What is an SEO Consultant and Do you need one?

Online visibility is critical to any business’s success. Thus, better search engine marketing is absolutely essential and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can help you achieve that. However, it requires hard work and effort. Therefore, you need an SEO consultant to help you. 

This article will teach you everything you need about SEO consultants and whether your business needs them. Without further ado, let’s dive in. 

What is an SEO consultant?

An SEO Consultant is a professional who specializes in optimizing websites for search engine rankings. They apply various strategies, including content creation and link building, to improve a website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). 

A competent SEO consultant understands search engine algorithms and applies this knowledge to help business websites get more organic traffic. 

What does an SEO consultant do?

SEO consultants provide various practices and strategies to help businesses reach the top of search engines. The services they provide include: 

• SEO audit: An audit is the first step in any SEO campaign. It involves analyzing a website’s current performance, identifying areas for improvement, and finding potential problems that prevent it from ranking in search results. 

• Conduct keyword research: Keywords are the backbone of any successful SEO campaign. An experienced SEO consultant will use SEO tools to research keywords related to a business’s products and services and include them in content, titles, tags, and meta descriptions for optimal rankings. 

• On-page optimization: SEO professionals will make your website search engine friendly. This includes providing relevant keywords, titles, meta descriptions, and more. 

• Link Building: Link building is an essential part of off-page SEO. It involves creating links to and from other websites, which helps search engines determine the relevance and authority of a website. A good SEO consultant will be able to strategize effective link-building campaigns that drive more organic traffic to your website. 

• Local SEO: SEO professionals will optimize your website for local search results. This is especially crucial for traditional businesses.

What skills should an SEO consultant have?

Prioritize experience over best practices

While SEO knowledge of best practices is crucial, experience truly sets an effective SEO consultant apart. 

Seasoned SEO experts have navigated through countless updates and learned from their previous campaigns. While best practices provide a good foundation, they understand that only hands-on experience and creative problem-solving can produce robust and successful SEO strategies. 

Moreover, not all best practices are solid. Many of them are myths that people spread on the Internet. A reliable SEO expert should make decisions based on accurate data and what works instead of some random rules online. 

Have proven records and results

A proficient SEO consultant is about making promises and delivering measurable results. Your SEO specialist should be able to demonstrate a track record from previous projects. You will have more confidence in consultants with real-world results. 

Look for case studies, client testimonials, or metrics supporting their claims. The capacity to generate tangible outcomes goes beyond theoretical knowledge. It shows the consultant’s competency, adaptability, and, most importantly, commitment to adding value to your business. 

Can create custom strategies

SEO is not a one-size-fits-all game. Every business has unique goals, target audiences, and competitive advantages. A competent SEO consultant must have the flexibility to develop customized strategies that align with your specific business. 

For instance, they should consider the nuances of your industry, the specific needs of your target audience, and the competitive forces you are up against. This translates to tailoring keyword strategies, content creation, link building, and other SEO elements to suit your circumstances. 

Creating an SEO strategy with a deep understanding of your business is more likely to yield meaningful and sustainable results.

Can see the big picture of the website

Your SEO professionals should be able to analyze your website from a holistic perspective and assess how each aspect impacts your SEO performance. 

A good SEO consultant must concentrate on various website elements and how they contribute to your overall content marketing strategy.

By embracing a holistic approach, they can identify potential SEO issues and opportunities across your website, ensuring that every content update contributes positively to your SEO goals.

8 signs your business needs an SEO consultant

1. Your organic traffic is either flattening or dropping (and you don’t know the reason)

When you notice a consistent drop or flatlining in your website’s organic traffic, it’s a clear sign that you might need help from an SEO professional.

A dip in traffic can point to issues like poor search engine ranking, technical SEO problems, or penalties from search engines. An experienced SEO consultant can diagnose the cause of these drops, implement appropriate solutions, and guide your website back to growth. 

To check your website traffic, you can use Google Search Console. Look at your website during the past 12 months and see if there’s anything strange. 

2. You have been penalized by Google

If you’ve received a penalty from Google, you will need assistance from an SEO consultant. Google penalties can occur for various reasons, and they take real HARD WORK to recover. 

