How to Choose an SEO Expert in London (Without Getting Burned)

There are 1,200+ SEO agencies in London.

Most of them will promise you page 1 rankings.

Half of them have no idea what they’re doing.

So how do you find the real experts?

Here’s what to look for—and what to run from.

1. They Can Explain What They Do (In Plain English)

Real SEO experts don’t hide behind jargon.

If someone starts talking about “synergistic link velocity optimization” or “algorithmic schema injections”—they’re either overcomplicating or full of it.

What a good SEO expert should tell you:

• “We’ll audit your site to find technical issues that hurt rankings.”
• “We’ll create content that answers what your customers are searching for.”
• “We’ll build backlinks from relevant, high-authority sites.”
• “We’ll optimize your Google Business Profile so you show up in local searches.”

Red flag:
If they can’t explain their process clearly in 2 minutes, they don’t have one.

2. They Show You Results (Not Just Promises)

Anyone can claim they’re an SEO expert.

The real ones have proof.

What to ask for:

• Case studies. Not vague “we increased traffic by 300%.” Specific industries, timelines, and results.
• Client references. Can you talk to their current or past clients?
• Ranking examples. Are they ranking for competitive SEO keywords? If they can’t rank their own site, why trust them with yours?

Red flag:
“We can’t share client work due to NDAs.” That’s either a lie or they don’t have results worth sharing.

What we do:
We share real case studies. We show you what worked, what didn’t, and why. No fluff.

3. They Don’t Promise Guaranteed Rankings

Google’s algorithm uses 200+ ranking factors.

No one can “guarantee” #1 rankings. Not even Google employees.

What honest SEO experts say:

• “We’ll improve your rankings over 6–12 months.”
• “We can’t guarantee #1, but we can get you on page 1 for the right keywords.”
• “Results depend on competition, budget, and how fast we can implement changes.”

Red flag:
“We guarantee #1 rankings in 90 days.” They’re either lying or using black-hat tactics that’ll get you penalized.

Our approach:
We set realistic expectations. We show you progress monthly. And we adjust the strategy based on what’s working.

4. They Start With a Technical Audit (Not Just Content)

Most agencies jump straight to content and backlinks.

The good ones start with your site’s foundation.

What a proper SEO audit covers:

• Page speed. Is your site fast or slow?
• Mobile usability. Does it work on phones?
• Crawlability. Can Google find and index your pages?
• Core Web Vitals. Are you passing Google’s performance benchmarks?
• On-page SEO. Are your titles, headers, and meta descriptions optimized?

Why it matters:
If your site is broken, no amount of content or backlinks will help.

What we do:
Every project starts with a full technical audit. We fix what’s broken before we build anything new.

5. They Focus on the Right Keywords (Not Just High-Volume Ones)

Bad SEO experts target keywords with huge search volume and insane competition.

Good ones target keywords you can actually rank for—and that bring customers.

Example:

• Bad target: “SEO” (1.2M searches/month, impossible to rank for)
• Good target: “SEO expert London” (1.6k searches/month, realistic + high intent)

What to ask:

• “Which keywords are you targeting for my business?”
• “Why those keywords?”
• “What’s the competition like?”

Red flag:
They throw a list of 50 keywords at you with no explanation.

Our process:
We research your competitors, analyze search intent, and target keywords that drive conversions, not just traffic.

6. They Build Links the Right Way (Not the Spammy Way)

Backlinks are still a ranking factor.

But not all backlinks are equal.

Good backlinks:

• Come from relevant, high-authority sites
• Are placed naturally in content
• Have diverse anchor text

Bad backlinks:

• Come from low-quality directories or blog networks
• Are bought in bulk from fiverr or SEO marketplaces
• Use exact-match anchor text over and over

What to ask:

• “How do you build backlinks?”
• “Can you show me examples of sites you’ve secured links from?”

Red flag:
“We’ll get you 100 backlinks in 30 days.” That’s spam. Google will penalize you for it.

