SEO outsourcing is the process of hiring an external expert or agency to manage your search engine optimization needs. This approach can significantly enhance your online visibility, ranking, and traffic while allowing you to save both time and resources on SEO. But, what steps should you take to effectively outsource SEO?
What are the benefits and risks associated with SEO outsourcing? Additionally, what are the best practices to adhere to when engaging in SEO outsourcing?
In this article, we aim to address these questions and more. We will offer you a straightforward and actionable guide on how to outsource SEO and successfully meet your digital marketing objectives.
What Is SEO Outsourcing?
SEO outsourcing is the act of engaging an external expert or agency to manage your search engine optimization efforts. This approach can significantly enhance your online presence, rankings, and traffic while saving you both time and resources. But, what exactly can you outsource in terms of SEO services?
Furthermore, how do the advantages and disadvantages compare when outsourcing to freelancers versus SEO agencies?
Types of SEO Services to Outsource
SEO is a broad and intricate field, encompassing various optimization areas such as:
- Technical SEO: Enhancing your website’s technical elements like site speed, mobile responsiveness, structure, URL setup, XML sitemaps, robots.txt, canonical URLs, and more.
- On-page SEO: Optimizing the content and components on your web pages, including titles, headings, meta tags, keywords, images, etc.
- Off-page SEO: Boosting your website’s authority and reputation through external means, like backlinks, social media, reviews, and more.
- Content SEO: Creating and promoting content that is high-quality, relevant, and engaging for your audience, such as blog posts, landing pages, videos, etc.
- Local SEO: Tailoring your website for local search queries by incorporating your business name, address, phone number, map listings, etc.
- Ecommerce SEO: Optimizing your online store for ecommerce searches, including product pages, categories, reviews, etc.
- Video SEO: Enhancing your videos for video search engines, focusing on titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails, etc.
- Image SEO: Optimizing your images for image searches, covering alt text, file name, size, and more.
- International SEO: Adapting your website for global searches, considering language, currency, country settings, etc.
You can outsource any or all of these SEO services based on your specific requirements and objectives. However, not every SEO service provider delivers the same level of expertise and quality, which is why it’s crucial to make an informed decision between freelancers and SEO agencies.
Outsourcing with Freelancers vs. with SEO Agencies
Freelancers are independent SEO specialists offering a range of services, from keyword research and content writing to link building. They can be engaged for both short-term and long-term projects, blending seamlessly with your internal digital marketing team. On the other hand, SEO agencies comprise teams of SEO professionals specialized in various SEO facets, like technical SEO, on-page, and off-page SEO, offering a comprehensive strategy and implementation for your website.
Choosing between freelancers and agencies for SEO outsourcing comes down to weighing their respective pros and cons:
- Cost: Freelancers typically offer more cost-effective solutions due to lower overhead costs and hourly rates, whereas agencies, offering a broader range of services, incur higher operational expenses.
- Quality: Agencies usually provide more reliable and consistent quality, backed by established processes and standards. Freelancer quality may fluctuate based on their experience and current workload.
- Flexibility: Freelancers offer greater flexibility, adapting their schedule and workload to meet your needs, whereas agencies might have less flexibility due to fixed contracts and timelines.
- Communication: Direct communication with freelancers tends to be easier, providing quicker feedback. Agencies may have more layers of communication, potentially slowing down the exchange of information.
- Scalability: Agencies are better equipped to scale, having the resources and capacity to tackle larger and more complex projects. Freelancers might be limited by their bandwidth and range of expertise.
The decision between freelancers and agencies for your SEO outsourcing needs should be based on your unique requirements, goals, budget, and preferences. It’s essential to consider the pros and cons of each option to find the best match for your project.
Benefits of Outsourcing SEO
Outsourcing SEO can be a strategic choice for several reasons. First, SEO is a complex and ever-evolving field, and outsourcing to experts ensures that you benefit from the latest SEO best practices and industry knowledge.
Additionally, it can be more cost-effective than maintaining an in-house team. Let’s look at some of the main benefits of outsourcing SEO in more detail.
Expediency
One of the benefits of outsourcing SEO is that it can save you time and hassle. SEO requires a lot of research, analysis, implementation, and monitoring, which can be time-consuming and tedious. By outsourcing SEO, you can delegate these tasks to a professional who can handle them efficiently and effectively.
