You paid an SEO company for six months. You got a few reports full of charts. But your phone did not ring more, and your sales did not go up. Now you are not sure what you even paid for.
This happens to a lot of businesses in Nepal. It is not because SEO does not work. It is because it is hard to tell a good SEO agency from a bad one before you sign.
I have worked in search since 2017, first at a Kathmandu agency and now on my own. I have also cleaned up after many bad SEO jobs. So here are the 10 things I would check before hiring any SEO company in Nepal, including me.
Quick answer: what to look for in an SEO agency in Nepal
A good SEO agency in Nepal will:
- Never promise you the number one spot on Google.
- Tell you in writing what work they will do each month.
- Show you real results from real clients you can call.
- Let you own your website, Google accounts and data.
- Report on calls, leads and sales, not just rankings.
- Explain how long results will take, in plain words.
Now let us go through each point in detail.
1. Walk away from anyone who “guarantees” first place on Google
This is the most common sales line in Nepal. “We will put you on page one in 30 days.” “Number one on Google, guaranteed.”
No one can promise this. Not an agency in Kathmandu, and not one in New York. Google decides who ranks, and it changes its rules many times each year. Google itself warns business owners to be careful of anyone who guarantees a ranking.
Some agencies get around this by picking a keyword that no one searches for. You do rank first for it. But it brings you zero customers.
What to ask: “Which keywords will you target, and how many people search for them each month?”
A good agency will talk about goals, effort and a realistic range. A bad one will talk about guarantees.
2. Get the monthly work in writing
Many SEO packages in Nepal say things like “full SEO”, “on-page and off-page” or “complete optimization.” These words sound good, but they do not tell you anything.
Ask for a simple list of tasks. For example:
- How many pages will they improve each month?
- How many new blog posts or service pages will they write?
- Will they fix site speed and technical errors?
- Will they manage your Google Business Profile?
- How will they get links from other websites?
If an agency cannot write down what they will do, they probably do not have a plan. You should know what you are paying for every single month.
3. Ask for proof you can check yourself
Every agency has a portfolio. But a logo on a slide does not prove much.
Ask for two or three case studies from businesses like yours. Then check them:
- Search for the client’s main keywords on Google. Do they actually show up?
- Ask for the phone number of a past client, and call them.
- Ask the client one simple question: “Did your business grow while you worked with them?”
Also check the agency’s own website. Does it rank for anything? Does it load fast on a phone? If they cannot do SEO for themselves, think twice.
4. Make sure you own your website and accounts
This is the pain point I see most often, and it can hurt your business for years.
Some agencies in Nepal create your Google Business Profile, Google Analytics or even your domain name in their own name. When you stop paying, they keep control. Some businesses lose their Google Maps listing, with all its reviews, this way.
Before you start, make sure these are in your name, with your email:
- Your domain name (for example, yourbusiness.com.np)
- Your hosting and website admin login
- Google Business Profile
- Google Search Console
- Google Analytics
- Any Google Ads or Facebook ad accounts
The agency should get access as a user or manager. You should stay the owner. A good agency will not argue about this.
5. Ask how they get backlinks
Links from other websites still help you rank. But bad links can get your site pushed down by Google, or even removed from search results.
Cheap packages often promise “500 backlinks a month.” These links usually come from spam sites, fake directories, or comments on random blogs. They are cheap because they are useless, or worse.
What to ask: “Can you show me five links you built for a client last month?”
Good links come from real websites. Think Nepali news sites, local business directories, industry groups, partners and suppliers. These take time to earn, so expect a few good links a month, not hundreds.
6. Check that they understand search in Nepal
SEO in Nepal is not the same as SEO in the US or India. A good agency should understand how people here really search.
For example:
- Google Maps matters a lot. For shops, clinics, restaurants and offices, the map results often bring more calls than the website. (Here is my guide on how to rank a Kathmandu business on Google Maps.)
- People search in two languages. Some type in English, some in Nepali, and many in Romanized Nepali, like “sasto ghar bhada Kathmandu.” Your keywords need to cover all of these. (Read more on writing for Nepali and English searchers.)
- Most searches happen on phones. Your site must be fast and easy to use on a mobile phone, even on a slow connection.
- Location matters. A business in Pokhara needs a different plan than one in Kathmandu or Biratnagar.
What to ask: “How would you get my business more calls from Google Maps?” Their answer will tell you a lot.
