Choosing the right SEO agency is crucial for boosting your online presence. Learn the key questions to ask an SEO agency before hiring them to ensure they meet your business needs and can deliver effective results.
Last Updated: June 21, 2025
In today’s competitive digital landscape, having a robust SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy is key to ensuring your business’s success online. But with so many SEO agencies offering a variety of services, how do you choose the right one? The key lies in asking the right questions before you commit. Whether you are a small business owner, a marketing manager, or an entrepreneur looking to enhance your online visibility, the questions you ask will help determine whether the agency is equipped to deliver real results.
In this blog post, we’ll outline essential questions to ask an SEO agency before you sign on the dotted line. These questions will help you assess the agency’s experience, capabilities, and approach to SEO, ensuring that you make an informed decision and choose a partner that will help you achieve your business goals.
The first question you should ask an SEO agency is about their experience within your industry or niche. While SEO is a broad field, different industries often have unique challenges and requirements when it comes to search engine optimization. A good SEO agency will have experience working with businesses in your industry and understand the specific competitive landscape you face.
Can you provide case studies or examples of businesses similar to ours that you've worked with?
Any reputable SEO agency should have a portfolio or case studies showcasing their successes with previous clients. Ask for examples of businesses they’ve helped grow online, and inquire about specific metrics such as increases in organic traffic, search rankings, and conversions.
How long did it take to achieve these results?
Understanding the strategies that the SEO agency will employ is crucial to ensure their methods align with your goals and business ethics. Ask the agency to explain their approach to on-page SEO, off-page SEO, content marketing, link-building, and technical SEO. You want an agency that employs white-hat (ethical) practices that comply with search engine guidelines.
How do you stay updated on changes in SEO algorithms and trends?
Measuring the success of an SEO campaign goes beyond just tracking keyword rankings. The agency should define specific, measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) such as organic traffic growth, lead generation, conversion rates, bounce rates, and overall ROI.
How frequently do you provide reports, and what metrics will be included in these reports?
Keyword research is a fundamental aspect of any SEO strategy. It determines which keywords and phrases your audience is using to search for products or services like yours. Ask the agency about their process for identifying high-value keywords, as well as how they handle keyword prioritization.
How do you ensure that the keywords we target are relevant to our business and audience?
Technical SEO refers to the behind-the-scenes aspects of SEO, such as site speed, mobile optimization, crawlability, and fixing any technical errors. A site that’s technically sound is essential for a successful SEO strategy. Ask the agency how they approach technical SEO and what steps they take to ensure your website is optimized for search engines.
Will you conduct an SEO audit of our website before beginning any work?
Content marketing is integral to any comprehensive SEO strategy. Search engines like Google reward websites with high-quality, relevant content that provides value to users. Ask the agency if they offer content creation services, such as blog writing, article publishing, and landing page optimization, as part of their SEO package.
How do you ensure that the content you produce is both SEO-friendly and aligned with our brand voice?
An effective SEO campaign requires the use of a variety of tools and software to track keywords, analyze competitors, measure traffic, and more. Ask the agency about the tools they use for analytics, keyword research, backlink analysis, and reporting.
Can we have access to the data or reports generated by these tools?
Clear communication and transparency are essential for any successful partnership. Ask the agency how they plan to keep you updated on the progress of your SEO campaign. Find out about their reporting frequency and what kind of communication you can expect throughout the process.
Will we have a dedicated account manager to oversee our project?
SEO is a long-term strategy, and results can take time to materialize. However, it’s essential to set expectations upfront about when you can expect to see tangible results. Ask the agency about their typical timelines for improvements in traffic, rankings, and conversions.
How do you handle situations where results aren’t meeting expectations?
Choosing the right SEO agency is an important decision that can significantly impact the success of your online presence. By asking the right questions and thoroughly evaluating potential partners, you can ensure that the agency you choose is not only capable but also a good fit for your business’s goals.
Remember, SEO is a long-term commitment that requires trust, transparency, and continuous effort. By taking the time to find an agency that aligns with your needs and values, you’ll be setting your business up for long-term success in the ever-evolving digital marketplace.
