20 questions to ask your potential SEM firm
May 28, 2008
We were reading the May 2008 issue of Internet Retailer and came across an article that outlines 20 questions you should ask when shopping around for the right company to manage your search engine marketing:
- Is your paid search solution full-service? If yes, define full-service.
- What technology supports your full-service solution? How often is it updated?
- Does your technology have direct API integration with the top engines?
- Do you use API data or referral data for reporting purposes?
- Is the technical support team separate from my account team? Is support 24/7?
- Who will manage my account on a daily basis?
- Is the account manager responsible for bid, keyword, copy and landing page management or do separate teams manage these efforts?
- What is your methodology for search campaigns including bid management strategy?
- What resources does my account manager have?
- Do the account managers have vertical expertise? What verticals?
- What is the typical launch time line?
- How do you optimize my campaign once it is launched?
- Which metrics do you use to define success?
- What is the typical account manager’s background?
- Is your search team certified by the engines?
- What is your relationship with the top search engines?
- How has your company shown leadership in the search marketing space?
- Will I have opportunities to network with other clients?
- How will you align my search campaigns with other online marketing efforts?
- What other digital marketing solutions do you offer?
Most of the questions are geared towards budgets north of $10,000 a month. If you are looking to spend under 10k you probably won’t be able to find a firm that can answer most of these questions. A smaller firm or a freelancer might be better suited for your campaign.
Tags: SEO Consulting questionsComments
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