SEO Interview Questions and Answers (+Test Task Sample)

Possible answer: First, I typically tally an audit utilizing website audit tools similar SE Ranking. These tools are large for checking the site’s wide health, and seeing if it is experiencing immoderate caller issues, specified arsenic breached links, issues with meta tags and localization, etc. These tools besides assistance maine observe which tract areas to dive deeper into. Then, I look into those cardinal tract areas portion incorporating information from GSC. The Pages study is particularly utile for identifying indexing issues, portion the Experience study is large for assessing CWV performance. Next, I stitchery each of my findings and categorize them by their precedence level. Based connected this data, I make an enactment program (e.g., to amended the rubric & meta description) oregon walk it connected to the improvement squad (e.g., to hole hreflang misconfiguration).

Possible answer: To get the champion imaginable rival insights, I usage competitive probe tools similar SE Ranking. These tools assistance maine place the nonstop and partial competitors of websites. I besides usage these tools to find retired which sites execute champion and which ones are closest to my domain successful presumption of the existent state. They besides assistance maine place which pages (keyword clusters) thrust integrated traffic. I besides analyse competitors’ website operation and superior plan features and cod insights revolving astir their off-page strategy, among different aspects. Finally, I usage the astir palmy cases (which are besides the astir realistic) and each the collected information for my ain SEO strategy.

Possible answer: I usage a two-step attack to conducting keyword research. First, I compile a database of effect keywords and past grow it utilizing tools similar Keyword Planner, SE Ranking, oregon different keyword probe tools. I besides usage GSC query information for on-page optimization. After that, I behaviour rival probe to place their top-performing pages and keywords, past incorporated these insights into my ain site. In addition, I usage Google Trends to place trending topics successful the industry.

Possible answer: When performing a contented audit, I archetypal acceptable wide goals and prime the close metrics. Then, I consolidate each applicable URLs into a azygous spreadsheet and categorize the contented by parameter benignant (e.g., contented type, date, connection count, etc). Using analytics tools, I capable retired the array with the indispensable values. Finally, I make an enactment program for each portion of contented based connected the information collected.

Possible answer: I travel a step-by-step process erstwhile optimizing a website’s interior linking structure. I statesman by crawling it to reappraisal its wide operation and click depth. I besides analyse its existent interior linking structure, place its astir linked-to pages, and cheque for imaginable orphan pages. In the meantime, I compile a database of precedence pages and delegate applicable keywords to each. Then, I fig retired however to guarantee that my apical pages person the astir links. For instance, I whitethorn nexus to them from the header and footer menus. I besides incorporated anchor texts into my interior linking plan, spreading them logically passim my content. Finally, I consolidate each this accusation into a azygous papers and past collaborate with the contented oregon improvement squad (depending connected the company’s workflow) to instrumentality the optimization plan.

Possible answer: To track SEO results, I archetypal determine connected the champion SEO metrics based connected acceptable concern goals. Then, I take the astir suitable tools to way highly circumstantial results with (e.g., GA4 for idiosyncratic engagement and each postulation channels, and GSC combined with Rank Tracker for SEO performance). Finally, I acceptable up my monitoring and reporting regular (daily, weekly, monthly) to show advancement implicit time. SEO reporting tools let maine to automate the reporting process and usage assorted customization options.

Possible answer: Last year, I was hired by an online acquisition institution aiming to summation integrated postulation and, consequently, leads. Within 12 months of my enactment there, I accrued integrated postulation by 350% (from 10,000 to 45,000 monthly visits), and qualified leads by 210% (from 300 to 930). I utilized a research-based contented strategy, incorporated on-page optimization, and utilized a targeted off-page strategy to execute these goals. Also, I collaborated with the content, design, and improvement teams to amended the site’s contented prime and UX. We besides fixed the site’s superior technical SEO issues together.

Possible answer: I harvester tools similar GSC, GA4, and Bing Webmaster Tools with reliable third-party SEO platforms. I thin to usage immoderate saltation of these SEO tools with SEO add-ons. I besides usage general-purpose tools for my SEO tasks, including Google Sheets, ChatGPT, Miro, Figma, etc. Besides, I usage Clarity and different tools similar it to analyse user-site interactions.

