5 Factors to Consider Before Hiring an SEO Firm

Are they friendly?

What tactics do they employ in gaining notoriety and visibility for their clients? There is such a thing as “Black Hat” SEO tactics that you should be assured your SEO firm does not practice – hidden text, hidden links, cloaking or sneaky redirects, duplicate content (or mirrored sites), keyword stuffing, and buying or selling links, to name a few. Ask them if they follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines.

Are they respected?

Ask to see their list of happy clients and testimonials – most reputable SEO firms have no problem with you calling on references. Take a look at their website and see if they practice what they preach. If they can’t attain a good ranking for their business, how are they going to improve yours?

Are they within your budget?

There are SEO firms that charge $50 to $1,000 per hour for their services. Do your homework. Ask around your inner circle to see if there is anyone that comes recommended. Insist on obtaining a clearly defined SEO proposal regarding all of the services that you will receive – and whether their charges are on a monthly retainer or one-time optimization project.

Are they accessible?

Ask them to describe how and how often you will communicate and how accessible they expect to be. A good SEO company should be able to identify exactly what it is they are doing each month or along the way of a project.

Are they honest and reliable?

If anyone ever says they have a direct relationship with Google, they are most likely lying to get your business. Nobody has an embedded relationship with Google and, if they tell you they do, my advice is run away.

-Vince DiCecco, Your Personal Business Trainer