How to Find the Best SEO Consultant in Lincolnshire

Okay, so I may be a little bias here, but the purpose of this blog post is to provide up to date and current advice on finding an SEO consultant and not to toot my own trumpet! I'll talk you though where to find a consultant and what to look for (and what not to look for) once you've found a few contenders.  

Step one: Finding a consultant

If you've been in business a while and are active at networking events and are online on social media, you may have a few contacts already. Keep these in mind, but a quick Google search is also always worth a try. When it comes to SEO, you want someone who can deliver results. The proof should be in the pudding here, the consultants ranking high on the search results should be the best in the business. Here's what we see when we search for "SEO freelancer Lincolnshire".

The ads at the top (yellow box) are entirely different from the organic results (blue box), and anyone can put ads in this first section. The best SEO consultants should be the ones ranking in the top few organic search results. Try a few different searches and see who you find. 

Step 2: Take a look at the companies reviews

Use Facebook and Google to take a look at consultant or companies reviews. Bear in mind that review sites like Feefo aren't 100% reliable as with these sites, businesses have to invite people to leave a review. They aren't public. And so, of course, companies only invite the clients they know will leave positive reviews. 

Step 3: Make contact

Once you've got a few contenders, make contact (preferably via phone) and chat with each one. You should get a feel for how they work and the knowledge they possess. Be wary of businesses who use a lot of jargon when they speak with you. The best consultants will be able to explain precisely what they can do for you without you walking away, feeling very confused!

Be sure to ask about:

• On-page SEO

• Off-page SEO

• Google My Business management

• Reporting

• Google Analytics and Google Search Console

Step 4: Request a proposal

Request a formal proposal from the companies you're interested in working with. Any reputable consultant will offer a formal proposal and contract to outline exactly what they can do for you and to ensure both they and you are protected should anything go wrong. You're in your right to ask about the consultant's insurance should you wish to.

Step 5: Review the information

Review the information the consultant has sent over in the proposal and evaluate how effective their results should be. It's also worth considering the price and additional factors such as does your consultant also offer some social media and Google My Business management as part of their SEO service? Expert SEO services should include these alongside the more standard SEO factors. You should also ask if the consultant has any case studies or results from other clients they can share with you.

It’s also important to consider any qualifications the consultant has. If they’re working with you on your SEO directly, they should also have knowledge of data analysis, Google Analytics and Google My Business. Google offer these qualifications and certifications directly themselves or they can be obtained by other organisations and courses.

Step 6: Make your choice!

You should, by now, have all the information you need to make your decision. If you're still unsure, request a second call or arrange a meeting in person to discuss further. 

If you'd like help with your SEO, feel free to reach out to me on 01522 275 021 or online here.