<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>seo expert &#8211; Mike Khorev &#8211; SEO Consultant</title>
	<atom:link href="https://mikekhorev.com/tag/seo-expert/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://mikekhorev.com</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:01:59 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.16</generator>
	<item>
		<title>The Best SEO Agencies in the World</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/best-seo-agencies-globally</link>
					<comments>https://mikekhorev.com/best-seo-agencies-globally#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:24:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=10762</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Why Do You Need to Hire an SEO Company (And The Right One For You)? The first thing you’ll need to understand is that SEO is actually not a rocket science. Technical-wise, SEO is fairly easy to learn, and if you are willing to learn about the concept and spend your time and resources, you can implement SEO by yourself without spending any money. So, with that out of the question, why do we actually need to work with an SEO company or even a full-service digital marketing consultant? The answer lies in the fact that although SEO is &#8211; as mentioned &#8211; fairly manageable to implement, it is a long-term effort that will demand consistency. SEO will require long-term hard work in at least several aspects: Publishing high-quality content pieces that are properly optimized for SEO Link-building, often the most tedious aspect of SEO. This can consist of several different aspects from analyzing backlinks profile to building key relationships to re-optimizing Technical optimizations, from assessing the current state of your website to analyzing your competition to implementing the best practices of SEO optimizations Monitoring and handling reviews &#8211; including and especially the negative ones, especially in the case of local SEO With these being said, the real question is whether you have the time, and manpower, to implement SEO. On average, it will take 6 to 12 months of consistent SEO efforts before you can see significant results (i.e., your website ranking on the first page of Google search). Depending on the size of your team and whether you have the luxury of time, most of the time working with an SEO expert is a better choice so that you can invest your time and resources elsewhere. Remember that SEO is just a single aspect of an integrated digital marketing strategy.... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/best-seo-agencies-globally">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/best-seo-agencies-globally">The Best SEO Agencies in the World</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2></h2>
<h3><strong>Why Do You Need to Hire an SEO Company (And The Right One For You)?</strong></h3>
<p>The first thing you’ll need to understand is that SEO is actually not a rocket science. Technical-wise, SEO is fairly easy to learn, and if you are willing to learn about the concept and spend your time and resources, you can implement SEO by yourself without spending any money.</p>
<p>So, with that out of the question, why do we actually need to work with an SEO company or even a <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/">full-service digital marketing consultant</a>?</p>
<p>The answer lies in the fact that although SEO is &#8211; as mentioned &#8211; fairly manageable to implement, it is a long-term effort that will demand consistency. SEO will require long-term hard work in at least several aspects:</p>
<ul>
<li>Publishing high-quality content pieces that are properly optimized for SEO</li>
<li><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/white-hat-link-building-strategies-grow-rankings-traffic">Link-building</a>, often the most tedious aspect of SEO. This can consist of several different aspects from analyzing backlinks profile to building key relationships to re-optimizing</li>
<li>Technical optimizations, from assessing the current state of your website to analyzing your competition to implementing the best practices of SEO optimizations</li>
<li>Monitoring and handling reviews &#8211; including and especially the negative ones, especially in the case of <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/local-seo-services">local SEO</a></li>
</ul>
<p>With these being said, the real question is whether you have the time, and manpower, to implement SEO. On average, it will take 6 to 12 months of consistent SEO efforts before you can see significant results (i.e., your website ranking on the first page of Google search).</p>
<p>Depending on the size of your team and whether you have the luxury of time, most of the time <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-expert">working with an SEO expert</a> is a better choice so that you can invest your time and resources elsewhere.</p>
<p>Remember that SEO is just a single aspect of an <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/create-b2b-marketing-strategy-drives-sales-revenue">integrated digital marketing strategy</a>. SEO will only bring its maximum results when other marketing channels such as social media marketing, content marketing, and email marketing, among others are also performing well.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h3></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-start="305" data-end="323"><strong>1. Mike Khorev</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MK-site.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-13732 size-full" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MK-site.png" alt="" width="781" height="467" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MK-site.png 781w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MK-site-300x179.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MK-site-768x459.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 781px) 100vw, 781px" /></a></p>
<p data-start="325" data-end="891">Mike Khorev is a U.S.-based SEO consultant and the founder of mikekhorev.com, specializing in data-driven SEO strategies for SaaS, B2B, and eCommerce companies. With over a decade of experience, he focuses on technical SEO, content optimization, and scalable organic growth strategies. Mike typically works with mid-sized and enterprise-level businesses, offering hands-on consulting rather than high-volume agency services. Because of this personalized approach, he works with a limited number of clients at a time and positions himself as a premium SEO consultant.</p>
<h3></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>2. Nine Peaks</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NP.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13443" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NP.png" alt="" width="1340" height="678" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NP.png 1340w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NP-300x152.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NP-1024x518.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NP-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1340px) 100vw, 1340px" /></a></p>
<p>Nine Peaks Media is a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO and lead generation. This agency has as strong global reputation, and is focused on maximizing SEO results through content and inbound marketing.</p>
<p>In this modern day of SEO, there’s no shortcut to ranking on the search engines besides consistent publication of relevant content, and this is precisely what Nine Peaks Media offers. Nine Peaks Media also take pride on their local SEO services to help small businesses improve their ranking on Google Maps.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong>3. Growth Partners Media</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13984" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM.png" alt="" width="1707" height="902" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM.png 1707w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM-300x159.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM-1024x541.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM-768x406.png 768w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GPM-1536x812.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Growth Partners Media is a B2B-focused SEO agency specializing in authority-led organic growth for B2B companies operating in competitive global markets.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rather than treating link building as a volume exercise, the agency focuses on editorial-quality backlinks, strategic niche edits, and community-driven brand mentions to strengthen authority, trust, and long-term ranking stability. Campaigns are built around manual outreach, established industry partnerships, and page-level prioritization to ensure link equity supports revenue-driving pages, not just traffic growth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Growth Partners Media also aligns its SEO execution with modern search behavior, including AI-generated results and entity-based ranking signals, helping clients build durable visibility across both traditional search and emerging AI discovery surfaces. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">This authority-first, strategy-led approach makes Growth Partners Media a strong choice for B2B companies seeking scalable, defensible SEO growth rather than short-term ranking wins.</span></p>
<h3></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong>4. SeoLogist</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/seologist.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13985" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/seologist.png" alt="" width="1195" height="852" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/seologist.png 1195w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/seologist-300x214.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/seologist-1024x730.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/seologist-768x548.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1195px) 100vw, 1195px" /></a></p>
<p>SeoLogist is an SEO company in Toronto that partners with brands across Canada, the U.S., and beyond to build sustainable, long-term organic growth. As a company, they focus on strategy and execution rather than quick hacks, combining Technical SEO, Content optimization, and Link acquisition to help businesses compete in demanding markets. SeoLogist works with both local businesses and larger, multi-location brands, tailoring each campaign around the client’s goals, industry, and growth stage. Company also at the forefront of AI-driven search. They help brands adapt to the shift toward Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Their services include comprehensive GEO and SEO audits, On-page and Technical SEO, Local SEO and ongoing performance reporting, giving decision-makers clear visibility into results.</p>
<p>With an experienced team and a process refined over many years, SeoLogist is a solid choice if you’re looking for a hands-on SEO partner that can manage complex campaigns while staying aligned with your broader digital marketing strategy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong>5. Aira</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13986" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira.png" alt="" width="1695" height="682" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira.png 1695w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira-300x121.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira-1024x412.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira-768x309.png 768w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aira-1536x618.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1695px) 100vw, 1695px" /></a></p>
