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In your search for an SEO company, you will find many self-proclaimed “Search Engine Optimization Experts”, especially if you’re searching online. Many will claim to have the answers to all of your questions and can deliver remarkable results in little to no time. You’ll learn that these “experts” are far from such a skill level and are only interested in taking your money. At WEB Ladder, we refer to these types of people/business as “fakesperts” and to help you determine who is actually capable of providing SEO services and producing results and who is just digging in your pockets, we’ve created a list of 10 questions that you should ask an SEO firm during a consultation and the answers you can expect from a legitimate, ethical SEO company.

Before You Hire an SEO Company Ask Them:

1. How Do You Charge For Your Services ?

One of the most important questions to ask is how a company charges people for their services. There are many different pricing models in the SEO industry, but good companies usually follow a flat rate fee in some form of a monthly package. Be aware of SEO firms that charge on an hourly basis. This is usually an indication of a “freelance” SEO provider and the hours will start adding up very quickly.

2. Do I Have To Sign A Contract ?

Some SEO companies use contracts and some don’t. Many SEOers believe that a contract agreement is the best option because it shows that you and the SEO company are committed and invested in the project. SEO companies that DON’T utilize contracts usually do so for 1 of 2 reasons: They charge a hefty fee up front and monthly fees that are subject to change based on the scope of the project or if their work doesn’t produce results, they have an easy out and don’t have to give you a refund. Our advice ? Stick with SEO companies that use contracts.

3. How Long Are Your Contracts ?

This subject has always been heavily debated by SEO companies. Look out for SEO companies that require contracts longer than 9 months. An SEO company that knows what they’re doing can produce results in about 3-5 months once the campaign has been implemented. On average, it takes between 3-6 months until you’ll start to see actual results. Anything longer than 9 months, is not necessary.

4.  How Long Have You Been Providing Services ?

This is a great question because it forces the SEO company to be honest and gives you an indication of how well they can perform. Always do your homework BEFORE going to speak with an SEO firm, so you are prepared to see whether they’re being honest or not.

5. How Much Do You Charge ?

Depending on your business, your industry and how competitive your market is this answer will vary. However, some SEO firms will charge you hundreds if not thousands of dollars for what they claim to be “labor intensive work” when, in actuality, some work requires only an hour or two. If you think a price sounds a little high, ask them to justify their reasoning for it. If they don’t have a good reason, walk away.

6. Will I Be Able To Access My Analytics Account ?

If an SEO company won’t allow you to see your analytics account, they’re hiding vital information from you about your performance. You should always be able to see how you’re performing on the web, whenever you want to. After all, you’re not paying money to NOT see results. Numbers and graphs don’t lie, but some SEO companies do.

7. Do You Practice Black-Hat, Gray-Hat Or White-Hat Strategies ?

In a nutshell, you want an SEO company that abides by white-hat tactics. SEO firms utilizing black-hat techniques are more than likely using automated software and trying to trick Google by doing things such as keyword stuffing and cloaking. Gray-hat SEO tactics are okay to a certain point, but there is a fine line between gray and black-hat SEO. If your SEO company doesn’t know the difference between the 3, leave immediately.

8. Do You Have Any References ?

While is it common practice for SEO companies to not display an online portfolio (because they want to keep their strategies and clients confidential), they should have a list of names and phone numbers that you can call to verify that they can deliver on what they’re saying. Always ask for at least 5 references and make sure to call each one and learn about their experiences with the SEO company. If there is a negative comment, this should raise a red flag. Also, check online for any testimonials or Google reviews to see what others are saying.

9. Do You Outsource For Any Services ? If Yes, Which Ones ?

Always ask this question after you’ve discussed your budget. We recommend this because often times SEO companies will outsource overseas, where labor is relatively cheap, but they’ll still charge you an arm and a leg for “in-house” services. Some outsourcing is okay (ie. article marketing or blog commenting), but be wary of companies that outsource larger aspects of your project like website design and link building. Would you want someone in India to make design changes to your website for $1.50 an hour, when you’re paying an SEO company $300.00 a month to do just that ?

10. Be Aware Of The “Google Domination Guru”

Though not a question, you need to watch our for companies that claim this famous line: “We’ll get you to the top of Google in 1 week for X dollars!” Maybe, with a huge budget for PPC and geniuses working behind the scenes with a little help from a miracle….but probably not. If you ever come across this type of pitch, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN OUT THE DOOR AND DO NOT LOOK BACK!

We hope that this list will help you in your decision to work with an SEO company and to identify the “fakesperts” from the real experts. Some people are just in this business for the money and will take as much as they can with no remorse or concern for your business. Other companies truly care about your success and want to see you perform at maximum potential. Feel free to leave your comments below.