{"id":13265,"date":"2017-11-03T19:04:31","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T19:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/?p=13265"},"modified":"2025-03-26T10:12:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T14:12:52","slug":"good-seo-agency-wont-implement-keyword-suggestions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/blog\/good-seo-agency-wont-implement-keyword-suggestions\/","title":{"rendered":"Why A Good SEO Agency Won’t Implement Your Keyword Suggestions"},"content":{"rendered":"

That\u2019s a provocative title, isn\u2019t it? <\/span><\/p>\n

It blatantly implies a few things. <\/span><\/p>\n

First, that you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing with your keyword suggestions and, second, that a <\/span>good SEO agency<\/span><\/a> does. <\/span><\/p>\n

While that might sound like a harsh statement, here\u2019s another truth to follow it up: if you hire an SEO agency that knows less than you do about keywords, you\u2019ve hired the wrong agency. <\/span><\/p>\n

After all, you don\u2019t want an SEO agency that knows less than you, right? That would defeat the purpose of hiring the experts to run your <\/span>SEO<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now, you\u2019re already familiar with the effects that a <\/span>successful SEO strategy<\/span><\/a> can have on a website. <\/span><\/p>\n

Just take <\/span>Moz<\/span><\/a>, for example. 25% of their traffic comes through search engines<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(<\/span>Image Source<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

And a lot of that traffic depends on targeting the correct keyword phrases. <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s one more thing that the title of this article implies. It implies that a good SEO agency won\u2019t implement your keyword suggestions. <\/span><\/p>\n

But isn\u2019t that ignorant of your keyword knowledge and SEO experience? <\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps. <\/span><\/p>\n

More than likely, though, you hired the SEO agency for one of two reasons. Either you don\u2019t have the expertise to run your own SEO, or you don\u2019t have the time. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the first situation, the SEO agency obviously should trample over any of your suggestions because\u2026 well, they\u2019re just better at SEO. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the second situation, you might know a lot about SEO, but you don\u2019t have the time to do it yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

Which means you don\u2019t have time to do extensive research in your niche, come up with a strategy for driving leads to your website, or spend the necessary time thinking through which keyword phrases are best for your business to target. <\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, the SEO agency is still more qualified because they have time to dedicate to the process. <\/span><\/p>\n

Believe it or not, you want to work with the agencies that don\u2019t just agree with your suggestions.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, here are three ways that a great SEO agency will ignore your suggestions and how their insolence will benefit your business.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. They care about revenue, not vanity metrics <\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy for business people to get caught up in vanity metrics. <\/span><\/p>\n

I do it. You do it. Every marketer does it. <\/span><\/p>\n

We concern ourselves with traffic, <\/span>rankings<\/span><\/a>, and time-on-page too much, and <\/span>lead generation<\/span><\/a>, conversion rate, and lifetime customer value too little. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example of vanity metrics we all get caught up in from time to time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(<\/span>Image Source<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though we often fall victim to focusing on these metrics, we also know something important about them deeper down: they\u2019re worthless. <\/span><\/p>\n

We might pretend that these metrics represent a successful <\/span>SEO strategy<\/span><\/a> \u2014 and maybe they do \u2014 but we can\u2019t know for sure. <\/span><\/p>\n

You know who doesn\u2019t think about vanity metrics?<\/span><\/p>\n

A great SEO agency. <\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, if your SEO agency is reporting back to you with traffic numbers, ranking info, and bounce rate<\/a>, ditch them. They are faking you out. <\/span><\/p>\n

A good SEO agency will focus on how they\u2019re impacting your revenue, the way their strategy is bringing in leads, and even how they\u2019ve raised your conversion rate. <\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, the SEO agency you want to work with will ask you loads of questions about your business goals and create a strategy that focuses on bringing you the results you\u2019re looking for. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then, they focus on <\/span>marketing<\/span><\/a> metrics like these.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(<\/span>Image Source<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch out for the SEO agencies that are too agreeable. You say, \u201cI\u2019m thinking about targeting \u2018<\/span>content marketing<\/span><\/a>\u2019 as a keyword phrase,\u201d and they say, \u201cThat sounds great!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You want an SEO agency with smart individuals who have a mind of their own and focus on the metrics that will actually impact your business. <\/span><\/p>\n

Things like revenue and cost per lead and lifetime customer value. They should have a process for proving to you (or, at least, presenting strong evidence) that their strategy is making a difference in your business\u2019s success. <\/span><\/p>\n

If they start showing you ranking data and <\/span>domain authority<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>traffic generation<\/span><\/a>, find a new SEO agency. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. They know that not all keyword phrases are created equal<\/b><\/h2>\n

This represents the heart of the problem with your <\/span>keyword suggestions<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

If an SEO agency actually wants to help your business \u2014 as opposed to just <\/span>seeming <\/span><\/i>like they\u2019re helping your business \u2014\u00a0then they will want to target the best keyword phrases for your business. <\/span><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s an important caveat. They shouldn\u2019t target the best keyword phrases for your industry or the best for your city. They should target the best for your <\/span>business<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why?<\/span><\/p>\n

Because every business’s goals, size, and position vary. So too should the keywords they target.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are factors that these companies will take into account when choosing keywords if they actually know what they\u2019re doing. <\/span><\/p>\n