Thousands of SEO agencies can be found on the internet, and while all of them claim to be able to offer you the number one spot in the search engines for your targeted keywords, there are only a handful of professionals who are good enough to do so.

The problem businesses have when seeking an SEO expert is that anyone can claim to be able to offer good all-round SEO services, but because the job is so varied, agencies can almost charge whatever they want. This has led many so-called professionals to offer SEO services that just aren’t good enough to provide the results. It’s as easy as you make it when it comes to finding an SEO agency that’s reliable, and by following the below tips you can be sure you’re going to be able to find an SEO expert that can take your site to the next level.

What Methods Do They Offer?

There are three possible methods that professionals can use when it comes to SEO: White Hat, Grey Hat, and Black Hat. Black Hat methods are frowned upon by search engines and in the long term, your site could end up being penalized or worse, banned from the search engines altogether. White Hat is the way forward for a real chance of winning in the search engines so you’ll want to find a professional that strictly supports White Hat methods. Grey Hat is pretty much in the middle of both so you’ll want to stay away from those professionals as well.

Does the Agency Have Good Testimonials?

It’s important that you work with a legit SEO professional because there are so many out there looking to take your money and provide an unreliable service. Have a look at their testimonials and research said SEO agency in the search engines to see if you can dig up any dirt. This may take a bit of time, but it’s a crucial step just so you know you’re going to get a professional that’s willing to do the work.

What Reporting Does the Agency Provide?

Before you enter any price negotiations it’s important you ask the agency a few important questions, and one of those is to find out what reporting they offer. Reports are important purely because they tell you what the agency has been doing and what has been working, and it will also show the agency what they need to do to improve the service. Reports will consist of a lot of traffic data usually provided by Google Analytics, and reports are crucial to the success of any SEO campaign.

Always Plan with the Agency

The agency will research your site to come up with a strategy they think will boost your SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) – and it’s important you also discuss the plan with them to ensure you’re happy with the overall length and price of the project. SEO is often done over months, and you will likely continue to work with the agency for years if it’s a viable option.

Finding a good all-round SEO agency is never an easy task but if you research them well enough in the search engines and you’re happy with what they’ve offered to previous clients, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give them a shot.