For contractors, this is like a homeowner asking, “do I need to hire someone to work on my home?” Every contractor will say yes, just like we say yes to contractors needing to hire someone for SEO.
If you’re not familiar with SEO, it can be difficult to know whether you need to hire someone for help or if you can do it yourself.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a critical part of any online marketing strategy. It’s the process of improving the visibility and ranking of a website or web page in search engines.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the basics of SEO and outline when you might need to hire an expert. Keep reading to learn more!
Do I Need To Hire Someone For SEO?
You can do your own SEO, but hiring an SEO specialist is highly recommended. SEO takes a ton of time and industry knowledge, making it a full-time job if you want to see real success. Hiring a specialist who already has the knowledge and experience will help you see better results and save you time and frustration.
What Do Search Engine Optimization Specialists Do?
An SEO specialist is responsible for increasing the visibility and organic search results of a website. They work to improve the ranking of a website on search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The higher a website ranks, the more likely people are to find it. Often, an SEO specialist will work as part of a team that includes web developers and content creators.
When you hire an SEO expert, they should normally be responsible for the following:
- SEO audits
- Local SEO
- On-Page SEO
- Off-Page SEO
- Technical SEO
- Content strategy and creation
- Link building campaigns
- Diagnosing website and traffic issues
- Solving SEO issues
- Developing a digital marketing strategy
They can also use their SEO knowledge to create custom SEO strategies designed to help your unique business rank higher on search engines.
Why Do I Need To Hire Someone For SEO?
SEO involves a lot of research. You need to continuously be on the lookout for changes in algorithms (the rules that search engines use to rank websites) as well as new trends and technologies to stay ahead of your competition. This and implementing quality SEO tactics is extremely time-consuming. You also need to keep monitoring your rankings and making changes as needed so that you don’t slip down the search engine results pages (SERPs).
As a business owner, you already have enough on your plate, and SEO is too important not to have your full attention. This is why you need to hire someone for SEO.
An experienced SEO specialist will already have a good understanding of algorithms and ranking factors. They can develop an SEO campaign to help your website rank higher on Google and bring in more traffic.
Website Design and Development
A well-designed website is essential for any business, but especially for contractors. Your website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your business. Therefore, it needs to be professional, engaging, and informative. Most SEO experts know what Google likes and what people like when it comes to website design. They can help you design one that ranks highly, draws people in, and helps convert them to leads.
Website Optimization
Once your website is up and running, you’ll need to optimize it to get high search engine rankings. This includes tasks like adding keywords to your content, creating title tags and meta descriptions, and building backlinks. This time-consuming and ongoing process is why hiring an SEO expert is a great idea.
Ongoing Website Maintenance
A website is never truly “finished.” It needs ongoing maintenance to ensure that it continues to function properly and rank well in search engines. This includes tasks like updating content, monitoring hosting and domain renewals, and adding new features as needed.
Creating And Optimizing A Content Strategy
One of the most important aspects of SEO is creating high-quality content that is relevant to your audience. This content must be well-researched and optimized for search engines in order to rank well and drive traffic to your site.
Keyword Research For Content
You also need to choose the right keywords. Unfortunately, this is also one of the more difficult parts, which is why hiring an SEO expert is essential. You need to find keywords that are popular enough to attract traffic but not so popular that you’ll never rank on the first page of Google. Your keywords need to be relevant to your business and audience.
Creating Content On And Off-Website
Once you have your keywords, it’s time to start creating content. Again, this is easier said than done. Not only do you need to create high-quality content that accurately reflects your brand identity, but you also need to make sure that your content is optimized for search engines. This means using your keywords throughout the text in a way that sounds natural and easy to read. If your keywords are used too frequently or in a way that appears forced, your readers will likely click away from your site. Hiring someone for SEO can take this off of your plate.
Link Building Campaigns
Link building is difficult enough to basically be its own job. Basically, link building is the process of getting other websites to link back to yours. In order for link building campaigns to be effective, though, they need to be done correctly. If they aren’t, they can actually do more harm than good by landing your website in Google’s penalty box.
Ongoing Monitoring And Enhancing
Finally, it’s important to remember that SEO is an ongoing process. Even if you achieved great results last month, there’s no guarantee those results will continue into next month or next year. That’s why ongoing monitoring and enhancement are essential. Hiring an experienced SEO specialist will help you continuously monitor your website’s performance and make necessary changes as needed in order to keep your site visible and relevant in today’s ever-changing digital landscape.
5 Signs You Need To Hire An SEO Specialist
If any of these are apparent in your business, you need to hire someone for SEO.
1. You need a guide to help you work with an SEO agency
Many businesses choose to outsource their SEO needs to SEO agencies. After all, agencies have the resources and expertise needed to get the job done right.
But, working with an SEO company can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have any experience with SEO. An agency will likely use jargon that you’re not familiar with and expect you to know certain things about the process already.
This is where an SEO specialist comes in handy. They can act as a go-between, communicating your needs to the agency while also explaining things in layman’s terms so that you can make informed decisions about your SEO strategy.
2. When you need someone to develop an SEO strategy
An effective SEO strategy is crucial for long-term success. Without one, your efforts will likely be scattered and won’t produce the desired results. This is because a good strategy takes into account your business goals, target audience, budget, and more.
Developing an effective strategy requires time and expertise that many business owners simply don’t have. This is where hiring an SEO professional can make a world of difference. They will take the time to learn about your business and develop a tailored strategy that’s designed to achieve your specific goals.
3. Your budget is tight
One major objection to hiring someone for SEO is cost. Many business owners assume that hiring an SEO specialist is too expensive and opt instead to do things themselves or not do them at all. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth!
In reality, hiring an experienced SEO specialist can actually save you money in the long run by helping you avoid costly mistakes. For example, they can help you avoid keyword stuffing which can get your site penalized by Google, or broken links which will frustrate visitors and lead them to leave your site without converting into customers.
4. You want more contract flexibility
When working with an agency, you’re often locked into a contract for a set period of time. This rigidity can be frustrating for businesses that want more flexibility when it comes to their marketing budget.
On the other hand, contracting with an SEO consultant typically provides more flexibility since they usually work on a month-to-month basis. This means that if your needs change or finances become tighter, you can simply reduce or eliminate their services without being stuck paying for something that isn’t giving you results.
5. Your SEO is the only unoptimized part of your business
In today’s digital age, it’s imperative that all aspects of your online presence are optimized, including your website, social media accounts, blog, etc. If only one part of your digital presence is unoptimized, then it drags down the rest of your efforts.
In contrast, having all parts of your digital presence optimized provides a lift that helps increase traffic and conversions across the board. This is why you need to hire someone for SEO.
How To Hire An SEO Freelancer
Get An Idea Of Your SEO Needs
Before selecting an SEO specialist, you should have a good understanding of what your needs are. Are you starting from scratch? Do you need help with link building? Do you need on-page optimization? Once you have a good grasp of what it is you need, you can start looking for someone who specializes in those specific areas.
Take A Look At Their Track Record
Next, take a look at the SEO specialist’s track record. How long have they been in business? Do they have any case studies or testimonials from satisfied clients? These will give you a good sense of whether they know what they’re doing and whether they’ve been successful in helping other businesses achieve their desired results. This makes it more likely that if you hire this SEO expert, they can recreate similar results.
Interviewing SEO Freelancers
After you’ve narrowed down your list of potential specialists, it’s time for interviews! During the interview process, be sure to ask each candidate about their experience, what strategies they would use for your business, how they measure success, and what their rates are. This will help you get a sense of whether they’re a good fit for your needs and budget.
Test Project
After you’ve decided which SEO specialist you want to hire, it’s important to start with a test project before signing on for anything long-term. This will give you a chance to see how well they communicate and deliver on their promises.
Tips For Hiring An SEO Expert
Set Your SEO Goals
Before you sign up with an SEO expert, sit down and determine what your goals are. Do you want to increase your visibility in search engine results? Drive more traffic to your website? Boost your brand awareness? Once you know what your goals are, you can start looking for someone who can help you achieve them.
If you aren’t sure what you need, look into getting an SEO audit. This can help you determine what areas you are strong and weak in.
Create A Budget
Before you start contacting potential candidates, you need to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on this service. Keep in mind that the cost to hire an SEO expert can vary depending on their experience and the scope of the project.
Write A Detailed Job Description
When you’ve got a clear idea of what your goals are and how much you’re willing to spend, it’s time to start writing up a job description. Outline your goals and what you need in detail (and use the SEO audit results). This will help potential candidates understand exactly what it is you’re looking for and whether or not they’re a good fit for the job.
