You've probably heard the phrase "plan your work and work your plan." This has never been truer than with a robust SEO strategy, which can take months to plan and even longer to implement.
If you hire an SEO vendor, they will most likely prepare an optimization plan based on your website, your goals and your industry. Somewhere along the way, it will be up to you to put that plan into action.
How do you make sure you stay on task and get the most out of your investment without dropping the ball in favor of something else along the way?
1. Resource Management
At the onset, make sure you have the resources you will need to implement any suggested changes to your website and across your social media channels. This can mean anything from a few hours for your webmaster, or several hours a week to manage social media marketing.
2. Team Empowerment
Empower your team to take responsibility for their role in managing the vendor relationship or implementing changes.
3. Communication
At the start of any relationship, you will likely receive a calendar with a list of deliverables and due dates. To make sure these deliverables don't hit a dead end once they reach yours or your team members' inboxes, schedule a series of meetings with your team members to discuss implementation, questions, and challenges. This will help keep you on task and make sure that everyone on your team is clear on the objective and their role in making it happen.
4. Begin with the End in Mind
One thing that separates the successful from the unsuccessful is that the former never lose sight of why they started in the first place. Before you begin, consider your goals. Where do you want to be in six months? What will it take to get there?
5. Reach Out
It's important to maintain a good point of contact with your SEO vendor. This will help you to ensure that communication doesn't stop when a report is delivered or a milestone is reached. It will also help you to find new opportunities for growth.