Possible answer: I typically usage ChatGPT to get ideas, question assistance with circumstantial method tasks, oregon make tiny pieces of content. It’s large for brainstorming contented ideas, assisting with outlines, generating structured data, oregon helping with Google Sheets formulas. It tin besides make meta descriptions, FAQs, oregon different contented elements. I person adjacent utilized ChatGPT to conception emails for a integer PR campaign. 

Possible answer: First, optimizing a webpage for a circumstantial keyword successful integrated hunt and investing successful PPC advertizing for the aforesaid keyword tin amended your chances of getting much invaluable clicks. Second, with PPC, you tin “test” caller keyword clusters to determine if they are worthy optimizing for organically. Also, you tin usage keyword information from Google Ads campaigns to optimize for SEO (e.g., you tin larn which keywords pull paid postulation and which keywords person the highest conversion rate). Finally, PPC tin heighten remarketing efforts by targeting users who person already interacted with your website organically. This importantly increases conversion opportunities.

Possible answer: While SEO is utilized to people integrated traffic, SEM focuses some connected integrated and paid online advertising. Essentially, SEO is lone 1 constituent of your SEM strategy. The prime of the champion selling strategy volition beryllium connected galore antithetic factors. SEO provides you with semipermanent benefits, portion PPC is bully for caller websites oregon experimental clusters. SEO is besides a bully mode to amended your audience, portion PPC helps to get clients faster. Finally, to fertile for the astir important (or competitive) keywords, I harvester SEO and SEM.

Possible answer: The quality betwixt existent idiosyncratic metrics (RUM) and laboratory information stems from however they are gathered and used. RUM reflects real-world idiosyncratic experiences, portion laboratory information is collected done simulated idiosyncratic interactions successful controlled trial environments (such arsenic circumstantial net speeds oregon smartphone models). One mode to integrate these datasets is to show RUM information for existent show issues and past usage laboratory information to diagnose problems and corroborate solutions. RUM information tin beryllium accessed wrong GSC, whereas laboratory information is disposable done PageSpeed Insights.

Possible answer: Today, the statement is that nofollow links don’t interaction keyword rankings directly, but impact the online show of websites indirectly. For instance, nofollow links from applicable high-authority websites tin thrust referral postulation to your website. This helps you summation marque consciousness and get much integrated postulation for it successful the future.

Possible answer: You tin adhd schema markup done JSON-LD, microdata, oregon RDFa. I similar JSON-LD owed to its maintainability and hunt motor preference.

Possible answer: Yes, determination is simply a bounce complaint successful GA4, though it’s calculated otherwise from UA. The bounce complaint represents the percent of sessions wherever determination was small to nary engagement. This includes sessions that lasted little than 10 seconds, had nary events triggered, oregon had less than 2 pageviews oregon screenviews.

Possible answer: I typically disagreement idiosyncratic behaviour metrics into the pursuing groups: engagement (session duration, bounce oregon engagement rate, triggering events, etc), acquisition and activation (signups, activation rate), retention (retention rate, churn rate), conversion (conversion rate). I besides look astatine different important metrics similar CTR, funnel drop-off rate, etc.

Possible answer: The champion backlinks are integrated ones. This is due to the fact that Google prioritizes shareable contented and utile resources. Running a PR run oregon contributing to applicable websites are steadfast ways to get backlinks. If I had a section business, I would adhd it to section listings. Potentially harmful backlinks see links from low-quality directories, paid low-quality impermanent posts, irrelevant links, and remark spam.

Possible answer: Yes, I person acquisition moving a integer PR campaign. In 1 project, I collaborated with the PR squad to make and administer a survey done by our team. I besides established relationships with influencers to get marque mentions and physique high-quality backlinks. This attack not lone generated marque consciousness but besides positively impacted our hunt motor rankings.

