Top 10 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Malaysian SEO Agency

In Malaysia’s fast-evolving digital economy, SEO is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow a business online. Yet many owners sign with the first digital agency that emails them, only to end up disappointed by vague reports and generic promises.

Regardless of the type of business you run, whether it’s a clothing boutique or an insurance agency, your hired SEO agency must improve visibility and deliver measurable business outcomes. (Source: Google; SEO.com; iMarketing Malaysia)

Below are the top ten questions every Malaysian business should ask before hiring an SEO agency, plus what to look for and what positive metrics reveal a job well done.

Quick Question Summary 

Selection Criteria to Evaluate an SEO Agency in Malaysia

Below, we’ve listed some of the selection criteria, which helped us determine the 10 most important questions to ask any SEO agency you plan to hire:

Local Expertise and Market Understanding

• Familiarity with Malaysia’s multilingual search landscape (Malay, English, Chinese).
• Experience with Google Business Profile optimisation.
• Understanding of regional directories such as Yelp Malaysia and Hotfrog, which are active in Malaysia.

Read More: How Businesses Can Use Multilingual SEO in Malaysia

Proven Track Record

• Verifiable case studies or a portfolio of clients in Malaysia or Southeast Asia.
• Demonstrable growth metrics such as traffic, leads, or sales conversions.

Ethical SEO Practices

• Compliance with Google Search Essentials and Google’s spam policies.
• Avoidance of shortcuts such as link farms or keyword stuffing.

Communication and Reporting

• Scheduled updates with insights, not jargon.
• A dedicated point of contact for consistency.

Value and Deliverables

• Transparent deliverable lists and measurable outputs.
• Fair pricing aligned with workload and results.

1. What Does Success Look Like to You as an SEO Agency?

Every credible SEO agency in Malaysia should define success using business-aligned metrics such as organic leads, sales, and ROI, not vanity figures like raw traffic.

What to Look For

• Alignment between agency KPIs and your business goals such as lead volume and conversion rate.
• A clear tracking framework using Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console.
• An explanation of how success is reviewed monthly or quarterly.
• Commitment to transparent reporting rather than cherry-picked wins.

Positive Metric Example

A high-quality agency might report a 45 percent increase in organic leads and a 30 percent boost in contact form submissions within six months, tying success directly to measurable business impact.

2. Which Areas of SEO Will You Optimise (Technical, On-Page, Off-Page, Local)?

SEO should be holistic, addressing site foundations and content strategy. A well-rounded agency covers all pillars, ensuring each element supports long-term visibility.

What to Look For

• Comprehensive coverage such as technical audits, content optimisation, backlinks, and local listings.
• Documentation of how these areas integrate, for example linking on-page fixes to off-page campaigns.
• Clarity on which SEO pillars get priority during the first 90 days.
• Adaptability to Malaysia’s local search trends and mobile usage patterns.

Positive Metric Example

If an agency can show a 25 percent improvement in Core Web Vitals and a 20 percent increase in organic sessions after optimisation, it demonstrates mastery of complete-scope SEO. (Source: iMarketing Malaysia) 

Read More: Understanding Off Page SEO for Malaysian Businesses (2025)

3. How Do You Approach Local SEO for Malaysian Businesses?

Malaysia’s multilingual audience and city-based markets make local SEO essential for visibility. Agencies should demonstrate region-specific optimisation experience.

What to Look For

• Bilingual or multilingual keyword research strategies.
• Experience managing Google Business Profile listings across multiple locations.
• Knowledge of structured data for local search results.
• Consistency between website NAP (Name, Address, Phone) and directory listings.

Positive Metric Example

An experienced agency could demonstrate a 60 percent rise in Google Business Profile calls and a 40 percent increase in map listing views within Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur, proving real-world local reach.

Read More: Local SEO: Why Malaysian Businesses Can’t Ignore It

4. What Is Your SEO Process and What Do You Need from Us?

An ethical agency should outline its process step by step and clarify your involvement. Collaboration enables faster implementation and accurate targeting.

What to Look For

• A detailed roadmap covering audit, keyword mapping, optimisation, link acquisition, and monitoring.
• Defined deliverables per phase such as number of pages optimised and number of editorial backlinks earned.
• Explanation of timelines and milestones.
• Clarity on client roles such as providing approvals, insights, or internal data.

