Short answer: choose an SEO agency that starts with an audit, explains what it will do and why, measures business results (not just rankings) and does not promise you the number one spot on Google. These 10 questions help you check.
Why choosing well matters
There is plenty of supply and little way to compare it. In Google Trends (Spain, last 12 months), searches for web-positioning agencies and services are among the most frequent and fastest-growing related queries. This guide gives you concrete criteria.
10 questions to evaluate an agency
- Do they start with an audit? A good starting point reviews crawling, content, competition and goals before proposing actions.
- What do they deliver each month? Ask for a concrete list: technical work, content, links, reports. “Monthly SEO” is not a deliverable.
- Do they promise guaranteed rankings? That is a red flag. No provider controls Google’s algorithm.
- How do they measure success? It should include qualified traffic, conversions and cost per lead, not just rankings.
- What access will you have? Your website, Search Console and analytics should be yours. Ask for access to reports and accounts.
- How do they get links? Avoid bought link networks or mass directories: they can harm your site.
- Do they also work on GEO? More and more searches are resolved with AI answers; ask how they prepare your brand to be cited.
- Do they know your sector? It need not be identical, but they should understand how your customer buys.
- What contract do you sign and how do you leave? Reasonable terms, no abusive lock-ins and handover of the work if you change agency.
- Who will do the work? Meet the real team, not just the salesperson.
Red flags
- Results “in 30 days” or “guaranteed first page”.
- Reports full of vanity metrics with no link to sales.
- A lack of transparency about the work they carry out.
- Identical proposals for any client.
How to compare proposals
Ask every agency for the same summary: goals, first-quarter actions, deliverables, metrics, team and cost. Compare them in a table. The cheapest is rarely the best, and the most expensive does not guarantee more results: choose the one that best understands your business and explains its plan best.
Local or national
Many searches include a city (“SEO agency Cork”, “Madrid”, “Barcelona”). A local agency can help with local SEO, but what decides is the method, not the address. If your market is international or multilingual, ask about experience with hreflang and several countries.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I see results?
It depends on your starting point, the competition and the work done. A serious agency defines goals and a timeline after the audit and measures continuously.
Is a freelancer or an agency better?
It depends on the scope. A freelancer suits focused projects; an agency brings a team for web, content, technical work and measurement at once.
Should I pay for links?
Not as a strategy. Bought links that pass authority breach Google’s guidelines and can lead to penalties.
At IGLOBALIA we always start with an audit and a prioritised plan. Learn about our SEO and GEO service or book a conversation.
