SEO is a difficult subject and it’s challenging to become skilled at it. While you can devote your energy to learning all there is to know about SEO Freelancer, as a business owner, you may not have the time to go from a beginner to an expert.
Given that 93% of online purchases begin with a search on search engines, your main priority should be to dominate the search engine game and appear on Google’s first page.
To deal with the reins of SEO on your own may be beyond the realms of possibility, and you will almost certainly need the assistance of an experienced SEO freelancer.
However, finding an SEO freelancer with the appropriate mix of technical competence, writing skills, and industry knowledge to round off your website may be a difficult task.
But don’t get too worked up over it. This post is specifically intended to help you hire a freelance SEO expert.
- Look for Specific SEO Skills
Anyone may claim to be a freelance SEO expert on the internet. So, it’s critical to evaluate the expertise and abilities of any SEO freelancer you’re considering.
When employing an SEO freelancer, keep an eye out for SEO-specific skills that a candidate should possess, such as:
- Analytics and Console expertise
- In-depth keyword research
- Website analytics
- Split-testing
- Link building
- Web traffic management
- Growth and ROI analysis
Furthermore, it would be a plus if your prospective applicant is familiar with programming languages, as this will allow the SEO freelancer to clearly convey suggestions to the developer about page performance, lazy loading, microdata tagging, and server-side redirection.
WordPress, AdWords, Google Analytics, Google Trends, Ahrefs, SEMRush, Ubersuggest, and Answer the Public are just a few of the software that SEO professionals should be acquainted with.
An SEO freelancer who can go into great depth about their skills is one who understands what they’re talking about, and employing them will save you from hiring someone who just knows the basics.
- Look for Clients’ Reviews
An expert SEO freelancer should be able to offer you the names of previous clients or brands. Check to see whether those brands show up on the first page of a Google search using certain keywords. Please do not hesitate to contact them for a reference.
They won’t likely provide any detailed information, but they should be able to tell you whether they saw any good results after working with the freelancer you’re considering.
Don’t be overly forceful while seeking information. To obtain a sense of your prospective SEO freelancer, just ask a few basic questions. If they have made a good impact on their clients, they will have no difficulty recommending them.
If you can’t find any references, go for client reviews on the freelancers’ profiles that are typically present on freelancing websites. They can help you verify the abilities of a potential SEO freelancer.
Client evaluations and comments are also available on most freelancers’ LinkedIn accounts.
Once you come across a prospective candidate, read what others have to say about them and check their public profile for endorsements and skills.
- Ask for The Candidate’s Work Methodology
When planning on building your website, make sure you get a clear-cut response. Hire a freelance SEO expert who’s able to provide you precise methods for attaining your project’s goals. Rather than settling for a verbal conversation, it’s a good idea to request a written action plan.
Make sure the plan covers the identified issues as well as the method they typically use to improve your search engine results.
Changes to your site’s URL, tags, titles, and headers may be suggested by your prospective SEO freelancer. Consider what further modifications they can provide to enhance the value of your website.
Don’t forget to inquire about your prospective SEO freelancer’s familiarity with Google’s webmaster guidelines, which restrict the methods that shady freelancers use.
Be wary of deceptive suggestions such as junk content, clickbait, and other pompous solutions, since these actions may result in your website being completely removed from search results.
- . Don’t Overlook Strong Communication Skills
It doesn’t matter what type of project you’re working on, good communication is essential. Any project will get off to a good start if the technical specialists have good communication skills and can understand and communicate the work requirements.
Your SEO freelancer must be confident enough to communicate ideas and methods to content producers and writers on how to improve SEO results from their work.
Not only does SEO require self-assurance, but it also necessitates the ability to translate complicated concepts into simple words that non-SEOs can understand.
How to Screen and Hire a Freelance SEO Expert
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- Browse Through Freelance Marketplaces
There are many freelancing sites that offer local and remote services to clients and companies including SEO services. You can find the best talent from any of these platforms if you filter smartly.
These sites will allow you to find and hire SEO freelancers based on their credentials and previous work reviews. This is an ideal preference for businesses with limited budgets as there are a lot of affordable options to choose from and you get professional services at lower costs.
Let’s list down the top three freelance websites where you can come across competent SEO freelancers.
- TaskShift
TaskShift is the most affordable platform for seeking professional SEO freelancers. The site is simple to use and accessible to everyone, regardless of where you live.
Before hiring a freelancer, you can go through a wide range of categories, check out the available resources, and review freelancer profiles and ratings.
Since there are no complex contracts or hoops to go through, it is the best option for all businesses, big and small.
- Follow These Steps
To hire a freelance SEO expert, consider these important steps in order to filter the best one for you.
General Examination
Thoroughly examine and review the SEO freelancer’s resume and portfolio to have an idea about their work ethic. A little bit of social media snooping isn’t a bad idea either. This step will help you shortlist the potential freelance SEO expert.
Proficiency Test
The next step is very important. Sure, you may look at a candidate’s CV and see results from past customers, but the best way to be sure you’re hiring the appropriate SEO freelancer for your company is to watch them in action.
You may ask applicants to perform one of the following SEO tasks:
- Inquire about your website’s SEMRush rating and suggestions for increasing organic traffic.
- Request that they examine your blog and determine the most effective keywords and keyword phrases for attracting your target audience.
Interview Session
Before hiring an SEO freelancer, don’t forget to conduct a remote interview via Skype, Slack, Google Hangouts, etc.
Pay close attention to how the candidate talks, behaves and presents himself. They may be unparalleled experts, but if they are socially awkward or weird, interacting with them can be difficult.
Ask specific questions to learn how the freelancer sees their job, if they are enthusiastic about it, and if they have any further ideas or recommendations that can help the SEO campaign succeed.
After you’ve gathered all of the information, take some time to examine it thoroughly. Whatever choice you make, do not hesitate to inform the applicant of your decision.
Conduct A Cost & Quality Analysis
“There is only one rule of business, and that is to produce the greatest quality at the lowest cost possible,” says Henry Ford.
Before you hire an SEO freelancer, you must first look into the pricing details. In advance of signing anything, think about your freelancer’s payment and customization options.
Be careful to check if the prices are in line with your project’s needs. Active communication and careful study will make it easy for you to grasp the specifications.
Apart from the money, the quality of the work is even more important. You would not want to choose a low-cost service provider just to get cheap project results. Neither would you want to waste a lot of money in search of the finest services, would you?
So, think wisely and choose the most affordable yet competent resource for your project.
The Takeaway
In this guide, we’ve made an effort to put forward some applicable tips and tricks on how to hire a freelance SEO expert. After reading this, you must have acquired some knowledge and be better equipped to hire an SEO freelancer right away.
Great blog to read.