What To Look Out For When Choosing The Right Bigcommerce SEO Company?

You see that you could do more to enhance organic traffic, but you lack the time and internal skills to do so, so you've opted to employ an SEO service. You already know what to ask them; if not, see part 1 of this series: What to Ask a Bigcommerce SEO Company— and you've scheduled meetings with a few potential businesses you discovered online.

It's about time you knew what to look out for.

Like every other aspect of digital marketing, SEO has its fair share of dodgy practitioners and dishonest sales practices.

What to Keep an Eye Out For:

Don't get me wrong: many excellent marketing organizations perform a wonderful job, and I strongly advise you to choose one of them. Regardless of who the agency is, it's a good idea to be prepared with a list of criteria that, if encountered, should prompt a follow-up inquiry or two.

1. The Seo Fly-By-Night

When unfamiliar with a subject, it is easy to believe that someone else is an expert. Anyone may pretend to be a genuine SEO expert by employing SEO jargon and putting up a good website. Keep a lookout for the five warning signals of an SEO imposter:

• A brief history: Agencies that have been in operation for less than two years may raise a red flag. If you receive a positive vibe from an agency, make sure you talk to references and examine examples of their work before proceeding.

• Incomplete information: No contact information on their website, no yellow pages/Google local listings, and no social media are all indications that you are dealing with a forger. These platforms provide social evidence in reviews and the number of admirers.

• Poor design or SEO: Anyone who claims to help you with your SEO should have impeccable SEO skills themselves. Another clue that a website was cobbled up to take advantage of ecommerce businesses looking for quick, affordable aid is sloppy site design.

• Cold calls: Blindly calling potential clients may indicate that an agency prioritizes quantity over quality. Be especially wary of agencies who contact you without a formal introduction.

• Inexperienced workers: A limited number of young workers at an agency is typical, but if a so-called "SEO For Big Commerce specialist" was selling can openers door-to-door two months ago, you might want to turn around.

2. Guarantees Of Performance

Organic search is regulated by private search engine algorithms that the outside public only has a hazy understanding of — and that's being charitable. Smart SEOs are excited about the possibilities, but they constantly frame the discussion through the prism of uncertainty. It's a significant red flag when agencies give precise performance promises. These are some examples:

• Ranking: Simply said, rankings cannot be guaranteed. A site can be properly optimized for key phrases, and an agency can predict that it *may* someday rank in the top half of Google SERPs for money keywords. However, securing first-place rankings is overconfidence at its worst.

• Total number of new links: When a company guarantees a certain amount of connections, it might signify one of two things: 1. They are deceiving you; 2. Worse, they have sponsored connections queued up. These can cause irreversible damage to a website's search engine performance and are one of the clearest indicators that you should run, not walk, away from an agency.

• Visits: Directional projections, like rankings, are not the same as boasting particular visit volume. If an agency can anticipate that correctly, I need to talk to them!

• Conversions: It's one thing to argue that improvements should result in higher sales, but guaranteeing exact figures is a blatant falsehood.

3. The Unidentified Foreign Agency

Because Big Commerce SEO Services pay for top people who can perform an amazing job optimizing an ecommerce website, established overseas firms are typically not much cheaper than domestic options. Cheaper choices tend to hire people with little or no SEO knowledge, which may be a tremendous waste of your time and money. When contemplating a foreign agency, be extra careful and talk to references and ask the necessary questions. You may get a great price on a superb agency if you do a little additional research.

4. The SEO Switcheroo

SEO services help you complete this critical task without worrying about onboarding new workers. However, while agencies are handy, they also carry some inherent danger. A fast Google search will provide more than a few SEO agency horror stories. Choosing the appropriate agency, i.e., one that delivers great work and fully connects with your company's purpose, is critical –– and not only because of the horror stories. Poor SEO does more than not help you — it may cause irreversible damage to your website.

SEO Should Not Be Underestimated.

Choosing a Bigcommerce SEO Company is essentially the same as hiring a plumber to repair a leaking pipe or a construction company to redesign your kitchen. There will always be some mediocre selections — and perhaps outright swindlers — among the wide assortment of possibilities. As is usually the case, knowledge is power. Use these tips in your vendor selection process to ensure you have a good feeling about the agency that will ultimately make or break your online business. Take your time when choosing an agency, and don't be hesitant to reach out to your network if something doesn't seem right.