New data from Clutch shows referrals are leading driver of hiring decisions for search engine optimization (SEO) companies, but do not always produce good results.
WASHINGTON, August 26, 2015 — Nearly half (45%) of businesses hire SEO service providers based on a referral or existing personal relationship, according to Clutch, a leading source of reviews on SEO companies.
Company attributes such as knowledge, customer service, and transparency were the next largest influence, mentioned by 43% of companies. Other factors included company location near the client (15%), client reviews and case studies (14%), and culture fit (13%).
However, one-fifth of interviewees volunteered that their business previously had a negative experience with an SEO company before finding the right fit.
However, one-fifth of interviewees volunteered that their business previously had a negative experience with an SEO company before finding the right fit. SEO thought leaders interviewed by Clutch advised businesses to evaluate a multitude of factors when selecting a vendor, including past performance, thought leadership, and transparency.
The data is based on 150 interviews conducted by Clutch analysts with clients of SEO and digital marketing services companies. To aid buyers in their search, Clutch developed a free tool to select a vendor based on focus area, proven ability to deliver, and value. The approach is based on Clutch's interviews with SEO thought leaders and the firm's own research methodology.
The full statistics and Clutch's vendor evaluation tool can be found at https://clutch.co/seo-firms/resources/how-to-select-seo-company.