888.485.4932 | Contact Us

Create an SEO RFP

 

This web stuff can be a lot to take in. If you've got a question, we can help!

Fields with an asterisk* are required.

Creating a good SEO RFP is not as simple as baking cookies, but it can be seen as a similar process. Like any good recipe, the quality of ingredients affects what you get in the end. Not hard to understand, but it does sound like the beginning of a long process, huh? Well kind of. But then again, anything done right takes some time.

Basic Ingredients

  • Introduction - This is your flour for all intents and purposes. It's the foundation that underlies the whole document and gives prospective vendors a taste of who you are, what you do, and the goals of your project.
  • Competitors - Identifying what companies pose a threat to your market is essential. Think Annual Pie Contest, and you're up against Sarah Lee. Knowing the competition strengthens any proposal strategy.
  • The Mix - These are your key questions related to your project needs. Make your directions, questions and objectives clear.  This will help ensure you get back a deliciously baked RFP.

Add a Spice of SEO

Ask details from your prospective SEO firms. Any flavorful SEO firm will give you their history, individual strategy, and why their SEO services are the one to choose. 

Final Housekeeping

  • Deadlines - Like in baking, poor timing can mean an undercooked proposal or a charred one. If you make too strict a deadline then the returned documents may leave much to be desired. On the other hand, if you give a generous deadline then you may receive the next great epic novel. 
  • Cost Structure/Timelines - When writing the SEO RFP, put in details about how you would like to see cost information structured related to timelines. Not every company goes by the same structure, but by relating timelines and cost you would get a better comparison between firms.
  • References - Does this really need an explanation? If someone else can speak to a company's abilities, it is a great way to help you pick the best firm for the job.

The Cool Down

Once the fires of SEO RFP creation have waned and your SEO RFPs have been sent to all the eligible SEO firms out there (including us), it is time to wait.

If you devoted the proper time and attention to the RFP recipe, then you should get a handful of completed RFPs back. Of course there is no guarantee you'll get the quality answers you're looking for, but this will give you the best chance for high quality SEO RFPs to be returned.

RFP Recipe Review

Now the recipe is finished. All that there is left is to decide whose creation best satisfies your company's needs. When selecting your finalists, make sure to judge them by the same criteria as each other, such as:

  • SEO Expertise - How long they've been in business, their references, etc.
  • Customer Service - One contact or many contacts, timely answers, etc.
  • Communication - Are they easy to do business with, how will they keep in contact, is there a point person, etc?
  • Price - This is important, but if the other criteria is iffy or sparse then price should not bear the same weight when making the overall choice (you know the saying, "you get what you pay for")

From here you should be able to assess the top firms which would be the best fit. Don't choose yet though. Set up a face-to-face meeting or a conference call with the finalists. This will help you figure out which SEO firm will provide a nurtured, long term relationship. Enjoy the SEO samplings!