What to Look for in an SEO Expert

SEO professionals come in so many forms. Finding the right support can come from a large company, small business, or freelancer. While many sources offer informative and helpful advice, not everyone may practice what they preach. Regardless, there are many options when it comes to working with an SEO expert. So, today we are going to be outlining some of the most important factors to consider when looking for the right SEO specialist. 

Experience with SEO and Current SEO

This one probably doesn’t come as a surprise. You probably want to work with an individual who has prior experience with SEO, and who keeps up with the latest changes in the SEO industry. SEO constantly evolves and requires both a deep understanding of search engines and hands-on experience. You want to hire someone who has been in the industry long enough to understand the nuances of SEO, including algorithm changes, trends, and effective strategies. 

Ask potential candidates how they stay informed about changes in SEO. Do they attend industry conferences, read blogs from industry leaders, or participate in SEO communities? A proactive expert will constantly adjust their strategies to reflect the latest trends and ensure your website remains competitive in search rankings.

To gauge their experience, ask for examples of their past work. A good SEO expert should have a proven track record of success with previous clients. Look for results such as improved search rankings, increased organic traffic, or successful optimization for targeted keywords. Don’t hesitate to ask for references or to check their online reviews and testimonials.

Understanding SEO Tools

Another important part of having SEO experience understanding how the tools of the trade work. While there are many options out there, it is vital that an SEO expert is well-versed in using a variety of tools to conduct keyword research, perform site audits, analyze competitors, and track progress over time. 

Some examples of tools an SEO specialist should be familiar with could include:

• Google Analytics: This is used to track website traffic, user behavior, and conversions.
• Google Search Console: To monitor search performance and identify technical issues.
• SEMrush or Ahrefs: For competitor analysis, keyword research, and backlink tracking.
• Moz: This is for local SEO tracking and additional keyword research capabilities.

While tools like these are essential, the real value lies in how the expert uses them. They should be able to interpret data and make informed decisions to improve your website’s SEO performance.

Technical SEO Skills

SEO isn’t only about optimizing content and building backlinks. It also involves ensuring your site is technically sound. A good SEO expert should have a strong understanding of technical SEO to ensure your website is well-structured for both search engines and users. This includes knowledge of:

• Website Speed: Slow-loading websites can negatively impact rankings and user experience. An SEO expert should know how to optimize images, use caching, and improve page speed.
• Mobile Optimization: With Google’s mobile-first indexing, it’s crucial that your website is fully optimized for mobile devices. Your SEO expert should ensure that your site is responsive and offers a seamless experience across all screen sizes.
• Crawlability and Indexing: Your website should be easy for search engine crawlers to navigate and index. This involves optimizing your site’s architecture, fixing broken links, creating an XML sitemap, and ensuring that robots.txt is properly configured.
• Structured Data (Schema Markup): Schema markup helps search engines understand the content on your website better. An effective SEO specialist should know how to implement structured data to enhance your website’s search presence with rich snippets.

Ethical SEO Practices

When evaluating an SEO expert, it’s important to ensure they use white hat SEO practices. These are techniques that adhere to search engine guidelines and prioritize long-term results. Avoid any expert who promises quick fixes, such as skyrocketing rankings in a short period, as this often involves black hat techniques.

Black hat SEO practices, like keyword stuffing, cloaking, and buying backlinks, may offer short-term gains but will eventually harm your website’s rankings. Search engines, particularly Google, are constantly improving their algorithms to penalize these tactics. A reputable SEO expert will prioritize ethical, sustainable strategies that build your website’s credibility over time.

Questions to Ask SEO Candidates

Now that you know what qualities to look for in an SEO expert, the next step is evaluating potential candidates. Here are some key factors to consider during the evaluation process:

Ask About Their Approach to SEO

A good SEO expert should be able to explain their approach in simple terms. Ask them how they plan to optimize your site, what strategies they’ll use, and how they’ll measure success. Their answers should be tailored to your specific business and goals. Be wary of anyone who relies on generic responses or refuses to share details about their methods.

Request a Website Audit

Ask the SEO expert to perform an audit of your website and present their findings. This will give you insight into their ability to identify issues and propose solutions. Pay attention to whether they focus on both technical and content-related improvements, and how comprehensive their analysis is.

Understand Their Communication Style

SEO is an ongoing process, so it’s important that your SEO expert communicates effectively and keeps you updated on progress. During the hiring process, assess their communication style—are they responsive, transparent, and able to explain complex SEO concepts in a way you understand? Look for someone who will provide regular updates and reports on key metrics, such as keyword rankings, traffic growth, and conversion rates.

Check Their Reviews and Testimonials

Before making a final decision, look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients. Positive feedback can indicate that the SEO expert delivers results and has a good working relationship with their clients. You can also ask for references and speak directly with past clients to get a sense of what it’s like to work with the expert.

Assess Their Industry Knowledge

SEO is constantly changing due to updates in search engine algorithms and evolving user behavior. A good SEO expert stays up-to-date with the latest trends and developments. During the interview process, ask about recent algorithm changes, industry news, or emerging SEO strategies. This will give you an idea of whether they are actively keeping up with changes in the SEO landscape.

Find an SEO Specialist with Simplified SEO Consulting

Choosing the right SEO expert can have a significant impact on the success of your business. By focusing on experience, technical skills, ethical practices, and effective communication, you can find an SEO expert who will help you improve your online visibility and drive lasting results.

Take the time to thoroughly evaluate each candidate, and remember that SEO is a long-term investment. With the right expert by your side, you can build a solid foundation for organic growth and online success. Our team of SEO specialists would be happy to meet with you to see if we are the right fit for you and your business needs. Start working with the team at Simplified SEO Consulting by following these steps:

1. Apply to work with us to improve your SEO
2. Meet with an SEO specialist
3. Start supporting your SEO rankings!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team knows there are many aspects of SEO that you may need help addressing on your site. This is why we offer a variety of SEO services. Other services offered include our Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses. We also offer a 12-week Done With You Intensive SEO Program. Visit our blog to learn more today!

About the Author

Sterling Humburg-Cage graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Psychology in 2020. He has integrated what he learned in school into his work as an SEO Specialist with Simplified SEO Consulting. Sterling prides himself on helping current clients & alumni problems solve difficult SEO issues.  He’s great at giving clients multiple options about how to approach a situation, finding solutions to some of the more technical aspects of SEO, and responding in a timely manner to client concerns.  Since he started, Sterling has met frequently with our alumni and provided them with extra problem-solving support. He now provides additional support with a variety of local SEO services. He often goes the extra mile to do outside research. By doing so, he sure private practice owners have everything they need to rank well on search engines long term for the keywords their ideal clients are using!