<p>Aira is a UK-based marketing agency that is not only focusing on SEO, but search marketing (PPC), social media marketing, content marketing, and overall digital marketing campaigns. Specializing on small and mid-size tech companies, Aira is a relatively small but experienced agency that emphasizes on understanding the client’s goals and deliver results.</p>
<h3></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong>6. Cloud22</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13987" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22.png" alt="" width="1821" height="655" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22.png 1821w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22-300x108.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22-1024x368.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22-768x276.png 768w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cloud22-1536x552.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1821px) 100vw, 1821px" /></a></p>
<p>Cloud 22 (formerly known as HallAnalysis) is a results-driven SEO agency focused on building sustainable organic growth through data-backed strategies. The team emphasizes technical SEO, performance analysis, and risk mitigation to ensure long-term search visibility. Cloud 22 works with mid-sized and large businesses that require scalable, analytics-focused SEO campaigns and a strategic, measurable approach to growth.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><strong>7. Vertical Measures</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13988" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures.png" alt="" width="1700" height="957" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures.png 1700w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures-300x169.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures-1024x576.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures-768x432.png 768w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vertical-measures-1536x865.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px" /></a></p>
<p>A Phoenix-based, award-winning full-service marketing agency, Vertical Measures (also known as IDX) is a global reaching agency with Fortune 500 companies as some of its clients. Specializing on content marketing, SEO, link acquisition, and paid advertising optimization, Vertical Measures focuses on enterprise and especially B2B clients. Relatively expensive, but certainly is one of the best agencies in the world.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>How To Choose A SEO Company?</strong></h3>
<p>As stated, the main purpose of working with an SEO company is to save your time and resources. However, choosing the wrong one can be counterproductive, as it can ruin months or even years of SEO efforts if you are not careful.</p>
<p><em><strong>With that being said, here are some important considerations when choosing the right SEO agency:</strong></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>1. Defining Your SEO Goals</strong></h3>
<p>The first, and arguably the most important step in choosing the right SEO company is actually to look inwards: assess the current state of your online presence, and decide the key areas you would want to improve. If you can define clear and realistic SEO goals, you can have an easier time judging the different SEO companies to find the right team for the job. In this step, you would want to perform a thorough SEO audit, as well as overall marketing analytics. Thankfully, there are now various analytic tools that can help you in this step. The principle is relatively obvious: the better you understand your needs, the easier you can find the right people that can help with these needs.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>2. Data-Gathering and Analysis Capabilities</strong></h3>
<p>As we can see from the previous step, a huge part of SEO is collecting, analyzing, and actually using data to improve your website’s performance. The thing is, different companies will need to track different KPIs and different metrics according to their niche, goals, and many other factors. So, it is important to work with an SEO company that can measure and analyze the right metrics according to your needs. This way, you can properly align your SEO goals and track the performance of your SEO campaign. Before you approach an SEO company, list your important online KPIs and metrics, and discuss these with the potential agencies.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>3. Define Your Budget</strong></h3>
<p>SEO agencies and freelance SEO experts (which are also viable options here) come with different price tags and packages. Remember that we have mentioned that technically, you can implement SEO by yourself for absolutely free, so here you are actually buying time. It is wise to plan your budget ahead, so you can narrow down your options and avoid unnecessary spending. So, when approaching an SEO agency, it is wise to ask upfront about their costs and packages. This way, you can know early on if an agency is within your price range. Most SEO agencies will offer their service with a variety of monthly costs, so it’s relatively easy to compare between them, budget-wise. Remember to also consider your SEO goals when deciding on the appropriate budget.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>4. Checking Reviews and Reputations</strong></h3>
<p>We are checking agencies offering the SEO service, which is centered around online presence. So, it would only make sense to choose agencies with a prominent digital presence where we can transparently check reviews, testimonials, and even case studies. You can explore the company’s site for this information, but you can also check third-party review platforms (sometimes a quick Google search will do). If possible, request case studies from the agency, which can often be done by simply submitting a request on their sites. You can also contact their previous client (or even a current client, which some reputable agencies can arrange). This way, you can get a more objective assessment of the company’s reliability.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>5. Scheduling a Consultation</strong></h3>
<p>Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you can schedule consultations with your chosen SEO agencies. This will be a great approach to learn about their methods and strategies, and whether they can meet your goals. It’s important to remember that there’s no secret strategy or the “holy grail” for SEO: it’s all about consistency and hard work. A reputable SEO company will be transparent about their tactics and in most cases, will be upfront with the required timeline (6-12 months or even more being ideal). In the world of SEO, it can’t be more true that if something is too good to be true, it is. This consultation will also help you to understand the people behind the agency—their team—, and whether their level of passion, work ethics, and creativity will work well with your company. Ask as many specific questions as you can here, and figure out all the necessary information. Remember that you are making a long-term investment, so don’t be afraid to ask.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Comparison Table</strong></h3>
<table class=" alignleft" style="height: 392px;" width="1683">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Agency</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Focus</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Core Services</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Best For</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Notable Differentiator</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mike Khorev</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">SaaS, B2B, eCommerce</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Technical SEO, content optimization, scalable organic growth, hands-on consulting</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mid-sized &amp; enterprise brands that want a premium consultant</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Personalized, limited-client, data-driven consulting model</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nine Peaks Media</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">SEO + lead generation</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Content &amp; inbound marketing, SEO growth, local SEO (Google Maps)</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brands needing consistent content production + local visibility</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strong content-first approach + local SEO strength</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Growth Partners Media</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">B2B authority-led SEO</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Editorial backlinks, niche edits, brand mentions, manual outreach, entity/AI-aligned SEO</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">B2B companies in competitive global markets</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Authority-first SEO built for long-term stability + AI discovery surfaces</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">SeoLogist</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Long-term SEO + GEO</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Technical SEO, on-page, content optimization, link acquisition, local SEO, GEO audits, reporting</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Local to multi-location brands needing hands-on execution</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strong GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) positioning + clarity in reporting</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aira</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Full search marketing</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">SEO, PPC, social, content, full digital campaigns</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Small to mid-size tech companies wanting multi-channel growth</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Broader search marketing mix beyond SEO alone</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cloud 22</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Analytics-heavy SEO</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Technical SEO, performance analysis, risk mitigation, measurable growth strategy</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mid-sized &amp; large companies needing scalable SEO</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Data-backed execution with emphasis on risk mitigation</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vertical Measures (IDX)</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enterprise marketing</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Content marketing, SEO, link acquisition, paid optimization</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enterprise &amp; B2B brands (higher budget)</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400;">Full-service, Fortune 500-style capabilities; premium pricing</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hiring the right SEO company isn’t about outsourcing “something technical”-it’s about buying consistent execution over months, across content, links, technical improvements, and reputation monitoring. Since meaningful results often take 6–12 months, the best agencies are the ones that align with your goals, can measure what matters, fit your budget, and are transparent about timelines and tactics. The right partner also understands that SEO performs best when integrated with broader marketing channels like content, social, and email.