easily read and understand.
Some important KPIs to consider include organic sessions, average number of page views, conversion rate, keyword rankings, Google crawling mistakes, and page load times.
Work with an SEO company that communicates clearly and effectively.
You’re busy running your own business, so while you may have access to the tools your SEO company is using to measure your KPIs, you don’t have time to properly analyze all that information.
You need to select an SEO company that sends regular monthly reports and fosters trust in terms of communication.
Working with a local SEO is especially helpful when you need to reach someone immediately, because you will be in the same time zone and most likely will be able to speak to someone on the phone when you have concerns or questions.
When you choose a local SEO company, you choose a company that will be uniquely responsive to your inquiries.
SEO is a long process, so the company you select could be one that you are working with for years to come.
Even if you only plan on working with them temporarily, meeting your organic website traffic goals takes time, patience, and a positive working relationship.
SEO can make or break your business.
About 90 percent of users will only scan the list of results on the first page of Google after conducting a search. The right SEO has the potential to transform your business.
Finding and staying with the right SEO company is harder than you would think it should be. Many companies make false promises or violate Google’s rules through Black Hat SEO, which hurts your business. It’s always a good idea to talk to friends and business associates to find a reliable SEO company.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options to a few companies, be clear about your goals before meeting with the company, and make sure they clearly understand your goals as well. When you work together with your selected SEO company to set KPIs, you’ll ensure that you are both on the same page when it comes to the results you want.
Choosing a company that communicates effectively with regular reports will ensure a long, positive working relationship.
Don’t mistake SEO for a buzzword. Search Engine Optimization can help you build a successful brand, if you find the right SEO company to work with.
