If you have been in business for a short time, you probably know you need to find an SEO firm and start reaping the benefits. However, there are many firms out there in Chicago and all throughout the US and the world, so it can be tricky to find the right one, though there are tips that can help.
Needs
Before evening beginning an online search for SEO firms in Chicago, decide on what you need. This could be content marketing, reputation management, PPC management, link removal, SEO audits, article writing or any number of other things. While you may not know the professional terms for what you require, make a list and explain your needs to potential firms. They should be able to tell you exactly what it is you need. You may also want to focus on long-term goals and not just what you want right now. For example, you may want to increase sales by 20 percent over a 12-month period or have 50 percent more leads within the next six months. You may also want increased rankings alone or want that along with other things.
Multiple Companies
While you will only work with one SEO firm in Chicago, you want to get multiple consultations for your Chicago business. Whether you speak with an SEO firm in person, through email or over the telephone, ask them to help you determine what you need based on what outcome you want. Many firms will provide free consultations so they can win your business by impressing you with their knowledge. However, during this process, don’t let on that you are seeking out other firms, as well because it may make the SEO firm you are currently talking with compete less. You may think that telling them your Chicago business is shopping around would make them compete more, but the opposite is usually true, especially with larger SEO firms.
References
Make sure you get references from the SEO firm, detailing successful SEO strategies. If you were going to hire a new person for your company, you’d want references. Make sure to receive references in your niche. For example, if you run a self-storage business, you do not want to receive references from those in concrete-pouring businesses as the results may not be the same. This can be a great indicator of how well the SEO firm will work for your Chicago company, based on how well they handled other similar companies.
