How to Find & Hire SEO Experts Like a Pro (original) (raw)

Finding and hiring an SEO expert is a lot like shopping for clothes. You don’t just walk into a random store, purchase the first item you see, and call it a day — you have to think about size, style, and of course, the price.

Like clothes shopping, hiring an SEO expert for your business requires research and planning to find the right one for your business. That’s why today we’re giving your the rundown on how to hire SEO experts like a pro.

Stay tuned as we cover topics like:

What is the best way to find and hire an SEO expert?

1. Determine your goals and KPIs

Before you begin looking at SEO provider options, you’ll want to plan out your SEO goals and decide what key performance indicators (KPIs) you’ll be focusing on when measuring results.

Having your goals and KPIs laid out in advance can help you better narrow down your list of SEO experts because you can ensure you’re considering providers who clearly demonstrate that they’re equipped and capable of helping you reach those goals.

2. Set your budget

When hiring an SEO expert, the last thing you want to do is break the bank. That’s why you’ll want to spend some time looking up how much SEO services should cost before you jump into hiring an expert.

Think about what services you may need so you can get a feel for how much you’ll potentially be investing. By doing this research in advance, you can get a ballpark estimate of what you’re monthly SEO budget could look like, and further narrow your search for the perfect SEO expert for your business.

3. Build your shortlist

Now the time has come to build assemble your list of potential SEO providers. When looking at SEO experts, there are a few things you’ll want to look for:

Looking for the above items will give you a better sense of an SEO expert’s capabilities and specialties. Knowing that specific experts have any awards or special recognitions can give peace of mind that they’re trustworthy SEOs, while reviews and case studies can help you see their work in action.

4. Ask questions

Finally, the best thing your can do when looking to hire SEO experts is ask questions. An SEO provider’s online presence can speak volumes, but let’s be honest — nothing beats talking to them one-on-one.

Schedule consultations with your top picks for SEO experts so you can get a better sense of who they are. Ask questions that help you better understand how they can help your business and how you can work together with them.

That’s great and all, but what kinds of questions should I ask?

We’re glad you asked — keep reading to see 12 questions that can help you hire SEO experts that fit your business!

Looking for an all-in-one SEO audit tool? You’ve found it

SEO checker provides data on key metrics to give you:

12 questions to help you hire SEO experts

As you browse the best SEO companies, you’re narrowing down your numerous options to land on the best fit for your business. The best way to start vetting your SEO provider options and narrowing down your list is to ask each expert questions related to their SEO process, experience, pricing, and more.

Take a look at these 12 questions you can ask to help you hire the right SEO expert for your business.

1. What sets you apart from other SEO experts?

It’s helpful to hear straight from candidates about their most valuable qualities and services.

Their answer can give you an initial taste on their depth of SEO knowledge. Depending on how they explain their services and processes, you can gauge their skill level and familiarity with current search engine practices.

2. Can you give a summary of your SEO process?

Ask the SEO experts to lay out the usual cornerstones to their strategies. This will also help you gauge their proficiency in a number of services. Do they favor technical SEO? Can they carry out off-page SEO effectively?

Full-service SEO agencies should be able to discuss their full range of Internet marketing skills and how they can support overall success.

3. Do you inform clients about technical site changes?

With SEO, your website can potentially see a structural transformation. Everything from the aesthetic appearance to the navigation is liable to change. When your SEO experts are transparent about major site components, it’s a good indication. Hiring an SEO agency that’s straightforward about their methods keeps you away from black hat SEO and penalties.

4. What tools do you use for SEO campaigns?

The tools your SEO specialists use to evaluate and improve your site’s SEO health — whether it’s popular tools on the market or in-house technology — can impact the overall success of your strategy.

For example, at WebFX we use several robust SEO and marketing tools to help you understand your site’s SEO health. Our proprietary marketing automation software, MarketingCloudFX, is backed by IBM Watson, and it’s free to our clients.

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5. How long will it take to see ranking results?

SEO is an ongoing process, and you won’t see results overnight. But, you can still judge SEO experts’ pace via their answer to the above question.

Your SEO specialist should be able to give you a general time estimate for your campaign to take off. While they can’t give you an exact date for reaching specific goals (search engines are constantly evolving) they can base their estimate on past campaigns they’ve worked on that are similar to yours.

