More than one-fourth (28%) of marketing decision-makers identify expertise as the leading benefit of partnering with an SEO company. The finding comes in a new survey from Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews company, in collaboration with Ignite Visibility.

An SEO company's expertise guarantees that if your business runs into an unexpected issue with its SEO efforts, there will be an industry insider on hand for guidance.

"By virtue of their access to clients, tools, and human resources, an SEO agency can dedicate resources and time to learning the latest trends and techniques," said Krish Coughran, president of Ignite Visibility. "This deeper knowledge translates to a more comprehensive SEO strategy for clients."

More than one-third (34%) of businesses partner with digital marketing agencies that provide SEO services, compared to nearly one-fourth (24%) that partner with SEO consultants and just over one-fifth (21%) that partner with SEO-exclusive agencies.

Marketing decision-makers rely on referrals to find and determine the best SEO companies for their businesses. Over half (52%) of marketing decision-makers find an SEO partner through a referral, and 49% take referrals into consideration when choosing to hire an SEO company.

An SEO company's service offerings are the leading factor businesses consider when hiring an SEO company.

Prioritizing an SEO company's service offerings, such as keyword optimization or content creation, indicates that businesses value the measurable deliverables of their SEO efforts over intangible factors such as referrals and price.

SEO Companies Preferred for Off-Site Services

Businesses tend to secure SEO companies for help with off-site SEO services more than on-site services.

They typically partner with an SEO agency or consultant for on-site services and a digital marketing agency for off-site services, the study found.

Most Partnerships Last Less Than Two Years, Cost Thousands Per Month

It's not unusual for SEO partnerships to end earlier than planned. The survey found that 20% of businesses expect to partner with an SEO company for at least 5 years but less than 10% make it that long.  

Most businesses partner with an SEO company for two years or less. About 61% typically spend less than $5,000 per month.

Clutch and Ignite Visibility's 2018 SEO Services Survey analyzed findings from 303 marketing decision-makers in the U.S.

To read the full report and source the survey data, visit: https://clutch.co/seo-firms/resources/how-businesses-find-best-seo-companies.

For the raw data, a comment on the findings, or an introduction to the experts interviewed for this report, contact Grayson Kemper at grayson@clutch.co.

About Clutch

A B2B research, ratings, and reviews firm in the heart of Washington, DC, Clutch connects small and medium businesses with the best-fit agencies, software, or consultants they need to tackle business challenges together and with confidence. Clutch's methodology compares business service providers and software in a specific market based on verified client reviews, services offered, work quality, and market presence.

About Ignite Visibility

Ignite Visibility is a premier Internet marketing company based in San Diego, dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service in the industry. By establishing mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with clients, Ignite Visibility creates custom solutions uniquely tailored to meet the specialized business objectives of each client. Because a company is only as good as the promises it keeps, Ignite Visibility holds itself accountable to clearly defined key performance indicators established at the outset of every campaign. Ignite Visibility's core services are SEO, social media, paid media, email marketing, Amazon marketing and conversion rate optimization.

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