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SEO is learnable, but successful SEO requires long-term consistency across content, links, technical fixes, and monitoring.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most brands need an SEO company because they’re really buying time, expertise, systems, and execution capacity.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Expect meaningful SEO wins in 6 &#8211; 12 months, not weeks-be wary of “too good to be true” promises.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Choose a provider by aligning goals, KPI tracking ability, budget, reputation, and consultation fit.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The best SEO outcomes happen when SEO supports (and is supported by) a broader digital marketing strategy.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong>FAQs</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Q1. If SEO isn’t rocket science, why hire an SEO company?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Because SEO is less about knowing what to do and more about doing it consistently for months-publishing optimized content, building links, improving technical health, and tracking performance without slipping.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Q2. How long does it take to see real SEO results?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Typically 6 to 12 months of consistent effort to reach significant outcomes like first-page rankings and steady organic lead flow (sometimes earlier for small wins).</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Q3. What should I look for when choosing an SEO company?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Start by defining goals, then evaluate: (1) data &amp; KPI tracking ability, (2) budget alignment, (3) reviews/reputation and case studies, and (4) transparency during consultation about methods and timelines.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Q4. How do pricing and value differ between consultants and agencies?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Consultants (like premium hands-on operators) often deliver deeper strategic focus and direct execution with limited clients, while agencies may offer broader teams, systems, and multi-channel marketing support-value depends on your needs and internal resources.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Q5. What questions should I ask during an SEO consultation?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Ask about: target KPIs, expected timeline, what’s included (content, links, technical), reporting cadence, how they handle algorithm changes, examples of past results, and what they need from your team to succeed.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/best-seo-agencies-globally">The Best SEO Agencies in the World</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://mikekhorev.com/best-seo-agencies-globally/feed</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>When it Comes to SEO, When Should You Hire An In-House Expert And When Should You Hire A Freelancer?</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/comes-seo-hire-house-expert-hire-freelancer</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Feb 2020 17:52:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=11707</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The trend of working from home is one that is a force to be reckoned with, especially when you consider the sheer number of people who enter the gig economy in exchange for their full-time, regular desk jobs. There are many reasons why workers may like to take on a freelancing job, either full time or on the side. Some of the more common reasons include the option to bolster their income, to help them make ends meet, or because they want a more flexible schedule. In fact, about 50% of the total workforce in the USA is comprised of freelancers. This in itself presents a huge labor pool that businesses can potentially tap into, and this labor pool is not restricted by location. You can easily gain access to professionals you might not have been able to if you were to hire them locally. So, how do you ensure that you’re able to put this labor pool to optimal use? When are the best times to hire freelancers or a team of freelance SEO experts to help you optimize your SEO campaign? Shifting Workloads When a company is growing, there will be periods when there’s a lot of work to do, then there are periods when there’s no work to do. This is a good time to hire freelancers because you can simply hire and rehire freelancers depending on the workload you currently have. There are many freelancers that you can hire on a per-project basis. This is what allows many companies to maximize profit margins and to avoid hiring people that they don’t necessarily need over the long term. When You Need Rare Skills Sets When you opt to hire freelancers, you have a very large labor pool to choose from. This is especially useful when a task... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/comes-seo-hire-house-expert-hire-freelancer">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/comes-seo-hire-house-expert-hire-freelancer">When it Comes to SEO, When Should You Hire An In-House Expert And When Should You Hire A Freelancer?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The trend of <a href="https://jooble.org/jobs-work-from-home/Abroad">working from home</a> is one that is a force to be reckoned with, especially when you consider the sheer number of people who enter the gig economy in exchange for their full-time, regular desk jobs. There are many reasons why workers may like to take on a freelancing job, either full time or on the side. Some of the more common reasons include the option to bolster their income, to help them make ends meet, or because they want a more flexible schedule.</p>
<p>In fact, about 50% of the total workforce in the USA is comprised of freelancers. This in itself presents a huge labor pool that businesses can potentially tap into, and this labor pool is not restricted by location. You can easily gain access to professionals you might not have been able to if you were to hire them locally. So, how do you ensure that you’re able to put this labor pool to optimal use? When are the best times to hire freelancers or a team of freelance SEO experts to help you optimize your SEO campaign?</p>
<h2>Shifting Workloads</h2>
<p>When a company is growing, there will be periods when there’s a lot of work to do, then there are periods when there’s no work to do. This is a good time to hire freelancers because you can simply hire and rehire freelancers depending on the workload you currently have. There are many freelancers that you can hire on a per-project basis. This is what allows many companies to <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-roi">maximize profit margins</a> and to avoid hiring people that they don’t necessarily need over the long term.</p>
<h2>When You Need Rare Skills Sets</h2>
<p>When you opt to hire freelancers, you have a very large labor pool to choose from. This is especially useful when a task you need done requires a rare set of skills to do properly. You are not constrained by location, giving you a lot of candidates to choose from. This also means that you have access to experts who have varying degrees of experience, and naturally, pricing.</p>
<h2>When The Company Cannot Afford To Train New Hires</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0711/the-cost-of-hiring-a-new-employee.aspx">Training new hires is expensive</a>. One of the best parts about hiring freelancers is that there are a lot of highly-trained freelancers who require little to no training at all. This is especially valid for skilled designers, copywriters or digital marketing experts. An added bonus is that you’re able to deploy them right away. If you have new hires, they generally need about a month or two in training before they can perform their tasks efficiently.</p>
<h2>When Your Company Needs A Fresh Perspective</h2>
<p>Because the freelance labor pool is so diverse, you have access to professionals who have a range of perspectives and training in their field of expertise. This is incredibly helpful if you need new ideas or a different perspective or if current solutions are not getting you the SEO results that you require from your team. You can also consider the fact that because you have access to professionals who are as diverse as possible, there is a very high chance that they are going to have different approaches to the same problem and they are also going to be able to make use of different tools with different degrees of efficacy to solve a certain problem. In addition, the rise of <a href="https://www.adzuna.com/online">online jobs</a> and remote work has made it easier to find and collaborate with freelancers from all over the world.</p>
<p>However, working with freelancers is not without a few pain points. Because they can come from anywhere in the world, getting their payments processed can be a complicated deal. If you aren’t already using tools such as <a href="https://tipalti.com/product/integrations/netsuite/">invoice automation</a>, which is a tool that helps streamline the payment process and allows you to focus on the more important aspects of your company, you might want to consider implementing it. Don’t let a little thing like payment processing prevent you from finding the best freelancers for your projects.</p>
<p>Now, freelancers aren’t the ultimate solution to every problem. There are times when it would be much better to hire in-house SEO specialists, and these are some of the most compelling reasons you might want to consider doing so.</p>
<h2>In-House SEOs Have A Better Understanding Of Your Company</h2>
<p>Whether it’s by way of learning over time or through extensive training, <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/hire-seo-consultant-seo-agency-house">in-house SEO specialists</a> are going to understand what your company needs and what it wants to achieve, much better than a freelance SEO specialist. They are also going to have knowledge of indirect factors that affect your company, such as budget constraints, time frames, how your teams perform, and even team dynamics. The effectiveness of <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/local-seo-services">local SEO techniques</a> will vary between businesses, and an in-house specialist can make the correlation between what techniques your business needs the most.</p>
<h2>Dedicated Time To Your Projects</h2>
<p>Another prime benefit that hiring an in-house SEO expert yields is that they are solely dedicated to your projects, which means that greater thought and care are taken when dealing with your needs. This is something that freelance SEO experts rarely afford a single client because their time, focus, and resources are often divided between multiple projects. Having a <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-expert">professional SEO expert</a> means that they are able to respond to problems and setbacks much quicker.</p>
<h2>Cost-Effectiveness Over The Long Run</h2>
<p>While it’s true that hiring an in-house SEO specialist means paying a full-time salary and benefits, it may turn out to be more cost-effective that hiring a new freelancer specialist every time you need an SEO task achieved. As your in-house specialist gains experience, they also gain a better understanding of how your company works and what it needs, SEO-wise. Having a single person appointed to a single task also means that they are able to dedicate much more effort into ensuring that the task is performed successfully.</p>
