Digital marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow your business in today’s online world. SEO – or search engine optimization – is one of the main pillars of digital marketing. When done right, SEO can lead to a spike in website traffic and business leads.
Unfortunately, not every business owner or marketing manager has the time, energy or know-how to execute an effective SEO strategy. If you’re reading this article, chances are that you fall into this camp.
Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable agencies out there that specialize in helping businesses like yours grow through the power of search engines. In this blog post, we’ll go over some pros and cons of hiring an SEO agency for your company.
What is an SEO Agency?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is the process of increasing the amount of people who click on your website’s organic search results by improving your website’s ranking in search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Businesses hire SEO agencies to help execute their digital marketing strategy and to improve their organic search results. SEO agencies often also provide other digital marketing services like PPC (pay per click), content marketing, email marketing, and more. There are three main types of SEO agencies:
Full-service agencies – These agencies will handle every aspect of your SEO, including consulting on your site’s architecture, writing content, managing your social media accounts, and more.
Specialized SEO agencies – These agencies have a niche, like health and wellness SEO, or ecommerce SEO. They will handle everything from keyword research to link building.
SEO freelancers – These are independent contractors who work remotely and are hired on a project-by-project basis.
Things to consider before hiring an SEO agency
There are a few things to keep in mind before hiring an SEO agency. First, make sure you’re hiring an agency that’s aligned with your business goals. When you’re interviewing agencies, ask questions that reveal how knowledgeable they are about your industry and what challenges your customers face every day. Another thing to keep in mind is the cost of hiring an SEO agency.
SEO services can be priced anywhere from $500 to $25,000 per month – and there’s no way of knowing which end of the spectrum your agency will fall into until you get a quote from them. Before you sign any contracts, make sure you understand what you’re getting for your money. Look for agencies that offer a free consultation, so that you can have a conversation about your needs and see if you’re a good fit for one another.
Pros of Hiring an SEO Agency
Expertise – Hiring an SEO agency allows you to focus on your core business functions while they handle your SEO. This frees up your time so that you can focus on building your business and growing your customer base.
Consistency – The goal of all digital marketing campaigns is to increase the amount of people finding your website and converting you into paying customers. The best way to achieve this goal is to have a consistent message and be found on the same pages as your competitors. Not every business owner has the time to write blog posts, create podcasts, and do link building. An SEO agency can take care of all of these activities.
Resources – Success in SEO requires a ton of research, creativity and skill. Hiring an SEO agency frees up your in-house resources so that they can focus on other aspects of your business.
Cons of Hiring an SEO Agency
Need for trust – There’s no denying that SEO can be an extremely effective marketing tool. The problem is that the rules that govern SEO change all the time. This means that a strategy that works really well in one month could stop working in the next month. That’s why it’s important to partner with an SEO agency that you trust. You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re paying thousands of dollars for services that are no longer effective.
Lack of control – When you hire an SEO agency, you’re giving up a certain amount of control. After all, you’re outsourcing a core function of your business. When you work with an SEO agency, make sure that you have a say in the services they provide and ensure that they’re consistent with your brand.
Final Words: Should You Hire an SEO Agency?
Yes, you should. The best way to get started is to interview a few agencies and choose the one that best aligns with your business goals. Make sure you ask questions about their previous experiences and the services that they provide. You’ll be glad that you hired an SEO agency once you start seeing results.
When it comes to digital marketing, SEO is one of the most important and effective ways to grow your business. But, not every business owner has the time, energy, or know-how to execute a proper SEO strategy. In this case, hiring an SEO agency is a wise decision. Before hiring an SEO agency, be sure to understand what they offer, how they charge their clients, and what you can expect from them.