Interesting Questions to Ask Your SEO Company
SEO services don’t always come cheap and no one wants to spend money without understanding what they are paying for. That is why asking the right questions is crucial to ensure that an SEO company aligns with your business goals and expectations. Here, we look at some interesting questions you should ask SEO companies to understand their expertise and approach.
Must Questions to Ask your new SEO Company
1. What Is Your SEO Philosophy & Strategy2. How Quickly Can We Expect to See Results?3. How Do You Define Success?4. What Do You Need from Us?
What Is Your SEO Philosophy?
Understanding the SEO company’s philosophy will give you insight into their overall approach.
Some companies might focus on technical SEO, while others emphasize content creation or link building.
It’s important to know if their philosophy aligns with your needs and values.
Content-First Philosophy:
This philosophy revolves around the idea that high-quality, valuable content is the foundation of SEO success. It posits that by focusing on creating content that truly meets the needs of the target audience, a website will naturally attract organic traffic, earn backlinks, and rank well on search engines.
In this approach, SEO techniques are used to enhance the visibility of content, but the primary focus is always on delivering value to users.
Content-first advocates argue that search engines are increasingly favoring user experience and relevance over traditional SEO tactics, making exceptional content the most sustainable strategy for long-term success.
Technical Excellence Philosophy:
This approach emphasizes the importance of the technical aspects of SEO, such as website architecture, site speed, mobile optimization, and security (HTTPS). The belief is that a technically sound website offers a better user experience and is easier for search engines to crawl and index, which can lead to higher rankings.
Technical SEO practitioners often focus on creating a solid foundation that can support other SEO efforts.
They argue that without a well-optimized technical structure, even the best content can struggle to rank well due to issues like slow loading times or poor mobile compatibility.
Data-Driven Optimization Philosophy:
This philosophy is rooted in the belief that SEO should be guided by data and analytics. It involves continuous monitoring and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) such as traffic, conversion rates, and user engagement. Strategies are constantly refined based on these insights to optimize for search engines and user experience.
Data-driven SEO allows for agile and responsive strategies that can quickly adapt to changes in user behavior and search engine algorithms. It is particularly favored by businesses that operate in highly competitive environments where continuous improvement is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.
Link Building Philosophy:
Link building is viewed as a cornerstone of SEO in this philosophy. The idea is that earning high-quality backlinks from reputable websites serves as a strong signal to search engines about a site's authority and relevance. This approach often involves strategic outreach, content partnerships, and digital PR efforts to acquire links.
Advanced link builders focus on acquiring editorially placed links from high-authority sites, as these are seen as more valuable than sheer quantity.
The emphasis is on building a natural and diverse backlink profile that enhances the site’s credibility and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines.
Brand-First Philosophy:
This approach integrates SEO with broader brand-building efforts, focusing on establishing a strong brand presence online. The belief is that as a brand becomes more recognized and trusted, it naturally attracts more searches and links, which in turn boosts SEO performance.
Brand-first SEO often involves aligning content and link-building efforts with brand messaging and values. It’s about creating a cohesive online presence that not only ranks well but also strengthens the brand’s overall market position. This philosophy acknowledges that search engines are increasingly factoring in brand signals, such as brand mentions and search volume, when determining rankings.
How Do You Adapt Your Strategy to Our Business?
Every business is unique, and a one-size-fits-all strategy rarely works. Ask how the company plans to tailor their SEO efforts to fit your specific industry, target audience, and goals. This shows their willingness to customize their approach and understand your business deeply.
Video: How to Adapt Your SEO Strategy in 2024 & Beyond | Google Algorithm Update | SEOCurrent
E-Commerce Business: Prioritizing Product Page Optimization and Local SEO
Strategy: For an e-commerce business
The primary focus should be on optimizing product pages for both search engines and users. This includes using structured data (like Schema.org) to enhance product visibility in search results with rich snippets, improving page speed, and ensuring mobile responsiveness.
Additionally, leveraging local SEO can drive traffic to physical stores by optimizing Google My Business profiles and using location-based keywords.
Real Example:
A clothing retailer with both an online store and physical locations might focus on optimizing their product pages with detailed descriptions, high-quality images, and customer reviews while also targeting "near me" searches and local keywords to attract foot traffic to their stores.
Service-Based Business: Emphasizing Content Marketing and Trust Signals
Strategy: For service-based businesses
Content marketing plays a crucial role. Developing blog posts, case studies, and white papers that demonstrate expertise can attract potential clients. Additionally, incorporating trust signals such as client testimonials, certifications, and industry awards on the website can help convert visitors into leads.
Real Example:
A law firm specializing in personal injury might create a series of informative blog posts about navigating the legal process after an accident, while also featuring client success stories and affiliations with legal organizations to build trust with potential clients.
B2B Business: Focusing on Long-Tail Keywords and LinkedIn Integration
Strategy: B2B businesses
often have longer sales cycles and more complex buyer journeys, making long-tail keywords essential for capturing niche search queries. Integrating SEO with LinkedIn strategies can also be effective, as LinkedIn is a key platform for B2B marketing. Content should be tailored to decision-makers and highlight how the business solves specific industry challenges.
Real Example:
software company targeting enterprise clients might focus on ranking for long-tail keywords related to specific industry pain points, such as "best data security software for healthcare," while also sharing white papers and case studies on LinkedIn to engage with potential buyers.
These examples demonstrate how SEO strategies must be tailored to align with the unique goals, target audience, and competitive landscape of different types of businesses.
How Do You Define Success?
Different companies might have different definitions of success. For some, it’s about ranking on the first page of search results; for others, it’s about increasing organic traffic or boosting conversion rates. Make sure their success metrics match your business objectives.
Examples for Defining SEO Success :
Organic Traffic Growth: Increasing the number of visitors to your website from search engine results over time.
Keyword Rankings: Achieving higher positions in search engine results pages (SERPs) for targeted keywords.
Conversion Rate Improvement: Enhancing the percentage of visitors who take desired actions, such as making a purchase or filling out a contact form.
Bounce Rate Reduction: Lowering the number of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page, indicating better engagement
.Return on Investment (ROI): Measuring the profitability of SEO efforts relative to the cost invested in the strategy
.
How Quickly Can We Expect to See Results?
SEO is a long-term investment, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. Ask the company about their typical timeline for seeing noticeable improvements. While immediate results are rare, they should provide a clear roadmap and milestones.
Diffrent SEO Resullts in numbers
Initial Changes: Some improvements, like better indexing and crawling, can be seen within the first few weeks after making on-page SEO changes.
3 to 6 Months for Noticeable Impact: Typically, it takes about 3 to 6 months to start seeing significant changes in organic traffic and keyword rankings, especially for new websites or highly competitive industries.
Ongoing Improvement: SEO is a long-term strategy, and results tend to compound over time. Continuous optimization and content updates can lead to steady growth over 6 to 12 months.
Content and Backlinks: Improvements in rankings from new content or backlink acquisition can take 2 to 6 months, depending on the competition and the quality of the efforts.
Algorithm Updates: Search engine algorithm updates can affect the timing of results, sometimes causing fluctuations that may delay or accelerate visible outcomes.
What Is Your Approach to Mobile SEO?
With the increasing use of mobile devices, mobile SEO is crucial. Inquire about their strategies for ensuring your website is mobile-friendly and optimized for mobile search engines. T
his includes responsive design, mobile-first indexing, and fast loading times.
How Does SEO Fit in with Our Overall Marketing Strategy?
SEO should not be an isolated tactic but part of a broader marketing strategy. Ask how they plan to integrate SEO with your existing marketing efforts, such as content marketing, social media, and paid advertising. This ensures a cohesive and effective approach.
Few Examples for Genral Marketing Strategy
Enhances Visibility: SEO drives organic traffic, increasing your brand's visibility across search engines, which complements paid advertising and social media efforts.
Supports Content Marketing: SEO ensures that your content is easily discoverable, helping to amplify the reach and impact of your content marketing initiatives.
Builds Long-Term Equity: Unlike paid campaigns that stop delivering when the budget runs out, SEO provides long-term value, continuously attracting visitors over time.
Aligns with Customer Journey: SEO targets users at various stages of the buying process, from awareness to decision, helping guide them through the sales funnel.
Cost-Effective Lead Generation: SEO offers a sustainable way to generate leads without the recurring costs associated with paid ads, maximizing your overall marketing ROI.
How Do You Conduct Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the foundation of any SEO strategy.
Ask about their methods for identifying and prioritizing keywords. This includes understanding your target audience, analyzing competitors, and using tools and data to find the most relevant and high-traffic keywords.
Ppolar Types of Keyword Research for SEO:
Short-Tail Keywords: Broad, general terms usually consisting of one or two words, like "shoes" or "digital marketing." They drive high search volumes but are highly competitive.
Long-Tail Keywords: More specific phrases, usually three or more words, like "best running shoes for flat feet." These keywords have lower search volumes but often lead to higher conversion rates due to their specificity.
LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) Keywords: Related terms and phrases that search engines use to understand the context of content, like "jogging sneakers" or "marathon footwear" for a page about running shoes. These help improve relevance and ranking for targeted content.
Geo-Targeted Keywords: Location-specific keywords that focus on geographic areas, like "coffee shop in New York" or "SEO services in London." These are essential for local SEO and help attract customers from specific regions.
Brand Keywords: Keywords that include the brand name or variations of it, like "Nike running shoes" or "Apple iPhone 13." These are crucial for capturing brand-related searches and defending against competitors bidding on your brand terms.
How Do You Report on Progress?
Regular reporting is essential to track the effectiveness of SEO efforts. Ask how often you will receive reports, what metrics will be included, and how they will explain the data. Clear and transparent reporting helps you understand what is working and what needs improvement.
SEO Report on Progress: Monthly and Yearly Examples
Traffic Growth: Measure both monthly and yearly increases in organic traffic to assess short-term fluctuations and long-term growth trends.
Keyword Rankings: Track changes in keyword positions on a monthly basis and analyze yearly trends to evaluate overall progress in search visibility.
Conversion Rate: Report on monthly conversion rates from organic traffic to gauge immediate impacts, and compare year-over-year data to understand long-term improvements.
Backlink Acquisition: Monitor the number and quality of backlinks gained each month and evaluate yearly totals to assess the effectiveness of link-building strategies.
Technical SEO Improvements: Highlight monthly technical optimizations like site speed and mobile responsiveness, and provide a yearly summary of all enhancements made to improve site performance and user experience.
Have You Worked in Our Industry Before?
Experience in your industry can be a significant advantage.
Ask if they have worked with businesses similar to yours and if they can provide case studies or references.
Industry-specific experience can lead to more effective and tailored strategies.
Most Popular Industries Where SEO Has a Strong Impact
E-Commerce:
SEO is critical in the e-commerce industry, where visibility on search engines directly influences sales. Online retailers rely heavily on SEO to drive organic traffic to product pages, optimize for transactional keywords, and compete in highly competitive markets like fashion, electronics, and home goods.
Healthcare:
The healthcare industry, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices, benefits significantly from local SEO. Patients often search for medical services online, making it crucial for healthcare providers to rank well in local searches and ensure accurate information is available in directories and on Google My Business.
Real Estate:
SEO plays a vital role in real estate, helping agents and agencies capture leads by optimizing for local searches, property listings, and neighborhood-specific keywords. High search rankings can lead to more inquiries and, ultimately, more sales or rentals.
Legal Services:
Law firms and legal practitioners leverage SEO to connect with potential clients searching for legal advice or representation. High visibility in search results for practice-specific keywords, like "personal injury lawyer" or "divorce attorney," can significantly impact lead generation and client acquisition.
Hospitality and Travel:
The hospitality and travel industry depends on SEO to attract tourists and business travelers. Hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators optimize their websites for local searches, travel-related keywords, and mobile devices to capture bookings and reservations from a global audience.
Education:
Educational institutions, including universities, online courses, and training centers, use SEO to reach prospective students. SEO helps institutions rank well for relevant search terms such as "online MBA programs" or "best coding bootcamps," driving inquiries and enrollments.
Financial Services:
Banks, investment firms, and insurance companies rely on SEO to promote their services and attract clients. Keywords related to personal finance, loans, and insurance are highly competitive, making SEO a crucial element of marketing strategies in the financial sector.
What Do You Need from Us?
Successful SEO requires collaboration. Ask what they will need from your team, such as access to website analytics, content creation support, or technical changes. Understanding their needs upfront can help set clear expectations and ensure a smooth partnership.
Successful SEO requires collaboration example list
Business Goals and Objectives:
Clear understanding of the business’s short-term and long-term goals. This helps the marketing company tailor the SEO strategy to align with the overall business objectives, such as increasing sales, improving brand awareness, or entering new markets.
Target Audience Information:
Detailed insights into the target audience, including demographics, behaviors, preferences, and pain points. This information is crucial for developing targeted keywords, content strategies, and overall SEO tactics that resonate with the right audience.
Current Website Access:
Administrative access to the current website, including Content Management System (CMS) login, hosting details, and any analytics tools like Google Analytics or Search Console. This access allows the marketing team to conduct audits, implement changes, and monitor performance.
Keyword Research and Preferences:
Any existing keyword research or preferences that the business might have. If the client has specific keywords they want to rank for or if they have data from previous SEO efforts, this can be valuable in shaping the ongoing strategy.
Content Assets:
Access to existing content assets such as blogs, articles, product descriptions, and multimedia (images, videos). These assets are essential for content optimization, repurposing, and ensuring consistency across the website.
Competitor Information:
A list of primary competitors and any known insights into their SEO strategies. Understanding the competitive landscape helps in benchmarking and developing strategies to outperform competitors in search rankings.
Brand Guidelines:
Brand guidelines that include tone of voice, visual identity, and messaging frameworks. These ensure that all SEO content aligns with the brand’s identity and maintains consistency across all platforms.
Historical Data and Reports:
Any previous SEO reports, traffic data, or campaign results. Historical data helps the marketing company understand past challenges, successes, and areas needing improvement.
Budget and Resources:
An understanding of the budget allocated for SEO activities and the internal resources available (e.g., content writers, web developers). This helps the marketing company plan realistic strategies that fit within the client’s constraints.
Timeline Expectations:
Clear expectations regarding timelines for results. SEO is a long-term investment, so understanding the client’s timeline helps in setting realistic milestones and managing expectations effectively.
What Are Your Link Building Strategies?
Link building is a critical aspect of SEO. Ask about their approach to acquiring high-quality backlinks. Ensure they use ethical methods, such as creating valuable content that naturally attracts links, rather than resorting to spammy or black-hat techniques.
Popular Link Building Strategies: Quick Overview
- Guest Blogging: Write articles for other sites to earn backlinks.
- Broken Link Building: Replace broken links on other sites with your content.
- Skyscraper Technique: Improve on top-performing content and earn links to your version.
- Resource Page Links: Get your content added to curated resource lists.
- Influencer Outreach: Engage influencers to promote and link to your content.
- Content Syndication: Republish your content on other platforms with backlinks.
- Testimonials: Offer testimonials to companies for backlinks.
- Link Reclamation: Turn unlinked brand mentions into backlinks.
- Infographics: Create shareable infographics that earn links.
- HARO: Provide insights to journalists for backlinks from media outlets.
How Do You Stay Up-to-Date with SEO Changes?
SEO is constantly evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends and algorithm changes is vital. Ask how they keep their skills and knowledge current. This might include ongoing training, attending conferences, or subscribing to industry publications.
How to Stay Up-to-Date with SEO Changes:
- Read Top SEO Blogs: Follow industry leaders like Moz and Search Engine Journal.
- Subscribe to Newsletters: Get the latest SEO news in your inbox.
- Join SEO Communities: Participate in forums like Reddit’s SEO subreddit.
- Attend Webinars/Conferences: Learn from experts at events like MozCon.
- Monitor Algorithm Updates: Use tools like MozCast to track changes.
- Follow Experts on Social Media: Stay informed by following SEO influencers.
- Test Strategies: Experiment with new tactics on your site.
What Tools and Technologies Do You Use?
The tools and technologies an SEO company uses can significantly impact their efficiency and effectiveness. Ask about the specific tools they use for keyword research, analytics, link building, and other SEO activities. Understanding their tech stack can give you insights into their capabilities and approach.
SEO Tools and Technologies: Quick Overview
- Google Analytics: Tracks and reports website traffic, helping monitor user behavior and conversion rates.
- Google Search Console: Monitors site health, keyword performance, and indexing issues on Google Search.
- SEMrush: Offers keyword research, site audits, and competitor analysis for comprehensive SEO tracking.
- Ahrefs: Known for backlink analysis and keyword research to enhance SEO strategies.
- Moz Pro: Provides tools for keyword research, link building, and rank tracking, with a focus on Domain Authority.
- Yoast SEO: A WordPress plugin for optimizing content with real-time SEO feedback.
- Screaming Frog: A site crawler that identifies technical SEO issues like broken links and duplicate content.
- Keyword Planner: Helps find and analyze keyword performance for SEO and PPC.
- Ubersuggest: Offers keyword research and competitor insights with content ideas.
- GTmetrix: Analyzes website speed and performance, offering improvement recommendations.
What Happens If We Part Ways?
Understanding the terms of the contract and what happens if you decide to end the partnership is crucial. Ask about the ownership of content, data, and any work done during the contract period. This ensures you retain control over your assets.
Asking these questions will help you make an informed decision when choosing an SEO company. It’s important to find a partner that understands your business and can deliver results in a transparent and ethical manner. Here at Hitsearch, we are confident that we have all the right answers to the above questions, so don’t hesitate to be in touch.
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