How to Vet an SEO Strategy Proposal (Without Needing to Be an Expert)

📦 First Things First: What’s Inside an SEO Proposal, Actually?

Most SEO proposals will include things like:

• Site audit findings (problems with your website structure or speed)

• Keyword research (terms you should rank for)

• Technical fixes (like fixing broken links or improving mobile load)

• Content strategy (blog posts, landing pages etc.)

• Backlink plan (how to get other websites to link to you)

• Reporting (what metrics they’ll track and how often)
  
  

The tricky part? All this sounds canggih only. You don’t need to become an SEO expert to smell whether it’s legit — or just syok sendiri.

✅ How to Vet an SEO Proposal (Even If You Blur)

1. Do They Understand Your Business Goals or Just Keywords?

Ask yourself: are they just throwing keyword ideas, or do they get what you’re actually trying to achieve?

For example:

• If you're a klinik gigi in Penang, do they talk about “dentist near me” and the actual services (e.g. braces, scaling) you want to push?

• If you're selling kain batik online, do they propose product SEO + content for long-tail searches like “baju raya batik moden 2025”?
  
  

💡Tip: A good proposal will tie SEO strategy to real business outcomes (e.g. calls, signups, sales). Not just “more traffic”.

2. Are the Keywords Hyper-Relevant AND Localised?

Generic SEO folks will throw global keywords at you like “best digital agency” or “cheap t-shirts”. In Malaysia, we need:

• Local intent: “kedai makan best cheras”, “freelance graphic designer Malaysia”

• Language nuance: We search in rojak, ok? (“cara buat resume fresh grad”, “affordable wedding deco kl”)
  
  

💡Tip: Check if they include Bahasa Melayu, Manglish, or Malay-English hybrid keywords in the plan.

3. Is the Pricing Transparent or Macam MLM Pitch?

Typical SEO packages in Malaysia range like this:

Package Type

Price (RM/month)

What to Expect (Rough example)

Basic local SEO

RM800 – RM1,500

For small biz with minimal competition

SME growth package

RM1,500 – RM3,000

More keywords, blog content, tech fixes

E-commerce/competitive

RM3,000 – RM7,000+

Full-on strategy, link-building, audits

💡Tip: If someone quotes RM6K but only includes 3 blog posts and some “meta tag” fix — eh, you kena con already lah.

4. How Do They Plan to Get Backlinks? (No Shady Stuff, Please)

Some SEO providers use spammy backlink farms or auto-generated sites to get fast wins. Google will hantam you for that.

Better backlinks come from:

• Local blogs, magazines, forums (e.g. Vulcan Post, SoyaCincau)

• Relevant industry directories (e.g. Malaysia SME Biz directory)

• Partnerships, guest posts, media mentions
  
  

💡Tip: Ask: “Can you show me examples of backlinks you've built for other clients?”

5. How Will They Measure Success (and When)?

If their “reporting” is just sending you a screenshot of Google Analytics, that's not strategy — that’s babysitting.

Better KPIs to ask for:

• Growth in non-branded search traffic (people finding you via keywords, not your brand name)

• Lead/conversion tracking (did those clicks become sales?)

• Keyword rankings over time (with a realistic timeframe – 3–6 months minimum)
  
  

💡Tip: SEO is not instant maggi mee. Be suspicious if they promise “Page 1 in 2 weeks”.

6. Bonus: Do They Educate You or Talk Down to You?

You should feel empowered, not blur, after reading the proposal or having a meeting.

If they explain technical stuff in plain language, that’s a good sign.
If they talk like you’re too stupid to understand “algorithm volatility” — jalan dulu lah.

TL;DR – How to Spot a Solid SEO Strategy:

✅ Business-aligned (not just keyword spam)
✅ Localised + language-aware
✅ Transparent pricing in RM
✅ Ethical backlinking plan
✅ Clear KPIs + honest timelines
✅ They explain, not confuse

🚀 Want to Learn How to Vet SEO Proposals Yourself?

Tired of being at the mercy of agencies? I’ve built an SEO course for Malaysian entrepreneurs, marketers, and freelancers — no jargon, no BS, just real frameworks you can use to:

✅ Audit your own site
✅ Understand SEO proposals
✅ Create content that ranks and converts
✅ Know when you’re getting value (or kena con)

👉 [Join my SEO course here] Or have questions: [email protected] 😉