SEO in Whose Interest? or How to Choose an SEO Firm!

It may seem obvious that an SEO firm works in the interest of its clients, but that is sadly not always the case. How do you know that the SEO firm you have engaged, or are considering, is going to act in your interest in every way? Its a very difficult thing for the client to derive from an interview. Here are a few obvious pointers you can ask about and look for before entering into a relationship with an SEO company:

I.) Do they setup search engine accounts (Google Webmaster, Google Places, Google Analytics, Google Adwords, Microsoft Adcenter, Bing Local Business Listings) in the name of the client or under an agency umbrella account? The right answer is obvious; the accounts should be setup in the name of the client. Login and passwords should be delivered to the client as soon as the accounts are setup. Watch out for tricks though, because you can be decieved easily if you don’t know how this works.

This is a very clear signal 1) because it is easy to find out and 2) its a clear signal to stay away, because its clearly not in the interest of helping the client in the long-run if that’s the method they employ. (its usually about trapping the client so they can’t quit the relationship)

An SEO company that sets up search engine accounts under the agency name; 1) is taking the lazy path. Its easier to do it that way, 2) they intends to keep all the work they do with your money. When you stop paying, you don’t own anything – thus the trap.

II.) Do you get to meet the one and only person responsible for your SEO? (excluding marketing people)

SEO is a craft. Look at it perhaps like wood-work – you can have Ikea if you want to pay for Ikea. But you can get that anywhere. Every website builder and every marketing firm claims to do SEO. And likely that is the Ikea-like-SEO you currently have. Quality SEO requires experience, skill, focus, patience. The person doing quality work is a craftsman. It cannot be outsourced to another country (I’ve tried). It cannot be done on an assembly line. How would you like your dentist or doctor to setup an assembly line-type office? That would just shout “quality”, wouldn’t it?

III.) coming soon, thinking ;-)