Possible answer: Toxic backlinks are low-quality oregon manipulative backlinks that either negatively interaction your visibility and rankings oregon person the imaginable to bash so.

Possible answer: A taxable clump is simply a radical of web pages with related subtopics. They are each linked to the superior taxable (pillar page).

Possible answer: No, it’s not. At the aforesaid time, a bully meta description tin boost CTR and thrust much integrated postulation to your page.

Possible answer: As of March 2024, Google’s latest updates see the March 2024 Core & Spam Updates, the November 2023 Review Update, the November 2023 Broad Core Update, and the September 2023 Helpful Content Update. The September 2023 Helpful Content Update was 1 of the astir important updates. It aimed to amended contented prime successful hunt and boost website spot factors. After this update’s release, SEOs took E-E-A-T and affirmative idiosyncratic acquisition much seriously. The bulk of websites affected by the update inactive haven’t recovered from its impact.

Possible answer: I cheque SEO quality from a scope of sources, including Google’s authoritative channels and reputable SEO blogs/industry publications similar Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Land, Search Engine Roundtable, and the SE Ranking blog. Plus, I regularly be SEO webinars and work SEO experts’ posts connected Linkedin oregon Twitter.

Possible answer: AI is already impacting SEO, though I judge that its interaction volition beryllium adjacent much important successful the future. As SEO specialists, we volition beryllium capable to automate much tasks and absorption much connected strategical ones. Plus, AI volition dramatically interaction SERP results erstwhile Google rolls retired SGE. 

Possible answer: I deliberation SGE volition interaction each websites and niches. It volition interaction the postulation share, and galore users volition find answers straight successful SERPs. This could effect successful a immense driblet successful integrated postulation for galore sites. I besides judge that informational queries volition beryllium affected the most. So, websites volition person to rethink their integrated strategy, absorption connected gathering their brand, and accommodate to these changes successful hunt behavior. 

Possible answer: A batch of things happened successful SEO recently! What I find astir absorbing is that (1) Google rebranded Bard arsenic Gemini, (2) Google introduced AI successful Maps to suggest personalized section concern recommendations, (3) and Reddit gave Google entree to its AI grooming information arsenic portion of their caller partnership.

Possible answer: First, immoderate radical inactive judge that keyword stuffing improves rankings. Some radical besides inactive judge that longer contented ever performs better. What’s more, there’s a story that Google uses metrics similar DA oregon DT erstwhile ranking webpages connected SERPs.

Possible answer: Yes, I bash usage Bing Webmaster Tools. These tools person beauteous akin features to GSC, particularly erstwhile it comes to displaying integrated performance. The large quality is that GSC has idiosyncratic acquisition reports and affluent results data. Bing Webmaster Tools provides immoderate unsocial insights that GSC doesn’t have, including tract scan, keyword research, oregon backlink spread analysis.

Possible answer: This information is not disposable successful GA4 by default, but I tin entree it by connecting GSC to my GA4 account. I besides get entree to existent (and precise) keyword information done rank tracking tools.

Possible answer: There’s a beardown narration betwixt UX and SEO. Now much than ever, you should absorption connected existent users, not connected Google. You tin outperform your competitors by providing an exceptional idiosyncratic experience, creating engaging content, and making your tract interactive. 

Possible answer: Yes, I person acquisition utilizing Looker Studio. At my erstwhile selling agency, I utilized Looker Studio to create information visualization dashboards, some for myself and for my manager. I besides utilized it to make data-rich reports for clients. I chiefly utilized insights from information sources similar Google Analytics and Google Search Console to gauge the site’s integrated performance, idiosyncratic engagement data, and conversion metrics. This ensured that the selling bureau I worked for could optimize distant work portion inactive keeping clients afloat informed astir our SEO progress.

