# What to Ask an SEO Agency in Singapore: 10 Questions | RankRight > Questions to ask an SEO agency or freelancer in Singapore before paying, taken from Google's own advice on hiring an SEO, plus the warning signs Google names. URL: https://seo.makemoney.living/guide/what-to-ask-an-seo-agency/ - Home - / Free visibility check - / What to Ask an SEO Agency Before You Pay: Google's Own List Decision guide # What to Ask an SEO Agency Before You Pay: Google's Own List Updated 2026-10-14 · by RankRight Short answer: Ask for examples of past work, whether they follow Google Search Essentials, what results they expect and by when, how they measure success, their experience in your industry and in Singapore, and whether they will share every change they make. Walk away from anyone who guarantees a #1 ranking, claims a special relationship with Google, or offers a priority submit. [RankRight](/) writes these guides from Google's own documentation and published Singapore price guides; each figure links to where it comes from. ## First: do you need one? Google’s own answer for a small local business: you can probably do much of the work yourself , starting from its SEO starter guide ([Google](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/do-i-need-seo)). It also says a good SEO can help, especially before a redesign or a new site. If you do hire, Google suggests you know the basics anyway, so you can spot a technique that is not recommended. ## The questions Google suggests asking From Google’s page on hiring an SEO ([Google](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/do-i-need-seo)): - Can you show me examples of previous work and share some success stories? - Do you follow the Google Search Essentials? - What kind of results do you expect, and in what timeframe? - How do you measure success? - What is your experience in my industry? - What is your experience in my country or city? - How long have you been in business? - How can I expect to communicate with you? - Will you share all the changes you make to my site, with the reasons behind your recommendations? Google adds a tenth that is really a test: see whether they are interested in your business. A good SEO asks what makes you different, who your competitors are and how your customers find you. ## The warning signs Google names - A guaranteed #1 ranking. Google says no one can guarantee one. - A “special relationship” with Google, or a “priority submit”. - Secrecy. A company that will not explain clearly what it intends to do. - Asking you to link to them. Google says you should never have to. - Link schemes, or submitting your site to thousands of search engines. Google calls these typically useless. - Deceptive or misleading content created on your behalf: Google warns it can get a site removed from its index, and you are responsible for what you hire people to do. ## On audits and tools If an SEO offers an audit, Google says it should give you realistic estimates of improvement and of the work involved , and you should only grant read access to Search Console at that stage. Google also says it does not evaluate or endorse third-party SEO tools, which do not have its internal ranking data. A score from a tool is the tool’s opinion. ## On AI search If an agency sells “AEO” or “GEO”, Google suggests checking that the advice lines up with its official guidance on AI features, which says no special requirements, files or markup are needed. See [AI Overviews and small businesses](/guide/ai-overviews-for-small-businesses/). ## On price Ask every agency to price the same scope on the same contract term. Published Singapore ranges are in [what SEO costs in Singapore](/guide/seo-cost-singapore/). ## How RankRight answers them - Changes: every change listed, without being asked - Guarantees: none; Google says no one can - Logins: none for the free check; read-only Search Console later if you choose - Links: we never ask you to link to us - Timeframe: Google says some changes show in hours and others take months; we re-check the same searches so you can see which The [free visibility check](/seo-audit/) is a fair way to see how we work before you pay anything. Want to see where you show on Google? We reply with a free check of where your business shows on Google for your own service and area. Request received. We will send your free visibility check to the number you gave: where you show on Google today for your own searches. Nothing to pay unless you decide to go ahead. ## More questions Should I give an SEO agency my Google logins? + Google advises granting only read access to Search Console at audit stage, not write access. Is an SEO tool 'approved by Google' better? + Google says it doesn't evaluate or endorse third-party SEO tools, those tools don't have its internal ranking data, and to be wary of tools claiming to be 'acceptable' or 'approved' by Google Search. Do I have to link to my SEO's website? + No. Google says you should never have to link to an SEO. [Related serviceFree visibility checkYour own searches, checked: where you appear, and who appears above you.](/seo-audit/) Related guides - AI Overviews and Small Businesses: What Google Says, What We Saw - How Google Ranks Local Businesses: What Google Itself Says - How Much Does SEO Cost in Singapore? Published Prices Compared See where you show on Google before you pay for SEO. We reply with a free check of where your business shows on Google for your own service and area. Send your business name and main searches to start. [Get a free check](/contact/#request)