6. How do you measure progress?

What determines if your site is doing well in the eyes of SEO experts? There are numerous metrics that can guide campaigns, from keyword rankings to bounce rate.

This question also factors in your business goals, because metrics go hand-in-hand with these objectives. If they bring up key performance indicators (KPIs) that have a direct benefit to your business, you can confidently move forward.

7. How frequently do you report results?

Reports are a reliable way to maintain communication between your business and the SEO experts. SEO experts often send out reports weekly, monthly, or quarterly, so ask them when to expect reports.

It’s also handy to know what the reports contain so you’re prepared to read them.

8. Can I see a list of case studies and references?

The best SEO service providers should be able to refer you to a number of case studies or testimonials to display their past work. If they can provide you with success stories, you have a decent idea of their proficiency.

Client reviews can show how trustworthy and productive the SEO campaigns were — plus, you can navigate to clients’ sites to scrutinize them for yourself. Additionally, case studies are even more meaningful because they often relay important statistics, like the year-over-year (YoY) growth in organic traffic and conversions.

WebFX helps companies like yours reach their business goals

"Our marketing department has a lot of key performance indicators that WebFX has always helped us achieve... WebFX has always worked hard to make sure that we're getting what we need out of the partnership, not just what may seem like the best result."

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9. What problems do you notice on our site?

An SEO audit is useful for developing an informed strategy. While this normally takes tools and time, you can get a feel for SEO experts’ instincts when you ask their opinion of your existing site. Their honest evaluation of your usability, design, and content can be a sneak peek to your working relationship with them.

10. Do you stay on top of SEO trends & updates?

Currently, Google has 200+ ranking factors, but search engines are constantly creating new ones to rank pages.

Because the SEO landscape is changing constantly (primarily ranking factors), it’s necessary for your SEO partner to stay up-to-date on the latest SEO best practices, algorithm updates, and trends. A working knowledge of SEO changes is crucial to the long-term success of your SEO strategy, so question your candidates about how they stay updated on all things SEO.

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11. What is the price to hire you as an SEO expert?

The SEO experts should break down what your money’s going toward, so you know what you’re getting into. Pricing typically changes based on the thoroughness of the packages or projects, but sometimes the rate is hourly.

If the SEO pricing is eerily low, they might participate in low-grade tactics like obtaining substandard links. Just like SEO is an investment of time and well-crafted content, it’s also an investment of funds.

Also, remember to discuss payment and billing methods to get the full picture of the partnership.

12. How will my site change after our partnership ends?

If you separate from your SEO company at some point, you want to make sure the site’s content and design stays functional and continues to thrive.

Whether you have financial setbacks or other concerns, you might need to end your contract sooner than expected. The termination portion is most relevant to you, and there can be extra costs if you want to leave before the period is finished.

It’s vital to understand the terms of your contract before you sign anything, so go over the details with your SEO experts.

FAQs About Hiring SEO Experts

Looking for more information on how to hire an SEO consultant for your business? Check out these FAQs!

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a digital marketing process that involves optimizing your website and its content to improve your site’s performance and visibility on search engines. Businesses use a variety of practices and techniques to improve their SEO, like:

What does an SEO specialist do?

An SEO specialist works to improve a website’s search engine performance through techniques like on- and off-page SEO, and technical SEO.

SEOs use a variety of analytical, research, copywriting, and web development skills to improve a site’s online visibility. This includes performing tasks like:

Is it worth hiring an SEO specialist?

Yes, it’s worth hiring an SEO specialist! Over 90% of online experiences begin with a search engine, so ensuring your website is visible in search results is crucial to the online success of your business.

What’s more, 95% of search traffic goes to the first page of search results alone. An SEO specialist has the experience, knowledge, and expertise necessary to help you develop and maintain an SEO campaign that scales to your growing business and is flexible in the wake of constant algorithm updates, allowing for long-term success.

How do I find a good SEO expert?

Finding the right SEO expert for your business requires research and planning — you don’t want to cut corners and choose an agency that doesn’t align with your business’s SEO goals.

To find a good SEO expert, follow these steps:

  1. Determine what key performance indicators (KPIs) will measure your SEO success, and set your SEO goals
  2. Set a monthly budget after researching how much SEO costs
  3. Build an agency shortlist using reviews, case studies, and certifications
  4. Compile a list of questions to ask each agency

Should I hire an SEO expert?

