Promoting your company’s brand presence on a consistent basis is crucial for any small business that wants to expand and stay competitive.
Most people aren’t well-versed in search engine optimization (SEO), or the process of raising your brand’s key search phrases to a higher ranking on Google and other major search engines.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) may appear straightforward, but in reality it is a complex, time-consuming process that is always changing.
As a result, many companies prefer to outsource SEO to a professional or digital agency, making the owners’ lives easier so they can concentrate on growing their company.
In this article, you can learn more about what to look for in a reliable business to hire and why it’s so important.
1. SEO experience
The length of time SEO companies in South Africa have been in business is usually indicative of their level of expertise.
Of course, we are not denying that there are many excellent newer agencies available; but it may be to your advantage to choose a supplier that has been operating for at least 10 years and has served hundreds of clients in a wide range of industries.
2. An established client base
A good indicator of whether or not SEO companies in South Africa are worth engaging is to request case studies from multiple clients they have worked with for at least a year.
Great SEO firms will have retained a sizable portion of their original clientele, showing that they delivered tangible value to their customers.
Many businesses are ready to share case studies showcasing their stellar success and relevant knowledge.
3.Effective ranking results
When contacting an SEO firm, the primary objective of most organisations is usually to improve their search engine rankings to the highest potential level.
Therefore, it is crucial when selecting a supplier that they show they have achieved exceptional ranks for various high volume or high competition keywords across a variety of business sectors.
4. A company that creates quality links
The process of acquiring numerous, high-quality, organic connections to your business’ website from other, relevant websites is known as link building and is an essential part of search engine optimization.
Different SEO firms will approach link development in different ways; some may employ guest posting and PR, while others may just submit your site to a large number of regional directories.
Inquire about the quality of links the SEO provider has acquired in the past. Furthermore, if justifications are offered to avoid discussing this issue, you should note this as a red flag. The impressive link profile of any credible SEO specialist is something to be proud of and they will want to showcase this.
5. A company that offers realistic goals
SEO consultants promising first-place results in a short amount of time should be avoided at all costs. In reality, no search engine optimization (SEO) or digital marketing firm can provide a 100% guarantee for first-page results on Google because the search engine giant is constantly updating its algorithm.
Instead, you should look for SEO companies that can give you accurate, individualised projections based on the specific challenges in your industry.
Also Read: 4 Digital trends that can be game-changers for SA SMEs
