Questions to Ask Before Hiring an SEO Company

Hiring an SEO company isn’t just a transaction—it’s a partnership. And like any good relationship, communication is key. Asking the right questions upfront can save you from many headaches later (and maybe even a few grey hairs). When Hiring an SEO company, think of this as your guide to conducting an interrogation—but, you know, in a friendly way.

1. What Industries Have You Worked With Before?

Not all SEO strategies are universal. Optimizing a mom-and-pop bakery website is worlds apart from handling a multinational tech company.

Why It Matters: Experience in your industry means they already understand your audience, challenges, and competition, giving them a head start.

Follow-Up Question: Ask if they’ve tackled similar challenges to yours—like ranking for highly competitive keywords or entering a new market.

Pro Tip: Don’t dismiss them outright if they haven’t worked in your industry but have a proven process. Sometimes, fresh eyes bring innovative ideas!

2. Can You Share a Case Study or Example of a Similar Project?

This is the “show me the receipts” moment. A good SEO company should be able to walk you through a past project.

What to Look For: Pay attention to measurable results—like organic traffic growth, higher keyword rankings, or increased leads and conversions.

Red Flags: Beware of vague answers or over-the-top promises. If they claim they helped a client “double traffic” but can’t explain how, that’s a warning sign.

Pro Tip: If they share a case study, ask for specifics about the tools they used and the timeline for achieving results. It’s a great way to gauge their expertise.

3. How Do You Measure Success in SEO Campaigns?

Success in SEO isn’t just about ranking #1 for one keyword—it’s about driving meaningful results for your business.

What to Listen For: They should mention a mix of metrics, like organic traffic, conversion rates, and ROI—not just vanity metrics like “impressions” or “clicks.”

Follow-Up Question: Ask how they’ll tailor success metrics to your goals. For example, if you’re an e-commerce store, sales and conversions might matter more than website visits.

Pro Tip: Avoid companies that guarantee results. SEO involves many factors outside anyone’s control (hello, Google algorithm updates).

4. How Often Will You Provide Updates and Reports?

Transparency is non-negotiable when it comes to SEO. Regular updates ensure you’re not wondering what’s happening behind the scenes.

Why It Matters: SEO is a long game; consistent reporting helps you track progress and stay informed.

What to Expect: Look for agencies that offer monthly or bi-weekly reports with insights into rankings, traffic, and ongoing tasks.

Pro Tip: Ask for a sample report. It’ll give you a sneak peek into their communication style and level of detail.

5. What Tools and Technologies Do You Use?

An SEO company’s toolkit says a lot about its capabilities. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics are industry standards.

Why It Matters: The right tools ensure they can analyze your website, research keywords, and track performance effectively.

Follow-up Question: Ask if you can access these tools or dashboards during the campaign. Some agencies offer client logins for added transparency.

Pro Tip: Consider it a red flag if they refuse to name their tools or act overly secretive. SEO isn’t magic—it’s data-driven, and you deserve to know their approach.

6. What’s your approach to keyword research?

Why It Matters: Keyword research is the backbone of any successful SEO campaign. The agency’s approach will reveal its depth of understanding and how well it aligns with your business objectives.

Follow-Up Question: Can you show examples of how your keyword strategies have impacted a client’s rankings and traffic?

Pro Tip: Look for agencies that emphasize relevance over volume. It’s better to rank for fewer highly-targeted keywords than many irrelevant ones.

7. How do you stay updated on Google’s algorithm changes?

Why It Matters: Search engines update their algorithms frequently, and staying informed is critical to maintaining rankings.

Follow-up Question: Can you give an example of a campaign adjustment you made due to a recent algorithm update?

Pro Tip: Agencies that actively follow SEO news and trends and adapt their strategies are the ones you want on your side.

8. Do you follow ethical SEO practices (white hat techniques)?

Why It Matters: Black hat techniques might deliver short-term gains but can lead to severe penalties from search engines.

Follow-Up Question: How do you ensure your strategies align with Google’s Webmaster Guidelines?

Pro Tip: If they hesitate or use terms like “We have secret methods” without elaborating, consider it a red flag.

9. Can you help with other aspects of digital marketing, like content creation or PPC?

Why It Matters: SEO often works best when integrated with other marketing efforts. An agency with a holistic approach can offer added value.

Follow-Up Question: Do you have in-house teams for these services or collaborate with external experts?

Pro Tip: Even if you only need SEO now, having a partner who can scale their offerings in the future can save time and effort.

10. How do you handle local SEO for businesses targeting specific geographic areas?

Why It Matters: Local SEO strategies (like Google My Business optimization) are crucial if your business has a local customer base.

Follow-Up Question: Can you provide examples of how you improved a client’s local search rankings?

Pro Tip: When Hiring an SEO company, check if they have experience optimizing for voice searches, as these are becoming increasingly important in local SEO.

11. What happens if the campaign doesn’t achieve the expected results?

Why It Matters: No SEO campaign is foolproof, but how the agency handles setbacks speaks volumes about its professionalism.

Follow-Up Question: What’s your process for troubleshooting and adjusting strategies when results fall short?

Pro Tip: Avoid agencies that refuse to acknowledge the possibility of failure. Instead, look for those who focus on continuous improvement and problem-solving.

12. How do you build backlinks, and what’s your process for ensuring quality?

Why It Matters: Backlinks are critical for SEO, but low-quality or spammy links can harm your rankings.

Follow-Up Question: Can you share examples of successful backlink campaigns and the metrics used to measure their impact?

Pro Tip: Quality beats quantity. Ensure they focus on earning backlinks from reputable sites within your niche.

13. How do you ensure the content aligns with SEO and user intent?

Why It Matters: Content is key for SEO, but it needs to resonate with readers while satisfying search engine algorithms.

Follow-Up Question: Do you offer content creation, or will you collaborate with our in-house team?

Pro Tip: Agencies prioritising user intent in their strategies are more likely to deliver sustainable results.

14. What KPIs will you track and report to measure progress?

Why It Matters: Clear metrics help you assess the effectiveness of the SEO efforts and ROI.

Follow-up Question: Can you provide a sample of the reports you typically share with clients?

Pro Tip: While Hiring an SEO company, Look for one that tracks actionable KPIs, such as organic traffic, bounce rate, conversions, and keyword rankings, rather than vanity metrics.

15. How do you handle competition analysis?

Why It Matters: Understanding your competitors’ actions can provide valuable insights to refine your SEO strategy.

Follow-Up Question: What tools do you use for competitor analysis, and how do you incorporate the findings into campaigns?

Pro Tip: SEO agencies that can identify your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses and adapt their strategies accordingly are worth considering.

16. What does your onboarding process look like?

Why It Matters: A smooth onboarding process ensures everyone is on the same page.

Follow-Up Question: What information or resources do you need from us during onboarding?

Pro Tip: Agencies with a structured and transparent onboarding process will likely deliver organized and efficient results.

17. How do you handle technical SEO issues?

Why It Matters: Technical SEO (site speed, mobile-friendliness, structured data) lays the foundation for a successful campaign.

Follow-up Question: Can you share an example of how you resolved a significant technical SEO challenge for a client?

Pro Tip: Agencies that conduct thorough site audits and address technical issues proactively are invaluable.

Asking these questions will help you identify the best SEO company and set the tone for a collaborative and successful partnership. Remember, you’re not just Hiring an SEO Company—you’re enlisting a team to help your business grow. So, ask away and don’t hold back.

You’ll get a well-rounded understanding of an SEO agency’s expertise, approach, and suitability for your business needs.