Looking for the best SEO manager interview questions to ask? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

SEO manager plays a vital role in any organization as they are responsible for managing the SEO strategy and ensuring that the website is visible on the first page of search engines.

As the world continues to become more digital, it’s important for businesses to have a strong online presence. And one of the best ways to ensure that your business is visible online is through search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO is the process of optimizing your website and content so that you can rank higher in search engine results pages. No matter which search engine you use, having a well-optimized website is key to being discovered by potential customers.

To help you prepare for your next SEO manager interview, we’ve compiled a list of the 50 best questions to ask.

Best SEO Manager Interview Questions & Answers

These questions will help you assess a candidate’s SEO knowledge and skills, as well as their ability to strategize and execute an effective SEO plan.

Common Skills-Based SEO Specialist Interview Questions

These questions will help you assess a candidate’s SEO knowledge and skills.

1. How have your SEO strategies changed over the years?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of the ever-changing landscape of SEO. The answer will give you insight into how they stay up-to-date with the latest trends and changes, and how adaptable they are to change.

2. What makes a website search engine friendly?

This question tests a candidate’s understanding of SEO best practices. A good answer will include factors such as keyword research, website structure, and content optimization.

3. Which SEO factors are not in your control?

A candidate who can identify the SEO factors that are not in their control is likely to be more realistic and effective in their approach to SEO. This question also allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of the different types of SEO (e.g., on-page vs. off-page).

4. What is your experience with Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a critical tool for SEO specialists, as it allows them to track and measure website traffic and performance. This question will help you assess a candidate’s proficiency with Google Analytics and their ability to use data to inform their SEO strategies.

5. What are some common SEO mistakes that businesses make?

An ideal candidate should be able to identify common SEO mistakes so that they can avoid making them themselves. Possible answers include things like not properly optimizing website content, using too many keywords, and not having a mobile-friendly website.

6. What is a keyword and why is it important?

This question assesses a candidate’s understanding of one of the most fundamental concepts in SEO. A good answer will include a definition of a keyword as well as its importance in terms of helping search engines understand what your website is about.

7. What is link building and why is it important?

Link building is the process of acquiring links from other websites to your own. It’s an important part of SEO because it helps to improve your website’s link popularity, which is a factor that search engines use to rank websites. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of link building as well as its importance in SEO.

8. What are some common link-building strategies?

There are many different ways to build links, so a candidate who is familiar with common link-building strategies will likely be more effective in their role. Possible answers include things like guest blogging, directory submissions, and social media outreach.

9. What is a sitemap and why is it important?

A sitemap is a file that contains a list of all the pages on your website. It’s important because it helps search engines index your website more effectively. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of sitemaps as well as their importance in SEO.

10. What is Robots.txt and why is it important?

Robots.txt is a file that tells search engine crawlers which pages on your website they should index and which they should not. It’s important because it helps you control which pages are indexed by search engines, and therefore, how your website appears in search results. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of Robots.txt as well as its importance in SEO.

11. What is a 301 redirect?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. It’s important because it helps you preserve your website’s link equity and avoid 404 errors. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of 301 redirects as well as their importance in SEO.

12. What is canonicalization?

Canonicalization is the process of choosing the best URL when there are multiple options. It’s important because it helps you avoid duplicate content issues and ensure that search engines index the correct version of your website. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of canonicalization as well as its importance in SEO.

13. Which meta tags matter?

Meta tags are a part of your HTML code that help describe your website to search engines. They’re important because they can influence how your website appears in search results. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of meta tags as well as their importance in SEO.

14. What is an alt tag?

An alt tag is an HTML attribute that is used to describe an image. It’s important because it helps search engines index your website more effectively. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of alt tags as well as their importance in SEO.

15. Explain domain authority.

Domain authority is a metric that is used to predict how well a website will rank in search results. It’s important because it helps you understand how your website stacks up against your competitors. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of domain authority as well as its importance in SEO.

16. What is on-page vs. off-page SEO?

On-page SEO refers to optimization that is done on your websites, such as optimizing your title tags and meta descriptions. Off-page SEO refers to optimization that is done outside of your website, such as building links and developing a social media presence. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of on-page vs. off-page SEO.

17. What is black hat vs. white hat SEO?

Black hat SEO refers to optimization techniques that are used to improve search engine rankings but go against search engine guidelines. White hat SEO refers to optimization techniques that are used to improve search engine rankings and adhere to search engine guidelines. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of black hat vs. white hat SEO.

