5 Key Questions to ask your Potential SEO/SEM Provider!
So I figured I would write this quickly for those of you who have made the decision to outsource either Organic Ranking Services or any Search Engine Marketing Service. There is no shortage of Search Engine Marketing Companies to choose from, although there are certainly shortages of good ones.
Here is what I consider the top 5 questions you must as any of your providing candidates.
Can you show me prior results?
The real point of this question is obviously to figure out if this company has had favorable results.
1. Make sure that the keyword phrases and results given are actually current and not results that were true 3 years ago. Do your own search to see if what they say is in fact “true”.
2. Are the results using key phrases that are “easy” to gain top rankings for? Using a best of breed tool such as Nichebot would help you to measure the approximate number of searchers per month and total results for the chosen keyword.Do you work with any other company in my sector / Industry?
Think about this question for a second….
If a Search Engine Marketing company has two customers in the same industry or two+ customers selling the same products or services. Which one of these companies would get shafted??? Which one of these companies would get the better ranking??
If you ask me, you should run if the answer to this question is yes.
This by the way is why we are NO longer in this business.
How can I consciously provide the best service knowing that I am shafting one of my customers?Can you guarantee me top position in Google?
This is The Million dollar question?
Why would you even ask this?
Do these guys have any control of Google Results?
The answer to this should always be a resounding NO.
Any other answers then NO and you should RUN.Can you give me references?
There is NO reason why they should not be able to provide you with these references barring a contract with them. Although in order to keep references in good standing the SEM Company would be hesitant to just give out references for everyone. You should be able to talk to these references at will.
What is your process for gaining top rankings?
The very first thing these companies should do is get to know your business, secondly collaboratively create a list of keywords that fit your business. In other words, if any of these providers tell you that they know your business better then you do, they are sadly mistaken and YOU should run away.
I hope this helped in your quest for a solid company to help with your Search Engine Marketing Initiatives. It is certainly a decision that you should not take lightly.
Good article - and worth reading, but when you say “If a Search Engine Marketing company has two customers in the same industry or two+ customers selling the same products or services.” I think you’re over simplifying things. We work with loads of recruitment companies, but when you get under the skin of the SEO we manage, it’s really easy to differentiate. The truth in the important point you’re making is only if they’re competing on the same search keyword phrase. That happens quite rarely in my experience of recruitment companies, and if it does happen, we’d generally advise that honesty is the best policy.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 pmHi Dave,
It is nice to here that there are some decent companies out there that are honest with their clientele.
I can certainly see a differentiation in regards to local market long tail key phrases, maybe recruitment companies that are geared towards sales, IT or niche verticals, but at the end of the day you are going after the same generic keywords.
Good luck and good SEOing.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm