Hiring an SEO consultant can make or break your online visibility. But how do you know you’re choosing the right expert? Asking the right questions is the key.
When interviewing an SEO consultant, ask about their experience, strategies, and how they measure success. Inquire about their approach to keyword research, link building, and content strategy. Also, discuss their communication style and reporting methods.
Here are 12 smart questions you should ask your SEO consultant before you make a commitment.
1. 💼 What Is Your Experience in SEO?
Ask how many years they’ve been working in SEO, the industries they’ve served, and the types of businesses they specialize in (local, e-commerce, enterprise, etc.).
2. 📈 Can You Share Case Studies or Results?
A good SEO consultant should be able to show you real results—like increased organic traffic, keyword rankings, or lead generation.
3. 🔍 What Is Your SEO Strategy?
Understand if they focus on technical SEO, on-page optimization, link building, local SEO, or content marketing—or all of them. A balanced strategy is usually the most effective.
4. 🕵️♂️ How Will You Perform an SEO Audit?
Ask if they conduct a full website audit that covers technical issues, content, backlinks, and site structure. A proper audit is essential before starting any work.
5. 🔑 What Keywords Will You Target?
See how they research and select keywords. Do they consider search intent, competitor analysis, and local relevance?
6. ⚙️ How Do You Approach Technical SEO?
This includes site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability, and indexing. A professional SEO consultant should address technical SEO in detail.
7. 📝 Will You Help with Content Creation?
SEO and content go hand-in-hand. Ask if they provide content strategy, keyword-rich blog posts, or optimization for existing pages.
8. 🔗 What’s Your Link-Building Strategy?
Quality backlinks are important. Ask about ethical link-building techniques they use, such as guest posts, outreach, or digital PR.
9. 📊 How Will You Measure SEO Success?
A consultant should track metrics like organic traffic, ranking improvements, conversion rates, and bounce ratesusing tools like Google Analytics and Search Console.
10. 🛠 What Tools Do You Use?
SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog, or SurferSEO are essential. Ask which ones they use to analyze and monitor your website.
11. 📅 How Often Will You Communicate?
Transparency is key. Ask how often they’ll send progress reports and schedule meetings.
12. 💸 What Are Your Prices and Contract Terms?
Understand their pricing model—hourly, project-based, or monthly retainers—and what services are included.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Knowing what to ask your SEO consultant empowers you to make a smart decision. The right consultant will be transparent, experienced, and data-driven.
Take your time, ask these questions, and choose someone who understands your business goals.