18. What is a Google penalty?

A Google penalty is a punishment that is given to websites that violate Google’s guidelines. It’s important because it can negatively impact your website’s search engine rankings. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of Google penalties as well as their importance in SEO.

19. What is a Google algorithm update?

A Google algorithm update is a change that is made to the way that Google’s search engine ranks websites. It’s important because it can impact your website’s search engine rankings. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of Google algorithm updates as well as their importance in SEO.

20. What is an organic search?

An organic search is a search that is done on a search engine, such as Google or Bing, without using any paid advertising. It’s important because it’s the most common type of search and can impact your website’s search engine rankings. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of organic searches as well as their importance in SEO.

21. What is a SERP?

A SERP is a “search engine results page” that is generated when a user types in a query into a search engine. It’s important because it’s what a user sees after they perform a search and can impact your website’s click-through rate. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of SERPs as well as their importance in SEO.

22. What is the relationship between SEO and SEM?

SEO and SEM are both digital marketing strategies that are used to improve a website’s search engine rankings. SEO is focused on optimizing your website to rank higher in organic search results, while SEM is focused on paying for advertising to get your website to rank higher in paid search results. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of the relationship between SEO and SEM.

23. Explain spiders, robots, and crawlers.

Spiders, robots, and crawlers are all terms that are used to describe the programs that search engines use to index websites. They’re important because they help search engines understand your website so that it can be properly ranked in search results. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of spiders, robots, and crawlers as well as their importance in SEO.

24. What is keyword density and what is the formula for knowing keyword density?

Keyword density is the percentage of times a keyword appears on a web page compared to the total number of words on the page. The formula for knowing keyword density is: (number of times keyword appears on page / total number of words on page) * 100. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of keyword density as well as their ability to calculate it.

25. What are LSI keywords?

LSI keywords are “latent semantic indexing” keywords that are related to your main keyword. They’re important because they help search engines understand the context of your content and can help you rank for more than one keyword. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of LSI keywords as well as their importance in SEO.

26. What is a page impression?

A page impression is when a web page is loaded by a user. It’s important because it’s one of the metrics that is used to calculate website traffic. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of page impressions as well as their importance in SEO.

27. What are the different types of SERP features?

There are many different types of SERP features, but some of the most common are: organic results, paid results, featured snippets, and knowledge panels. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of SERP features as well as their importance in SEO.

28. Have you used Google Search Console? What are some of the things you can do with it?

Google Search Console is a free tool that allows you to see how your website is performing in Google search results. You can use it to track your website’s progress, submit sitemaps, and more. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of Google Search Console as well as their ability to use it for SEO purposes.

29. Which SEO tools do you regularly use?

There are many different SEO tools available, but some of the most popular are Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Moz, and SEMrush. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of SEO tools as well as their ability to use them for SEO purposes.

Technical SEO Specialist Interview Questions

These questions will help you assess a candidate’s ability to strategize and execute an effective SEO plan.

30. How do you conduct keyword research?

An effective SEO manager should know how to properly conduct keyword research in order to identify the most effective keywords for their website. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of keyword research as well as their ability to execute it.

31. What are some on-page SEO techniques you use?

On-page SEO techniques are used to optimize individual web pages in order to rank higher in search results. Some common on-page SEO techniques include: optimizing titles and meta tags, using keyword-rich content, and using internal links. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of on-page SEO as well as their ability to execute it.

32. What are some off-page SEO techniques you use?

Off-page SEO techniques are used to promote a website in order to rank higher in search results. Some common off-page SEO techniques include: link building, social media marketing, and directory submissions. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of off-page SEO as well as their ability to execute it.

33. What are the steps you take to optimize a website?

The steps involved in optimizing a website can vary depending on the size and complexity of the website, but some common steps include: conducting keyword research, performing competitor analysis, auditing the website’s current SEO, and implementing on-page and off-page SEO techniques. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of SEO as well as their ability to execute it.

34. What method do you use to redirect a page?

One common method of redirecting a page is to use the 301 redirect. This type of redirect is used when you want to permanently redirect one page to another. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to redirect a page as well as their ability to execute it.

35. How can you do SEO for a video?

There are a few different ways to do SEO for a video, but some common methods include: optimizing the video title and description, using keywords in the tags, and transcribing the video. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to do SEO for a video as well as their ability to execute it.

36. What is your approach to developing an SEO strategy?

An effective SEO manager should have a well-defined approach to developing an SEO strategy. First, you need to understand the goals of the website. Once you have a clear understanding of the goals, you can begin to research which keywords will be most effective in achieving those goals.

