Ask who will own your listing, what happens each week, how results are measured, how long the contract runs, and who does the work. A company that answers these clearly is usually safe. A company that avoids them is not.
Ownership and access
1. Who will own my Google listing?
Good answer: you own it, and we are a manager.
Bad answer: we manage it under our account.
2. Who will own my website and my domain?
Good answer: you own both, and you get the login.
Bad answer: the website is part of the service and stops when you leave.
3. What happens to my reviews and my content if I leave?
Good answer: everything stays with you, and we remove our access.
The work itself
4. What will you do in the first 30 days?
Ask for the list in writing. A real answer names categories, services, photos and business information.
5. What happens each week after that?
A real answer names tasks: posts, photos, review requests, review replies, corrections.
6. Who does the work?
Ask for the name of the person, and whether the work is sent to another company.
7. How many other businesses in my trade and my area do you serve?
A company that serves your direct competitor in the same area has a conflict.
Measurement
8. How will you measure results?
Good answer: position across your service area, calls, direction requests and website clicks.
Bad answer: impressions and views only.
9. Will you measure my position from more than one location?
Your position changes every few blocks. One check from one address hides the problem.
10. What does the report look like? Can I see a sample?
Ask for a real sample with the client name removed.
Terms and exit
11. How long is the contract, and how do I cancel?
Good answer: month to month, cancel by email.
Bad answer: 12 months, with an early termination fee.
12. What do you promise, and what do you not promise?
A company that promises position one is telling you that it will either use risky methods or explain a failure later. Google itself warns business owners about this promise.
After the call
- Check their own listing. A local SEO company with 3 reviews and no photos is a warning.
- Search their business name and read what other people write.
- Ask for two clients to call. A real company will arrange it.
- Read the contract for the exit clause and the ownership clause before you sign.