Ask what work will actually be completed
A package name such as “starter,” “growth” or “agency” does not tell you what will change on the site. Ask for the pages, technical tasks, content briefs, local profile work and reporting included in the engagement. Clarify what is a recommendation and what the provider will implement directly.
A useful proposal identifies dependencies: developer access, client approvals, original photography, service expertise or legal review. It should also state what is excluded and how additional requests are priced. If a provider promises a set number of keywords or links, ask why those outputs matter to your customers and how quality will be checked.
Separate controllable work from search outcomes
An SEO provider can plan, implement and report on work, but cannot control when a search engine crawls a page or how competitors change. Google says no one can guarantee a number-one ranking. A promise of top position, instant indexing, millions of impressions or a fixed lead count should therefore be treated cautiously.
Agree on deliverable dates and measurement dates separately. Early signals can include resolved crawl problems, improved page clarity or changes in relevant impressions. Those signals do not equal sales. Track qualified enquiries and revenue separately, and retain the original source reports so both sides can review the numbers.
Keep tools and accounts under business control
The business should own its domain, hosting, Search Console, analytics and Google Business Profile. Give the provider named access rather than transferring the only administrator account. Ask how access will be removed at the end of the relationship and who keeps research, copy, dashboards and project files.
Request reports that show the property, time period, country, query or page filters and event definitions. Be wary of screenshots without context or data from another client’s website presented as your results. A reference project can show experience, but its metrics must not be attributed to your company.
Compare price with scope and capacity
A lower monthly fee may cover fewer pages, less implementation or only a report; a higher fee may include work the business cannot review or deploy. Compare the amount of work with the actual site condition and the team’s capacity to approve changes. A clear, small plan can be more useful than a broad menu that never gets implemented.
GrowBiz lists SEO starting at CA$400 per month on its public pricing page. The right scope still depends on the site, competition and agreed priorities. The dedicated Edmonton SEO page describes the service and its limits; no ranking or timeline guarantee is offered.
Use a written scorecard before signing
Score proposals on diagnosis quality, named deliverables, implementation responsibility, reporting transparency, account ownership, communication, exit terms and total cost. Ask each provider to explain one recommendation in plain language and how it relates to the business’s customer or service area.
Choose a review period and document the baseline. If progress is unclear, ask what was completed, what the data can establish and what remains uncertain. A strong working relationship makes it possible to change direction without turning a forecast into a new guarantee.
Practical checklist
- Request a site-specific diagnosis and written deliverables.
- Separate completed work from rankings, traffic and sales outcomes.
- Retain owner access to Search Console and analytics.
- Compare total scope, reporting, ownership and exit terms.
In short
Choose an SEO plan by the work, evidence and access it provides. No agency can guarantee that a website will rank first.
This article is general educational information, not legal, privacy, cybersecurity or financial advice. Confirm requirements for your situation with a qualified professional.