Which is the best eCommerce SEO company out there? They’re all vying for the title and maybe some own a legitimate claim, but how can you put that to the test yourself?
Here are 6 things to check. If a company doesn’t pass this test, they’re hardly the best.
Social Media Presence
Presence on social media really isn’t about search engine optimization, but about customer care and authority in the industry.
You should see informative posts on LinkedIn as well as engagement with customers, present and past, on any platforms on which the company is active.
Organic Rankings for Competitive/Relevant Keywords
This is one of the most important things to look for. Here’s the catch, though. No company, no matter how impressive, can rank for everything.
You just need to find some that the company is ranking for well – like at the tops of the SERPs.
Pick something like “eCommerce SEO company,” “eCommerce SEO agency” or “eCommerce marketing services.” These are just spitballed examples, but they get the job done.
Any company that shows up at the top is doing something right because these are extremely competitive keywords. It also means the company’s internal team is definitely “good at SEO” to put it a certain way.
You could also drill down and try industry specific keywords, since these are less competitive. Try something like “fashion SEO services” or “cigar store SEO” and see what comes up organically.
Anything that shows up at the top comes from a company that knows SEO.
(Note: ignore the ads. These have nothing to do with the organic listings.)
Case Studies and Client Portfolios
Hiring for SEO is risky business because it can be hard to determine ROI. The best eCommerce SEO company will be able to improve your organic rankings, which will result in greater organic visibility and traffic for you.
With proper targeting, the campaign should also result in higher organic sales and conversion rates.
These are metrics that should all appear in dedicated SEO case studies, or at least a client portfolio.
Look out for these on the website of any agency you intend to hire for SEO services.
Reviews and Client Testimonials
You can trust reviews and testimonials that appear on the agency website – to a point. Use them as a reference or jumping off point.
Then move to testimonials and reviews that show up elsewhere. Check forums in your industry to see if there is any mention; if not, check places like Google Reviews or Clutch.
If you can’t get anything there, ask for a recommendation in a marketing agency from your eCommerce platform’s representatives.
A Transparent Process with Deliverables Detailed
Last but not least, the best eCommerce SEO company will have a thorough process outlined with all of the deliverables meticulously detailed.
This is how you can “know you’re getting what you paid for,” at least within the scope of the campaign.
That way there will be no smoke and mirrors, and you can focus on other organic results.
Finding the Best eCommerce SEO Company
Even with this outline set out for you, finding the best eCommerce SEO company is no cakewalk. You still have to do a lot of legwork.
Start with a search for SEO services in your industry. This will turn up a few agencies that should be able to work with you (remember, stick to organic results only).
Check out that agency’s overall online visibility and their own websites to see what other marketing strategies they offer. Then you can get started peeling back the layers.
