Detroit internet marketing, local searching engine optimization (SEO), online advertising…whatever you want to call it, increasing your online visibility is crucial to the success of your Detroit area business.
Twenty years ago, most businesses barely considered establishing an online presence, let alone knew what an “SEO campaign” was.
Now it seems every marketing and advertising agency in Detroit is calling themselves SEO experts. So, as a business in Detroit, how do you hire the right Detroit SEO company? As a pioneer in Detroit, Michigan SEO, we want to help you find the best fit for your business.
1.) Defining Your Detroit SEO Goals
Define exactly what you want to accomplish with a local SEO service.
Before you even begin asking yourself who are the best SEO companies near me, you should define your overall SEO goals. A simplified version of SEO is the basic practice of increasing your online presence by ranking high in search engine results. But, you may already have the ball rolling in the digital marketing world. So, what exactly are you looking to accomplish?
Questions to Ask:
- Do I want to establish a social media presence?
- Do I want to enhance user experience?
- Do I want to bring more people to my website?
- Do I want to turn my website into a sales funnel?
2.) Data Tracking Provided by the Detroit SEO Agency
Data, data, data! It is the clear representation of the effectiveness of the strategy your Detroit SEO company is implementing.
A good SEO agency will be transparent with you during the time they are working with you. You want to find an SEO company in Detroit that consistently tracks and measures your company’s data. This includes everything such as total users, click through rates, forms submitted, phone calls made, etc.
Questions to Ask:
- How often do you collect data?
- How do you measure performance?
- What is your data based on?
3.) Detroit SEO Services Offered by the Company
To see the best results, you need a Detroit SEO agency that can offer you a variety of digital marketing services.
Maybe you need a brand-new web design, or maybe you are just looking to establish a social media presence? From full white hat SEO services to complete website design services, the best SEO company in Detroit is the one that can fulfill any of your digital marketing needs.
Questions to Ask:
- What SEO services do you provide?
- What is the pricing for each service?
- Do you offer package deals?
4.) Contractual Terms Laid Out by the Detroit Agency
Be wary of the contractual agreements between you and the SEO agency you choose.
Too often with small businesses, we see a situation when they want to switch advertising agencies and their website and other assets are no longer accessible or are locked by the previous company working on the account. Before signing the contract, verify that you will have complete ownership and access to your website and accounts.
It is also important not to get locked into a contract for a long period of time. In an effort to have full control, choose an SEO agency that has a month to month contracts where you have the option to pull out any time if you are not satisfied with the results or service.
Questions to Ask:
- Will I own everything you create for my website?
- Will I have access to my own website and web assets?
- What are the actual contractual terms?
5.) The Ethics of Detroit SEO Company
Ethics are paramount when selecting an SEO company in Detroit.
Today, every marketing or advertising agency in Detroit considers themselves an SEO expert. But the truth is a lot of agencies that say they are Detroit SEO experts follow bad practices that could end up hurting themselves and more importantly you, and they are not always truthful about it. Companies that resort to black hat SEO tactics or buying bad links clearly don’t have your business’ best interest at heart.
So, what do you look for? An agency in Detroit that truly is a Detroit SEO expert and that will cause no harm to your business with poor practices. You want an agency with good comradery and where employees know that their work is the best strategy for your business.
Questions to Ask:
- What are the core values of their company?
- Do they follow a set SEO code of ethics?
6.) Communication with the Detroit SEO Company
Communication in the simplest terms is the conversation between you and the agency. However, we are referring to communication in many different aspects.
It is best to remember that even though a good SEO agency will operate as a team with you, they are still working for you. Meaning a good SEO company will communicate with you consistently and will answer whenever you need them. Look for a company that answers phone calls and emails, someone who wants to stay in contact with you.
Questions to Ask:
- Do you answer phone calls and emails same day?
- Do you arrange monthly meetings or phone conferences?
- How quickly can I get an answer from you?
7.) Detroit SEO Companies Reviews & References
Past testimonials, online reviews and case studies are valuable pieces of information when choosing an SEO agency in Detroit.
Conduct your own research on the SEO agencies you are considering. Reliable companies are not afraid to display what past customers have said. Take the time to review Google, Bing, Yelp, or wherever you can find some insight. And don’t be afraid to ask the agency for past references.
Questions to Ask:
- Can you provide me with past client references?
- Do you have any testimonials I can review?
8.) Content Created by the Detroit SEO Agency
Content is one of the driving factors of a successful SEO strategy, so you obviously want an agency who can do it right.
Choose an SEO agency that has experience creating authentic and informative content that applies to your business. And when we say content, we don’t just mean words on a page, but images, videos, illustrations, blogs and more. You want an agency that keeps it fresh and one that can constantly alter the strategy effectively in an effort to raise in the search engine rankings.
Questions to Ask:
- What type of content do you create?
- Is all content done in-house?
- Will the content uploaded portray my product or service effectively?
