Did you know that you can outsource SEO work?
Every business that wants to remain competitive today needs a website. This fact is no longer up for debate; neither is the need for SEO. Not everyone understands SEO, and you don’t need to either. SEO can be outsourced to outside agencies and companies for better results, like many other processes and tasks.
Besides being a specialized field, SEO is a time-consuming process, and all of its burdens can’t be dumped on your in-house team, especially if they lack the resources and skills.
SEO outsourcing doesn’t mean that your in-house team will not be involved. Although outsourcing will help you save time and improve results, it works best when the agency and your team work together.
So, is it better to outsource SEO work?
The short answer is: Yes. Outsourcing work that you don’t fully understand is always the better alternative as it will save you time, funds, and a whole lot of heartache and disappointment.
Here are some more reasons why you should consider outsourcing your SEO work:
Save time and money
Optimisation of your website and content and ranking in the search results will be faster when the process is handled by seasoned professionals. When you outsource SEO services will save you on time required to train full-time employees. Apart from saving time, an SEO agency can offer a multitude of expert services at a lesser cost relative to the cost of training the in-house staff.
Faster and better results
For organisations that already enjoy some organic traffic, an SEO outsourcing company can help elevate your strategies and boost your traffic. You can expect the work to begin almost immediately when you outsource SEO, and results will be seen faster.
Skip the learning curve
If you are only now getting into SEO, your in-house team will require a lot of time to learn the ropes, which will take them away from other tasks they can be doing, like content generation and optimization. Leaving some of the more nuanced work to the experienced will help you skip the learning curve and go all the way to the strategy execution.
Access expertise and premium SEO tools
Not all SEO tools are free, and not all free tools are effective or give a wholesome result. Purchasing an SEO tool isn’t always cost-effective for small businesses or individuals.
When outsourcing SEO to an agency, you get access to their team of experts, as well as tools such as SEMRush, Ahrefs, BrightEdge, and seoClarity.
Quality SEO strategies
SEO is more than just writing and posting content on your website to drive traffic and generate leads. A good agency will offer professional SEO services that involve keyword strategies, content strategies for all platforms, link-building, content creation calendar, and content marketing while also monitoring the impact of the SEO efforts on conversions and user experience.
Additionally, outsourcing SEO to an agency will give you an objective and realistic perspective on the work and its progress.
Maintain integrity
A good SEO agency will get you results without resorting to “black hat” techniques like link-building through spammy websites and directories. Such practices are used by inexperienced people who want fast results, without realizing that they will harm your SEO and domain authority score in the long run.
Stay abreast with the latest trends and tools
Every SEO practitioner worth their salt keeps up with the latest changes in search engine algorithms and SEO tools. When you outsource SEO, you can stay assured that the experts are using the latest methodologies and strategies as they are up-to-date on the trends. Outsourcing your SEO work is far better than expecting your in-house team to stay on top of things, as it will take them away from other tasks that need their attention.
Now that we have seen the benefits of outsourcing SEO, let us look at the right way to select an SEO company.
How to avoid making mistakes when choosing to outsource SEO
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is no easy task and can throw even veterans off their game if they are not careful. Even so, many agencies and individuals claim to be SEO experts; therefore, it always pays to be cautious when outsourcing SEO to an outside agency.
Ask the agency these questions to avoid making mistakes when you outsource search engine optimisation work:
How are you different from other agencies?
Every agency or consultant will have an individualised approach to SEO so, ask the details of their process, its uniqueness, and effectiveness. Once you get your answer, compare it with their website and SEO rankings. Consider looking for another alternative if their page is nowhere near the first page for their targetted keyword.
What tools do you use?
There are many free SEO tools available online, like SEMRush, Moz Pro, Ahrefs, etc. SEO companies use these tools, apart from their own proprietary SEO tools. Opt for agencies that give you a list of tools and their reasons for using the same.
When will I see the results?
Many companies and consultants like to make big promises. Watch out for agencies that promise quick or instant results, as it takes around four to six months for substantial results to show.
What is your process?
Any agency should be able to outline and detail its process clearly. If you hear too many buzzwords and baseless promises, it’s time to start looking for another agency.
How do you measure results?
Bounce rate, lead conversions, keyword rankings, organic search volumes, text readability, and click-through rates are important metrics used to measure the effectiveness of SEO efforts. Asking an agency what metrics they use and how they interpret the impact will give you an idea as to how well they know what they are doing.
How often do you submit reports?
Measuring, tracking, and reporting data is vital to the success of SEO efforts. Choose an agency whose reporting cycle suits your preferences. Just keep in mind that even though longer reporting periods will show more substantial results, they will overlook key indicators that show the effectiveness of strategies.
Show us your track record
This is one of the most crucial details you need to get from any potential SEO company. Their track record will show you who they have worked with before and how their strategies helped their clients achieve the desired results. It shows that the agency has the proof to back up its claims.
To Conclude
You can outsource most digital transformation work to individuals or agencies. If you are a small business, you might lack the resources to hire a full-time in-house team to meet your digital needs. It is beneficial to outsource SEO and other digital services like search engine marketing (SEM), social media marketing, pay-per-click (PPC), etc., in this scenario.
