Employing an SEO firm is a calculated step for companies looking to increase their online presence and draw in more qualified leads. Partnering with a search engine optimization company during your first consultation can provide valuable insights into how your website is currently performing and what strategic steps are needed to enhance visibility and traffic. This first meeting is critical—it sets the stage for the entire relationship, outlines goals, and helps both parties determine if it’s the right fit.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect and how to prepare for a productive SEO consultation.
1. Getting To Know Your Business
A professional SEO company will begin by learning about your business. Expect questions about your products or services, target audience, competitors, and your overall digital presence. They’ll want to understand your unique selling proposition (USP) and what success looks like for you.
You may also be asked about your business goals—whether it’s increasing organic traffic, boosting local visibility, improving ecommerce performance, or generating more inbound leads. The clearer you are about your objectives, the better the agency can tailor its strategy.
2. Website Evaluation And SEO Audit Overview
During the consultation, the SEO team will likely review your existing website. If they haven’t done a full audit yet, they may highlight general observations, like slow loading speeds, broken links, poor keyword optimization, or technical issues that impact search engine rankings.
Some companies may already run your site through tools that assess page performance, backlinks, keyword usage, and mobile compatibility. These early insights help set the groundwork for more in-depth strategy development if you decide to move forward.
3. Competitor And Industry Analysis
A key part of SEO success is knowing how you stack up against the competition. Many SEO companies will bring basic competitor insights to the consultation to show you where opportunities may lie. This could include competitor keywords, backlink profiles, and content strategies.
Understanding your market landscape allows the SEO company to craft a plan that not only boosts your rankings but also helps you differentiate your content from others in your space.
4. Review Of Current SEO Efforts
If you’ve done any SEO before—whether through an in-house team, freelancer, or another agency—be ready to discuss it. Your new SEO partner will want to know what’s been done, what worked (or didn’t), and how those efforts align with your current goals.
You may be asked about content strategies, previous keyword targets, backlink campaigns, or on-page optimizations. The goal here is not to critique, but to understand your starting point and identify where improvements can be made.
5. Strategy Outline And Deliverables
Although a full strategy isn’t typically finalized in the first meeting, a reputable SEO company will outline what you can expect moving forward. They’ll explain their process, proposed deliverables (like monthly reports, keyword research, link-building, or content creation), and how they tailor their strategies to different businesses.
Some agencies may also explain their onboarding process, giving you a glimpse into the tools and communications they use throughout the partnership.
6. Metrics And Reporting
Good SEO isn’t guesswork—it’s guided by measurable outcomes. During your consultation, you should expect a conversation around how success will be measured. Common metrics include organic traffic, keyword rankings, bounce rates, time on site, and conversions.
Ask how often they’ll report progress, what tools they use to track results, and whether you’ll receive dashboards or monthly summaries. Clear reporting expectations ensure you always understand where your investment is going.
7. Budget And Timeline Discussion
Finally, the SEO company will discuss pricing, contract terms, and timelines. SEO is a long-term investment, so don't expect immediate results—but they should be able to give you a realistic view of what progress might look like in 3, 6, or 12 months.
A transparent agency will break down costs by service (e.g., content creation, link building, technical SEO) and help you choose a plan that aligns with your budget and goals.
Conclusion
Your first consultation with an SEO company is an opportunity to evaluate the agency’s expertise, communication style, and alignment with your goals. It’s also your chance to ask questions and ensure transparency from the beginning. You may go into the discussion prepared and come away with a better grasp of how expert SEO services can improve your online visibility and spur actual business growth if you know what to anticipate.
