How to hire an SEO consultant and what to expect from them

Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your website show up in search engine results. The better your SEO, the more people find your site. Since over half of all website traffic comes from organic traffic, getting SEO right can mean more visitors and more sales.

Hiring an SEO consultant can make a big difference in how well your website performs, but finding the right one isn’t always easy. You want someone who knows their stuff and can bring real value to your business. Here’s how to hire an SEO expert and what to expect from them.

Look for real results, not just credentials

It's easy to be impressed by certifications and awards, but what really matters is what the consultant has actually done. Here’s what to focus on:

Case studies

Ask for detailed case studies that show how the SEO consultant has helped other businesses. Look for specifics on the challenges they faced, the SEO tactics they used, and the results they achieved. A good case study should include:

• Initial assessment: What was the state of the client’s website before the consultant started their work? Were there any major issues with technical SEO or keyword optimization?
• SEO strategy: What SEO strategy did they implement? Did they focus on improving content, building links, or fixing technical SEO issues?
• Results: What were the measurable results? Look for improvements in search engine rankings, website traffic, and conversions. Ask for before-and-after data to see the impact clearly.

Long-term clients

SEO is not a one-time fix; it requires ongoing work. SEO consultants with long-term clients are likely providing consistent, valuable results. Here’s how to verify this:

• Client feedback: Talk to these clients to see what they have to say. Were they satisfied with the consultant’s work? How has their website performance improved over time?
• Ongoing services: Ask the consultant what ongoing SEO services they provide. Do they offer regular updates, continuous keyword research, and adjustments to their strategies based on the latest trends and algorithm changes?

Client retention

Long-term client relationships often indicate trust and satisfaction. Here’s how to check for this:

• Duration of relationships: How long have their clients stayed with them? Long-term relationships often mean the consultant is delivering sustained value.
• Client testimonials: Look for testimonials that highlight the consultant’s ability to adapt and continuously improve the client's SEO performance over time.

Real-world examples

Ask for specific, real-world examples of how they’ve tackled different SEO challenges. This could include:

• Technical SEO fixes: Examples of how they’ve improved site speed, mobile-friendliness, or resolved crawl errors.
• Keyword research and optimization: Instances where they identified and targeted high-value keywords to improve search engine rankings.
• Content strategy: Cases where they helped create or optimize content that drove more traffic and engaged the target audience.

Ask about their process

Understanding their process can give you insights into how thorough and proactive they are. A good SEO consultant should have a clear, structured approach:

• Initial SEO audit: They should start with a comprehensive audit of your site to identify issues and opportunities.
• Customized SEO strategy: They should tailor their SEO strategy to your specific business needs and goals.
• Regular reporting: They should provide regular reports on SEO performance, showing progress and any necessary adjustments.

Check how they keep up with changes

SEO is always changing. You need someone who stays on top of new trends and updates. Here’s how to find out if your potential SEO consultant is keeping up:

Ask about recent updates

See if they can talk about the latest changes in search engines and how they've adapted. For example, ask them about the most recent Google algorithm updates and how those changes affected their SEO strategies. A good SEO consultant should be able to explain:

• Specific updates: How did the update impact search engine rankings and SEO practices? Did it require changes in keyword research or content strategies?
• Adaptation: What steps did they take to adapt their clients' SEO strategies? Did they need to adjust technical SEO elements or focus more on user experience?

Continuous learning

Ask how they keep their digital marketing skills sharp. Continuous learning is crucial for staying effective in SEO. Here are some ways to gauge their commitment:

• Workshops and courses: Do they attend SEO training workshops or take online courses? This shows they are proactive in learning new SEO tactics and SEO tools.
• Industry blogs and forums: Do they read industry blogs or participate in SEO forums? Engaging with the SEO community helps them stay informed about the latest trends and best practices.
• Professional groups: Are they members of professional groups or associations? Being part of these groups often means they have access to the latest research and insights in SEO.
• Certifications: While certifications alone don't guarantee expertise, they do show a commitment to continuous improvement. Ask if they have any recent certifications related to SEO or digital marketing.

Practical application

Knowing the theory is one thing, but applying it is what matters. Ask them for examples of how they’ve applied new knowledge to improve SEO performance. This could include:

• Case studies: Specific examples where their updated knowledge helped solve an SEO problem or improve a client's search engine rankings.
• SEO tools: How do they use the latest SEO tools to enhance their strategies? Tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can provide valuable insights and help adapt to changes.
• Innovative strategies: Have they developed any new SEO strategies based on recent trends? For instance, optimizing for voice search or improving site speed for better mobile performance.

