The latest articles on DEV Community by Adithya Kesav (@adithyakesav). https://dev.to/adithyakesav https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4225740%2Ff0d77c99-95c0-4c15-b4ad-031e717bd828.jpg https://dev.to/adithyakesav en Adithya Kesav Mon, 09 Nov 2026 09:19:22 +0000 https://dev.to/adithyakesav/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-in-calicut-10-questions-to-ask-first-2l0 https://dev.to/adithyakesav/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-in-calicut-10-questions-to-ask-first-2l0 <p>If you run a business in Kozhikode and you're about to hire someone for SEO, the hardest part isn't paying them. It's knowing whether they'll actually move enquiries or just send you screenshots every month.</p> <p>A good SEO expert should be able to tell you, in plain words, what they'll change on your website and Google Business Profile, how they'll measure leads, and roughly how long it takes. Anyone who promises a guaranteed number one ranking is a red flag.</p> <h2> The 10 questions I'd ask before hiring </h2> <ol> <li>What would you change on my website first, and why?</li> <li>How will you get my business into the Google Maps results?</li> <li>Which keywords will you target, and how do they bring customers?</li> <li>What will you do in the first 30, 60 and 90 days?</li> <li>Who will own my Google accounts and website logins?</li> <li>How do you build backlinks?</li> <li>What will your monthly report show?</li> <li>How long before I see results?</li> <li>What's included in the fee, and what costs extra?</li> <li>Can I speak to you directly when I have a question?</li> </ol> <h2> Quick red flags </h2> <ul> <li>Guaranteed rankings or "page one in 30 days"</li> <li>They keep your Google accounts in their own name</li> <li>Reports full of traffic numbers but nothing about calls, WhatsApp messages or form enquiries</li> <li>Bulk backlink packages (thousands of links for a small fee)</li> </ul> <h2> The short version </h2> <p>Pick the person who explains their process clearly, lets you own every account, and reports on leads, not vanity metrics. Freelancer, agency or in-house all work, as long as those three things are true.</p> <p>I wrote the full guide, with what a fair SEO arrangement looks like, a pre-signing checklist and an FAQ on SEO costs in Calicut, on my site: <a href="https://adithyakesav.com/how-to-choose-seo-expert-calicut/" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Choose an SEO Expert in Calicut</a>.</p> <p><em>Adithya Kesav is a digital marketing strategist and <a href="https://adithyakesav.com/seo-expert-in-calicut/" rel="noopener noreferrer">SEO expert in Calicut</a>, Kerala.</em></p> seo marketing beginners