The internet has impacted the way we do business in so many ways. One of the most notable is that you need a strong online presence to attract new customers, and that’s where search engine optimisation (SEO) comes into the picture. 29% of all business activity is now conducted online, and most potential customers will search for a business’s web presence before visiting its physical location. SEO helps you rank higher in search engine results and become more visible to your target audience.
The internet has also made it easy to work with professionals anywhere in the world, communicating via virtual tools like Zoom, Skype and Slack. Overseas digital marketing agencies and freelance digital nomads may offer their services at cheaper rates than local providers, tempting you to save on your budget. But are overseas SEO providers really offering a better deal, or are there trade-offs to be aware of? Are there hidden offshore SEO risks behind the promise of savings?
As a digital creative agency that has helped clients achieve higher clicks and conversions through dynamic best-practice SEO, Anchor has seen SEO campaigns succeed and fail. We can answer any questions you may have about offshore digital marketing risks and the benefits of a homegrown SEO strategy.
The Risks of Offshore SEO
It isn’t hard to see why businesses are tempted to use overseas SEO services. Offshore SEO gives you 24/7 access to a talent pool around the globe. But the main benefit is that it’s usually the most cost-effective option. But beyond the savings, there are prices to pay. The biggest risks of offshore SEO include:
Limits to communication
When you work with a local SEO agency, you can drop into the office or discuss your SEO strategy in person with them over coffee any time you’re both available. Building this kind of relationship makes it easier to ensure you’re on the same page. When you work with an overseas agency, you’re relying on emails and messages to communicate. Due to time zone differences, you may find yourself waiting a long time for replies.
Poor-quality work
It takes money and a significant amount of time to run a good SEO campaign. Compromising on price frequently means compromising on quality and ending up with cookie-cutter campaigns full of generic SEO and sloppy content. The main drawcard of overseas SEO is its low price, but many low-cost SEO agencies have little incentive to commit to results for you once they’ve obtained upfront payments. Some agencies may even use unethical SEO practices such as black hat techniques. Poor content and second-rate link-building practices can attract Google penalties.
Cultural disconnection
An overseas SEO agency may not fully understand the lifestyle, desires and preferred communication style of your target market, leading to content that doesn’t resonate with your audience as you intended.
Lack of transparency
While there are many legitimate, reputable SEO agencies around the world, there are also some scammers in disguise. These scammers often offer SEO services through unsolicited emails and have generic-looking websites with no staff listed. Even some legitimate overseas agencies may not be entirely straightforward about their methods, as different business regulations can make it harder to enforce standards.
Security risks
Consistently sharing business information long-distance over messaging services can pose security risks. When you outsource your SEO strategy, you’re placing data and a big part of your reputation in the hands of a third party. If local regulations do not bind them and turn out to be less than reputable, it can expose you to security and data breaches and potentially even intellectual property theft.
Why Offshore SEO Isn’t Worth It
While engaging with an overseas SEO agency won’t always result in a negative experience, ultimately, the risks outweigh the potential rewards. Poor-quality SEO and unethical practices can hurt your rankings and your chance of success. While not all overseas agencies are bad, and many locals cut corners in their strategy, the distance can make it more difficult to keep your agency accountable and request clarification when you need it. If an overseas company does a poor job with your SEO, you’ll need a more reputable agency to clean it up. It saves you time and money just to hire a more reputable agency from the start.
Most brands are drawn to working with overseas SEO agencies because of their lower costs. But if you’re only shopping with price in mind, you’re at higher risk of ending up with a poor-quality SEO campaign. Between that and other potential pitfalls like communication barriers, cultural disconnections, and data security breaches, offshore digital marketing’s risks outweigh its potential benefits.
The Benefits of Outsourcing SEO Closer To Home
There are many benefits to outsourcing SEO. You may find it’s the best way to move forward and see your business grow. Here are the main reasons you should engage with a local agency and avoid offshore SEO risks:
Understanding of the local market
A homegrown SEO agency is more likely to be aware of the needs and motivations of your target audience and know where to reach them and how to appeal to them.
Clear communication
A good local SEO agency will break things down for you in a clear and easy-to-understand way, in a vernacular you’re familiar with and without jargon.
Accessibility
A local SEO agency is only one phone call away and easy to meet up with if you need to touch base at various points throughout the week. There are no differing time zones to contend with or delays in answering messages.
Increased personalisation
Because you can spend more one-on-one time with local SEO agencies, they can gain a deeper understanding of your specific needs and how they can use their skills to help you.
Local SEO knowledge
Even if you’re operating a brick-and-mortar business, you need to have an online presence that people in your geographical region can find. A local SEO agency is more likely to have the local knowledge to get you noticed in your region.
Best-Practice SEO at Anchor Digital
Anchor Digital offers timelessly effective SEO services that keep up with trends while staying true to the principles that have always worked. We’ll conduct in-depth research into the things your potential customers are looking for and how to provide the answers to their questions. We’ve helped purpose-driven businesses around the country grow, and we understand how to tailor an SEO approach to your demographic and your region. We’re accessible and available to answer any questions you may have while also providing transparent reports explaining your business’s progress in plain English.
When it comes to your website, you only have a few seconds to motivate web users to stick around. That’s why performance is such a pivotal part of the Anchor approach. We cover factors in the most intentional of ways as part of your success strategy, including SEO, pay-per-click advertising (PPC) and site speed. Our approach is omnichannel and incorporates all key platforms in its strategy.
Don’t run the risk of a poorly planned SEO strategy that tanks your campaign. If you’re ready to become even greater at what you do and achieve SEO success, contact the Anchor team.
