It’s not enough to have a basic understanding of what is SEO and how it works. There are things best left to the experts. With thousands of outsourcing SEO agencies available, accessing professional help is never the problem. It’s how to work with the best.
Weighing countless options can be overwhelming. After all, your brand’s online success relies on this choice.
It’s no question that a solid understanding of how to do SEO should be the primary prerequisite. However, this shouldn’t be your sole criteria. Find out other crucial factors you should consider when evaluating SEO agency proposals.
5 Things a Good SEO Agency Proposal Should Have
Clear and achievable deliverables
Landing a sweet spot on the SERPs is unpredictable at best. Even the most seasoned SEO experts often scratch their heads on what shot a website on top and what caused its fall.
It’s an apparent bluff when SEO agencies claim to deliver overnight results confidently. Or, they might indulge in black hat SEO tricks such as keyword stuffing, link farming, and cloaking. These underhanded measures won’t do your website any good.
When reviewing SEO proposals, look for a well-defined set of objectives. Examine what actions they plan to take and how it helps achieve your goals. Make sure the plan has a clear direction with specified deliverables on a set schedule.
READ: The Really Quite Good Checklist to Kickstart Your SEO
A well-defined process
It’s crucial to know whether their proposed actions cater to your needs and requirements. Therefore, their proposal must contain a detailed process of the SEO strategies they plan to execute. It’s always best to have a crystal understanding of what you’re going to sign up for.
For instance, if you’re operating an ecommerce website, their proposal could outline adding HTTPS, increasing site speed, ensuring mobile compatibility, and others that would result in a better page experience for your customers. This will vary if you have a media-rich website content.
The metrics talk
Numbers never lie. The metrics are the only way you’ll know whether your SEO efforts are in vain or not. Check the primary key performance indicators (KPIs) proposed by the agency in quantifying your website’s performance. The right SEO firm will know what factors to track and measure to present a comprehensive result.
Typically, the top SEO metrics that you should measure include:
- Rankings
- Organic traffic
- Leads generated
- Sales conversion
- Bounce rate
- Keyword ranking
- Pages per session
- Organic CTR (click-through rate)
- Average page load time
READ: Tracking Your Website’s Performance Through Analytics: A Starter Guide
Word-of-mouth referrals
Choosing the top result for a “best SEO agency” Google query is a rookie mistake. It makes sense to argue that an SEO agency should know how to dominate search results. However, it’s also worth considering that the best ones out there might be too preoccupied optimising their clients’ websites to work on their own.
So, what can you trust?
You can never go wrong with referrals. Look for reviews and testimonials. Ask fellow businesses around for recommendations. Authentic client experiences will give you real-life insights into how certain agencies execute their projects and how they handle challenging situations.
Budget
Finally, everything boils down to the big B-word — budget.
There’s a certain degree of risk attached to cost. Low-cost proposals may not follow the best SEO practices and land your website in hot waters. On the other hand, a pricey quotation won’t guarantee the best results.
One thing you can do is to align your budget with the agency’s offer. Choose a fitting SEO plan according to your needs and how much you’re willing to spend. Stick to a starter plan if you have a limited budget. You can always avail of an upgrade later on.
Before you say “YES”
Remember, SEO isn’t all about keywords and rankings. It encompasses several components such as mobile, content, technical, and more. All of these has a common objective — to scale your brand with an increased online presence and enhanced user experience.
Achieve this goal without a hitch by having the right people aboard. Set up your business for online success. Refer to the tips above and only say YES to the best SEO proposal for your brand.
