Search engine optimisation (SEO) does not have to be an impossible job.
Work with an SEO agency and you can optimise your site, improve your rankings and grow your traffic without losing the hours that managing SEO in-house takes.
It is worth considering an SEO agency to make the process simpler.
Not sure where to start, or looking for a reliable SEO agency to handle your business's online challenges?
We can help you work out the right next steps for your business.
SEO is like planting a tree.
The best time to start was a long time ago. The second best time is now.
Finding the right SEO strategy can take a lot of time, which is why handing the job to a professional SEO agency can speed things up and take the time-consuming work off your plate.
A qualified SEO agency can make a real difference to your online presence.
What is an SEO agency?
An SEO agency is a provider of search engine optimisation services. SEO agencies help businesses improve their visibility online by optimising their websites for search engines, for example through keyword research, content creation, backlink building and more.
If you are new to SEO, these resources explain the role an SEO company can play in your business:
What does an SEO agency do?
An SEO agency helps businesses develop, implement and manage SEO strategies that improve their visibility in organic search results.
With more visibility, a business can win more rankings, traffic and sales from organic search.
Choosing the right SEO agency has a direct effect on whether you reach your business goals.
What services do SEO agencies offer?
SEO agencies offer a wide range of services, which can be grouped in several ways, for example by:
- Market, such as local SEO services for bricks-and-mortar businesses.
- Scope, such as link building services, which focus on growing a backlink profile.
- Duration, such as SEO consultancy, to solve a specific problem or run a one-off project.
- Industry, such as SEO for manufacturers, to support production companies.
- Size, such as enterprise SEO services for larger brands and more complex sites.
Some examples of general SEO services:
- International SEO services
- Ecommerce SEO services
- SEO and web design services.
And some of the more specialised services SEO companies provide:
- Backlink acquisition
- Keyword research
- Content creation
- SEO audits
- Page speed optimisation.
If you are looking to outsource SEO, there is probably an agency that offers what you need, and knowing what each one offers helps when you compare SEO agencies.
Why hire an SEO agency?
- Time: working with an SEO agency saves a lot of time. From updating title tags to managing link acquisition, your agency takes on the time-consuming tasks that would otherwise fill your day.
- Expertise: you also get the benefit of SEO specialists. You do not need to know everything about SEO yourself, because you have access to broad and specialist skills, such as technical SEO services. You can rely on their experience to improve your search engine optimisation work.
- Tools: SEO agencies also bring SEO tools and marketing platforms. Some in-house SEO teams can pay for these, but most do not have the budget. With an agency, you get access to the best SEO tools.
- Competition: businesses in competitive markets hire SEO help too. With a team of SEO experts they can build a stronger strategy and put it into practice faster, which helps them keep pace with (and ideally overtake) competitors.
- Cost: hiring a good SEO agency is usually cheaper than keeping an in-house SEO team. That said, the cost of an SEO agency compared with an in-house team depends on your needs, from the size of your site to the scope of your strategy.
When should you consider changing SEO agency?
Change SEO agency before the lack of results becomes obvious (missed deadlines and poor performance, for example).
Ask for a review, or look at another SEO agency, when:
- Your SEO goals have not been met and are well off the agreed target
- Deliverables keep arriving late.
When you see or expect problems with timing, results or skills, consider bringing in a different SEO agency.
How to choose an SEO agency
Here is how to choose an SEO agency now (or later) in five steps:
1) Outline your requirements
First, write down what you need from an SEO agency, for example:
- Budget: how much can you spend on an agency?
- Services: which SEO services do you think you need?
- Location: do you want a local agency, an international one or something in between?
- Goals: what do you want SEO to achieve?
- Access: how much access will the agency have to your site to make SEO changes?
- Experience: how much experience do you need, and does it have to be in your industry?
Knowing your needs saves time in the search. If you know your budget, for instance, you can rule out agencies based on their published prices (although few SEO agencies publish them).
2) Build a list of agencies
Next, put together a list of the SEO providers worth considering.
There are several ways to do this, including:
- Asking your network for referrals
- Browsing sites such as G2 and Trustpilot
- Searching online listings, such as Google Maps, to find local firms
- From there you get a first list, which you can then narrow down against the requirements above.
3) Research your candidates' background, awards and more
With your shortlist, you can look more closely at each company's background, such as:
- Reviews
- Awards
- SEO case studies
When reading reviews and case studies, pay attention to:
- How the agency measures its performance and its clients' results
- What clients mention most often as pros and cons
- How long the agency and the client have worked together
This tells you how working with the agency goes in practice and whether it is the right fit for you.
For more tips, read what to look for in an SEO agency.
4. Interview your top SEO agencies
Then move on to interviewing your top SEO agencies.
This is the chance for you and the agency to interview each other and see whether you are a good fit. Agencies usually ask a few preliminary questions, such as your budget, before setting up a more detailed meeting.
As you prepare to meet a potential agency, draw up a few questions to ask SEO agencies, such as:
- How do you measure performance?
- How do you adapt when a campaign is not working?
- Is any of the work outsourced? To whom?
- How do you handle working with a client's competitors?
- How and how often do you report on campaign progress and results?
- How much time will you need from me and my team?
Talk to your internal team and stakeholders beforehand to come up with more questions. The more you ask, the better you will understand whether this SEO company suits your business in the short and long term.
If you are new to SEO, you could take one of the best SEO courses first, so you go into the conversation better informed.
5. Choose your SEO agency
Once your research is done, you can choose your SEO agency.
Before signing with a provider, though, watch out for these red flags, which can cause problems later:
- It refuses to share prices and/or results
- It gives vague answers to your questions
- It promotes black-hat SEO tactics, such as buying links
If you are unsure about an agency, start the search again. A poor SEO agency can have lasting effects on your site and your business, the worst being removal from a search engine's index. A reliable SEO agency will always put ethical practices first.
Get everything an SEO agency offers in one place
From keyword research to link acquisition and page speed optimisation, we can give your business a complete SEO service. Visilay brings more than 10 years of search engine optimisation experience to your project.
Ask for a free quote or a website check-up.
