Comments on: Is Your Online Marketing Agency a Dud? 23 Signals of Credibility

By: Cridon

Cridon — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:06:42 +0000

I am happy to see, that many of your services actually do not refer to online marketing activities. I think, online marketing always requires a foundation in real live to be credible.

By: Bryan Bliss

Bryan Bliss — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 13:51:21 +0000

Thanks, this crystallizes a few of the missing items for my to do list.
but so many of these things are likely to have been done by agencies and simply for lack of time havent been publicized well enough.
whats that about the cobblers family never having nice shoes or something.
I can think of half a dozen of these items that are already in the done column for my “agency” but i simply need to spend the time to make their presence known and promote abit then i can go back to client work.

By: Bronte

Bronte — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:41:32 +0000

Thats well said about some self promoted gurus which are not upto the mark…..

By: Sterling Mckinley

Sterling Mckinley — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:53:14 +0000

Great article…people must do their research

By: leeodden

leeodden — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:52:28 +0000

Lesley, there are many characteristics of credibility for small companies that can be demonstrated by using the list above. An office building really has nothing to do with any of them actually. Showing evidence of expertise, experience and trustworthiness are essential.

By: IyaLuna

IyaLuna — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:32:42 +0000

This article nailed it. Most online or new media agencies brand themselves as web media experts just because they can click their way through the internet. While the world wide web is open to everybody, only a few bother to dig deep and study the dynamics of this very powerful media tool.

PS You might also find this article helpful, http://sn.im/z1erz. It focuses on one of the
points mentioned - editorial contributions and how they maximize your credibility online.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:51:00 +0000

I enjoyed the article and I think I understand the reasoning behind your list, but many small businesses need the support of other, small seo companies, companies who don’t have office buildings for example. Can you give some advice on what sort of thing to look for in the small companies?

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:05:30 +0000

Just an additional thought. Your next potential rockstar employees are also looking for these signals.

By: Drew Rose

Drew Rose — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:09:41 +0000

Research, case studies and original content go a long distance.

Point #2 Social Media Footprint - It feels critical for any online marketing agency. If someone abandons a Twitter account without removing it...that's not a good sign. Content will always be king and consistency is significant as well.

You have a great point about providing value to niche communities. That's an obvious sign of someone engaged in their industry.

Excellent list, Lee!

By: leeodden

leeodden — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:21:05 +0000

Thank you Rebekah, leadership and communication is essential these days when there are so many channels for expression. As for sharing photos, that's something we should probably do more of.

By: Lisa | SEO Brisbane

Lisa | SEO Brisbane — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:23:59 +0000

I love that “A brand is a promise kept” I think that sums it up nicely.

By: Bala Cogzi

Bala Cogzi — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:02:32 +0000

Very interesting article… I too looked for the same for long time. Thanks for the tips!

By: Underground Elephant

Underground Elephant — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:29:38 +0000

good post thanks for the info

By: SEONoobie.com

SEONoobie.com — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:09:41 +0000

I think it is important to see how you brand yourself as a business if you are going to help others do it. I wouldn't worry about how they rank because you can be a new business in the industry have quite a but of competition in front of you that has been there for a very long time.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:33:47 +0000

Great list, I especially like #3 – too many companies see their employees as liabilities and are terrified of them hopping online and speaking their own mind – I think if you treat your staff well, and encourage your staff to bring their concerns to you, this would only work in your favor. Employees tweeting or posting about how they love working for a company is an excellent credibility booster.

This also helps the frontline staff option – happier staff = happier customers, frontline staff can be a negative factor if people are always complaining about customer service or long hold times. People are too used to customer service centers and dealing with the frontline employees. It has to be a positive experience to leave a lasting impression, in my opinion.

I really like the office one too, I personally tend to feel more connected to businesses who share photos of their offices on their blog or site. It seems more transparent and leads to better trust.

By: leofsd

leofsd — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:32:39 +0000

It is very nice to read this post and i like the way you have described all the factors behind an online marketing campaigns and these should be taken into account when a plan for marketing is being done by company.

By: Nick Stamoulis

Nick Stamoulis — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:24:00 +0000

Great post Lee! It is so important that when looking to hire a search marketing firm that you do your research and ensure their credibility. The things you have outlined above are really great indicators, my thought is that a company who practices what they preach and has created a trusted online presence for themselves in an honest manner is the way to go, and all the factors above play a part in that.

By: Fabrizio Van Marciano

Fabrizio Van Marciano — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:01:00 +0000

I’ve always been a little skeptical with SEO companies having almost spent a lot of time doing it in house. But there are so many companies offering SEO services it pretty confusing.

By: leeodden

leeodden — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:25:17 +0000

Good SEO companies present in many of the signals mentioned above, especially case studies. Google gives specific guidelines for hiring a SEO consultant here.

By: Tom Ranieri

Tom Ranieri — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:34:57 +0000

Good Stuff Lee, I think this was the first entry of 25 that I actually made it down to the 25th. All very unique and interesting things to look for as Im on my 3rd internet marketing firm. Thanks for the info!