We cannot undermine the importance of search engine optimization or SEO in a site’s growth and increase in popularity. The pandemic has also encouraged more customers to find what they need online since there are still restrictions on travel and going out. Moreover, online search and shopping offer convenience since it allows people to do things on their computer or mobile device.
These users use search engines like Google to find what they are looking for. The websites that match the search will be listed, and optimized sites will be on the first page of the search result. Every site owner’s goal is to be on top or the first page of the said result. It’s because users often access these results first. The probability of being accessed gets lower for the sites on the next pages or those with lower rankings.
The best SEO companies in Chicago will help your site to reach the top of the list. However, not all SEO companies are the same. There are legitimate, hardworking ones that dedicate themselves to producing a result for their clients. But there are also lazy SEO companies that do not deliver what they promise.
If you already have an SEO agency working with you, some signs would tell you that you hired the right one for your business. Be on the lookout for these signs, so as not to waste your time and money in dealing with the wrong agency. We listed information below that will guide you in determining if you made the right decision.
They communicate with you
Communication is the key to any relationship, and this includes the relationship between you and your SEO agency. The agency should talk closely to you to get to know about your business and what you offer. It will give them a better understanding of your company, which is vital in creating their strategy.
They would learn your target audience and what your expectations are. It must be a partnership between you as you will be working together to achieve your common goal. If this is the kind of relationship that you have with your agency, then it’s a good sign that you are with the right one.
Be realistic with your expectations too. They will work diligently to achieve the result you are after, but it’s a process, and it takes time. There is no magic trick that will give everything that you want in an instant. It usually takes four months to one year to see results.
Be patient, but still keep an eye on your agency to ensure they are doing their job. Again, it’s necessary to have constant communication. Have a monthly meeting with them to catch up on things and see where things are at.
They are transparent
As a site owner, it’s natural that you would want to know what’s going on with their work and what they are doing to get the result you aim for. If they cannot show you something or refuse to share details saying it’s confidential, it could be a red flag.
You have the right to know the specific strategies they do to improve your SEO since you pay them to do that. By having this information, you will tell if they are doing something and if they are doing it right.
Learn some basic SEO knowledge too so that it will be easier for you to follow, and also have an idea if they are going in the right direction. They should be able to explain what’s unclear for you and answer your queries.
They make recommendations
If your SEO agency recommends various methods to make the process more successful, it’s another good sign that you are in good hands. It means that they care and they give thoughts to achieving your goal. They do not just do what is expected from them, but they go the extra mile to help you better.
Some of these recommendations may mean additional cost, but if they are promising and they have the facts to back them up, then they are worth considering. Then again, you must be careful because there are agencies who might do this to earn more when it is not needed.
You are ranking with the right keywords
Your site should not just be ranking, but it should be ranking with the right targeted keywords. Careless SEO agencies could just use random keywords that may not be appropriate to your site. Ranking with the wrong keywords is not helpful because you are attracting the wrong audience.
Again, it may take time for you to land on the top pages, but if you are seeing steady progress with your ranking, then this is a good sign. Ranking with the right keywords will target the right audience that is interested in what you offer.
Your website traffic increases
One of the main objectives of SEO is to increase the traffic to your website. If you are seeing this result, then it could mean that the agency you chose is the right one for you.
However, it’s not enough that you get people to access your site. It’s equally important that they find what they are looking for and they have a positive user experience. Ensure that you have excellent quality content and your site loads smoothly.
Your sales increase
An increase in your website traffic is not the sole indicator that your SEO agency is doing a good job. Even if your site traffic slightly went down, but your sales increased, it means that their strategy is still working. There might be a fewer number of users that visit your website, but these are the ones who are ready to make a purchase.
If you found these signs with your current SEO agency, it means that you found the perfect match. Continue working together with the best SEO companies in Chicago for the success of your SEO campaigns. If you’ve seen several red flags, it may be time to find one that would work side by side with you to achieve your goals and be part of your growth.