A practical hiring checklist covering strategy, reporting, AI search, contracts, and red flags before you hand over budget.
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What's the one question that filters out most bad SEO hires?
What's the one question that filters out most bad SEO hires?. Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
Why hiring decisions changed in 2025-2026 (AI search included)
Why hiring decisions changed in 2025-2026 (AI search included). Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
Questions 1-5: strategy and your first 90 days
Questions 1-5: strategy and your first 90 days. Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
Questions 6-10: reporting, measurement, and AI search
Questions 6-10: reporting, measurement, and AI search. Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
Questions 11-15: team, contracts, pricing, and red flags
Questions 11-15: team, contracts, pricing, and red flags. Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
Green flags vs red flags at a glance
Green flags vs red flags at a glance. Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
How I answer these for my own clients
How I answer these for my own clients. Cover the practical takeaways, what to measure, and how this connects to audits, strategy, and AI search optimization.
| Signal | Green flag | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | Named consultant on the call and in the contract | Junior handoff after the pitch |
| First 90 days | Written plan with ranked fixes and owners | Vague “we’ll optimize everything” |
| Reporting | Search Console and business outcomes | Vanity ranks with no traffic or leads |
| AI search | Can explain GEO without dropping classic SEO | Only pitches AI hacks or only ignores AI |
| Contract | Clear scope, term, and exit | Auto-renew with no cancel path |
Who does the work
- Green flag
- Named consultant on the call and in the contract
- Red flag
- Junior handoff after the pitch
First 90 days
- Green flag
- Written plan with ranked fixes and owners
- Red flag
- Vague “we’ll optimize everything”
Reporting
- Green flag
- Search Console and business outcomes
- Red flag
- Vanity ranks with no traffic or leads
AI search
- Green flag
- Can explain GEO without dropping classic SEO
- Red flag
- Only pitches AI hacks or only ignores AI
Contract
- Green flag
- Clear scope, term, and exit
- Red flag
- Auto-renew with no cancel path
In short
A practical hiring checklist covering strategy, reporting, AI search, contracts, and red flags before you hand over budget.
