{"id":9524,"date":"2019-05-08T08:20:10","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T08:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/?p=9524"},"modified":"2025-03-26T10:04:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T14:04:21","slug":"hiring-seo-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/blog\/hiring-seo-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should In-house Marketers Look For When Hiring an SEO Agency?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring a quality search marketing agency can be one of the most essential business decisions you make. The right agency will add strategic keyword optimization strategies to your existing marketing efforts and drive your target audience to your website. Not every \u201cSEO agency\u201d can do that. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what works?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because <a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/services\/seo\/\">SEO services<\/a> are a long-term investment and vital to increasing your brand awareness, ROI and thought leadership, choosing a reputable and reliable SEO partner can be overwhelming. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help you make an informed decision, based upon the needs of your business, we\u2019ve outlined actionable insights for selecting a reliable search engine optimization company, including what you should be looking for, common pitfalls to avoid, questions to ask and the key measurable standards to expect.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Clearly Define Business Goals and Expectations <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A critical first step in your strategy should be to set specific, realistic and <strong>measurable<\/strong> search marketing goals for your company that can be achieved within a given time frame. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To avoid ambiguity, outline exactly what you\u2019re hoping to accomplish from SEO so the agency is clear on the results you\u2019re looking for. Do you want <a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/resources\/glossary\/organic-traffic\/\">organic traffic<\/a> to increase? Keyword-optimized landing pages? More backlinks to your site? Dev help? Be clear. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The right <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/services\/seo\/\">SEO<\/a> agency<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will understand your company\u2019s goals and set up a gameplan that is built to meet their audience right where they are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Below, you can see the homepage of our analytics hub, where clients can find their campaign performance and the latest insight we have to meet their needs.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16029\" src=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Screenshot-30-1024x660.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of Directive's analytics hub. \" width=\"581\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Screenshot-30-1024x660.png 1024w, https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Screenshot-30-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Screenshot-30-768x495.png 768w, https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Screenshot-30.png 1276w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimately, look for a proven agency that demonstrates long-term results and stays transparent. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does the data show? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your campaigns should be built off of what has worked and how it can be personalized for you. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This leads us to definite SOS warnings you\u2019ll want to steer clear from.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your SEO agency is not willing to work with you to set specific goals with the \u201cwhy\u201d behind their process, they may be just guessing. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that\u2019s an expensive \u201cguess\u201d that you may not want to take! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need data-driven marketing campaigns that make sense for you and the cost you\u2019re paying. Gone are the days where data isn\u2019t included. Ask your agency to show you what they\u2019ve done and how this data will make a difference for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/resources\/demand-generation-vs-lead-generation\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16025 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/05\/Directive-In-Line-Blog-CTA-Demand-Generation-Guide-Download-Updated.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Proven Results and Experience <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s true, bad SEO strategies can hurt your marketing goals. Since your website is the most important asset within your business, it\u2019s critical to choose an SEO agency that understands and will not waste your time or money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A proven track record for delivering results is an absolute must. So, take your time, do your research, ask for referrals, look for third-party directory reviews and ensure your future partner is their own best example. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The premier SEO agencies typically have social proof, testimonials, and case studies accessible online and available for your review. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within these materials, key content to look for are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valid and current <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/clutch.co\/profile\/directive\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">testimonials<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Look for agencies who have testimonials where you can call past clients and ask for a reference.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong industry-specific <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/case-studies\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">case studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Look for agencies who have data-driven wins in your niche.\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16028\" src=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Testimonial1.png\" alt=\"Testimonial from client who hired Directive as their SEO agency.\" width=\"474\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Testimonial1.png 772w, https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Testimonial1-300x244.png 300w, https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/04\/Testimonial1-768x625.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ability to drive results &#8211; Look for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/calbizjournal.com\/garrettmehrguth-directive\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">established agencies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who have proven strategies that work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Transparent Metrics<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next step after outlining your goals is to ensure that you and the agency have a clear method of charting progress before you begin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you report to your C-suite, you don\u2019t want to waste time trying to decipher results and look at vanity metrics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key questions to ask yourself in this step are, \u201cHas the agency demonstrated transparency throughout the proposal? Have they clearly articulated how they will be helping you achieve YOUR business objectives and KPIs?