According to WordPress plugin provider MonsterInsights, 53% of all website traffic comes from organic searches. You can improve your organic rankings with search engine optimization (SEO). Higher rankings can help you reach new customers, leading to more sales and a better ROI.
Unfortunately, it can take time to develop an effective SEO strategy. Instead of doing it alone, partner with local SEO experts.
Not sure how to find the best local SEO company for your business? Use this guide to find affordable SEO solutions today!
Gather a List of Top SEO Agencies
There are over 184,700 SEO and internet marketing consulting businesses in the US, according to data analytics company IBIS World. The industry grew by 16.4% per year between 2018 and 2023. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a newer, less experienced business.
Instead, streamline your search by gathering referrals from other business owners in your professional network. Learn more about their time working with local SEO experts to find a qualified, experienced team. Prepare a list of questions to ask ahead of time, such as:
- Are the SEO specialists experienced?
- What SEO services do they provide?
- What other services do they offer?
- Do they develop personalized strategies?
- Do they track SEO trends?
- Did you have any issues working with them?
- How were those problems resolved?
Ask questions about the team’s responsiveness and accountability. For example, did they provide the client with regular updates? Determine if the client had any problems reaching their SEO specialist.
Finding a responsible, responsive team will give you peace of mind. You can feel confident in their ability to help you accomplish specific marketing goals.
Requesting referrals can help you determine which companies to prioritize and avoid. If you can’t gather professional referrals, look for client reviews online. Check each SEO company’s Better Business Bureau and Google Business listing.
Avoid companies that don’t have their Google Business listings filled out. These companies don’t prioritize their own local SEO marketing strategies.
Read client reviews to find a reputable marketing company. Check for comments about their services, responsiveness, and professionalism to find a reliable team.
Prioritize Local SEO Experts
After building a list of the top SEO agencies available, consider how long each company has offered services. Find a long-running business that has outlasted competitors. You can rely on these companies to continue optimizing your SEO marketing strategy.
Determine how many other clients each SEO company has helped. Ask if they’ve helped other businesses within your industry.
These companies will have a deeper understanding of your industry, audience, and business. They’ll have an easier time leveraging their prior experience to help you develop an effective SEO marketing strategy.
If they have worked with businesses in your niche, ask if they can provide case studies. Determine what key performance indicators they track. For example:
- Unique website visitors
- Backlinks
- Dwell times
- Clickthrough rates
- Rankings
The company should track how a client’s organic rankings for specific keywords improved over time. A company that tracks KPIs will recognize which strategies are effective. They can use the data from their previous campaigns to make informed decisions while developing your SEO marketing strategy.
Look for Top SEO Services Near Me
Confirm that each company has extensive experience with all four types of SEO, including:
- On-page
- Off-page
- Local
- Technical
You’re more likely to accomplish your business goals after developing a comprehensive SEO strategy. Measure each team’s level of expertise by asking about all four types.
On-page SEO involves optimizing your website content using targeted keywords. Off-page SEO involves generating backlinks. Market insights company TechJury says about 60% of marketers outsource their backlinks to SEO service providers.
These links appear on other websites and direct readers to your content. Generating backlinks can boost your domain authority, rankings, and credibility. They also help you generate referral traffic.
Local SEO allows you to direct nearby consumers to your business. These strategies involve optimizing your Google Business listing, generating reviews, and targeting location-specific keywords.
Technical SEO focuses on the backend of your website. Providing visitors with a positive user experience can boost your organic rankings. An SEO company may recommend following Google’s Core Web Vitals, mobile optimization, and improving page load times.
If the company doesn’t have in-depth knowledge of all four types of SEO, continue your search. They may struggle to improve your rankings.
Otherwise, determine if they have any training or certifications that speak to their level of expertise. Finding a qualified and experienced team can help you develop a more effective small business SEO strategy.
Determine what other services each company provides. These may include:
- Content creation
- Backlink building
- Guest blogging
- Reputation management
- Website design and development
A well-designed website will function as the backbone of your SEO marketing strategy. Determine if the company follows Google’s Core Web Vitals. These website development best practices can improve your organic rankings.
Discuss Small Business SEO Processes
Learn more about each company’s processes. Confirm that they follow small business SEO best practices that will improve your rankings.
For example, the company should start by researching your business, industry, and target audience. This will ensure they create an SEO marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals. They should choose target keywords that your consumers already search during online searches.
If the company provides content creation services, they should personalize your blog content based on your target audience. About 98% of marketers claim personalization advances customer relationships. It can also boost your marketing ROI by five to eight times.
Personalizing your blog content will show consumers that you care about their needs and interests. Consumers will start to trust your brand, which can lead to more sales and loyal customers. Gaining loyal customers can improve your brand’s credibility and ROI.
The best local SEO experts use professional tools before developing an SEO marketing strategy. To gather keyword research, they may use:
- Keyword Planner
- SEMRush
- Ahrefs
- Answer the Public
- Google Trends
Ask the SEO company how they select keywords before creating your content. They should focus on keywords with high search volume and low competition. You’re more likely to rank for these keywords, allowing you to reach more customers.
They should also focus on long-tail keywords, which feature four or more words. These keywords will allow you to understand the search engine user’s intent.
Once you recognize their intent, you can create personalized content that meets the reader’s needs and expectations. Content that aligns with the user’s search intent is more likely to rank at the top of search engine result pages.
If the SEO company doesn’t consider search intent and personalization, continue your search. They likely won’t create content that will help you appeal to your ideal customers.
Ask About SEO Marketing Trends
The top SEO agencies keep track of current SEO trends and algorithm updates. Tracking the latest trends can help you rank ahead of competing brands.
Ask your local SEO experts about current trends. They may mention:
- User experience design trends
- Google’s Core Web Vitals
- Mobile-first indexing
- Search intent
- Zero-click searches and featured snippets
- Voice search
- Video search
- Experience, expertise, authority, trustworthiness (EEAT)
- Topical authority
- Updating content
- Brand signals
- Author entities
EEAT and author entities can help prove you’re a credible resource within your niche. This will encourage consumers to trust your brand. Remember, establishing brand trust can help you gain loyal, long-time customers.
Ask each company how they intend to appeal to these trends. They may mention improving the backend of your website to adhere to Google’s Core Web Vitals. To appeal to your target audience, they may suggest improving your content marketing strategy with thought leadership pieces.
If the company doesn’t track these trends, continue your search. They won’t help you adapt your SEO strategy over time. Your rankings won’t improve, leaving you to fall behind competitors.
Compare Affordable SEO Solutions
Ask each company for an itemized list of their small business SEO marketing services. Compare prices between at least three companies. If one company charges much higher prices than the others, determine why.
Request a copy of each company’s contract. Confirm there aren’t any hidden fees.
Ask the company if they offer a guarantee. These companies will adapt their services to ensure your company’s success.
Determine if the company will customize its services based on your goals. The best local SEO company will develop a strategy that ensures your brand’s sustainable growth. If they don’t take the time to understand your goals, they could waste your time and money on ineffective strategies.
Don’t rush to choose the cheapest SEO agency you find. Instead, review your notes. Choose a company that’s most likely to help you accomplish your goals long-term.
Hire the Best Local SEO Company Today
Don’t rush to choose between the top SEO agencies. Instead, use these tips to find the best local SEO company with your business goals in mind. Applying these tips will ensure you find affordable SEO solutions that ensure your company’s growth.
Ready to amplify your online presence? At 154i, we use multi-channel marketing strategies to help clients maximize their budgets.
Trust our creative approach and personalized strategies to maximize your search visibility. Request a free quote today to experience sustainable growth!