This way, you can focus on your core business activities and goals, while the SEO expert takes care of your online visibility and ranking.
Expertise
Another benefit of outsourcing SEO is that you can access the expertise and experience of a seasoned SEO specialist or agency. SEO is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it requires a deep understanding of search engine algorithms, user behavior, and industry trends. By outsourcing SEO, you can leverage the knowledge and skills of an SEO expert who can develop a customized and data-driven SEO strategy for your website.
They can also help you avoid common SEO pitfalls and mistakes, and keep up with the latest SEO updates and changes.
Cost
A third benefit of outsourcing SEO is that it can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house SEO team. SEO requires a lot of resources, tools, and technology, which can be expensive to acquire and maintain.
By outsourcing SEO, you can reduce your overhead costs and pay only for the services you need. You can also scale your SEO efforts up or down as needed, depending on your budget and goals. Outsourcing SEO can also help you increase your return on investment (ROI) by improving your organic traffic, conversions, and sales.
How to Outsource SEO
Now that you know what SEO outsourcing is and what are its benefits, you may be wondering how to outsource SEO effectively. Outsourcing SEO is not a one-time transaction, but a long-term partnership that requires careful planning, communication, and management. Here are the five steps you need to follow to outsource SEO successfully.
1. Define Your Goals
The first step to outsource SEO is to define your goals and expectations. What do you want to achieve with SEO? How do you measure success?
How much are you willing to invest? These are some of the questions you need to answer before you start looking for an SEO partner.
Having clear and realistic goals will help you communicate your needs and evaluate the performance of your SEO partner.
2. Research and Select the Best SEO Partner for You
The second step to outsource SEO is to research and select the best SEO partner for you. There are many SEO service providers out there, but not all of them are suitable for your needs and goals.
You need to do your due diligence and compare different options based on factors such as:
- Services offered: Make sure the SEO partner offers the services you need, such as technical SEO, content SEO, local SEO, etc.
- Experience and reputation: Check the SEO partner’s portfolio, case studies, testimonials, and reviews to see their track record and results.
- Process and methodology: Understand how the SEO partner works, what tools and techniques they use, and how they report and communicate.
- Cost and value: Compare the prices and packages of different SEO partners and see what value they offer for your budget.
You can also ask for referrals from your network, or use online platforms such as [Fiverr] or [Ahrefs] to find and vet potential SEO partners.
3. Agree on the Scope of Work
The third step to outsource SEO is to agree on the scope of work with your SEO partner. This means defining the deliverables, timelines, milestones, and payment terms of your SEO project.
You should also establish the roles and responsibilities of each party, and the communication channels and frequency. Having a clear and detailed scope of work will help you avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and scope creep.
4. Provide Access to Your Website and Relevant Data
The fourth step to outsource SEO is to provide access to your website and relevant data to your SEO partner. This will enable them to perform an SEO audit, implement SEO changes, and monitor SEO performance.
You should also share any information that can help your SEO partner understand your business, such as your target audience, competitors, value proposition, etc. Providing access and information will help your SEO partner deliver better results and align with your goals.
5. Monitor Results
The fifth and final step in outsourcing SEO involves monitoring results. It’s crucial to track and measure the progress and performance of your SEO partner. This can be done by focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as organic traffic, ranking, and conversions.
Additionally, you should ensure regular reports and feedback are exchanged between you and your SEO partner. Providing your own feedback and suggestions is also key. By monitoring results, you can effectively evaluate your SEO partner’s impact and make necessary adjustments to your SEO strategy as needed.
Conclusion
SEO outsourcing is a smart and effective strategy to enhance your online visibility, improve your rankings, and increase traffic without dedicating excessive time or resources to SEO efforts. By choosing to outsource SEO, you gain the expediency, expertise, and cost-efficiency of a professional SEO partner dedicated to meeting your SEO needs and objectives. Nevertheless, successful SEO outsourcing necessitates meticulous planning, open communication, and effective management.
To make the most out of SEO outsourcing, it’s essential to clearly define your goals, conduct thorough research to select the best SEO partner that aligns with your needs, agree on the scope of work, provide necessary access and information, and monitor the results closely. By adhering to these guidelines, you can outsource SEO effectively and fulfill your digital marketing goals.
