If you run a digital marketing agency or other small business, you know how important search engine optimization can be. It’s what allows your website to even be found online. At a time when so many of us rely heavily on technology, you can’t afford to have SEO be an afterthought.
That said, you might not know where to start. Understanding the basic concepts of SEO — much less developing and executing a marketing strategy — can be overwhelming for many people. Although you know you can’t skimp on SEO, you may not relish the thought of handling it yourself.
You might be inclined to DIY just about everything around the office, but that doesn’t mean you should do your own SEO in-house. In many cases, attempting to optimize your own website or taking over your clients’ SEO needs can end up doing more harm than good.
The best alternative in these situations is to outsource SEO. If you’ve never considered becoming part of an SEO reseller program, you might want to give it some thought. The following signs may indicate that it’s time for you to partner with an outside agency for your SEO needs.
You don’t have time to learn something new
Search engine optimization isn’t one of those tasks you can master in a week. While there are many online courses and books available on the subject, it takes a lot of dedication and extra time to become an expert in the field.
If you’re running a business, that’s probably not a luxury you really have. With so many other responsibilities to take care of, you may not have enough hours in the day to learn about SEO. And if you devote yourself to this task, something else in your business will have to give. The last thing you’ll want is to sacrifice your other operations in the name of learning about optimization.
Because trends change quickly and this area of study is so complex, it’s far better to stick to what you know and outsource the rest. By working with an SEO provider, you’ll gain access to the expertise and tools necessary to execute a successful marketing campaign without having to take on the burden of learning and executing it yourself.
You’re not getting good SEO results
Whether you’re attempting to optimize your own website or you’re a marketer who’s responsible for executing clent strategies, you might very well be struggling to get the results you want. If you aren’t well-versed in SEO and don’t have the proper resources, you’re going to have a tough time gaining traction.
You can’t phone in an SEO strategy. If you don’t have the right information, you could end up hurting existing rankings and even commit a Google faux pas. You’ll want to avoid that scenario at all costs, but it’s hard to know how to do that if you don’t understand what the best practices are.
SEO doesn’t always come with a strictly upward trajectory. But if your campaign isn’t showing signs of improved keyword rankings, web traffic, or backlinking, it’s probably time to call in an expert — before things get any worse.
You can’t afford a full-time employee
It might be your greatest wish to have a large, thriving agency or a business that can support only in-house staff. But if you’re just starting out or you’ve experienced a recent client downturn, that dream might seem far-fetched.
However, if you want to grow your business, you need SEO. It may seem like a catch-22, but there are ways to afford expert SEO help without bringing on a full-time hire.
Outsourcing your SEO can provide a cost-effective solution to your problem. You won’t have to worry about the financial issues associated with salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, or additional overhead. Instead, you can pay an affordable price (and mark up that cost to clients, if you handle their marketing needs) for a service that can improve traffic and conversions.
Although your provider may not be in-house, the benefits of outsourcing are undeniable. If you’ve been struggling to expand your business, obtain high-quality marketing results, or even find the time to devote to these tasks, you’ll want to consider thinking outside the box and selecting an SEO partner who can help.