<p>The true <a href="https://www.business2community.com/infographics/hiring-agency-vs-house-team-costbenefit-analysis-infographic-01666658">cost-effectiveness of hiring an in-house</a> SEO specialist lies in the fact that SEO rules are constantly changing and if you were to hire a different specialist each time the algorithm has changes applied to it, you’d be missing out on a timely solution to the changes. Your in-house SEO expert, on the other hand, has been monitoring the trends and has a profound understanding of how your company’s digital marketing needs will be affected by them.</p>
<h2>Better Team Cohesion and Collaboration</h2>
<p>While interpersonal <a href="https://helpjuice.com/blog/cross-team-collaboration">interactions between team members</a> aren’t necessary, they are inevitable. This is not only in terms of regular, non-work-related interactions, but rather it is also the normal course of business, especially when you’re working on a big project. Having an in-house SEO specialist allows for regular interaction to gather information about how specific members of the team are functioning or how they can best work together as a team.</p>
<p>You can never downplay the role that group dynamics has on an organization, much less, a team. You can build a team that gets better over time as they <a href="https://www.getopensocial.com/solutions/working-together">learn how to work together</a> much more efficiently.</p>
<p><a href="https://careerlancer.net/big-companies-hire-freelancers/">Businesses that hire freelancers</a> do not enjoy that kind of unit cohesion, simply for the fact that it’s like taking out a piece of the puzzle, unsure if the piece you’ve picked will fit correctly with the rest of the image you’ve already constructed. Teams are built, not bought.</p>
<h2>Control</h2>
<p>One of the most important benefits of hiring an in-house SEO specialist comes in the ability to supervise and direct your specialist. There is an utmost level of transparency that comes with the control. As long as you’re able to trust your SEO specialist, you’re going to be able to move on with business SEO operations without so much as a need to worry about sabotage or the use of black hat SEO methods. While it’s best to give your SEO specialist a good degree of autonomy, control and transparency are effective preventive measures.</p>
<h2>The Possibility For Cross-Training</h2>
<p>Growth is one of the main advantages of hiring in-house specialists for any role. Your team can grow and they are bound to become more effective at their task as long as they are trained and sustained properly. <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/cross-training">Cross-training</a> is a benefit that is so often overlooked because of the nature of SEO-related tasks. However, that doesn’t completely bar the possibility of cross-training, such that your team members could learn from each other. This will help with personal development and also ensures that should a team member be unable to perform his or her functions, other members of the team can step up and fill the void temporarily.</p>
<p>This ensures that business operations will be reliable, which almost certainly means steady revenue and growth.</p>
<p>SEO is a difficult business because its skill, knowledge, and experience demands are steep. There is minimal room for error, and the smallest changes could have projected and exponential effects on your campaign. It’s for this reason that you have to choose carefully between a freelance SEO specialist, an in-house SEO specialist, or even both.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/comes-seo-hire-house-expert-hire-freelancer">When it Comes to SEO, When Should You Hire An In-House Expert And When Should You Hire A Freelancer?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Should You Hire SEO consultant, SEO Agency or In-house SEO</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/hire-seo-consultant-seo-agency-house</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2020 18:25:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo agency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo consultant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=11508</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>SEO as a marketing channel is fairly unique compared to other channels like advertising or PR campaigns: SEO is mainly done in your own medium, so there isn’t any publishing cost associated with it. Compare it to, say, advertising, where you need to pay a certain fee to the ad publisher (i.e. Google Ads or Facebook Ads). With that being said, SEO can be 100% free if you are willing to do everything by yourself—and if you have the time—. This is simply not possible with most other marketing channels (again, for example, advertising). With this, comes the dilemma: should I do everything by myself to reduce cost, or should I focus my attention somewhere else? Sooner or later, however, as our website and SEO grow, we’ll need some help with the SEO implementations. This is why, in implementing an SEO campaign, generally we have three different options: Hire an in-house SEO employee or build your in-house SEO team Work with a freelance SEO expert (can be an individual, or a small team) Outsource to an SEO agency or digital marketing agency Choosing between the three, however, isn’t always a simple task. In this guide, we will discuss the different factors that might affect your decision, the pros and cons of each, and which might be the right choice for your current situation. Let us begin. &#160; In-House VS SEO Consultant VS SEO Agency: Cost First, let us address the elephant in the room: Cost-wise, typically hiring a freelance SEO consultant is the most cost-efficient alternative, while a full-blown digital marketing agency is typically the most expensive. However, deciding between the three options is not as simple as analyzing the cost/benefit ratio, but generally (should) involve other considerations. With that being said, below we will the concept and pros/cons of each alternative.... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/hire-seo-consultant-seo-agency-house">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/hire-seo-consultant-seo-agency-house">Should You Hire SEO consultant, SEO Agency or In-house SEO</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>SEO as a marketing channel is fairly unique compared to other channels like advertising or PR campaigns: SEO is mainly done in your own medium, so there isn’t any publishing cost associated with it. Compare it to, say, advertising, where you need to pay a certain fee to the ad publisher (i.e. Google Ads or Facebook Ads).</p>
<p>With that being said, SEO can be 100% free if you are willing to do everything by yourself—and if you have the time—. This is simply not possible with most other marketing channels (again, for example, advertising).</p>
<p>With this, comes the dilemma: should I do everything by myself to reduce cost, or should I focus my attention somewhere else? Sooner or later, however, as our website and SEO grow, we’ll need some help with the SEO implementations.</p>
<p>This is why, in implementing an SEO campaign, generally we have three different options:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hire an in-house SEO employee or build your in-house SEO team</li>
<li>Work with a freelance SEO expert (can be an individual, or a small team)</li>
<li>Outsource to an SEO agency or digital marketing agency</li>
</ul>
<p>Choosing between the three, however, isn’t always a simple task. In this guide, we will discuss the different factors that might affect your decision, the pros and cons of each, and which might be the right choice for your current situation.</p>
<p>Let us begin.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>In-House VS SEO Consultant VS SEO Agency: Cost</h3>
<p>First, let us address the elephant in the room:</p>
<p>Cost-wise, typically <a href="https://whystuffsucks.com/marketing-consulting-services/organic-seo-consultant/">hiring a freelance SEO consultant</a> is the most cost-efficient alternative, while a full-blown digital marketing agency is typically the most expensive.</p>
<p>However, deciding between the three options is not as simple as analyzing the cost/benefit ratio, but generally (should) involve other considerations.</p>
<p>With that being said, below we will the concept and pros/cons of each alternative.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What Is In-House SEO?</h2>
<p>Simply put, In-House SEO is when we either:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hire an employee to handle your SEO campaign</li>
<li>Build an in-house SEO team consisting of more than one employee</li>
</ul>
<p>As discussed above, typically the cost of this option lies between outsourcing to an SEO agency and hiring a freelance consultant (that is comparable in skill and experience).</p>
<p>Since in this case, the SEO expert will be your in-house, full-time employee, you might need to pay for various additional costs from insurance to permits and benefits.</p>
<p>In general, expect to pay around <a href="https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/us-seo-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,6.htm">$60,000 in salary (according to Glassdoor</a>) for an intermediate-level SEO specialist, plus an additional $10,000-$20,000 in benefits, so $70,000- $80,000 a year. For an expert level SEO specialist, expect to pay north of $100,000.</p>
<p>Assuming the annual salary+benefit is $70,000/year, then the monthly cost is $5,833.33/month.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Pros and Cons of In-House SEO</h3>
<p>Pros:</p>
<ul>
<li>It is wise to have someone in-house that really understand SEO, content marketing, and digital marketing in general even if you decide to outsource the process</li>
<li>Versatility. Since the SEO employee/team is in-house, you can easily and quickly implement changes to your website during emergencies or when you need to quickly adjust your SEO strategy</li>
<li>An in-house employee/team usually means better communication with you, rather than someone outside your company</li>
<li>The in-house employee is more likely to implement best SEO practices and avoid using grey-hat/black-hat tactics that can get the website penalized</li>
</ul>
<p>Cons:</p>
<ul>
<li>There will be days when there aren’t any optimizations to be done or any content to be published.in such cases,  this in-house employee won’t be as cost-effective</li>
<li>Finding the right talent(s) to fulfill your in-house SEO needs can be very difficult. SEO by itself is a pretty broad field requiring expertise/experience like marketing strategy, data analytics, content marketing/copywriting, and so on.</li>
<li>Good in-house SEO specialists are very in-demand, so the likelihood of them being approached by other companies—and even your competitors— is very high. They might simply go elsewhere after all of your investments in them, which is certainly not a pleasant feeling.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What Is an SEO Consultant?</h2>
<p>What is actually the difference between an SEO consultant and an SEO agency? Or the difference(s) between consultants and agencies in general?</p>
<p>First, the term “consultant” is often used loosely and can generally mean one of two things:</p>
<ul>
<li>People, or group of people who ‘consults’, that is, providing expert advice. In this case, the consultant will only provide strategic advice and won’t help—at least not fully—with the execution and implementation.</li>
