You might be wondering what questions to ask before hiring an SEO company. After all, there are so many options out there and it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your business.
There’s no denying that a strong online presence is a vital ingredient for success. In fact, SEO can make or break your online visibility and massively impact how potential customers find your business. However, understanding and leveraging SEO can be quite perplexing for many entrepreneurs.
That’s where an SEO company comes into the picture. They can help navigate this complex landscape and give your website’s search rankings a significant boost. But wait! Don’t just jump into a partnership with the first SEO company that pops up on your Google search.
I’m going to walk you through the fundamental questions you should be asking to ensure you’re partnering with someone who can align with your business goals and skyrocket your online presence. Sound good? Let’s dive into it.
Fundamental Questions
What is your approach to SEO?
A reputable SEO company should have a well-defined and ethical approach that aligns with your business goals. It’s not only about getting good rankings but also about the strategy to achieve them.
- Ask about their SEO approach.
- Ask about their methods, processes, and techniques to gain an understanding of how they will handle your SEO.
- Do they focus on content creation and link building?
- Do they have a data-driven approach or rely on intuition?
- Do they stick to white-hat strategies or do they dabble with risky black-hat practices that could harm your website’s reputation?
- Will they provide a detailed plan outlining the steps they will take to improve your website’s search rankings?
- Request past work examples to understand their methods better.
What experience do you have in my industry?
Every industry has its own unique challenges and demands. Hiring an SEO company that already has experience in your industry can be a huge advantage.
- Ask about their experience working with businesses similar to yours.
- Have they successfully helped other companies improve their online presence and rankings?
- What were the results?
- How do they plan on adapting their strategies to fit your specific market and audience?
How do you measure success?
A reliable SEO company should have a clear plan for measuring the success of its efforts. It’s not just about getting your website to rank higher, but also about driving relevant traffic and conversions.
- Ask for specific KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) they use to measure success.
- How often will they provide reports and updates on progress?
- Will there be regular meetings to discuss results and strategy adjustments?
- Are these metrics aligned with your business goals?
- Will they explain what these metrics mean in relation to your website’s overall performance?
Can you provide case studies or references from past clients?
One of the most reliable ways to judge a company’s credibility? Speak to their past clients. The feedback from these clients can offer invaluable insights into the company’s communication style, results, and overall client satisfaction.
- Ask for references from at least 2-3 previous clients and contact them to get their honest feedback.
- Request case studies that showcase their success stories in detail.
What is your pricing model?
While it’s essential to find an affordable SEO company, remember that quality work comes with a higher price tag. Don’t just choose the cheapest option and end up with subpar results. Instead, make sure you understand the pricing structure and what services are included.
- Ask about their pricing model: is it a flat fee, hourly, monthly retainer, or project-based?
- Are payments made upfront, bi-monthly, or after services are rendered?
- Do they offer customized packages based on your specific needs?
- Is there a minimum contract period, and what are the terms if you decide to terminate the services earlier than planned?
- Can they provide projections on how their services will impact your bottom line?
- What services are included in the cost?
- Are there any additional fees or charges that might come up during the partnership?
Who will be working on my website?
You want to make sure that the SEO company has a team of experienced professionals who will dedicate their time and expertise to your business.
- Ask for information about the team members who will be working on your website.
- What are their qualifications and experience levels?
- Will there be a single point of contact or multiple people you’ll be communicating with?
- Will there be a dedicated account manager?
- Can you contact them directly with questions or concerns?
How do you communicate progress and results?
Communication is key when working with any external partner. An SEO company should keep you updated on progress and strategies and be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
- Ask about their preferred mode of communication: email, phone calls, video conferencing, etc.
- How often do they plan to provide updates and reports?
- Do you prefer regular, scheduled reports or spontaneous huddle-up sessions?
- Will you have direct access to the team working on your website for any questions or concerns?
- What is their response time for client queries and updates?
- Will they provide regular reports detailing progress and results?
- Do they provide a dashboard for real-time tracking?
What is your timeline for achieving results?
When will you start seeing progress?
Remember that SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and consistency to see tangible results. A good SEO company will set realistic expectations for when you can start seeing improvements in your website’s search rankings. This will help manage expectations and avoid any disappointments or frustrations down the road.
- Ask for an estimate of when you can expect to see results.
- What factors could potentially affect this timeline?
- Are they promising quick fixes, or do they have a structured plan that shows gradual and sustainable growth over time?
- Will they provide regular updates on progress towards these goals?
Can you customize your SEO services to fit my needs?
No two businesses are identical, and your SEO strategy should reflect that. A cookie-cutter approach to SEO may not yield the best results for your unique business goals.
- Ask if they offer customizable packages or if their services are one-size-fits-all.
- How do they plan on adapting their strategies to align with your business goals and target audience?
- Are there any additional services or add-ons you can choose from based on your specific needs?
Alright, we’ve tackled the heavy hitters with those main questions, but we’re just getting started.
