How to Hire an SEO Expert
Learn the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)., Separate SEO from SEM., Get to know your customer’s habits., Understand keywords., Ask fellow businesses for recommendations., Attend a search marketing conference., Search for local companies...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Learn the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
It is hard to hire an SEO expert without understanding what they will provide you.
Start with the Wikipedia entry or a free online tutorial. -
Step 2: Separate SEO from SEM.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is paid search engine marketing, such as pay-per-click ads.
SEO is an organic form of advertising, where your website improvement results in higher search engine results.
You may want to hire an SEO and SEM expert to be in charge of your digital marketing strategy.
If this is the case, search for a digital marketing consultant instead of an SEO expert.
SEO and SEM should work together to form a strategy.
Keyword strategy is essential to both efforts. , Start gathering data on your website.
If possible, use Google or social media analytics to find out how people are getting to your website.
These are statistics that a good SEO expert can use to your advantage. , These are the words that people type into search engines to find the websites they are looking for.
Think like a consumer and come up with a list of 50 keywords that people are probably using to find your site.
An SEO expert will be able to do further research to refine them; however, you should be well aware of keywords and long tail (specific, multi-word search queries) before they begin. , Referrals suggest satisfied customers.
Businesses that have recently built a new website are likely to have invested in SEO. , Trade conferences allow you an opportunity to interview companies and freelancers individually.
With so many candidates, you are likely to find someone with experience in your industry., It will be easier to vet them based on research and former clients.
There are a lot of SEO scammers online. , You will need to be more conscientious about hiring people who work remotely; however, you can always ask for a trial period. , Unfortunately, taking time off in the SEO world means you’ll most likely have missed several industry changes.
Search engine marketing is a constantly changing environment. , Most business and marketing programs can’t keep up with the pace of online marketing.
For this reason, candidates who are self-taught and have worked and adjusted to the changes are more likely to have a working knowledge of what you need. , Although an SEO expert can adapt to a new industry, they will require less research if they already know the keywords and tactics that are effective with your clientele. , Make sure you ask this as an open-ended question so that they list the following answers:
Technical knowledge about building a searchable website.
This means they know how search engines crawl and use meta tags, meta descriptions, alt tags and more.
High quality content creation.
This may also be known as on-site building.
They should have experience writing using keywords and HTML tags.
At the same time, they should understand that content is effective and interesting.
Off-site optimization, such as link building.
This is the trickiest part of the equation and should lead to a follow up question., If they aren’t in the business of building relationships with content producers that link back to the site, then they are using an antiquated method.
Search engines now penalize websites that use linking that is irrelevant to the product or the site., Call the references so that you can be sure they were pleased with the work., This will help you understand their depth of understanding.
Ensure they include the three pillars of SEO, as well as reporting on website traffic., This is true of any contractor, but is especially important when you are hiring an expert.
They should be able to work through problems and update you on progress in an effective way. -
Step 3: Get to know your customer’s habits.
-
Step 4: Understand keywords.
-
Step 5: Ask fellow businesses for recommendations.
-
Step 6: Attend a search marketing conference.
-
Step 7: Search for local companies before hiring off the Internet.
-
Step 8: Look online in oDesk or Elance.
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Step 9: Look for candidates who are currently working in the industry.
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Step 10: Emphasize years of experience
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Step 11: rather than schooling.
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Step 12: Choose a candidate with some experience in your industry.
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Step 13: Ask about their strategies.
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Step 14: Discuss their link building strategy.
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Step 15: Ask for references.
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Step 16: Request a strategy proposal.
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Step 17: Choose someone who you can communicate with easily.
Detailed Guide
It is hard to hire an SEO expert without understanding what they will provide you.
Start with the Wikipedia entry or a free online tutorial.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is paid search engine marketing, such as pay-per-click ads.
SEO is an organic form of advertising, where your website improvement results in higher search engine results.
You may want to hire an SEO and SEM expert to be in charge of your digital marketing strategy.
If this is the case, search for a digital marketing consultant instead of an SEO expert.
SEO and SEM should work together to form a strategy.
Keyword strategy is essential to both efforts. , Start gathering data on your website.
If possible, use Google or social media analytics to find out how people are getting to your website.
These are statistics that a good SEO expert can use to your advantage. , These are the words that people type into search engines to find the websites they are looking for.
Think like a consumer and come up with a list of 50 keywords that people are probably using to find your site.
An SEO expert will be able to do further research to refine them; however, you should be well aware of keywords and long tail (specific, multi-word search queries) before they begin. , Referrals suggest satisfied customers.
Businesses that have recently built a new website are likely to have invested in SEO. , Trade conferences allow you an opportunity to interview companies and freelancers individually.
With so many candidates, you are likely to find someone with experience in your industry., It will be easier to vet them based on research and former clients.
There are a lot of SEO scammers online. , You will need to be more conscientious about hiring people who work remotely; however, you can always ask for a trial period. , Unfortunately, taking time off in the SEO world means you’ll most likely have missed several industry changes.
Search engine marketing is a constantly changing environment. , Most business and marketing programs can’t keep up with the pace of online marketing.
For this reason, candidates who are self-taught and have worked and adjusted to the changes are more likely to have a working knowledge of what you need. , Although an SEO expert can adapt to a new industry, they will require less research if they already know the keywords and tactics that are effective with your clientele. , Make sure you ask this as an open-ended question so that they list the following answers:
Technical knowledge about building a searchable website.
This means they know how search engines crawl and use meta tags, meta descriptions, alt tags and more.
High quality content creation.
This may also be known as on-site building.
They should have experience writing using keywords and HTML tags.
At the same time, they should understand that content is effective and interesting.
Off-site optimization, such as link building.
This is the trickiest part of the equation and should lead to a follow up question., If they aren’t in the business of building relationships with content producers that link back to the site, then they are using an antiquated method.
Search engines now penalize websites that use linking that is irrelevant to the product or the site., Call the references so that you can be sure they were pleased with the work., This will help you understand their depth of understanding.
Ensure they include the three pillars of SEO, as well as reporting on website traffic., This is true of any contractor, but is especially important when you are hiring an expert.
They should be able to work through problems and update you on progress in an effective way.
About the Author
Aaron West
Brings years of experience writing about DIY projects and related subjects.
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