100+ Questions to Ask Before Hiring an SEO Company

Hiring an SEO company can help your business grow. But not every company is the right fit. Some promise big results but do not deliver.

Many business owners ask the same question: How do I know if this SEO company is right for me? The truth is, you cannot guess. You have to ask. A lot.

Before you sign anything, ask the right questions. This helps you see if they know what they are doing. It also clears up what you can expect.

We made a long list of smart questions you can ask. You do not need to ask all of them. Just pick the ones that match your needs.

Asking these questions early will save you time, money, and stress later. This guide gives you over 100 clear questions.

Questions about experience and expertise

Knowing how long a company has worked in SEO tells you a lot. It shows if they understand how search engines change over time. Ask about their past work, team strength, and industry focus. This helps you see if they have handled projects like yours before.

Some people think older companies are always better. That is not always true. A newer agency can still bring smart ideas and strong skills. What matters more is if they have real success stories and a clear method that works.

A simple way to test this is to ask for proof. Can they show you what they did for another business like yours? Did it work? If they cannot explain it clearly, they might not be the right team.

You should also find out who is doing the work. Are they trained? Do they stay up to date with SEO rules? If an agency cannot answer that, it is a red flag.

Another good sign is how they solve problems. SEO is always changing. Google updates its rules often. Ask them what they do when rankings drop or when traffic slows down. This shows how they think when things go wrong.

Questions to ask your SEO company about experience and expertise:

• How many years have you worked in SEO?
• Have you helped businesses like mine?
• Can you show clear results from past clients?
• What industries do you work with most?
• Who will handle my project?
• What is your team’s background?
• How do you stay updated with Google changes?
• What happens when your strategy does not work?
• How do you track long-term success?
• Why are you the right agency for me?

Questions about SEO strategy and approach

Every SEO company has a different way of doing things. Some focus more on content. Others care more about links or technical fixes. You need to know what their plan looks like and how it fits your goals.

A smart agency will not jump in without a plan. They should start with a full check of your website. This shows them what is broken and what can be better. Then they should explain what they will fix first and why it matters.

Some people ask, Will they use the same plan for every business? A good agency does not copy and paste. They build a plan that fits your market, your site, and your goals.

Ask how they pick keywords. These are the words your customers search for. If the agency guesses or uses tools without research, that is not enough. They should find keywords that match your audience and bring traffic that matters.

Also ask about content. SEO today needs good writing. It must help users and answer real questions. If an agency does not talk about content, that is a red flag.

A strong strategy should grow your traffic and your trust. That means steady growth, not fake results. If someone says, We will rank you in a week, be careful. Fast results often fade fast.

Questions to ask your SEO company about their strategy:

• How do you build a custom SEO plan?
• Will you audit my website first?
• How do you choose keywords?
• Do you create or update content?
• What is your approach to on-page SEO?
• Do you also focus on off-page SEO?
• How do you measure success?
• What tools do you use for tracking?
• How often will you adjust the strategy?
• How long before I see steady results?

Questions about technical SEO

Technical SEO is the engine behind your website. It keeps your pages running smooth and helps Google find them fast. If this part is broken, the rest will not work well.

Many business owners ask, What is technical SEO and why does it matter?

Let us say your pages take too long to load. Or your site does not work on phones. These are small issues but they cause big problems. People leave fast and Google drops your rankings.

A good SEO company will check all of this. They should run a full scan of your site. Ask if they fix errors like broken links, slow speed, or pages that cannot be found. This is not extra work. This is the foundation.

Also ask if they help with crawling and indexing. That means making sure Google can read every page on your site. If Google cannot see your pages, users will not either.

Questions to ask your SEO company about technical SEO:

• Do you run a full technical audit of my website?
• Will you fix broken links and error pages?
• How do you improve page loading speed?
• Will my site work better on phones and tablets?
• Do you check for crawl and indexing issues?
• How do you handle site structure and page depth?
• Will you fix redirection or URL problems?
• Do you use schema or structured data markup?
• Can you explain your process in simple terms?
• How do you track technical issues over time?

Questions about local SEO

Local SEO helps your business show up in your area. If people nearby cannot find you online, you miss out on real sales.

This is key for businesses with a shop, office, or service area. A good SEO agency should know how to get you listed where it matters—Google Maps, local directories, and search results in your city.

