10 questions that you should consider asking before hiring an SEO company or specialist

Here are our questions along with some feedback you can look for:

1. How much experience do you have in the field of SEO?

You should always ask this question to get a better idea of the experience someone has with SEO. This is especially important because there is no real SEO standard or certification recognized by everyone. However, with that being said…

The founder of Kinsale SEO is Casey Meraz who has been building websites since 2002. Casey also trained with Bruce Clay the “father” of SEO and author of the SEO For Dummies book. Casey has over two decades of SEO experience and even built the small business SEO program for Intuit (maker of Turbotax and Quickbooks in the US). After leaving Intuit Casey started Ethical SEO Consulting in Denver, Colorado and then formed Juris Digital which serves hundreds of clients in the most competitive markets in the US.

We are SEO experts with a track record to prove it.

2. Can you provide references or examples of your past work?

As we like to say the proof is in the pudding. If they have a strong track record of success they should be able to show you relevant examples. You should also be able to talk to their former and existing clients to get an idea of how it is to work with them.

You should also make sure to look at similar projects because a local SEO project is much different than an enterprise one.

3. What is your approach to SEO?

A good approach to SEO typically involves a combination of on-page and off-page optimization strategies. On-page optimization involves making changes to your website, such as improving its content and structure, to make it more easily discoverable and accessible to search engines. Off-page optimization involves building links from other websites to your own, which can help improve your website’s visibility and credibility in the eyes of search engines.

In addition to on-page and off-page optimization, a good approach to SEO also typically involves a focus on creating high-quality, relevant, and useful content for your target audience. This can help attract and engage potential customers, improve your website’s ranking in search engine results, and drive more traffic to your site.

Overall, a good approach to SEO should be holistic, taking into account a wide range of factors that can impact your website’s performance in search engine results. This can include technical aspects of your website, such as its loading speed and mobile-friendliness, as well as more strategic elements, such as keyword research and content marketing.

4. How do you track and measure the success of your SEO efforts?

There are several ways to track and measure the success of SEO efforts. Some common techniques include:

1. Using analytics software, such as Google Analytics, to track the number of visitors to your website, their behavior on your site, and their sources of referral.
2. Monitoring your website’s ranking in search engine results for relevant keywords and phrases, using tools such as Google Search Console or Ahrefs.
3. Checking your website’s backlink profile, using tools such as Ahrefs or Majestic, to see how many other websites are linking to your site and what the quality of those links is.
4. Conducting keyword research to identify the most relevant and valuable keywords and phrases for your business, and tracking how well your website is ranking for those keywords over time.
5. Tracking the conversion rate of your website, that is, the percentage of visitors who take a desired action, such as filling out a form or making a purchase, after visiting your site.

Overall, tracking and measuring the success of your SEO efforts can help you understand how effective your strategies are and identify areas for improvement. By using a combination of different tools and techniques, you can gain valuable insights into your website’s performance and make data-driven decisions to improve your SEO efforts.

5. Can you provide a detailed plan or proposal for the work you will do for my business?

Any provider should be able to provide this. Take a look at the example below to get an idea of a sample plan.

A detailed SEO plan should include a range of elements that can help guide your efforts to improve your website’s visibility and performance in search engine results. Some good elements of a detailed SEO plan include:

1. An overview of your current website’s performance, including its ranking in search engine results, the number of visitors it receives, and the sources of that traffic.
2. A list of target keywords and phrases that are relevant to your business and your target audience.
3. A plan for on-page optimization, including changes to your website’s content, structure, and technical elements to improve its discoverability and accessibility to search engines.
4. A plan for off-page optimization, including strategies for building high-quality backlinks to your website from other relevant and reputable websites.
5. A plan for creating and promoting high-quality, relevant, and useful content on your website, as well as on other platforms and channels.
6. A timeline for implementing your SEO plan, with specific goals and milestones for each step of the process.
7. A budget for your SEO efforts, including the costs of any tools or services you will need to implement your plan.
8. A plan for tracking and measuring the success of your SEO efforts, including the use of analytics software and other tools to monitor your website’s performance and identify areas for improvement.

Overall, a detailed SEO plan should provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap for improving your website’s visibility and performance in search engine results. By outlining specific goals, strategies, and action steps, a detailed SEO plan can help you stay focused and on track as you work to improve your website’s SEO.

6. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in the field of SEO?

Staying up to date with Google’s constant changes is a requirement for anyone who wants to be great at SEO.

There are several good ways to stay up to date with the latest developments and trends in the field of SEO. Some of the most effective techniques include:

1. Reading industry blogs and publications, such as Search Engine Land, Moz, and Search Engine Journal, which provide regular updates and insights on the latest developments in SEO.
2. Attending industry conferences and events, such as the Search Marketing Expo and the Pubcon conference, which provide opportunities to learn from experts and network with other professionals in the field.
3. Following influencers and thought leaders in the SEO industry on social media, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, where they often share their latest insights and thoughts on the industry.
4. Joining online forums and communities, such as Reddit’s /r/SEO and the Google Webmasters forum, where you can engage with other SEO professionals and discuss the latest trends and challenges in the field.
5. Experimenting with new tools and techniques in your own SEO efforts, such as new keyword research tools or content marketing strategies, which can provide practical experience and insights on the latest developments in the field.

Overall, staying up to date with SEO involves a combination of learning from experts and peers, engaging with the broader SEO community, and staying open to trying new things in your own SEO efforts. By following these best practices, you can stay informed and ahead of the curve in the fast-paced world of SEO.

7. How do you handle on-page and off-page optimization?

On-page and off-page optimization are two important aspects of SEO that can help improve your website’s visibility and performance in search engine results. Here are some tips on how to handle on-page and off-page optimization effectively:

On-page optimization:

1. Start by conducting keyword research to identify the most relevant and valuable keywords and phrases for your business and your target audience.
2. Use your target keywords in the content and meta tags on your website, such as the title, description, and headings, to improve its discoverability and relevance to search engines.
3. Optimize the structure and navigation of your website, making it easy for search engines to crawl and index your pages.
4. Improve the technical aspects of your website, such as its loading speed and mobile-friendliness, to enhance its performance and user experience.

Off-page optimization:

1. Build high-quality backlinks to your website from other relevant and reputable websites. This can help improve your website’s visibility and credibility in the eyes of search engines.
2. Engage with your audience and the broader community on social media and other online platforms, which can help drive traffic to your website and improve your search engine rankings.
3. Create and promote high-quality, relevant, and useful content on your website and other platforms, which can help attract and engage potential customers and improve your search engine visibility.

Overall, handling on-page and off-page optimization effectively involves a combination of technical and strategic techniques that can help improve your website’s performance in search engine results. By implementing these techniques and regularly monitoring and adjusting your SEO efforts, you can improve your website’s visibility and attract more potential customers.

8. Can you provide a clear and transparent pricing structure for your services?

This is a no-brainer but it’s essential that you have a clear and transparent understanding on pricing before you get started with anyone. If they can’t provide that, don’t work with them.

We publish our transparent Ireland SEO pricing here.

9. What are your guarantees or expected results for your work?

While nobody can guarantee to rank you (and run for the hills if they do), they can offer you timelines and details on how long it should take. They can also offer their own guaranteed to help protect you.

10. How do you handle changes or updates to Google’s algorithms?

Hopefully, they can respond to this in a way that sounds logical. One thing they should not do is panic and make a lot of changes right after an update. If you do that it’s hard to understand what had an impact, especially if it’s rolled back.

At the end of the day finding the right digital marketing consultant for your company will depend on how well you work together too.