According to Virginia Search Engine Optimization firm Mangoco, “If you are thinking of hiring an SEO, the best time to do so is in the beginning; when you are planning a site redesign or launching a brand new website.  This allows you and your SEO to work together from the beginning; however, this does not mean that an SEO cannot improve an existing website.”  There is some important information that you need to find out before hiring an SEO.  The SEO you choose should be able to provide you with samples of his or her previous work and give you references for satisfied customers.  They should be able to let you know what type of results you should expect to see and when.  You should inquire about their overall experience in the industry, their experience in your particular area and how long they have been in the SEO business.  Another important thing to ask about is what SEO techniques they deem most important and if they follow webmaster guidelines.

You should be skeptical of an SEO firm that sends unsolicited emails; these are likely to be companies that provide unethical search engine optimization.  It is important to remember that no one can guarantee a number one ranking on any search engine.  For example, if an SEO claims to have a special relationship with Google, or they can do a priority submit to Google this is not true; there is no priority submit to Google, the only way to submit a site to Google is through the Add URL page or by submitting a sitemap, and you can do this yourself at no charge.  Bev Gray, a buyer of SEO services we spoke to, remembers being told by multiple firms that they “worked directly with Google to increase the search rankings.” Be wary of a company that will not explain what methods they intend to use to optimize your website.  If something is unclear, ask for explanations; an SEO creating misleading or unreliable content could result in your website being excluded from the major search engines. Finally, you should never have to link to an SEO; if an SEO mentions “free-for-all” links or submitting your site to thousands of search engines, this is typically useless and will not improve your ranking.

There are many SEOs that use less than scrupulous methods; if you have any doubts about an SEO, trust your instincts and walk away.  An unethical SEO can cause irreparable damage, possibly getting your website excluded from search engines.  Therefore, it is important to research any firm or individual that you may be considering to optimize your website search results and choose one that has a proven track record.