A common question people ask is, Do I need local SEO if I have a website already? Yes. A website alone will not help if it does not reach local people.

Let us say you run a dental clinic. You want to appear when someone searches best dentist near me. Without strong local SEO, your site might not show up at all.

Ask if they can manage your Google Business Profile. That profile shows your business name, phone, hours, and reviews. If it is wrong or missing, customers will skip you.

Also check if they create local citations. These are listings of your business across trusted websites. The name, address, and phone number should match in all places. This builds trust with Google.

Another thing to ask is how they handle reviews. Good reviews help you rank higher. They also build trust with new customers. If an agency ignores this, they are missing a key part.

Questions to ask your SEO company about local SEO:

• Do you manage Google Business Profile listings?
• How do you improve local search rankings?
• Can you help me show up on Google Maps?
• Do you build local citations and check for errors?
• How do you make sure my business info is correct?
• Will you help me get and manage reviews?
• Do you handle location pages for different service areas?
• How do you track local SEO results?
• Have you worked with businesses in my city?
• What makes your local SEO process better?

Questions about tools and reporting

A good SEO company should not just work hard. They should also show you how that work helps your business. This is where tools and reports come in.

Most people ask, How do I know SEO is working?
Simple. You check reports. These reports track clicks, rankings, traffic, and more.

The agency should explain what tools they use to track your results. These tools help them see what is working and what needs to change. If they guess or avoid using data, you are flying blind.

Look for clear updates. You should not be left in the dark. Ask for a report every month. It should show what they did and what changed. You do not need charts full of noise. You need plain facts that show growth or drop.

Ask if you can see your keyword rankings. Also ask how your traffic has changed over time. This tells you if the plan is working or needs fixing.

Questions to ask your SEO company about tools and reporting:

• What tools do you use to track SEO performance?
• Will I get a monthly report?
• What will that report include?
• Can I see my keyword rankings and traffic changes?
• How do you track leads or conversions?
• Will you explain the report in plain English?
• Do I get access to a dashboard or tools?
• How do you decide what to improve next?
• Can you show a sample report?
• What happens if results stop improving?

Questions about content and blogging

Content is what fills your website. Blogs, service pages, and product details all count. Good content brings people in. Great content keeps them there.

Most people ask, Why is blogging important for SEO?
Because each blog is a new chance to show up in search.

Search engines want helpful answers. That is where blogs shine. They answer common questions. They help your readers and build trust.

Let us say you own a pet grooming shop. A blog about how to trim a dog’s nails can attract people in your area looking for tips. Some of them may book your service too.

Ask the agency if they write fresh content. Ask who writes it and how they choose topics. They should not just post for the sake of posting. Every post must serve a purpose.

Avoid thin content stuffed with keywords. That might trick Google once but will not work for long.

Check if the agency uses SEO in writing. This means smart use of keywords, links, and headings—but no fluff. A blog should be easy to read and helpful.

Questions to ask your SEO company about content and blogging:

• Do you write blog posts for my website?
• How do you choose topics that match my business?
• Who writes the content? Are they experts?
• Do you use keyword research in content planning?
• How often do you post new content?
• Will you update older blogs to keep them fresh?
• How do you measure if a blog works?
• Do I get to review content before it goes live?
• Will my content sound natural, not robotic?
• What happens if a blog post does not perform well?

Questions about link building

Link building helps Google trust your site. When other trusted websites link to your pages, it sends a strong signal that your content matters.

But not all links are good. Some can help. Some can hurt. You need to know how your SEO company builds links and where those links come from.

A lot of people ask, What is a backlink?
A backlink is simply a link from another site to yours. Think of it like a vote. The more trusted sites that vote for you, the better.

Now here is the catch—some votes come from bad places. If the agency builds links on shady or spammy sites, Google may lower your ranking.

Ask what method they use. Good link building takes time. It means writing helpful content, building real connections, and earning links from strong websites. If the agency buys links or uses shortcuts, walk away.

You should also ask how they choose which pages to link. Do they spread links across your site or only focus on one page? Smart linking supports your full website.

Questions to ask your SEO company about link building:

• How do you build backlinks for my site?
• Do you use only white-hat methods?
• Can I see examples of the links you built?
• What types of sites do you target for backlinks?
• Do you use guest posting or outreach campaigns?
• How do you avoid spammy links?
• Will you check my current backlinks for quality?
• Do you clean up toxic or harmful links?
• How long does it take to build links?
• How do backlinks help my rankings?

