In the digital age, there is a surplus of agencies to try, but not all provide the same quality. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is crucial to any digital marketing strategy. But with so many SEO consultants, knowing which one to choose can be challenging.
Whether you’re a small business owner or the head of a large corporation, these tips will help you find an SEO consultant who can deliver results for your business. Keep reading to find out how to select a top SEO consultant and find the best agency in Melbourne and beyond.
What is an SEO consultant, and what do they do?
An SEO consultant specialises in improving a website’s visibility and ranking on search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
They work with businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to large corporations, to optimise their online presence and increase organic traffic. This includes analysing a website’s structure and content, conducting keyword research, and identifying and fixing any technical issues preventing it from ranking well.
In addition to technical optimisation, an SEO consultant also focuses on creating high-quality content and building backlinks to a website. They will also use analytics tools to track a website’s Google ranking performance and make data-driven decisions to improve it.
SEO consultants will stay up-to-date with the latest SEO best practices and algorithm updates to ensure their clients’ websites rank well in search results. Overall, an SEO consultant is crucial in helping businesses reach their target audience and achieve their online marketing goals.
Image credit: HubSpot
Website traffic represents the number of people visiting your site, which can indicate the level of interest for a business’s products and services and can directly impact your revenue through online sales.
How to choose an SEO expert?
Choosing an SEO expert can be daunting, as many professionals claim to be experts in the field. Here are five key factors to consider when deciding.
1. Experience
The first thing to consider is the SEO expert’s experience and track record. Look for an expert with a proven track record of success and experience working with businesses in your industry.
Another essential factor to consider is the SEO expert’s approach to SEO. Look for an expert who uses white hat techniques and stays up-to-date with the latest SEO best practices. An expert who uses black hat techniques may be able to deliver short-term results, but it will hurt your website’s success in the long term.
2. Knowledge
Expert SEO weaves together on-page content and technical SEO to create a holistic strategy that makes a difference. SEO specialists should be able to deliver a marketing strategy that combines keyword-led content and link building.
Image credit: Ahrefs
Chat with companies you are considering and request a full SEO audit — most of the time, many SEO agencies will do a free audit as they want to show you what’s achievable should you choose to work with them. Just be aware that some SEO audits might be auto-generated, providing very little practical information, depth, or insights. A solid, quality audit should be conducted by an experienced SEO professional and not read like a printout.
3. Testimonials and SEO results
It’s always a good idea to check out a consultancy’s testimonials. Testimonials provide social proof and credibility and help build confidence in a product or service.
Experienced SEO agencies should be able to prove that they can drive results through SEO. Check out some of their testimonials to see if they come from brands or influencers you know or trust.
Image credit: Search Engine Journal
Most SEO agencies will provide monthly reports and actionable insights to break down all the work that has been done and have regular catch-ups with their clients.
One other thing you can do is take a look at their testimonials on an agency’s website and reach out to some of the people to find out first-hand about their experience and SEO results from working with their agency partner.
You can also look at review platforms like Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) or Clutch and search for “SEO consultants Melbourne” to read their reviews.
4. Transparency and specialties
Transparency is vital when hiring an SEO agency because it allows you to understand the strategies and ensure that the agency uses ethical methods that align with your business goals and drive more traffic to your site.
Here are some questions prospective clients could ask SEO agencies in Melbourne to determine if they could be
- Can you provide examples of successful campaigns you have managed in the past?
- How do you measure the success of your SEO efforts?
- Can you explain your link building strategy?
- How do you ensure that your work will not be penalised by Google Search?
- How do you plan to track and report the progress of the SEO campaign?
- How do you optimise websites? What optimisation tools do you use?
- What is your content writing process? Do you use in-house writers or outsource the content to a third party or freelancer?
It’s important to point out that some agencies may specialise 100% in SEO (or a specific niche, for example, e-commerce SEO, SaaS companies, local SEO, marketplaces, or tradies).
While others may fall under the digital marketing agency umbrella and handle a wide range of services such as Google Ads, website design, conversion rate optimisation (CRO), market research, branding, digital PR and social media marketing.
5. SEO content writing skills
Content skills are valuable for businesses because they help companies create and share valuable information that resonates with their target audience. Some specific ways content skills can benefit a business include:
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- SEO copywriting: Creating optimised content for search engines. This involves researching and using keywords that people are likely to search for, and incorporating those keywords into the text in a natural and readable way.
- Research: The ability to gather and analyse information from various sources to create accurate and informative content.
- Authoritative writers: Using writers with real experience in the subject matter they are writing about. For example, if the content is about pets, get a qualified veterinarian to write and be the author for that particular piece of writing.
Summing up
An SEO campaign is a process; it involves a lot of aspects and some considerable time to make it work. However, if you want to make your business appear high in search results more cheaply and effectively than paid ads, you must invest in an SEO strategy.
If you are looking for leading local SEO experts based in Melbourne, Aperitif is an excellent choice. We deliver consistent and impressive client results through a holistic strategy that appeals to your target audience.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to improve your online presence and boost your search engine rankings with our top-notch SEO services in Melbourne. Contact our local SEO Melbourne experts today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a more successful online business.
