20 Questions

Questions to Ask When Hiring an SEO Company

Essential questions to ask when hiring an SEO company to ensure you choose the right partner for improving your website's search engine rankings and online visibility.

1

What is your experience with businesses in my industry?

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Why this works

Understanding their industry experience helps you assess their ability to handle your specific market and competition.

2

What are your SEO strategies and methodologies?

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Why this works

Learning about their approach helps you understand if their methods align with best practices and your business goals.

3

What results have you achieved for similar clients?

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Why this works

Seeing concrete results helps you evaluate their track record and what you can expect for your business.

4

How do you measure and report on SEO success?

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Why this works

Understanding their reporting methods helps you track progress and ensure transparency in their work.

5

What is your timeline for seeing results?

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Why this works

Knowing the expected timeline helps you set realistic expectations and plan your marketing strategy.

6

What tools and technologies do you use?

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Why this works

Understanding their tools helps you assess their capabilities and ensure they're using industry-standard software.

7

How do you handle keyword research and selection?

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Why this works

Learning about their keyword strategy helps you understand how they'll target your audience and competition.

8

What is your approach to on-page optimization?

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Why this works

Understanding their on-page strategy helps you know how they'll improve your website's technical SEO.

9

How do you handle link building and off-page SEO?

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Why this works

Learning about their link building approach helps you understand how they'll improve your domain authority.

10

What is your content strategy for SEO?

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Why this works

Understanding their content approach helps you know how they'll create SEO-friendly content for your site.

11

How do you handle local SEO if applicable?

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Why this works

Understanding their local SEO strategy helps you know how they'll improve your local search visibility.

12

What is your approach to technical SEO?

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Why this works

Learning about their technical strategy helps you understand how they'll improve your site's performance and crawlability.

13

How do you handle SEO for e-commerce sites?

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Why this works

Understanding their e-commerce approach helps you know how they'll optimize your product pages and category structure.

14

What is your approach to mobile SEO?

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Why this works

Learning about their mobile strategy helps you understand how they'll optimize your site for mobile users.

15

How do you handle SEO for international markets?

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Why this works

Understanding their international approach helps you know how they'll optimize your site for global audiences.

16

What is your approach to SEO for voice search?

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Why this works

Learning about their voice search strategy helps you understand how they'll optimize for voice queries.

17

How do you handle SEO for social media?

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Why this works

Understanding their social SEO approach helps you know how they'll integrate social signals into your SEO strategy.

18

What is your approach to SEO for video content?

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Why this works

Learning about their video SEO strategy helps you understand how they'll optimize your video content.

19

How do you handle SEO for news and blog content?

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Why this works

Understanding their content SEO approach helps you know how they'll optimize your editorial content.

20

What is your approach to SEO for seasonal businesses?

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Why this works

Learning about their seasonal strategy helps you understand how they'll handle businesses with seasonal fluctuations.

Choosing the Right SEO Company

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Evaluating SEO Companies

Check Their Portfolio

Review their case studies and client results to understand their capabilities and track record.

Ask for References

Request references from current and former clients to get honest feedback about their experience.

Understand Their Process

Learn about their workflow, reporting methods, and how they communicate with clients.

Essential Areas to Cover

Technical Expertise

SEO strategies and methodologies
Tools and technologies used
Technical SEO capabilities
Industry experience and knowledge

Results and Reporting

Past client results and case studies
Reporting methods and frequency
Key performance indicators
Timeline for seeing results

Communication and Process

Communication methods and frequency
Project management approach
Client involvement and collaboration
Support and maintenance services

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Don't Choose Based on Price Alone

Focus on value and results rather than just cost. Cheap SEO services often use black hat techniques that can harm your site.

Avoid Companies That Guarantee Rankings

No legitimate SEO company can guarantee specific rankings. Be wary of companies that make unrealistic promises.

Don't Ignore Red Flags

If something seems off about their methods, reporting, or communication, trust your instincts and look elsewhere.

Further Reading

"The Art of SEO" by Eric Enge
"SEO 2023" by Bruce Clay
"The Complete Guide to SEO" by various authors

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