Improving a modern-day business can be done in a lot of different ways. However, the most optimal and useful of them have something to do with information technologies and the internet. The online world is where' things are in the 21st century and those who are not utilizing it the right way will be left behind and taken over by the competition. We assume you do not have such a plan for your business no matter what your line of work is, so the alter-native would be to take charge and do what the rest of the industry is doing.

Having a personal website and pages on social media are things which you probably already have, but there is more to be wanted. In this guide we will talk about the go-to practice of most business owners right now which is search engine optimization, or SEO. This tactic is basically the process of getting your brand out there when somebody searches for things that you offer. Coming out on top and among the first few links when somebody Google-searches a term is all you need to be ahead of the competitors.

However, doing all of this on your own is not always possible. As a matter of fact, more often than not companies hire professionals who know a thing or two about SEO. These would be the SEO consultants you have probably heard about and the process of hiring one and the decision on who exactly to trust with this important job is a tough one. In order to help you do this and once and for all solve your search engine optimization problems, we give you the most important question to ask the candidate before hiring them.

Who are SEO Consultants?

You may wish to know more about these experts and what it is they actually do. What makes them necessary for a modern business and why cannot your regular tech-oriented workers perform these tasks? Well, the answer is not that simple. First of all, a consultant of this sort is an individual who is an expert in growing businesses and their reach on the web and increasing their presence. They specialize in all the intricate details that matter most online and not everyone is proficient enough there.

While their job title might be somewhat self-explanatory, the reality is much more complex. A model SEO consultant will be able to help you with a great variety of things that include web development, web design, keyword and market research, audits, management of social media accounts, targeted ads, algorithms, analytics, current trends in always-changing internet culture, and a lot more. If you think about it, there are a few roles in there that some of your current employees may be doing which means a consultant can cover multiple positions, making them an invaluable asset for every modern company.

Questions You Should Ask the Candidates

When you have assembled a few final candidates based on their CVs, portfolios and other requirements you may have set out, it would be time for a crucial in-person interview with the potential new employee of your company. You should make sure to ask them the following questions because with the answers you will then have it will be easier to understand how professional and experienced they are as well as whether or not they are critical to your operations.

1. Could I contact your previous clients?

Knowing who the consultant’s previous employers were and what kind of an experience they enjoyed with them is crucial information and a clear indicator into what you can expect. Both if the collaboration was good or bad, you will know the details and have the stories of both sides. In addition, this is the previous field experience they have and you can learn from first-hand sources about how your potential new employee handles themselves in a variety of situations. What is more, you will be able to understand them better according to the type of reaction they have to this question and see if they want to hide something.

2. What strategies do you use?

As mentioned above, there are different things an SEO expert can help you with. Depending on the kind of business, some approaches work better than others. If you wish to know how professional and ready the consultant already is, make sure to ask them how they would tackle certain situations or problems you may already have. You can make up scenarios or ask them what they recommend for a company in your line of work. The tactics they recommend are the best proof you have of their knowledge and the span of skills they have under their belt. If you like what you hear and if they seem confident, they may be the right person for the job.

3. When do you expect results?

This is a tricky question to both ask and answer because the candidate is working with limited information and does not have a clear picture of the ongoing practices in your company. They would have to spend the first day or two examining and engaging with your existing processes before they can introduce new things. Therefore, before you ask them this, let them know the state of your existing affairs. If they can give you a rough estimate or tell you how long it usually takes them to see results with similar situations, they are probably well-equipped for the job.

4. How do you communicate with the client?

Communication has always been key and it continues to dominate all types of business. If it is not up to a certain standard the relationship between- you and the SEO cannot be prosperous. Ask them how they prefer to communicate and how often, and let them know the way you like to do it. What is crucial is for an understanding to take place that works for both sides. Sharing the changes and the statistics with you should be a no-brainer.

5. What are your terms and fees?

Logically, you will want to know about the price of their services and the terms under which they operate. Leave this for one of the last questions once you are more sure they may be the person for the job.

6. What do you know about the industry?

While they may have already worked in your or a similar industry, it helps to know what exactly their answer to this question is because it is crucial for them not only to know their job but also be familiar with what you are about on a daily basis. SEO is often the same across the board, but certain variations do exist.