DISQUS

Online Marketing Blog: 5 Tips on Hiring and Getting the Most Value from SEO Consultants

  • CK Chung · 5 months ago
    As an SEO consultant, the most important thing for me is how I fit in with the client, and vice versa. I put a lot of myself out in the public via social media, so it is important for my client to understand my fun-loving, but straight-up and no-fluff nature. Some of my favorite clients have actually discovered me through my rash and outlandish Tweets.

    On the other hand, if a company is looking for a suit and meaningless reports, I wouldn't be who they're looking for... and I wouldn't want to work with them anyway.
  • Lee Odden · 5 months ago
    So CK, you equate "suit" with "meaningless reports"? I am sorry you've had a bad experience with suits or maybe that's just part of your branding. :)
  • Scott Clark · 5 months ago
    Lack of client education is the single largest reason for failure in SEM projects. Setting expectations and defining roles and responsibilities should be considered foundations.

    If the SEM consultant isn't providing organized educational efforts that include executives and key stakeholders in the first 5% of the project then something is going to break later.

    Secondly, make sure there is a RESPONSIVE SENIOR point of contact with the SEO consultant. Not three. Not 25. Do not let 25 people unleash their worldly frustrations about web developers on the person. If you don't, people will eventually end up asking the SEO guy how to fix their printer. I've SEEN it with my own eyes.
  • Lee Odden · 5 months ago
    Ongoing education is key and companies that want 100% hands off experience aren't going to be happy with what they get in the long run. They may even get a few surprises. Not the good kind either.
  • Scott Clark · 5 months ago
    Thanks Lee, here's the link.

    If you're hiring an SEM consultant or if you are one, this post is heartfelt and covers the bases of real world things to consider before starting an agreement.

    Making It Better…Education is the Lifeblood of SEM Success

    Please provide feedback.
  • Dayne · 5 months ago
    These are all great.

    It always comes down to finding honest people to do business with as you mention in #4.

    And #3 is huge as well. It's important to communicate expectations regarding goals and delivery dates.

    It's best to be on the same page for both parties involved.

    Again, great insight. You're a trusted SEO resource.

    Dayne
  • Omar · 5 months ago
    The SEO field has become filled with a lot of consultants offering outdated or ineffective strategies. To avoid using one, my recommendation would be to create a shortlist of about 10-20 consultants or agencies based on the criteria Lee has listed.

    Call several of their listed clients, and request several clients NOT LISTED on their references. You can usually get a pretty good picture about the quality of a consultant or agency through talking to their customers.
  • Oxzen Media · 5 months ago
    Thanks for sharing the good information and ideas about marketing. Nice post!
  • Kris Bovay · 5 months ago
    Wow. I loved that video! Almost totally took me away from the topic. But I came back again to read your post. My reaction to SEO is kind of a roll of the eyes because most companies who 'do SEO' have a major tendancy to over promise, and under deliver. In fact the promises seem so unbelievable that the credibility is shot before the relationship begins - how can I get a promise from the SEO company that they will increase my traffic by 100% if they don't know what traffic I'm starting with? Or they don't even know if I have a website (I'm talking about the emails I get to my personal email - unrelated to my sites).
  • Lee Odden · 5 months ago
    Kris, so called "SEO Consultants" that send unsolicited ads to your email are NOT representative of the SEO industry at all. The best SEO consultants and agencies don't do any kind of outbound marketing. Or at least many of them don't. In any industry, companies that have to make big promises almost always set the expectations bar too high and the situation results in the reality or perception of underdelivering.

    Companies that want to find good SEO companies or consultants should get referrals, not rely on ads. Common sense.

    BTW, I hope it wasn't a SEO consultant that advised you to register a domain name with 3 hyphens!
  • Sanjay · 5 months ago
    That was a great information shared, You are a good SEO resource. Nice Post.

    Regards,
  • Rob · 5 months ago
    Probably a good idea to look at some of their clients sites, and see how they rank.
  • Stans · 5 months ago
    Spot-on post on a hot topic, Lee. Thanks for sharing!
  • John A Robb · 5 months ago
    For me it is getting the client to give over control of the site. SEO is not a bolt on exercise. You don't just "add" it to the a site. The client's strategy has to include SEO from the ground up.