How to find the best SEO service providers?

In our contemporary world, the role of SEO can’t be underestimated. It is the way how a business becomes closer to their potential clients on the web. Any businesses can’t succeed without proper optimization. That is why there is a high demand for SEO services providers. And where there is a demand, there will be supply. So, the market for SEO services is overwhelmed by different proposals. Searching for suitable SEO company, online merchants usually feel frustrated as they do not know what to select from the great variety of similar offers. 

Most of the people who have a task to find and hire a search engine optimization firm to provide various online marketing services, start their search on Google and get a list of 300+ optimization firms. They start contacting the firms starting with the one at the TOP since TOP ranked optimization companies seem professional and well-known. But as you contact the TOP ranked firms they all tell you the same things. They promise to bring your site to the TOP of Google SERP. However, it sounds like a too-good-to-be true proposal. In reality, nobody can give you such a guarantee. However, if that’s the case, how do you figure out which SEO firm to hire? 

To find the best option for your business you need to take into account numerous factors such as price, company’s orientation, reputation and set of services they provide.

Let us discuss the common misconceptions about SEO firms that business owners have searching for the appropriate optimization agencies for their website.

Common misconceptions about SEO service providers

• This SEO company rank high and has a well-optimized website; I bet they would be good to work with

You should know that SEO firm has nothing in common with its site web design. If you are looking to hire an SEO firm that can also take care of designing your new web source, then yes, it makes sense to pay attention to the quality of their web design. However, if you are looking for people who are pro in SEO, website design is not what you need to pay attention to. Some of the best optimization firms have websites that are directly second-rate. 

The same thing we can say about the high rank of SEO website. It is not the indicator of company’s proficiency. If the company ranks high, it does not mean it is popular among users. It means that it invests a lot in SEO and promotion. The smallest and customized optimization agencies that rank on the second or even third page of Google SERP can provide better optimization services than big well-advertised companies. 

• I should choose a company that has hundreds of employees and is making millions 

Most people believe that companies that have a lot of clients have a high proficiency level. Of course, we cannot deny that this company is good at something, but it might not have anything to do with SEO. This company might be big as it is strong in marketing and self-promotion. Popular SEO firms do not need to promote their services as they are full of clients. So, the bigger is not always better. The best SEO services provider might be a guy working from his basement.

What aspects do you need to take into account to hire the right SEO firm?

First of all, you should decide what you need and what you want to obtain form cooperation with optimization company. You need to distinguish the basic SEO services you want to get such as link building, SEO audit, PPC management, and others. Do not hire SEO company with the intention to optimize your site. Your goals and purposes should be setted. If you are not sure what you need, start by figuring out the job to be done. You need to keep your business goal in mind to measure the success of your engagement with your SEO firm. 

Once you decide what you want to get from SEO, you should contact with reasonably qualified companies and ask them to help you figure out what you need to do. Most optimization companies and consults will be glad to provide you with a free consultation. I will help you to compare different optimization companies and understand whether you like the firm and people you will be working with. As a result of the consultation, you will get a proposal for services you need and pricing for them. Compare different companies but do not advertise this information as in most cases it does not make them compete harder for your business. 

To make an ultimate decision, you need to research case studies and references. You need to learn something about company’s reputation and its client's experience before signing up any contracts. You can ask to show you the portfolio with successfully done projects and contact with clients who cooperate with this agency. If the clients are satisfied with the optimization results, then that’s a reasonably good predictor they will be successfully cooperating with your company.  

Make your potential SEO partner tell you a story. References and case studies are good, but you also want to hear them tell you stories about their background, experience, success, and failures. You can ask your SEO partner how they were founded, what their best client experience was, and what their worst client experience was. These stories can drastically affect your final decision.

Final thoughts

To ensure you make the right choice, you need to set clear goals, examining predictors, learn company's history and get multiple bids. Paying for SEO, you pay for something that you cannot evaluate at once. Optimization is a long-lasting process that may take from four to twelve months. So if you do not see the immediate optimization results, it is not a reason to terminate a contract with SEO specialists. You need to take SEO as the investment in the future of the online business that will bring you a high return on investment.