How to Choose an SEO Agency — 8 Essential Criteria to Get It Right
The SEO market in Romania is full of providers promising the #1 spot on Google in 30 days. Spoiler: nobody can guarantee that — and any reputable SEO agency in Timisoara will tell you so openly. So how do you tell a professional agency from one that will waste your budget? Here are the criteria that matter.
Criterion 1: Transparency in the Work Process
A trustworthy SEO agency clearly explains WHAT it will do, WHY, and WHAT RESULTS are realistic within a given timeframe. If you get vague answers or are discouraged from asking questions, that's a red flag. At ProjectMedia, every client gets a detailed action plan from the very first month — a core part of our SEO services in Timisoara.
Criterion 2: Clear, Regular Reports
Every month you should receive a report showing: ranking changes for each targeted keyword, organic traffic from Google Search Console, the backlinks gained and the actions taken. A real report, not a pretty screenshot with a few colorful charts.
Criterion 3: They Don't Guarantee the #1 Spot
It sounds counterintuitive, but the absence of ranking guarantees is a sign of professionalism. Google gives no guarantees to anyone — not even to certified agencies. What a reputable SEO agency can guarantee is a sound, white-hat process with results that grow over time. That's the approach we take across all our SEO services in Timisoara.
Criterion 4: Verifiable Experience
Ask for case studies and concrete results achieved for clients in your industry. An agency with real experience will be able to show you the growth in organic traffic, the increase in keywords ranking in the top 10 and the impact on leads. At ProjectMedia, we have 19 years of experience in web design and SEO, and our portfolio is available on request.
Criterion 5: A White-Hat Approach
SEO techniques fall into two groups: white-hat (accepted by Google) and black-hat (which break the rules and can lead to severe penalties). Check whether the agency builds backlinks through spam, buys links from low-reputation sites or uses auto-generated content. Any of these can destroy your site's visibility in the long run.
Criterion 6: Technical SEO Knowledge
SEO isn't just about putting keywords in your copy. A professional SEO agency needs to understand Core Web Vitals, schema markup, crawl budget, log file analysis, JavaScript SEO and many other technical factors. Ask about their technical approach and evaluate the answer. For a closer look at what technical SEO involves, see our dedicated guide.
Criterion 7: Realistic Pricing
Quality SEO costs money. A serious SEO package for a local business starts at 200-300 EUR/month. Below that, you get either superficial work or risky techniques. At ProjectMedia, our SEO packages start at 250 EUR/month and include a clear set of documented deliverables.
Criterion 8: Communication and Availability
You need to be able to reach the agency when you have questions and get timely answers. A good agency gives you a dedicated account manager, not an anonymous ticket system. Ask about response times and how communication works before you sign a contract.
Questions You Should Ask Any SEO Agency
– What does your SEO audit process look like, and what does it include?
– How do you approach link building, and where do the backlinks come from?
– What reports will I get each month, and what data do they include?
– Can you show concrete results for clients in my industry?
– How do you keep me informed about Google algorithm changes?
– What happens to the work already done if we stop working together?
Once you've weighed the answers, compare the proposal with those from our Timisoara SEO agency and other providers. If you'd like a free, no-obligation consultation, the ProjectMedia team is here to help.