Now, let’s move on to a set of secondary questions that are just as crucial. These are the questions that dig deeper, uncovering the nuances and specifics that will ensure your SEO partnership is built on a rock-solid foundation of knowledge and understanding.
Think of them as your secret weapons; they’ll help you unveil the expertise, flexibility, and ethical standards of the SEO companies you’re considering.
Ready to dive a little deeper and find out what else you should be asking? Let’s get into it!
Secondary Questions
What techniques do you use to acquire backlinks?
Backlinks are a crucial factor in SEO, but they must be acquired ethically and strategically. Unethical or spammy backlink practices can result in penalties from search engines, ultimately harming your website’s ranking. A good SEO company will have a solid strategy for acquiring quality backlinks from relevant sources.
- Ask about their approach to acquiring backlinks.
- Ask about their link building strategy and how they acquire backlinks for clients.
- Are they using ethical and white hat techniques?
- Do they have experience with link-building outreach strategies?
- How do they determine which websites to target for backlinks?
- How do they ensure the quality and relevance of the backlinks acquired?
How do you stay updated on industry changes and algorithm updates?
SEO is constantly evolving, with regular updates from search engines like Google. A good SEO company stays up-to-date on these changes and adapts their strategies accordingly.
- Ask how the company stays updated on industry changes and algorithm updates.
- Do they attend conferences, read industry publications, or have a team dedicated to research and staying informed?
- How do they implement these changes into their strategies for clients?
- Can they provide examples of how they have successfully adapted to past algorithm updates?
How do you stay updated with SEO trends?
SEO is a fast-paced and ever-changing landscape, and techniques that worked in the past may not be as effective today. A good SEO company will have a team dedicated to staying informed about the latest trends in the industry.
- Ask how the company stays informed about current SEO trends and techniques.
- Do they conduct their own research, attend conferences or webinars, or participate in forums?
- How do they incorporate these trends into their strategies for clients?
- Can they provide examples of how they have successfully utilized new techniques or trends to improve a client’s SEO?
- Do they actively experiment with new strategies?
How do you handle website audits and technical SEO issues?
A website audit helps identify any technical issues that may be hindering your website’s performance. The SEO company needs to handle these tasks and if they have expertise in this area.
- Ask about their process for conducting website audits and identifying technical SEO issues.
- How do they prioritize which issues to address first?
- Do they have experience with implementing technical SEO solutions, such as optimizing website loading speed, fixing broken links, or improving website structure?
- Can they provide examples of past successes in resolving technical SEO issues for clients?
- Do they have an in-house team with expertise in technical SEO?
- Do they provide detailed reports and recommendations for addressing these issues?
What are the risks involved with your strategies?
SEO involves a level of risk, and it’s important to understand the potential consequences before implementing any strategies. A good SEO company will be transparent about any risks involved and have contingency plans in place.
- Ask about any potential risks associated with their strategies.
- How do they mitigate these risks?
- Do they have a plan in place in case of any negative effects on your website’s search rankings?
- Are they transparent about the potential risks and willing to work with you to find solutions if needed?
- Are there any specific industries or types of websites that are more susceptible to these risks?
Have you worked with penalized websites before?
How did you handle the situation?
It’s not uncommon for websites to get penalized by search engines due to unethical tactics or algorithm updates. It’s important to know how an SEO company handles these situations and if they have experience in successfully recovering from penalties.
- Ask about their experience with penalized websites and how they handle these situations.
- Do they have a plan in place for identifying the cause of the penalty and implementing solutions?
- Have they ever helped a client successfully recover from a penalty? If so, can they provide examples?
- Are they experienced in conducting backlink audits and removing any harmful or spammy links that may be causing penalties?
Do you comply with search engine guidelines?
Search engines, such as Google, have guidelines in place to ensure websites are following ethical and best SEO practices. An SEO company needs to comply with search engine guidelines to avoid penalties and maintain a positive reputation.
- Ask if the company complies with search engine guidelines.
- How do they ensure the strategies they use align with these guidelines?
- Are there any specific policies or standards they follow?
- Have they ever had any clients penalized due to non-compliance?
- Can they provide evidence of their compliance, such as certifications or case studies?
What tools do you use for SEO analysis and implementation?
SEO requires a combination of technical skills and the use of various tools for analysis and implementation. The SEO company must have access to and knowledge of these tools to effectively optimize a website.
- Ask about the specific tools and software they use for SEO analysis, keyword research, backlink monitoring, and other tasks.
- Are these tools industry-standard or proprietary?
- How do they utilize these tools in their strategies?
- Do they have expertise in using these tools effectively?
- Can they provide examples of how they have used these tools to improve a client’s SEO?
Will you provide regular updates and insights on our competitors?
Monitoring and analyzing your competitors allows you to identify opportunities and adjust strategies accordingly. This will give you a better understanding of the competitive landscape in your industry and how the SEO company plans to help you stay ahead of the competition.
