Questions to Ask an SEO Company in Baltimore, MD
Search Engine Optimization is all about connecting with your customers in the moments that matter most to them. As a business owner in Baltimore, you realize that managing your website can sometimes be a full-time job. So you start to look for someone that can help you. Ultimately hiring a Baltimore SEO Company is the right approach to take. The question is, how do you know if you are working with a company that truly has your best interests at heart?
That comes during what we call the discovery phase. Put them to the test! Make them show you what is going on with your website, what ultimately needs to be updated, and have them explain how they are going to make your website better and grow your business. Here are a few questions to ask an SEO Company in Baltimore to see if they are the right fit for you.
Questions To Ask An SEO Company in Baltimore, MD.
What Is Your SEO Strategy and Philosophy?
One of the first questions you should ask is about their overall strategy. SEO is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some agencies prioritize technical improvements and backlinks, while others focus heavily on content creation and on-page optimization. The best SEO companies—especially those working in dynamic cities like Baltimore—adopt a balanced, holistic strategy. This includes fine-tuning your website’s backend structure, producing high-quality and locally relevant content, optimizing your Google Business Profile, and building trustworthy backlinks from relevant Baltimore-based sources.
Listen carefully to how the agency describes their approach. Do they talk about tailoring SEO to your unique goals? Do they take time to understand your target customer—someone searching for a “home remodeling contractor in Canton” versus a “vegan bakery in Mount Vernon”? A strategic SEO partner should be able to articulate a clear and customized roadmap for your business.
Do You Have Experiences with Businesses in Baltimore?
Local expertise makes a world of difference. While many SEO firms offer services nationwide, only a few understand the nuances of Baltimore’s diverse neighborhoods and business ecosystems. An agency with local experience will know which directories matter here, what keywords people in different neighborhoods use, and how search intent varies from a customer in Highlandtown versus one in Owings Mills.
Ask for examples of past work in Baltimore or the greater Maryland area. Request case studies or references from businesses that share your size, industry, or customer base. It’s one thing to rank nationally—it’s another to dominate local search in a competitive market like Baltimore. Localized success stories are a great indicator that the agency can deliver results for you.
How Do You Measure Success?
Not all SEO companies define success the same way. Some may boast about high keyword rankings, while others emphasize traffic growth. But what really matters is how SEO impacts your bottom line—phone calls, form submissions, in-store visits, and conversions. When interviewing SEO companies, ask how they define and track success. Will they align their metrics with your specific goals? Will they provide monthly reports that are easy to understand and actionable?
In Baltimore’s fast-paced and competitive market, knowing how your SEO investment translates into real business outcomes is crucial. A good SEO agency will not only provide performance data but will also interpret it for you—offering insights and recommendations based on what’s working and what needs to be adjusted.
What Kind of Keyword Research Will You Perform?
Keyword research is the foundation of any strong SEO strategy, especially at the local level. When someone searches for “emergency HVAC repair in Baltimore,” they have a different intent than someone searching for “best AC systems Maryland.” Your SEO partner should be able to distinguish between informational, navigational, and transactional search queries—and tailor your website content to match.
Ask the agency how they identify keywords specific to your services and your Baltimore audience. Do they use advanced tools? Do they incorporate feedback from your sales and customer service teams? Do they analyze your competitors? If the SEO company’s keyword strategy feels vague or overly broad, they may not be the right fit for your local business.
How Will You Optimize for Local Search?
Local SEO is essential for small and mid-sized businesses in Baltimore. That includes optimizing your Google Business Profile, managing online reviews, building citations in local directories, and ensuring your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across the web. A quality SEO company should outline a clear local SEO plan, including how they’ll help you show up in Google’s local 3-pack—the prime real estate for mobile and location-based searches.
You should also ask if they plan to help with building local backlinks. These might include features in Baltimore news outlets, community blogs, or sponsorship listings from local events and charities. Local links carry a lot of weight and can significantly boost your visibility in search results that matter to your Baltimore-based customers.
What Technical SEO Work Will You Do?
Behind every high-performing website is a solid technical SEO foundation. While technical SEO might not be the most glamorous part of digital marketing, it’s essential. A competent SEO agency will conduct a thorough audit of your site’s structure, mobile usability, page speed, crawl errors, internal linking, and indexing status.
Ask the agency how they plan to uncover and resolve these issues. More importantly, ask how they’ll work with your web development team to implement their recommendations. Technical SEO isn’t something you want handled by someone unfamiliar with your CMS or coding environment, especially if you rely on platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Shopify.
