Hiring an SEO Consultant, It's no secret that SEO plays a pivotal role in digital marketing. Having SEO-friendly content can be the difference between getting in front of your target audience and getting lost in the noise online. While there are several things a business can do to improve its SEO rankings, making a difference takes time and dedication.

Hiring an SEO consultant or agency ensures that dedicated SEO work is being completed while you focus on your core business, but how do you know who to trust?

Here are five considerations to help you find a reliable, trustworthy SEO consultant.

Can They Provide Referrals and Proven Results?

When vetting an SEO consultant, consider how established they are in the industry. It's important to note that there are plenty of newcomers to the market who can yield fantastic results. However, it's helpful to have referrals and testimonials for social proof. 

Fortunately, SEO building is a data-driven process. That means even new agencies can showcase their approach through case studies and portfolio-building efforts. Ask your potential consultant what they've done in the past and whether they can show you the results of their efforts.

Do They Take a Multifaceted Approach?

There are a plethora of tasks and improvement opportunities that fall under the SEO umbrella. Finding an agency that takes a multifaceted approach rather than focusing on one core area can improve your results.

According to the SEO specialists at Redesign.co, a multifaceted approach could include anything from content creation to link-building to technical and local SEO practices. Exploring the various options and paths forward will help you find what works best for your business. This approach is also beneficial when you inevitably run into challenges — this is always a factor when navigating SEO — so you can find an alternate route forward.

Do They Make Unrealistic Promises?

Beware of SEO consultants and agencies who promise you a number one spot on Google or overnight results. SEO building is a long-term strategy that requires dedication, adaptation, and consistency. While you may see some significant results when changes are first implemented, it takes time to gain traction.

Look for an SEO consultant who isn't afraid to tell you how it is. They should have a data-driven approach that utilizes outcome-based decision-making. Your consultant should manage expectations and be optimistic, while still being realistic.

How Do They Communicate Work and Progress?

It's important to understand that SEO agencies and consultants aren't doing anything you couldn't do in-house. The information that Google provides publicly is the same, whether you're an SEO consultant or business owner — there's no secret sauce.

The benefit of hiring an SEO consultant, however, is their knowledge and experience in how things work. They often know which tools to invest in best guide the process and what data to look for while forming a plan. Don't hesitate to ask how they communicate and share this progress. Everything should be transparent and above-board. Your consultant should be able to explain what they're doing and why.

Hiring an SEO Consultant: Do They Respect Your Goals and Budget?

Finally, look for an SEO specialist who respects your goals and budget. Working with an SEO consultant should feel like a partnership. SEO services are easily scaled as there are several areas the consultant can focus on at any given time.  

Perhaps you want to start small with a technical SEO upgrade and some link-building efforts. Once you see results, you may choose to scale the scope of work to incorporate content creation for your site. A trustworthy and customer-centric SEO consultant will be willing to adjust (within reason).

Final Thoughts Hiring an SEO Consultant

Before you look for an SEO consultant, start by outlining some basic SEO goals for your business. Then, using the considerations above, find a service provider to help you accomplish those goals.

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