Dental SEO proposal checklist
Compare up to three dental SEO proposals on ownership, scope, methods and reporting. Deal-breakers such as ranking guarantees are flagged automatically.
How to use it
Name each proposal, then answer every question from the proposal itself or from the supplier's written reply. Leave anything you have not confirmed as "Not asked yet". What each line should contain is set out in the local SEO scope. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Checklist
Ownership
Will the practice be a verified owner of its Search Console property? Deal-breaker
Owners can add and remove users. The agency should be a user, not the only owner.
Will the practice own its Google Business Profile, with the agency as a manager? Deal-breaker
Check who is listed as primary owner today.
Do you keep all content, pages and links created if you leave?
Including anything published on sites the agency controls.
Scope
Does the proposal list Business Profile work line by line?
Categories, services, photos, posts, review responses, Q&A.
Does it list the website work: technical fixes, treatment pages, location pages?
With a number of pages per month, not just 'content'.
Does it start with an audit that gives realistic estimates and the work involved?
Rather than a promised ranking.
Methods
Do they avoid guaranteeing first place or a ranking date? Deal-breaker
Nobody can promise a ranking on Google.
Do they explain how links are earned, with no paid or exchanged links?
Buying links for ranking is against Google's spam policies.
Do they follow Business Profile rules: one profile per location, no keywords in the address?
Breaking them risks suspension.
Do they check new pages against GDC advertising guidance?
Your website counts as advertising.
Reporting
Will reporting connect search visibility to calls, forms and booked patients?
Not just rankings for chosen keywords.
Are the price, VAT, minimum term and notice period stated in writing?
So you can compare proposals like for like.
Results
- Proposal A
- No answers yet0 of 12 questions answered. Score = weighted points / maximum points for the questions answered.
- Proposal B
- No answers yet0 of 12 questions answered. Score = weighted points / maximum points for the questions answered.
- Proposal C
- No answers yet0 of 12 questions answered. Score = weighted points / maximum points for the questions answered.
A score only compares the answers you entered. Treat any deal-breaker as decisive, and do not compare two columns until you have asked both the same questions.
Why these are deal-breakers
- Search Console and Business Profile ownership. Without them you cannot see your own data or change supplier cleanly.
- Ranking guarantees. Google itself advises finding someone else if an SEO guarantees first place. See the guide for the source.