Questions about communication

Clear communication keeps your SEO project on track. If you do not hear from the agency, how will you know what is working?

Ask who your main contact will be. It helps to speak with the same person each time. This avoids confusion and builds trust.

You should also ask how often you will get updates. Some clients prefer weekly calls. Others just want a monthly email. A good agency works around your style.

Let us say your site traffic drops one week. You should not find that out by accident. The agency must tell you what happened and how they will fix it.

Also ask how they handle questions. Can you call them directly? Do they answer emails quickly? If they go quiet after signing the deal, that is a warning sign.

Check if they speak in simple words. You should understand their plan without needing to Google every sentence.

Questions to ask your SEO company about communication:

• Who will be my main point of contact?
• How often will I hear from your team?
• Do you offer calls, emails, or both?
• Will I get updates on all major changes?
• How fast do you reply to questions?
• What happens if my results drop suddenly?
• Can you explain reports and results in simple terms?
• Do you use tools or dashboards for communication?
• Will you notify me before making site changes?
• How do you handle urgent issues?

Questions about pricing and contracts

Money talks. But in SEO, it should speak clearly—no guesswork, no hidden fees. You need to know exactly what you are paying for.

Ask for a full breakdown of the cost. Do they charge monthly? Per project? Per hour? Some agencies offer packages, while others bill for custom work. Choose what fits your budget and goals.

Ask what happens if you want to stop. Do they lock you in? A flexible agency will not trap you. You should be free to leave if it does not work out.

Also check if the contract lists all services. If it is vague or confusing, that is a red flag. Make sure the deal includes clear timelines, goals, and what they will deliver.

Questions to ask your SEO company about pricing and contracts:

• What does your monthly fee cover?
• Do you offer different pricing plans?
• Are there setup or one-time costs?
• Is there a long-term contract?
• What happens if I want to cancel?
• Can I pause the service if needed?
• What results should I expect for the price?
• Do you offer refunds or guarantees?
• Will you explain all charges before I sign?
• How do you handle changes in budget or scope?

Questions about timelines and results

SEO takes time. It is not magic. You need to ask when results will show, what results to expect, and how the agency tracks progress.

A skilled agency will never promise instant success. If someone says you will rank number one next week, that is a red flag. Real SEO is like farming. You plant the seeds, water the soil, and let it grow.

Ask what they will do in the first 30, 60, and 90 days. A real plan should show steady action, not random work. Early steps often include site cleanup, keyword mapping, and content updates.

Ask how they define success. Some count clicks. Others track leads, calls, or sales. You want results that match your business goals—not just pretty charts.

Let us say you run a small travel site. Traffic is good, but bookings matter more. Make sure they track the right numbers.

Questions to ask your SEO company about timelines and results:

• What should I expect in the first 30 days?
• When will I start seeing real results?
• How long does it take to reach page one?
• What does success mean in your reports?
• Do you track leads, calls, or just traffic?
• What happens if my site rankings drop suddenly?
• How do you handle slow results?
• Will you share exact numbers each month?
• Can you show examples of past timelines?
• How do you set goals for my SEO project?

Be patient with honest answers

You may not get every answer right away. That is not always a bad sign. A good agency may take time to understand your needs before they respond.

They might still be learning about your business or checking past data. Some questions need research. Others may require input from different team members.

If an agency says, Let us look into that and get back to you, take that as a positive. It shows they are careful, not careless.

Jumping to conclusions can hurt a good partnership before it starts. Give them room to think. Clear answers take time, and patience builds trust.

Strong teams ask questions too. They want to make sure they understand you before offering solutions. That is a sign of professionalism.

So do not judge too quickly. Let the agency gather what they need. A careful answer today can save big problems later.

Conclusion

Choosing the right SEO company is not about luck. It is about asking smart questions and paying attention to the answers.

Do not just go with the one that sounds the nicest. Look for clear thinking, real results, and honest replies. The questions in this guide are here to help you see behind the sales pitch.

A strong agency will not just answer your questions. They will ask some of their own. That shows they care about your goals, not just your money.

So take your time. Listen closely. A few smart questions today can lead to the right partner for the long run.