Outsourcing SEO has become a popular strategy for businesses to improve their online presence. Their expertise provides long-term impact within a short time.
Handling SEO in-house is an option, but outsourcing offers several compelling advantages. However, it’s not without its risks. But don’t worry, we’ll figure out and explore it in detail.
We will explore five game-changing benefits and some hidden pitfalls of outsourcing SEO. Also, we will share some tips to make the most of this strategy.
So why wait, let’s get started!
What Are the Benefits of Outsourcing SEO?
How about handing off your SEO to the pros? Outsourcing can be a real game-changer for your business.
Instead of managing everything in-house, you can delegate difficult tasks to the external team to manage and complete them with a better outcome.
Whether you’re a startup trying for better reach or looking to boost your online presence, outsourcing your SEO can make a huge difference.
Here are five benefits that show why outsourcing SEO could be the best move for your business.
Access to expertise and advanced tools
It gives you access to a team of professionals who know everything about SEO; from basic to advanced. They have experience with various industries, understand the latest algorithms, and use advanced tools to analyze data and implement strategies that might be out of reach for an in-house team.
For example, an experienced agency might use advanced tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to unlock insights like traffic, ranking, competitors, keyword research, etc. All these can drive better results for your business.
They also stay updated with algorithm changes and industry trends, ensuring your SEO strategies are always ahead of the curve.
Cost-effective
Hiring and training an in-house SEO team can be expensive, especially when you have to provide them with salaries, benefits, and ongoing training.
But for the outsourcing services, you can work with them if you need them. So it can be much more cost-effective. Or you can delegate your tasks during any emergencies.
For instance, instead of paying a full-time employee, you might only need an agency’s services during critical periods, such as a website relaunch or major content update.
This flexibility allows you to allocate resources where they’re most needed without incurring the overhead of a full-time team.
While outsourcing can be cost-effective, it’s important to understand the full financial picture. To make an informed decision, check out our breakdown of SEO outsourcing pricing to see if it fits your budget.
Focus on core business activities
Outsourcing SEO allows you to focus on what you do best—running your business. SEO is a time-consuming process that requires constant attention and updates.By partnering with a local SEO outsourcing company, you free up your time and resources to concentrate on core business activities, such as product development, customer service, or sales.
For example, a startup might find it challenging to manage both product development and SEO at the same time. By outsourcing SEO, the team can focus on creating a better product while still benefiting from a strong online presence.
Scalability and flexibility
One of the major advantages of outsourcing SEO is the ability to scale your efforts up or down as needed. Whether you need to make efforts for a big campaign or scale back, an outsourced team can adjust quickly without the need for hiring or letting go of staff.
That means they can provide their effort depending on the needs and requirements.
For instance, if your business experiences seasonal fluctuations, you can easily scale your SEO efforts to match demand without the hassle of hiring temporary employees or overloading your in-house team.
Staying updated with SEO trends
SEO is a constantly evolving field, with search engines like Google regularly updating their algorithms. Staying on top of these changes is crucial to maintaining your website’s ranking. Outsourcing your SEO ensures that your strategy is always up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.
An example is the shift towards mobile-first indexing and the increasing importance of Core Web Vitals. An outsourced SEO team would be on top of these trends. They can adjust your strategy to ensure your website remains competitive.
What Are the Main Hurdles of Outsourcing SEO
As of now, we have discussed the benefits. It’s now time to explore some of the hidden cons of outsourcing SEO.
Apart from the benefits, the pitfalls are less to be counted. But there should always be some criticism to prove something bad or good.
Here we have shared 3 hidden hurdles that you may face while managing an outsourcing SEO team.
Lack of control
When you outsource SEO, you’re putting a significant part of your business in someone else’s hands. This can lead to a feeling of losing control over your SEO strategy. You may not be as involved in the day-to-day decisions, which can be problematic for some business owners.
For example, you might find that the agency is making changes to your website or content that you’re not comfortable with. Without proper communication, these changes could affect your brand’s image or message.
