With strong organic search results on everyone’s mind these days, hiring an SEO company is seen by many as an essential part of doing business. Gone are the days of “do it yourself” SEO, unless you have an extra 50 hours a week to devote to learning about and applying the ever shifting best practices for an SEO campaign. Indeed, with regular changes to the Google algorithm having profound implications for strategy, it’s critical to have a team in place that can stay abreast of the marketplace.
When it comes to choosing a company, you have many choices. Payment models abound, with pricing models available for contract based services, per project, or even per hour consultations.
Consider first, however, what it takes to achieve an effective SEO program. Regular analytics reports, along with keyword research, link building, and onsite optimization and improvements are critical to your success. For those reasons, most savvy industry insiders recommend a monthly retainer based service to maximize your ROI.
Above all, avoid the empty promises of a #1 spot on Google, or instant ranking success. SEO doesn’t work like that, for anyone. As with anything else, only consistent, day after day, month after month effort and a smart overall campaign ensure real success with the search engines. Monthly retainer based services support that strategy.
