5 Tips to Get the Most Out of an SEO Firm
An SEO firm might try to get as much money out of you as possible, so you should also try to get the most out of their services and discounts. Both sides should benefit from the partnership, but you can always get the upper hand.
Follow These Five Tips To Get The Biggest Advantages.
1. Lay Down All Your Expectations And Targets At The First Meeting.
What you want should be clear to the Search Engine Optimization company at the first meeting. All your plans, goals, and visions for your website should be discussed thoroughly because a firm can only work if they know what to work on. Also, you should inform them of your current knowledge in search engine optimization so that they can brief you and explain how the partnership will go on in case it pushes through.
If you are not confident about your technical know-how in this matter (which is the case for many novice bloggers aiming to turn pro), ask someone who knows a lot about SEO to help you when talking with an SEO company. It is advisable that the person who’ll help you has already dealt with other firms in the past, especially when it comes to negotiation.
2. Ask Each SEO Firm For A Proposal, Along With A Price Bid.
Asking for a proposal from every firm that you are considering for the job makes it easier for you to weigh your options and figure out the best deal you can get. This is the standard procedure for any business-to-business partnership, so every one of them should be able to comply.
The proposal you are looking for should include the services to be rendered and why and how they can help you; the conditions for rendering the services; the general marketing plan and how it can improve your business; and lastly, the total price. The proposal should clearly state that the price will not change until the end of the contract.
Furthermore, you should already be aware at this stage of the ongoing price range in the SEO industry. You cannot compare prices if you don’t know the base and the ceiling for every type of service, service package, and contract duration.
Most importantly, each firm you asked a proposal from should be aware that you are comparing different offers from several providers. That is the only way to force them to come up with the best offer they can give.
Nevertheless, you should avoid divulging the exact proposals of other firms for ethical reasons. These SEO Firms are competitors, so you don’t want to appear conspiring in favor of another.
3. Look For A Service Package That Fits Your Business Goals Perfectly.
All SEO firms have their own service packages to attract potential clients who are on a tight budget. These packages are designed for specific types of websites, niches, content, and organizational size. In choosing a package, all of the services you want and need should be available because you don’t want to hire another firm or some freelancers in the future (which does happen with a lot of websites).
Many packages are also designed according to your target market, whether they are local, national, or international. Online tools, online communities, and directories can be optimized if the firm knows the scope of your market. Many tools and directories now offer localized services, so don’t hesitate to ask for a more specific geographical coverage if that’s really what you are planning.
4. Ask For Customized Services And Packages.
A top-notch Search engine optimization company should allow its clients to create their own packages. It will be more advantageous to you if you can be granted an a la carte system in choosing your package.
For this to be efficient though, you should already have a solid business and marketing plan. Every single service you choose should have a role in achieving your long-term goals. Each service doesn’t need to be incorporated in your marketing plan, but it should have a role in the immediate future.
For instance, some search engine optimization services only work after the execution of another service. You can’t send press releases when content creation is still not finished. You also can’t move on to off-page optimization when on-page optimization is still not at its final stage.
Separate the renewable SEO services from continuous services. Renewable services are the one-time services that you might need again after a certain period. Examples of these services are site mapping and web designing.
Continuous services, on the other hand, are those that need to be constantly done to make sense in your marketing plan. Examples of these services are SEO writing and article submissions.
By separating the services that you can delay and the services that you constantly need to have, you’ll know the essential services that should be in the package. It’s preferred that all you need are there already, but you should also consider the possibility of availing certain services from another provider if you can save more money but receive better services in the process.
5. Ask For A Trial Period of One or Two of Their Services So That You Can Assess Their Professionalism And Efficiency.
Many firms now offer trial periods to outdo competitors, but you have to be persistent about it if not offered, especially if you will be signing up for a long-term partnership or renewable contract. Practical firms will be more than willing to give you a trial period or free service in exchange for a long-term business relationship.
In assessing their professionalism and efficiency, you should be particular about their delivery according to agreed quality and deadline; the way they communicate with you; and how easy it is to receive feedback and response.
