Questions worth asking
Ask what they would review first, what business inputs they need, how they report progress, and what they will not promise.
- What does month one look like?
- What access or assets do you need from us?
- How do you measure useful progress?
- What happens if results take longer than hoped?
Red flags to notice
Guaranteed rankings, secret methods, purchased links presented as safe, anonymous case studies, and unclear contract scope are signs to pause.
- Permanent #1 promises
- No explanation of work performed
- Outsourced spam tactics
- Pressure to sign before a basic review
What honest scope looks like
Expect a sequence of improvements you can understand: business information, site structure, content, technical fixes, and measurement tied to enquiries, not a black box.