5 Ways to Tell if an SEO Consultant is a Real Deal

Search engine optimization is something that many businesses pay an outside consultant to handle, and it’s important to know whether your SEO consultant is doing a good job or not. We consulted some of the top SEO consultants Gold coast in the business to find out what they think makes a good SEO consultant, and their answers surprised us! Here are their five ways to tell if an SEO consultant is the real deal or just pretending to be one.

1) Do they take on a single project at a time?

It’s not uncommon for consultants to take on several projects at once, even though they know they won’t be able to give each one their undivided attention. Some of them do it just because it helps them grow their business faster. If you work with a consultant that takes on more than one project at a time, you could potentially miss out on certain important steps along your journey. To make sure that doesn’t happen, look for someone who works with just one client at a time and sticks with them until they achieve their goals. They’ll be able to keep focused and devote all of their attention to helping you meet your objectives instead of dealing with half-finished tasks from another job.

2) Are they obsessed with quality?

If your SEO consultant is more interested in building links than in working with you on tactics that will actually improve your rankings, then run for the hills. You need to be able to trust that they’re truly concerned about ranking high in search engines—not just getting as many backlinks as possible. Work with a consultant who’s committed to excellence and test them out: ask them questions about their strategies and dig deep into what they do for their clients—and whether or not it actually improves rankings. If they’re hesitant or try to dodge your questions, it’s time for someone else.

3) Do they have personal projects outside of work?

It’s critical for SEO Consultants Gold Coast to have personal projects, like blogs, as they provide a vehicle for learning new skills and staying up-to-date on industry trends. Make sure your consultant has a passion project he or she is constantly working on outside of client work. If they don’t have any side hustles, it might be cause for concern: Does your consultant enjoy his or her work? Are you going to get in over your head with someone who doesn’t truly love what they do? It may not matter at first—but eventually, it will.

4) Does it seem like they were born with knowledge about SEO?

Many consultants get into their industry because they’re experienced marketers or webmasters, but don’t assume that means they know everything there is to know about search engine optimization. Remember: nobody knows everything about search engine optimization—not even Google! It’s just important for any consultant you hire to have a strong foundation of knowledge when it comes to SEO; someone who doesn’t is likely green and might not be familiar with current methods and best practices.

5) Do they charge hourly rates or fixed price packages?

While it’s easier for an agency or freelancer to claim that their services cost a set amount, it’s also easier for them to take advantage of you. If they charge per hour, make sure they itemize all of their time spent on your project and ensure that you have full visibility into their billable activity. If an SEO consultants Gold coast says they charge a fixed price but can’t explain how they arrived at that price (by explaining what they include in those services), be wary. Remember, when it comes to paid professional services, you get what you pay for—so be careful who you trust with your money! Our advice: Stick with vendors who charge fixed prices and explain everything clearly.