Choosing the right SEO agency
The main objective of an SEO approach is to optimize a site's visibility in search engine results, such as Google, to naturally increase traffic and conversions. Engaging a specialized agency is crucial to benefit from in-depth expertise and achieve optimal results.
In a bit more detail, here are the key steps to follow for a successful collaboration with an SEO agency:
- Start by establish clear objectives for your collaboration with an agency, including expectations in terms of traffic and conversion, agree on key performance indicators (KPIs). Don't hesitate to establish keywords (search terms used by internet users to find sites on search engines) that you want to focus on, but also be open to the agency's suggestions and advice.
- Choose an agency that offers good value for money, be wary of prices that are too low, but also of services with unnecessarily inflated prices. Ensure that costs are transparent and justified by the services provided. This transparency should also be valued in its methods, as well as in the communication of its strategies and progress. Most agencies tend to charge for their services in a price range between €500 and €2,000 ex-VAT per month (for larger agencies).
- Verify that the agency has solid technical expertise to manage aspects like site architecture, coding, and mobile compatibility, as well as other important aspects valued by Google, such as page loading time.
- Ensure that the agency you collaborate with can establish a robust content strategy that optimizes keyword usage and improves your site's overall semantics. In the same vein, be wary of agencies that do not offer support and follow-up regarding content: this is one of the core aspects of SEO; without content, there are no results.
- Working on your site's authority is important, a quality SEO agency will help you ensure that Google considers you an expert in your field through the the creation of numerous quality content pieces in this theme. To this end, it will help you establish what SEO agencies call a semantic cocoon (a strategy for organizing a site into interconnected pages around main themes and sub-themes to optimize its relevance in the eyes of search engines). Another optimization axis to strengthen your authority will be obtaining links leading to your website from quality players in your sector. These are called backlinks.
- Your partner SEO agency should also focus on improving your site's UX (user experience): the latter is essential in SEO, allowing for better user retention, and thus a better conversion rate. However, if it is neglected, it can severely impact your ranking negatively.
- Prefer an agency that uses Google Looker Studio, or other solutions that allow for present clear results for reporting to get detailed and personalized feedback on your site's performance, rather than specific tools presenting data that may be obscure.
- A successful collaboration requires regular meetings (at least once a month; some collaborations may even require bi-weekly meetings). An agency that doesn't communicate with its clients is a sign of an agency to avoid.
