What Questions to Ask a SEO Company Before Hiring

Find out what questions to ask a SEO company before hiring. Learn key inquiries and warning signs to choose the right SEO expert for your business.

Finding the right SEO company is a big deal. It’s a big deal because the right team can make a big difference in how your business looks online.

But how do you choose?

Knowing what questions to ask a SEO company is a good start. Asking the right questions helps you figure out if a company actually knows what they’re doing and if they’re a good fit for you.

In this post we’ll go over the questions you need to ask before you hire a SEO company.

These questions will give you a clear idea of their expertise and how they’ll grow your online presence.

Let’s get to it so you can make an informed decision and find the best SEO company for your business.

Experience and Track Record

When you’re looking to hire a SEO company it’s important to check their experience and case studies.

Experience is key because it shows how they’ve handled different SEO problems over the years. Here’s what you should ask:

• How long have you been in SEO? This will give you an idea of their level of experience.
• Can you show me case studies or examples of projects? Real life examples prove they can deliver.
• What industries have you worked with? Experience in your industry is a big plus.

Why It Matters: A company with a track record is more likely to offer good SEO services. Their past work will give you faith in them.

Red Flags: Be wary of companies that can’t show case studies or are vague about their results.

It might be a lack of experience or transparency. If they’re an SEO Portland Oregon company it’s also worth checking their local reputation.

Their SEO Approach

Understanding an SEO company’s approach to SEO is key. Different companies do things differently and you want to make sure their approach matches your goals.

Ask:

• What is your approach to SEO? Do they focus on technical SEO, content creation, backlinks or a combination of these.
• How do you do keyword research and optimization? This will show how they’ll target the right audience for your business.
• What SEO tools and techniques do you use? Knowing their tools will give you an idea of their methods.

Why It Matters: Their approach should match your business and goals. A company using outdated or ineffective methods might not be the best choice.

Red Flags: Be wary of companies that give generic answers or promise quick fixes. Good SEO takes time and planning.

Reporting and Measuring Success

Understanding how an SEO company tracks and reports their work is key to understanding your ROI. Here’s what to ask:

• How do you measure the success of your SEO efforts? This will show their metrics for success.
• How often will you send reports and updates? Regular updates will keep you in the loop.
• Can you show me examples of your reporting? Examples will give you an idea of how detailed their reports are.

Why It Matters: Clear reporting is important so you can see if your SEO investment is paying off. It is a good investment when you can see progress and results.

Red Flags: Be wary of companies that are unclear about their reporting or won’t show you past reports. This could be lack of transparency or ineffective strategies.

Communication and Teamwork

When you hire an SEO company clear communication is key. So you’re always on the same page and any issues are addressed ASAP.

Here’s what to ask:

• Who will be my main contact? You need to know who you’ll be dealing with directly. This person will be your point of contact for updates, questions and concerns. A dedicated contact makes communication smoother and more efficient.
• How do you handle changes or updates to the SEO strategy? Your business may change, so you need a company that’s flexible and responsive to changes. Ask how they’ll adapt their strategy if your goals or market changes.
• What’s the process for raising and resolving concerns? A clear and simple process for raising and resolving issues is key. So any problems are dealt with quickly and don’t impact your SEO progress.

Why It Matters: Clear communication builds trust and makes sure you and the SEO company are on the same page. It helps to manage any issues before they become big problems.

Red Flags: Be wary if a company is unclear about their contact process or slow to respond to questions. Bad communication leads to misunderstandings and frustration.

Pricing and Contracts

Before you sign up with any SEO company you need to get a clear idea of their pricing and terms.

Here’s what to ask:

• What’s your pricing structure? Is it fixed rate, hourly or project based? So you can understand how they price their services and fit into your budget.
• Are there any extra costs or fees I should know about? Ask if there are any additional costs that might pop up, such as for extra services or tools. Knowing this upfront will prevent surprise bills.
• What’s in the contract? Review the contract carefully. Make sure it covers the scope of work, project timeline and terms for ending the agreement. Also check for clauses about renewing or canceling the contract.

Why It Matters: Clear pricing and contract terms will protect you from hidden costs and you get what you pay for.

Red Flags: Be wary of companies with unclear pricing or won’t show you a detailed contract. Hidden costs and vague terms will lead to confusion and surprise bills.

Bad SEO Provider Red Flags

So you can spot a bad SEO provider early on:

• Quick results or guarantees. SEO is a long term strategy. Any company that promises quick results or guarantees specific rankings is using dodgy tactics or making unrealistic claims.
• No transparency or won’t show you their methods. A good SEO company should be open about their strategies and methods. If they won’t explain how they’ll get results it’s a red flag.
• Black hat techniques or unethical practices. Procedures like keyword stuffing or buying links can harm your site and get you penalized by search engines. Always make sure they use ethical, white hat techniques.

Why It Matters: Spotting these red flags will help you avoid companies that can damage your website’s reputation or don’t deliver results.

Conclusion

Asking the right questions before you hire an SEO company is key to finding the right one for your business.

By knowing their experience, approach, reporting, communication and pricing you can make the right decision.

Remember, the secret to successful SEO is a partnership with a good and transparent provider. Use the questions above to make the best choice for your business.