How To Find a Good SEO Consultant

Key Considerations in Choosing the Best SEO Consultant

Written by Colette Nichol, Solo Filmmaker and Story Strategist

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

If you want to increase organic traffic to your website, then finding a good SEO consultant or boutique agency may be the right move for you and your business.

So let’s talk about how to find a good SEO consultant.

But first a warning.

While SEO aka. Search Engine Optimization allows you to get found online by the people, be careful because not all SEO consultants will be the right fit for your business. It’s important to make sure that your SEO consultant is following best practices that will allow your website to thrive long-term.

You don’t want to get quick wins today that will actually negatively affect your site down the road.

Finding the right SEO consultant can be a challenging task, but it’s definitely possible. It may take some time to find the right person, but it’s worth it. Why? Because SEO can be a massive business growth driver when done correctly.

This blog post provides ten effective strategies for locating and hiring a skilled SEO expert.

You can also learn more about how I do SEO for my clients by clicking here.

10 Best Ways to Find and Hire an SEO Expert

1. Referrals and Recommendations

If you have a strong network of fellow business owners, ask your professional network for referrals. Word of mouth is often a reliable source for finding good professionals.

A lot of SEO professionals don’t really do SEO for their own business because they get so much business form referrals.

I know that sounds weird, but it’s true. Many SEO consultants have other SEO projects that they use as test and they don’t actively do SEO for their own consulting businesses or agencies. That’s why referrals are a logical way to find a good SEO expert.

2. Online Directories and Forums

Websites like Clutch.co, Upwork, and industry-specific forums can be good resources for finding experienced SEO consultants.

However, I would be careful with this unless you know how SEO works and are hiring someone for a specific task.

It’s better to work with a consultant or business directly rather than via Upwork when it comes to something as relatively complex as SEO.

3. SEO Blogs and Publications

Authors of some well-respected SEO blogs often provide consultancy services or can recommend trusted colleagues. However, a little known fact about the internet is that a lot of the content online isn’t actually written by experts. So it may take a little digging to find someone.

But fun fact: if you’re reading this, you DID find an SEO expert!

4. Attend Business and Industry Conferences

If you have a complex SEO problem and you’re looking for someone with a very specific skillset then SEO and digital marketing conferences are great places to meet and evaluate potential consultants.

5. Social Media Groups

LinkedIn and X are both good platforms to connect with SEO professionals.

6. Google SEO Agency + Your Town or Country

Agencies often offer comprehensive SEO services and some small agencies may be a good fit for your small business. You don’t have to work with someone locally, but if that makes you feel more comfortable, then

7. Google SEO Consultant + Your Town, Province, State or Country

A simple Google search for “SEO consultant” plus your city or industry can yield relevant results. The top-ranked consultants are likely effective at SEO themselves.

However, that’s not always the case.

One thing you need to be aware of is that an agency may put their most senior SEOs (Search Engine Optimizers) on doing their own company’s SEO while you get assigned a Junior SEO. If you’re in a low-competition niche, this may be fine. But just make sure you’re selecting an agency or consultant for a reason other than the fact that they cam up in search.

8. SEO Tools and Software Providers

Companies that provide SEO tools often have directories of certified consultants. You can actually hire Ubersuggest to do your SEO for you. I really like Ubersuggest, and if you are leading a big company or have a massive SEO project, but you’re not ready to build your in-house team, then a company like Ubersuggest might be a good fit.

9. Client Testimonials and Case Studies

Look for consultants who can provide real-world evidence of their success. As any SEO that you’re speaking with who they work with and how they like to work.

Find out if your niche is highly competitive or not.

I’m always happy to talk about both my client wins and when client projects have been stalling or experiencing challenges. And, since I don’t like to lose, I’ll only take on clients that I’m sure I can help. If you’re in an ultra competitive niche (translation: very expensive) but you have a small budget, I’ll be honest with you about it.

10. SEO is not the right fit for every single business.

But if you’re a high end service-oriented business in a growth phase, with clear product-market fit, it’s likely that you’re sitting on an SEO goldmine.

This isn’t always the case.

But there are millions of underserved niche’s online where it’s entirely possible for a small business to dominate the first page of Google for many valuable keywords.

In the past 3 years, I’ve helped one of my clients take their traffic from 100 visitors per month to over 6000 visitors per month. This has results in dramatic revenue growth over the past 3 years.

This client’s business was already in a growth phase.

And their niche was incredibly underserved.

It took hard work to get them to a place where they now dominate their niche online despite being a small business with just two owners and a team of five. 

Questions

How do I find a good SEO specialist?

Look for someone with a good track record, positive client testimonials, and a clear understanding of current SEO best practices. Unless you hire an SEO who only works with a very specific niche of businesses (ex: SEO for Plummers) then it’s unlikely you’ll find someone with a specialty in your industry. But find out if any of the companies they’ve worked with share some similarities. 

How do I choose an SEO consultant?

Ask about their current clients, ask about their strategy and process, and ensure they practice ethical, white-hat SEO techniques. Communication skills and transparency are also key factors. Make sure they’re reliable, responsive, and you feel comfortable talking to them about your business. This should be a long and fruitful relationship, so you do want to make sure you feel good talking to them. 

How much does it cost to hire an SEO consultant?

The cost varies widely depending on the consultant’s experience, the scope of your project, and the market demand.

Prices can range from $1000 per month to $20,000 or more per month.

Of course enterprise SEO is much more expensive than SEO for small businesses. But it’s still not crazy to hire an SEO consultant or agency for $10,000 per month if you’re running a $2M+ business. Just make sure that if you’re paying more, you’re getting more.

Are SEO consultants worth it?

Yes, if chosen correctly.

A skilled SEO consultant can significantly improve your website’s relevant traffic and boost your online visibility, leading to greater business revenues. Just make sure you find someone who will be committed to helping you grow your business. 

How much should a company spend on SEO?

The budget depends on the size of your business, your marketing budget, the competition in your industry, and your goals. A small to medium-sized business may spend up to 50% or more of their marketing budget on SEO.

My biggest clients spend nearly all of their marketing budget on SEO.

The combination of the video SEO and the traditional SEO that we do together has dramatically boosted their business. 

But that not be the right move for every business. It’s important to identify the short-term and long-term potential for your business with SEO and compare that to other avenues like social media and Google ads.

Next Steps

By using the strategies outlined above, you can identify a skilled professional who can help you grow your business. Remember, effective SEO is a long-term strategy and choosing the right consultant is an investment that will pay dividends for years. 

Schedule a 15-minute Call with an SEO Expert 

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