The history of SEO started with the rise of the internet and has grown alongside Google’s development. Today, 5.52 billion people use the internet daily, and approximately 91.7% of them rely on search engines. 

That’s why SEO is the key to helping businesses stand out, attract potential customers, increase revenue, and stay ahead of the competition.

However, let’s be honest—effective SEO takes time, expertise, and consistent effort to deliver lasting results. That’s why many businesses are turning to outsourced SEO services as a reliable and effective solution. 

In this blog, I’ll use the 5W and H technique to answer all your questions about outsourced SEO services. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

What Are Outsourced SEO Services?

Outsourced SEO services are when a business hires an external agency or expert to handle their search engine optimization (SEO) tasks. 

By outsourcing some of SEO tasks, companies can leverage the expertise of professionals to improve their website’s visibility, increase organic traffic, and achieve higher search engine rankings, all while focusing on their core business activities.

Why Should You Consider Outsourcing Your SEO?

I can give you a simple answer: SEO is complex, time-consuming, and requires skilled experts to be effective—factors that can drive up costs. You can manage it in-house, that’s fine, but there’s a more appealing option—outsourced SEO services.

The Hidden Complexities of SEO You Might Not Know About

While SEO may seem straightforward at first glance, it’s actually much more complex than it appears. When it comes to SEO strategies alone, we already have a long list.

We won’t go into each strategy, but the key point is that SEO can be applied to any online platform where information is searchable. And the approach to SEO varies across different platforms. And there are still many issues left to tackle:

• Constant Algorithm Updates: Search engines, like Google, frequently update their algorithms to enhance search results. These changes can affect your rankings unexpectedly, so staying ahead requires constant monitoring and quick adjustments. 

• Keyword Research and Strategy: Selecting the right keywords is essential, but it’s more than just choosing popular ones. You need to consider search intent, competition, and long-tail keywords to build a strategy that attracts the right traffic.
• On-Page Optimization: It’s not just about adding keywords. Effective on-page SEO involves creating quality content, optimizing meta tags, improving site speed, and ensuring mobile-friendliness.
• Technical SEO: Key factors like site structure, speed, URL setup, and mobile optimization are crucial for SEO but often overlooked. Properly optimizing these ensures search engines can crawl and index your site effectively.
• Link Building: Acquiring high-quality backlinks from trusted websites is vital for SEO. However, a strategic approach is needed, as poor or irrelevant links can harm your site’s authority and rankings.

SEO is constantly changing, and businesses can be overwhelmed trying to handle everything in-house. Outsourcing SEO to professionals ensures that every aspect of your strategy is managed effectively.

In-House vs Outsourced SEO: Key Points You Should Know

Deciding to do SEO yourself or delegate it to outside experts depends on factors unique: budget, team size, and workload—as well as your team’s SEO knowledge, goals, and scalability.

We’ll break down some crucial elements influencing your choice. Starting with what matters most to many: cost.

1. Cost

To start doing SEO in-house, you’ll need to cover several expenses:

• Salaries: In the most modest scenario, you’ll need at least two members for your SEO team: an SEO Executive to handle content and an SEO Analyst for technical tasks. The average combined salary for this team is approximately $90,000/ year.
• SEO Tools: The cost varies depending on the tool’s capabilities, ranging from about $30 to $1,000 per month.

The cost for in-house SEO could be around $8,500/ month, not including expenses for staff turnover, training, or other costs. In contrast, outsourcing SEO services to an agency might cost only between $1,200 and $3,000.

2. Control

In-house SEO has some great perks. As you get a team that’s deeply familiar with your brand, products, and services, allowing them to create a more personalized and consistent approach

Plus, you can have complete control over your strategy, optimizations, and reporting. You don’t have to worry about outsourced SEO providers using harmful black hat techniques that could seriously damage your site

However, this issue can be addressed by selecting reputable agencies from the start and implementing monitoring and control measures. We will dive deeper into this topic in the later sections of the blog.

3. Resources 

To make SEO effective, you need a solid strategy and a team with full-stack SEO knowledge. Your team should be equipped with the right tools to handle tasks such as on-page and off-page optimization, link building, and content creation. Time is also crucial, as it takes time for SEO efforts to yield results. 

