Top Questions To Ask Before Hiring an SEO Consultant
Search engine optimization is a constantly evolving practice and getting tougher day by day. SEO tactics are changing as search engines update algorithms. It is no more limited to setting keyword density equations and cheaply bought backlinks. Today, it has become an integral part of modern holistic and competitive digital marketing strategy.
Companies that once kept their SEO budget to a minimum are now ready to hire top-rated SEO agencies in New York at a higher cost.
Apart from creating backlinks, modern search engine optimization strategies include user intent research, improving user experience, use of natural language processing in content marketing and awareness of latest search engine algorithm updates..
With growing competition in all industries globally, SMEs and startup businesses have to struggle to gain online visibility and beat their competitors.
If you’re considering hiring a local SEO company in New York, you will have numerous choices and all of them seem like the best option. But before you make a quick decision, it’s important to look beyond and choose a competitive SEO agency that can deliver the best results.
In this page, we will answer all your queries which will help you take a better decision in hiring an SEO agency for your project.
Some quality checks you should know about SEO
SEO boosts your search engine ranking thus improving your business ROI. But the case might be reversed if you have not partnered with the right SEO agency.
From time to time reporting and regular improvement in the website gives results. However, here is a checklist to evaluate quality of SEO work done by previous SEO agency or the Company you selected for your SEO strategy :
- Research and integrate keywords.
- Focus on user experience.
- Optimize Meta tags.
- Publish valuable content.
- Image Optimization.
- Internal Link.
- Core Web Vitals
- Mobile-First Indexing
- Machine Learning and Automation
- E-A-T
- Knowledge Gap, Semantics, and Entities Optimization
On top of that, you can always opt for an SEO audit. It is a detailed report of an in-depth assessment of SEO done so far.
Evaluating the results obtained and compared with the previous report will show the actual picture. However, SEO monitoring done on a daily basis will provide you with information about weak areas where you need to focus.
It involves collecting basic performance data over time using SEO tools.
Here are some of the top SEO ranking methods where you can always improve to produce effective SEO results:
- Remove unwanted text, images, and broken links that slow down your site
- Create relevant links to other authoritative websites
- Optimize content by considering users first, and Search Engines Second
- Start SEO by using Google analytics
- Meta descriptions and Meta titles help you in ranking
- Try to book your domain with a simple name
- Build Momentum with social media posting
- Use the Right Keywords in Images
- Publish Unique Content Consistently to Improve SEO
Let’s unfold some of the top question that need to be answered while hiring an SEO professional:
1. How Long Before You See Results From SEO?
Organic SEO only takes 4 to 6 months if done correctly according to most experts. It completely depends on the business niche and competition. So make sure to do your research first!
You’ll start to see good results once you know how to market your business & outrank your competitors by analyzing – Competitor’s SEO Analysis Creating quality content by grouping keywords Backlinks strategy to get links from high authority website
2. How much do SEO services cost?
There is never a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to SEO pricing. The cost of an SEO project will depend on a number of factors, including the size and scope of the project, the service provider, and more. That said, most SEO projects in 2022 are likely to fall somewhere in the $500-$5,000 per month range.
One-time projects may cost a bit more, with prices typically falling in the $5,000-$30,000 range.
And finally, hourly rates for consultants usually fall in the $50-$300 per hour range.
3. How Does SEO Help Your business?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the ranking of your website in relevant search results. With a high search engine ranking – such as on page one – your company can use SEO to bring qualified traffic to your site, which can lead to more online leads, sales, and profit for your business.
To improve your ranking, you can optimize your website’s content, structure, and on-page elements like heading tags, meta tags, and anchor text. You can also build backlinks to your website from high-quality websites.
4. Is it worth paying a SEO company?
SEO is a great investment if you have the right strategy in place and you’re working with a partner that knows how to get results. Almost all (93%) online experiences begin with a search engine, and SEO leads have a much higher close rate than traditional marketing leads. So, SEO is quite worthy as it offers an impressive ROI.
5. Can I do SEO on my own/DIY SEO?
If you’re considering doing your own SEO work or “DIY-ing” it, know that it will require a lot of research on your part to make sure you stay up-to-date on the latest SEO algorithms and guidelines, tips and tricks.
It’s very easy to make a mistake that could result in your website being penalized by Google or other search engines.
In our opinion, it’s better to leave it to the professionals so you can avoid any potential penalties or negative effects on your website’s ranking.
7. What are the 4 types of SEO?
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On-page SEO:
It also known as on-site SEO, is an SEO activity that is carried out directly on the page or site. It involves the optimization of on-page SEO ranking factors like meta tags optimization, image optimization, heading optimization, and others.
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Off-page SEO :
This type of SEO focuses on all your optimization activities outside your website. It includes various link building techniques to get valuable backlink from high authority website back to your website.
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Technical SEO:
It refers to all the SEO activities that help to improve your site and make it easier for visitors to navigate.
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Local SEO:
This SEO service requires local keyword rankings in a specific state, city, or town. The main aim is to optimize websites and various listings to increase the online visibility of your firm within its location or city..
8. SEO Report: How To Show Progress To Clients?
Following the best practices, we should consider sending a biweekly / monthly progress report to the client. So we could justify where we started & what we achieved biweekly or monthly.
These reports bring the client’s attention and should make use of stats and metrics like website’s organic traffic, Top ranking keywords, new keywords, clicks, impressions, CTR increase. Basically all these things should justify the progress of your SEO strategy.
Other than that, regularly meeting with the client through a call or an email should be organized to discuss the SEO report. We should also be ready to update these reports as client requirements and focus points.
9. What skills do you need for SEO?
Here are some skills you’ll need to become an SEO expert
- Knowledge of the Internet and how it works
- Writing skills – be able to create engaging content that will draw in traffic
- Research skills – know what keywords to target and how to optimize your content for each one
- Technical know-how – have a solid understanding of website design, coding, and hosting in order to create effective SEO strategies
- Business acumen – understand the ins and outs of online marketing so you can make informed decisions about where to focus your efforts
10. Who Needs SEO?
Well, every business needs SEO optimization to stand out of their competitors on SERPs but here are some of businesses that are most preferred:
- Startups or Small Businesses.
- Ecommerce Businesses
- SaaS Business companies
- Online Service Companies.
- Local service Business
- Medical Clinics
- Law Firms & Lawyers/Attorneys
- Restaurants & Bars.
Wrapping Up
When you search for a New York based SEO Company on the internet, thousands of results might appear, both local and far away companies. How do you come to know about the right SEO agency for you? How will you avoid the conflicts?
The above written questions will provide an insight of the effective SEO strategies to help you hire an SEO agency. It is clear that SEO has come a long way and making the campaigns result oriented is the need.
As a full-service digital marketing company RedBlink has the knowledge, experience, and professional SEO specialists you need to see real results on your site. As the #1 New York SEO company, you can count on us to deliver top search engine rankings and high visibility for your business.
Want to know what we can do for you? Contact us today to learn more about our SEO packages, and to find out how we’ve helped companies just like yours find success online. You can request a quote or SEO audit!