Search engine optimization is somewhat of a holy grail for local businesses. If you do it correctly, you appear as the top result in Google searches and get targeted website traffic at no cost. Because of this, a top tier SEO company can be worth its weight in gold. However, there are also a great deal of questionable search engine optimization companies out there taking advantage of unsuspecting business owners, charging many thousands of dollars a month while providing minimal value in return. But they pretty much seem identical, and all of them promote on the net with the exact guarantees: improve your law firm’s Google rank, get more customers, make more money. So how can you differentiate between the bad search engine optimization companies and those which are actually worth the investment? This post will explain the major do’s and don’ts for how to hire a fantastic law firm SEO company.
When you’re approaching a significant business decision like hiring an SEO company for your law firm, it’s very useful to understand where the potential pitfalls are ahead of time. Here’s what you shouldn’t do if you are searching for a good search engine optimization company.
You might assume that the top Google result for “law firm SEO company” would be the best SEO company to employ. After all, they are on top of Google, right?
The issue is, when you search for terms like “best SEO company for lawyers,” the first result is truly probably not even a real search engine optimization company you could hire.
They sound very on point with what you were looking for, but you probably won’t recognize the companies behind them, and for good reason.
The top 10 lists usually just offer the greatest positions on their lists to the highest bidders, and they haven’t vetted these companies at all. Search engine optimization companies understand the value of being the top result of any list, and they’re prepared to pay for it.
The listing websites do not select these companies based on the quality of their services or their reputation, so it’s highly advised that you avoid them.
Like the online search engine optimization lists, ad space in a bar publication is paid for by SEO companies. Your bar association isn’t an expert at SEO, and they don’t necessarily know anything about the quality of search engine optimization services being provided by these advertisers.
Since the quality is unknown, you should exercise caution when using these companies also. Just because someone is paying for advertise does not automatically mean they’re a respectable search engine optimization company.
You don’t need to become an SEO whiz by any means, but it’s important to understand what SEO is and the way it works. There are numerous resources available online, but for lawyer, you can take a look at this particular SEO for lawyers guide.
Knowing the basic terminology and how SEO works will make it a lot easier to evaluate SEO companies. You’ll know what questions to ask and get a clearer idea of what the corporation’s strengths and weaknesses are.
Most of all, you’ll have the ability to understand what the organization is doing and exactly how the organization is improving your SEO.
Ask about The Company’s SEO Strategy
There are a lot of approaches to approach SEO. If you’ve learned the fundamentals, you can ask the business about their search engine optimization strategies.
Will they add your website to legal directories also?
The more you learn about the provider’s SEO strategy, the more you will understand what to expect from their services. Search engine optimization is not rocket science: you ought to be able to comprehend just what the organization is doing to increase your law firm’s ranking, which can help you evaluate the results they deliver.
If the business promises big benefits, you want to have the ability to see proof for yourself. Search the web for reviews of the business’s services, or ask the company if they’re ready to give you the names of some reference clients.
Find Case Studies and Testimonials
Every search engine optimization company will make enormous promises of the search engine optimization improvements of their clientele. But the clients themselves will tell you the true story of their experiences, for better or for worse.
Each search engine optimization company will have different contract terms. You’re going to want to know whether the company has a policy against working for any of your competition. You’ll want to make sure that they follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines and have never been penalized for unethical search engine optimization practices. You’ll also have to be aware of the minimum contract duration.
Some search engine optimization companies lock you in to a two year contract. If you’re unsatisfied with their service after a couple of months, canceling the contract would incur extra expenses. Be careful about such terms, and avoid committing to any sort of SEO contract for over 6 months. That should be enough time to assess the firm’s service.
What NOT to Do When Hiring a Law Firm SEO Company
The surest way to discover a great search engine optimization company is through another law firm’s recommendation. Consult your local bar association if any members can suggest a good search engine optimization company, or reach out to another firm in your city but outside of your practice area that’s ranking high on Google searches.
If you’re looking for my personal recommendation, you might even have a look at this list for the best law firm SEO services. Each search engine optimization company has its own pros and cons, so make certain to do your due diligence and find the one which works best for your law firm’s needs and budget.
How to Hire A Good Law Firm SEO Company
Selecting the perfect search engine optimization company is a major decision. You owe it to your firm to obtain the search engine optimization company that best meets your requirements. Getting to the first page of Google can look like an unreachable goal now, but with a great search engine optimization strategy, you can begin getting clients from organic searches in just a matter of months.