Outsourcing SEO: The Guide for Small Businesses
Outsourcing SEO seems like a concept that applies to agencies. But when small businesses look at getting some SEO help, they are using outsourced SEO. Most business owners try and do their SEO on their own, while balancing the busy act of running their business. As their business takes off, they have a hard time making sure to add to their website each week. In this guide, we are going to teach small business owners how they can outsource SEO effectively.
How Much Does Outsourced SEO Cost?
Depending on the type of work being done, a small business owner can expect to pay between $1,500 to $2,000 per month for managed SEO. This type of work typically includes:
- On-Page SEO: Creation of pages on the website or blog content to help rank the website better.
- Off-Page SEO: Creation of links on other websites to help bolster the ranking of their website. The most common type of off-page SEO consists of guest blogs.
- Technical SEO: These are the activities that an SEO professional does to make sure that your webite works correctly.
Deciding Whether Or Not You Need To Start Outsourcing Your SEO
Before you decide on whether or not you need to outsource your SEO, here are some of the things to know:
- Backlinks: You need backlinks in order to rank well. Without backlinks, you can rank for low-volume keywords, but your business will grow at a slow pae.
- Content: You can write your own content, but you might not know how to write in a manner that is both friendly to search engines and humans.
- Technical SEO: You need a technically sound website in order to rank. Fixing your website's speed, without the help of a developer, can prove daunting.
If you feel comfortable with these things, you can probably handle most of your SEO on your own. Backlinks are the most labor intensive component of SEO.
What is Fully Managed SEO?
Fully managed SEO is a type of outsourced SEO where you entrust your marketing efforts to a company. The Hoth offers fully managed SEO packages, but they don't ever touch your website. Some fully managed SEO packages will get you backlinks and content and that content will be published to your website.
Do You Need Fully Managed SEO?
Not every website is going to need fully managed SEO. Some companies might need only backlinks. Others might need help writing content. At the end of the day, you might only need a sound website.
How Do You Know How Many Backlinks You Need?
Backlinks are super hard to get on your own. You might need a professional to help you get them. When Brian Dean of Backlinko builds backlinks, he may spend a work week writing a single blog. It can take anywhere from ten to twenty hours for a webmaster to do the outreach, create content, and create the relationship with the linking website. To rank competitively, you may need as many as 100 referring domains for a single search term. The website at the left as 3,500 referring domains, or individual backlinks that point back to their website.
Why Do Small Businesses Need Outsourced SEO?
Small businesses often operate with limited resources and face unique challenges that make outsourced SEO (Search Engine Optimization) an attractive and sometimes necessary option. Here are several reasons why small businesses might benefit from outsourcing their SEO needs:
- Expertise and Experience:Â SEO is a complex field that requires specialized knowledge and skills. SEO agencies or consultants typically have the expertise and experience that small business owners or their in-house teams may lack. These professionals stay up-to-date with the latest trends, algorithms, and best practices, ensuring that the business's SEO strategy is effective and compliant with search engine guidelines
- Cost-Effectiveness:Â Hiring an in-house SEO specialist can be expensive when you factor in salary, benefits, and ongoing training. Outsourcing allows small businesses to access professional SEO services at a fraction of the cost. Many SEO agencies offer flexible pricing models that can be tailored to the budget of a small business.
- Time Savings:Â SEO is time-consuming and requires continuous effort. Small business owners often wear multiple hats and may not have the time to dedicate to a comprehensive SEO strategy. Outsourcing allows business owners to focus on their core operations while professionals handle their SEO needs.
- Access to Advanced Tools and Resources:Â SEO agencies typically have access to advanced tools and software that can be expensive for small businesses to purchase on their own. These tools can provide valuable insights and analytics that help improve the effectiveness of the SEO strategy.
- Scalability:Â As a small business grows, its SEO needs may become more complex. Outsourced SEO services can easily scale with the business, providing more comprehensive services as needed without the hassle of hiring additional staff,
- Objective Perspective: An external SEO provider can offer an objective perspective on the business’s website and marketing efforts. They can identify issues and opportunities that internal teams might overlook due to familiarity or bias.
- Competitive Advantage: SEO is crucial for improving online visibility and attracting customers. By outsourcing SEO, small businesses can compete more effectively with larger companies that have more resources. A professional SEO strategy can help a small business rank higher in search engine results, driving more traffic and potential customers to their site.