Client Questions asked in an SEO Project

Client Questions

Common Client Questions in an SEO Project — and the Answers Agencies Typically Give

If you’ve ever run or been part of an SEO project, you know clients often come with the same set of questions — and for good reason. SEO can feel complex, slow, and technical.

Here’s a look at the typical questions clients ask and the clear, professional answers an SEO agency usually provides.


1️ “How long will it take to see results?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
SEO is a long-term strategy. Most websites begin to see noticeable improvements within 3–6 months, depending on competition, website history, and implementation speed. Meaningful growth often compounds over 6–12 months.


2️ “What keywords will we target?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
We identify keywords based on search volume, competition, relevance, and user intent. The keyword strategy is a mix of:

  • Primary keywords (high relevance + measurable volume)
  • Long-tail keywords (lower difficulty, higher conversion intent)
  • Brand and industry-specific terms

We’ll present a keyword plan before execution.


3️ “How do you measure success?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Success is measured through KPIs such as:

  • Organic traffic
  • Rankings for target keywords
  • Click-through rate (CTR)
  • Conversions (leads, sales, signup goals)
  • Technical site health
  • Backlink growth

Reports are delivered monthly with insights and next steps.


4️ “Do you guarantee #1 rankings?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
No ethical SEO agency guarantees specific rankings. Search engines control results, not agencies.
What we do guarantee is:

  • Best-practice strategies
  • High-quality work
  • Data-driven decisions
  • Continuous optimisation

5️ “What exactly are you doing each month?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Tasks vary based on project phase but typically include:

  • Technical fixes & audits
  • Content creation and optimisation
  • Link-building & digital PR
  • Competitor analysis
  • Reporting & strategy adjustments
  • On-page and off-page improvements

The scope is outlined in the monthly deliverables.


6️ “Will my website need changes?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Usually, yes. SEO requires:

  • Optimised page structure
  • Updated content
  • Faster load times
  • Improved internal linking
  • Better mobile experience

We’ll handle the recommendations and collaborate with your dev team if needed.


7️ “How does content fit into SEO?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Content is the foundation of SEO. It helps your site:

  • Rank for more keywords
  • Match search intent
  • Build authority
  • Earn backlinks

    We’ll produce or optimise content based on your keyword strategy and brand voice.

8️ “Do we need backlinks?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Yes — high-quality backlinks are known to be one of Google’s primary ranking factors.

We focus on relevant, authoritative, white-hat links through outreach, partnerships, and digital PR rather than spammy or automated link sources.


9️ “What can we do on our end to help?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Clients can help move SEO faster by:

  • Providing access and approvals quickly
  • Creating subject-matter content
  • Sharing brand updates for content ideas
  • Supporting digital PR efforts
  • Ensuring dev changes are implemented

SEO works best as a partnership.


🔟 “When will we hit our organic traffic goals?”

Typical SEO agency answer:
Projections depend on your starting point, competition, and website authority.
We use current trends, benchmarks, and past data to estimate growth, then adjust as new data comes in.


🎯 Final Thoughts

Most SEO projects run smoothly when communication is clear, expectations are set early, and the client understands the “why” behind the work. Transparency and education are the foundation of a successful SEO partnership.

Author: “Keith Pattison, a digital marketing professional and director of Direct Submit, ready to assist with all your online marketing and SEO needs”.