Are you looking for an SEO freelancer? No doubt you want an SEO Expert. But what does it mean to be an SEO expert? In this article, I discuss what an SEO expert is and what they do to improve your search engine optimisation. If you want to find out more about the basic of SEO, start here.
What is an SEO Expert?
An expert is a person who is very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area. So for an SEO expert, they are someone whose area of skill and knowledge lies in search engine optimisation. As discussed in the article, What is SEO?, there are many different sub-sectors of SEO (on-page, content, technical etc…). An SEO expert may be an expert across the full spectrum or they may further specialise in one of these areas.
How do you know if someone is an SEO expert?
Being an expert can mean different things to different people. Anyone can say they are an expert so it’s good to keep a few things in mind when you are looking for a freelancer SEO to work with. One of the first things to look for is whether they have experience in SEO. What businesses have they worked for in the past, and do they have case studies or referrals for their work.
Equally important is what skills they state they have. SEO as their one and only skill is not indicative of an expert. For example, I provide SEO services that cover all aspects of SEO but I have a specialism in research and content marketing. The SEO expert should be able to explain and describe their skills in detail. Read my article, what to look for in a freelance marketing consultant, to learn more about how to choose a marketing professional.
What does an SEO Specialist do?
It’s good to understand what an SEO specialist does, to understand how they can be experts in this field. Not all SEO experts will perform all these for every single client. If an SEO is part of an agency or team they may be focused on just one specific skill.
Consultancy
Some SEO experts focus on the consultancy side of SEO. They may advise businesses about what tactics to employ to improve their SEO. They may take a broader approach and suggest other marketing campaigns that can work alongside their SEO. SEO consultants are there to help you develop clear and consistent plans so your SEO doesn’t become an afterthought. Working with a consultant can be an intimate work relationship where you discuss all the ins and outs of your business. It’s essential to choose an SEO consultant you trust.
Research
Any SEO expert worth their salt will be a great researcher. Whether it’s keyword research, content research, referencing, statistical analysis, news and industry changes, an SEO expert spends a large amount of their time researching. This is regardless of their specialism or niche. As with all marketing fields, all actions should be backed up by experiments, data and research.
Application
An SEO expert can be the person who applies the research and consultancy plan. This could be from a content writing perspective, technical SEO or link outreach. Application is completely dependent on the specific skillset but most SEO experts will also apply their suggestions. If an expert cannot or will not apply their own suggestions (or employ someone to do it) then that should ring alarm bells.
Writing
A large part of an SEO expert’s job is writing. And that’s not just for content marketing or on-page optimisations. SEO consultants will write proposals, audits and reports. Technical SEO can spend lots of time writing up manuals for future applications as well as thousands of lines of code. Off-page SEOs will spend time crafting guest blog posts, outreach emails and influencer posts. No matter the specialism writing skills are an essential part of an SEO expert’s work.
Analysis
If they are not analysing the success or failures of your SEO efforts then they are not an SEO expert. SEO is not a case of post and go. Producing a piece of content is just half the battle. An SEO expert will then spend weeks, months and even years analysing a piece of content. Shifts in audience trends or search engine algorithms mean SEO needs to be continually updated. The only way to succeed in SEO is through continual monitoring and reporting.
Work with an SEO Specialist
If you would like to work with an SEO specialist for your business, get in touch with me today. I am a marketing consultant with a focus on SEO and specialisms in research-driven content marketing and on-page optimisations. I create bespoke packages for my clients to fit their industry, needs and budget. Let’s grow your business together.