How to Hire the Right SEO Agency

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Search engine optimization is crucial for every website. Many companies are willing to pay thousands of dollars just to seal the coveted top spot at the search results. However, the realization of this goal depends on who you hire to do the job. Due to the demand for SEO services, numerous SEO agencies are sprouting like mushrooms over the web.

An SEO agency will handle the ranking process for you. This means they will have access to almost all parts of your website and social media accounts. This is a big deal, especially for large companies with a reputation to protect, and that means you need to hire the right SEO agency. Here’s how:

Ethical practice

If there’s one thing you should know about SEO, it’s that Google isn’t stupid. It will know when shady tactics are being used. This is the reason why you should only hire ethical SEO practitioners.

 

Broadly speaking there are two types of SEO tactics: black hat and white hat SEO. Black hat is the dirty tactic. It’s an unethical practice where keywords are hidden and are spammed across the page for the sake of fast (and usually short-lived) ranking.

A company that does its job

You can easily find an SEO agency at a reasonable rate promising a great performance. Check their competency, ask them to do an SEO audit on your site. Ask them what they think should be improved to increase your rankings.  They should be looking for things like quality content, solid backlinking, relevant images, and tried and tested methods.

You can also check the previous projects of the SEO agency to see how they fare with their promises.

Be reasonable

When looking for an SEO agency, keep your demands reasonable. Of course, you want to have the best rankings possible, but remember that you’ll only get what you’re willing to pay for. Still, be wary of agencies that will try to rip you off by overcharging. Opt for those with a fixed and solid matrix for their pricing. Most SEO firms nowadays have an a la carte model of payment meaning you only pay for what you need.

Keyword search

Keyword search is the cornerstone of the SEO process. It’s imperative that you choose an SEO agency that understands the process deeply and acts with precision. Ideally, you should be targeting keywords that are low in competition but high in traffic. A decent SEO service should know what to do when it comes to picking the right keywords and optimizing for full ranking potential.

Quality content and backlinking

Content is king in SEO. This is the reason why you should never hire an agency that uses spun articles or online article generators. Your content should always be freshly written by actual writers. Remember, Google can detect poor content, and if your website is guilty, it will be badly penalized and under-ranked.

Always hire a trustworthy SEO agency that has already proven itself in its craft. Check its previous projects and never be ripped off by shady tactics.