Choosing a web and SEO partner with a clear scope

Compare deliverables

Ask about pages, content, languages, integrations and testing. An “SEO-ready” promise should specify technical setup, content work and any ongoing service.

Review work and process

Review live work and ask what the team actually delivered. Discuss milestones, acceptance criteria and ownership, and request reporting examples that protect client information.

Check ownership and ongoing costs

Clarify domain, source-code, hosting-account and data ownership. Make tool fees, maintenance and exit arrangements explicit. Do not choose solely by initial price or ranking guarantees.

Questions to ask before appointing a team

Ask the team to explain its actual role in delivered work and review a service-to-contact journey on mobile. Compare the same brief with content, CMS, migration and support itemised. Evaluate evidence and responsibilities rather than ranking promises or a homepage-only price.

Scope and acceptance checklist
Area	What to agree
Work	Accessible context, delivery role and actual output
Scope	Pages, languages, forms, CMS and integrations
Acceptance	Devices, failure cases and confirmed form delivery
Handover	Source, accounts, documentation and operations

Prepare for the estimate

Provide the current URLs, approved example data, owners and the most important workflow. Distinguish the first release from later additions so teams can estimate the same scope and agree acceptance before work.

Read the related decision guide →

Match the evidence to the work you need

Evidence by project type
Work	What to inspect
Business website	Real screens, scope and ownership handover
SEO	Data source, reporting period and attributable project work
Web application	Roles, workflows and acceptance criteria
Continuing support	Responsible owners, reviews and fees

A Search Console chart shows search performance for its case. Assess service scope and enquiry measurement alongside it. For anonymised work, request the details that can be disclosed and consider their relevance to your project.

Explore an SEO results example and service scope →