Do Digital Marketing Agencies Really Understand AI SEO? 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Over the last year, almost every agency website changed. "AI SEO", "GEO" and "AEO" appeared on service pages that did not mention them before. Some agencies have done real work on this. Many have only changed the words on their website.
I run a digital marketing agency, so I am not neutral here. That is why I wrote this as a test that any agency, including mine, should be able to pass. Use these ten questions on your next sales call. You do not need to know SEO to judge the answers.
First, what does AI SEO mean?
When someone asks ChatGPT or Google's AI Overview for a recommendation, the tool reads pages and sources from across the web and writes one answer. AI SEO is the work of making your business easy for those tools to find, understand and quote. It builds on regular SEO instead of replacing it. If you want the full picture, read our guide on how to rank in AI Overviews in Madurai.
The 10 questions
1. "In one sentence, what is AI SEO?"
Good answer: Getting your business found and quoted in AI answers, on top of regular search results. Simple and short.
Warning sign: A long speech full of jargon, or a "secret method" they cannot explain.
2. "Is this different from normal SEO?"
Good answer: It overlaps a lot. The foundation is the same: a site that can be crawled, helpful pages and trust. The extra work is clear direct answers, consistent business details, and mentions on other sites.
Warning sign: "Forget SEO, AI has replaced it." It has not.
3. "Can you guarantee we will show up in ChatGPT or AI Overviews?"
Good answer: No. AI answers change between people and between days. They can improve your chances and show you proof.
Warning sign: Any guarantee at all. See our list of red flags when hiring a digital marketing agency.
4. "How do you measure AI visibility?"
Good answer: They keep a list of real customer questions, test them by hand every month, note which businesses and sources appear, and also check Search Console and Google Analytics for visits. A good agency will admit that the tools are not perfect.
Warning sign: One screenshot, or a dashboard score they cannot explain.
5. "What exactly will you change on my website?"
Good answer: A specific list. Pages that answer common questions directly, FAQs written for real customers, structured data that matches what is visible on the page, fast loading, and one clear page per topic.
Warning sign: "We add keywords everywhere" or "we upload a special file and you are done."
6. "What about our Google Business Profile, reviews and other sites?"
Good answer: For local businesses, AI tools lean on profiles, reviews and mentions on other sites, not only your own website. A good agency works on all of these. Our local SEO services start from exactly this point.
Warning sign: They only talk about your website.
7. "Do you use AI to write my content?"
Good answer: Yes for research and first drafts, but a person edits it and adds your real facts, prices, photos and examples.
Warning sign: Hundreds of pages made in bulk with no human review. This often leads to thin pages that Google ignores.
8. "What do you think about llms.txt?"
This is a small file some people say helps AI tools read your site. It is a good test question.
Good answer: Honest doubt. No major search engine has confirmed that it uses the file, so it is not a fix on its own.
Warning sign: It is sold as the main solution.
9. "Do you work on Bing too?"
Good answer: Yes. Some AI tools are reported to use Bing's results as one of their sources, so Bing Webmaster Tools matters. Read our guide on Bing Webmaster Tools.
Warning sign: Blank look, or "nobody uses Bing."
10. "Can I see your own results?"
Good answer: They show real case studies with real numbers, and they let you test them. Try it yourself: ask ChatGPT and Google for a good agency in your city and see who appears. The answer may differ each time, so ask a few times. Do the same test on us.
Warning sign: Only client logos and no details.
A simple scorecard
- 8 to 10 good answers: A strong agency. Ask for a trial month or a small project first.
- 5 to 7 good answers: They know the basics but may be learning on your money. Ask for clearer scope.
- Under 5: Keep looking.
What honest AI SEO work looks like
Most of the work is not mysterious. It is a complete business profile, a fast and clear website, real reviews, pages that answer real questions in plain words, and mentions of your business from places people trust. Our own guide on how to get your Madurai business mentioned in ChatGPT covers the steps. It takes steady work, not a trick.
Want a second opinion?
If you have a proposal from an agency and are not sure about it, send it to us. We will tell you honestly what is useful and what is not, even if you do not hire us. You can contact us here or learn more about our SEO work in Madurai.