When you see something like this email, hiring an SEO consultant is your best bet: 

An experienced SEO consultant can help you identify the exact reason behind the penalty and, more importantly, guide you through the penalty recovery process. They can clean up your site and ensure you will not face penalties in the future. 

3. Your website has technical issues that you don’t understand

Technical SEO issues can be complicated, requiring specialist knowledge to resolve fully. If you’re scratching your head over confusing error messages, or if your website is suffering from persistent problems like slow loading speed, broken links, or issues with mobile optimization, it’s best to see an SEO consultant. 

But you are not alone! Even the most tech-savvy among us can struggle with these intricate issues. An SEO consultant can dive deep into the technical side of your website, unraveling the digital spaghetti and fixing those problems that keep popping up. 

They are your digital doctors who get your site to optimal health. So, if the technicalities have gotten you tangled, contact an SEO consultant.

4. You want to rank higher for important keywords

If your website is not ranking on page 1 of search engines, it will have no traffic. However, achieving the top spots on Google is no small task. More than 90% of websites on the Internet receive no traffic from Google. What you want is the top 10%.  

If your website isn’t showing up on the first page for crucial keywords, it’s time to consider hiring an SEO consultant. An SEO consultant to help you implement a successful keyword strategy.

An SEO consultant can conduct comprehensive keyword research to identify the terms your target audience is using and the keywords your competitors are ranking for. Then, they optimize your content around these keywords to improve your site’s visibility.

Moreover, an SEO consultant understands user search intent very well. Your content will align with exactly what your audience is looking for, resulting in higher rankings and more traffic. 

5. Your in-house SEO team isn’t working

If your in-house SEO team is not delivering what you want, hiring an SEO consultant is your best bet. An outside perspective can unearth issues or opportunities that your SEO team has overlooked internally. SEO consultants can also provide training and guidance to your in-house team. They can streamline the SEO process, set realistic goals, and implement effective tactics to achieve these goals. 

It’s all about empowering your team to work more efficiently and effectively. An SEO consultant is not only a problem solver but also a valuable mentor.

6. You are too busy to do SEO on your own

SEO is a full-time job. Finding time to make your website rank higher, even if you are an SEO expert, can be challenging. If your to-do list is already overflowing, outsourcing SEO work is a smart move. 

An SEO consultant can take the burden of SEO off your shoulders. They can handle everything from keyword research and on-page optimization to building backlinks and monitoring your rankings. While they work on improving your website’s visibility, you can focus on what you do best – running your business.

After all, your time is precious. Let an SEO consultant help you make the most of it.

7. You are scaling your business

As your business grows, so does your website and its content, making SEO more complex and time-consuming. An SEO consultant becomes invaluable during these periods.

An SEO consultant can help you maintain and enhance your site’s ranking performance during this critical growth phase. They have the tools and knowledge to identify the SEO techniques that will best support your expansion, ensuring that your website continues to reach your growing customer base without missing a beat. 

8. You want to implement a new content strategy

Content strategy is at the SEO heart. It takes careful planning and meticulous execution to pull off a new strategy. SEO consultants can be a game-changer for your content strategy update. They can provide valuable insights into what content your audience truly values. 

Furthermore, an SEO consultant can help you identify and capitalize on new content opportunities to drive organic growth. If you want to take your content strategy to the next level, it may be time to bring an SEO consultant on board.

How can you find a good SEO consultant?

Finding a good SEO consultant requires diligent research, patience, and a clear understanding of your business. 

Here on Newbies Media’s blog, we have a dedicated article on how to find an SEO consultant. Check it out to learn more! 

Conclusion

In conclusion, an SEO consultant is invaluable for businesses looking to boost their online visibility. They are your business with the necessary tools and strategies to aid in your growth and expansion. 

If you seek to improve your website’s performance, capitalize on new content opportunities, or implement a new content strategy, consider bringing an SEO consultant.

FAQs

Are SEO consultants worth it?

Yes, SEO consultants are worth it. They can help you reach the top of Google or any search engine to get more leads and sales for your business. 

How much should I pay someone for SEO?

According to Ahrefs, most businesses pay around $500-$1500 monthly recurring fee for SEO or $75-$100 per hour for individual SEO sections. If you want a one-off SEO project, $2500 to $5000 is the most common option.

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