While most people will admit there is always that one defining moment in any type of relationship, the same is not true when it comes to digital marketing, where a series of moments can lead you to believe you have made the right decisions or hired the right people. Working in SEO for more than a decade has taught me that, and I believe SEOs should be judged by their track record and their overall knowledge of the practice.
As with any business, there are always people out there just trying to make a quick buck on the Internet with very little regard for your site’s overall health. Hiring someone to handle your SEO campaign is, and should be, a well-researched and well-referred process to ensure you are not going to get burned. If you have already hired an SEO expert and are unhappy with their results or skeptical about what they are telling you, it may be time to start kicking the tires a bit more.
Here are three red flags to look out for when speaking with your current or potential SEO expert.
I don’t know
While no one ever wants to hear anyone they have hired to perform a service utter this phrase about that service, this is particularly true when it comes to SEO. Too often, I have heard SEO experts say this to their clients, and it never loses its sting. If your expert doesn’t understand basic or advanced tactics, best practices, algorithmic changes, or common topics in the industry, it’s time to research and ask people who do.
