How to Choose a Local SEO Agency

These days, it is very easy for many folks to locate the kinds of businesses they are looking for by simply running a search on Google and other search engines. Hence, you see things such as “local restaurants near you”, “gyms close to you”, “nearby salons in your area” on these search engines.

These search engines have been optimized to provide local answers to search queries of businesses using geographic data gathered. As a result, many local businesses are investing in local SEO so that they can reach those within their locality and community.

In time past, very few knew of this marketing strategy and even fewer employed it. However, in recent times, many organizations are using this marketing technique to create awareness and boost sales.

Interestingly, traditional SEO is quite different from local SEO. The latter employs techniques that allow the effective targeting of individuals within a locality. Hence, not just anyone including regular SEO experts can carry out this task. Local SEO is a specialized niche and can only be done by those with sufficient and specialized training.

Due to the important nature of this job, we have taken our time to write this article as a guide on how you can choose a local SEO agency.

But before we go into that, let us quickly explain what local SEO is.

What is Local SEO?

This type of search engine optimization is focused on increasing a business’s search visibility that provides physical services to individuals within a community. Examples of businesses that make use of this marketing technique include restaurants, salons, stores, dental clinics, etc. Businesses that operate within a particular geographical area can also use this technique. Examples of such are house cleaning or electrical company.

Why You Should Capitalize on Local SEO

You should invest in this marketing technique if you have a physical business location because it will drive more customers to you. It offers more advantages than using the general digital marketing strategy that focuses on keyword research, webpage loading speed, content marketing, etc.

The general strategy might improve your overall brand awareness globally, but it won’t affect your sales growth if your business is conducted on-site rather than online. Local SEO will help you reach those folks that can easily access your business because you are within their community.

If you don’t focus on this search engine optimization strategy, businesses that offer similar services as you do might even take your customers since they’ll begin to rank higher on local searches. You can check some companies like Lynchburg SEO to learn more about the services a Local SEO agency can provide.

Tips on How to Choose a Local SEO Agency

Now that you know the importance of this digital marketing strategy, then you need experts who will help you carry out the job. Use the tips shared below to choose an agency that is right for you.

1. Make your Goals Measurable

Before you even contact an agency, set your goals and make them measurable. This will help you to communicate clearly to the digital marketers what you want. Make the goals as detailed as possible.

Here are some goals you can set:

• Your desired target audience
• Your expected traffic
• The competitors you desire to outrank, etc.

When your goals are clearly defined, it will also help you hire an agency that can meet your needs.

2. Hire a Specialist

You need a specialist, not a generalist. In other words, you need someone whose specialization and focus is in this area.

The agency must possess extensive working experience when it comes to Google Maps, Google My Business, citation building, local structured data markup, review management, and link building.

They should also possess experience in your business niche. The technique required to market a restaurant is quite different from how one markets a dental clinic.

3. Check Online Reviews about the Agency

Check online review platforms such as Google Reviews, Facebook, and TrustPilot to see what people have to say about the agency. Visit https://www.trustpilot.com/ to check out reviews.

If you see negative reviews, don’t be so quick to land the gavel in judgment. Instead, check the company’s response and reaction to such reviews. Were they swift in their response? Were they polite? Did they offer an explanation for the issue?

If they did, then you can rest assured that it was just a mistake. Hence, you can still select them if you desire.

4. Go through their Content and Confirm Niche Authority

Check their blogs and see what they have been publishing. Are the contents original rather than a rewritten article from a competitor? Do they update their old posts?

Check their social media platforms to see how they interact with their audience.

5. Ask the Agency What They Plan to Do

Although you will provide a well thought out and detailed goals as we mentioned in tip 1, however, you need to hear from the agency their plans to increase your overall sales using this digital marketing strategy.

While they may not provide a detailed outline, a general explanation will show you that they know what they are doing.

6. Find out their Prioritized Metrics

Ask them what their prioritized metrics are. If it doesn’t tally with increased traffic as well more conversions, then you have two options: Choose another agency, or ask them to readjust their metrics.

If you choose the latter option, make sure they comply by employing further supervision.

7. Verify their Reporting and Communication Process

Operational style varies from organization to organization and this includes the communication process. Some organizations are slow in delivering their reports, while others are fast. Click here to learn more about the communication process.

One of the reasons some firms communicate slowly is because they focus on higher-paying jobs while leaving the lesser-paying jobs at the bottom of the cabinet.

Therefore, ask the agency what their contact hours to know when they’ll be available. Also, ask them for a sample of their reports and verify how often they’ll send reports of their progress on the job.

8. Talk to Other Customers

See if you can reach out to other individuals who have hired the agency. You can then learn from such people the operation pattern of the SEO Company.

Conclusion

With the tips above, we trust you now have the right information that will make selecting a local SEO agency a piece of cake.