Choosing the right SEO partner today is more than a checkbox—it’s a growth-critical decision. For Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), India offers a compelling mix of affordability, expertise, and scalability in terms of SEO services. But not every agency can deliver consistent, algorithm-proof performance.
To ensure you’re investing in results—and not just reports—here are 7 essential questions every CMO should ask before hiring an SEO company in India, along with key insights to evaluate their answers.
1. What Is Your SEO Philosophy – and How Do You Stay Ahead of Google’s Algorithm Updates?
A strong SEO company should have a clear methodology. Do they focus on technical excellence, content authority, or white-hat link strategies? More importantly, how agile are they during algorithm shifts?
Fact: In 2023 alone, Google rolled out over 9 major algorithm updates, including the disruptive March 2024 Core Update targeting low-quality content and unnatural backlinks.
Ask:
- How did your clients perform after these updates?
- Can you share the recovery strategies you’ve implemented?
- What tools or AI do you use for monitoring SERP volatility?
A quality agency follows E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principles and avoids black-hat tactics like link spamming or doorway pages.
2. Can You Demonstrate Industry-Specific SEO Expertise?
Generic SEO is outdated. Your agency must understand your vertical—SaaS, healthcare, eCommerce, or BFSI.
Ask for:
- Industry-specific case studies
- Vertical-focused KPIs improved (e.g., CAC, signups, MQLs)
- Keyword research tailored to funnel intent
Example: A SaaS firm may target long-tail decision keywords like “CRM for the construction industry,” while an eCommerce business optimizes category pages with structured data.
Look for SEO teams that understand your funnel, not just general traffic metrics.
3. What KPIs Do You Track — and How Do You Define Success?
If they promise “#1 rankings,” run the other way. Keyword Rankings mean little without results.
A strategic SEO partner tracks:
- Intent-based organic traffic
- Goal conversions (form fills, purchases, leads)
- Crawl/index/rank health by keyword cluster
- Organic revenue attribution
Insight: A 2023 HubSpot report revealed that 61% of marketers prioritize SEO, yet only 41% track organic conversions—a massive gap!
Ensure they offer live dashboards, monthly reviews, and performance-linked strategies—not just static reports.
4. What Is Your Link-Building Strategy — and How Do You Ensure Quality?
Links are still a top-3 ranking factor-but poor link-building invites penalties.
Ask:
- Do you focus on authority (DA/DR)?
- How do you secure links—PR, guest blogs, niche platforms?
- What’s your ratio of unique domains vs. total links?
Red flag: “1,000 links in 30 days” = PBNs or spam. Avoid.
A reliable Indian SEO agency providing seo services will:
- Focus on editorial, contextual links
- Build from human-reviewed domains
- Use a natural do-follow/nofollow mix
Prioritize link relevance and quality, not vanity metrics.
5. How Do You Integrate Technical SEO, Content, and UX in One Strategy?
SEO doesn’t operate in silos. Google evaluates performance, structure, and content together.
Ask how they:
- Run audits (manual + tools)
- Align content calendars with indexing priorities
- Improve site architecture and user journeys
- Optimize for Core Web Vitals and mobile UX
A top-tier agency offers:
- Quarterly tech audits
- Structured internal linking plans
- UX heatmaps + scroll behavior data
- SEO-first content briefs and schema integration
6. Who Will Work on Our Account — and How Experienced Are They?
You’re not hiring the sales deck—you’re hiring the execution team.
Ask:
- Will we have a dedicated SEO lead?
- Is the team in-house or freelance?
- How many accounts per SEO manager?
Checklist for clarity:
- Named team with bios
- Project management access (Asana, Trello)
- Biweekly calls and escalation paths
You want a team that feels like your marketing squad extension, not an outsourced vendor.
7. Can You Provide Social Proof – Reviews, Client Results, and Referrals?
Proof > Pitch.
Ask for:
- G2, Clutch, or Google reviews
- Before/after performance reports (organic leads, revenue)
- Referrals from existing clients
Insight: 91% of B2B buyers trust online reviews as much as peer recommendations. (BrightLocal)
In their case studies, they look for diversity across geos, industries, and funnel stages.
Bonus: What Does a Good SEO Company in India Cost?
Pricing varies by scope, but here’s a baseline:
| Engagement Type | Price Range (INR) | What’s Included |
| Basic SEO | ₹15,000–₹25,000/month | Audit, 10–15 keywords, basic content |
| Mid-Scale SEO | ₹35,000–₹75,000/month | 25–50 keywords, link building, blog strategy |
| Enterprise SEO | ₹1.2–2.5 lakhs/month | Full funnel, strategy, tech, content, reporting |
Always ask for custom proposals aligned with your industry, goals, and CMS.
Don’t Hire an SEO Vendor — Hire a Growth Ally
India has no shortage of SEO talent, but your success depends on choosing a partner that offers transparency, strategy, and real outcomes. As a CMO, your priority should be hiring a team that aligns with your business KPIs, understands your market, and evolves with Google, not one stuck chasing outdated vanity metrics.
Let your SEO partner be more than a vendor. Let them be your growth architect in a search-first world.
Need help evaluating agencies, or do you want an SEO audit? Reach out to Savit Interactive, a Google-certified, 20+ year veteran SEO company in India that has helped over 500 brands scale visibility and revenue globally with ethical, ROI-driven SEO strategies.
