Feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up with Google’s ever changing algorithms? You’re not alone. For many businesses, handling search engine optimization in house is a huge drain on time and resources. This is where the decision to outsource SEO comes in. It’s a strategic move to hire outside experts who live and breathe search rankings, allowing you to focus on what you do best.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to outsource SEO, from finding the right partner to measuring your success.
What exactly is SEO Outsourcing?
SEO outsourcing is the practice of delegating your search engine optimization tasks to an external agency, consultant, or specialist. Instead of hiring a full time in house team, you partner with experts to handle things like keyword research, content creation, link building, and technical website fixes. If you’re weighing tooling, compare AI keyword research tools to see what fits your stack. By outsourcing, companies can access specialized expertise without the high cost of salaries and benefits. Considering the average SEO specialist in the U.S. earns around $75,000 to $80,000 a year, it’s a financially savvy move for many businesses.
When to Outsource SEO
Not every business needs to outsource SEO from day one, but there are clear signals that it might be time to call in the experts.
- You Lack In House Expertise: SEO is a complex, multifaceted discipline. If your team is wearing too many hats and doesn’t have deep knowledge of technical SEO, content strategy, and link building, outsourcing provides instant access to those skills.
- Your Results Have Stalled: Have you been trying DIY SEO for months with little to no improvement in organic traffic or rankings? A fresh perspective from seasoned professionals can break through that plateau.
- You Can’t Keep Up with a Growing Workload: As your business scales, so do your SEO needs. If you want to ramp up content production or expand into new markets, an outsourced partner has the resources to execute much faster than a small internal team.
- You’re Falling Behind on Algorithm Changes: Google’s algorithms are constantly evolving, including shifts like Google AI Overview. A dedicated SEO agency’s primary job is to stay on top of these updates.
The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing SEO
Making the decision to outsource SEO involves weighing the potential benefits against the drawbacks.
Benefits of Outsourcing SEO
- Cost Efficiency: One of the biggest draws is saving money. A remarkable 58% of businesses cite cost savings as a primary reason to outsource SEO, as it eliminates the need for salaries, benefits, and expensive software.
- Access to Expertise: You instantly tap into a team of specialists who have the knowledge and advanced tools to get the job done right. This is a key driver for 72% of companies that choose to partner with an SEO agency.
- Time Savings: Outsourcing frees up your team to focus on core business functions. Businesses save an average of 15 to 20 hours per week by delegating SEO tasks.
- Faster, Scalable Results: Experts can often accelerate your progress. Outsourced SEO campaigns can generate a return on investment three times higher than in house efforts and are easier to scale up or down as your needs change.
Drawbacks of Outsourcing SEO
- Loss of Direct Control: You are handing over a part of your marketing to a third party, which means you won’t oversee every small detail. This requires a high level of trust.
- Variable Quality: The SEO industry has a wide range of providers, and not all are created equal. Choosing the wrong partner can lead to poor results or even harmful black hat tactics.
- Communication Challenges: Working with an external team can sometimes lead to slower response times or misaligned expectations. Clear communication protocols are essential to make the partnership work.
- It’s Not a Hands Off Solution: A successful outsourced relationship still requires your involvement for approvals, providing business insights, and defining goals. You can’t completely check out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Outsource SEO
To make your partnership a success, steer clear of these common pitfalls:
- Choosing the Cheapest Option: While cost is a factor, the lowest bidder often delivers the lowest quality work. Focus on value and the potential for a positive return on investment.
- Setting Vague Goals: Without clear, measurable goals, you and your partner will not be aligned. You won’t know what success looks like.
- Expecting Instant Results: SEO is a long term investment. Any provider promising overnight number one rankings is a major red flag.
- Ignoring Technical SEO: A great content strategy can be completely undermined by a website with poor technical health. Ensure your partner addresses the foundational elements first.
- Poor Communication: A lack of regular check ins and transparent reporting can lead to misunderstandings and wasted effort.
How to Outsource SEO: A Step by Step Process
Ready to make the leap? Following a structured process will help you find the right partner and set your campaign up for success.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Current SEO Resources
Before looking externally, take stock of your internal capabilities. Assess your team’s available hours, existing SEO skills, and current software stack. This audit helps you identify your exact needs. You may discover you only need to outsource a specific function, like content creation or link building, rather than your entire strategy.
