Increase Page Rankings by Hiring an SEO Consultant

What is SEO? (Search Engine Optimization)

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the art and science of cultivating a highly visible website capable of reaching the top of the Search Engine Results pages. To achieve a strong SEO strategy, companies invest in various tactics, from technical optimization to keyword research, backlinking, and authoritative content creation. 

The goal of SEO is to ensure the search engine “crawlers” which assess your website define your pages as the best resource to present to customers searching for specific words and phrases online. While SEO isn’t a new concept for most companies, it’s still one of the most valuable digital marketing strategies, driving 1,000% more traffic than organic social media.

SEO works to generate more leads and opportunities for companies, positioning content in front of prospects in every stage of the purchasing funnel. Used correctly, it can:

1. Improve credibility and trust

Ranking on the front page of Google doesn’t just give you greater visibility; it can also enhance your reputation among potential clients. Search engines like Google use various off-page and on-page signals to rank websites, focusing on delivering the best possible content to each consumer. This means when people see a website at the top of the search engine result pages (SERPs), they expect it to be valuable. 

In fact, around 75% of users don’t bother moving onto page 2 of the Google search results because they trust the algorithm to deliver the best content on the first page. With SEO, you can show your audience that you’re a thought leader in your space and outshine the competition. 

2. Increase discoverability and website traffic

Perhaps the biggest benefit of SEO is it makes it easier for customers to find your website. Around 92.96% of all global traffic to websites worldwide comes from Google Maps, Images, and Search. As mentioned above, the majority of online experiences start with a search engine. Customers type keywords and phrases into Google to find answers to their problems. 

With Search Engine Optimization, you can target customers at every stage of the purchasing cycle, from the top of the funnel to the bottom, improving your chances of engagement and sales. An effective SEO strategy will make your brand stand out from the crowd, leading to new opportunities for sales and conversions. 

3. Increase ROI

While SEO is a long-term marketing strategy, it can deliver an impressive return on investment over time. According to some studies, SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate. Additionally, 60% of marketers say that SEO content is their best source of quality leads. With an effective SEO strategy, you can build a relationship with your target audience, which positions you as a thought leader in your field. 

In most cases, investing in SEO is a relatively low-cost solution to building opportunities and traffic. Once you’ve worked with an SEO consultant to develop your strategy, you can create a comprehensive campaign that delivers “compounding benefits” over time. After all, you don’t need to pay to keep your optimized posts at the top of the search results. Users can continue to find your content years after you create it. 

4. Achieve 24/7 Promotion

Many digital marketing strategies revolve around temporary promotional efforts. You might run a campaign on social media for a specific length of time or pay for an ad to be displayed via PPC during a sales event. However, SEO is long-term and long-lasting. 

Search Engine Optimization efforts don’t stop after a specific period. Content doesn’t disappear once your budget runs out, and your rankings remain consistent for as long as you continue to deliver value to your audience. What’s more, unlike other forms of marketing, SEO allows you to reach your users when they’re searching for you rather than requiring you to grab their attention with disruptive tactics. 

5. Provide targeted results

An effective SEO campaign is tailored to suit your target audience at different stages in the purchasing journey. You can focus on keywords specific to your chosen audience or niche. There’s even an option to concentrate on local SEO if you’re looking for customers nearby. This means you can focus your attention on generating the most relevant leads for your company. 

With a comprehensive SEO campaign, you can create pages and content which connect with your customers at the top level of the funnel, searching for solutions to problems. You can also create service pages and landing pages which convert bottom-of-the-funnel clients. 

Getting the SEO Expertise your Business Needs

Before you start hiring an SEO Consulting expert, it’s worth remembering that these professionals come in many different forms. The strategy that works best for you will depend on your specific needs, as each solution has its own pros and cons. 

Here are the most common options:

Hiring a Freelance SEO Consultant

A Freelance SEO consultant is a professional hired on a contractual basis. You can hire these individuals, long-term or short-term, to assist with specific campaigns. Unlike other forms of SEO specialists, freelancers are inherently flexible. They don’t require any long-term commitments, and they can offer a variety of different skill sets. 

Pros:

• Affordable pricing compared to in-house or agency alternatives
• Flexibility with no long-term contracts and adaptable schedules
• Excellent communication and consistent support
• Access to expertise and skills you may not get elsewhere
• Scalable services for long or short-term requirements

Cons:

• Finding a reputable SEO consultant can be challenging
• You may need to hire multiple freelancers to access different skills

Hiring a Full-Time Employee

An in-house or FTE SEO consultant is often the go-to option for bigger brands that want constant access to support. These are employees who work exclusively for your company. Depending on the size of your business, you may have a comprehensive team or just a single professional. Unlike a freelancer or agency, these employees are hired as members of staff, not contractors. 

