Cooperating with a foreign SEO agency. What to expect?

Why is working with a foreign company so great?

Working with a foreign company provides cultural diversity and a wealth of knowledge. It may seem intimidating at first, but working closely in an environment where people speak the same language is one way for your business to grow exponentially in the digital age. The best part about outsourcing to a foreign country is that they will be able to provide culturally diverse ideas while still understanding what you need done.

This means that companies that go this route can stay up-to-date on all of the latest trends in the ever-changing world of digital marketing, without the limitations imposed by working exclusively in one region or language. They also get to explore fresh perspectives and meet new people, outside perspectives are always valuable and these relationships create new ideas as well as lasting connections.

How is your partnership different than working with domestic agencies?

Agencies in other countries offer some of the same services and benefits as agencies domestically. They have the skillset, dedication and expertise that your business needs. Plus, they can work in languages other than English. You’ll need to translate most everything yourself, but you will be able to communicate more clearly with them. Depending on where your company is located, time zone differences may or may not be an issue. There are many factors to consider when determining if working with a foreign SEO agency is right for you.

Before starting any project, figure out what’s important

The industry is always evolving. That’s why, before starting any project, we figure out what’s important for our customers by asking:

• What are your company goals and where do you want to be in 5 years time?
• What kind of a market share do you have currently and what can be done about this now or in the near future?
• What products are offered and what could be done to improve sales through these products?

All that information will help us find the right solution for you.

Set expectations by defining your goals (and KPIs)

Before embarking on any type of cooperation with an international company, be sure to set expectations for your goals and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) early on. Failure to do so can lead to disappointment down the line when you’re not seeing the results you want for your blog. This is where it’s critical that your international business partner knows what your objectives are at all times, which will help both parties prioritize activities that best fit the overall goals and KPIs of the company.

Short-term and long-term goals

One of the main goals for partnering with an overseas firm is to establish long-term relationships and build trust. A short-term goal might be acquiring global rankings quickly through leveraging PPC/organic traffic and optimizing other countries’ markets. Once this is achieved, the ultimate long-term goal may be regional language content localization, strategy research, social media amplification and engagement, or client care assistance.

Collaboration when separated by a distance

How do you collaborate when you are on different continents? Whether you are creating content together, or your marketing agency is responsible for the promotion of your product, this post will guide you through how things might work if you are partnering up with someone who is in another country. The first challenge that many people face is overcoming language barriers and misunderstandings. That’s why using video conferencing and online document sharing tools such is so vital to successful collaboration.

Stay in touch regularly

It is crucial to stay in touch regularly with your international partners. I recommend monthly or bi-monthly check-ins. In order for the cooperation to work, both parties need to be proactive in seeking out ways of improvement and are actively looking for ways of bettering themselves. One cannot just sit back, relax and expect good things will happen on their own accord.

Language barriers

It’s important to speak the same language as your counterparts. Whether this is done in-person or via other communication platforms, you must be able to work together efficiently if you want the best results for your business. Some things might not be clear at first, so it’s imperative that all parties have access to verbal and written interpretations. A good translation service should be easy to find and will provide high quality translations. You’ll also need someone who can do translation between languages too – make sure to ask.

Cultural barriers

It can be difficult for companies from one country to work with companies from another. Cultural barriers are often the most intimidating part of any cross-border partnership, but fortunately some things are universal – such as goal setting and getting ideas across in writing. Being able to rely on these shared skills means that any business will have the chance to expand their reach around the world, regardless of where they’re based.

Time zone differences

Working with an overseas company brings up challenges. They are in their time zone, not yours. You may need to learn the value of time zones when deciding which team is the best fit for your project. There is always this concern that the work on your campaign will not be complete in time and there will be consequences due to delay. This can be avoided by understanding how operations work in their specific location.

Outline of content creation, promotion and distribution schedule

The promotion and distribution of content is always the most time consuming part of this process. Once your blog post is finished, you need to plan out when you’ll publish it on various social media platforms in order for it to reach as many people as possible. Remember that each platform has its own audience demographic. Create a publication calendar to maintain a constant level of traffic on the website and not overload it with content.

Analyze progress regularly

When you work with an international business, you may find that some of the regular milestones and achievements are measured in different ways. Consider working with your international partner on benchmarks for success. If your international business is leveraging well-known benchmarks, be sure to measure them in the way that is best for your company’s needs. You will also want to make sure you have time allotted for cultural adjustments: these take time, but shouldn’t cost any extra money.

Last words

Foreign agencies are a great option if you want to explore new possibilities and experience different cultures from the inside. Countries all over the world offer wonderful products, services, and lifestyles that could benefit your business in ways you never even dreamed of. So, whether you need our help to grow in an established market or are looking for completely new horizons – get in touch with us and let’s take this journey together!