89 Questions To Ask SEO Agency Before Hiring

Choosing the right SEO agency is crucial for your business’s online success. Before deciding, you must ask the right questions to ensure your chosen agency aligns with your goals and can deliver the desired results. Below are several categories of 89 questions to ask SEO agency to help guide your conversation.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Experience

Understanding the agency’s background and experience is essential to gauge their ability to handle your project. These questions help you learn about their expertise and past successes.

1. How long have you been in the SEO industry?
2. What types of businesses have you worked with?
3. Can you share case studies or examples of past successes?
4. How can you stay updated with SEO trends?
5. What SEO strategies have worked best for your clients?
6. Can you provide references from past clients?
7. What industries do you specialize in?
8. How many clients do you currently manage?
9. What was your most challenging SEO project, and how did you handle it?

Context: These questions help you understand the SEO agency’s experience and expertise. Knowing their background gives you confidence in their ability to deliver effective SEO strategies tailored to your business needs.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Approach

Learning about the agency’s approach to SEO is essential to ensure they use effective and ethical methods. These questions clarify their strategies and how they plan to achieve your goals.

10. What is your approach to keyword research?
11. How can you develop an SEO strategy?
12. What on-page optimization techniques do you use?
13. How can you handle off-page SEO?
14. How can you approach link-building?
15. How can you measure the success of an SEO campaign?
16. What role does content play in your SEO strategy?
17. How can you handle technical SEO issues?
18. What tools do you use for SEO analysis?

Context: Asking these questions helps you understand the methods and strategies the SEO agency uses. It ensures their approach aligns with your goals and adheres to industry best practices.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Transparency

Transparency is key to a successful partnership. These questions will help you determine how open and communicative the agency will be throughout your collaboration.

19. How can you report on SEO progress?
20. How often will we receive updates?
21. What metrics do you include in your reports?
22. Will I have access to all data and analytics?
23. How can you handle communication with clients?
24. Will I have a dedicated account manager?
25. How can you handle unexpected changes or issues?
26. How transparent are you about the challenges and risks of SEO?
27. What is your process for setting and managing expectations?

Context: These questions help ensure that the SEO agency is open and communicative, informing you about the progress and challenges of your partnership.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Customization And Flexibility

Every business is unique, so it’s essential to know if the SEO agency can tailor their services to meet your needs. These questions will help you assess their ability to provide customized solutions.

28. How can you customize your SEO services for each client?
29. Can you adapt your strategies to different business models?
30. How flexible are you in adjusting the SEO plan based on results?
31. How can you handle unique challenges specific to my industry?
32. Can you integrate SEO with my existing marketing strategies?
33. How can you address local SEO needs if my business targets specific areas?
34. How can you manage SEO for e-commerce websites?
35. What level of input do I have in strategy development?
36. Can you provide SEO services in different languages or regions?

Context: By asking these questions, you can determine if the SEO agency can tailor its strategies and services to fit your unique business needs and goals.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Pricing And Contracts

Understanding the financial aspects and commitments involved is critical. These questions will help you evaluate the agency’s pricing structure and contract terms.

37. What is your pricing structure?
38. Are there any hidden fees?
39. How can you determine the cost of an SEO campaign?
40. What is included in your monthly SEO package?
41. Do you offer custom pricing for different services?
42. What are your contract terms?
43. Is there a minimum contract length?
44. What is your policy on early termination?
45. How can you handle billing and payment schedules?

Context: These questions help you understand the financial commitments and what to expect from the agency regarding pricing and contracts, ensuring no surprises.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Team And Resources

The team and resources behind the agency play a significant role in the success of your SEO campaign. These questions will help you understand who will be working on your project and the tools they’ll be using.

46. Who will be working on my SEO project?
47. What is the size of your SEO team?
48. What are the qualifications of your SEO specialists?
49. Do you outsource any of your work?
50. What tools and software do you use for SEO?
51. How can you ensure quality control in your SEO services?
52. How can you keep your team updated with the latest SEO trends?
53. Will I have access to the team working on my project?

Context: These questions give you insight into the agency’s team and resources, ensuring you work with skilled professionals with the tools and knowledge to achieve your goals.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Timeline And Expectations

Knowing how long it will take to see results and what to expect is crucial for planning. These questions help you set realistic expectations and understand the timeline of your SEO campaign.

54. How long before we see results from SEO?
55. What is your typical timeline for an SEO campaign?
56. How can you set and track milestones?
57. What are the short-term and long-term goals of the SEO campaign?
58. How can you handle delays or setbacks?
59. What can I expect in the first three months?
60. How can you measure progress over time?
61. What is your process for adjusting the timeline if needed?
62. How can you ensure that expectations are met?

Context: By asking these questions, you can set clear expectations and understand the timeline for achieving results, essential for effective planning and decision-making.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Communication

Effective communication is key to a successful partnership. These questions will help you understand how the agency handles communication with clients.

63. How often will we have meetings?
64. What communication channels do you use?
65. How can you handle urgent issues?
66. Will I have direct contact with the SEO team?
67. How can you handle feedback and revisions?
68. What is your response time for emails or calls?
69. How can you report on SEO progress?
70. How can you ensure that communication is clear and consistent?
71. How can you handle miscommunications or misunderstandings?

Context: These questions ensure that the SEO agency values clear and consistent communication, essential for maintaining a smooth and effective working relationship.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Success Metrics

Understanding how the agency measures success will help you determine whether it aligns with your business goals. These questions focus on the metrics and KPIs they prioritize.

72. What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) you focus on?
73. How can you measure ROI from SEO?
74. What metrics do you track to measure success?
75. How can you set and track SEO goals?
76. How can you measure the effectiveness of on-page SEO?
77. How can you track progress in off-page SEO?
78. What tools do you use to measure success?
79. How can you ensure continuous improvement in SEO performance?
80. What is your process for adjusting strategies based on performance?

Context: By asking these questions, you can ensure that the SEO agency’s success metrics align with your business goals, helping you achieve the best possible results.

Questions About SEO Agency’s Adaptability To Algorithm Changes

Search engine algorithms are constantly changing, so knowing how the agency adapts is essential. These questions focus on their ability to stay current and adjust strategies as needed.

81. How can you keep up with search engine algorithm changes?
82. How can you adjust strategies when algorithms change?
83. How can you handle sudden drops in rankings?
84. What is your approach to staying compliant with search engine guidelines?
85. How can you anticipate and prepare for future changes?
86. How can you stay informed about Google updates?
87. How can you manage the impact of algorithm changes on SEO campaigns?
88. How can you educate clients about algorithm changes?
89. How can you ensure long-term success despite algorithm fluctuations?

Context: These questions help you understand how the SEO agency adapts to algorithm changes, ensuring that your SEO strategies remain effective and compliant with search engine guidelines.

Conclusion

Asking the right questions before hiring an SEO agency is crucial to finding the right partner for your business. These 89 questions will help you assess their experience, approach, transparency, and adaptability. By doing your due diligence, you can ensure that the agency you choose best fits your needs and goals, leading to a successful and rewarding partnership.