Onboarding a new SEO client is a crucial phase that involves understanding their business, goals, and expectations. When hiring a new SEO service provider for your small business, expect your SEO to ask these questions and many more.

Before you reach out to hire a SEO professional, prepare by answering these questions AND answer any additional questions you think of while going through this list. The more information, the better.

Business and Industry Information:

1. Can you provide a brief overview of your business, its history, and the products/services you offer?
2. Who are your primary competitors, and what differentiates your business from them?
3. What are the specific goals and objectives you hope to achieve through SEO?
4. Can you describe your target audience, including demographics, preferences, and online behavior?
5. Do you have any specific geographic locations or regions you want to target with your SEO efforts?

Website and Technical Details:

6. Can you share access to your website analytics and search console accounts?
7. What content management system (CMS) is your website built on?
8. Do you have full control over website modifications, or is there an IT team/developer involved?
9. Is your website mobile-friendly, and have you noticed any issues with its performance on different devices?
10. Have there been any recent changes or redesigns to your website?

Current SEO Efforts:

11. Have you implemented any SEO strategies in the past, and if so, what were the outcomes?
12. Do you currently have any ongoing PPC or paid advertising campaigns?
13. What keywords are you currently targeting, and how are you performing for those keywords?
14. Are there any specific concerns or issues you’ve noticed regarding your website’s SEO?

Content and Marketing:

15. How frequently do you update your website’s content, and who is responsible for content creation?
16. Do you have a blog or content section on your website, and how often is it updated?
17. What social media platforms are you currently active on, and how integrated is your social media strategy with your SEO efforts?
18. Have you conducted any online or offline marketing campaigns recently?

Conversion and Analytics:

19. What are the primary actions you want visitors to take on your website? (e.g., form submissions, purchases)
20. Do you currently use any conversion tracking tools, and what are your current conversion rates?
21. How do you currently measure the success of your online marketing efforts?
22. Are there any specific metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) that are particularly important to your business?

Budget and Resources:

23. What is your monthly budget allocated for SEO services?
24. Do you have any limitations or constraints we should be aware of when planning the SEO strategy?
25. Who will be the main point of contact on your team for SEO-related communication?
26. Are there any internal resources available for content creation, website modifications, or other SEO-related tasks?

Local SEO:

27. Do you serve customers at a physical location? If yes, do you have a Google My Business listing?
28. Are there specific cities or regions you want to target for local search visibility?
29. Do you have customer reviews online, and how do you currently manage your online reputation?
30. Are there any local events or partnerships that we should consider for local SEO efforts?

User Experience:

31. How would you describe your website’s user experience, and have you received any feedback on its usability?
32. Do you have any specific goals related to improving the user experience on your website?

Future Goals and Timelines:

33. What are your long-term goals for your business, and how does SEO fit into those plans?
34. What is the expected timeline for achieving your SEO goals?
35. Are there any specific events, product launches, or promotions in the coming months that we should align our strategy with?

Communication and Reporting:

36. How frequently would you like to receive updates and reports on our SEO activities and results?
37. What is your preferred mode of communication for regular updates and discussions?
38. What key performance indicators (KPIs) are most important for you to see in our reports?

Compliance and Policies:

39. Are there any industry-specific regulations or compliance requirements we need to consider in our SEO strategy?
40. Do you have any policies regarding the use of certain keywords, branding, or specific content on your website?

Learning and Training:

41. Would you like any training or educational sessions on SEO best practices for your team?
42. Are there specific areas of SEO you would like more insight into or clarification on?

Crisis Management:

43. What contingency plans do you have in place for unexpected SEO challenges or crises?
44. Who is the designated point of contact in case of urgent SEO issues or emergencies?

Expectations:

45. What are your expectations from our SEO services, and how will you measure success?
46. Is there anything specific you would like to emphasize or highlight in our SEO strategy?

Miscellaneous:

47. Are there any upcoming industry events, product launches, or changes that could impact our SEO strategy?
48. What are your brand values and key messages that should be reflected in the SEO strategy?
49. How do you currently track and handle customer feedback, and how can SEO support these efforts?
50. Is there anything else you would like to share about your business or goals that we haven’t covered?

Asking these questions – and more – during the onboarding process will provide a solid foundation for building a tailored and effective SEO strategy for the client. It also fosters clear communication and ensures that both parties are aligned in their expectations and goals.