10 Questions to Ask About SEO

When you choose a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company, you are putting your online reputation in its hands. An SEO company can make or break your online campaign, so finding the right one is vitally important.

But how do you know which company is right for you? How do you know if you can trust a company to help you build a respected online presence? Before you hand over the keys to just any SEO firm, ask the following questions:

1. Where do you rank for national SEO keywords?
If you want an SEO company that can propel you to the top of the search engines for your industry keywords, you should consider a company that can do it for its own keywords.

2. Can you show me examples of your previous work?
Any legitimate SEO company will have examples of successful campaigns it has both worked on in the past and is currently involved with. Look at the competitiveness of the keywords for each client, the time frame, and the caliber of clients.

3. What are the deliverables? What am I paying for?
Look for transparency. Your SEO firm should tell you exactly what it will do for you. If it doesn’t, or if it says too many things are part of its “company secrets,” that may indicate the company does things it doesn’t want you to know about.

4. What part of your service would be considered against the search engines’ guidelines?
An SEO firm should be completely white hat. Most firms stay away from the black-hat areas, but it is the involvement in the grey areas that will truly differentiate the firm’s ethical standards. If your SEO engages in these questionable tactics, the search engines will eventually catch up with them, and, as a result, your site could be penalized or even banned.

5. Which search engines will you focuson for my organic optimization?
In the United States, 97% of all searches come from the top four search engines. Worldwide, Google is the largest search engine by a substantial margin. Be wary of a company that talks about getting your site ranked at the top of obscure search engines that are not in the top three or four.

6. What kind of guarantee can you give me?
No one can guarantee a first page or number 1 ranking in the organic search results. Even Google’s Webmaster Guidelines clearly state that no one can guarantee rankings. This is why it is so important to look at an SEO firm’s previous work. A consistent track record of high rankings can provide you with the same reassurance as a guarantee.

7. How long will it take for me to show up?
SEO does not happen overnight. You have to earn the trust of the search engines and prove that your site deserves to be ranked at the top. Although an SEO firm cannot promise a strict time line, a legitimate one can tell you how long it typically takes based on its previous experience. Make sure the time frame is realistic; it should take several months rather than a few weeks.

8. How do you measure your success?
Increased ROI should be the ultimate measure of success, but there are certain leading indicators that can be used to track the early signs of progress. An SEO company should work towards your goals and provide reports at least once or twice a month to keep you updated on the progress it has made. The reports should track search engine rankings, organic traffic, keyword traffic, and, most importantly, leads and sales.

9. How can I expect to communicate with you?
You should receive frequent communication from your SEO firm about what it has done, what it is currently working on, the progress being made, and what the next step is. Make sure the lines of communication are open and responses to questions and concerns are prompt.

10. Who will be working on my project?
You could pay top dollar for the most reputable SEO firm in the world, but if your account is assigned to a junior member of the team with little or no SEO experience, your results may be disappointing. Make sure those who work on your site have the expertise to get the results you deserve.

– Nelson