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I hire someone for SEO?” or “How do I know if I need to hire an SEO expert?” here are a few items to consider:

Types of SEO experts you can hire

When it comes to hiring SEO experts, you’ve got a few different routes you can take:

Each of these SEO providers have their pros and cons, which we’ll cover below. Take a look!

Freelance

Freelance SEO professionals are individuals who have well-rounded SEO experience, but often specialize in specific areas of SEO. They’ve likely worked with clients in a variety of industries, typically on a project-by-project basis. While they’re able to work one-on-one with clients, they may not have the vast resources of an SEO agency or consultant.

In-house consultant

An in-house SEO consultant works in-house, allowing you direct control over your work without the hassle of doing it all yourself. You’re always in the loop about the progress of your SEO campaign and have a direct line of communication with your consultant.

On the flip side, hiring an SEO consultant means hiring an new employee, which can be a time-consuming process that comes with onboarding expenses, an annual salary, etc. For some businesses, especially small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), these costs may be too high to make in-house consultants a viable option.

Agency

SEO agencies are made up of entire teams of well-rounded SEO professionals who each have their own specialties. Agencies have experience with with clients on a long-term basis, and as a result have established practices and procedures, and a vast network of SEO tools and resources at their disposal. While they are more expensive to hire than freelancers and consultants, SEO agencies’ costs reflect their extensive experience and working knowledge of the latest SEO trends, best practices, and updates.

Freelance vs. consultant vs. agency SEO

FREELANCE IN-HOUSE CONSULTANT AGENCY
Skills & Expertise Well-rounded SEO Expert in one or more aspects of SEO Multi-industry experience Well-rounded SEO Expert in one or more aspects of SEO May specialize in specific industries Team of experienced marketers with in-depth SEO experience Various specialties, certifications, and multi-industry experience
Resources & Network Resources are limited Freelancers have a vast network due to their prior experience working with other businesses Resources are dependent on the SEO’s previous experience & network, as well as that of the business they work for Vast array of digital marketing tools, resources, and technology Considerable network of other marketing professionals Constantly monitoring the latest SEO trends, best practices, and algorithm updates
Flexibility & Structure Flexibility in when they help and communicate with you (i.e. can sometimes work outside of normal business hours) SEO processes may not be established, consistent, or organized across all clients and industries Flexibility is dependent on your business and the SEO you hire Establishing processes and workflows are dependent on you, your SEO, and your team Typically operate during standard working hours Established SEO processes in place that are consistent, organized, and streamlined for efficiency
Communication Direct line of communication and feedback Direct line of communication and feedback Communication and feedback is streamlined through project management tools, scheduled meetings, and/or a dedicated project manager

Top SEO companies & experts to hire in 2024

For many businesses, hiring an SEO agency is the way to go when outsourcing SEO. Agencies have the knowledge, resources, and marketing experience to give businesses peace of mind that their SEO campaigns are in capable hands. Not to mention, agencies are ideal SEO partners for businesses looking to foster long-term SEO success, rather than assistance with short-term projects.

There are thousands of SEO companies out there to choose from, so which one is best for your business? We’re making it easy for you — check out some of the top SEO companies and experts you can hire in 2024!

AGENCY LOCATION SERVICES PRICING
WebFX Pennsylvania, USA Full-Service SEO including National, Local, Ecommerce, and Enterprise SEO, plus SEO Auditing and Consulting Starting at $1375 / month
The SEO Works Sheffield, United Kingdom National & Local SEO Starting at $1000 / project
seoplus+ Ottawa, Canada National SEO, Shopify SEO Starting at $150 / hour
High Voltage SEO Berlin, Germany National & International SEO, SEO Consulting Starting at $1000 / project
SIXGUN Melbourne, Australia International & Local SEO, Google Penalty Assistance Starting at $1000 / project

Learn More About the Best SEO Companies!

Meet WebFX, your award-winning SEO experts

For 25+ years, WebFX has been focused on driving quality results for our clients through data-backed SEO services. As a result, we’ve help clients generate over 24 million qualified leads.

From sustainable digital marketing solutions to our in-house marketing technology, our team is well-equipped and ready to help new clients crush their SEO goals.

Are you ready to hire an award-winning SEO agency? Let’s get started! Give us a call at 888-601-5359 or contact us online to start boosting your rankings and generating high-quality traffic.