Reading Time: 3 minutesSearch engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most important aspects of doing business today. As such, it deserves attention from experienced SEO professionals. Trusting your brainchild with just any SEO consultant can be a big mistake. You worked hard to create your brand – don’t let a rookie or inexperienced mid-level consultant make poor decisions. Your consultant should build your progress, not obstruct it. Learn how to tell expert professional SEO consultants apart from the novices, for the benefit of your business.
Why Hire Professional SEO Consultants?
If you’re a new startup or modest small business, it can be tempting to hire cheaper, less experienced SEO consultants. If this is all that your budget allows, it’s still better than no SEO professional at all. Many people start with freelancers and work their way up to actual SEO agencies. Yet spending the extra money on a trusted professional to begin with can shorten your timeline to success. This practice can eliminate the risk of a clumsy SEO rookie harming your brand rather than helping it and get you started on the right foot.
Googling SEO best practices will only get you so far. You need a specialist to take your efforts to the next level and compete with top brands in your industry. Finding the right SEO agency to help is an extremely valuable asset to your company. Hiring a professional right from the beginning can save you time and allow you to focus on aspects of business you prefer, such as your product or customers. If you don’t like or understand SEO work, your time is better spent handling other matters. Let a team of experienced professionals do the legwork.
Going with a professional over a rookie will drive more optimal returns. If you’re sick of your webpage not ranking on the first page of Google web results, you need an SEO professional. A real SEO site audit can reveal invaluable information about where your site needs improvement. Working with qualified consultants will fix these holes and correct technical issues in a flash. If you’re a business owner who likes to do things right the first time around, go with an established, reputable senior SEO professional.
What Sets a Senior SEO Professional Apart from a Rookie?
Distinguishing established SEO professionals from the rookies isn’t hard if you know what to look for. There are advantages you’ll notice professional SEO consultants possess that rookie and mid-level consultants lack. In one conversation with a professional agency, you’ll recognize the factors that make it a notch above its peers. Here are three signs that the consultant you’re working with is an A-level professional:
- History of success. Browse the consultant’s website for SEO case studies, testimonials, reviews, and success stories. Look for a portfolio that can give you an idea of what the agent has achieved. Don’t just take the consultant’s word for it that he or she has gotten real results – ask for proof. Senior professionals won’t have a problem fulfilling this request.
- Variety of services. A rookie or mid-level consultant may not have the training or experience to handle a wide range of services. Instead, he or she may specialize in just one facet of search engine optimization. Look instead for professional SEO consultants who have the ability to take on any issue your site may encounter. The service list should have more than one or two options.
- Honest and open communication. Established and successful SEO consultants won’t need to hide behind smoke or curtains. They will give you the information you request up front, and be completely transparent about how they will handle your project. If you can’t get a straight answer out of your consultant, chances are he or she is a rookie – or worse, a scam.
There are plenty of other factors that make up a good SEO consultant. Ultimately, go with your gut. Contact the consultant or agency and see how your initial conversation makes you feel. Determine whether you’re on the same page as the company and if your goals are aligned. You may be working with the SEO consulting firm you choose for months, so you want to feel good about the decision you make.
Find the Right SEO Consulting Service for You
Not all SEO consulting services are created equal. There are distinctions not only between professionals and mid-level specialists but also among the other elements at an agency as well. Finding the perfect fit for your brand takes a bit of research. Find a few different SEO consulting services that offer what you’re looking for. This might be simple search engine optimization or more in-depth services like digital marketing and link building.
Browse each company’s website, read testimonials, and look at past projects. After reading about a consultant enough or speaking with him or her over the phone, you should have an idea of whether you’ll mesh well together. A solid, highly regarded SEO professional will come across as such from the first time you speak.
At Vizion Interactive, we have the expertise, experience, and enthusiasm to get results and keep clients happy! Learn more about how our SEO Audits, Local Listing Management, Website Redesign Consulting, and B2B digital marketing services can increase sales and boost your ROI. But don’t just take our word for it, check out what our clients have to say, along with our case studies.
