Los Angeles has hundreds of SEO agencies and freelancers, and most of them promise page one. Choosing the right partner is less about the pitch and more about asking the right questions. Here is the checklist we would use if we were hiring an SEO company ourselves.
- Look for an agency that starts with your competitors and your business goals, not a generic package.
- Ask exactly what work will be done each month and how results will be reported.
- Avoid anyone who guarantees rankings, hides their link building methods or locks you into long contracts without clear deliverables.
Start with what you actually need
Before talking to agencies, be clear about your goals. Do you need more calls from nearby customers, more online sales, or more visibility for a specific high-value service? A local dental practice, a law firm and an ecommerce brand need very different SEO plans.
Write down the services and areas that matter most to your revenue. That list will help you judge whether each agency’s proposal focuses on the right things.
Questions to ask every SEO company
- Who is outranking us, and why? A good agency will have looked at your competitors before proposing anything.
- What will you do in the first 90 days? You should hear about specific technical fixes, pages and local work, not vague promises.
- How do you build links? Ask for examples. Legitimate agencies are open about their methods.
- Who will actually do the work? Find out whether the work is done in-house or outsourced.
- How will you report results? Look for reporting on leads and revenue, not just rankings and traffic.
- Can we see relevant results? Ask for case studies from similar businesses or markets.
Red flags to watch for
Some warning signs come up again and again in bad SEO engagements.
- Guaranteed first-page or number-one rankings. Nobody controls Google.
- Very cheap packages with long lists of “submissions” or bulk links.
- No access to your own accounts, such as Google Analytics, Search Console or your Google Business Profile.
- Long contracts with no defined deliverables.
- Reports that only show vanity metrics and never mention leads.
See how we would approach your market
Our free marketing review shows you who is outranking you and what it would take to compete.
Request my free review →What a strong SEO proposal looks like
A credible proposal explains your current situation, the opportunity and the plan in plain language. It should include a competitor overview, a prioritized list of technical issues, the pages to create or improve, a local SEO plan if relevant, an authority-building approach and a reporting schedule.
It should also be honest about timelines. Our article on what SEO costs in Los Angeles explains why sustainable results usually take several months.
Local agency or national agency?
A Los Angeles agency understands the local market, the neighborhoods and how competitive your category is here, which matters a lot for local SEO. That said, what matters most is expertise and transparency. Ask any agency, local or not, to show you how they would win in your specific market.
If you want to see how we work, start with our Los Angeles SEO company page or browse our case studies.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I give an SEO company before judging results?
Most businesses should expect clear progress within three to six months, with technical and local improvements often showing earlier. You should see real work being done from the first month.
Should I sign a long-term SEO contract?
Only if the deliverables are clear. Many good agencies offer month-to-month or short initial terms because they are confident in their work.
Is it a bad sign if an agency guarantees rankings?
Yes. Google controls rankings, so guarantees usually mean shortcuts or misleading promises.
Do I own the work an SEO agency does?
You should. Content, website changes and accounts like Google Analytics and your Google Business Profile should belong to your business.
