If you are wondering how best to measure the progress of any SEO reseller you retain, setting a specific benchmark every so often that ought to be met or exceeded is the best way to go about it. To begin, make sure that your benchmark goals are realistic for the amount you are paying and the success rate of the reseller you are using. Once you know what you can realistically expect for your money, go ahead and set your first benchmark. Notably, letting your SEO reseller of choice know what your benchmark goals are ahead of time is a great way to let them know what is expected of them, and can help your reseller of choice to adapt and modify their approaches as soon as possible in order to keep you as a customer.
When setting your first benchmark, determine a specific amount of time by which your web popularity should reach a certain level, and by which your profits should increase by a certain amount. You can break this type of benchmark goal down a bit more specifically by insisting on a certain minimum web ranking for specific keywords and phrases related to your site, as well. Once you have set your first benchmark goals accordingly, make sure that your SEO reseller of choice is indeed on board.
From there, monitor your web stats and profits periodically prior to the benchmark deadline you have set in order to check on the progress made by your plan in general, as this can be the best way to determine whether or not you are getting the full expected value out of your expenditures. With any luck, each of your benchmark goals should be met or exceeded quite handily by your SEO reseller of choice, and you should be good to go!