Risk of low-quality service
Not all SEO agencies are created equal. Some may use outdated techniques, or worse, black-hat SEO tactics that can harm your website’s ranking. The risk of low-quality service is a significant pitfall, especially if you choose an agency based solely on price.To mitigate these risks, check out our guide on selecting the right SEO partner to ensure you’re making the best choice for your business.
A real-world example of this is when businesses fall victim to agencies promising quick results through keyword stuffing or buying backlinks. These practices can lead to penalties from search engines, resulting in a drop in rankings and a damaged online reputation.
Misaligned goals and expectations
When outsourcing SEO, both parties must be on the same page. Misaligned goals and expectations can lead to frustration, wasted resources, and poor results. This issue often occurs when the agency doesn’t fully understand your business objectives or when there’s a lack of clear communication.
For instance, if your goal is to increase brand awareness but the agency focuses solely on driving traffic, you might see an increase in visitors without a corresponding increase in brand recognition.
How to Maximize the Benefits and Minimize the Pitfalls
As said above, the number of pitfalls is lesser than the benefits. However, it’s better to find the loopholes and know how to minimize them quickly.
Let’s reveal some ways to minimize the pitfalls.
A. Establish clear goals and expectations
Before you even think about signing a contract with an SEO agency, take some time to get clear on what you want to achieve. Are you looking to boost your website traffic, increase conversions, or maybe rank higher for certain keywords? Whatever your goals are, make sure they’re well-defined.
Once you know what you want, communicate these goals to the agency. They must understand your business objectives so they can tailor their strategy to meet your needs. Setting clear expectations right from the start will help avoid any misunderstandings or disappointments later on.
B. Regular communication and reporting
Think of your relationship with the SEO agency like any other partnership—it thrives on good communication. Regular updates and reports are your best friends here. They keep you in the loop on what’s happening and allow you to ask questions or raise concerns before small issues turn into big problems.
Don’t be shy about requesting updates on a schedule that works for you. Whether it’s weekly check-ins or monthly reports, staying connected helps ensure that everyone is on the same page.
C. Start with a small project to test the agency
If you’re feeling a bit unsure about diving headfirst into a long-term commitment, start small. Consider hiring the agency for a smaller project first, like a site audit, a few content updates, or a localized SEO campaign. This way, you can get a feel for their work and see if they’re a good fit for your business without making a huge investment upfront.
This “test drive” approach is low-risk and can give you the confidence you need to move forward with a bigger project if things go well.
D. Consider a hybrid approach (in-house + outsourcing)
Why choose between in-house and outsourcing when you can have the best of both worlds? A hybrid approach allows you to keep certain SEO tasks in-house, like content creation or strategy planning, while outsourcing more technical or time-consuming tasks, like link building or analytics.
This way, you maintain control over your overall SEO strategy while still benefiting from the expertise and efficiency that an external agency can offer. It’s a flexible approach that can be customized to fit your specific needs.
E. Keep an eye on performance and be ready to adjust
Once your SEO plan is in action, it’s crucial to keep an eye on how things are going. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like organic traffic, search engine rankings, and conversion rates to see if the strategy is delivering the results you’re after.
If things aren’t quite hitting the mark, don’t be afraid to have a chat with your agency about making adjustments. SEO is an ongoing process, and tweaking the strategy along the way is totally normal—and often necessary—to achieve the best results.
F. Make sure your contract has some flexibility
When it comes to contracts, it’s a good idea to build in some flexibility. This might include options for scaling services up or down, early termination clauses, or even performance-based incentives. A flexible contract gives you some wiggle room to make changes as your business grows and evolves.
Plus, having an exit strategy in case things don’t work out as planned can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Wrapping It Up
Outsourcing your SEO can offer big benefits, like expert knowledge and more time to focus on other parts of your business.
But, like anything else, it comes with its challenges. By setting clear goals, maintaining good communication, starting small, and keeping an eye on performance, you can overcome these challenges with ease.
Whether you decide to go all-in with outsourcing or take a hybrid approach, remember that the key is to stay involved and proactive.
With the right strategy and a bit of flexibility, you can make the most of your SEO efforts while avoiding common problems.