15 Questions to

ask your SEO

Expert!

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In its clearest definition ‘Search Engine Optimisation is the process of ranking ones website higher on the search results of major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo’.

So you’ve heard someone mention SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and that you should explore it if you want your website or business to succeed or expand online…

But what is SEO….?

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SEO can often be described as ‘confusing’ as for the most part it can be difficult to see instant results and also measure the impact it has on your website. SEO can take weeks, even months to see changes take effect.

‘SEO Experts’ are in high abundance, however be cautious to the fact that they may not all be ‘experts’

With this is mind, here are some questions you should be asking your SEO expert….

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1. Have you helped businesses similar to mine?

If the answer to this question is yes, that’s great! Ask to see examples. If the answer is no, don’t panic, but ask what expertise they have that relate to your business.

2. How much of the work will you do in-house?

Many SEO companies outsource their workload which can negatively affect your business as it is hard to monitor what that third-party company is actually doing to your website. You should preferably look for in-house SEO Experts.

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3. What kind of changes will be required to my website and will they be noticeable?

Do not be alarmed by this, much of what the SEO Expert will do to your website requires changes. It is important that you stress the fundamental elements of your website that need to be kept untouched.

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4. Can you show me examples of your work?

Often you will hear that it’s hard to show evidence of success due to SEO largely revolving around technical competence, however your chosen SEO professional should still be able to provide you with examples of business’s that they have helped in the past. For example, keywords used to rank a business higher.

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5. What volume of traffic increase is it reasonable to expect and over what time frame?

This is a perfectly fair question to ask and your Expert should be able to provide you with a rough estimation. Do not be surprised if you hear results to be expected within weeks or months into the future.

6. What do you need from me?

It is important that you aware that you may need to devote some time providing your chosen SEO Expert with as much information as they need on the range of products/services that you offer.

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7. Will I have a dedicated Account Manager?

It is important that the company you choose has a representative that is dedicated to your account.

8. How will you choose keywords?

This is a process that you should become involved in to ensure your website is being found using the integrity and the legitimacy that you think it should be.

THE NET SHOP – 01202 069450 – WWW.THENETSHOP.CO.UK

9. How long have you been doing SEO?

Another perfectly fair question to ask, SEO is by no means a new skill and often the longer an SEO professional has been in business, the more experienced and adept they are to the constant changes in Search Engine Optimisation.

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10. Do you have any marketing experience?

Finding an SEO professional that has a wide understanding of marketing and a range of products and services can greatly benefit your business. As well as SEO, consumer behaviour on the internet is a huge part in turning your potential clients into conversions.

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11. Will the SEO Expert be writing your content or will they work with existing content?

Every SEO Expert should be proficient in SEO Copy-writing. Generally speaking they will use a balance of existing content and new content to ensure your website keeps its integrity and has the new content needed to rank your website highly.

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12. Ask the SEO Expert to scope out how they would optimise your site?

It may be probable that you don’t understand the extend to which your SEO Expert is going to optimise your website however it can not hurt to be provided with a detailed plan of what exactly is going to happen, also including estimated target dates for completion.

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13. What on-page and off-page strategies will they be using?

It’s important that you seek advice on off-page SEO to ensure your chosen professional is using legitimate SEO practices and techniques. There are many Black-Hat SEO ‘Experts’ who will adopt poor practices to rank your website often at a ‘cheaper’ price. Your website will pay the price in the long run!

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14. Ask how many pages they will be optimising for the price they have quoted?

It is important to be clear on how many web pages you a paying for. Depending on how the SEO Professional conducts business, they may provide a price for an individual key web page, or an entire website.

15. Finally, Why should I choose you?

If you ask nothing else it should be this question. Trust your instincts, after all Search Engine Optimisation is a business like any other.

THE NET SHOP – 01202 069450 – WWW.THENETSHOP.CO.UK

THE NET SHOP – 01202 069450 – WWW.THENETSHOP.CO.UK

To find out more about Expert SEO Advice contact The Net Shop

support@thenetshop.co.uk

www.thenetshop.co.uk

Web Design & SEO Services

http://www.thenetshop.co.uk/small-business-seo/