Are you looking for an SEO Specialist? If so, it is safe to assume you already have a website and it is not performing as well as you hoped, or you are looking to increase your exposure through search engine optimisation. Either way you will need someone with a vast knowledge of current and legacy optimisation techniques who can grasp your online business vision and run with it immediately. So, to help you, this guide is designed so you can understand what SEO experts are, and what to look for.
Professional SEO Specialist
A Professional SEO Specialist is an expert in optimising websites to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). They will perform an in-depth analysis of your website and online business goals.
Expert Tip: Many people sell themselves as SEO experts, be careful to separate the “wheat from the chaff” and only use the best you can afford.
SEO Consultant Specialist
Once the analysis phase is done the consultant will begin planning. This stage is crucial. They will design a tailored SEO strategy based on the audit results and your business goals. The plan they devise focuses on prioritising tasks and establishing objectives to enhance search engine visibility. The main aim is to come up with a roadmap that meets your business objectives and maximises the impact of your SEO efforts.
Keyword research and analysis play a significant role in this strategy. The consultant will pinpoint the effective keywords for your industry by considering competitor keywords and search trends. This ensures that the selected keywords attract the audience and drive traffic to your website.
Pro Tip: There is no point in optimising for keywords that are not hyper-relevant to your business.
The SEO consultant advises on creating and optimising content to attract and engage your target audience. They recommend topics, formats, and keyword integration to ensure your content is effective and aligned with your SEO goals.
I Need an SEO Expert
When you realise, “I need an SEO expert,” it’s essential to find someone who offers a full range of services. Finding the right SEO expert is crucial. We can’t stress too highly how important this is for achieving your digital marketing goals, such as improving website visibility, increasing traffic, and conversions. Here’s how to find an SEO expert that matches your needs:
- Understand Your Goals: Clearly define what you want to achieve with SEO, whether it’s increasing organic traffic, improving rankings, boosting sales, or enhancing brand visibility. Clear goals help in finding an expert whose skills align with your needs.
- Research and Referrals: Start by asking for recommendations from colleagues and people in the same industry as you. Go online and do some research to identify experts with a strong presence and positive reviews. Review their portfolios and client testimonials to gauge their expertise.
- Check Credentials and Experience: Ensure the expert has relevant certifications like Google Analytics and Google AdWords. Review their experience, especially in your industry, to ensure they understand your specific challenges and opportunities.
- Evaluate Their Strategy: During consultations, ask the expert to outline their SEO approach. A competent expert should explain their strategy clearly and show how it fits with your aims. If they are talking to you in “gobbledygook”, best to walk away. The chosen strategy should cover keyword research, on-page and off-page optimisation, content strategy, technical SEO, and performance tracking. Make sure your chosen SEO specialist can explain everything in terms you understand fully.
- Customised Solutions: Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions. They never work. The right expert will provide tailored strategies based on an in-depth analysis of your website, industry, and competitors.
- Communication and Reporting: Effective communication is key. The expert should be responsive, transparent, and able to explain complex concepts simply. They should provide regular updates and detailed reports on key metrics like traffic, rankings, and conversions.
- Assess Knowledge of Current Trends: Ensure the expert is up-to-date with the latest SEO trends, algorithm changes, and best practices. Google recently has a habit of updating algorithms more often than the UK weather changes.
- Review Case Studies and Success Stories: Ask for case studies or success stories to understand their track record. Look for evidence of improved rankings, increased traffic, and higher conversions.
- Consider the Cost: Find an expert whose fees fit with your budget. Quality SEO services require investment, so aim for a balance between cost and value.
- Make the Final Decision: Compare proposals, communication styles, and how everything fits with your goals. Choose an expert who not only demonstrates expertise and experience but has a genuine interest in helping your business succeed.
Top Tip: Although not a “deal breaker”, it does help if you actually “like” your SEO specialist 🙂
Google-Certified SEO Specialist
A Google-Certified SEO Specialist is a highly skilled professional who has earned certification from Google, demonstrating their expertise in search engine optimisation (SEO) and related areas. This certification is crucial as it signifies mastery of the latest SEO best practices through rigorous exams and comprehensive training in Google Analytics and Google Ads.
Expert Tip: – We would only suggest using an SEO specialist with Google accreditation.
Google Analytics certification shows proficiency in tracking and analysing website performance, enabling data-driven decisions to enhance site performance. Although Google Ads certification focuses on paid search, it also offers insights into integrating paid and organic search strategies.
Knowing their way around Google Search Console is another key part. Specialists use this tool to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot a site’s ranking, optimise visibility, and improve search engine rankings.
Google-Certified SEO Specialist excels in keyword research, on-page optimisation, technical SEO, and content strategy. They ensure meta tags, headers, content, and internal linking are aligned with SEO best practices. They also address technical aspects like site speed, mobile-friendliness, secure browsing (HTTPS), and structured data markup, driving engagement and improving rankings.
They are also link-building superheroes. They use their superpowers to acquire high-quality backlinks through ethical strategies and analytics tools to monitor performance and refine SEO strategies.
Expert Tip – Never be seduced to the “Dark Side” by buying links. They will be very low quality and can damage your website and business reputation
If you want the best, hiring a Google-Certified SEO Specialist is essential for their expertise and credibility. The certification assures a thorough understanding of SEO, adherence to industry standards, and up-to-date knowledge of algorithm changes and SEO trends. Their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices avoids penalties and long-term damage to your website’s reputation.
Conclusion
Engaging the services of a SEO expert can significantly impact your visibility and business expansion. Reach out to us at The Search Equation to explore how we can collaborate with you in creating an SEO plan tailored to suit your business needs.
