10 Questions to Ask When Shopping for Search Engine Optimization in Jacksonville

A Simple Guide for Business Owners Who Need SEO But Don't Understand It

By My Web Consultant | Jacksonville, FL

You know you need SEO. Your competitors show up on Google when people search for your services, and you don't. Or maybe you're ranking, but not well enough.

So you start looking for SEO services, and everyone sounds the same: "We'll get you to page one! We do local SEO! Guaranteed results!"

But you have no idea what questions to even ask. What's the difference between SEO and your website? What about Google Business Profile? Should you just run ads instead?

This guide will help you understand what you're actually buying — and what questions to ask before you spend a dollar.

First: What's the Difference Between SEO, Your Website, Google Business Profile, and Ads?

Before we get to the questions, let's clear up the confusion. These are four different (but related) things:

Your Website

• Think of this as your digital storefront
• It exists whether or not people find it
• Without SEO, it's like having a store in the woods with no signs pointing to it

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• This is the work you do to help people FIND your website through Google
• Includes optimizing your website content, building credibility, and getting mentioned by other sites
• Takes 3-6 months to see real results
• Keeps working even after you stop (though rankings will decline over time)

Google Business Profile (GBP)

• That box that shows up on the right when you Google a business
• Shows your reviews, photos, hours, and location
• For local businesses, this is 50% of your SEO
• Appears in Google Maps and the "local map pack" (those three businesses with map pins at the top of search results)
• Often MORE important than your website for local searches

Ads (Google Ads, Facebook Ads)

• You pay per click
• Results start immediately
• Stops the moment you stop paying
• More expensive long-term, but great for immediate results

Now: The 10 Questions to Ask Any SEO Company

1. "What specifically will you do in the first 30 days?"

Why this matters: Vague answers like "we'll optimize your site and build links" tell you nothing.

What to listen for:

• A clear list: keyword research, technical audit, on-page optimization, Google Business Profile setup, content plan, etc.
• Specific deliverables you'll receive
• A timeline

Red flag: "We can't share our proprietary process." (That's BS. Any good SEO can explain their process.)

2. "Will you work on my Google Business Profile, or just my website?"

Why this matters: If they say "we focus on your website," they're missing 50% of local SEO.

What to listen for:

• "Yes, we optimize and manage your Google Business Profile"
• They should mention: profile completion, posting updates, review management, photo optimization

Red flag: They don't mention Google Business Profile at all, or say "that's separate."

3. "What keywords will you target and why?"

Why this matters: You need to know they've actually researched what people in Jacksonville are searching for.

What to listen for:

• Specific keywords relevant to your business
• Explanation of search volume (how many people search that term)
• Why they chose those keywords

Red flag: They can't name specific keywords, or they target super vague terms like "best service" without your city or industry.

4. "How will you report results to me?"

Why this matters: You need to know if it's working.

What to listen for:

• Monthly reports showing: keyword rankings, traffic from Google, leads/calls from organic search
• Plain English explanations, not just data dumps
• Regular check-ins (at least monthly)

Red flag: Reports only show "traffic increased 200%!" without showing how many actual leads you got, or reports are full of jargon you don't understand.

5. "What's a realistic timeline for results?"

Why this matters: Anyone promising fast results is lying.

What to listen for:

• "3-6 months for meaningful results"
• Explanation that some quick wins are possible, but real SEO takes time
• Honest about competition level in your market

Red flag: "You'll see results in 30 days" or "Guaranteed page 1 in 60 days."

6. "Do you require a long-term contract?"

Why this matters: You shouldn't be locked in if it's not working.

What to listen for:

• Month-to-month after initial setup period
• Or a reasonable commitment (3-6 months max)

Red flag: 12-month or longer contracts with big cancellation fees. Good SEOs earn your business every month.

7. "How do you build links, and will you share what sites link to me?"

Why this matters: Bad link-building can actually hurt you.

What to listen for:

• Legitimate strategies: local directories, partnerships, guest posts, PR, sponsorships
• Transparency about where links come from
• "We'll show you every link we build"

Red flag: "We have access to a network of 10,000 sites" or they're vague about link sources. Cheap bulk links will hurt your rankings.

8. "What happens to my rankings if I stop working with you?"

Why this matters: You need to know if they're doing shady stuff that will collapse when you leave.

What to listen for:

• "Rankings will slowly decline over time as competitors keep doing SEO, but you won't lose everything immediately"
• Honest explanation that SEO requires ongoing work

Red flag: "Your rankings will disappear immediately" (means they're probably doing something sketchy) or "They'll stay forever" (not realistic).

9. "Can you show me examples of clients you've helped?"

Why this matters: Proof they've actually done this before.

What to listen for:

• Case studies or examples
• Testimonials from real businesses
• Before/after rankings or traffic

Red flag: They can't share any examples or get defensive when asked.

10. "Should I do SEO, ads, or both?"

Why this matters: A good SEO will tell you the truth, even if it means less money for them.

What to listen for:

• Honest assessment of your situation
• May recommend ads + SEO (short-term + long-term)
• Explains trade-offs

Red flag: They push hard on SEO without discussing whether ads might make more sense for your situation.

Bonus: Questions About Pricing

"What do you charge and what's included?"

Typical local SEO pricing in Jacksonville:

• One-time SEO setup: $800-$2,000 (technical fixes, initial optimization, GBP setup)
• Ongoing local SEO: $500-$1,500/month (content, link building, management, reporting)
• Just Google Business Profile management: $200-$400/month

SEO vs. Ads: Which Should You Choose?

Here's the honest answer for most Jacksonville small businesses:

Start with ads IF:

• ✓ You need customers NOW
• ✓ You're launching and have no online presence
• ✓ You have budget for $1,000+/month in ad spend
• ✓ You want predictable, immediate results

Start with SEO IF:

• ✓ You can wait 3-6 months for results
• ✓ You want to reduce customer acquisition costs long-term
• ✓ You're tired of paying per click
• ✓ People are actually searching for your services in Jacksonville

Do BOTH IF:

• ✓ You have the budget ($1,500-$3,000/month total)
• ✓ You want leads now while building for the future
• ✓ You're in a competitive market

The Bottom Line

Most business owners shopping for search engine optimization in Jacksonville make the same mistake: they don't know what questions to ask.

They end up:

• Locked into expensive contracts with vague results
• Paying for SEO that only focuses on their website (ignoring Google Business Profile)
• Getting reports they don't understand
• Frustrated after 60 days when they were promised results

The good SEO companies:

• ✓ Explain everything in plain English
• ✓ Are transparent about what they're doing
• ✓ Don't lock you into long contracts
• ✓ Optimize your Google Business Profile (not just your website)
• ✓ Show you actual business results, not just "traffic increased"
• ✓ Tell you honestly if ads make more sense for your situation

Ask these 10 questions before you hire anyone. If they can't answer them clearly, keep looking.