In-House vs. Outsourced SEO Specialist: Pros and Cons for Business
Choosing between a full-time SEO specialist and outsourced services is a dilemma familiar to many businessmen. Each option has its pros and cons, and there is no clear answer. Let’s figure out which option might be preferable for your company.
1. Advantages and disadvantages of a full-time SEO specialist
The Pros of Working with a Full-Time Employee
The main advantage of a full-time SEO specialist is his full involvement in the company’s affairs. He knows the product, target audience, competitors thoroughly. This allows him to promote the site more effectively, taking into account all the nuances of the business.
In addition, an in-house specialist is always at hand. You can discuss work issues with him at any time, adjust the promotion strategy. It is easier to build long-term trusting relationships with him than with an outside contractor.
Disadvantages of keeping a full-time specialist
However, a full-time CEO has its drawbacks. Firstly, there are high costs for maintaining it – salary, deductions, equipped workplace, training, etc. For small companies, this can be expensive.
Secondly, one specialist, no matter how cool he is, is still limited in knowledge and experience. It is more difficult for him to keep up with all the new trends and technologies than for the whole team in the agency. And in case of his illness or dismissal, the search for a replacement will fall on the shoulders of the employer.
2. Advantages and Disadvantages of SEO Outsourcing
Benefits of Hiring an Agency
Perhaps the main advantage of outsourced SEO is access to the experience and expertise of a whole team of specialists. You get a comprehensive approach – from analytics to link building. Large agencies constantly monitor search engine algorithms and adapt to changes.
The financial aspect is also important. For many companies, especially small ones, it is more profitable to pay for specific services of a contractor than to keep a specialist on staff. This allows for more flexible budget allocation.
Disadvantages of working with contractors
But there is a flip side to the coin. Outsourced specialists are not 100% immersed in the specifics of your business. They can do their job mechanically, without delving into all the details and without offering truly effective solutions.
Another risk is the possibility of dynamic pricing and changing agreements in the process. In an effort to get a client, agencies may focus on one price and then gradually increase it. Although, to be fair, this does not happen very often.
3. Finding the optimal solution for business
Selection criteria
So which option should you choose? The answer depends on many factors – the scale of the business, the promotion budget, goals and objectives. For large companies for which SEO is a priority channel, it makes sense to develop their own promotion department. For small firms, it is more logical to involve external contractors.
It is also important to understand whether buy phone number list you need a one-time website optimization or long-term comprehensive promotion is planned. In the first case, it is wiser to contact an agency, in the second – consider the possibility of hiring an SEO specialist on staff.
Combining formats
In fact, in-house and outsourcing are not mutually exclusive options. They are often combined. For example, a full-time specialist determines the promotion strategy, and routine tasks on optimization and link building are delegated to a contractor. Or vice versa – the only SEO specialist on staff coordinates and controls the work of external experts.
The best option is when a full-time employee focuses on tasks that require deep immersion in the product and business (niche analysis, working with semantics, technical specifications for website refinement). And large-scale mechanical work is outsourced.
4. Checklist for choosing an SEO contractor
If you decide to hire an agency to promote your site, do not rush to accept the offer of the first “experts” you come across. Think carefully about your choice.
- Study the portfolio and reviews, pay attention to experience in your niche
- Ask for live cases, not just screenshots and numbers in a presentation
- Find out if a dedicated project manager will be assigned
- Check which works are included in the price and which are extra charges
- Discuss KPIs and reporting methods, and include them in the contract
5. Organization of interaction with a full-time specialist
Setting tasks and control
If your company has an in-house SEO specialist, it is sad life box important to establish effective interaction with them. Start with a detailed discussion of promotion goals and expected results. Agree on a reporting system and KPIs by which you will evaluate their work.
Don’t try to control every step of the employee and delve into all the technical details. This is unproductive and demotivates the specialist. Focus on strategic issues, give him some freedom in operational decisions.
Resources and Constraints
Remember that even the most talented SEO In fact your business is not only specialist needs resources and authority to do their job effectively. Provide them with quality tools, access to the site’s analysis and admin panel. Provide the opportunity to communicate with developers, content managers, and other team members on whom the promotion results depend.
At the same time, it is important to define the specialist’s scope of competence and areas of responsibility. He should not decide all the issues of marketing and website development for the SEO department. His task is to give expert recommendations and implement them in his specialized area.