- Ask how often they will provide updates on your competitors and what information they will include.
- Do they have a process for tracking competitor rankings, keywords, and backlinks?
- Will they use competitor analysis tools or conduct manual research?
- How do they use this information to inform their strategies for your website?
- Are there any additional fees for competitor analysis?
- Ask if they offer recommendations for adapting your strategy based on competitor analysis.
Are there any guarantees you can offer?
While no SEO company can guarantee specific results, they should be able to provide some reassurance and transparency regarding their strategies and potential outcomes.
- Ask if the company offers any guarantees or promises regarding rankings or traffic. If they do, approach with caution as this could be a red flag.
- What metrics do they use to measure success?
- How do they handle situations where goals are not met?
- What steps do they take to continuously improve and adapt their strategies for clients?
What is your method for keyword research?
Keyword research helps identify the terms and phrases your target audience is using to search for your products or services.
- Ask about their approach to keyword research.
- How do they determine the most relevant keywords for your business and target audience?
- Do they use any specific tools or methods for conducting keyword research?
- Are they able to identify long-tail keywords that could improve your website’s visibility in search results?
- Do they take into account user intent when choosing keywords?
- Can they provide examples of successful keyword optimization for past clients?
- Do they continuously monitor and adjust keyword strategies based on changes in search trends or user behavior?
- Do they analyze search volume, competition, and relevance when selecting keywords?
What is your approach to content optimization?
An effective content optimization strategy can greatly improve a website’s search rankings and engage visitors. The SEO company should have expertise in this area and be able to provide details on their approach.
- Ask the company about its approach to content optimization.
- Ask about their process for optimizing website content, including keyword research, on-page optimization, and creating new content.
- Do they have experience in creating different types of content, such as blog posts, infographics, videos, etc.?
- How do they ensure the content aligns with your brand and target audience?
- Do they offer suggestions for improving existing website content?
How do you approach mobile SEO?
Mobile optimization is becoming increasingly important as more and more people access the internet through mobile devices. The SEO company should be knowledgeable and experienced in optimizing for both desktop and mobile devices.
- Ask about their approach to mobile SEO.
- Do they have experience in optimizing websites for mobile devices?
- How do they ensure the website is user-friendly and functional on different types of devices?
- What steps do they take to improve website loading speed on mobile?
- Are they knowledgeable about mobile-specific ranking factors, such as mobile-friendly design and load times?
What is your approach to local SEO?
Local SEO is important for businesses that have a physical presence or serve specific geographic areas. The SEO company should have experience in optimizing for local search and understanding the factors that contribute to local rankings.
- Ask about their approach to local SEO.
- Do they have experience in optimizing websites for local searches and targeting specific geographic areas?
- Do they have experience in optimizing websites for Google My Business, local directories, and other platforms?
- Are they knowledgeable about the various factors that influence local rankings, such as proximity, relevance, and prominence?
- Can they provide examples of successful local SEO campaigns for clients?
- Ask if they provide ongoing monitoring and adjustments to ensure your website maintains its ranking in local results.
What is your strategy for optimizing site speed?
Site speed can affect user experience and search engine rankings. A good SEO company should have strategies in place for optimizing site speed.
- Ask about their approach to site speed optimization.
- Do they conduct regular site audits and implement necessary improvements?
- How do they handle large websites or e-commerce sites with many pages?
- Do they have experience in optimizing websites on different platforms (e.g., WordPress, Shopify, etc.)?
- Do they conduct regular site audits to identify areas for improvement?
- Are they knowledgeable about best practices for improving site speed on different devices?
How do you incorporate social media into your SEO strategy?
Social media can play a significant role in boosting website traffic and increasing brand awareness. The SEO company should have a plan for how they will incorporate social media into their strategies.
- Ask about their approach to integrating social media into SEO strategies.
- Do they have experience in using social media for SEO purposes?
- How do they incorporate social media posts and engagement into overall SEO plans?
- Do they offer recommendations for improving a company’s social media presence?
- Do they offer any additional services related to social media, such as managing accounts or creating content?
- Are they knowledgeable about the best practices for utilizing different social media platforms for maximum impact on SEO?
Evaluating the SEO Companies You Interviewed
Asking these questions can give you valuable insight into a potential SEO company’s experience, expertise, and strategies. Make sure to also discuss your specific goals and expectations to ensure the company is a good fit for your business.
Remember, a reputable and experienced SEO partner can greatly benefit your online presence and overall success. Selecting the right one is worth investing time and effort in the research process.
So take the time to thoroughly vet each candidate before making a decision. Best of luck!
Conclusion
Asking these questions can give you valuable insight into a potential SEO company’s experience, expertise, and strategies. Make sure to also discuss your specific goals and expectations to ensure the company is a good fit for your business.
Remember, a reputable and experienced SEO partner can greatly benefit your online presence and overall success. Selecting the right one is worth investing time and effort in the research process.
So take the time to thoroughly vet each candidate before making a decision. Best of luck!
