Search engine optimization is constantly evolving, full of jargon, and not for the technically averse. That's why Jewelry Artisans' Jamie Kresl decided to hire an outside company. "I realized I was a business owner; I didn't have the time or creativity to get involved with SEO or blogging," he says.If you do decide to hire an SEO agency, consultants recommend you factor in the following:Hire a company that also handles other aspects of site maintenance, like writing articles or blogging. "Find a firm that does everything, not just little bits and pieces," says Kresl. "I used to hire one person for this, another for that. There was no continuity."Request local references, and see copies of their work. "Ask how many links they have built," says Shell Harris of Big Oak. "Tell them you want backlink lists for their clients, because that's where the real impact is, and it's where some SEO com