5 Tips for Selecting an SEO firm: A Guide to Help You Hire the Best, and Avoid the Worst

A C O M C O R P, I N C . W H I T E PA P E R
5 TIPS FOR SELECTING A SEO FIRM:A GUIDE TO HELP YOU HIRE THE BEST, AND AVOID THE WORST
B Y TA M M Y C A M P, C E O
10/1/2009
C o m C o r p , I n c . . U S Te l : + 1 8 6 6 - 5 9 2 - 9 1 0 7 . U K Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 9 9 3 8 6 5 6 . w w w. c o m c o r p . c o mIntroduction
Hiring a search engine optimization ?rm can be a dif?cult process. A skilled SEO ?rm will help you sig-ni?cantly increase the impact of your web presence, while a lesser ?rm will waste your money, and dam-age your online reputation. Yet, at least from the outside, the two can look relatively similar.
Here are 5 tips to help you hire the right SEO ?rm:
1. Ask for references.
It's perfectly reasonable to want to speak with current or past clients when vetting a search engine opti-mization ?rm. The good SEO companies will gladly furnish samples of their work, and make available past clients you can speak to. If a ?rm can't, or won't, it may mean they're not a good ?t for the job.
2. Look for ROI, not cost.
In SEO, as in business, you get what you pay for. A search engine optimization ?rm offering bargain-level pricing will likely deliver bargain-level results. Instead of looking for the cheapest option, look for a com-pany that will offer the best return on your investment. Ideally, you can spend a little more now to get a lot more later.
3. Avoid ?rms who have all the answers.
Search engine optimization is a complex and ever-changing trade. The SEO ?rms that understand this are ?exible, and often ask more question then they give answers. If a ?rm claims to know all the answers, or offers guarantees that seem to good to be true, it may be indication that they lack the expertise you're looking for.
4. Find a ?rm that ?ts you.
Search engine optimization is an imperfect science. One size certainly doesn't ?t all, and the best cam-paigns are customized to ?t the needs of each client. Even if a ?rm looks great from the outside, that doesn't necessarily mean they're perfect for you -- make sure there's a strong ?t between their offerings, their specialties, and the personality of your company.
C o m C o r p , I n c . . U S Te l : + 1 8 6 6 - 5 9 2 - 9 1 0 7 . U K Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 9 9 3 8 6 5 6 . w w w. c o m c o r p . c o m5. Trust your gut.
There are many good SEO ?rms out there, and there are a few very bad ones. The tips so far in this whitepaper should help you identify the former, and avoid the latter. But in the end, there's no substitute for common sense. Trust your instincts, and chances are, you'll end up with a reputable ?rm that best ?ts your needs.
C o m C o r p , I n c . . U S Te l : + 1 8 6 6 - 5 9 2 - 9 1 0 7 . U K Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 9 9 3 8 6 5 6 . w w w. c o m c o r p . c o m Tel: +1 866 592 910 - USA Tel: +44 (0) 20 3014 0064 - UK Fax: +1 561 214 4032 www.comcorp.com
About the Author

Tammy Camp is an Interactive Marketing Executive with over 8 years of expertise in the Internet arena. Tammy has worked with international and domestic companies such as T-Mobile, eBay, Harrods, and Hotwire on successfully executing their online marketing campaigns.
Tammy is the President of ComCorp, a world-leading search engine marketing, search engine optimiza-tion, pay-per-click advertising, and social media marketing ?rm.
Contact ComCorp today if you have any questions about search engine marketing, or would like to re-quest a quote for SEM services: US Tel: +1 866-592-9107 UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 3014 0064 www.comcorp.com http://twitter.com/ComCorp
Copyright © 2009 ComCorp, Inc. All rights reserved.
C o m C o r p , I n c . . U S Te l : + 1 8 6 6 - 5 9 2 - 9 1 0 7 . U K Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 9 9 3 8 6 5 6 . w w w. c o m c o r p . c o m... [download for more]