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your SEO agency should provide you with straight-forward reporting of what they\u2019re what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Confident Communication &#8211; Strong Deliverables<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most successful SEO campaigns occur when both parties communicate effectively and frequently to foster a constructive, trusting relationship. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An above-average SEO agency makes quality communication a priority to best serve the needs of clients. They should provide updates about your performance and progress on a monthly basis, at the very minimum. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing and agreeing on how you\u2019ll communicate is imperative. It allows you to stay on schedule with the other 100 things you\u2019re managing as well! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, are the quality of their deliverables enough to match your B2B and enterprise standards? Pay attention to detail, unique assets they share, and their relationship-building style on social media. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want a partner who is making an effort in all aspects to be the best in their field. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, some questions to ask yourself during this time are, \u00a0\u201cDo our communication styles match? What\u2019s their communication and <a href=\"http:\/\/The most successful SEO campaigns occur when both parties communicate effectively and frequently to foster a constructive, trusting relationship. An above-average SEO agency makes quality communication a priority to best serve the needs of their clients. They should provide updates about your performance and progress on a monthly basis, at the very minimum. Knowing and agreeing on how you\u2019ll communicate is imperative. It allows you to stay on schedule with the other 100 things you\u2019re managing as well! Also, are their deliverables quality enough to match your B2B and enterprise standards? Pay attention to detail, unique assets they share, and their relationship-building style on social media. You want a partner who is making an effort in all aspects to be the best in their field. So, some questions to ask yourself during this time are, \u201cDo our communication styles match? What\u2019s their communication and reporting process like? Do they provide updates and deliverables, and if so, how often? Do they have a timeline and execution plan? Do they understand your goals and how do they align?\u201d If you cannot answer these questions confidently or find issues communicating during the sales or on-boarding process, then keep looking. There\u2019s an agency whose reporting style will match yours perfectly.\">reporting<\/a> process like? Do they provide updates and deliverables, and if so, how often? Do they have a timeline and execution plan? Do they understand your goals and how do they align?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you cannot answer these questions confidently or find issues communicating during the sales or onboarding process, then keep looking. There\u2019s an agency whose reporting style will match yours perfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Avoid \u201cGuarantees\u201d and \u201cQuick Fixes\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m going to be honest. The process of optimizing all things SEO to increase organic traffic and ROI is a timely practice. SEO is an investment, so you should be looking for an agency that treats it like one. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, getting results like \u201c178% year-over-year increase in organic traffic\u201d is possible. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good things come to those who wait. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEO isn\u2019t a one-time fix! Any agency offering shortcuts, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordstream.com\/blog\/ws\/2012\/03\/21\/dangers-of-keyword-stuffing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">keyword stuffing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, talks about optimization like it\u2019s a magic bullet or claims they have \u201ca special algorithm\u201d are usually misleading and should be avoided at all costs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other red flags include agencies that guarantee results, especially without truly understanding your unique goals. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quality SEO specialists radiate a deep understanding of how search engines operate, have in-depth knowledge of the RIGHT keyword research and offer data-driven strategies to deliver results. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t lower your standards for quick fix deliveries. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making the Final Decision <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, SEO is vital to your <a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/resources\/glossary\/digital-marketing-strategy\/\">digital marketing strategy<\/a>. Choosing the right SEO agency is too. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding the best search marketing partner for your company can transform your business, in ways you may not have realized previously. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope this guide helps you choose the right SEO agency to excel you toward your goals. If you are looking to partner with a team of creatives, marketing savants, and technical specialists who love helping in-house teams excel in competitive niches, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">we\u2019d love to talk to you<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about all your options. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re reading this because you\u2019re interested in hiring a top SEO agency that can exceed your company\u2019s marketing KPI\u2019s. Look no further, we\u2019ve outlined practical tips and actionable insights for selecting the right search engine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":16030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[70,85,168],"class_list":["post-9524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo","tag-agency","tag-content","tag-seo"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Should In-house Marketers Look For When Hiring an SEO Agency?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Need to find a good SEO agency that suits your company&#039;s marketing needs? One that you can trust too? Read these SEO agency hiring insights!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/directiveconsulting.com\/uk\/blog\/hiring-seo-agency\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Should In-house Marketers Look For When Hiring an SEO Agency?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Need to find a good SEO agency that suits your company&#039;s marketing needs? One that you can trust too? 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