SEO is complicated. If you choose the right provider, it can have a significant impact on your business. If not, you can spend tens of thousands only to find out you’ve been scammed. While international providers may have cheaper options, going local may be better for your business.
A new study found that almost half of SMB’s don’t know the location of their SEO provider. At the same time, 78% believe that knowing their provider’s location is “very” important, and 46% say it’s “extremely important.”
Here’s why.
- Regular contact: When you hand over the keys to your business—website usernames and passwords—you need to know you’re giving them to someone you can trust. That means getting to know your SEO provider by having regular phone and face-to-face meetings. Beware of relying on someone you’ve never met, isn’t available when you need them, and who can disappear without a trace.
- Local knowledge: The greatest benefit of working with a local provider is that they know you, your market, and your competition. They’re working with it every day and can use local SEO techniques to optimize your website to appear at the top in location-based search results attracting local customers.
- Accurate content: A local SEO provider can put you in touch with a copywriter experienced in the local market. They’ll understand what works and what doesn’t, and know what style, tone, and information need to be included to meet your goals.
- Better reporting: You need to know what you’re getting for the money you spend on SEO. All reputable SEO providers send out reports monthly with analytics showing you how your SEO strategy is working. However, since they can be confusing, your local provider needs to sit down with you and explain them.
Don’t be scammed! Choose a local SEO provider who can sit down with you and work out what’s best for your website, brand, and business.
Has working with an out-of-town, out-of-province, or out-of-country SEO expert got you in trouble? I’d love to hear your story! If you have one to tell, please contact me at info@creologic.ca. I’ll see what I can do to help.
About the author
Kelly Grainger is the Founder and President of CreoLogic Design Inc., a leading website and SEO company based in Edmonton, Canada. Leveraging 20-years’ experience, Kelly’s focus is on helping local companies take advantage of digital transformation to enhance services and create competitive differentiation.