<li>An individual (or a very small team) who is technically acting as an SEO agency for a cheaper price. We can probably more accurately use “freelance SEO expert” here.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are interviewing an SEO consultant, it’s important to first make sure which one they belong to—especially regarding whether they will be involved (fully) in the execution phase—</p>
<p>Typically, an intermediate-level SEO consultant will cost around $150 hourly on average ($100 to $300/hour). You might also pay the consultant on a monthly basis, ranging from $2,000/month to $8,000/month</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Pros and Cons of Individual SEO Consultant</h3>
<p>Pros:</p>
<ul>
<li>Usually the most cost-effective between the three options (assuming all three has similar expertise/experience level). This is because a consultant typically work with several different clients while not employing too many people on their own, so the cost can be divided between the different clients</li>
<li>More often than not, they are solely focusing on SEO, so they know about the current trends, latest Google algorithm changes, latest methods, and so on—this is assuming you work with a qualified SEO consultant—</li>
<li>Typically, a qualified SEO consultant belongs to a network of search marketers, publishers, authoritative websites, and other parties that might be beneficial for your business. This is especially <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/white-hat-link-building-strategies-grow-rankings-traffic">useful in your link building activity</a>—which is a very important aspect in SEO.</li>
<li>An experienced SEO consultant typically understands that SEO is much more than just improving SERP rankings and getting more search traffic, but must help the client in getting qualified leads and if possible, improving sales conversions. In short, an SEO consultant typically provides a more holistic approach to SEO.</li>
<li>No hidden cost including training investments, the consultant should be well-trained and possibly certified in SEO. (note: no “official” certification for SEO, but there are <a href="https://backlinko.com/seo-certification-guide">several credible ones</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p>Cons:</p>
<ul>
<li>Since an SEO consultant typically handles several different clients, they don’t solely focus their attention on your business. You might only get 10%-20% of their time in a worst-case scenario.</li>
<li>Since they don’t actually belong in your company, they might not have a similar ‘sense of ownership’ like an in-house SEO expert would. In short, they might not care as much about your business’s performance.</li>
<li>They might solely focus on SEO efforts and might not want to deal with other important aspects of your sales and marketing activities.</li>
<li>Since they are an individual (or usually a very small team), they might only deal with the strategic part of SEO, and not the actual implementation/execution. You might still need to develop content on your own and have an in-house programmer to handle the technical optimizations (make sure to discuss this part when interviewing an SEO consultant).</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What Is an SEO Agency?</h2>
<p>SEO agency—again, often confused with SEO consultancy, as discussed above—, generally refers to a firm or an organization that provides a specific service.</p>
<p>Thus, an SEO agency provides SEO services (and usually only focuses on SEO), while a digital marketing agency typically provides a more holistic service covering various aspects of digital marketing from (obviously) SEO to content marketing to email marketing and others.</p>
<p>The main difference between an agency and an SEO consultant—as discussed above—, is mainly about how involved they are with the execution/implementation of the <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/ultimate-guide-b2b-seo">B2B SEO strategy</a>. With an agency typically you’ll get the full package from planning to implementation to evaluation and thus they are typically more expensive.</p>
<p>Expect to pay around $5,000/month to more than $20,000/month for a qualified digital marketing agency.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Pros and Cons of SEO Agency or Digital Marketing Agency</h2>
<p>Pros:</p>
<ul>
<li>An experienced, full-fledged digital marketing agency usually has worked with many different clients across different industries/niches. So, they can work with a broader knowledge and can come up with an in-depth strategy that is custom-tailored to your current situation</li>
<li>A digital marketing agency typically provides a more holistic service across different digital marketing channels (social media marketing, PPC/search ads, email marketing, content development, etc.). Not only these channels can contribute to your SEO success, this can make the overall outsource experience more cost-effective since you get more overall value from what you pay.</li>
<li>Since an agency typically have their own team (and can be a very big team), they can handle the day-to-day execution of the SEO implementation like <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-content-marketing-strategy-drive-leads-sales">SEO content development</a>, link building, and technical optimization, which are often the most demanding aspects of SEO.</li>
<li>Although the monthly/annual cost might seem high on the surface, since you are getting a full team, it can be more cost-effective than hiring just one in-house SEO expert for a year.</li>
</ul>
<p>Cons:</p>
<ul>
<li>SEO agencies, on the one hand, are typically involved in the day-to-day marketing activities—especially those related to SEO—, so it might require access to your internal IT resources. This might compromise your security and if not given, might hinder the agency’s effectiveness.</li>
<li>Can be a very expensive investment (most expensive across all three plans), so it might not be an option if you have a limited budget.</li>
<li>Not every agency is a good fit for any business. Finding the right agency that can work together with your business can be difficult and will require some trials and errors—that might be costly—. With an SEO consultant, the cost of this is relatively smaller.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Which Is Right For You? Important Factors To Consider</h2>
<p>Although we have discussed the different pros and cons of each option above, at the end of the day, your choice should be made according to several different factors:</p>
<p><strong>1. Objective</strong></p>
<p>It’s tempting to discuss cost as the first factor to consider, but in our opinion, it’s better to discuss your SEO goals or objectives as our point of departure.</p>
<p>What is the objective of your SEO? Remember that ranking is not the end goal of SEO, just a means to an end that could be something like:</p>
<ul>
<li>Organic traffic</li>
<li>Lead generation</li>
<li>Awareness building</li>
<li>Online reputation management</li>
<li>Sales conversion</li>
</ul>
<p>And so on.</p>
<p>The main idea is to figure out your SEO objectives and then find the most cost-efficient option that can help you in achieving these goals.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>2. Budget</strong></p>
<p>Pretty self-explanatory. How much budget you have available for SEO—or digital marketing overall—.</p>
<p>There are two common issues related to SEO or marketing budget: when the budget is too tight, which is pretty self-explanatory, or when you don’t know how much budget is appropriate to assign—which is actually more common than we think—.</p>
<p>You might check out our previous article on <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-roi">how to calculate SEO ROI</a> —and thus the appropriate money to spend—.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>3. Your Current State of SEO</strong></p>
<p>The current state of your website based on <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-audit-boost-google-rankings-traffic">SEO audit</a> (note: it’s fairly easy to perform a basic SEO audit for this purpose), which keyword(s) you already rank for, the number of content you have published, etc.</p>
<p>Based on this state and your SEO objective(s), we can properly assess our needs.</p>
<p>If, for example, we are going to need a lot of optimizations and content development, then we can probably assign more to our SEO budget—which will affect our choice—.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>4. Current State of Your Team</strong></p>
<p>Do you already have someone in your team that is capable of doing SEO (at least, some aspects?). In this case, you can either add more people and build an in-house team and/or invest in a consultant to help with an <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/develop-enterprise-seo-strategy-drive-leads-revenue">enterprise-grade level SEO strategy</a>.</p>
<p>In such cases, hiring a full-fledged agency is probably going to be an overkill.</p>
<p>To summarize, find the most affordable option to assist your current team (if any) in achieving your SEO objective.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>End Words</h3>
<p>There are four main options in implementing your SEO: doing everything by yourself (for free, except your time), building an in-house time, hiring an SEO consultant, or outsourcing to an SEO/digital marketing agency.</p>
<p>Cost-wise, usually <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-expert">hiring an SEO consultant</a> for your SEO is the most affordable investment, but each option has its own advantages and disadvantages that go beyond simply calculating cost and benefit ratio.</p>
<p>Above, we have also discussed the four main factors you should consider when making this decision, and with those, you can have a better insight into which investments you should make.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/hire-seo-consultant-seo-agency-house">Should You Hire SEO consultant, SEO Agency or In-house SEO</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>7 Reasons Why SEO is Important and Your Business Need to Invest into It</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/7-reasons-seo-important-business-need-invest</link>
					<comments>https://mikekhorev.com/7-reasons-seo-important-business-need-invest#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2019 03:19:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revenue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=11319</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Is ranking on the first page of Google SERP and SEO all that important? Wouldn’t it be easier if I just pay for the paid search ads? Like it or not, the search engines and especially Google are now very important in so many aspects of our lives: don’t know the movies currently playing on the theaters? We Google it. Feeling suddenly unwell? We Google the symptoms. Looking for a new product or service? We also Google it. There are more than 3.2 billion searches conducted daily on Google, not counting the other search engines, and the key to getting this traffic from Google is to get ranked on the first page of the SERP. Why? Below we will show you some of the facts on why SEO is important for any business. &#160; 1. 95% of People Won’t Go Past The First Page of Google SERP Let’s ask ourselves: how many times have you went to the 2nd page of Google’s—or any other search engines’ — SERP last week? Or even last month? Pretty rare, right? It’s more common for us to click on one or two of the top results on the first page, and then forget that SERP page altogether, most of the time. Even when we weren’t satisfied with the results we get on the first page, we tend to try another query rather than going to the second page and beyond. Hey, the fact that Google made it really hard to go to the next page with those very small 2, 3, 4, and “next” didn’t help, and so here’s the deal: If you are not ranking on the first page of Google, you are missing out on a whopping 95% of your potential clients. Here’s another interesting take: the #1 result is 10 times... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/7-reasons-seo-important-business-need-invest">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/7-reasons-seo-important-business-need-invest">7 Reasons Why SEO is Important and Your Business Need to Invest into It</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Is ranking on the first page of Google SERP and SEO all that important? Wouldn’t it be easier if I just pay for the paid search ads?</p>
