SEO outsourcing has seen abnormal growth over the past few years. Outsourced SEO is certainly a growing trend, and a number of agencies are going for it. This growth is as a result of the increasing complexity of various SEO algorithms and the rising need for specialized SEO skills. As a result of this, businesses are facing a lot of challenges and complexities in maintaining an in-house SEO team. Therefore, there is an increased preference for outsourcing all SEO tasks. However, SEO partners must maintain client trust when outsourcing SEO. Here is why –
- Proper foundation of a long-term relationship
- Consistent & predictable flow of work
- Honest feedback & open communication
- Efficient & effective decision making
- Long-term loyalty
It is now clear why it is vital for agencies to maintain client trust when outsourcing SEO work.
Understanding the Trust Gap in SEO Outsourcing
SEO outsourcing services
are associated with various trust issues on the part of the client, which is quite obvious. Thus, it becomes immensely important for SEO service providers to properly understand the trust gap in SEO outsourcing.
Common Concerns Clients Have
At the time of outsourcing SEO services to any service provider, clients have some common concerns that need attention.
- Lack of Transparency – Clients are worried about transparency in work tactics, reporting, insights, progress tracking, etc.
- Quality of Services – Another major concern of clients is the overall quality of services received and their return on investment.
- Accountability – It is another client-side issue where clients are worried about the SEO partner’s ownership of actions and their results.
- Gap in Communication – Improper communication, differences in time zones, language barriers, and different styles of communication can result in delays or disruptions in the work.
How Outsourcing Impacts Client-Agency Relationships?
Outsourcing can play a significant role in strengthening client-agency relationships by facilitating quicker, higher-quality services, expanded offerings, and better management of workload, resulting in enhanced client satisfaction & loyalty.
- Improved Quality of Service – Outsourced SEO can speed up several SEO tasks without compromising quality.
- Enhanced Client Trust & Loyalty – Frequent client-agency meetings readily enhance client trust and increase their loyalty towards the agency.
- Better Management of Workload – Outsourcing helps manage increased demands appropriately, preventing any potential delays in delivery.
- Expanded Service Offerings – Agencies tend to offer a wider range of SEO services to their clients under one roof to fill existing service gaps for a better overall performance. For example, agencies offering white-label SEO services bundled with PPC, email marketing, and content marketing to make it convenient for clients.
Establish Transparent Communication from Day One
In order to maintain client trust while offering SEO outsourcing services, establishing complete transparent communication is the key. Maintaining complete transparency at every step not only improves the client-agency relationship but also facilitates smoother workflow.
Setting Clear Expectations and KPIs
It is always recommended to set clear expectations for clients. SEO is not magic, and it does not bring results from the first day. SEO is a consistent work and it takes time for results to be visible. Therefore, SEO partners should set proper KPIs to make sure that clients are able to quantify the work done and its results.
Creating Regular Reporting and Update Systems
Agencies should build a reporting schedule and proper update systems for the SEO tasks to present a clear picture to the clients. This enables clients to understand what, when, and how work is being done.
Using Collaborative Tools for Visibility
Making use of various collaborative tools for proper visibility and clarity increases client trust significantly. The use of dashboards, GSC, analytics, etc., provides better clarity regarding work progress and results obtained.
Choose the Right Outsourcing Partner
When you opt for outsourced SEO, selecting the right partner is of immense importance. Here is what you can do to make the correct decision.
Key Qualities to Look for in an SEO Outsourcing Partner
- The Level of Experience in SEO
- Year of Expertise
- Seamless and Clear Communication
- Transparency at Every Step
- Quantifiable Results
- Complete Accountability
- Proven Track Record of Successful Results
- Use of Advanced SEO Tools
- Goal-Oriented Approach
- Ethical SEO Practices
Now you know exactly how to choose an outsourced SEO company in the right way.
How to Vet and Test SEO Outsourcing Providers?
Vetting and testing SEO outsourcing providers needs a structured approach, resulting in making the right choice.
Here is what you need to do when vetting potential SEO outsourcing providers.
- Start by defining your needs and goals.
- Assess the service provider’s industry experience and expertise
- Take a look at their case studies and ask for a few references
- Evaluate their SEO strategy and practices thoroughly
- Understand their communication and reporting properly
- Finally, review the contract properly and get clarity on the pricing structure
After vetting, it is time to test the SEO partner’s capability with a trial task like a technical SEO audit, link-building campaign, or content creation & optimization. During the trial project, you need to –
- Keep an eye on their responsiveness and communication
- Evaluate the work quality and the reporting
- Assess whether the partner will be suitable for outsourced SEO
Importance of NDAs and Clear Contracts
Non-disclosure agreements or NDAs and clear contracts are immensely important when opting for SEO outsourcing services.
