To survive, startups must make themselves visible online.
Getting seen is going to take expert help.
Contributed By:
Guest Writer
Source: Entrepreneur
Getting a startup website off the ground is
the necessary first step to solving the visibility puzzle. With nearly every
company these days putting heavy focus on online aspect of business, it’s
becoming increasingly competitive
to get a new brand in front of as many eyes as possible.
According to
imFORZA, 93 percent of online experiences begin with a search.
Therefore, omitting search engine optimization (SEO) from the marketing
mix is simply not an option. When a strategy is properly executed, it can work
like magic to provide opportunities that may not have presented themselves
otherwise. This is why it is crucial for young businesses to invest in SEO
early on to get the ball rolling.
Here are three tips to keep in mind when
choosing an agency.
1.
Gauge the portfolio before reaching out.
If you look at the website of an SEO
agency, you will most likely find a number of case studies or a list of
businesses they’ve worked with in the past. Even though there are certain
reasons for some clients to remain private, many have no problem with putting
their link on an agency’s website. After all, it’s free publicity. But, if
there is no list of clients or any indication they’ve worked with actual
companies, this is a potential red flag.
Looking at an agency’s portfolio helps you
understand what types of businesses it serves. Look for patterns
related to your niche. For instance, if you are a law office and you see the
agency has worked with a number of other firms, it shows they are experienced
within your industry and know what it takes to see fruitful results.
Conversely, if they have a portfolio spanning across a wide range of
industries, this is a good sign they are a versatile agency and can easily
adapt.
2.
Examine and develop your goals.
Once you’ve identified a number of
potential agencies, you need to have a firm direction written up before
making contact. What exactly do you want an SEO strategy to
accomplish? Typically, such goals might be to increase exposure,
boost leads or gain more conversions.
While these are great, you need to go a
step further and provide tangible figures that define success.
For instance, how many unique visitors per month are you aiming for? What is
the exact number that will justify your ROI?
“The key to getting the best results is
promoting client-agency transparency in terms of goals," says Eddie
Madan, CEO of EdKent Media. "While
we always expect to sit down give clients our best recommendations, the process
goes much smoother when everyone is on the same page from start to end.”
Keep in mind, SEO is not a field where you
generally see results overnight. In most cases, it’s a slow process that
requires consistent effort. As important as you overarching goals are, you need
to have a clear roadmap
developed with reasonable KPIs to judge your success rate. Without it, an SEO
agency will find it much harder to help you.
3.
Conduct a background check.
When you are looking at the testimonials on
an agency’s website, they will most likely be the most outstanding success
stories. While these are always good for reference, you need more to judge a
company.
The stories you want to hear are those from
the average clients. What was their experience with the company? If
you can, try to get a hold of at least three businesses that have
used the agency’s services. In addition to asking about the end results, you
will want to get a feel for the day-to-day interactions.
Ask for their honest accounts: Were they
good with communication? Did they deliver on their promises? Did you
feel like a priority? Also, check out the agency on the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a
clean reputation.
Choosing an SEO team is similar to hiring a
new employee. You need to consider third-party opinions to get a better impression
of whether there might be a good fit for you.
Don't
fall in love.
Choosing a company to do your online
marketing is an extremely important task. As many experts will tell you, the
search engines are constantly changing, and it takes a keen eye to stay on top
of the trends.
One of the most important things to keep in mind is not to fall in love.
The last thing you want to do is jump the gun and choose an SEO agency that
ends up wasting your time and money. As a startup, you are putting a lot of
faith in whoever you select. Don’t agree to work with the first one you talk
to. Be picky!
Related: You do not need to break the bank to have a professionally looking website for your business. Get one now!
Related: You do not need to break the bank to have a professionally looking website for your business. Get one now!
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