Start by getting written proposals that itemize what you're actually paying for. A $2,000/month retainer means nothing without knowing whether that includes 10 hours of link outreach, 5 blog posts, technical audits, or just reporting. Ask each agency to break down hours per task and deliverables per month. Montreal agencies typically charge $125–$200/hour for strategic work, so reverse-engineer whether the retainer makes sense. Verifiable results matter more than testimonials. Request 2–3 case studies where the agency can share Google Search Console screenshots, specific keyword movements, and traffic growth over 6–12 months. Be skeptical of agencies showing only vanity metrics like 'page one rankings' for non-commercial terms. Ask what the client's revenue impact was, or at minimum whether organic conversions increased. If they won't share numbers or redacted GSC data, that's a red flag. Check the agency's own SEO performance. Search 'Montreal SEO,' 'SEO services Montreal,' or industry-specific terms like 'ecommerce SEO Quebec' and see where they rank organically. An agency ranking on page 3 while promising you page 1 results is selling something they haven't proven themselves. Also review their content—do they publish detailed guides, or is their blog generic filler? Ask about their link-building methods explicitly. Montreal has a tight business community, so local agencies should have editorial relationships with Quebec publications, business directories, and industry blogs. If they're vague about how they earn backlinks or mention PBNs and guest post networks, walk away. Legitimate agencies will explain their outreach process and show you sample placements. Finally, compare contract terms. Month-to-month agreements show confidence in results; 12-month lock-ins with no performance guarantees protect the agency, not you. At Ottawa SEO, we've seen Montreal clients locked into $3,000/month contracts that delivered 40 directory links and zero needle movement. Demand quarterly performance reviews tied to agreed KPIs like organic traffic growth, keyword visibility, or lead volume before committing long-term.