NDAs protect confidential data, build trust, manage risk, ensure legal recourse, and properly define the scope.
On the other hand, clear contracts help set clear expectations, offer a proper roadmap, prevent disputes, define consequences, and lay a legal foundation.
Maintain Consistency and Quality Control
It is ideal for agencies to properly maintain consistency and quality control in order to build client trust. Here is what can be done.
Implement Internal Review and Approval Workflows
Agencies can create & implement an internal review system where clients can review the work done by the team and give feedback or their approval on the same to keep the workflow unhindered.
Use Performance Benchmarks to Meet Brand Standards
Realistic performance benchmarks can be set by agencies to make sure that the work quality delivered properly matches the brand standards, objectives, and goals.
Avoid “Set and Forget” Strategy
Agencies should make sure to avoid the ‘set & forget’ strategy because it hampers client trust. It is always ideal to stay involved in the strategy and keep the client in the loop to develop trust.
Strengthen Client Relationships Through Reporting and Results
The agency-client relationship tends to strengthen through proper reporting and clarity in results when clients opt for outsourced SEO.
Transparent Reporting That Reflects Outsourced Performance
Complete & transparent reporting offers proper clarity regarding the work done and the results achieved. This, in turn, reflects the overall outsourced performance for clients to understand.
Turning Data Into Trust
Data that presents quantifiable results is the key to developing client trust. Therefore, data should be properly presented to clients to create a win-win situation for both the client and the agency.
Addressing Setbacks Proactively
If there is any setback during the process, agencies need to address it proactively and avoid delays. The proactive approach from agencies helps maintain client trust.
Build Long-Term Confidence
SEO outsourcing services should always focus on building long-term confidence with clients. Agencies can go ahead with the following.
Educating Clients on the Benefits of Outsourcing
Agencies should try to educate their clients on how outsourcing SEO benefits them. Agencies should portray cost savings, enhanced efficiency, increased scalability & flexibility, easy access to talent & expertise, no in-house burdens, etc., to develop long-term confidence in clients.
Sharing Success Stories and Case Studies
SEO agencies need to share different success stories and case studies with their clients to enable them to gauge their capabilities and expertise.
Continuously Improving Collaboration Between In-House and Outsourced Teams
Consistent collaboration between the in-house and outsourced teams proves to be helpful in increasing trust & the level of confidence.
FAQ’s
How can agencies maintain client trust when outsourcing SEO work?
Agencies can maintain client trust when outsourcing SEO work by enabling transparent communication from day one, maintaining proper consistency, ensuring high-quality work, and presenting clear reports & results.
What are the best ways to ensure transparency with clients during outsourced SEO projects?
The best ways to ensure transparency with clients during outsourced SEO projects are open communication, setting clear expectations & KPIs, regular updates & reporting, and proper collaboration for increased visibility.
How do I choose a reliable SEO outsourcing partner?
Check the experience, expertise, portfolio, transparency, accountability, strategies, and communication of the SEO outsourcing partner to find a reliable one.
How can I ensure quality control when SEO work is outsourced?
When SEO work is outsourced, you can ensure quality control by focusing on regular work updates, strategies implemented, and the results obtained.
Can outsourcing SEO improve client satisfaction and long-term relationships?
Yes, outsourcing SEO can readily improve client satisfaction levels and long-term relationships when there is proper clarity in working, reporting, results, and complete transparency in every step.
Conclusion
When clients opt for outsourced SEO, agencies should primarily focus on trust-building strategies. Agencies should focus on transparent communication from the first day. The expectations set should be clear and realistic. Proper KPIs should be in place with regular updates and reporting. Proper collaboration is necessary to ensure clear visibility. Therefore, SEO outsourcing services can readily enhance client-agency relationships and not hinder them when managed in the right way.
In this regard, choosing the right partner is the key to success. If you are in search of the best outsource SEO agency in the USA, SEOFAT will be the appropriate choice. With several years of experience and expertise,
SEOFAT has delivered successful results for clients across the globe, and hence partnering with the team enhances your chances of SEO success, fostering long-term trust.