Pros:

• Dedicated support for your business only
• They can form a closer relationship with your internal team
• You can decide exactly which responsibilities your employee will have
• Scalability – you can add more employees whenever you like
• No competition for time, as the employee is committed to your brand

Cons:

• Knowledge gaps often need to be filled with regular training
• Expensive overheads, including long-term payroll and equipment investment
• Finding and keeping top talent can be challenging

Hiring an SEO Agency

An SEO agency is a team of dedicated professionals designed to handle all aspects of your optimization strategy. As well as an SEO consultant, you may also gain access to technical professionals, content writers, social media marketers, and PPC experts. Agencies can offer a range of services to suit different company needs and often work on a contracted basis, either long or short-term. Like a freelancer, they may work with multiple brands at once. 

Pros:

• Extensive expertise with specialists versed in numerous SEO tactics
• Consistent access to reporting and analytics to guide your strategy
• Adaptive support, similar to working with a freelancer
• No need for internal training, as the team will stay up-to-date on their own
• Excellent scalability for larger companies

Cons:

• Agencies are often far more expensive than working with freelancers
• They may use the same strategies for multiple different companies
• You may end up with more services than you need

Why Hire a Freelance SEO Consultant?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for hiring the best SEO expert, most companies find working with a freelancer to be the most cost-effective and flexible route. Freelancers offer affordable access to in-depth SEO knowledge, with skills capable of matching virtually any need. 

A freelancer doesn’t require you to commit to the process of finding, hiring, onboarding, and training a specific member of staff. Plus, you can scale your support level to suit your budget. 

Hiring a freelance SEO consultant gives you access to benefits like:

• Simplicity: You can hire the exact professional you need, with the skills necessary for your campaign, for as long as you want, without a complex recruitment process.
• Flexibility: You’re free to hire your freelancer for as long as you like, whether you’re looking for long-term support or assistance with a short-term campaign. 
• Expertise: Freelance SEO consultants are dedicated to ensuring they stay up-to-date with the latest SEO algorithms and strategies. 
• Affordability: Freelance SEO services are the most cost-effective way to access support. They’re much cheaper than working with an in-house employee or agency.
• Individualized attention: Freelancers can adapt their strategy and techniques to suit your business easily. They’re highly versatile professionals who can work around your schedule. 

How to Hire the Best Freelance SEO Consultant

Thanks to the rise in the freelance landscape, it’s becoming increasingly easy to hire a contractual SEO consultant. However, one of the biggest challenges companies face is finding a professional they can trust to deliver the right results. Not all freelancers are true experts in their field. Here are some tips to help you choose the best consultant:

1. Ask for Insights into their Work

A good freelance SEO consultant should be able to give you examples of their work, in the form of a portfolio, with case studies and testimonials from previous clients. Asking for this information will allow you to evaluate whether your chosen expert has experience in your specific industry. You’ll also be able to determine how trustworthy the company is, based on customer reviews. 

2. Discuss their Expertise and Strategies

There are various different types of SEO a professional consultant can specialize in. Some are excellent at keyword research and content production, while others are more effective at helping with technical SEO. Ask your potential freelancer about the services they offer and the experience they have. Some professionals will even have credentials they can share with you. 

3. Look for credibility

Many SEO consultants can promise the world to a company when first starting a campaign. However, the best professionals will be transparent and realistic. They won’t simply give you a one-size-fits-all strategy. Instead, they’ll conduct an audit to determine exactly what kind of SEO support you need. They’ll also be honest about the support they can provide and won’t promise immediate, unreasonable results. 

4. Prioritize communication and transparency

A good SEO Consultant will be easy to contact and capable of providing complete transparency throughout your campaigns. They’ll communicate with you about their efforts on a regular basis, answer your questions, and provide you with easy-to-understand advice. They may also be able to offer reports and analytics to help you better understand how their work is paying off. 

FAQs

What skills should you look for when hiring an SEO consultant?

The exact skills you’ll need from an SEO consultant will depend on your goals. At the very least, your consultant should have knowledge of technical, on-page, and off-page SEO. They should understand keyword research, algorithm changes, and content marketing strategies. 

How much should you pay an SEO Consultant?

The price of a good SEO consultant can vary, usually starting at around $100 to $250 per hour. However, the price you pay will depend on the services you need assistance with. 

What is a technical SEO Consultant?

A technical SEO consultant is a professional who works on the technical side of your website to improve UI/UX and drive good customer experiences. They can make your website faster and ensure Google can easily crawl and index your pages. 

Should You Hire an SEO Consulting Expert?

So, is an SEO consulting expert the right choice for your business?

If you’re looking to boost your presence online, achieve excellent ROI, and strengthen your chances of success, then the answer is a resounding yes. SEO is one of the most valuable tools any business can invest in today. It can improve your chances of reaching your target audience, ensure you maintain an authoritative presence online, and help you compete in a changing market. 

An SEO consultant will help you to understand the nuances of search engine optimization and use different tactics to your advantage. They’ll build a strategy based on your unique needs and boost your chances of seeing rapid results. 

If you want to access the benefits of an SEO consultant for yourself, Growth Collective makes the process easy. Our pre-vetted SEO consultants are hand-selected from the best experts in the world to deliver phenomenal results for each client. Hire your SEO consultant here today.