6 ways to tell whether an SEO agency will be effective

Search for an SEO agency and you’ll get plenty of results, it’s a competitive industry, and new companies seem to be popping up all the time. However, the sad fact is that a lot of SEO companies will take your money and deliver very little, and with no regulation in the industry, it’s hard to know who to trust.

That’s why it’s important to do some research beforehand and to ask plenty of questions before you commit to using their services. It may seem difficult to find a good SEO agency, but once you’ve found the one you can build an ongoing relationship that’ll last through the years. Here are some ways to spot an effective SEO agency.

1. They set realistic targets

Some SEO agencies will promise you the Earth in that first phone call. They’ll tell you you’ll get to the top of Google’s results in a month, and will promise you anything you want to get you to sign up. However, a reputable SEO agency such as Assertive Media will give you a much more realistic picture of how long it’ll take to rise in the rankings. Some less reputable SEO firms may well improve your ranking quickly by using unethical techniques, only to be caught out by Google who’ll send you tumbling in the rankings again. Any agency that overpromises is one to avoid.

2. They talk about long-term strategies

SEO isn’t something that can be done in a month, and good SEO firms will talk in terms of a long-term strategy. After all, once you’ve got to those coveted top rankings, you’ll want to stay at the top. Be wary of any SEO agency that promises quick results, and doesn’t have a long-term plan.

3. They’re interested in customers and not just clicks

An SEO firm could get you a million clicks a month, but if they’re from people who aren’t interested in your products or services, or the process of ordering or contacting you is too complex, then these clicks are worthless. It’s important to choose an SEO firm that’s interested in the conversion rate – the percentage of customers who place an order or enquire online. A good SEO company will look at elements of your site such as the customer journey and navigation to ensure that once you get higher in the rankings, your firm can make the most of it.

4. Their focus is on quality link building

With millions of blogs and spam sites on the internet, it’s easy to get links. What’s harder is finding good quality links that will have a positive effect on SEO. An effective SEO agency will talk about getting you links on high-quality sites that are relevant to your industry, as well as reputable directories, news sites, and websites with a good reputation.

5. They have their own UK based staff

There are a few SEO agencies that appear to be large operations, but are actually just a couple of UK-based people, with the work farmed out to overseas freelancers. This can mean dodgy links, bad content, and issues with coding, not to mention that you’ve paid a lot of money for a certain service and can be left feeling ripped off. Find out more about the team who’ll be working on your account. A good SEO agency will be able to tell you more about the people who work for them, and will usually assign someone to oversee all aspects of your SEO work.

6. They rank highly themselves

How can an SEO company promise to get you a high ranking if they can’t get one themselves? Check out some terms such as ‘SEO agency’ or ‘SEO company’ on Google and see where the company ranks.

It can be difficult to find the right SEO agency because of the sheer amount of competition out there. That’s why it’s so important to do your research, and an effective SEO agency will always be happy to answer your questions. You’ll soon get a sense of how they do business, and whether you’ll get the most for your money.