When looking to optimize your website’s reach and increase your online presence and business, you will have come across these three magical letters: SEO or search engine optimization.
But what does SEO mean? If you go to Google and type in any search term, you get pages full of links to websites that match that search term. And SEO focuses on your website’s ranking in these search results, meaning that your site will show up at the top of the page and drive traffic to your website and business organically.
While this may be simple enough on the surface, there is far more to it than meets the eye, and this is where the professionals come in. A professional SEO company in Toronto can help you elevate your business to the next level, so this blog will look at how to choose the best SEO company in Toronto. Oh, just between us, you already found it 😉
Importance of SEO for Businesses
Over the last few years, the importance of an excellent web presence has grown exponentially; whether to get your name out or sell services or products, the world runs online. People access the internet from computers, tablets and smartphones more than ever before, making it critical for your company to rank high in the search engine results.
Imagine you are looking for a company that offers a particular service. How often do you actually go even just to the second or third page of the results? Exactly, rarely if ever. So ranking on the first page can make a significant difference in the success of your business.
Role of SEO Companies in Improving Online Presence
As mentioned above, SEO seems simple enough if all it is is to put the right keywords on your website. Well, if that’s all it was, maybe. But in truth, that’s just one part of the puzzle. So, what magic can an SEO company add to the mix?
As much as we wished we had a magic wand that we could just aim at your website and content to be optimized for the search engines, there is a lot of hard work and experience going into this. There are four key pillars to our approach.
Research
It all starts with research. A lot of research. Using the latest tools to analyze your website and competition an SEO company will identify which keywords you and your competitors rank for and determine which relevant keywords have the highest search volume to drive traffic and qualified leads to your website.
Keyword & Content Mapping
Now that they have the right keywords, the Canada SEO experts will analyze your website again (yes, we do this a lot) to determine where and how these keywords can be used most efficiently to increase your website’s rankings.
This optimization can be achieved by updating existing content or creating new, fully optimized pages from scratch (We have people for that, too).
On-Page Optimization
Google has seven core types of information its crawler, the program that collects data from the internet, is looking for when it goes through your website, such as title tags, URL structure, keyword density and more. It also will consider other factors, such as speed, mobile friendliness or problems like broken links or missing pages.
Link Building
Link building is one of the parts of SEO most people don’t know about. Backlinks are links from other websites linking to yours. The Google algorithm considers these as votes of confidence in your website and adds them to your ranking.
It is important to note that not every backlink is created equal because Google also pays close attention to the source’s relevance, so it’s not just a question of quantity but quality.
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How to Choose the Best SEO Company in Toronto?
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s see how to choose the best SEO company in Toronto!
Define Your SEO Goals
First of all, make a plan. Look at your business and determine its needs and goals, which will help you when you search for an SEO company. Once you look through services and portfolios, it will make it easier to identify parallels.
Custom Approach
Previously, you could buy preset SEO packages, and they worked. In the years since, search engine algorithms have advanced significantly, and every industry requires a different approach, so one-size-fits-all solutions will not yield results anymore. A great SEO company should offer individualized optimization strategies tailored to meet your business needs and goals, not the other way around. You’ll be looking for both global and local SEO experts as well to maximise your reach.
Detailed Keyword Research
As mentioned above, keyword research is critical because it will identify what people are actually searching for, which sometimes can be surprising keywords. Determining which keywords will work for your company to get the best results is key. A professional SEO company will also ensure that the keywords are naturally integrated into the content of your website for a professional look.
Offsite Optimization Strategy
It’s critical not just to take one piece of the puzzle and run headlong into battle. A balanced strategy is crucial to success because if it’s not done right, there can be too much of a good thing. For example, backlinks are good, but if you have an enormous amount of cheap links from random sites that have no relevance to the content matter, Google will penalize you. The same goes for the excessive use of keywords, also known as keyword stuffing, which can also have a negative effect.
A good Canada SEO company will provide a balanced approach to ensure that every part of SEO is appropriately addressed for long-term success.
Online Reviews
If a company is on the internet, there’s a good chance there’s a review. Whether Google, Trustpilot or other sites, checking for the experiences of current or former clients can give an excellent understanding of the services and products a company offers. Try not only to read one review but several, especially if there might be negative reviews, to see the issues and how the company reacted to them.
Examples and References
Most companies will have references and examples on their websites to share. These samples will allow you to see firsthand what the company is capable of and if what you see matches what you have in mind.
Timing and Checkpoints
One of the biggest misconceptions of SEO is that it will yield immediate results. As mentioned above, Google is not a fan of massive changes; it likes for optimization to be eased in to be the most efficient. So any company you talk to has to be realistic about timeframes. While it depends on if you’ve done SEO on your website before or if you start from scratch, or also on the industry you are in, it can realistically take between 3 and 6 months to get your page on the first page of the search engine rankings.
So, if a company promises to be on top of the rankings in three months (or outright promises you the #1 spot), they’re trying to impress you with something they can’t deliver.
Reporting
One key ingredient in any relationship with an SEO company is reporting. These reports will show you the strategy and which steps have been implemented, together with the results, so you are up-to-date on what is happening at all times.
Lines of Communication
Last but not least, open and good communication is critical. A good SEO company in Toronto has to be communicative and respond to inquiries promptly and clearly, whether it is during a consultation, negotiations or the optimization process.
Also Read:
Evaluating and Comparing SEO Companies: Making the Final Decision
Interviewing potential SEO companies
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential companies, schedule a meeting, most companies offer free consultations. This will allow you to learn more about the company’s operations and strategies. You will be spending quite some time with this company, so it is critical that you feel comfortable with not only their services but also on a personal level.
Compare the needs and goals you identified for your business with what the company offers to determine if they are the right fit. Don’t be afraid to ask your SEO consultant questions; choosing an SEO company is a big step, so you will want to make sure that every question is answered fully to allow you to make an informed decision.
Requesting proposals and plans
Once you have laid out your needs and goals, the SEO company will review the information and prepare a plan with different types of SEO that could work for your business. This includes local SEO services, which you should not underestimate if your business targets a particular city or region.
These plans will come with a cost estimate to give you a good idea of how much the proposed project scope will cost.
Analyzing past projects and case studies
Check out the company’s online portfolio to see how past projects and case studies have fared. Most companies offer current and previous case studies detailing their strategy and its results. This will allow you to directly see the SEO company’s effect on the respective businesses.
Considering client feedback and testimonials
Most companies will also feature client feedback and testimonials on their websites. These will give you candid reviews from current and former clients and their experience with the company.
Conclusion
When you look at how to choose the best SEO company in Toronto, there are many things to consider, from the cost and their strategies to their communication and efficiency. And a combination of all these factors will determine if a company is the right choice for you.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? BTmarketing is one of the top result-driven SEO agencies in Toronto and the GTA. We have a highly talented group of SEO nerds (and we say this lovingly) that are passionate to help your business soar.
We ❤️ to hear from you.
Contact BTmarketing today to learn more about how we can use SEO to elevate your business.
