How to Find the Right SEO Service Company for Your Small Business

Having a strong online presence is crucial for small businesses looking to grow in today's digital world. With so many customers beginning their buying journey by searching online, if your business doesn't show up in those searches, you could be missing out on sales. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. By improving your search rankings, an SEO service can help drive more qualified traffic to your site and boost conversions. However, not all SEO providers are created equal. Finding the right fit for your small business is key. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the steps and criteria you need to identify the best SEO service for driving real results.

Define Your Goals

Before even assessing potential SEO providers, you first need to get crystal clear on what you want to achieve. Ask yourself questions like:

• What are my top business objectives this year? Do I want to increase overall traffic by 30%? Generate 50 new leads every month? Make $100k more in revenue? Defining goals will inform the scope of services needed.
• What are my target keywords and topics? You’ll want to work with an SEO services company that has expertise in optimizing sites for your specific niche and priority keywords.
• What does success look like in 6 months? 1 year? Having benchmarks makes it easier to track performance.

Getting clear on your vision sets expectations so you can search for a company capable of fulfilling your needs.

Vet SEO Companies Thoroughly

The SEO industry is filled with inconsistent service quality. Some companies overpromise with little accountability. Others rely on shady techniques that jeopardize long-term rankings. Do your due diligence to ensure you partner with an ethical provider committed to driving actual growth for your firm. Here are the key criteria to assess:

SEO Expertise & Specialties

• Niche experience – Do they have proven success optimizing for your particular industry? Do they understand the competitive landscape?
• Technical expertise – What is their process for optimizing site architecture, code, speed, and security?
• Content strategy – How will they improve your on-page content for search discovery and conversions?

Analysis & Reporting

• Auditing capabilities – Can they perform detailed audits to identify improvement opportunities?
• Reporting – What metrics, dashboards, and insights will you receive each month to track progress?

Safety & Compliance

• Process for ensuring safety – Do they follow Google’s guidelines and avoid techniques that carry risk?
• Crisis planning – What steps will they take if your site gets penalized to reinstate good standing expediently?

Vet several agencies thoroughly by asking these questions. Comparing approaches gives a better perspective on which provider is the best match.

Assess Service Levels

Beyond core SEO competencies, you also want to evaluate what kind of onboarding, communication, and support you’ll receive. Entry-level companies typically take more of a hands-off, DIY approach. Full-service firms provide higher-touch strategic guidance tailored to reaching your goals. Assess aspects like:

Onboarding & Campaign Setup

• How customized will my SEO roadmap be based on my specific objectives?
• How involved are they in site migration or initial website setup?

Communication Norms

• Will I have access to talk directly with my SEO expert if I have a pressing question?
• How often will we meet to discuss strategy and reporting?

Ongoing Optimization

• Do they actively monitor my campaign and tweak it based on opportunities and challenges?
• Will they optimize and produce new content on my behalf?

Having an accountable team that proactively manages the ongoing process is essential for freeing up your time as a small business owner.

Compare SEO Packages & Pricing

Most SEO firms will offer a range of service packages at different monthly price points. Entry-level DIY packages typically range from $500-$1,000/month. Full-service custom packages go up to $5,000-$10,000 for more niche firms. When comparing options consider:

• What deliverables are included at each tier?
• Is the level of account management satisfaction appropriate for the investment?
• Does the company offer month-to-month contracts or lock you into lengthy agreements? Short 3-6 month terms give you flexibility to change course if needed.

Be wary of service providers pitching contracts well below market rate without explaining exactly what’s included. Quality SEO takes time and expertise. If a price seems too good to be true, make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting.

Assess Existing Results

Never take a company’s word at face value alone. Beyond just claims of expertise, an SEO firm should be able to showcase real results they’ve achieved for other clients. Before signing any contract:

• Ask for client references you can contact to ask about their experience and results.
• Review case studies detailing their strategies and documented growth for companies in your industry.
• Inspect actual performance data like before/after Google Analytics reports, position improvement for target keywords, or benchmark goal achievement.

Evaluating track records instills confidence you’re working with a legitimate provider who can back up promises with past performance.

Compare SEO Companies Through Free Trials

If you’re torn between a couple of options, free trials allow evaluating first-hand which partnership feels like the best fit. A reputable SEO company shouldn’t hesitate to allow you to test drive their services. During a trial, you should expect:

✔️ Access to software platforms

✔️ A kickoff session to align on goals, audit site, craft roadmap

✔️ Initial site optimization checks completed

✔️ Ongoing communication touching base on progress

You’ll get a glimpse into their working dynamic. At a minimum, you’ll learn a few quick wins to implement yourself. From there, you can extend a longer agreement only after confirming capabilities.

Keep Long Term Consistency in Mind

Be wary of abandoning agency relationships prematurely at first signs of stagnation. SEO relies on playing the long game to manifest dramatic shifts. After making foundational optimizations, expect to invest 6–12 months before exponential growth accelerates. Work through initial hiccups cooperatively, with transparent communication regarding expectations and progress. Have quarterly discussions on results achieved compared to benchmarks. Assuming best practices are followed, stay the course, allowing compounding results time to build earned placements that stick even if you step back – otherwise, changing approaches constantly neutralizes momentum.

Embark on Your SEO Journey

Finding the right professional SEO services takes diligence - but pays dividends, enabling your firm to tap into inbound revenue potential. Define your goals, vet providers thoroughly, and select a partner invested in elevating your business to new heights. With the above best practices, you’ll forge a fruitful alliance that evolves dynamically with your needs over time. Now, get out there and start optimizing! You’ve got customers waiting to discover your brand.