What to Ask Before Hiring an SEO Agency

If you’re hiring someone to help more customers find your business on Google, start by asking what they would fix first and why. A good agency should be able to look at your website and explain its priorities in terms you can use to make a decision.

Ask what they’d fix first

Give the agency one business goal, such as getting more calls for a particular service. Ask them to walk you through a page a potential customer would land on. Can someone tell what you do, where you work, and how to get in touch? The answer should help you understand what work is worth paying for first.

Ask what you’ll get for your budget

Find out what’s included in the first month, who will make changes, and what costs extra. For example, if the agency recommends rewriting a service page, ask whether the price includes writing it, adding it to your site, and checking how it performs. Ask who will own the website and have access to your accounts if you stop working together.

Agree on how you’ll measure progress

If your goal is more quote requests, ask how the agency will track calls and forms from people who found you through search. Rankings and website visits can help explain what changed. The number and quality of inquiries can help you decide whether the work is bringing in the customers you want.

Get a second opinion on big promises

If an agency guarantees the top spot on Google or recommends an expensive change without explaining the problem it solves, ask for specifics. Google’s guidance on third-party SEO advice is a starting point if you want to check a claim yourself.

If you’d like help deciding where to start, tell us what you want your website to do better. Share your website and the type of customer you want to reach so we can talk through where to focus first.