<p>Like it or not, the search engines and especially Google are now very important in so many aspects of our lives: don’t know the movies currently playing on the theaters? We Google it. Feeling suddenly unwell? We Google the symptoms. Looking for a new product or service? We also Google it.</p>
<p>There are more than <a href="https://seotribunal.com/blog/google-stats-and-facts/">3.2 billion searches conducted daily on Google</a>, not counting the other search engines, and the key to getting this traffic from Google is to get ranked on the first page of the SERP.</p>
<p>Why? Below we will show you some of the facts on why SEO is important for any business.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>1. 95% of People Won’t Go Past The First Page of Google SERP</h3>
<p>Let’s ask ourselves: how many times have you went to the 2nd page of Google’s—or any other search engines’ — SERP last week? Or even last month?</p>
<p>Pretty rare, right?</p>
<p>It’s more common for us to click on one or two of the top results on the first page, and then forget that SERP page altogether, most of the time.</p>
<p>Even when we weren’t satisfied with the results we get on the first page, we tend to try another query rather than going to the second page and beyond.</p>
<p>Hey, the fact that Google made it really hard to go to the next page with those very small 2, 3, 4, and “next” didn’t help, and so here’s the deal: If you are not ranking on the first page of Google, you are <a href="https://digitalsynopsis.com/tools/google-serp-design/">missing out on a whopping 95% of your potential clients</a>.</p>
<p>Here’s another interesting take: <a href="https://backlinko.com/google-ctr-stats">the #1 result is 10 times more likely to get a click compared to the #10 result</a> on the first page, while organic CTR for position 7-10 is roughly the same.</p>
<p>What will this mean, then? SEO is a very important part of ranking at least in the top 6 spots, but our initial milestone is to get on that very important first page, period.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>2. Organic Search Converts 500%+ Better Than Paid Search Ads</h3>
<p>Hey, if the #1 spot of Google SERP is that important, I can just spend on the PPC ad that will be visible about the #1, right?</p>
<p>It’s not that simple.</p>
<p>While it’s true that PPC ads—or paid search ads—certainly have their benefits and <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ppc-guide/ppc-advertising-benefits/">can be effective in generating traffic</a>, people trust organic search more than these paid ads, especially nowadays when Google and the other search engines made it really clear when advertising is being shown.</p>
<p>Bing search, we can see the “Ad” in rectangles pretty clearly.</p>
<p>A Similar query on Google search, with similar “Ad” notifications. Also notice the Google Maps results below the paid ads for this query, which will grab the searcher’s attention better than the PPC ads.</p>
<p>Also, organic search traffic is 5.66 times more likely to convert compared to those coming from <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/tabid/6307/bid/1514/paid-search-vs-organic-search.aspx">paid search (PPC) ads</a>.</p>
<p>In general, paid traffic coming from outbound marketing activities (advertising of any kind, sponsored posts of influencers, paid social media posts, and so on), tend to interrupt what your audience is doing and will create a barrier between the brand and the searcher.</p>
<p>Inbound marketing and SEO, on the other hand, provide relevant, helpful content for your audience. This can help you establish credibility, relationship, and trust, encouraging conversions.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>3. Search Traffic Contributes To 50%-70% of Total Revenue</h3>
<p>For businesses that rank on the first page, that is.</p>
<p>The percentage of traffic from organic search has grown tremendously in the last five years. According to <a href="https://videos.brightedge.com/research-report/s.pdf">BrightEdge Technologies</a>’ latest research, only 15% of traffic is coming from paid searches generates revenue, while organic search contributes to 53% of the organic search, an increase from just 51% in 2014.</p>
<p>On the other hand, according to the same report, both paid and organic search traffic drives more than 72% to generate revenue for B2B businesses.</p>
<p>What about social media, which is often hyped as the most important marketing channel? Apparently, only 8% of traffic comes from social platforms, which will translate to a contribution to revenue of not more than 1%.</p>
<p>Let’s think about this for a moment. <a href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/87-of-shoppers-now-begin-product-searches-online/530139/">Almost 90% of consumers search online before making any purchase nowadays</a>. Think of the last time you’ve purchased a brand new product/service? It’s almost 100% likely you’ve searched for the product or service before you made the purchase.</p>
<p>People know that brands can buy advertising. People know that brands can pay influencers to promote products—and <a href="https://www.prweek.com/article/1494047/influencers-arent-effective-product-marketing-edelmans-head-influencer">began to resist it</a>—.</p>
<p>On the other hand, people know that when a business is ranked #1 —or even better, as a featured snippet—for a relevant keyword, the business is definitely trustworthy since there’s no shortcut around it.</p>
<p>Ranked #1 and also as a featured snippet, a major source of traffic and revenue for us.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>4. Google Search Results are Trusted by 89% of B2B Prospects</h3>
<p>A common misconception is that SEO and organic search traffic are only important in the B2C environment.</p>
<p>This can’t be more wrong.</p>
<p>In fact, B2B prospects tend to be more careful when researching potential products or services to buy.</p>
<p>Think about this. B2B prospects are usually employee—or manager—in an organization, typically looking for a specific solution in their organization. Even when they find a potential solution, they’ll need to convince the higher-ups and the finance/accounting team for the purchase.</p>
<p>In short, they need to know what the product/service is actually about, accurately.</p>
<p>Thus, <a href="https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/the-changing-face-b2b-marketing/">according to Google themselves</a>, 89% of B2B researchers began their research on the internet, 71% of them began with a generic search on Google. They might not be looking for a product/service on this first search, but for an actionable solution for their current issues.</p>
<p>Then, after realizing there are possible solutions, they start to compare different products/services, read reviews, and so on. Meaning, a lot of Google searches.</p>
<p>Again, only those on the first page of Google SERP will enjoy the most benefit of first-page ranking and will know the importance of SEO.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>5. B2B Prospects Attempt 12 Searches on Google Before Deciding on a Brand</h3>
<p>Above, we have briefly discussed how B2B researchers tend to do a lot of Google searches to research business purchases.</p>
<p>In fact, also according to Google back in 2015, 90% of B2B researchers who are online use search specifically to find out about potential business purchases. On average, they<a href="https://www.bluecorona.com/blog/b2b-marketing-statistics"> attempt a whopping 12 searches</a> before they finally engage with a brand’s site.</p>
<p>What would this mean? Most likely they are looking for brands that appear consistently, again and again during these 12 searches, and that’s how they deemed a brand ‘worthy’ of their attention—and engagement.</p>
<p>The lesson? You not only need to rank on one keyword/potential query—but at least several keywords. This is where SEO is important in convincing your audience that you are “the one”, and you are worth their attention.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>6. Build a Consistent, Passive Source of Traffic 24/7</h3>
<p>But it takes too long to get ranked on the first page, it’s not worth it!</p>
<p>Wait, don’t rush to a conclusion so fast.</p>
<p>While it’s true that content marketing and SEO are both long term strategies, and you should expect to wait six to eighteen months before you can see significant results, it doesn’t mean they are not worth it.</p>
<p>Once you get ranked on the first page of Google—better yet, if you are on the top 3 or the #1 spot—, it will turn into your most profitable channel in generating website traffic, which will convert into prospects, and in turn, will convert into actual customers.</p>
<p>In short, you’ll get a steady source of revenue that will work for you 24/7.</p>
<p>In the long run, after you’ve achieved this goal to get ranked on the first page of Google’s (and the other search engine’s) SERP, you can effectively reduce marketing costs—and maximize ROI.</p>
<p>As briefly mentioned before, getting ranked on the first page will also help establish your position as <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-guide/search-authority/">the thought leader of the industry</a>, which will also (tremendously) help in driving conversions, especially in this day and age where <a href="https://landerapp.com/blog/how-social-proof-influences-consumer-purchasing-decisions/">social proofs are a very significant factor affecting purchase decisions</a>.</p>
<p>Getting ranked on the first page of Google SERP is one of the best ways of establishing social proof.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>7. Content Marketing and SEO Are Still The Best in Generating Revenue</h3>
<p>According to a <a href="https://www.bizible.com/blog/b2b-industry-analysis-best-marketing-channels">survey by Bizible</a>, involving 370 digital marketers, content marketing+SEO is the top-performing marketing channel in the tech and software (IT and SaaS) industries.</p>
<p>Also, according to a <a href="https://www.contentive.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Contentive-2018-B2B-Marketing-Survey-Final.pdf">similar survey by Contentive</a> for 214 B2B marketers, 51% of the survey responders mentioned that content marketing provides the best ROI for their businesses. Paid search? It comes fourth at ‘only’ 32%.</p>
<p>There are actually several reasons for this beyond the benefits of being on the first page—as we have discussed above:</p>
<ol>
<li>Content marketing provides you with flexibility in investments. It can be very expensive, sure, but you can also <a href="https://neilpatel.com/blog/content-marketing-on-a-shoestring/">implement content marketing for essentially free</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/develop-b2b-content-marketing-plan">Content marketing as part of the inbound marketing</a> principle is less disruptive and interruptive for your audience, lowering resistance barrier and encouraging conversions</li>
