Choosing and managing help.
WHAT GOOD WORK LOOKS LIKE
A technical audit identifying specific problems Clear explanation of what will be done and why Content improvement and creation Honest reporting against business metrics Realistic timeframes
WARNING SIGNS
Guaranteed rankings Refusal to explain methods Very low prices, which usually mean automated link building Reporting on vanity metrics rather than traffic and conversions Pressure to sign long contracts before any work Claims of special relationships with search engines
QUESTIONS TO ASK
What specifically will you do in the first three months How will we measure success Who writes the content Where do links come from What access do you need, and what will you change What happens if we stop working together
PROTECTING YOURSELF
Retain ownership of your accounts, domain and content Never give away your domain or hosting account Keep access to Search Console and analytics in your own name Ask for a list of any links built
THE HONEST POSITION
Good SEO work is slow, specific and unglamorous. Anything that sounds faster is usually a risk.
