Is this your first foray into the world of SEO? Or are you switching from an agency to a consultant? Either way, there are some necessary things to ask any prospective freelance SEO expert you interview. Amine Dahimene SEO consultant has put together 8 questions that will help make sure the expert is right for you and your business.
What other companies have you worked with before?
Most SEO consultants have a list of clients they’d be happy for you to approach for references. Use this to verify if they were easy to work with and if they helped improve their website. If they refuse to provide references, then that’s a big no-no.
Can you guarantee that my site will rank #1 on Google?
Whatever way they phrase it, the right answer to this question is always “no”. It’s impossible to guarantee number one ranking.
If they say “yes”, a good follow-up question is a simple “how?”. If they answer this with anything like buying links, keyword stuffing, or cloaking then run the other way. These black hat techniques can seriously damage your website’s authority.
What steps will you take to improve my website’s rankings?
If they won’t tell you, then cut them loose. An experienced SEO expert is transparent in the steps they’ll take to achieve your targets. As part of their proposal, a consultant will normally include an initial review to fully understand what can be done to improve your site. So, they’ll have a strong idea of what needs fixing, even if it isn’t in minute detail.
Will you share with me all changes you make to my site?
SEO isn’t just writing meta information and optimizing content, a large part happens off-page. That means optimizing your website will involve coding. Of course, it’s unreasonable to expect your consultant to send you an email every time they want to change.
A good method is to request an outline of each major project they plan on undertaking and what they’ll need to change. However, if you want more minute control over the code, don’t be afraid to insist on it.
How do you measure the success of an SEO campaign?
This is important whether success is increased traffic, faster page speed, or higher conversion rate. When deciding to work with a freelance SEO expert, ask them how they’ll be reporting back to you. They should have a strong grip on Google Analytics and platforms like SEMRush. This helps track traffic that’s coming into your website and measure the campaign’s success.
What’s the cost for an SEO consultant?
Payment is different for each project and consultant. They may charge by the hour, per project, or remain on retainer. Ask any prospective SEO consultant what their rates are in initial conversations. That way there’s no nasty surprise two calls later when you realize they’re out of your price range.
Each SEO consultant charges differently. But you can expect a quote anywhere in the region of £70 to £200 per hour. The higher the hourly rate, the more experience they tend to have. So, if you’re eager to invest in SEO, don’t scrimp.
How regularly will we communicate?
This largely depends on the project and your goals. However, any SEO consultant worth their salt is happy to communicate as regularly as needed. At the bare minimum, that’s a phone catch-up every other week.
A great way to stay in touch is to incorporate your consultant into your workflow. So, whether your company communicates via Slack, Teams, or old-fashioned email, include your consultant.
If I decide to end the contract, what happens next?
It’s important you know where you stand when hiring an SEO consultant. If you decide to terminate their contract early with good cause, there may be extra fees. If so, then make sure they’re included in the contract.
You should also make sure that any web content the SEO expert-created for you belongs to your company. Writing this into their contract is a shrewd move and should be encouraged. This ensures all the hard work that’s gone on isn’t undone.
