Comments on: 5 Tips on Hiring and Getting the Most Value from SEO Consultants http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/ Grow your business with TopRank Online Marketing tips, articles, & expert information on social media, content marketing & search engine marketing. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John A Robb http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534821 John A Robb Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:31:57 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534821 For me it is getting the client to give over control of the site. SEO is not a bolt on exercise. You don't just "add" it to the a site. The client's strategy has to include SEO from the ground up. For me it is getting the client to give over control of the site. SEO is not a bolt on exercise. You don’t just “add” it to the a site. The client’s strategy has to include SEO from the ground up.

]]> By: Stans http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534811 Stans Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:52:33 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534811 Spot-on post on a hot topic, Lee. Thanks for sharing! Spot-on post on a hot topic, Lee. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Rob http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534804 Rob Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:56:50 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534804 Probably a good idea to look at some of their clients sites, and see how they rank. Probably a good idea to look at some of their clients sites, and see how they rank.

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534798 Lee Odden Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:15:17 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534798 Kris, so called "SEO Consultants" that send unsolicited ads to your email are NOT representative of the SEO industry at all. The best SEO consultants and agencies don't do any kind of outbound marketing. Or at least many of them don't. In any industry, companies that have to make big promises almost always set the expectations bar too high and the situation results in the reality or perception of underdelivering. Companies that want to find good SEO companies or consultants should get referrals, not rely on ads. Common sense. BTW, I hope it wasn't a SEO consultant that advised you to register a domain name with 3 hyphens! Kris, so called “SEO Consultants” that send unsolicited ads to your email are NOT representative of the SEO industry at all. The best SEO consultants and agencies don’t do any kind of outbound marketing. Or at least many of them don’t. In any industry, companies that have to make big promises almost always set the expectations bar too high and the situation results in the reality or perception of underdelivering.

Companies that want to find good SEO companies or consultants should get referrals, not rely on ads. Common sense.

BTW, I hope it wasn’t a SEO consultant that advised you to register a domain name with 3 hyphens!

]]> By: Sanjay http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534794 Sanjay Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:35:41 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534794 That was a great information shared, You are a good SEO resource. Nice Post. Regards, That was a great information shared, You are a good SEO resource. Nice Post.

Regards,

]]> By: Kris Bovay http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534786 Kris Bovay Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:11:24 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534786 Wow. I loved that video! Almost totally took me away from the topic. But I came back again to read your post. My reaction to SEO is kind of a roll of the eyes because most companies who 'do SEO' have a major tendancy to over promise, and under deliver. In fact the promises seem so unbelievable that the credibility is shot before the relationship begins - how can I get a promise from the SEO company that they will increase my traffic by 100% if they don't know what traffic I'm starting with? Or they don't even know if I have a website (I'm talking about the emails I get to my personal email - unrelated to my sites). Wow. I loved that video! Almost totally took me away from the topic. But I came back again to read your post. My reaction to SEO is kind of a roll of the eyes because most companies who ‘do SEO’ have a major tendancy to over promise, and under deliver. In fact the promises seem so unbelievable that the credibility is shot before the relationship begins – how can I get a promise from the SEO company that they will increase my traffic by 100% if they don’t know what traffic I’m starting with? Or they don’t even know if I have a website (I’m talking about the emails I get to my personal email – unrelated to my sites).

]]> By: Oxzen Media http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534775 Oxzen Media Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:59:48 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534775 Thanks for sharing the good information and ideas about marketing. Nice post! Thanks for sharing the good information and ideas about marketing. Nice post!

]]> By: Omar http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534771 Omar Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:10:37 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534771 The SEO field has become filled with a lot of consultants offering outdated or ineffective strategies. To avoid using one, my recommendation would be to create a shortlist of about 10-20 consultants or agencies based on the criteria Lee has listed. Call several of their listed clients, and request several clients NOT LISTED on their references. You can usually get a pretty good picture about the quality of a consultant or agency through talking to their customers. The SEO field has become filled with a lot of consultants offering outdated or ineffective strategies. To avoid using one, my recommendation would be to create a shortlist of about 10-20 consultants or agencies based on the criteria Lee has listed.

Call several of their listed clients, and request several clients NOT LISTED on their references. You can usually get a pretty good picture about the quality of a consultant or agency through talking to their customers.

