To choose an SEO company, ask what exactly they will do, how they measure success, who owns your accounts and what results they expect and when. Walk away from anyone who guarantees a number one ranking. Google says no one can guarantee that (Google Search Central).
Before you start looking
Decide what you want. More calls? More form fills? Better map visibility? A clear goal makes quotes easier to compare. Also check what you can fix yourself first. Our Google Business Profile checklist takes an evening and costs nothing.
Questions to ask
Several of these come from Google’s own guidance on hiring an SEO.
- Can you show me examples of your previous work and share some success stories?
- Do you follow Google Search Essentials?
- How do you measure your success?
- What results do you expect and in what timeframe?
- What exactly is included each month, and what is not?
- Who owns my Google Business Profile, my analytics and my website?
- Will I get a report, and will we talk through it?
- What do you need from me, and how often?
Red flags
- A guaranteed ranking. Google is clear that no one can guarantee a first place result.
- Cold outreach out of the blue. Google advises being wary of SEO firms that email you unprompted.
- Secrecy. Google says to be careful if a company will not clearly explain what it plans to do.
- Link schemes. Avoid anyone who talks about link popularity schemes or submitting your site to thousands of search engines.
- Tools sold as “approved by Google.” Google warns against tools that claim to be approved by Google Search.
- No access for you. If they will not give you ownership or admin access to your own accounts, that is a problem.
What a good proposal includes
- A review of where you are today, with specifics
- A written list of work, in plain words
- How progress will be measured and how often you will review it
- Who does the work and who you talk to
- Contract length and how to cancel
- Clear ownership of accounts, content and site
Local fit matters
A company that works with local businesses will understand the Google Business Profile, local listings and reviews. Ask whether they handle those, or only website work. If you are in Central PA, a provider who knows the area can also help you decide which towns and services to focus on. We are based in Carlisle and see our Carlisle SEO services for how we work locally.
Check the basics yourself
- Look up their own site. Is it clear, fast and easy to use?
- Search their name and read their Google reviews.
- Ask for a past client you can contact, then actually call.
- Compare at least two written proposals side by side.
Our own answers
You can ask us the same questions. We are a Carlisle, PA agency with over 10 years in business and a 5.0 rating on Google. We do not guarantee rankings, and we start with a free marketing review so you can see what we find before you decide. Pricing depends on scope, and this guide explains what drives it.
What to prepare before you talk to providers
- Your goal in one sentence, such as “more calls for roof repair in Cumberland County”
- Your best and worst months over the last year, if you know them
- Access to your Google Business Profile and Search Console, or a note that you do not have them yet
- A short list of your main services and the towns you serve
- What a new customer is worth to you
Providers who ask for this information up front are taking the job seriously. Providers who skip it and go straight to a price are selling a package, not solving your problem.
After you hire
Hiring is the start of the work, not the end. Keep ownership of your accounts. Ask for a short monthly report that lists what was done and what moved. Check Google Search Console and your profile yourself now and then. If the work is real, the numbers will show it over time, and if you ever leave, you should leave with everything that was built.
What happens in a first conversation
Expect questions about your business, your customers and your goals. A good first call should leave you with a better understanding of your own situation, even if you never hire them. If the call is mostly a pitch, or if they cannot say anything specific about your market after looking at your site, treat it as a sign of how the work will go.
Doing it yourself versus hiring
Many owners can handle the profile, reviews and basic site updates themselves. Hiring makes more sense when you are short on time, when your site needs technical fixes you cannot make, or when you are in a competitive market and need steady content and link work. Both are valid. Choose based on your time and your comfort, not on pressure from a sales call.
Next steps
Read the local SEO guide so you know the basics, then see how our SEO services work. Timing is another thing to ask about, so see how long SEO takes.
Related guides
- Local SEO for Small Business: A Plain Guide
- How Much Does SEO Cost for a Small Business?
- How Long Does SEO Take? What to Expect in the First Months
- SEO vs Google Ads: Which Should a Local Business Pay For First?
Want help with your SEO?
Webfactory Media is a digital marketing agency in Carlisle, PA, rated 5.0 on Google. See our SEO services, ask for a free marketing review, or call (888) 849-2397.
