Ultimate Guide to Hiring an SEO Expert [+ Best Places to Find]

As I’ve learned while trying to improve my own website rankings, finding the right SEO expert or freelancer is a daunting task.

Fortunately, after a few great hires and a fair share of mishaps, I’ve learned what it takes to hire an SEO professional and where to look. 

This guide serves as a culmination of my personal experience hiring SEO professionals to help you learn how to find and hire the right one. 

Key Takeaways:

• SEO Specialist Types: Technical, Content, and Off-Page SEO experts, each with distinct focus areas…
• Expert Qualities and Skills: Analytical, creative, adaptable, with skills in keyword research, technical SEO, content creation, and link building.
• Ideal Timing for Hiring: To improve website visibility, launch/redesign a website, or when you need a tailored SEO strategy.
• Consultant Costs: Rates vary, with average hourly rates between $76 and $200, depending on expertise and project complexity.

Read our guide on the best freelance websites for marketing to find and hire talent to grow your business.

Benefits of Hiring an SEO Expert

Hiring an SEO professional can help you increase your organic visibility, which can ultimately help you improve your reputation and sales.

The top reasons to outsource this arena include:

Focus Your Time on High-Impact Business Activities

Spend less time dealing with keywords and optimizations and more time on your core business activities when you leave SEO to the experts. 

Sustainable Online Growth

Regardless of where your SEO is starting out, working with a professional can help you make sizeable, long-term improvements.

Smooth Website Launch

Ensure the success of your website launch or re-design with an SEO expert. They’ll help you avoid common missteps and implement best practices.

Cost-Efficiency

Hiring an external SEO professional comes at a cost, but it’s more budget-friendly than hiring one in-house. Enjoy their expertise and benefits without the cost of training or equipment.

Considerations for Hiring an SEO Expert

When starting the search for an SEO expert, there are some considerations you need to think about first.

Type of SEO Specialists

When embarking on the journey to hire an SEO expert, it's essential to consider the type of expert that aligns with your business goals. There are different categories of SEO experts, including:

• Technical SEO Experts: They focus on optimizing the technical aspects of your website, such as site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawling efficiency.
• Content SEO Experts: These specialists excel in content optimization, keyword research, and content strategy, ensuring your website's content resonates with both search engines and users.
• Off-Page SEO Experts: They concentrate on backlink building, influencer outreach, and improving your website's authority in the eyes of search engines.

Scope of Responsibilities

Understanding the scope of responsibilities is crucial when hiring an SEO expert.

Decide whether you need a consultant who provides guidance and strategy or someone who can execute hands-on optimization tasks.

Goals & Objectives

Clearly define your SEO goals and objectives before hiring an expert.

Are you aiming to increase organic traffic, boost keyword rankings, or improve conversion rates? Having a clear roadmap will help you find the right expert for the job.

How to Hire an SEO Expert: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Define Your Objectives

Are you aiming to increase organic traffic, boost keyword rankings, or improve conversion rates? Having a clear roadmap will help you find the right expert for the job.

Examples of SEO goals you may have include:

1. Increase organic traffic
2. Generate more leads
3. Increase conversions
4. Lower website bounce rate
5. Improve your domain authority score

2. Identify the Type of SEO Expert You Need

Consider the type of expert that aligns with your business goals. There are different categories of SEO experts, including:

1. Technical SEO Experts: They optimize the technical aspects of your website, such as site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawling efficiency.
2. Content SEO Experts: These specialists excel in content optimization, keyword research, and content strategy, ensuring your website's content resonates with both search engines and users.
3. Off-Page SEO Experts: They concentrate on backlink building, influencer outreach, and improving your website's authority in the eyes of search engines.

3. Create Goals & Define Budget

Set quantifiable goals that you want to reach within a certain timeframe.

For example:

• Increase website traffic by 5% in 60 days
• Optimize page speed
• Increase the average time visitors spend on our website

These goals will also help you set your budget.

4. Find Professionals

Use some of the sites in this guide to find experts based on your defined needs and goals. Examine the candidate's portfolio and previous work to gauge their expertise and track record in delivering results.

5. Evaluate References

Request references from past clients to gain insights into their working style and professionalism.

Contact the references and inquire about the candidate to learn more about their experience and work style. Some questions to ask references include:

• How effective was the SEO specialists’s guidance?
• How were the SEO professional’s teamwork and communication skills?
• Did you experience long-lasting results from their SEO work?

6. Conduct Interviews & Test Aptitude

Interview potential candidates to evaluate their knowledge, communication skills, and their alignment with your business values.

A few examples of questions you should ask before hiring an SEO expert include:

• What is your price for SEO services?
• Which SEO tools do you use?
• Please summarize your SEO process.
• How do you stay updated with ever-changing SEO trends?
• Can you provide me with a case study?
• How often do you send reports?
• How do you measure progress?
• How long will it take to produce results?

Pro tip: Avoid any “SEO professional” who claims they can guarantee that your website ranks first or that they can get results in a very short time frame. These unrealistic promises are a sign of shady work.

Best Places to Find SEO Freelancers

Here are five of the best places to find freelance SEO experts:

• The Fractional SEO Agency: Matches your business with a vetted, fractional head of SEO.  We've worked extensively with one of the experts here and cannot say enough good things about our experience.
• MarketerHire: With one of the most rigorous screening processes on the freelancing market, MarketerHire only accepts less than 5% of the top SEO professionals who apply to their site. Read our MarketerHire review.
• Mayple: By only featuring talented digital marketers, they give businesses the peace of mind that they can find professional SEO services through their platform. Read our Mayple review.
• Upwork: A popular freelance platform with a wide range of SEO experts at various price points. Read our Upwork Review.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is one of the largest freelancing job boards on the web, which means that there are thousands of SEO Experts to choose from on the site. Read our Fiverr review.

