Before hiring an SEO agency, ask what work it recommends, who will do it, and how progress will be reported. Compare the proposal with your site, market, audience, and team responsibilities.
Ask what the proposal is based on
It should identify the pages, search needs, and technical constraints behind the recommendation. Confirm which changes your team will implement and approve.
Check examples and permissions
For each example, ask what changed, what the agency did, and which results can be attributed to that work. Get client approval before sharing names, screenshots, or results; a logo alone does not show scope.
Agree tasks, owners, and reporting
- Who handles technical changes, content, and approvals?
- How will work be prioritized?
- Which metrics will be reported, and what do they measure?
- How can either team raise a risk or request a scope change?
Review guarantees and assumptions
Search visibility depends on the site, market, competition, and changes outside an agency’s control. Ask for a plan and reports without a promise of fixed rankings or timelines.
Choose a proposal with tasks, owners, assumptions, and evidence clear enough to decide whether it fits your business.