Avoiding the Hype in Choosing an SEO Company

One of the most important decisions you will make for your business is choosing an Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company. Wading through the large lists of potential providers can be overwhelming. It’s important to know what you’re looking for before you settle on any one provider.

Unfortunately, the Internet is loaded with companies guaranteeing you top placement if you just pick them as your optimization provider. They might as well promise you the moon and the stars! Any time someone offers guaranteed placement, it’s time to run away. That kind of result simply can’t be guaranteed; except for the “black hat� methods … in other words geeky tricks. They may work for just long enough for a check to be cashed, but soon your site might be blacklisted by Google.

First, be absolutely sure the company you select uses ethical optimization techniques. Many of the companies that make guarantees do nothing more than implement a series of techniques that will net you fast results that don’t last. So they really aren’t results at all.

The first step in avoiding a bad SEO deal is knowing what tools they use. There are plenty of warning signs to look for in avoiding getting ripped off:

* Companies who only optimize Meta tags
* Companies who guarantee rankings without examining your website or data.
* Companies who use nonsense text, or keyword-stuffed text.
* Companies who focus on extremely specific keywords, which may be easy to rank for but never searched, and also ignoring the most appropriate terms used by those searchers actually looking for your products and services.
* Companies who use software to ’skim’ content

Next, it is important to consider the quality of work your potential SEO Company provides. Find companies that can show you work. Results! Ask for references, review other sites they have performed worked on – in short, make them prove their capabilities.

Reputable companies will ask you to sign a contract – but so will unethical companies. The difference is in what comes before the contract. Most reputable companies will take a good look at your site and data, give you access to their previous customers and will, in many cases, offer you a free consultation on how your site can be improved. Unethical SEO companies will rush into work without bothering to understand your site or your products. They’ll rely on software to tell them your top keywords, which may or may not be the ones you should focus on. They’ll sell you on placement for incredibly specific terms, and ignore the real goals of your business.

You should also look at the pricing of search engine optimization consultants. The prices do vary, and should be looked at as a reflection of the quality of work. Cheap or “inexpensive� SEO companies simply can’t provide the quality of work you need. If you have decided to hire an SEO company, be prepared to invest in them – quality SEO work means having skilled professionals working on your account. It also means utilizing copywriters and detail oriented account managers who can make each part of your site work at full potential.

The best way to avoid getting ripped off when choosing an SEO company is to do your research and go with live results, confirmed by existing / renewing client interviews. After all, you are placing your business in the hands of someone else and it should be someone you trust implicitly.

For a no-obligation consultation on your site, contact us today!