Our approach:
We build links through guest posts, digital PR, and real partnerships. Slow, but sustainable.

7. They Understand Local SEO (Especially for London Businesses)

If you’re targeting London customers, generic SEO won’t cut it.

You need local SEO.

What a London SEO expert should do:

• Optimize your Google Business Profile (photos, posts, reviews, categories)
• Build local citations (consistent NAP across directories)
• Create location-specific content (blogs about London neighborhoods, local case studies)
• Get local backlinks (partnerships with London businesses, local news sites)

What to ask:

• “How do you optimize for local search?”
• “Can you show me examples of Local Pack rankings you’ve achieved?”

Red flag:
They treat London like any other city. Local SEO is hyper-specific—if they don’t know that, they’re not experts.

What we do:
We’ve been optimizing for London businesses since 2018. We know the local directories, the competition, and what works in specific boroughs.

8. They’re Transparent About Pricing (No Hidden Fees)

SEO isn’t cheap. But it shouldn’t be a mystery either.

What good SEO pricing looks like:

• Clear monthly retainer (usually £1,000–£5,000+ depending on scope)
• Breakdown of what’s included (audits, content, link building, reporting)
• No hidden fees (no surprise charges for “extra keyword research”)

What to ask:

• “What’s included in your monthly fee?”
• “Are there any additional costs I should expect?”
• “What happens if I want to pause or cancel?”

Red flag:
They won’t give you a clear price. Or they charge per keyword (outdated pricing model).

Our pricing:
We give you a fixed monthly fee. You know exactly what you’re paying for. No surprises.

9. They Report Results (Not Just Vanity Metrics)

Bad agencies send you reports full of meaningless numbers.

Good ones show you what actually matters.

Vanity metrics (don’t care):

• “We increased your impressions by 50%!”
• “You got 100 new backlinks!”

Real metrics (do care):

• “Your organic traffic increased 40%.”
• “You’re ranking page 1 for 5 new high-intent keywords.”
• “You got 12 new leads from organic search this month.”

What to ask:

• “What metrics do you track?”
• “How often do I get reports?”
• “Can I see a sample report?”

Red flag:
They only report on rankings or traffic, not leads or conversions.

What we do:
We track rankings, traffic, and conversions. We show you how SEO impacts your bottom line—not just your Google position.

10. They Don’t Disappear After 3 Months

SEO takes time. 6–12 months minimum.

Some agencies lock you into long contracts, deliver nothing, and ghost you.

What to ask:

• “What’s your contract length?”
• “Can I cancel if I’m not seeing results?”
• “How often do we communicate?”

Red flag:
12-month contracts with no flexibility. Or agencies that bill upfront and go silent.

Our approach:
Monthly rolling contracts. If we’re not delivering, you can leave. Simple.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone

Here’s your checklist:

1. 1. Can you explain your SEO process in plain English?
   2. Can you show me case studies or client results?
   3. Do you start with a technical audit?
   4. Which keywords will you target for my business, and why?
   5. How do you build backlinks?
   6. What’s your approach to local SEO?
   7. What’s your pricing, and what’s included?
   8. What metrics do you report on?
   9. What’s your contract length?
   10. Can I speak to a current or past client?

If they dodge any of these questions, keep looking.

How AlgoSemantic Works

We don’t sell SEO packages. We build custom strategies.

Here’s what we do:

• Start with a full technical audit
• Target the right keywords (not just the biggest ones)
• Build links the right way (no spam)
• Optimize for London local search
• Report on metrics that matter (traffic, rankings, conversions)

We’ve been doing this since 2018. We know London. We know SEO. And we don’t waste your time.

Want to Know If Your Current SEO Is Working?

We’ll audit your site for free. No sales pitch. Just a clear breakdown of what’s working, what’s broken, and what to fix first.

Email us: contact@algosemantic.com
Call us: +44 7412 808430

Or keep reading. We’re breaking down every SEO myth, one article at a time.

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