Much like an online dating site, at first glance SEO can seem quite attractive. You correspond back and forth, and when you feel you have a connection, it’s time to meet and take your discussions to the next level. You start prepping for the big day, get your hair just right, put on your best outfit…afterall, you’ve bought into the initial connection, and you’re ready to impress.
You finally get together anticipating a smooth continuation of the initial impression that was advertised only to discover their initial image is not what you’re seeing now. Not to say looks and first impressions are everything, but let’s be honest…they’re essential. Needles to say, it’s now a little uncomfortable and you feel you’ve been duped and getting duped is not OK.
Setting the right expectations up front is crucial to any relationship. Especially relationships in business where trust, honesty, and a strong ROI are needed to gain long-term prosperity.
Like the example above, there are unfortunately many businesses that would like you to believe they’re the best partner for you, when in fact, they have no intention of ever developing a genuine relationship built on trust. The lack of delivering on intentions can be devastating for companies needing expert assistance to help propel their marketing and advertising strategies forward, especially in the realms of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Many of us have been conditioned to believe that SEO is all about one thing, having our site listed in the number one spot on Search Engines. Though strong ranking is a by-product of good SEO, should that really be the goal? We find the real purpose of SEO should be to attain more customers. A strategy that actually converts visitors is what pays the bills and grows the brand.
The strategy Glint takes on SEO is very comprehensive. Everything from creating unique content, link building, citation building & management, keyword management, reputation management, and monthly analytical reporting are utilized. Also, we set clear expectations around the length of time SEO takes to implement correctly and that the strategy should be created for long-term impact vs. short-term boost.
Before you become disappointed with an SEO strategy that looks great in the beginning, below are seven questions to help ensure your brand has long-term success?
- “Please discuss your experience in branding and how you ensure my brand integrity is never compromised by the content you generate.”
- “What kind of content will you be generating to drive results?”
- “How often will you be generating unique content for us?”
- “Do you utilize an in-house team or is the management of our content outsourced?”
- “Please elaborate on how you approach link building and the systems you use to accomplish this.”
- “On average, how many links per month will you be researching for us?”
- “How do you protect our company during the link building process?”
Asking pointed questions like these up-front will help you vet those that have your best interest at heart and establish a good foundation for the relationship based on clear expectations.
In conclusion, we believe that every agency should be able to create visually impactful assets that get you noticed. However, without first understanding YOU and your goals, it’s impossible to discover if you’re an excellent fit for each other. By taking the time to listen and setting clear expectations up front, you can ensure a positive outcome that won’t leave you feeling duped.
To download a more in-depth overview of considerations for choosing an SEO partner, click here.
If adding a layer of support to your marketing team would be beneficial, we would love to talk with you. Email us at agency@glintadv.com or better yet, give us a call at 817-616-0320.