Step 2: Define Your Goals
Before you start looking for a provider, you need to know what you want to achieve. Vague goals like “improve our SEO” are not helpful. Instead, set specific, measurable, and time bound targets.
- Align with Business Objectives: Is your main goal to generate more leads, increase ecommerce sales, or boost brand awareness? Your SEO goals should directly support your overarching business objectives.
- Set Clear KPIs: Decide which key performance indicators (KPIs) matter most. Common metrics include organic traffic, keyword rankings, organic conversions, backlink growth, and technical site health.
Step 3: Create Your SEO Outsourcing Budget
Your budget will determine the type of partner and the scope of work you can afford. Instead of picking a random number, base your budget on your goals. Consider the lifetime value of a new customer and what you are willing to spend to acquire one. This ROI focused approach helps justify the investment and sets realistic expectations for your provider.
Step 4: Choose Your Partner Model
You generally have two main choices when you outsource SEO: a full service agency or an individual freelancer.
- SEO Agency: An agency offers a team of specialists covering all aspects of SEO, from technical audits to content writing. They have more resources and can handle larger projects.
- SEO Freelancer: A freelancer is a single expert who may specialize in one or two areas of SEO. They are often more affordable and can offer more direct, personal attention.
A third model, white label SEO, is a great option for marketing agencies. This involves one agency providing SEO services under another agency’s brand, allowing them to offer a full suite of services without building an in house team.
Step 5: Research, Vet, and Select Your Partner
This is the most critical phase. Your success depends on choosing a competent and trustworthy partner.
- Find Candidates: The best way to find providers is often through referrals. However, Google searches and online review platforms like Clutch are also valuable resources.
- Vet Their Proposals: A good proposal will be tailored to your business, not a generic template. Consider creating a Request for Proposal (RFP) to receive structured responses that are easy to compare. Check their online reviews and case studies.
- Conduct Interviews: Ask about their process, communication style, and how they stay updated with industry changes. Pay attention to their customer support availability and response times.
- Check References: Don’t be shy about asking to speak with one or two of their current or past clients. Hearing about their experience firsthand is invaluable.
- Review Contract Flexibility: Look for partners who offer flexibility, such as month to month contracts. This reduces your risk and ensures they are motivated to earn your business continuously. Some modern services even offer trial periods or performance guarantees.
Step 6: Agree on Scope of Work and Pricing
Once you’ve chosen a partner, formalize the arrangement with a clear scope of work (SOW).
- Define Deliverables: Clearly list the specific tasks and deliverables. For example, instead of “content creation,” specify “four 1,500 word blog posts per month, fully optimized for target keywords.”
- Outline Costs: SEO pricing varies. Monthly retainers are most common, often ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for small to medium businesses. For a sense of benchmarks and options, see this roundup of affordable SEO services for small businesses.
Step 7: Onboard Your Partner and Provide Access
To do their job, your new SEO partner will need access to your digital assets.
- Grant System Access: Provide login credentials for your website’s content management system (CMS), Google Analytics, and Google Search Console.
- Share Business Knowledge: Educate them on your brand, target audience, top competitors, and priority products or services. The more they understand your business, the better their strategy will be.
Step 8: Establish Project Management and SOPs
A smooth workflow requires structure.
- Use Project Management Tools: Use a tool like Asana, Trello, or Monday to track tasks, deadlines, and progress.
- Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Document key processes, such as your content style guide or the approval workflow for new pages.
Step 9: Monitor Results and KPIs
SEO is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and adjustment.
- Demand Transparent Reporting: Your provider should supply regular reports (monthly is standard) tracking progress against your KPIs. Great partners provide clear, concise reporting that focuses on business outcomes, not vanity metrics.
- Hold Regular Check ins: Schedule weekly or biweekly calls to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps.
- Iterate Based on Data: Use the performance data to make informed decisions. If a certain type of content is performing well, create more of it. If a strategy isn’t working, pivot to a new approach.
Key SEO Services You Can Outsource
SEO is a broad field, but most tasks fall into a few key categories. Here are the most common services to outsource.
