At Strottner Designs, we spend a lot of time talking with business owners who want more customers, better rankings, and fewer digital headaches. And since it’s Thanksgiving season, this felt like the right moment to bring you something even more satisfying than pumpkin pie. We want to serve up the ten questions to ask before hiring an SEO agency. These are the questions that save businesses from costly mistakes and keep your marketing from turning into the dry turkey nobody claims responsibility for.
Choosing an SEO agency can feel a bit like choosing a dish for the Thanksgiving table. Everything looks promising in the beginning, but only a few options deliver flavor worth going back for. Some look fancy on the outside but turn bland once you dig in. Some are all carbs with no real substance. And every once in a while, you stumble into something that has no business being on the table at all.
So grab a plate. Let’s walk through the questions you’ll be grateful you asked before hiring an SEO agency.
This is the stuffing of SEO questions. It looks harmless, but it’s what holds everything together. A lot of agencies use vague phrases like complete optimization, premium SEO program, or strategic digital visibility. These sound impressive but carry about as much meaning as a bowl of air.
Ask them exactly what they’ll do. Not conceptually, but literally. You want details such as:
If an agency can’t lay out the menu, you can be pretty sure the kitchen’s empty.
At Strottner Designs, we communicate every step. Not because we expect you to memorize it, but because transparency builds trust. You deserve to know what you’re paying for.
Everyone agrees that the goal is growth. You want more customers and stronger visibility. The problem is that plenty of agencies celebrate the wrong things. They might call it a win if impressions go up or if they push you onto page one for a keyword no one searches.
Ask them how they measure real success. Ask them to talk about conversions, not just impressions (though we do feel this is significant value to be found in impressions). Ask how they track calls, forms, and actual business generated from organic traffic.
The phrase questions to ask before hiring an SEO agency exists for a reason. Too many people hire based on big promises and then learn the agency’s idea of success is basically a pretty chart with no real world value.
Success should be tied to your goals, your revenue, and your local market. Anything else is noise.
If an agency can’t describe the first three months, they’re winging it harder than a last minute Thanksgiving host who forgot to thaw the turkey.
A real plan should include:
There should be a schedule and a clear explanation of what happens and why. SEO is strategic. When the strategy’s unclear, the execution’s usually missing too.
This question is like asking who made the green bean casserole. Some answers are fine. Some answers make you nervous. And sometimes you discover a secret ingredient you never wanted in your life.
White hat SEO means the agency does things ethically and in a way Google supports. It protects your brand long term. Black hat SEO is like over seasoning a dish. It works fast, then ruins everything and leaves your site penalized.
A legitimate agency should be able to explain what they do and why it’s safe. No tricks. No shortcuts. No private blog networks. No shady link buying. No keyword stuffing. No automated nonsense.
If they hesitate, you should be thankful you caught it early.
This is one of the most important questions to ask before hiring an SEO agency. Too many business owners learn the hard way that they don’t own their website, their content, or even their Google Business Profile once the contract ends.
You should always own:
If an agency wants to keep control, imagine them holding your mashed potatoes hostage. Then imagine choosing a different agency.
No one enjoys being ghosted, especially when you’re paying for marketing. Monthly reporting should be a expected, and is our standard. You should also expect reasonable communication, clear updates, and explanations of what the data means.
Legitimate reports include:
If they promise results but refuse regular reporting, that’s like someone showing up to Thanksgiving with an empty dish and insisting it used to be full.
Nothing beats real proof. Not opinions. Not fancy taglines. Not awards that seem to come from mysterious organizations no one’s ever heard of.
Ask for:
If they can’t show results, it’s not because the dog ate them. It’s because they don’t have any.
At Strottner Designs, we have clients who started at zero and now dominate their market. Proof matters.
Some agencies outsource everything. That means your business is handed off to unknown freelancers who’ve never spoken to you, never studied your market, and never looked at your competitors. It’s the SEO equivalent of someone buying store bought pie, dropping it into their own pan, and pretending they made it.
Ask who writes the content. Ask who handles technical fixes. Ask who manages your listings and who monitors your reports. If you hear vague answers, you might be dealing with a reseller.
We keep our work in house and hands on because relationships matter. Local knowledge matters. Context matters. And real accountability is priceless.
For local businesses, the Map Pack can bring in more customers than anything else. This is especially true in any market where people search from their phones constantly and choose from the first three businesses they see (which is now everywhere, basically):
Your agency should have a clear plan for:
This is one of the most overlooked questions to ask before hiring an SEO agency. A lot of agencies treat the Map Pack as an afterthought, even though it can make or break local businesses.
Cost matters. Value matters even more. You want clarity, not surprises. A good agency will tell you:
If an agency gives you a price without detail, that’s like buying a mystery dish at Thanksgiving. Maybe it’s good. Maybe it’s leftovers from last year. However, this doesn’t mean that a firm won’t have proprietary info that they don’t share. A balance of openness and protecting their competitive advantage is to be expected.
At Strottner Designs, you get clear expectations and a complete breakdown of what your investment includes. There’s no guesswork.
Thanksgiving has a way of reminding us to appreciate the good things. And good SEO is absolutely something to appreciate. The wrong agency can waste months of your time and thousands of your dollars. The right agency becomes a long term partner that grows your visibility, strengthens your brand, and increases your revenue.
These questions to ask before hiring an SEO agency help you cut through the fluff. They help you understand who’s skilled and who’s pretending. They help you find a team that communicates clearly, works consistently, and treats your business like it matters.
That’s how we work at Strottner Designs. We take pride in our strategy, our honesty, and the results we bring our clients. We don’t hide behind jargon. We don’t disappear after the sale. We don’t outsource your future to strangers. You get a team that invests fully in your success.
If you’re thinking about hiring an SEO agency, ask these questions first. Then ask us. We’ll walk you through everything clearly, show you real results, and build a plan designed for your business and your market.
And yes, if you partner with us for SEO, we’ll even build you a custom designed website at no cost when you commit to twelve months. It’s our version of a holiday bonus.
Until then, enjoy your family, your table full of food, and the confidence that comes from knowing exactly what to ask before you trust someone with your SEO.
Interested in a new site and SEO, or just a new site? Visit Home of the Free Website to learn how we can build you a free or affordable site.
Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Terms of Use
