Hiring the wrong agency is expensive twice over — the fee you waste, and the months of growth you lose. These twelve questions separate agencies that deliver from ones that just bill.
On the work itself
- What exactly will you deliver each month?
- Who on your team will actually work on my account?
- Is content creation included, or billed separately?
- How do you build links — and can you show me examples?
On results and reporting
- What does your monthly report show — rankings, or actual enquiries?
- Can you share results from a client in a similar industry?
- What is a realistic timeline for my goals?
- What happens if we do not see results?
On contracts and ownership
- Is there a lock-in, or can I leave with 30 days’ notice?
- Will the website, content and ad accounts be in my name?
- Are your prices inclusive of GST?
- Do I get direct access to my Google Analytics and Search Console?
Why ownership matters most
Some agencies keep clients by holding their accounts hostage — build the site on their account, keep Analytics under their login. Insist on ownership in writing. A confident agency has no problem with it.
The one answer that tells you everything
Ask: “What would you NOT recommend I spend on right now?” An honest agency will name something. One that says “everything” is selling, not advising. See how we think about this in is SEO worth it and our pricing guide.
Ready to ask us these questions? Book a free consultation.