Possible answer: If it’s an existing website, I’d statesman by collecting information connected its existent wellness and performance. Then, I’d execute broad probe connected the market, people audience, and competitors. Next, I’d execute a SERP investigation and behaviour keyword probe to place hunt intent and people keywords. The competitory probe information I find would assistance maine successful gathering an SEO program for website clusters and pages. I’d besides tally a site-wide method audit and an on-page audit of the site’s main pages. I’d usage this accusation to make a broad program implicit a 4th year, fractional twelvemonth and beyond. During this process, I’d continuously fine-tune my SEO strategy according to the main concern metrics.

Possible answer: I’d commencement with competitory research. Then, I’d determine however to format the website’s wide operation & taxable clusters. After that, I’d make a contented program based connected keyword probe information and competitors’ pages that make the astir (relevant) traffic. For a caller website, my attack would impact targeting achievable keywords with little contention levels. I’d besides tally a integer PR run to unafraid mentions and backlinks. 

Possible answer: Organic visibility tin beryllium calculated successful respective antithetic ways. The astir communal mode is to multiply the hunt measurement of the keywords you fertile for by your existent position. Here is the formula: Organic visibility = keyword hunt measurement * Average CTR for the keywords you fertile for. I besides usage tools similar SE Ranking to get this info.

Possible answer: I usage the pursuing formula, which is the astir fashionable method for calculating traffic forecast: Estimated monthly postulation = Total keyword hunt measurement * Average CTR for the website’s desired ranking position. I besides usage statistical methods. For example, I import my GSC humanities information into Excel and use the corresponding forecasting formulas (there are galore ready-made SEO forecast templates with pre-arranged formulas disposable online). Alternatively, to automate this process, I usage SEO forecasting tools that supply an estimation of the disposable traffic.

Possible answer: CTR isn’t known traditionally for being a nonstop ranking factor. Even so, Google has shared publically that it uses click information from SERPs for training, evaluation, controlled experiments, and personalization. This means that adjacent though CTR itself doesn’t straight boost your rankings, having consistently precocious CTRs connected your contented sends affirmative signals to hunt engines astir your content’s wide relevance and prime These affirmative signals tin lend to a gradual betterment successful rankings for your targeted keywords.

Possible answer: I typically analyse the shifts successful ranking positions of my targeted keywords. I besides analyse wealth anchor texts and comparison them with my people keywords. An summation successful rankings implicit clip tin bespeak that the backlinks I’m receiving are having a affirmative impact. It mostly takes astir 2 to 3 months oregon much to spot archetypal results.

Possible answer: I either usage a scope of SEO platforms oregon APIs. I learned that if determination are a ton of domains to analyse (let’s say, implicit 200), utilizing APIs is the astir effective. I often usage SE Ranking’s API to get metrics similar integrated traffic, keyword count, domain spot score, referring domains, backlinks, and more.

Possible answer: Some radical usage Python oregon different customized tools for this purpose, but I similar to bash it the casual way. I usage SE Ranking’s SERP Competitors module. It lets maine specify the desired keyword group, take however galore results from the SERP I request (100/50/30/20/10), and past get a database of domains oregon URLs ranking successful the apical 10-100 for the keywords I’m targeting. Then, I signifier this database successful Google Sheets and adhd each indispensable data.

Possible answer: Following a website audit, I make a backlog of issues that request to beryllium addressed. I past prioritize them based connected their urgency and value for SEO & business. Each contented is accompanied by a statement of the fixes needed, the desired outcome, the context, and its importance. If an contented is complex, I interruption it down into smaller tasks. Also, I docket calls erstwhile indispensable to sermon these tasks with different teams. I ever invited input from the improvement team, arsenic they connection invaluable insights and solutions.

Possible answer: This causes Google to person conflicting signals. In fact, a self-referencing canonical tag signals to hunt bots that a circumstantial webpage is important and should beryllium indexed. Conversely, a noindex tag connected the aforesaid leafage indicates the opposite. It advises hunt bots to exclude the leafage from hunt results. Given that the meta robots tag is simply a stronger signal, Google is improbable to scale this page. This results successful your canonical tag being ignored.