7. Ask what the report will measure
A long report with lots of charts can hide the fact that nothing useful happened.
Rankings and traffic are nice to see. But you cannot pay salaries with traffic. What you really need to know is:
- How many people called you from Google?
- How many filled in your contact form or sent a message?
- How many asked for directions to your shop?
- Which pages and keywords brought these people in?
Ask to see a sample report before you sign. Also ask for a short monthly call where they explain the report in simple words. If you do not understand the report, it is their job to explain it.
8. Know how long SEO really takes
SEO is slow. This is the honest truth, and a good agency will say it up front.
Here is a rough timeline for most small and medium businesses:
- Month 1 to 2: Research, fixing technical problems, setting up tracking.
- Month 3 to 4: New and better content goes live. Small gains start to show.
- Month 4 to 6: You start to see more visits, calls and leads.
- Month 6 to 12: Results build up and become steady.
Things can move faster for Google Maps or if your competitors are weak. They can take longer in busy fields like travel, education or real estate.
If you need customers this month, SEO alone is not the answer. Google Ads can bring leads faster while SEO grows. (See what a Google Ads lead really costs in Nepal.)
9. Look at the price the right way
Price is often the first question. But the cheapest package is rarely the cheapest in the end.
A very low monthly fee usually means one of these things:
- A junior person is handling 30 or more clients at once.
- The work is just automated tools and spam links.
- The real work is outsourced, and no one checks it.
When you compare prices, compare the work. Put the task lists from step 2 side by side. Ask who will actually work on your site, and how many hours they will spend on it each month.
Also check the paperwork. Is the company registered? Will they give you a proper PAN or VAT bill? This matters for your own accounts, and it shows they are a real business.
10. Read the contract before you sign
Many business owners only read the contract when they want to leave. By then, it is too late.
Look for these things:
- Lock-in period: Are you stuck for 12 months, even if nothing improves? A short trial or a 3-month first term is fairer.
- Notice period: How many days’ notice do you need to give to stop?
- Handover: What will they hand back when you leave? Content, logins and reports should all be yours.
- Who does the work: Will the person you meet in the sales meeting work on your site? Or will it be passed to someone you never meet?
- Communication: How often will they update you, and how? Phone, email or Viber?
If something is not written in the contract, assume it is not included.
Red flags at a glance
Be careful if an SEO agency:
- Guarantees the number one spot on Google
- Promises hundreds of backlinks a month
- Will not say what work they do each month
- Wants to own your Google accounts or domain
- Only reports on rankings, never on calls or leads
- Pushes you to sign a long contract on the first day
- Has a website that does not rank for anything
Questions to ask before you hire an SEO company in Nepal
Copy these and take them to your next meeting:
- Which keywords will you target, and why?
- What exactly will you do each month?
- Can I talk to two of your current clients?
- Will I own all my accounts and logins?
- How do you build links? Can you show me examples?
- How will you improve my Google Maps listing?
- What will you measure, and can I see a sample report?
- When should I expect to see results?
- Who will work on my site, and how many hours a month?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Frequently asked questions
How much does SEO cost in Nepal?
It depends on your goals, your industry and how much work your site needs. A small local business needs far less work than an online store with hundreds of products. Ask each agency for a written list of tasks and compare the work, not just the price.
How long does it take to see SEO results?
Most businesses start to see real changes in 3 to 6 months. Google Maps results can come sooner. Busy industries can take longer. Be careful of anyone who promises results in a few weeks.
Should I hire an agency or a freelancer?
Both can work well. An agency may have a bigger team. A freelancer or small consultant may give you more personal attention. What matters most is who will actually do the work, and whether they follow the 10 points above.
Can I do SEO myself?
Yes, you can do the basics yourself. Set up your Google Business Profile, ask happy customers for reviews, and write clear pages about your services. Hire help when you run out of time or need technical work done.
Is SEO still worth it in Nepal?
Yes. More people in Nepal search on Google every year before they buy, book or visit. If they cannot find you, they will find your competitor. SEO helps you show up at that moment, without paying for every click.
Final thoughts
Choosing an SEO agency in Nepal does not need to be hard. Ask clear questions. Get the work in writing. Keep your accounts in your own name. And judge results by calls and sales, not just charts.
If you would like a second opinion on an SEO proposal you received, or want to talk about your own website, get in touch. I am happy to look at it, even if you end up hiring someone else.