Positive Metric Example

Agencies with clear workflows often show bounce rates dropping by 25 percent and time on site increasing by 40 percent within two months, indicating process-based improvements. (Source: SEO.com)

5. What Tools and Data Platforms Do You Use?

Transparency in tools indicates professionalism. Avoid agencies that hide data behind proprietary systems without explanation.

What to Look For

• Reputable industry tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog, and Google Search Console.
• Clarity on what each tool measures and how data informs strategy.
• Willingness to provide dashboard access or report samples.
• Integration of analytics with your CRM or sales funnel where relevant.

Positive Metric Example

Agencies using analytics platforms might highlight 200 technical issues resolved, a 35 percent increase in indexed pages, and click-through rate improving from 2.1 percent to 4.5 percent through data-driven optimisation. 

6. How Do You Build Links and Create Content?

Link building and content creation define long-term credibility. You want agencies that prioritise quality, context, and local relevance.

What to Look For

• Ethical, outreach-based backlink strategies, not mass directory submissions.
• Partnerships with reputable Malaysian or regional publications.
• Original, keyword-optimised content written for people first.
• Integration between content marketing and link acquisition.

Positive Metric Example

A reputable agency might show 20 new backlinks from high-authority sites and a 40 percent rise in referral traffic after a bilingual content campaign.

Read More: Backlink Building in 2025: A Guide for Malaysian SMEs

7. What Type of Reporting and Communication Should I Expect?

Clear communication keeps you informed and builds trust. Agencies should present data in context and explain the story behind each metric.

What to Look For

• Monthly or quarterly reports with actionable insights.
• Reports covering organic sessions, conversions, rankings, and ROI.
• A dedicated account manager for continuity.
• Scheduled strategy reviews or calls to interpret findings.

Positive Metric Example

A data-driven report might reveal average session duration increasing from 1 minute 20 seconds to 2 minutes 45 seconds, and top 10 keywords growing from 8 to 20 within a quarter, reflecting tangible engagement growth.

8. How Long Before I See Results from SEO?

SEO is an investment that compounds over time. Be wary of agencies guaranteeing overnight rankings since they rarely last.

What to Look For

• A 3 to 6 month minimum timeframe for visible traction.
• Short-term KPIs like crawl improvements and indexation increases.
• A clear breakdown between early technical gains and later traffic growth.
• Transparent discussion of competitive factors that affect pace.

Positive Metric Example

A dependable agency might document month-on-month organic growth of around 10 percent over six months and keyword ranking improvements from position 50 to 15, illustrating steady momentum.

9. What Is Your Pricing Structure and What Deliverables Are Included?

Transparent pricing builds confidence. Avoid agencies that quote without defining exactly what is included.

What to Look For

• Clear distinction between retainer, project-based, and performance models.
• A detailed list of deliverables such as pages optimised, backlinks earned, blog articles, and reports.
• Explanation of value-to-cost ratio and how success is measured financially.
• Visibility into what portion of fees goes toward content, tools, or outreach.

Positive Metric Example

A reputable agency might disclose that for RM5,000 per month, 10 priority pages are optimised and 6 editorial backlinks are earned, resulting in a 3.2x ROI from organic conversions.

10. Can You Share Case Studies or References?

Proof of success distinguishes professionals from pretenders. Case studies demonstrate expertise, transparency, and measurable results.

What to Look For

• Documented before-and-after results for past clients.
• Willingness to provide references you can contact.
• Examples relevant to your industry and location.
• Ethical disclosure, with no confidential data shared without permission.

Positive Metric Example

A proven agency might show organic revenue for a retail client increasing by 150 percent in eight months, or local visibility rising from 25 percent to 70 percent after targeted localisation.

Conclusion

Hiring an SEO agency in Malaysia should be a strategic, data-backed decision, not a leap of faith. The best agencies combine technical skill, local market understanding, and transparency.

Use these ten questions and criteria as your checklist before signing any deal. An agency willing to provide clear answers, show proven metrics, and educate you throughout the process is one worth partnering with for sustainable growth.

Include a disclaimer in your agreement that results vary by industry, competition, website quality, and investment. No reputable agency can guarantee specific rankings, but it’s still vital to select a reputable PR agency that offers SEO services, like Press.com, that can help you fulfill your business objectives.