Possible answer: I antecedently ran a TikTok SEO institution for an acquisition app for kids. More specifically, I developed acquisition video contented and optimized it with applicable captions and hashtags. I besides incorporated trendy sounds and effects. Within 3 months of regular posting, we managed to execute a 300% summation successful integrated postulation and a 25% leap successful app downloads. We besides achieved apical 3 rankings for respective acquisition app-related hashtags.

Possible answer: I commencement by utilizing YouTube Autocomplete, analyzing competitors’ video titles/descriptions, and examining the video’s tags. Moreover, since hunt measurement connected Google mightiness reflector that connected YouTube for the aforesaid keywords, I accommodate Google keyword information for YouTube. I besides research different dedicated tools that supply hunt measurement information tailored to YouTube searches.

Possible answer: Google Ads provides the astir invaluable PPC insights. Having entree to this information could assistance maine place keywords that thrust paid postulation and boast the highest conversion rate. I could besides usage Google Ads to trial caller keyword clusters oregon leafage layouts successful presumption of conversions. Finally, I could usage Keyword Planner for keyword research.

There are 2 main options. The archetypal is to spell to GSC → URL Inspection Tool to cheque the indexing presumption of each page. The 2nd enactment is to benignant site: followed by the website’s domain sanction (e.g., site:yourdomain.com). Although the second enactment is not the astir precise, it tin inactive beryllium utile for analysis. Another enactment is to paste a portion of your page’s contented into the hunt motor and spot if the corresponding URL appears successful the SERP.

The Google Knowledge Graph is simply a database containing billions of facts. Google uses this database to supply contiguous and factual accusation to users. It connects information from antithetic nationalist sources and contented creators, analyzes it, and past presents these findings successful an accessible way.

Rich snippets are enhanced Google hunt results that show further information, specified arsenic ratings, how-tos, look elements, etc. In ecommerce SEO, affluent results amusement details similar prices and instrumentality policies. 

Organic results are unpaid listings that look successful hunt motor results based connected respective factors. Paid results, however, are advertisements that look astatine the precise apical oregon bottommost of SERPs, marked with a “Sponsored” tag, and are paid for by advertisers.

Long-tail keywords are longer, much circumstantial hunt queries that typically see 3 words oregon more. They usually person debased hunt volumes and are little competitory than short-tail keywords.

Robots.txt is simply a record utilized by website owners oregon SEOs to nonstop hunt bots connected which pages oregon sections of a website should and should not beryllium crawled. It’s important to enactment that these instructions pertain to crawling, not indexing. For indexing instructions, usage robots meta tags.

The robots meta tag is an HTML tag placed wrong the <head> conception of a page, providing directives to hunt bots regarding which pages they tin oregon cannot index. It’s astir apt the strongest directive for hunt bots.

Anchor text refers to the clickable substance wrong a hyperlink, which offers discourse astir the link’s destination. It assists users successful knowing the contented they’ll entree upon clicking. What’s more, anchor substance helps the crawler find the link’s relevance, perchance impacting website rankings.

The XML sitemap is simply a record that contains a database of each your website’s pages. Google uses it to find your website’s URLs and crawl them.

There are 3 ways to redirect a web page: HTTP redirects (most common), HTML redirects, and JavaScript redirects. I typically usage a WordPress plugin to acceptable up redirects. This automates and simplifies the redirecting process for me.

Dofollow (or conscionable travel links) walk nexus foodstuff and authority, portion nofollow links bash not. Nofollow links are typically utilized for unverified sources you nexus retired to, signaling Google to disregard the link.

On-page SEO optimizes elements connected the leafage itself (content, URL structure, internal linking, title and meta description, page acquisition factors, etc). Off-page SEO builds website credibility and authorization externally (e.g., by getting backlinks). Both amended rankings but off-page SEO increases marque consciousness and/or referral traffic.

Crawling is erstwhile hunt bots observe caller and updated URLs connected the web. Google decides however often to crawl websites based connected factors similar size, update frequency, leafage quality, and relevance compared to different websites. Each website has a crawl fund based connected its crawl capableness and demand. The astir effectual mode to summation your crawl fund is to summation your crawl serving capableness and absorption connected creating invaluable contented that resonates with searchers. You tin besides usage the URL Inspection instrumentality successful GSC to petition that Google crawl idiosyncratic URLs.

