As a small business owner, you know that digital marketing is key to growing your brand. But there’s more to it than just building a website.

That website needs to be readable and easy-to-find for search engines. Otherwise, you’re missing out on tons of potential leads, customers, and revenue.

Believe it or not, more than 83 percent of small businesses think their digital marketing campaign is working perfectly. But unless you’ve optimized your site, your marketing efforts won’t pay off as they should.

A trustworthy SEO company will help you streamline your website. But how do you find someone you can trust?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when searching for a reliable SEO provider.

1. Understand Your Goals

Before you can find a trustworthy SEO company, you’ll need to figure out your goals.

You’re looking to grow your business and increase your earnings. But there’s always more to it than that. Look at what you hope to accomplish by upping your SEO game.

Are you just looking for more traffic to your site or are you looking to generate more qualified leads? Do you want to improve your reputation online or are you simply wanting to edge out a rival business?

There are good goals and there are bad ones. Good SEO agencies know the difference and will be able to help you grow your reputation the right way.

They should be willing to go through your goals with you, discussing the “why” of each one before explaining how they’ll help you meet your goals.

It’s their goal to help you make money and improve your reputation in the long-term.

2. Don’t Rely on Google Results Alone

Google is a great place to start when searching for SEO companies. But it shouldn’t be the only thing you rely on. In fact, the first page results may not have the best company for your needs.

Remember, a company that’s great at SEO may not have the time or the need to improve their company’s results online. They’re more focused on delivering quality results to their clients.

Word of mouth and customer reviews are far more important than the initial rankings online. See what their past clients are saying. Read testimonials and reviews on Bing, Yahoo, and Google to get a complete picture.

If the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, it’s worth scheduling a consultation with the company.

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3. Meet with Them

Any marketing company you work with needs to understand your business’s goals. They can only do this if you take the time to schedule a consultation with them.

If you find an SEO provider you’re interested in, contact them. Discuss your goals and ask how they’ll help you achieve those goals.

Even during the initial consultation, they should be able to provide you with a quick outline of how they can help. But be cautious.

If they say you can rank #1 for your service in as little as a month, run (don’t walk) away. Good SEO results take time.

If you can’t meet with them in person, that’s fine. Consultations can happen on the phone just as easily.

4. Pick Quality Services Over Price

When it comes to SEO, you get what you pay for. This means that opting for a low-cost company is not always in your best interest.

Instead of making your decision solely on the cost of their services, focus on the services they offer.

Get estimates from multiple companies and compare their services and prices against one another. The best SEO company for your needs will offer the perfect balance between services and price.

Remember, SEO is an investment in your company’s future. The last thing you want to do is choose an agency that uses bad tactics just because they’re the most affordable option.

5. Make Sure the Company Can Track Your Performance

Even the best SEO results change over time. The only way to know how you’re doing is to track your company’s performance over time.

Unfortunately, not all SEO companies track your performance. This puts the burden on you to measure results and see what’s working.

As a small business owner, you don’t have time to monitor your web presence. You’re busy running your company’s daily activities.

Save yourself the headache by working with a company that tracks performance for you.

Ideally, the company should also discuss those results at least once every quarter. This allows you to make changes as needed and makes it easier to track what’s working and what’s not.

The more information you have on your performance, the better off you’ll be in developing a long-term marketing strategy.

6. Don’t Limit Your Search to Local Options

It may seem like a good idea to work with a local agency, but doing so limits your options.

Think of it this way. Your website is powered by the internet and anyone with the login credentials can access your site and make changes to the web pages. They don’t have to be in your office or even in your city.

This means SEO can be done anywhere. You’re not limited to working with an in-town company. Instead, pick a company that you feel confident in.

If they’re good and experienced, they’ll be able to optimize your website no matter where they’re located.

7. Pick an Agency That Outlines Their Process

SEO is formulaic. There is no secret to success. But there are proper implementation techniques that reliable companies use.

When getting estimates from different companies, listen to their descriptions of their work. If a company can’t outline how they’ll improve your site or tries to convince you that they know a secret way to boost visibility, keep searching.

Good companies are transparent and want you to understand why their techniques work.

Work with a Trustworthy SEO Company

Finding a trustworthy SEO company will help you improve your company’s web presence for years to come. If you’re ready to improve your company’s website and grow your business, contact us today.

At eBuilt Business, we know you have more important things to do than spend your time optimizing your site and improving your marketing campaign. We’ll take the stress out of online marketing so you can do what you do best-run your business.