]]> By: Dayne http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534768 Dayne Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:27:30 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534768 These are all great. It always comes down to finding honest people to do business with as you mention in #4. And #3 is huge as well. It's important to communicate expectations regarding goals and delivery dates. It's best to be on the same page for both parties involved. Again, great insight. You're a trusted SEO resource. Dayne These are all great.

It always comes down to finding honest people to do business with as you mention in #4.

And #3 is huge as well. It’s important to communicate expectations regarding goals and delivery dates.

It’s best to be on the same page for both parties involved.

Again, great insight. You’re a trusted SEO resource.

Dayne

]]> By: Scott Clark http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534767 Scott Clark Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:14:01 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534767 Thanks Lee, here's the link. If you're hiring an SEM consultant or if you are one, this post is heartfelt and covers the bases of real world things to consider before starting an agreement. <a href="http://www.buzzmaven.com/2009/05/sem-consultants-best-practices.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Making It Better…Education is the Lifeblood of SEM Success</a> Please provide feedback. Thanks Lee, here’s the link.

If you’re hiring an SEM consultant or if you are one, this post is heartfelt and covers the bases of real world things to consider before starting an agreement.

Making It Better…Education is the Lifeblood of SEM Success

Please provide feedback.

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534765 Lee Odden Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:32:34 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534765 Ongoing education is key and companies that want 100% hands off experience aren't going to be happy with what they get in the long run. They may even get a few surprises. Not the good kind either. Ongoing education is key and companies that want 100% hands off experience aren’t going to be happy with what they get in the long run. They may even get a few surprises. Not the good kind either.

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534764 Lee Odden Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:30:55 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534764 So CK, you equate "suit" with "meaningless reports"? I am sorry you've had a bad experience with suits or maybe that's just <a href="http://www.seodisco.com/images/suits-suck.jpg" rel="nofollow">part of your brandin</a>g. :) So CK, you equate “suit” with “meaningless reports”? I am sorry you’ve had a bad experience with suits or maybe that’s just part of your branding. :)

]]> By: Scott Clark http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534763 Scott Clark Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:27:01 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534763 Lack of client education is the single largest reason for failure in SEM projects. Setting expectations and defining roles and responsibilities should be considered foundations. If the SEM consultant isn't providing organized educational efforts that include executives and key stakeholders in the first 5% of the project then something is going to break later. Secondly, make sure there is a RESPONSIVE SENIOR point of contact with the SEO consultant. Not three. Not 25. Do not let 25 people unleash their worldly frustrations about web developers on the person. If you don't, people will eventually end up asking the SEO guy how to fix their printer. I've SEEN it with my own eyes. Lack of client education is the single largest reason for failure in SEM projects. Setting expectations and defining roles and responsibilities should be considered foundations.

If the SEM consultant isn’t providing organized educational efforts that include executives and key stakeholders in the first 5% of the project then something is going to break later.

Secondly, make sure there is a RESPONSIVE SENIOR point of contact with the SEO consultant. Not three. Not 25. Do not let 25 people unleash their worldly frustrations about web developers on the person. If you don’t, people will eventually end up asking the SEO guy how to fix their printer. I’ve SEEN it with my own eyes.

]]> By: CK Chung http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/07/tips-on-hiring-and-getting-the-most-value-from-seo-consultants/#comment-534762 CK Chung Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:22:42 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/?p=5663#comment-534762 As an SEO consultant, the most important thing for me is how I fit in with the client, and vice versa. I put a lot of myself out in the public via social media, so it is important for my client to understand my fun-loving, but straight-up and no-fluff nature. Some of my favorite clients have actually discovered me through my rash and outlandish Tweets. On the other hand, if a company is looking for a suit and meaningless reports, I wouldn't be who they're looking for... and I wouldn't want to work with them anyway. As an SEO consultant, the most important thing for me is how I fit in with the client, and vice versa. I put a lot of myself out in the public via social media, so it is important for my client to understand my fun-loving, but straight-up and no-fluff nature. Some of my favorite clients have actually discovered me through my rash and outlandish Tweets.

On the other hand, if a company is looking for a suit and meaningless reports, I wouldn’t be who they’re looking for… and I wouldn’t want to work with them anyway.

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