Search Engine Optimization is the focal point of most digital marketing strategies in Singapore. If executed correctly, SEO can significantly boost brand awareness and the revenue generated by a business.
Companies use different approaches when implementing SEO. Some have in-house marketing teams that work to improve their online visibility. The problem with this approach is its expensiveness, which is why most businesses opt to hire SEO agencies.
SEO agencies still require a substantial investment, but they are cheaper when compared to in-house teams.
Here are the steps you should follow to find an ideal SEO agency in Singapore.
- Get a seed list
- Look at the websites
- Evaluate the strength of the agency
- Contact the agency
- Meet with the agency
Get a Seed List
A seed list is a collection of all SEO agencies available to your businesses. Creating this list is the first step of finding which company is perfect to handle your SEO campaign.
You can use the following approaches when compiling your seed list.
Look for online lists – the internet is an excellent resource for finding the best SEO agencies in your location. For example, you could search for 'best SEO agencies in Singapore.' or 'best SEO agencies in Los Angeles.'
Create your list – in this case, you handpick several agencies according to your preferences. Often, this approach gives better results than using online lists.
Look at the Websites
Once you have a seed list, the next step is looking at the website of each of the agencies. This is vital in assessing whether a particular company can meet your SEO needs.
When examining the website of an SEO agency, you should pay attention to the following pages.
Homepage – this is the page that gives the first impression of the agency. It should be attractive and easy to navigate. If the website has poor design, it indicates its incompetence.
About page – this page showcases the strategies, values, and objectives of the agency. The page should have as much information as possible. If the info is limited, you should avoid the agency in question.
Testimonial Page/Client Portfolio – this page shows the feedback received from the agency’s previous clients. A high number of positive reviews shows that an agency delivers quality in their projects. Also, you can gauge the experience of the agency by looking at the number of clients.
Blog – the articles on an agency’s blog can tell a lot about the nature of their services. If the posts cover the latest trends in SEO, it shows that the company updates its strategies regularly. On the contrary, if the posts are old and far apart, it shows that the agency uses outdated tactics.
Evaluate the Strength of the Agency
If the website passes the eye test, you should proceed to evaluate the strength of the SEO agency.
The internet has several tools that are useful in site testing, but most need you to pay to access all resources. However, you can do it for free by using Google.
Here are the steps you can use to assess the strength of an agency using Google.
Brand name search – type in the agency’s name and search. If a company cannot rank on top of search results for its name, you should eliminate it from your list.
Major keyword search – these are broad search phrases that new customers use to find businesses. For instance, you could search 'SEO agency in Singapore' If a search agency cannot rank for major keywords, move to the next option on your list.
Minor keyword search – these are the less popular search terms associated with an SEO agency. In most cases, they are the services offered by the company, such as on-page optimization, link building, website marketing, and so forth. An SEO agency should rank for at least one minor keyword.
Contact the Agency
When you find an agency that has a strong online presence, the next course of action is contacting them. The website should have an email address, a phone number, and an option to book an appointment.
Here are some of the ways of contacting your SEO agency.
Email – this is the best option if you want to save time. You do not have to alter your schedule to create time for drafting an email. They also offer permanence, and you can refer to past emails in case of a dispute.
Phone calls – calling is a smart way of getting credible information. With emails, the representative has the time to revise the message. Phone calls are also excellent for building a relationship.
Face-to-face meetings – this allows you to interact with the agency. You will get a first-hand experience of their attitude and see what strategies they use in their projects.
After you contact the agencies, your list should have at most three options.
Meet the Agency
The final step involves meeting with the SEO agency. Ideally, you should meet the representatives in person. You should use this opportunity to ask questions that will determine if that agency can work on your project.
The following are some of the questions you should ask.
How will you improve my website ranking? – The company should tell you the strategies they intend to use to increase your visibility online.
How regularly will you provide updates? – The agency should issue frequent updates concerning the progress of the project.
What tools do you use? – Nowadays, SEO needs automation tools to increase its effectiveness. Your agency should tell you the tools they use, as well as where they use them.
These are only but a few of the questions you should ask before hiring an SEO agency.
Conclusion
With plenty of options to choose from, it can be quite challenging to find the best SEO agency. In summary, here are the steps you should follow when searching for an SEO agency.
- Create a seed list of all SEO agencies around your area.
- Look at the website of each agency to get first impressions of their expertise.
- Use Google or other tools to evaluate the strength of each agency.
- Contact the agencies to learn more about their services.
- Meet with agency representatives and make the decision.
- If you follow these tips, you should find an SEO agency to boost your digital marketing campaign.
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