Questions worth asking
What exactly will you do each month?
A good answer names specific deliverables: technical fixes, pages written, links built, Google profile work. "We'll optimise your site" isn't an answer.
How will you report results?
Look for leads and enquiries, not just rankings and traffic. Ask to see a sample report.
How do you build links?
If they can't explain it clearly, or it involves bulk packages, walk away.
Can I talk to a current client?
Any established agency should be able to put you in touch with someone.
Who will actually work on my account?
And who's my point of contact? Some agencies sell with seniors and deliver with interns.
What do I own if I leave?
Your website, content, Google accounts and ad accounts should always be in your name.
Red flags
- Guaranteed rankings. Nobody can guarantee Google rankings.
- "Thousands of backlinks" for a small monthly fee. These are almost always spam.
- Hundreds of location pages with the city name swapped.
- Long lock-in contracts before any results.
- Reports full of vanity metrics like impressions and rankings for keywords nobody searches.
- Keeping your accounts in their name.
Signs of a good agency
- They ask a lot about your business, customers and margins before quoting
- They tell you if something isn't worth doing
- They show their own results, like their own Google profile, their own rankings and real client names
- They explain things in language you understand
Check their own homework
Search for the agency itself. Do they show up in the map pack? Do they have genuine Google reviews? Is their own website fast and clear? An SEO company that can't rank itself is a warning sign. You're welcome to check ours: search for Seospidy Web Solution on Google Maps.