Staying proactive

SEO consultants should not only react to changes but also anticipate them. Ask how they stay ahead of the curve. For example:

• Trend forecasting: Do they predict upcoming trends in search engine optimization? How do they prepare their clients for these changes?
• Experimentation: Are they willing to experiment with new strategies to see what works best? This shows a proactive approach to improving SEO performance continually.

Prioritize strategy over technical skills

Technical skills are important, but strategic thinking is what really drives success. Here's how to test for this:

Business goals alignment

A good SEO manager should understand that SEO is not just about getting higher search engine rankings. It’s about supporting your overall business development goals. Here’s how to ensure they can align their SEO strategy with your goals:

• Specific questions: Ask how they will tailor their SEO strategy to meet your specific business objectives. For example, if you want to increase online sales, their plan should focus on converting visitors into customers.
• Holistic approach: They should integrate SEO with your other marketing efforts. This might include working with your content marketing team to create relevant content or using SEO tools to analyze and improve your overall digital marketing strategy.

Measuring success

It’s crucial to understand how the consultant measures success. Effective SEO should lead to tangible business outcomes. Here’s what to look for:

• Key performance indicators (KPIs): Ask them what KPIs they use to measure SEO performance. Good indicators include lead generation, conversion rates, and sales growth, not just website traffic or search engine rankings.
• Reporting: They should provide regular, clear reports that show how their efforts are impacting your business. These reports should include data from tools like Google Search Console and analytics platforms to show improvements in organic traffic, user engagement, and conversion metrics.
• ROI focus: Look for a consultant who can explain how their work will contribute to your return on investment (ROI). They should be able to tie SEO efforts directly to business growth and profitability.

Test their problem-solving skills

SEO often involves troubleshooting and creative solutions. To ensure your potential SEO consultant has strong problem-solving skills, here’s what you should do:

Hypothetical challenges

Present the consultant with a hypothetical SEO problem specific to your industry or website. For example, you could ask how they would handle a sudden drop in search engine rankings or how they would improve the SEO optimization of an underperforming blog post. This approach helps you understand their thought process and problem-solving techniques. Look for answers that demonstrate a structured approach, use of SEO tools, and clear reasoning.

Past problems

Ask the consultant about challenging SEO issues they've faced in the past. This could include:

• Technical SEO issues: How they resolved site speed problems, fixed broken links, or improved mobile-friendliness.
• Content-related problems: How they enhanced content to better engage the target audience and rank higher in search results.
• Keyword research challenges: How they identified and targeted the right keywords for improved website traffic and conversions.

Get them to walk you through the steps they took to diagnose and fix these problems. This will give you insight into their practical experience and ability to handle real-world SEO consulting services.

Specific examples

Request specific examples where they had to use creative SEO tactics to solve a problem. For instance, how they might have used a combination of technical SEO and content strategy to recover from a Google search console penalty. This will show their ability to adapt and apply different SEO practices effectively.

Problem-solving approach

Ask them to describe their general approach to problem-solving. A good SEO consultant should:

• Identify the root cause: Use data and SEO tools to pinpoint the exact issue.
• Develop a strategy: Create a plan that addresses the problem from multiple angles.
• Implement solutions: Execute the plan efficiently and monitor the results.
• Adapt as needed: Be ready to adjust strategies based on the outcomes and ongoing analysis.

Client testimonials

Reach out to past clients and ask how the consultant handled specific SEO challenges. Did they provide effective solutions? Were they proactive in identifying and fixing issues? Positive feedback in this area is a strong indicator of good problem-solving skills.

Focus on ethical practices

It's important that SEO consultants follow search engine guidelines to avoid penalties and ensure long-term success. Here’s what to look for:

Link building approach

Ask about their link-building strategies. Ethical SEO consultants focus on obtaining high-quality, relevant backlinks rather than using shortcuts or dubious methods. Here’s what you should find out:

• Quality over quantity: They should prioritize getting links from reputable, authoritative sites that are relevant to your industry.
• Natural link acquisition: Ask how they plan to earn these links. Good strategies include creating valuable content that others want to link to, reaching out to industry influencers, and participating in relevant online communities.
• Avoiding spammy practices: Make sure they steer clear of buying links, using link farms, or any other tactics that might result in penalties from search engines.

