The questions that separate experts from rebranded SEO shops.

The best free resources

1. Do you need an SEO? — — (Google), Google Search Central (living doc)
   Google's own hiring questions and warnings; neutral baseline

2. 18 Questions to Ask SEO Agencies Before Hiring One — Ellie Wraith, Digitaloft (upd. 2026-08-21)
   Each question gives a good answer and red flags; covers AI search

3. How to Choose an AI Search Agency: 11 Questions to Ask Before You Hire — Kelly Wilson, Exposure Ninja (upd. 2026-11-09)
   GEO-specific questions: prompts tracked, mentions vs citations, attribution (sales-heavy)

4. Office Hours: Can You Actually Track AI Visibility? — Amanda Natividad (with Rand Fishkin), SparkToro (2026-05-08)
   What to ask about any agency's or tool's AI tracking method

Curated by effectiveGEOstrategy.com. Every link checked 2026-11-10. Know a better free resource? Tell us.