How To Get the Best Results by Communicating Effectively with Your SEO Consultant
Using a professional service of any kind is never a one way street. Unfortunately most businesses are missing out on the benefits that search engine optimisation can yield because of poor communication with their SEO consultant. We don’t have this issue at First Place SEO and no matter what agency your with you shouldn’t either. You need regular and documented exchanges of information to keep your SEO strategy effective, avoiding wasted resources and missed opportunities. It’s important for you as a business owner to make sure your SEO consultant is actively communicating with you along the journey, if not then look elsewhere for someone who does.
Start with Clear Goals and Expectations
To get the most out of your SEO efforts, start with making it clear what you want to achieve. Whether that is improving your search rankings on Google or increasing visitor numbers or conversions, specifically define your goals. So instead of aiming to “improve search engine rankings,” set a target like “getting a top-three position for a particular keyword within six months.”
Your SEO consultant needs this clarity to know what low hanging fruit to go after and achieve the wider goal. Properly defined goals will give them something to aim for and a way to measure progress. If your objectives are vague, then don’t expect clarity in your results.
Be Open About Your Budget
Budget discussions may be uncomfortable for some, but they are talks that need to be had. SEO can be a considerable chunk of your marketing budget so your consultant needs to know what resources are available to execute content strategy and off page link building. So by being honest about your budget will help your consultant to suggest SEO strategies that can give you the best return on your investment.
If your budget is limited, your consultant might recommend focusing on content improvements or refining on-page SEO rather than a full blown new content library. On the other hand, if you have more to spend, they might suggest a broader strategy that includes link-building and technical enhancements.
Provide Access to Key Information
Your SEO consultant won’t be able to give you their best without access to important data and resources. This includes your website’s analytics from GA4, Google Search Console access and any marketing materials you’ve created as well as anything else you’ve done off your own back like competitor or industry analysis. The more information you can share the better. Treat your SEO consultant as an integral part of your organisation and best equip them so they can make data driven informed decisions to improve your website performance.
For instance, sharing detailed analytics data will allow your consultant to identify trends in visitor behaviour to help them focus their efforts where they will have the most impact. If they understand your industry and competitors, they can tailor their strategy to reap results..
Keep Communication Regular and Consistent
A successful partnership with your SEO consultant requires regular updates. If you set up a monthly schedule for catch up meetings then everyone has a chance to discuss progress, any issues and ongoing strategy. It is important to establish a routine to keep the project on track.
If you fail to maintain regular contact it can lead to misunderstandings or delays. So to help prevent this a consistent communication schedule will make sure that any necessary adjustments can be made without delay.
Listen to Your Consultant’s Advice
SEO is a complex field that requires specialised knowledge. There isn’t any formal qualifications required to be an SEO so you need a tried and battle tested SEO specialist to guide your strategy effectively. If you have someone with the experience you need to be willing to listen to their advice. Sometimes, this may mean trying out approaches that you hadn’t previously considered or changing strategies that aren’t delivering the desired results.
We suggest being open to your consultant’s suggestions and giving them the freedom to use their skills to help your business succeed. Ignoring their advice can lead to missed opportunities and suboptimal results. If you question anything they say then have another consultant in your back pocket to bounce ideas off of or take to social for advice.. but take online social platforms comments with a pinch of salt.
How Good Communication Leads to SEO Success
We advocate having a good. open flow of communication with your SEO consultant to achieve the results you’re aiming for. Set clear goals and open about your budget, providing the necessary resources, and maintaining regular contact to facilitate a productive relationship that pushes your SEO strategy forward.
Remember, your consultant is there to help you succeed. The better you communicate, the more effectively they can do their job, ensuring that your business gains the traction it needs to get more return from having an online presence..