Outsource Keyword Research
Keyword research is the foundation of any SEO strategy. Pair your research with a keyword cluster strategy to improve topical authority. Outsourcing this gives you access to expensive tools and the expertise to analyze search intent and competition.
Outsource Competitor Analysis
Understanding what your competitors are doing right (and wrong) is crucial. An outsourced SEO expert can perform a deep dive analysis of competitor keywords, content strategies, and backlink profiles to find opportunities for you to gain an edge.
Outsource Content Creation
High quality content is crucial for ranking. Here’s how to create authoritative content for Google. Many businesses outsource content creation to produce optimized blog posts and articles at scale. Modern platforms like Rankai combine AI efficiency with human expertise to deliver more content than traditional agencies for a fraction of the cost.
Outsource On Page SEO
On page SEO involves optimizing page elements like title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and internal links (including how many internal links per page is ideal). An expert can audit your existing pages and ensure all new content is perfectly optimized.
Outsource Technical SEO
Technical SEO ensures your website’s foundation is search engine friendly. If you’re unsure where to start, run a technical SEO audit to spot and prioritize fixes. Because it often requires development skills, it’s one of the most commonly outsourced tasks.
Outsource Site Speed Optimization
Page speed is a critical ranking factor and user experience element. Outsourcing site speed optimization gives you access to technical experts who can diagnose and fix issues related to image compression, code minification, and server response times to make your site faster.
Outsource Schema Markup Implementation
Schema markup is code that helps search engines understand your content better, which can result in rich snippets in search results. Outsourcing its implementation ensures it is done correctly without you needing to learn the technical details.
Outsource Off Page SEO and Link Building
Building high quality backlinks is one of the most challenging parts of SEO, which is why many organizations outsource their link building. If you’re exploring options, start with this guide to the top link building services.
Outsource Local SEO
For businesses with a physical location, local SEO is essential. This involves optimizing your Google Business Profile, managing online reviews, and building local citations. Outsourcing local SEO helps brick and mortar businesses connect with nearby customers.
Outsource International SEO
If your business operates in multiple countries, you’ll need international SEO. This involves technical setups like hreflang tags and creating culturally localized content. Outsourcing this complex task can help you expand your global reach much faster.
Finding the Right SEO Partner for You
Choosing to outsource SEO is a big decision, but with the right approach and the right partner, it can be a game changer. It allows you to leverage expert knowledge, save time and money, and achieve scalable results.
By following the steps in this guide, you can confidently build a partnership that drives real, sustainable growth. If you’re looking for a solution that combines strategy, execution, and transparent reporting, explore how innovative services can help. For instance, Rankai’s unique model guarantees content production and even rewrites pages until they rank, taking the guesswork out of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About SEO Outsourcing
1. How much does it cost to outsource SEO?
The cost to outsource SEO can range from a few hundred dollars to over $5,000 per month. Most small to medium businesses spend between $1,000 and $2,500 per month. Pricing depends on the scope of work, your goals, and the provider you choose.
2. How long does it take to see results from outsourced SEO?
SEO is a long term strategy. While you might see some initial improvements within a few months, it typically takes six to twelve months to see significant, lasting results.
3. What’s the difference between outsourcing and hiring an in house SEO?
Outsourcing involves partnering with an external provider, giving you access to a team of experts for a fixed fee. Hiring an in house employee provides a dedicated resource but comes with higher costs, including salary, benefits, and training.
4. Can I outsource just one part of my SEO, like link building?
Absolutely. Many businesses choose to outsource specific SEO functions like link building or content creation while handling other tasks in house. This hybrid approach allows you to fill specific skill gaps.
5. How do I know if an SEO provider is legitimate?
Look for transparency, realistic promises, and a strong track record. A legitimate provider will have case studies, client testimonials, and be willing to explain their strategies. Be wary of anyone guaranteeing number one rankings or promising instant results.
6. What is the main benefit of outsourcing SEO?
The primary benefit is gaining access to specialized expertise that can drive better and faster results than you could likely achieve on your own, often with significant cost savings compared to building an in house team.
7. Is it better to hire an agency or a freelancer?
It depends on your needs. An agency is better for comprehensive, ongoing SEO that requires a variety of skills. A freelancer is a great option for smaller budgets, specific one off projects, or if you only need expertise in a single area.