Once your website is up and running, there’s nothing you would want more than for it to rank high in the search results and bring in more conversion and sales. But there’s a catch! Simply having a website is not enough. It needs to be optimized to rank high in search results and for that you need a SEO specialist.
An SEO expert is someone who has the knowledge and expertise to optimize the website using a range of techniques to make it high in the search engine results. This includes keyword research, link building, on-page, off-page and a lot more. However, the question that arises is- how do you hire an SEO expert with the right skills, knowledge and experience?
Let’s read on.
Evaluating the right SEO professional
Here are some of the things you should keep in mind when you set out to hire SEO expert for your business:-
Identify your own goals and objectives – First things first, identify your goals and objectives. What is it that you want your website to achieve? Is it traffic, is it conversions, SERP rankings or all of it? Having a clear idea of what you want will help you zero down on the right SEO professional who has the required capabilities to help you achieve your goal.
Industry experience and expertise – When evaluating portfolios of SEO experts, it is important to find an expert who has in-depth knowledge of SEO techniques and best practices. Check out the kind of industries and websites he has worked on. For instance, if you have an eCommerce website, it would be important for you to hire someone who has experience working on eCommerce websites. SEO is a constantly evolving field. There is an algorithm update by Google every few months or so. Therefore, having somebody with hands-on knowledge and experience in similar websites is always a plus!
Consider their approach to SEO – When it comes to SEO, the one-size-fits-all mindset does not work. What works for one website, may not work for another one. Therefore SEO strategies have to be tailor made depending on the current performance of the website, objective of the website etc. Therefore, while evaluating portfolios, it is important to check for the SEO approach. Is it focussing more on technical SEO or content marketing? The right SEO approach for your website is the one that aligns with your goals and objectives.
Check out their past work – Checking out their portfolio for past work, variety of websites they have worked on, type of clients catered to and the results achieved should give a good understanding of the person’s capabilities. You could even ask for case studies, references and testimonials from past clients. Remember, SEO is a long-term investment and not a one-time fix so look for someone who has knowledge of all areas of SEO i.e on page, off page, local SEO etc. and is committed to the role.
Different ways you can hire SEO expert for your business
Now that you understand the importance of SEO for your website and pointers to consider while hiring SEO professionals, it’s time to go out and actually hire one for your business. Here are the different ways you can hire SEO experts to work on your website based on your need, requirement and the budget.
Hire freelancers – If it’s just a particular area of SEO that you need help with, for instance, link building, content marketing for a specified period of time, you need to go all out and hire a full-time SEO professional. You could simply hire freelancers. They are independent contractors who can offer their services to you in exchange for a fee. They usually charge by the hour or a fixed price if it’s bulk work. Ideal for small and growing companies who are simply looking to leverage some external help to grow. There are a number of freelance websites and online marketplaces that you can search for.
Full-time in-house hires – Well-established organizations who have a long-term view for their website should invest in hiring full-time employees on their payroll. All you need to do is simply put out a job ad for the position. There are many job sites available where you can put up your ad and attract applications.
Hire Remote SEO Expert – For the fast growing, small and medium companies looking to scale their business but don’t have the bandwidth to hire employees in-house on their payroll can hire full-time remote employees through these platforms. It falls a lot cheaper than an in-house resource because you don’t have to invest in infrastructure (they work remotely) and just pay a fixed monthly salary. For instance, a company in Australia can hire full-time remote seo expert from India and it works out quite cheaper than hiring from the local market.
Wrapping up
Hiring the right SEO person for your organization can be complex and time-consuming. However, there is no right or wrong approach here. It all boils down to one’s need and requirement. Keep the above-mentioned factors in mind and evaluate your own needs before you decide on the type of hire. Remember the right person can help you grow your business, bring in more clients and improve your bottom line so choose wisely.
