One of the critical things to consider while hiring third-party search marketing is to ensure they are experts in their field. The capability of the agency makes a big difference to your bottom line.
Not all SEO agencies are equal in terms of capability. Hence, it is always imperative to know certain things about a prospective SEO agency.
To make things easy for you, we have compiled a list of 10 questions that every eligible SEO agency in Melbourne would be able to answer.
1. What Types of SEO Work You Do?
SEO is a broader term that defines several activities. Generally, it would help if you had three types of SEO for a good organic search strategy- technical, On-page, and Off-page optimisation.
Some agencies only offer technical SEO, which covers background aspects that matter to your website search engine.
E-commerce is growing fast in Melbourne. According to a recent survey, Point Cook in Melbourne’s West has been the top online shopping suburb in Australia.
Without an on-page and off-page SEO strategy, the chances of reaching potential customers in this area are dim. Hence, it is always good to select an SEO agency that offers all three types of SEO services.
2. How Will You Improve Search Engine Rankings?
It is a temporary effect that does not make a massive difference to rankings. The agency should be able to share a plan to improve search engine rankings.
They could start with technical SEO and then focus on on-page and off-page SEO tactics.
According to Courier Please parcel delivery data, it delivered 18 million parcels Australia-wide, which includes major cities like Melbourne.
The same report mentions Melbourne residents attracted a 1% growth in online deliveries during 2019.
Without a clear and robust SEO strategy, the chances of higher search rankings are bleak. In that scenario, you will lose significant business opportunities to other Melbourne online retailers.
3. Can You Share Information about Your Past Clients and Results?
Shopping for an SEO agency in Melbourne is the same as shopping for anything else. You need to check case studies, reviews, testimonials, and past clients.
You cannot expect the SEO agency to share details of all their previous clients. However, the agency should happily share information about 3-4 clients they have worked within the past.
4. Do You Always Follow Google’s Best Practices?
You might get quick results with black-hat SEO strategies, but there are higher chances of penalisation from Google sooner or later.
5. What Tools Do You Use to Develop SEO Campaigns and Assess Success?
Several SEO tools allow you to analyse the performance of different aspects of SEO. Some tools worth mentioning are:
- Technical SEO tools – these tools analyse your website and find out various technical issues with your site. It would not be easy to find these things manually.
- Research Tools – these tools allow you to gather information about your target audience. It also helps you know the popularity and competition for different keywords in your niche.
It is great if the SEO agency uses the tools mentioned above. However, if the agency uses link building tools, it might not be the right SEO partner for you.
6. Can You Guarantee the No. 1 Rank for My Website for the Main Keywords?
While SEO agencies can guarantee an increase in traffic over time, they cannot guarantee rankings for keywords. If the SEO agency is offering guarantees of any sort, it is a simple sales approach with no value.
7. How Often You Will Report Your Work?
The SEO agency is expected to make changes to your website. Most SEO agencies will accommodate you in the process. Weekly or monthly reporting is an industry norm.
The report should include a summary of activities, search engine rankings, search traffic, and conversions.
8. What Experience Do You Have to Deliver Results in My Industry?
Every industry and its target audience are different. Some products and services are so specific that the market is a fraction of the size of popular consumer industries. It always pays to hire SEO experts who have industry insights.
According to the Australian Online Shopping Industry Report, Hoppers Crossing, a suburb in Melbourne, has registered a growth of 21.8% in online shopping and figures in the list of top ten buying locations in Australia.
Online shopping in Australia is dominated by suburbs like Cranbourne in Melbourne’s South-East and Hoppers Crossings in West.
The SEO agency with expertise in your business niche will know your competitors, target audience in Melbourne, and strategies that should be used to reach them.
9. How Will Your SEO Campaign Tie With Other Marketing Efforts?
The online shopping growth predicted for South Australia is around 20.9%. Remote households in Australia frequently shop online. Their rate of purchase is 1.2 times the national average.
The SEO agency in Melbourne should ensure support and strengthen your other marketing campaigns to reach a wider customer base.
The agency should be able to integrate SEO with your inbound campaign. Some companies also take support of SEO during product launches.
The SEO agency must devise a strategy that can supplement other marketing activities of your company.
10. Are You Up to Date With Algorithm Changes?
Google algorithms come announced, and websites get affected. The SEO agency must know the latest algorithm updates and how they affect the site rankings.
The agency should understand how these algorithm updates affect different ranking signals. If the SEO agency is ignorant about recent changes and its effect on website rankings, it is not a potential SEO partner.
According to a recent market report, cities like Melbourne are expected to see around 20.3% growth in online fashion sales. Without the right SEO agency, you cannot reap business opportunities online.
Author Bio: Steffy Alen is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.