As a business owner, it’s essential to have an online presence. Customers are increasingly using the internet to find local businesses, and if you’re not showing up in search results, you’re missing out on potential customers.
That’s where local SEO (search engine optimization) comes in.
Local SEO is a marketing strategy that helps your business show up in search results for local customers. It involves optimizing your website content, making sure your website is mobile-friendly, and building your business’s reputation online.
Finding the local SEO expert who is right for you isn’t easy, but with a few tips, you can make the right choice.
Here’s a look at what you need to know.
1. Knowledge is Power
Your local SEO expert should have personnel who specialize in local SEO marketing and understand how to optimize your online presence for local customers.
When choosing a local SEO marketing agency, be sure to ask about their experience and track record with local SEO.
Your local SEO expert should have personnel who specialize in SEO. They should have a detailed understanding of how local search works.
A true expert will be honest with you, as there is no magic bullet to create overnight success on search engines. Search engine optimization results take time.
In fact, you may not see any results for two to three months. Any company that claims they can give you boosted rankings in days is shady at best and should be avoided.
2. Pricing
The cost of SEO services can vary widely, and it can be tempting to take the cheapest option. However, it is important to remember that you will get what you pay for.
Cheap SEO might save you money in the short term, but it is unlikely to deliver the same results as a more expensive service.
In addition, cheap SEO services often use black hat techniques that can ultimately do more harm than good. If you want to ensure that your website ranks highly in search engine results, it is worth investing in a quality SEO service.
With a bit of research, you can find an SEO provider that fits your budget and delivers the results you need.
Instead of looking at the price, look at what you will be getting for your money. That is not to say that the pricing should not be reasonable. What you should be looking for is a reasonably priced package that consistently delivers quality results.
3. A Consultation Should Be Part of the Package
Before you sign a contract, it is a good idea to get a consultation to find out how your SEO needs will be handled.
Your local SEO Expert should give you a detailed proposal that outlines the work that will be done and how it will benefit your business.
A consultation is also a good opportunity to get to know the team you will be working with. This is important because you want to make sure that you are comfortable with them and that they understand your business.
Once you are able to discuss what to expect, then you can find out if the company can meet your expectations.
4. Know the Details of Your Contract
Many SEO companies will ask you to sign a contract because SEO services take time. Know exactly what your contract entails.
You should also know when your contract starts and when it ends. Find out if you can cancel your package at any time. Some agencies will charge a fee if you cancel before the contract period is over, or worse, hold you accountable for the entire length of the contract.
Are you able to scale your services as needed? You may start with one package but want to increase your investment to include other services, so make sure that option is included in the terms.
5. Communication is Key
One of the most common questions small business owners have about SEO is how they will be kept up to date on the results of the optimization efforts.
Fortunately, most reputable SEO companies are happy to provide regular reports and updates to their clients.
This allows business owners to track the progress of their search rankings and see how their site is performing in comparison to their competitors.
You should expect to receive at least monthly reports, but some agencies will provide more frequent updates.
However, SEO reports can only tell you so much. What really matters is if you’re noticing more new customers reaching out to you on a regular basis.
6. Adaptation of Strategy
SEO companies know that one size does not fit all when it comes to their services. They tailor their strategy to the specific needs of each customer. This means taking into account factors such as the customer’s industry, target audience, and budget. On-page SEO is usually the starting point, as it covers optimizing the website itself for better search engine visibility. However, other factors such as customer reviews and social media activity can also affect a website’s ranking. As a result, SEO companies need to be flexible in their approach in order to help their customers achieve the best possible results.
An SEO company will have many clients. One of the things you need to know is how they will adapt their strategy to suit the needs of your business.
7. Case Studies
Before you hire a local SEO expert, be sure to ask for case studies.
A good SEO expert should be able to show you examples of their work, and how they’ve helped businesses achieve positive results. Google your potential expert’s business name and see if they have a Google Business Profile. If they do, take a look at the reviews to see what others are saying about their work.
Also, check out their website and blog to see if they’re producing quality content that’s engaging and informative. If you can find evidence that the expert you’re considering has helped businesses achieve great results in the past, then you can feel confident that they’ll be able to do the same for you.
8. Your Local SEO Expert Should Use White Hat Methods
If you’re thinking about hiring a local SEO expert, it’s essential to ask about their content marketing methods. The last thing you want is for your business to be penalized by Google because of black hat techniques. Nobody fools Google for long as they’re constantly changing their algorithm.
A good local SEO campaign will focus on content marketing and building legitimate positive reviews from real customers for your business locations. By creating quality content and encouraging customers to leave positive reviews, you can improve your chances of ranking high in search results.
In addition, make sure to ask about any other local SEO tactics that the expert plans to use. By getting all the information up front, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to hire the expert.
Ready to Grow Your Business with a Local SEO Expert?
You should be careful of who you hire to do search engine optimization for your business. SEO traffic is a solid way to grow your business, and the wrong methods can cause your site to be banned from search results.
Choosing the right local SEO expert will ensure that your site is kept safe from penalties that search engines levy against sites that use shady SEO tactics. A true expert will get you ranked without incurring any penalties to your website.
If you would like to get expert SEO services that will bring new customers to your business, please contact us.
We’ve helped build other local businesses and we’re confident that we can help with yours too!
