Who should I hire: an SEO agency or an SEO consultant?

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You probably stumbled upon this article with one single goal in mind: to get your website on the top of the search engine rankings. The answer that you are looking for lies in hiring the best SEO agency or consultant that is beneficial to you and your business. But there is a catch. Finding the right person or company can be tricky and challenging. So that you succeed in finding the ideal SEO consultant or agency, here are some of the things that you should do as well as the things that you should avoid:

What to DO

1.) Determine the ideal pricing framework

Normally, SEO campaigns will follow a retainer-based fee or a one-time flat fee. When we talk about a retainer campaign, it means hiring someone who will help you in your SEO objectives for a certain number of hours for every month. The consultant or agency will provide you with some sort of map or blueprint that will pinpoint the key areas that they will work on. They will follow that map and will provide you with a detailed report on their progress. In this case, a retainer-based fee is standard.

When it comes to flat-fee campaigns, the consultant or agency will determine the best possible solutions to enhance your website’s inherent design and structure and will conduct a technical audit to spot the presence of duplicate content or broken links. All in all, it involves a complete evaluation of your website and identifying the things that require improvement. If you wish to enjoy long-term results, a retainer fee is an ideal solution.

2.) Identify your Budget

Different SEO agencies and consultants come in different price ranges but if you want to experience optimum results, you will normally get it from the expensive ones. So you won’t go overboard with your expenses, find out what your budget is and stick to it. Once you have determined your budget, look for a consultant or agency whose asking price hovers in line with your budget. Be sure to choose the one that will offer you with the most extensive service and not the one that offers the cheapest price tag. Going for the cheapest rate may do more harm to your website than good.

3.) Request for a plan and references

If you find a potential SEO consultant or agency, never hesitate to ask for references and a portfolio. Also, tell them immediately what their plan is to help your site reach the pinnacle of the search engine rankings so you will know exactly if they know what they are doing or not.

What to Avoid

1.) Avoid being a cheapskate.

As it would normally be for any product or service, the higher the price, the better the quality. While it would not be wise to break the bank on a consultant or agency, going for a cheap one would be the same. Being a cheapskate will certainly save a dollar or two in the short-run, but in the long run, you may end up incurring only losses and not a single return. As a good rule of thumb, always choose the agency or consultant that will give you the most bang for your buck.

2.)Avoid Putting Unrealistic Expectations

Success requires time and patience, and for an SEO campaign to succeed, it will take a process that can sometimes be long and arduous. Don’t become frustrated just because you’re not getting the number of visitors or traffic after a few weeks. The most important thing to remember is to set achievable goals and work tirelessly on fulfilling them together with your consultant or agency.

If you are searching for the ideal SEO agency for you, we can help you out. We can provide you with examples of our past success and testimonials from satisfied clients. Get in touch for more information.