Google recommends asking the following questions:
- Can you show me examples of your previous work and share some success stories?
- Do you follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines?
- Do you offer any online marketing services to complement your organic search business?
- What kind of results do you expect to see, and in what time frame?
- What’s your experience in my industry?
- How long have you been in business?
Beware of black hat practices. Ultimately, you’re responsible for your own site. An unethical SEO might deliver short-term results with very long term consequences, such as getting banned from the search engines for certain shady practices. And once you’re out it’s very difficult to get back in.