When to Hire an SEO Specialist?

Determining the right time to hire an SEO expert depends on your business's needs and goals. Consider bringing in an expert when:

• You want to improve your website's visibility on search engines.
• You're launching a new website or redesigning an existing one.
• Your website is struggling to attract organic traffic.
• You need a tailored SEO strategy to outrank competitors.

What to Look for in an SEO Expert

When evaluating potential SEO experts, focus on these key factors:

Characteristics

• Analytical Mindset: An SEO expert should be data-driven and capable of analyzing performance metrics.
• Creativity: Creativity is essential for devising unique strategies that stand out in a competitive landscape.
• Adaptability: The digital marketing landscape evolves rapidly, so an expert should be adaptable to changes and algorithm updates.
• Up-to-date with SEO Trends: An expert should stay current with the latest search engine algorithms and updates and have an awareness of emerging SEO tools, techniques, and best practices.
• Strategic Thinker: An SEO expert must be able to develop and implement long-term SEO strategies that align with business goals.
• Collaborative Nature: A good SEO expert must effectively work closely with other teams like content creators, developers, and marketers, to achieve common goals.
• Results-Oriented: SEO experts must focus on achieving tangible results like increased organic traffic, higher rankings, and improved conversion rates.

Skills

• Keyword Research: Proficiency in identifying relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition.
• Technical SEO: Familiarity with website optimization techniques, including schema markup, site speed optimization, and mobile-friendliness.
• Content Creation: The ability to create compelling and SEO-friendly content that engages readers.
• Link Building: Experience in building high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources.
• On-Page Optimization: Expertise in optimizing SEO tools like meta tags, headers, alt text, internal linking, and content.
• Content Creation: The ability to create compelling and SEO-friendly content that engages readers.
• Off-Page Optimization: Skills in link-building strategies and techniques, white-hat outreach methods, and backlink analysis.
• Content Optimization: Ability to optimize content for search engines while ensuring it remains user-friendly.
• Knowledge of content strategies that align with SEO goals.

Qualifications

• Formal education:
  • Bachelor's Degree: While not mandatory, many SEO experts have degrees in fields like Marketing, Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, or Communications.Formal Education:
  • Postgraduate Studies: Some SEO professionals might have advanced degrees in Digital Marketing, Business Analytics, or related fields, which can provide a deeper understanding of the digital landscape.
• Certifications:
  • Google Analytics Certification: Validates expertise in using Google Analytics to analyze website traffic, user behavior, and campaign performance.
  • Google Ads Certification: Demonstrates proficiency in running and optimizing Google Ads campaigns, which can complement SEO efforts.
  • HubSpot Content Marketing Certification: This certification covers content creation strategies that align with SEO goals.
  • SEMrush Academy: Offers various courses and certifications on SEO fundamentals, technical SEO, and more.
  • Yoast SEO Academy: Provides training on WordPress SEO and other related topics.
  • Other SEO Platforms: Certifications from platforms like Moz, Ahrefs, or BrightEdge can also be beneficial.
• Practical hands-on experience:
  • Hands-on SEO Experience: Demonstrated experience in optimizing websites, improving rankings, and driving organic traffic growth is crucial. 
  • Portfolio or Case Studies: Evidence of past projects, campaigns, or websites they've optimized, showcasing their results.
• Specialized training:
  • Technical SEO Training: Courses or workshops that delve deep into the technical aspects of SEO like site speed optimization, structured data, and server settings.
  • Local SEO Training: Specialized training in optimizing for local search results for businesses targeting local audiences.
• Affiliations and Memberships: Membership in professional organizations, such as the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) or other local digital marketing groups.
• Soft Skills and Other Qualities: Qualities like analytical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and ethical judgment are crucial for an SEO expert.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an SEO Consultant?

The cost of hiring an SEO consultant can vary widely based on factors like their expertise, location, and the scope of work.

According to data from Ahrefs, the average hourly rate for SEO freelancers is between $76 and $200 per hour, depending on their level of experience and the complexity of the project.

Some consultants may also offer fixed monthly fees or project-based pricing.

Time to Start Ranking

In conclusion, hiring an SEO expert can be a game-changer for your business's online success.

By considering the type of expert you need, setting clear objectives, and following a structured hiring process, you can find the perfect SEO professional to take your digital presence to new heights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an SEO expert do?

An SEO expert specializes in optimizing websites to improve their visibility on search engines. They perform tasks such as keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and technical SEO to enhance a website's rankings and drive organic traffic.

How much does it cost to hire an SEO expert?

On average, it costs between $76 and $200 per hour to hire an SEO specialist depending on their expertise and the scope of the project.

Is it worth hiring an SEO expert?

Yes, hiring an SEO expert is often worth the investment. They can help improve your website's search engine rankings, increase organic traffic, and ultimately drive more leads and revenue for your business.

Who should hire an SEO expert?

Businesses of all sizes and industries can benefit from hiring an SEO consultant. Whether you're a startup looking to establish an online presence or an established company aiming to boost your online visibility, an SEO expert can help you achieve your goals.

Where is the best place to find SEO experts?

While there are various platforms to find freelance SEO experts, MarketerHire and Toptal stand out as reputable sources for discovering top-notch freelance SEO professionals. These platforms offer a curated pool of talent with proven expertise in the field.