When you have the budget and are on the lookout to hire someone, one normally plunges in when you see an interesting profile. But the wise will do their homework before signing the contract. Here are 9 questions you must ask yourself before hiring an SEO, or even before thinking of hiring one.

1. Does your site have a target audience?

This is probably the most important question you must ask. Do you have a target audience to match demand with ? If your users are searching you online, what are the possibilities by which they’ll find you. This largely depends on what type of online entity you are and how “potential users” see you.

2. Would people search for your product/service/brand online ?

If they do, are there others who’re already doing it right ? If they don’t search you online and rather find you through TV ads and offline publicity, then you might not want to go that aggressive on SEO.

3. Do you have the budget ?

Are you in that period of time where you have the extra budget to hire someone ? If you don’t you might want to discuss things with your designer/developer and fix things out. Otherwise you might be making a big mistake of pouring in the funds at a difficult time and then looking for quick returns which may not happen son enough.

4. Do you have the resources ?

In case you’re hiring, do you have the resources to support SEO. You might not want to hire an SEO when you don’t have the resources to build content / revamp the site.

5. Can you do it yourself ?

Smaller sites can do their SEO themselves most of the time. So why waste your money outsourcing ?

6. Do you need a redesign ?

Check whether you can afford a redesign now. Because most of the time, SEOs demand a redesign if you’re pages are too old type (tables and all that).

7. Will your users/readers accept change ?

Many a times people tend to forget the changes that come in during SEO’ing the site. Like changing the URL structure for example. Always..always cross check if such things would annoy your users, if they will, discuss it well with the SEO to minimize the trouble.

8. Can you develop new content ?

Content development is something many SEO’s resolve to while SEO’ing the site. Most of the time its crucial because competition demands it. Make sure that your SEO company understands your product/service and develops content accordingly. If they can’t, try to arrange it from your side with the SEO guidelines in place.

9. Do you expect quick results ?

If you do, you’re on the wrong page. Nothing happens overnight in SEO, and things take their time. Be patient and discuss your site inside out with an SEO before signing the contract.

The best practice to avoid confusion and assuming things is to discuss well with your outsourcing SEO partner as to what your expectations are, what resources you have and what time frame you’re looking at to complete the process. Quick judgements often will make you regret later. So do your homework before you hire an SEO.

Now, all that makes sense right ?