Effective Pre-screening Questions to Enhance Your SEO Account Manager Selection Process

Can you explain your search engine optimization (SEO) process?

Every SEO expert must have their unique strategy tailored to the particular needs of the business they are working with. While no one-size-fits-all plan works for every company, they should be able to explain their thought process and strategy for optimizing a website.

What is your strongest area in SEO?

This question cuts to the heart of a candidate's expertise. Are they strong in technical SEO, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, or perhaps content optimization? The answer could guide you towards understanding their suitability for your specific needs.

What experience do you have with traffic and sales conversion optimization?

Remember, the ultimate goal of SEO is not only to drive traffic but also to increase conversions. Experience in conversion rate optimization (CRO) is crucial in ensuring the traffic generated from SEO translates into sales or leads.

In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of SEO?

This question can give deeper insights into the candidate's understanding and philosophy of SEO, which must go beyond mere technical know-how to include user experience, content quality, and trust-building measures.

Can you describe any SEO campaigns you've managed to increase organic traffic?

Experience is critical when it comes to SEO. A candidate's answer to this question will demonstrate their ability to execute effective SEO campaigns and generate tangible results.

What metrics would you monitor in an SEO campaign?

From keyword ranking and organic traffic to bounce rate and click-through rate, understanding what to track determines the success of any SEO campaign. The candidate should be able to identify and explain relevant SEO metrics.

Can you give me an example of a time when one of your SEO strategies didn't go as planned and how you handled it?

Just like any other marketing strategy, SEO doesn't always go as planned. A candidate's response will reveal their problem-solving skills, resilience, and ability to learn from their mistakes, which are traits of a successful SEO professional.

What steps do you take to carry out keyword research?

Keyword research is a cornerstone in SEO, and a good SEO professional should have a systematic approach to uncovering the best keywords to target that aligns with the business's goals.

How familiar are you with HTML and CSS?

While SEO professionals don't need to be full-blown developers, a basic understanding of HTML and CSS can go a long way in technical SEO. It helps them diagnose and fix common website issues that can impact search rankings.

In terms of SEO, what can you bring to our company that someone else might not?

This question underlines the unique value that the candidate can bring to your company. They should be able to explain how their specific skills, experiences, and insights would benefit your business more than what others might offer.

What is your experience with using SEO software tools?

There are so many SEO tools available today, and each one serves a different purpose. The candidate's proficiency in these tools is essential for executing successful SEO strategies.

Do you have experience working with content management systems?

A content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal is often used to update and manage a website. Experience working with these systems can help streamline SEO efforts.

Can you explain your link building strategy?

Link building is a critical part of SEO, which involves getting other websites to link to your website. A good SEO expert must have a solid strategy for building quality backlinks.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest changes in SEO?

SEO is not static - it keeps evolving. Therefore, an SEO professional needs to continually learn and adapt to the changing landscape. They should be subscribed to relevant SEO newsletters, blogs, or webinars to stay updated.

Can you explain how do you optimize website speed and what techniques you normally use?

Page speed is a crucial factor in SEO. A candidate should be able to address how they would identify slow pages, what actions they would take to optimize them, and the tools they would use for this purpose.

How do you assess the quality of a backlink?

Not all backlinks are created equal. Some can significantly boost your website's authority and rankings, while others can harm them. An SEO expert must be able to identify and attract high-quality backlinks.

What is the biggest SEO challenge that you have faced so far in your career and how did you overcome it?

SEO can throw many curveballs. This question allows you to see how applicants approach challenges, their problem-solving skills, and their commitment to delivering results.

How versed are you in technical SEO? Can you describe your experience in this area?

Technical SEO, which includes site speed optimization, XML sitemaps, and schema markup, is an integral aspect of SEO. The degree of a candidate's expertise in this area will show you whether they are right for your needs.

How do you approach optimising a website or webpage for voice search?

Voice search is slowly changing the SEO landscape. An SEO professional must be prepared to adapt to this trend by ensuring websites are optimized for voice search terms.

Can you explain your experience in conducting SEO audits?

An SEO audit is a thorough examination of a website to evaluate its ability to appear in search engine results pages (SERPs). It's a crucial step in understanding what is working and what needs to be improved.