“SEO included” is a label, not a scope. One provider may mean that every page gets a title and description. Another may include keyword research, content, redirects, technical audits, Search Console setup, and reporting. Neither interpretation should be inferred from the phrase alone. Ask for a list of deliverables, owner, test, and timing.
Divide the claim into actual work
Start with page-level basics: descriptive titles, headings, URLs, internal links, and relevant copy. Ask who writes and approves them. A developer can insert metadata, but the business must verify the offer and factual claims. Google’s SEO Starter Guide emphasizes useful, understandable content and making pages easier for search engines to access and interpret.
Then ask about technical work: indexable pages, canonical URLs, sitemap, robots directives, structured data if appropriate, and mobile usability. For a redesign with changed URLs, ask for old-to-new URL mapping and redirect tests. A sitemap does not repair a broken redirect or an empty page. If content migration is included, define its page count and approval owner separately.
Finally, distinguish ongoing work: topic research, article creation, Search Console monitoring, updates, and performance review. Those require a cadence and a budget. A one-time website build may set the foundation without providing monthly SEO service.
Ask how completion will be demonstrated
For each line item, request a pass/fail check. Examples: a title and description on every agreed page; a crawl showing important pages return HTTP 200 and are not intentionally blocked; a sitemap containing final canonical URLs; a redirect sheet with tested destinations; and access to the Search Console property owned by the business. The specific checklist should match the site and contracted work.
Avoid accepting “we will index all pages” as a guaranteed outcome. Google states that meeting its technical requirements makes a page eligible, but indexing is not guaranteed. Rankings and leads also depend on factors outside a website provider’s direct control.
Compare two quotes fairly
Put both offers into the same columns: page count, content creation, on-page metadata, migration, technical checks, analytics/Search Console access, reporting, and postlaunch support. Mark each item included, excluded, or unclear. If one quote is cheaper because it excludes migration and content, that may be a valid choice; it is not the same scope.
ARCHV’s website service page says the proposal defines the technical work and responsibilities. Do not assume full SEO strategy, ongoing content, or ranking guarantees from a website quote. Use the website quote comparison to surface unclear SEO language before you sign. A public review mentioning rushed SEO headings is one client report, not a general finding; the actionable lesson is to define what the headings must cover and who reviews them.
If the proposal includes a “monthly SEO” line, ask for the monthly outputs and access: which pages or articles will be worked on, how changes are approved, and which Search Console property the business owns. A monthly meeting without documented changes is different from a service that updates content and fixes technical issues. The reporting period should be long enough to separate a crawl delay from a content or technical defect.