their<\/em> business.<\/p>\nAsk if they outsource\u00a0<\/h3>\n
When I started my career over 10 years ago, outsourcing was fairly rare in agency land.<\/p>\n
But 10 years later, it\u2019s now more common and something that even the big media agencies do to reduce costs.<\/p>\n
When you think of outsourcing, it generally has negative connotations, but it can also be positive. Outsourcing can work for everyone if an agency has the right processes and training in\u00a0place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bottom line here is to ensure that you are happy with the quality of the\u00a0work.<\/p>\n
Ask to see the SEO\u00a0team<\/h3>\n
Agencies usually get the sales teams to do most of the work in the pitch stages, as that\u2019s their specialty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But as a prospective client, it\u2019s worth remembering that the sales team won\u2019t be the people working on the account with\u00a0you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ask to see the SEO team members, and judge whether you think they will be a good fit with your business. A good team should act as an extension of your own business.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to interrogate each member of the SEO team, asking about their experience. But you\u2019ll probably be able to feel if the team is experienced or not just with a quick\u00a0chat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you have established that it\u2019s a team you want to work with, it\u2019s worth asking how many hours of senior SEO experience you will get on the account.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The agency is unlikely to refuse any of your requests early on since they will try their hardest to win you over as a client.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is the best time to ask all your questions, get answers, and learn about the necessary details added to the contract.<\/p>\n
Get testimonials<\/h3>\n
Sometimes, the best way to understand what an agency is like is to talk to some of its other clients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ask for testimonials from the agency\u2019s other clients and, if possible, for a phone or video call. You\u2019ll get much more information this way than from a forwarded email saying how great the agency is.<\/p>\n
Case studies<\/h3>\n
Most agencies have a bunch of case studies on their websites about how they got a 10X ROI for a client they worked with. It\u2019s a good idea to read these carefully\u2014these are usually the best examples of their work. It will show you what they are capable of.<\/p>\n
Final thoughts<\/h2>\n
SEO agencies are there to make your life easier, enabling you to spend more time focusing on your business. They will suit many businesses out there, but not\u00a0all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If your business can\u2019t support a four-figure monthly retainer fee, then an agency is probably not right for\u00a0you.<\/p>\n
Lastly, don\u2019t be afraid to ask lots of questions (and get answers) before you sign on the dotted line.<\/p>\n
Got more questions? Ping me on Twitter<\/a>. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n