Finding the Right SEO Consultant: 9 Key Questions You Must Ask
Choosing the right SEO consultant will massively impact how well your business performs online and be the difference between being in the black or in the red. It’s essential to select someone with the right skills, experience, and approach to help you achieve your business sales targets. Below are ten important questions I would typically ask if I was looking for the best SEO consultant for my business. (Spoiler, i’m an SEO so know the probing questions!)
1. How Do You Approach SEO?
When evaluating a consultant, you need to understand their approach to search engine optimisation so you can gauge if they will work smart and hard for your business. A well-rounded strategy should cover all major aspects of SEO, so they should be talking about these major points. If they give you any other waffle, raise your eyebrow!
On-Page SEO: This involves optimising individual pages on your site to improve their visibility in search engines. Key elements include title tags, meta descriptions, and content structure. The consultant should have a clear plan for improving these areas.
Technical SEO: This focuses on the backend of your website, ensuring that it is fast, mobile-friendly, and easy for search engines to crawl and index. The consultant should be proficient in addressing issues like site speed, mobile optimisation, and resolving crawl errors.
Off-Page SEO: This aspect deals with activities outside of your website that impact your search rankings, such as link building and a social media marketing service. A good consultant should have strategies for building high-quality backlinks and enhancing your online reputation.
A strong content strategy should also be part of their approach, with an emphasis on creating valuable, relevant content that meets the needs of your target audience. This should be informed by thorough keyword research to identify the most effective terms to target.
2. Can You Provide Case Studies or Examples of Your Work?
A reliable SEO advisor will have a portfolio of case studies or examples that demonstrate their success with previous clients. These examples should highlight improvements in key areas such as search rankings, website traffic, and conversion rates.
Look for detailed case studies that outline the consultant’s approach and the results achieved. Testimonials from past clients can also provide valuable insights into the consultant’s ability to deliver results and their working style.
3. How Do You Track and Measure Success?
Effective SEO is all about results, and a good consultant should have a clear system for tracking and measuring the success of their efforts. Key metrics they should monitor include:
Website Traffic: Measuring the number of visitors to your site and identifying trends over time can show the impact of SEO efforts.
Search Rankings: Tracking the positions of your targeted keywords in search engine results gives a clear indication of SEO performance.
Conversions: Monitoring how many visitors take a desired action on your site, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter, is essential for measuring the effectiveness of your SEO strategy.
Referral Traffic: Understanding where your visitors are coming from, especially from other sites linking to yours, helps assess the success of off-page SEO activities.
User Experience: Metrics like bounce rate and time spent on site can indicate how well your website meets the needs of its visitors, which in turn affects search engine rankings.
Regular reporting and clear communication from the consultant are important, ensuring that you understand the impact of their work and can see tangible results.
4. Do You Have Experience in My Industry?
While general SEO skills are important, experience in your specific industry can give a consultant a deeper understanding of your business’s needs and challenges. They may already be familiar with your competitors and have insights into what strategies are most effective in your field.
An SEO consultant with industry experience will likely have a track record of success in similar markets and can bring a tailored approach that aligns with your business goals.
5. How Will We Communicate?
Good communication is key to a successful partnership. Before hiring an SEO consultant, discuss how often and by what methods you will communicate. Will you receive regular updates and reports? Are they available for calls or meetings when needed?
Clear and transparent communication helps keep you informed of progress and allows you to provide feedback, ensuring that the SEO efforts are aligned with your business goals.
6. Do You Follow Google’s Best Practices and Guidelines?
Ensuring that your SEO consultant follows Google’s best practices and uses ethical, white hat SEO techniques ensures that your website remains in good standing with search engines and avoids penalties.
The consultant should be well-versed in Google’s guidelines, focusing on creating high-quality content, providing a good user experience, and employing sound technical SEO practices.
7. What Is Your Pricing Structure?
Understanding the consultant’s pricing structure is essential to managing your budget effectively. Some consultants charge an hourly rate, while others work on a project basis or offer ongoing services for a monthly fee.
Be sure to clarify what is included in their pricing and whether there are any additional costs for services like content creation or technical SEO improvements. It’s important to ensure that the pricing aligns with the value you expect to receive from their services.
8. How Do You Stay Informed About Industry Changes?
The world of SEO is constantly changing, with frequent updates to search engine algorithms and best practices. A good SEO consultant should be proactive in staying informed about these changes by attending conferences, reading industry blogs, and following updates from search engines like Google.
By staying up-to-date, they can adapt your SEO strategy to ensure it remains effective, even as things change.
9. Do You Offer Additional Services?
Many SEO consultants offer a range of additional services that can complement your SEO efforts. These might include:
Content Creation: Developing well-written, SEO-optimised content that engages your audience.
Technical SEO: Providing in-depth audits and addressing any technical issues that could be hindering your website’s performance.
Social Media Marketing: Enhancing your online presence and driving traffic through strategic use of social platforms.
Local SEO: Optimising your business for local search, which is especially important if you have a physical location.
PPC Advertising: Managing pay-per-click campaigns to drive additional traffic to your site.
Understanding the full range of services offered can help you decide if the consultant is the right fit for your business, providing a comprehensive solution that meets all your digital marketing needs.
10. Do You Offer Paid Search Services?
Many SEO consultants offer services beyond traditional SEO that can further enhance your online presence. For example managing pay-per-click campaigns to complement your SEO efforts and drive targeted traffic. Ideally you want someone who has a holistic approach to your digital marketing needs.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right SEO consultant is an important decision that can make or break your business. By asking these key questions, you’ll be better equipped to find a consultant who aligns with your goals, communicates effectively, follows industry best practices, and offers a pricing structure that suits your budget. The right consultant won’t just improve your search rankings but will also help you achieve meaningful, measurable business outcomes
