The term SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. An SEO expert, or SEO specialist, is someone who optimizes websites to achieve higher rankings in the unpaid results of search engines like Google.
This specialist has an in-depth understanding of how search engines operate.
SEO involves more than just using the right meta tags or stuffing a text with just enough keywords.
No, the expertise goes beyond that.
Experienced SEO experts achieve tangible results and systematically repeat this process.
Time and again.
What Does an SEO Expert Do?
Technology, Content, and Authority
An SEO expert understands the online queries of your customers. By providing the best answers to those questions, visitors are directed to your website.
An SEO specialist optimizes for the three pillars of SEO:
- Technology
- Content
- Authority
Additionally, an SEO specialist is knowledgeable about website analytics and managing a team of online specialists.
1. Technology
If a website isn’t technically sound for SEO, efforts in content and authority won’t be effective.
SEO technology involves optimizing the website and server so that search engines can better crawl and index your website.
A technical SEO expert focuses on improving:
- Indexing and accessibility
- Desktop and mobile display
- Security and anti-spam measures
- Site and URL structure
- Load times via caching, Gzip, and Time to First Byte
- Redirects
- Canonical tags
- Structured data
Technical SEO removes obstacles, ensuring that both visitors and search engines can easily access the content on your website.
2. Content
To be found on a topic, it needs to be on your website.
But that’s not all. You want the most comprehensive, user-friendly, and valuable page on the internet for that topic, one that people want to find.
This is achieved through thorough keyword research, copywriting skills, and optimized images.
Optimizing page titles and meta descriptions is also a critical and specialized task for an SEO expert, making your page more appealing in Google’s search results.
Other content tasks for an SEO specialist include:
- Removing duplicate content
- De-indexing pages with very little text (thin content)
- Preventing keyword cannibalization (where multiple pages compete for the same keywords).
3. Authority
Links from other websites to yours signal to Google that your site is an authority. These links act as recommendations, making them a crucial factor in determining search result rankings.
An SEO specialist assesses the status of links to your site and your competitors’.
Then, they work with you to identify the best link-building opportunities and how to achieve them.
4. Analytics
Without a dashboard, you don’t know how fast your car is going.
The same applies to your website, but in a more detailed way.
An SEO expert is proficient with analysis tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Third-party software like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz are also nearly indispensable for high-level performance.
Regular analyses provide a wealth of information on which pages contribute to traffic, leads, and revenue via the website.
Like a car mechanic has a toolkit, an SEO expert has a digital toolkit.
This helps identify problems early and discover new opportunities.
5. Teamwork
A successful website rarely results from the efforts of just one person. Your team, whether internal or external, comprises individuals with different specialties.
- Tech-savvy testers
- What-you-see-is-what-you-get web designers
- Creative copywriters
Each has their own specialization.
An SEO expert’s task is to efficiently harness the specific expertise of these team members. The goal is not to win a design contest, but to drive more traffic and revenue via search engines.
For top rankings, collaboration is essential.
You achieve real results when everyone is aligned, bringing the key components of your website to the highest level.
When deciding between hiring an SEO consultant or an SEO agency, you should keep quality and strategy in mind. When you outsource SEO and don’t know much about it or what the best techniques are, you have to rely on the company you’re collaborating with.
The difference between a successful campaign and a complete disaster lies in your decision to work with the best SEO team in London. To learn how an SEO agency in London differs from an SEO consultant in London, read this article.
Working with SEO consultants
Short story: You may want to engage an SEO consultant instead of an SEO agency for a few reasons, but the most important is the cost.
Cost: Since SEO consultants typically charge less than agencies for their services, they are a more affordable choice for new or small companies. Due to the fact that they operate independently rather than in teams, London SEO consultants are typically more cost-effective than SEO agencies. As a result, they might be a better fit for small businesses with limited resources, such as startups.
Due to their more accommodating schedules, SEO consultants are more likely to be available when you need them and may even customise their services to meet your unique needs.
According to Paul Hoda, freelancer and SEO consultant in London, the UK, SEOs frequently have in-depth knowledge of a particular SEO subfield, such as technical optimization or content marketing. SEO experts will be able to better comprehend your needs and assist you in achieving your objectives as a result, says Paul Hoda.
You’ll typically have more direct communication and a closer working relationship with the person overseeing your SEO efforts if you work with an SEO consultant, which will result in a higher level of individualised service. This might be a good choice if you’re looking for individualised instruction.
Working with an SEO specialist has advantages, but there are also possible drawbacks to take into account. Because they lack the resources and expertise of an SEO business, an SEO consultant, for example, might not be able to take on larger or more complex tasks. A further drawback is that if the consultant is not available for whatever reason, your SEO efforts may suffer.
Working with SEO agencies
Working with a SEO agency has a number of benefits:
Search engine optimization is their area of expertise, and SEO agencies are well-versed and experienced in it. They can therefore assist you in achieving the best outcomes for your website.
Saving time: If you are unfamiliar with the techniques and best practises, SEO can be a time-consuming process. Working with an agency can help you save time and concentrate on other areas of your company.
Results that are improved: A good SEO agency will be able to spot any problems with the search engine optimization that is currently being used for your website and put strategies into place to raise your ranking and increase traffic to it.
Accountability: If you work with a company, you have someone to answer to for the accomplishment or the penalty.
Cost-effectiveness: Although hiring an agency may seem like an extra expense, it may end up being more affordable in the long-run. An agency will have the tools and knowledge to produce the best outcomes, which can increase sales for your company.
There are more benefits to working with an SEO agency, such as having access to a team of experts and benefiting from economies of scale.
SEO Expert vs. SEO Company – The conclusion
Because it will rely on your particular requirements and objectives, it can be challenging to decide if hiring an SEO specialist or an SEO firm is the better option for your organisation to implement an SEO strategy.
Working with an SEO consultant or an SEO agency will ultimately depend on your needs, finances, and preferences.
A search engine optimization (SEO) company is likely to have more resources available to it, including a team of knowledgeable experts and the ability to take advantage of economies of scale. On the other hand, an SEO expert can cut the costs down. You should decide based on your personal and monetary choice when choosing a consultant or company to handle your SEO requirements.