<li>1 successful content can significantly help the performance of your future content (i.e., when you get one content on the first page of SERP, it’s easier for the second to rank). This will lower the marketing costs in the future and maximize ROI.</li>
</ol>
<p>In this very saturated digital age, a consistent publication of high-quality content is the only surefire way to establish your position as a credible brand.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>End Words</h2>
<p>The reasons, benefits and importance of SEO we have shared above are certainly not the only ones. There are many other aspects that make SEO important for virtually any B2B and B2C businesses.</p>
<p>Getting ranked on the first page of Google SERP—or even better, the top 3 or #1 spot—, can significantly contribute to growth in revenue and profit in so many different ways.</p>
<p>It’s true, however, that getting on this first page is certainly not an instantaneous thing to aim for. In general, you’ll need 6 to 12 months of consistent efforts before we can achieve this. You can check my <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/b2b-seo-services">SEO services for B2B companies</a> and download the SEO program to learn how I rank websites on the first page of Google SERP.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/7-reasons-seo-important-business-need-invest">7 Reasons Why SEO is Important and Your Business Need to Invest into It</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://mikekhorev.com/7-reasons-seo-important-business-need-invest/feed</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Step-By-Step Guide To Evaluating an SEO Company</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/step-step-guide-evaluating-seo-company</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=10285</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>In our previous post we have discussed the importance of planning your SEO manpower. We have also discussed that there are generally three options to achieve this: building your in-house team, outsourcing to an SEO company, and hiring an SEO expert freelancer. Outsourcing to an SEO company is generally the most beneficial option, especially for businesses willing to try SEO for the first time. Not only it is generally the most affordable, you can generally get the whole end-to-end package. So, you wouldn&#8217;t need to worry about executing the plan and planning contents as they will also be handling that job. However, choosing the right SEO company can be a daunting task, especially for companies less experienced with SEO. So, in this article we will discuss a step-by-step guide to evaluate an outsource SEO company, with the aim to help you have a more successful SEO outsourcing. Before we discuss the steps, let us first begin by discussing the things you should AVOID. &#160; Mistakes You Should Avoid When Choosing SEO Services &#160; 1. Believing in A Secret Scheme to SEO Success While it is true that in the early years of internet and search engine SEO successes are built through secret tricks and recipes, that is no longer the case today. Nowadays, SEO is a very open field with consistency and well-executed plans being the only secret remains. So, when an SEO company pitches you with their &#8216;secret optimization techniques&#8217;, it is a very big red flag. So, when having an SEO sales pitch, make sure you ask how they will do it, and never accept answers like &#8216;proprietary&#8217; or &#8216;secret&#8217;. 2. Trusting Solely in Google Rankings The seemingly obvious logic is the best SEO companies should have the best-ranking websites when you are Googling keywords like &#8220;best SEO New... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/step-step-guide-evaluating-seo-company">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/step-step-guide-evaluating-seo-company">Step-By-Step Guide To Evaluating an SEO Company</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In our <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/house-seo-vs-seo-agency-vs-freelancer-expert">previous post</a> we have discussed the importance of planning your SEO manpower. We have also discussed that there are generally three options to achieve this: building your in-house team, outsourcing to an SEO company, and <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/">hiring an SEO expert freelancer</a>.</p>
<p>Outsourcing to an SEO company is generally the most beneficial option, especially for businesses willing to try SEO for the first time. Not only it is generally the most affordable, you can generally get the whole end-to-end package. So, you wouldn&#8217;t need to worry about executing the plan and planning contents as they will also be handling that job.</p>
<p>However, choosing the right SEO company can be a daunting task, especially for companies less experienced with SEO. So, in this article we will discuss a step-by-step guide to evaluate an outsource SEO company, with the aim to help you have a more successful SEO outsourcing.</p>
<p>Before we discuss the steps, let us first begin by discussing the things you should AVOID.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Mistakes You Should Avoid When Choosing SEO Services</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4>1. Believing in A Secret Scheme to SEO Success</h4>
<p>While it is true that in the early years of internet and search engine SEO successes are built through secret tricks and recipes, that is no longer the case today.</p>
<p>Nowadays, SEO is a very open field with consistency and well-executed plans being the only secret remains. So, when an SEO company pitches you with their &#8216;secret optimization techniques&#8217;, it is a very big red flag.</p>
<p>So, when having an SEO sales pitch, make sure you ask how they will do it, and never accept answers like &#8216;proprietary&#8217; or &#8216;secret&#8217;.</p>
<h4></h4>
<h4>2. Trusting Solely in Google Rankings</h4>
<p>The seemingly obvious logic is the best SEO companies should have the best-ranking websites when you are Googling keywords like &#8220;best SEO New York&#8221; or similar ones. While there is certainly truth to that logic, unfortunately, a lot of the best SEO companies actually don&#8217;t rank well.</p>
<p>The ones in high-demand are often overwhelmed with clients&#8217; projects, and they always get great referrals. Not only they don&#8217;t have time to optimize their websites, they simply don&#8217;t need to do it.</p>
<p>So, actually, the ones that rank well for &#8220;best SEO+city&#8221; or &#8220;best SEO+specialty&#8221; are the ones without any clients, most of the time. Although you probably can find the needle in the haystack here, it is simply not a good filter.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4>3. Trusting in Paid &#8216;Best-SEO&#8217; Lists</h4>
<p>There are many websites listing best SEO services, but the fact is many of them offers consultants and agencies to pay to be on their lists. This type of scheme happens in just any business. For example, we know there are a lot of sites listing the best restaurants which are also paid.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10292" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/seoforgrowthbadge_D-e1480727769595.png" alt="Trusting in Paid 'Best-SEO' Lists" width="300" height="292" /></p>
<p>The thing is, this type of lists is simply not helpful for customers, and in fact can be misleading. There are, however, several trustworthy lists, such as <a href="https://moz.com/rand/recommended-list-seo-consultants/">Moz&#8217;s</a> and other respectable websites. So, if you want to rely on this list articles, make sure you are getting the ones from trustworthy sites.</p>
<p>So, now that we have discussed the mistakes to avoid, let us shift our focus on what we should actually DO.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Step-By-Step Guide to Evaluate an SEO Company</h3>
<h4></h4>
<h4>Step-1: Set a Goal</h4>
<p>You won&#8217;t be able to determine a good SEO service for your business if you don&#8217;t really have a clear goal. So, sit down with your team and actually figure out what you are trying to achieve with SEO. Be specific and clear, because there are also bad goals you should AVOID, such as:</p>
<p><em><strong>Traffic and Ranking</strong></em></p>
<p>Both traffic and ranking is obviously necessary, but shouldn&#8217;t be your sole goal. You should be more specific on how SEO can bring direct benefits to your business. We all know how ranking well can lead to more traffic and traffic (hopefully) will lead to sales. It is simply a terrible goal.</p>
<p><em><strong>Beating a Specific Competitor</strong></em></p>
<p>Annoying and beating your competitor might be fun, but it won&#8217;t directly translate to revenue and your overall business goals. Well, if your business goal is also just to beat a specific competitor, you should definitely think again.</p>
<p>So, what are the examples of good goals? Here are a few:</p>
<ul>
<li>Boosting traffic from a specific group looking for a specific keyword</li>
<li>Boosting revenue through SEO as a sales driving channel</li>
<li>Boosting brand perception and sentiments by using SEO</li>
</ul>
<p>By having a specific goal, you can also try to find SEO services that specialized on your specific goals, if any. Nevertheless, this first step is really important, so plan it carefully.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4>Step 2: Filter Your Options</h4>
<p>Now that you have figured out your goals, find three to five SEO companies to evaluate. Choose those that you feel can align with your specific goals. If you have more time to evaluate, you can certainly choose more than five. However, the more options you have, keep in mind that generally the more confused you will be.</p>
<p>We have mentioned that you should avoid using Google searches to find your prospective SEO service companies. So, how should you find your options? Here are a few good sources:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your trustworthy friends both on personal and professional networks are always a good source</li>
<li>Non-competitive companies, such as B2B companies on your network.</li>
<li>Industry insiders. For example, don&#8217;t be afraid to reach SEO professionals you&#8217;ve followed on Twitter for recommendations.</li>
</ul>
<p>After you&#8217;ve figured out your three to five options, set up a meeting if possible, and here are a few questions you should ask:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ask for samples of successful results, and check their validity</li>
<li>Ask for references, and also check for their validity</li>
<li>Ask a little about their company histories, how long have they been in the business, and their general digital marketing experiences</li>
<li>Ask about their preferences on reporting and monitoring, including how they will report their progress</li>
<li>Ask for a specific quote, including how many websites they are going to optimize for that price</li>
<li>Ask for their specific ways to optimize your sites, remember that there are no secret recipes. You can get technical here and ask a few trick questions, such as whether <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/local-seo-services">Local SEO</a> and Google Places are similar to general SEO strategy</li>
