Is your SEO agency working? Check for evidence: a written scope, a baseline, monthly reports you can verify in your own Search Console, a list of work done, and growth in impressions, clicks and enquiries over several months. Avoid agencies that guarantee a number one rank, keep you out of your accounts or hide what they do.
You pay an agency every month, the reports arrive and you are still not sure if anything is happening. This guide gives ten checks you can do yourself to decide whether your SEO agency is working, using Google’s own guidance on what to ask an SEO and what to avoid.
Is your SEO agency working? What should you look for?
Is your SEO agency working? Start with what Google says. In its guidance on hiring an SEO, Google suggests asking what results to expect, in what timeframe, and how success will be measured. It also suggests asking whether the SEO will explain every change and the reasoning, whether they follow Google’s Search Essentials and whether they can show examples of past work. Google adds that no one can guarantee a number one ranking, and that if an SEO promises first place you should find someone else.
Google also lists warning signs: claims of a special relationship with Google or a priority submission, secrecy about what they will do to your site, link popularity schemes and tools said to be approved by Google. If you see these, ask questions.
Is your SEO agency working? That is a question about evidence and time. Google says changes can take hours to several months, so judge with a baseline and monthly trends. Our guide on how long SEO takes explains a fair timeline.
Is your SEO agency working? Healthy signs and warning signs
Use this table as a quick scorecard for whether your SEO agency is working. Count how many items in each column describe your agency.
| Healthy sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|
| Written scope, timeframe and measures | Vague promises with no written plan |
| Baseline recorded at the start | No starting numbers to compare against |
| Monthly list of work done and why | Reports with only rankings or screenshots |
| You own Search Console, analytics and Google listing | Agency controls your accounts and will not share |
| Explains every change in plain language | Secrecy about what they are doing |
| Honest about timing and limits | Guarantees first place or fixed-day results |
| Tracks enquiries by source | Talks only about traffic or rank |
| Follows Google’s guidelines | Link schemes, spun or mass-produced pages |
10 checks to see if your SEO agency is working
Is your SEO agency working? Work through these in order. Each takes minutes, and together they give you a clear picture.
Ask for the written scope
You should have a document that says what the agency will do each month, what results to expect and over what timeframe. Google lists these questions among those to ask an SEO.
Find the baseline
Is your SEO agency working? Without the numbers at the start, no one can say whether SEO helped. Look for impressions, clicks, top queries and enquiries recorded before work began.
Open Search Console yourself
To see if your SEO agency is working, log in to Search Console with your own account. Look at the performance report for clicks, impressions and queries over the last three months and compare with before.
Read the work log
Is your SEO agency working? A good agency can list what changed each month: pages edited, titles fixed, content added and issues resolved. Google suggests asking an SEO to explain every change and the reasoning.
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Your domain, hosting, Search Console, analytics and Google Business Profile should be in your name. If the agency owns them, you could lose your history if you leave.
Track enquiries by source
Is your SEO agency working only if enquiries grow? Rankings are a sign, not the goal. Count calls, WhatsApp messages and forms, and note where each came from. If enquiries are flat while reports look good, ask why.
Look for red flags
Google warns about guarantees of a number one rank, claims of a special relationship with Google, secrecy and link popularity schemes. Any of these is a reason to ask questions.
Spot-check a few pages
Use Search Console’s URL Inspection tool to see whether key pages are indexed, and look at your top pages for clear titles and useful content.
Compare progress with a fair timeline
Is your SEO agency working on a fair schedule? Judge results against a realistic timeline, not a hope. Read our guide to how long SEO takes before you decide the agency is failing.
Ask for a review call
A good agency welcomes the question of whether your SEO agency is working. Ask them to walk you through the plan, the work done, the numbers and what comes next. How they respond tells you a lot.
What should SEO cost, and what should it include?
The Udaan Digital Solutions pricing page, read on 24 October 2026, listed monthly SEO plans at ₹7,999, ₹14,999 and ₹24,999, with different numbers of keywords, pages, audits and blogs. GST treatment is not stated. Compare what each plan includes in our SEO packages in India price guide. To choose an agency in the first place, read how to choose the right digital marketing agency. If your site is not ranking, see why your website is not ranking on Google. For readers abroad, our sister guide covers how to audit your SEO agency’s reports.
Is your SEO agency working? Checklist
Tick each line to see if your SEO agency is working.
- Scope: A written plan with timeframe and measures.
- Baseline: Starting numbers recorded.
- Access: You own and can open Search Console, analytics and your Google listing.
- Reports: Monthly work log plus data you can verify.
- Enquiries: Tracked by source, not just traffic.
- Red flags: None from Google’s list.
- Timeline: Progress judged against a fair period.
- Review: A review call booked.
Frequently asked questions: is your SEO agency working
How do I know if my SEO agency is working?
Is your SEO agency working? Look for evidence, not promises: a written scope, a recorded baseline, a clear list of work done each month, access to your own Search Console and Google listing, and growth in impressions, clicks and enquiries over several months. Be patient, because Google says SEO changes can take hours to several months.
What should a monthly SEO report include?
It should show what work was done, which pages changed and why, and how impressions, clicks, key queries and enquiries compare with your baseline. It should come from tools you can open yourself, such as Search Console, and explain next steps in plain language. A report of rankings alone is not enough.
What are red flags in an SEO agency?
Google lists several: guaranteeing a number one ranking, claiming a special relationship with Google or priority submission, secrecy about what they will do to your site, link popularity schemes, and unsolicited emails. Also be wary if they will not give you access to your own accounts.
Should I own my Search Console and Google Business Profile?
Yes. These accounts should be in your name, with the agency added as a user. That way you can see the data yourself and keep your history if you change agency. Be cautious if an agency insists on owning them or will not give you access.
My rankings have not improved after three months. Is the agency failing?
Not necessarily. Whether your SEO agency is working depends on the work log first. Google suggests waiting a few weeks, and some effects take months. Check that agreed work was done, pages are indexed and impressions are growing. If so but nothing moves, ask for a plan review.
Can I check my SEO agency's work myself?
Yes, to a degree. You can search for your key services, look at Search Console's performance report, inspect a page's index status with the URL Inspection tool, and ask the agency to explain each change. If you cannot get clear answers, that is a sign to ask for a review.
Related reading and sources
- How Long Does SEO Take? An Honest Timeline for India
- How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Agency
- Google Search Console Setup for WordPress
- Google Search Central: Do you need an SEO?
- Google Search Central: SEO Starter Guide
Final verdict
To decide whether your SEO agency is working, look for evidence: a written scope, a baseline, reports you can verify in your own accounts, a clear work log and growth in enquiries over several months. Avoid guarantees and secrecy, and ask for a review call. Udaan Digital Solutions, Greater Noida, can give a second opinion: +91 7042278448.
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Google pages were read on 27 October 2026 and can change. Udaan Digital Solutions prices were read on 24 October 2026. GST treatment is not stated. This article is general information. We promise no rankings or leads.
