Top seo questions to ask a client

Lately I have been doing quite a bit of SEO in Perth Australia and I keep hearing over and over the same questions about SEO and what SEO questions to ask a client before you begin an SEO job. So I figured I’d list my personal questions I ask. I have collected these from various sources online so hopefully this will help you as it has me.

1. Listen more. Talk less. Understand your clients needs first.
2. Set the right expectations. SEO is hard and no one can guarantee number 1 listings. Be honest with your client.
3. Ask what they are doing in terms of SEO today
4. What is their budget for SEO?This is important because it relates to the expectations. For $100 the client can’t get a Rolls Royce. Maybe a used bicycle. Set the expectations right from the start.
5. What domain and sub domain names do they own?
6. Where does the content come from? Who writes it?
7. Know when to admit you are wrong. SEO changes all the time so fess up when you are wrong and learn from it.
8. Differentiate success from top rankings vs. conversions. I’d rather have low ranking but high conversions. Top Rankings doesn’t necessarily guarantee high conversions. Measure the right stuff!
9. Paid ads. Adwords. What are they doing and how much? Learn from the results as that can impact the SEO program.
10. Technical: Are there CMS systems powering the site? Are you allowed to change the site personally or how is this managed?
11. Final question. How much traffic are they looking to get. Over what time period? What metrics do you have to track traffic?