What to Consider When Hiring an SEO - Pop Quiz? (Page 4 of 4 ) Before you ask your candidates any questions – indeed, before you start searching for a company, really – you should have a solid picture in you mind of what kind of SEO services you’ll want. Do you want someone who’s all about in-page optimization? Link building? Blog writing? Do you want someone who already “knows it all” or is newer to the field (and therefore likely to charge less)? SEOs that specialize in different areas are going to have different skill sets, so it makes a big difference. That said, here’s a “cheat sheet” of sorts from Jon Rognerud, writing for Entrepreneur.com. - What ranking guarantees do you provide? No honest, reputable SEO will make any kind of ranking guarantee. If you see anything like “#1 position for your keywords in six weeks!” run the other way.
- Are you going to change my web site? The answer to this had better be “yes;” SEO is based on site content and structure.
- How do you handle linking? Honest SEOs will explain their approach in great detail and let you see what they do. If they get evasive or claim that they use proprietary software or techniques, they might be engaging in black hat and/or spammy practices.
- What are your other services and what is your pricing model? This should be clearly explained, not “sold.” Sure, SEO may be the company’s main service, but it may also do web analytics, pay-per-click, e-mail marketing, social media optimization, and more.
- Who are some of your competitors? An honest firm will tell you who their competitors are and provide details.
- What are your qualifications? Though no certifications are required for SEO, some things can help, like the Google Advertising Professional program. You may also want to consider time in business, though that’s no guarantee of expertise. Does the firm specialize in certain market segments? This would also be a good time to ask for customer references, just as you would for any contractor.
- What kind of traffic results can I expect to see, how soon, and how much will they cost? Don’t judge them on price alone. Some scammy SEO companies will set up a pay-per-click campaign without their clients’ knowledge; the client pays fees every month, and the minute they stop paying, their traffic disappears.
Ideally, you and your SEO form a partnership. They should keep you apprised of what they’re doing and the effects, with weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports. With patience, planning, cooperation, and a lot of research, getting an SEO for your site could be an excellent decision. Good luck! | DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
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