Stance on black-hat techniques

Make sure the consultant avoids risky black-hat SEO tactics that can harm your site in the long run. Here’s what to discuss:

• Transparency: Ask them to explain their SEO practices and why they use them. They should be open and honest about their methods.
• Long-term focus: Ethical SEO practices focus on sustainable, long-term growth rather than quick, short-term gains that might lead to penalties.
• Examples of black-hat techniques: Ensure they explicitly avoid tactics like keyword stuffing, cloaking, and hidden text or links. These can result in severe penalties from search engines.

Use of SEO tools

A good SEO consultant will use reputable SEO tools to track progress and optimize your site ethically. Ask which tools they use and how they integrate them into their SEO strategy. Tools like Google Search Console can provide valuable insights and help ensure they follow best practices.

Regular updates and reporting

Ethical SEO consultants provide regular updates and detailed reports on your SEO performance. They should be transparent about their progress and any changes they make. Here’s what to expect:

• Detailed reports: These should include information on keyword rankings, website traffic, and the quality of backlinks.
• Open communication: They should be willing to explain their actions and strategies clearly. Regular meetings or calls can help keep you informed and involved in the process.

What to expect from an SEO consultant

Initial audit and strategy

Your SEO consultant should kick things off with a thorough SEO audit of your site. This audit will pinpoint what's working and what needs improvement. Here's what to expect:

• Comprehensive site review: They’ll analyze your website’s structure, content, and current search engine rankings. This helps identify technical SEO issues, content gaps, and other areas that need attention.
• Competitor analysis: They should compare your site against competitors to see where you can gain an edge. This includes looking at competitors' keywords, content, and backlinks.
• Custom SEO strategy: Based on the audit, they’ll create a tailored SEO strategy that aligns with your business goals. This strategy will outline the steps they’ll take to improve your site’s performance and achieve your SEO goals.

Keyword research and optimization

Conducting keyword research is a core task for any SEO consultant. Here’s how they’ll handle it:

• Finding the right keywords: They’ll identify keywords that your target audience is searching for. This involves using SEO tools like Google Search Console and others to find high-value keywords with good search volume and low competition.
• On-page optimization: They’ll optimize your site’s content, meta tags, headers, and URLs to include these keywords naturally. This helps improve your search engine rankings and attract more organic traffic.

Technical improvements

Technical SEO is crucial for making sure your site runs smoothly and is accessible to search engines. Here’s what your consultant will do:

• Site speed optimization: They’ll work on making your site load faster, which is important for both user experience and search engine rankings.
• Mobile-friendliness: Ensuring your site works well on mobile devices is a must. They’ll make necessary adjustments to improve mobile usability.
• Crawlability: They’ll address issues that might be preventing search engines from properly indexing your site. This can include fixing broken links, improving URL structures, and ensuring your sitemap is up-to-date.

Content strategy

Content is a key part of effective search engine optimization. Your SEO consultant will help you create and optimize content that attracts and engages your audience. Here’s how:

• Content creation: They’ll help develop a content plan that includes blog posts, articles, and other types of content. This content should target the right keywords and provide value to your audience.
• Content optimization: They’ll ensure your existing content is optimized for search engines. This can involve updating old posts, adding keywords, and improving readability.

Link building

Building high-quality backlinks is essential for improving your site’s authority and search engine rankings. Here’s what to expect:

• Backlink strategy: They’ll develop a strategy to acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable sites. This could involve guest blogging, partnerships, and outreach.
• Monitoring and reporting: They’ll keep track of your backlink profile to ensure the links are beneficial and identify any harmful links that need to be disavowed.

Focusing on these areas, an SEO consultant can significantly enhance your website's performance, drive more traffic, and help you achieve your business goals.

Conclusion

Hiring the right search engine optimization consultant means looking beyond surface-level qualifications. You need someone who’s adaptable, strategic, and focused on long-term success. Following these tips will help you find an expert who can enhance your website's performance and achieve your SEO goals.

Looking for SEO consultants?

We connect businesses with highly skilled SEO experts who specialize in optimizing websites and boosting online visibility. Our proven track record for quick and effective matches means you'll find a consultant who fits your technical needs, project deadlines, and company culture.

We provide:

• Fast matching: We prioritize your time and work efficiently to connect you with the right SEO consultant quickly.
• Quality assurance: Our SEO consultants are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are leaders in their field, giving you confidence in their expertise.
• Customized service: Every project is unique. Our goal is to find SEO consultants who are the perfect fit for your specific project requirements.

Contact us today to secure the ideal SEO consultant promptly and efficiently.