Once you have a list of keywords, you can begin to implement on-page and off-page SEO techniques. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to develop an SEO strategy as well as their ability to execute it.

37. How will you measure success as an SEO manager at our organization?

Measuring success as an SEO manager can be done in a number of ways, but some common methods include: monitoring website traffic, ranking for keywords, and conversion rates. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to measure the success of an SEO campaign as well as their ability to execute it.

38. How will you cross-check whether your SEO campaign is working or not?

There are a few different ways to cross-check whether an SEO campaign is working or not, but some common methods include: monitoring website traffic, ranking for keywords, and conversion rates. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to measure the success of an SEO campaign as well as their ability to execute it.

39. How can you optimize a website which has millions of web pages?

Optimizing a website that has millions of web pages can be a daunting task, but there are a few methods which can make it easier. First, you need to prioritize the most important pages on the website. Once you have a list of prioritized pages, you can begin to optimize those pages for SEO. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to optimize a large website as well as their ability to execute it.

40. What’s SEO content marketing?

SEO content marketing is the process of creating and promoting content that is optimized for SEO. This type of content is designed to rank well in search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive organic traffic to a website. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of SEO content marketing as well as their ability to execute it.

41. How many words should an SEO blog post be?

There is no magic number of words that an SEO blog post should be, but generally speaking, longer articles tend to perform better in search engine results pages (SERPs). This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of how to optimize a blog post for SEO as well as their ability to execute it.

42. What’s an SEO audit?

An SEO audit is a comprehensive review of a website’s SEO. An SEO audit will identify any problems with the website’s current SEO and provide recommendations for how to improve it. This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s understanding of an SEO audit as well as their ability to execute it.

Common Situational Interview Questions

These questions will give you a better understanding of how the candidate would handle a real-life situation as an SEO manager.

43. One of your primary goals is to increase organic traffic to the website. You’ve been working on this goal for six months, but you’ve only seen a small increase in traffic. What would you do?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to problem-solve as well as their understanding of how to increase organic traffic. A good answer would involve troubleshooting the current SEO strategy and making necessary changes.

44. You’ve been working on a new SEO campaign for the past month, but you haven’t seen any results yet. What would you do?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to problem-solve as well as their understanding of how to troubleshoot an SEO campaign. A good answer would involve troubleshooting the current SEO campaign and making necessary changes.

45. How would you simplify a complex problem in order to communicate it with a client or coworker?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to simplify complex issues as well as their ability to communicate clearly. A good answer would involve breaking down the issue into smaller, more manageable pieces and then explaining it in simple terms.

46. What is your process for working with Developers to apply SEO best practices and tactics?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to work with Developers as well as their understanding of how to implement SEO recommendations and strategies. A good answer would involve collaborating with Developers to ensure that SEO recommendations are properly implemented.

47. What is the best way to ensure that your SEO recommendations are carried out?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to follow up on their recommendations as well as their understanding of how to ensure that recommendations are properly implemented. A good answer would involve following up with the relevant parties to ensure that recommendations are being implemented and tracking the results.

48. How frequently do you touch base with clients or management to update them on your progress?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to communicate with clients and/or management as well as their understanding of how often communication is necessary. A good answer would involve communicating with clients and/or management on a regular basis in order to keep them up-to-date on progress.

49. Have you ever had a website penalized by Google? What did you learn from that experience?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to troubleshoot as well as their understanding of Google penalties. A good answer would involve identifying the cause of the penalty and then taking steps to avoid it in the future.

50. Describe an SEO marketing campaign you worked on. What was your role and what were the results?

This question allows you to gauge a candidate’s ability to work on an SEO marketing campaign as well as their understanding of what goes into a successful campaign. A good answer would involve describing the campaign in detail and discussing the results.

Final Thoughts

Asking the right questions during an interview is critical to hiring the best candidate. The questions you ask should be tailored to the specific role you’re looking to fill. When interviewing for an SEO manager position, be sure to ask questions that will give you a better understanding of the candidate’s ability to execute an SEO strategy as well as their ability to problem-solve and communicate.

Focus on technical SEO questions if you’re looking to hire a candidate with a strong understanding of the latest SEO trends and strategies. If you’re looking for a candidate who is more focused on the big picture, focus on questions that will give you a better understanding of the candidate’s ability to develop and execute an effective SEO strategy.

An SEO manager should have the technical skills necessary to execute an SEO strategy as well as the ability to problem-solve and communicate effectively. Asking the right questions during an interview will help you hire the best candidate for the job.