It’s no secret that every successful e-commerce website has a remarkable SEO partner. After all, search engine optimization plays a major role in boosting any online business. This is the reason why you need to get to know your SEO specialist better.
Just like in a real date, the getting to know stage will give you an idea if you wish to proceed with this person to the next level or find a better partner. There are certain things you need to watch out for so as to determine the true worth of your current SEO company.
1. Background
When you go out with someone for the first time, your conversation mainly revolves around your backgrounds— where you studied, what work you do, what your family is like, etc. In the same way, you must find out how long the SEO company you work with has been in existence, how it came about, what services it offers, and what its track record is like.
2. Quality
In trying to figure out if a person is cut out to be your partner in life, you also try to assess quality. It’s not a matter of excellence, but rather a matter of suitability. You might actually meet someone who seems to be way beyond your standards and seems to be the perfect partner. But you need to go out with that person several times to see if you guys click.
With your SEO specialist, it works the same way. There ought to be a spark, a gut feel that you can work well together and trust each other. At the same time, it’s important to check how they do their SEO. Learn the analytics and strategies they use, the reports they provide, and more. These will help you determine their actual quality and if they’re a good fit for your business.
3. Communication
Relationships bank a lot on good communication, even if you’re just in the initial stages. Between an online entrepreneur and a SEO specialist, communication also means a whole lot. This is why you have to be clear about it from the very beginning. Ask for a well-defined communication plan that includes how often you’ll be contacted and through which channel, what types of reports you’ll receive, how long meetings will last, and how and when you can get in touch if you have concerns or questions.
4. Length of Partnership
If you’re experienced in dating, you can tell whether someone is good for a one-night stand, a temporary fling, or a long-term relationship. Finding out where your present SEO partner stands is of great importance too. You ought to sniff around and keep your senses on edge to figure out if your SEO specialist is a scammer or a real deal, great for short-term campaigns or cut out for lengthy partnerships.
Since you’ll always be in need of SEO expertise, it’s essential to not waste your time on short-term stints. Besides, you don’t want to be a victim of fly-by-night sort of SEO companies. Hence, you need to do your background research well and take the time and effort to truly get to know the specialist you’re currently working with. This way, you can shortcut your way to a genuine keeper and not squander precious time, sweat, and money on something worthless.
About the author
Joe Palko is the CMO of 3dcart. Prior to joining 3dcart in 2011, Joe was a true internet pioneer co-founding his first e-commerce website in 1994 which later sold to America’s largest mail order pet supply retailer in 2007. Joe also co-founded Solid Cactus in 2001, which was later sold to the Web.com Group in 2009.
