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SEO outsourcing involves a third-party freelancer, agency, or provider handling search engine optimization for a paying client.
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Running a business as a solo entrepreneur means juggling countless priorities—from developing products and closing sales to managing your brand and marketing strategy. But you don’t have to handle everything alone. Outsourcing specialized tasks to experts can free up your time for what matters most: growing your business.
One area where many entrepreneurs struggle is search engine optimization—the process of optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine results pages. If you lack the time or expertise to handle SEO in-house, outsourcing your SEO efforts could be the solution that helps you attract more organic traffic from potential customers.
Here’s everything you need to know about SEO outsourcing and how to find the right partner for your business.
SEO outsourcing means hiring a third-party freelancer, agency, or service provider to handle your search engine optimization efforts. As an ecommerce entrepreneur, you can partner with SEO specialists who focus on SEO strategies like keyword optimization, content creation, and link building. Here’s a breakdown of the primary SEO services most SEO providers offer:
On-page SEO. This involves optimizing your website content and source code elements like URLs, meta tags, page titles, and headers to help search engines better understand and rank your pages.
Off-page SEO. These strategies improve rankings by earning backlinks from reputable sites or developing guest blogging opportunities with other publishers.
Technical SEO. This type of SEO focuses on structuring your site so that search engines index it correctly. It also includes optimizing site speed and mobile-friendliness.
Local SEO. If you’re selling to local customers with a physical store, local SEO efforts increase search rankings for location-based searches in your area.
International SEO. This involves optimizing your website for different international markets, from creating dedicated URLs for various regions to translating your content.
Rank higher on Google
Use this free SEO checklist to optimize your website and content. Learn how to rank for relevant search terms so more shoppers discover your store first.
If your ecommerce business doesn’t have an in-house SEO team and you don’t want to manage SEO yourself, follow these steps to find the right partner and set yourself up for success:
Before reaching out to potential providers, get clear on your business goals and the broad intent of your SEO program. You don’t have to get technical at this stage—an SEO service provider can help you identify high-leverage areas of improvement to reach your goals. Start by writing down your goals to help inform your scope of work, such as:
Increased organic traffic. By improving your search engine rankings, an SEO provider can help drive more organic traffic to your website. Ranking higher on relevant search queries can improve your brand awareness by placing assets like brand name, logo, or slogan in front of more search engine users.
Improved conversions. If you want to turn more visitors into paying customers, work with an SEO provider to create content that matches users’ search intent. SEO professionals can help you research which transactional keywords you have the best shot at ranking for.
Create a shortlist of SEO outsourcing companies or freelancers that align with your specific needs. Some providers excel at keyword research, while others specialize in backlinking or local SEO. If you need comprehensive SEO support, look for full-service SEO agencies with proven track records across multiple SEO strategies. Some of the largest digital marketing agencies offer SEO services in addition to marketing services.
When evaluating potential partners:
Read client testimonials, reviews, and case studies to understand their results
Verify they have experience in your industry or with similar business sizes
Based on your scope of work, set a realistic SEO budget and compare pricing across different providers
Ask for examples of their previous work and the results they achieved
Once you’ve chosen an SEO service provider, establish clear communication and workflow processes from day one. Put together a detailed contract that outlines your SEO goals, budget, timeline, and preferred communication frequency.
Consider creating a process map that visually outlines each step of your collaboration. For example, if you’re optimizing product pages, map out what materials you’ll provide (product details, photos, specifications) and what timeline your SEO provider needs to deliver optimized pages back to you for review.
Clear procedures ensure your SEO strategy addresses your business’s specific needs while keeping everyone accountable.
The service provider you hire will use SEO tools like Surfer SEO, Semrush, and Ahrefs to conduct an SEO audit of your website, research keywords, and analyze your competition. You can track your SEO provider’s progress by agreeing on key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your goals. Request regular reports that show how your SEO efforts are performing against the SEO metrics that matter most to your business:
Revenue. Ultimately, your goal is to increase your revenue, and the SEO metrics you track should demonstrate your progress toward increased sales. Keep an eye on KPIs like checkout conversion rate and churn rate, and if your SEO agency can’t demonstrate a benefit to your bottom line, that’s a red flag.
Keyword rankings. How your website ranks for a specific keyword over time.
Organic traffic. The number of visitors coming to your site through unpaid search results.
Click-through rate. The percentage of people who click on your website after seeing it in search results. (You can use Google Search Console to measure your site’s impressions.)
SEO outsourcing is hiring a third-party freelancer or agency to complete SEO services like content creation, keyword optimization, and link building to improve your website’s rankings on search engine results pages.
SEO outsourcing costs vary based on your provider and scope of work. According to Ahrefs, small businesses typically spend around $1,500 per month for SEO services, while freelance SEO experts usually charge an average of $1,348 per month.
To outsource local SEO, research SEO service providers who specialize in local SEO services. Choose one that aligns with your budget, needs, and goals, like improving rankings for a specific type of business in a local area. Read testimonials and ask for case studies to determine if the provider is a good fit.
To outsource local SEO, research SEO service providers who specialize in local SEO services. Choose one that aligns with your budget, needs, and goals, like improving rankings for a specific type of business in a local area. Read testimonials and ask for case studies to determine if the provider is a good fit.
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