What Content Will You Create for My Business?
Content is the fuel for organic growth. From blog posts and location pages to service descriptions and FAQs, content helps inform, engage, and convert your visitors. A well-optimized blog article titled “Top 10 Family Dentists in Baltimore” can bring long-term traffic to a dental clinic. Similarly, a construction company might benefit from a detailed service page targeting “kitchen remodeling in Charles Village.”
Ask the SEO company about their content creation process. Will they conduct interviews with your team? How will they ensure the content reflects your brand voice while being optimized for search? What role does local storytelling play in their strategy? In a city as culturally rich as Baltimore, authenticity in content can be a competitive advantage.
What Is Your Reporting Process Like?
Clear, consistent communication is a sign of a reliable SEO partner. Before signing a contract, ask how frequently you’ll receive updates. Will there be monthly reporting calls? Do you get access to a dashboard? Who will be your primary point of contact?
The best SEO companies don’t leave you in the dark. They proactively schedule meetings, walk you through reports, and adjust strategy based on data. They also remain transparent about setbacks or algorithm changes and explain how they’re adapting the approach.
Can You Explain Your Pricing and Contracts?
SEO pricing can vary widely depending on the agency’s experience, your website’s condition, your industry, and your goals. It’s important to get clarity on what’s included in their pricing model. Do they charge hourly? Offer flat-rate packages? Require long-term contracts?
Look for an SEO partner who’s transparent about their fees and sets realistic expectations. Be wary of companies that promise guaranteed rankings—no one can promise a top spot on Google. Instead, look for promises of consistency, strategic planning, and long-term growth.
What to Expect After Hiring an SEO Company
Once you’ve chosen your Baltimore SEO company, what happens next? The onboarding phase is critical. A trustworthy SEO partner will start by conducting a thorough audit of your website, analyzing your competition, and identifying your target audience and goals. Expect an initial discovery call or meeting where you’ll align on priorities—whether it’s increasing visibility for a specific service, improving conversions, or outranking local competitors in Towson or Federal Hill.
From there, they’ll begin implementing their strategy. This might include content development, technical fixes, local listing updates, backlink outreach, and performance tracking. Good SEO takes time—often three to six months before you see substantial results. However, you should start to notice incremental improvements: increased site traffic, better keyword rankings, more engagement with your Google Business Profile, and ultimately, more qualified leads.
The best SEO companies will also hold regular strategy meetings to report on what’s been accomplished, what’s next, and how your business is trending. Transparency and collaboration are key.
What Type of Results Should You Be Looking For?
It’s easy to get caught up in keyword rankings and traffic numbers, but those aren’t the only metrics that matter. What you really want are results that align with your business goals. Here’s what meaningful SEO results might look like:
Improved Local Visibility: Your business should begin to rank in Google’s local pack for relevant searches like “plumber in Fells Point” or “law firm near Inner Harbor.”
- Increase in Qualified Leads: Whether through phone calls, form submissions, or walk-ins, your SEO should drive real-world engagement.
- Stronger Online Authority: Over time, you’ll earn more backlinks from credible local sites, boosting your domain authority and trustworthiness in Google’s eyes.
- Better User Engagement: Expect lower bounce rates, longer time on page, and improved mobile usability as your website becomes more optimized and user-friendly.
- Content Performance: Blog posts or service pages targeting Baltimore-specific keywords should start attracting organic traffic.
If you’re not seeing any of these signals within the first few months, it might be time to reassess the strategy or the partnership.
Ready to Connect with a Baltimore SEO Company?
If you’re a business owner in Baltimore, whether you’re running a family-owned restaurant in Fells Point, a law firm in Mount Vernon, or an HVAC company in Canton, MarketKeep is here to help you grow your online presence and attract more local customers. As a Baltimore SEO Company, our team specializes in delivering comprehensive SEO strategies tailored to small businesses in Baltimore and throughout Maryland.
At MarketKeep, we believe in honest communication, data-driven decisions, and delivering results that matter. We start by understanding your goals and audience, then develop a custom plan to increase your visibility and grow your traffic. Our local SEO services are designed to help you get discovered by the right customers at the right time—whether they’re searching on their phones downtown or planning a weekend service from the suburbs.
Don’t let your competitors outrank you. Let MarketKeep help your business climb to the top of local search results and stay there.
