Most business owners might not know all the ins and outs of SEO, but they do have a hunch that it matters – and they’re right. Around 70% of people use Google to find local businesses, and those searches often turn into real customers because the intent to buy is already there.
The real challenge is deciding who to trust for SEO among the endless marketing agencies, consultants, and online resources.
In my opinion, you should look for someone who is:
1. Able to Show You Real-World Results
The most critical factor is a proven track record. You need a partner who can point to specific, measurable successes – like moving a local business from page 3 to the top of page 1 for their most valuable search terms.
2. Does Not Push Excessive Blogging or Ad Spend
Be wary of agencies that over-rely on blogging or paid ads. These are often hallmarks of a poor-quality SEO strategy. Creating blog posts for a website with little traffic offers limited SEO value and is often used just to fill out a monthly report. Similarly, pay-per-click ads can be useful for established businesses, but they should not be a substitute for building quality organic rankings.
3. Rare and Specific, Not Generic
True expertise is rare, and is earned through practice. If everyone offered the same effective advice, search rankings would change constantly. It’s the ability to discern which SEO principles deliver consistently and which fail in the real world – a skill only gained by experience.
4. Transparent and Committed to Your Success
I believe in complete transparency. My goal is to help your business succeed, whether you hire me or not. I do not use long-term contracts, I explain my methodology clearly, and you are free to stop our work together at any time. There should be no gatekeeping of information.
5. Directly Accountable for Your Results
Beware of agencies that separate your account management from their technical team. This not only complicates communication but also diffuses responsibility – a major risk. For example, the use of poor-quality links by an unseen team can penalize your website’s ranking for months. I handle your strategy personally to ensure quality and accountability.
6. Focused on Conversions, Not Just Rankings
While ranking is important, business owners ultimately care about sales. A successful SEO strategy must also focus on converting that traffic. This means building a website with strong social proof (like high-quality reviews) and a design optimized for user experience and conversions. This is where I believe my background in UX research and ecommerce management can be genuinely helpful.
7. Realistic About the Timeline for Local SEO
You can expect to see positive results within a few months. However, achieving the #1 spot in a competitive niche or expanding your reach to nearby cities typically takes 3-6 months of sustained effort. You will see gains in rankings and clients along the way, but Google rewards long-term investment. The top results have earned their stability, and the same durable benefit will apply to you once you get there.