This means your in-house team members will have little time left to focus on other tasks. With SEO requiring such extensive attention to detail, balancing it with other responsibilities can be a challenge.

In shorts: Outsourcing SEO offers many benefits over handling it in-house. It saves time and costs while freeing up resources, allowing your business to focus on its core value. By delegating SEO to experts, you can achieve better results without stretching your team too thin.

When Is the Right Time to Outsource Your SEO Services?

If you’re experiencing any of the following challenges, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to outsource your SEO:

• When you lack time, resources, or expertise.
• When you feel overwhelmed by other priorities.
• When you need access to specialized knowledge or tools.
• When you want to scale up quickly.

Outsourcing SEO can help you address these issues and focus on what matters most to your business.

Which SEO Tasks Should You Outsource (And Which Should You Keep In-House)?

When deciding whether to outsource SEO tasks, it’s important to focus on areas that require specialized skills, advanced tools, or time investment, like:

• Technical SEO: Requires expertise and constant updates to algorithms.
• Link Building: Outsourcing to experts ensures high-quality and ethical backlinks.
• SEO Audits: Outsourcing audits ensures you have a thorough, expert assessment of your website’s SEO performance.
• Off-Page SEO: Involves building external signals like backlinks and social media presence—best handled by professionals with the right connections and strategies.

However, tasks closely tied to your brand’s voice and strategy are often better kept in-house, such as:

• Brand and Content Strategy: Your internal team knows your brand best so they can ensure consistency and alignment with business goals.
• On-page Optimization: Simple fixes and updates can often be managed internally
• User Experience (UX): Internal teams should take over to maintain consistency with brand vision.

There are also tasks where outsourcing and in-house approaches can yield different results:

• Content Optimization: Outsource for specialized SEO writing and higher volume, but keep in-house if brand voice and consistency are critical.
• Competitor Analysis: Outsource for in-depth insights, but can be managed in-house with adequate resources and expertise.
• Keyword Research: Outsource for in-depth analysis and specialized tools, or keep in-house if you have strong audience insights and a clear understanding of your brand.

Who Should You Choose to Outsource Your SEO To?

In an article about outsourcing backlink building, I mentioned that you have two options: agency or freelancer. 

Look for these “green flags”: proven results, transparency in process and timelines, ethical white-hat practices, niche expertise in your industry, and strong reporting with regular updates on link quality, rankings, and traffic. These qualities ensure a reliable and effective partnership.

Avoid partners with “red flags” such as unclear strategies, unrealistic promises, black-hat tactics, poor communication, or suspiciously low prices. These often indicate poor-quality or harmful practices that could damage your SEO efforts. Opt for a transparent, ethical partner who communicates effectively and delivers long-term results.

How to Successfully Outsource Your SEO

If you finally decide to outsource SEO, ensure solid preparation and clear expectations beforehand.

Steps to Take Before Outsourcing Your SEO

1. Assess Your Goals: Clearly define what you want to achieve with SEO.
2. Research Partners: Find agencies or freelancers with the right expertise and proven results.
3. Set a Budget: Know how much you’re willing to spend and allocate resources wisely.
4. Clarify Tasks: Identify which SEO tasks to outsource and which to keep in-house.
5. Set Expectations: Establish clear communication and reporting guidelines for transparency.
6. Align with Long-term Vision: Ensure the SEO strategy matches your overall business objectives.

Monitoring After Outsourcing

Once you outsource, monitor progress regularly. Request detailed reports on key metrics like: rankings, traffic, and link quality. Regular check-ins help ensure the partner’s efforts align with your goals. Regular communication and transparency are key to success.

Remember, your outsourced team is a partner, not a subordinate. Instead of demanding from them indiscriminately, treat them as an extension of your internal team. Share them valuable insights about your business, products, and customers. This collaboration will help them better tailor strategies and achieve your goals faster.

Outsourcing Your SEO for Long-Term Success

Outsourcing SEO can save time, cut costs, and boost your online presence with expert strategies. If you’re looking to enhance your website’s performance, let Golden Owl Digital help. Contact us today to create a tailored SEO plan that drives growth and results!