Finding a professional search engine marketing (SEM) company can truly be a challenge, especially since marketing via search engines has become the talk of the town. Nowadays, everyone and their mama claims to be an SEM expert, and it’s important to weed out the good from the bad (and also the ugly).

First and foremost, when looking to hire a search engine marketing firm, be sure to ask for samples of previous work. This includes placement for competitive keywords, blog posts that rank well in search engines, and local map listings (e.g. Google Places) that appear for priority searches. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

Secondly, ensure the search engine marketing firm has extensive social media experience. Almost a year ago, search engine algorithms — namely Google’s — began tracking social engagements and ranking websites/pages based on such. For a search engine marketing company to effectively deliver the goods, they must know social media inside and out.

Most importantly, organizations must hire a forward-thinking search engine marketing company that follows SEM best practices and plans for the future. Spammy marketing practices may pay off in the short term, but will greatly hurt businesses in the long run. Don’t just seek immediate results, instead focus on sustainability.

Aaron Schoenberger
The Brainchild Group