Social media selling (SMM), email marketing, and paid advertizing (including Google oregon Bing Ads, influencer marketing, etc).

Domain authorization is simply a metric developed by third-party SEO tools to measure a domain’s quality to vie with different websites. It is typically calculated based connected a website’s backlink illustration and ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating stronger authority. While not utilized by Google, this metric is utile for comparing websites’ ranking potential.

The 301 redirect is utilized to permanently guardant postulation from 1 URL to another, portion the 302 redirect indicates lone a temporary redirection.

SEO keywords tin beryllium classified into antithetic groups. I usage a length-based attack to categorize keywords into the pursuing 3 types: short-tail, medium-tail, and long-tail. When it comes to hunt intent, determination are informational, navigational, commercial, transactional, and section keywords. Plus, determination are LSI keywords, question-based keywords, trendy keywords, and evergreen keywords. 

In SEO, NAP refers to Name, Address, and Phone Number. This information should beryllium accordant crossed each channels, including the website, GMB, and different section listings. Ranking good successful section integrated hunt results is particularly crucial.

While societal media selling does not straight interaction SEO, it tin inactive play a relation successful your wide SEO strategy. For example, leveraging societal media tin thrust postulation to your website and amended marque visibility. Plus, sharing contented connected societal media platforms boosts contented show and perchance leads to earning backlinks.

Possible answer: I bask performing rival and keyword research, optimizing content, and identifying and resolving method website issues. Some regular tasks, similar manual reporting, are little enjoyable for me.

Possible answer: I code the astir urgent and captious issues archetypal (e.g., dealing with 404 issues). After that, I prioritize high-impact efforts (e.g., optimizing high-traffic pages) and time-sensitive campaigns. 

Possible answer: I’d judge the responsibility. I’d besides make an enactment program to code the problem. If possible, I’d instrumentality contiguous fixes. To guarantee akin mistakes don’t hap again, I’d effort to find the origin of the mistake and sermon it with the different party. I’d besides promote them to interaction maine whenever they person immoderate questions.

Possible answer: If the task was critical, time-sensitive, oregon required precocious expertise, I’d grip it connected my own. With little captious tasks, I’d see delegating them to idiosyncratic else, but I’d supply wide instructions for handling them.

Possible answer: At my past company, I had the accidental to stock my cognition and acquisition with inferior SEO specializer during their onboarding period. They not lone passed it but yet grew into skilled SEO professionals. I’d beryllium blessed to instrumentality connected this work again, particularly since I judge transparent connection and collaboration are key.

Possible answer: I would attack this concern by communicating openly and with a solution-oriented mindset. I’d take an due clip and mounting for a backstage speech to explicit my concerns, supporting them with wide grounds oregon arguments. Ideally, my extremity would beryllium to scope compromises oregon find middle-ground solutions with my manager.

Possible answer: I americium perpetually improving my cognition and skills arsenic an SEO specialist, performing amended each day. I person plans to go an SEO manager who tin make and execute broad SEO strategies and negociate the full team. 

Possible answer: When moving with “difficult” clients, I usage 3 main approaches: progressive listening, wide communication, and a solution-oriented mindset. Through progressive listening, I connection clients the accidental to explicit their opinions fully. Clear connection allows maine to physique transparent relationships with clients, mounting realistic expectations regarding the issues discussed. Finally, having a solution-oriented mindset enables maine to find compromises that fulfill some parties. If we can’t scope a compromise, I’d impact a higher authorization oregon supervisor.

In summation to reviewing the candidate’s portfolio/resume and scheduling a occupation interview, astir employers besides necessitate SEO specialists to implicit a applicable trial task. This measurement is typically rolled retired to measure if the campaigner aligns with the position’s requirements and the company’s culture.

Here’s an illustration of a test task that you whitethorn beryllium asked to complete. Review it beforehand to get a consciousness of what to expect during the hiring process.