Ask The Right Questions
Once you’ve whittled down your list of candidates, it’s time to start interviewing them. Ask about their experience and qualifications, their approach to SEO, and how they would go about achieving your goals.
Determine If They Fit Your Company’s Culture
Before you employ someone for SEO, you’ll want to make sure they’re a good fit for your company culture-wise. After all, they’ll be working closely with other members of your team, so it’s important that everyone gets along and shares the same values.
Where To Hire An SEO Freelancer
1. Your network
One of the best places to find an SEO specialist is through your current network of contacts. If you know anyone who has a website or blog, reach out and ask if they would recommend their current freelancer. Once you have a name, you can look at their portfolio to see if their style is a good fit for what you’re looking for.
2. Job Boards
Posting a job on a job board is one of the most direct ways to find an SEO freelancer. Sites like Indeed or Upwork are great places to start your search. When creating your post, be as specific as possible about the skills and experience you’re looking for. This will help to weed out any candidates who aren’t a good fit right from the start.
3. Search Engines
Another great way to find an SEO specialist to hire is by using a search engine like Google or Bing. Simply type in “SEO specialist” plus your city or region and see what comes up. You’ll likely get a mix of both businesses and individuals who offer SEO services. From there, you can narrow down your choices by reading reviews and comparing pricing.
4. Social Media
If you’re active on social media, try reaching out to your network on sites like LinkedIn or Twitter and see if anyone can recommend an SEO freelancer in your area. You can also check out hashtags like #SEOfreelancer or #SEOspecialist to see if anyone has posted about their experiences from working with one in the past.
How SEO Freelancers Can Help Grow Your Business
Creating a Content Strategy
A content strategy provides guidance on what kind of content to create, how often to create it, and where to publish it. It also helps you focus on creating content that appeals to your target audience and furthers your business goals. Without a content strategy, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of online content and end up wasting time and effort on pieces that don’t really matter. Hiring an SEO specialist can ensure your content strategy is sound.
Doing Keyword Research
If you want people to find your website, you need to make sure you’re using the right keywords. Keywords are the terms and phrases people use when they’re searching for something online. If you want people to find your site when they’re searching for something specific, you need to make sure those keywords are included in your website’s content.
That’s where keyword research comes in. Keyword research is the process of finding and selecting keywords that are relevant to your business and have a decent amount of search traffic. Once you’ve selected the right keywords, you can start incorporating them into your website’s content, which brings us to our next point…
Creating Content
Once you know which keywords you want to target, it’s time to start creating content around those keywords. This could be blog posts, articles, web pages, or even social media posts. The important thing is that each piece of content contains at least one of your target keywords. This tells search engines that your website is relevant to what people are looking for and should be ranked accordingly.
Link Building
Link building is the process of getting other websites to link back to yours. Links are important because they show search engines that other websites consider your site valuable and trustworthy. These are two things that can help improve your ranking significantly. Link building can be a bit of a complex process, so unless you’re experienced with it, we recommend hiring an expert in the SEO industry.
When To Hire An SEO Agency Instead Of An SEO Freelancer
You Need Consistency
One of the most important aspects of SEO is consistency. In order to rank high in Google search results, you need to consistently publish high-quality content, use relevant keywords, and keep your website updated. This can be difficult to do on your own, especially if you’re running a business at the same time. Hiring an SEO agency can help you maintain a consistent SEO strategy so that you can focus on other aspects of your business.
When You Need More SEO Services
An agency can offer a comprehensive suite of SEO services that a freelancer may not be able to provide. For example, an agency can help you with keyword research, content creation, link building, website audits, and more. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, an agency is the way to go.
Your SEO Needs Pass A Freelancer’s Capacity
As your business grows, so too will your need for SEO services. At some point, a freelancer won’t be able to keep up with your demand, making an agency necessary in order to scale your SEO efforts. An agency will have the resources and manpower to keep up with your growth and ensure that your SEO strategy is effective.
Contractor Growth Network: Providing High-Quality SEO Services Only For Contractors
If you’re a contractor looking for high-quality SEO services, look no further than the Contractor Growth Network. We only work with contractors, and we know what it takes to help your business succeed online.
Set up a meeting today to talk about your business’s SEO needs- we’d love to hear from you!