<li>Ask whether they are offering other <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/marketing-consultant">digital marketing services</a> that can support their <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-saas-actionable-tips-grow-traffic-saas-company">SEO strategy</a>, you might get a bargain with the package</li>
</ul>
<p>You can add other questions as necessary, including questions specific to your niche, industry, or goals.</p>
<h3></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Bottom Line and Final Step</h3>
<p>Now that you&#8217;ve got your prospects and have asked the necessary questions, the final step is to finally decide the right SEO company for you. Here are three common criterion you can use:</p>
<p><strong>Trust and Communication Match</strong></p>
<p>You&#8217;ve checked their success stories and references and they are satisfying. You&#8217;ve had good conversations with them and felt like they are a good match. Cultural differences can be a major hindrance in the future, so it is a factor worth considering.</p>
<p><strong>Price and Contract Structure</strong></p>
<p>Of course, their price should match your budget, and they should have a clear contract structure. Make sure everything is clear, including how they are going to be paid and their accountability.</p>
<p><strong>Referrals</strong></p>
<p>If you hear great referrals from trustworthy sources, it is a very good signal to sign them.</p>
<p>While choosing the right SEO expert or company for your business can be a hard task, it is definitely doable. Remember after you&#8217;ve decided on hiring one, you should also evaluate their progress over time, so it&#8217;s just the beginning of a journey. Consistency and long-term focus, the keys to SEO success.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/step-step-guide-evaluating-seo-company">Step-By-Step Guide To Evaluating an SEO Company</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>In House SEO Vs SEO Agency Vs Freelancer Expert</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/house-seo-vs-seo-agency-vs-freelancer-expert</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Oct 2017 11:49:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo freelancer]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=10158</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>You&#8217;ve learned the principles of SEO and its benefits (link to the previous article if necessary), and now you&#8217;ve made up your mind about investing in SEO. However, now comes the next question: how should you manage your SEO efforts? As we have understood, SEO is a long-term process that requires consistency. So, there are generally three approaches to managing your SEO: building your own in-house SEO team, working with an SEO company or hiring an SEO expert freelancer (or a team of freelancers) to do the job. In this article, we will have an in-depth discussion of the three options: their respective advantages and disadvantages. The first thing you should remember is that there is no one right answer. Also, it is a possibility that using not just one, but a combination of two or all of the models can be the right for your business. First, let us do a quick overview of the pros and cons of each model. In House VS Outsource SEO Company VS SEO Expert Freelancer In-House Model: Pros and Cons Pros: You can exercise more control of your SEO programs and strategies Generally, starting a small in-house team is more affordable than outsourcing More control in targeting your exact audience Easier time to measure specific objectives More flexibility to adjust your strategies on the fly Cons: If you need a large team, the HR cost can be expensive Building your own team can take a lot of time So, the in-house model is generally the better choice if you want to start small. For example, if you feel you only need one or two SEO professionals, keeping them in-house will save a lot of money in the long-run. Outsource SEO Company: Pros and Cons Pros: If you need a bigger team, outsourcing to an SEO... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/house-seo-vs-seo-agency-vs-freelancer-expert">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/house-seo-vs-seo-agency-vs-freelancer-expert">In House SEO Vs SEO Agency Vs Freelancer Expert</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You&#8217;ve learned the principles of SEO and its benefits (link to the previous article if necessary), and now you&#8217;ve made up your mind about investing in SEO. However, now comes the next question: how should you manage your SEO efforts?</p>
<p>As we have understood, SEO is a long-term process that requires consistency. So, there are generally three approaches to managing your SEO: <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/hire-seo-consultant-seo-agency-house">building your own in-house SEO team, working with an SEO company or hiring an SEO expert freelancer</a> (or a team of freelancers) to do the job.</p>
<p>In this article, we will have an in-depth discussion of the three options: their respective advantages and disadvantages. The first thing you should remember is that there is no one right answer. Also, it is a possibility that using not just one, but a combination of two or all of the models can be the right for your business.</p>
<p>First, let us do a quick overview of the pros and cons of each model.</p>
<h2>In House VS Outsource SEO Company VS SEO Expert Freelancer</h2>
<h3></h3>
<h3>In-House Model: Pros and Cons</h3>
<p><strong>Pros:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>You can exercise more control of your SEO programs and strategies</li>
<li>Generally, starting a small in-house team is more affordable than outsourcing</li>
<li>More control in targeting your exact audience</li>
<li>Easier time to measure specific objectives</li>
<li>More flexibility to adjust your strategies on the fly</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cons:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>If you need a large team, the HR cost can be expensive</li>
<li>Building your own team can take a lot of time</li>
</ul>
<p>So, the in-house model is generally the better choice if you want to start small. For example, if you feel you only need one or two SEO professionals, keeping them in-house will save a lot of money in the long-run.</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Outsource SEO Company: Pros and Cons</h3>
<p><strong>Pros:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>If you need a bigger team, outsourcing to an SEO company is generally more affordable</li>
<li>Outside SEO company will be more objective with no pre-existing bias towards your business</li>
<li>Generally, they&#8217;ll have more knowledge of the current SEO trends and strategies</li>
<li>SEO agencies usually consist of content producers, link builders, and project managers so you&#8217;ll have everything you need</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cons:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Finding the right SEO company or agency that suits your business can be hard</li>
<li>You have less control over your strategies</li>
<li>Less time to communicate, so there&#8217;s less flexibility when you want to change strategy</li>
</ul>
<p>Hiring an outsource SEO company will save a lot of time you will otherwise spend on recruiting and training. If you need a big team, it&#8217;s also a more affordable method. However, you will obviously have less control over your team, and it will take more time to do a strategic pivot.</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Freelancer SEO Expert: Pros and Cons</h3>
<p><strong>Pros:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Generally cheaper than outsourcing to an SEO company</li>
<li>They usually take fewer projects/clients compared to agencies, so they will have more time for you</li>
<li>Generally, you will have more control and flexibility compared to outsourcing an SEO company</li>
<li>Some businesses will do better with a freelancer compared to an agency atmosphere</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cons:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Some SEO expert freelancers only deal with consulting strategies, so you will need to have your own team to execute</li>
<li>Finding the right SEO expert consultant might need a lot of trials and errors</li>
</ul>
<p>SEO expert freelancers can indeed be more knowledgeable in <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-saas-companies">SEO for SaaS, Technology, IT, Software and Startup companies</a> compared to agencies, and they tend to be more affordable. However, freelancers generally won&#8217;t offer you the same all-in-one package offered by SEO agencies. Thus, you will most likely need to have an in-house team to execute the SEO strategy. Combining an in-house team with an SEO expert freelancer can be a viable choice for many businesses.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2><strong>Factors to Consider</strong></h2>
<p>Now that we have learned the advantages and disadvantages of each model, there are several factors you should consider before making the final decision. We will discuss three key areas you should especially consider, starting with the first one.</p>
<p><strong>Budget and Cost</strong></p>
<p>The first thing you should consider is your available marketing budget, especially SEO budget. As we have discussed, building an in-house team is generally the most expensive option, especially if you need a big team.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10162" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Why_You_Should_Spend_At_Least_A_Fraction_of_Your_Marketing_Budget_on_SEO.jpg" alt="" width="670" height="529" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Why_You_Should_Spend_At_Least_A_Fraction_of_Your_Marketing_Budget_on_SEO.jpg 670w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Why_You_Should_Spend_At_Least_A_Fraction_of_Your_Marketing_Budget_on_SEO-300x237.jpg 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Why_You_Should_Spend_At_Least_A_Fraction_of_Your_Marketing_Budget_on_SEO-500x395.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" /></p>
<p>As a benchmark, hiring a high-end SEO company as your outsource can cost at least $3,000 per month. On the other hand, hiring an SEO professional can cost you $50,000 annually including benefits, while more experienced ones can cost you $70,000 and above. Hiring an SEO expert freelancers, as we have mentioned, is generally more affordable than outsourcing an SEO agency. However, you might also need several in-house staffs to execute the SEO efforts.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2015/04/23/how-to-plan-and-budget-for-seo/">Here is a very nice guide by Forbes</a> on maximizing your SEO budget plan.</p>
<p><strong>Required Expertise and Availability</strong></p>
<p>There are many factors that can dictate the required expertise for your SEO strategy. For example, if your business is in a saturated industry and the keyword competition is high, you will need the help of an expert. On the other hand, if you feel the difficulty of your SEO shouldn&#8217;t be too difficult, you might as well do it yourself. To assess your own skillset, this is a very <a href="https://www.highervisibility.com/blog/10-skills-every-seo-expert-should-have/">nice guide</a> from higher visibility.</p>
<p>After you&#8217;ve understood the required expertise for your SEO, you can then consider both your budget availability with your required expertise. If you really need a high level of expertise with a limited budget, most likely you&#8217;ll get the most from a freelance SEO expert.</p>
<p><strong>Business Model</strong></p>
<p>Is SEO a critical part of your business model or your industry? For some business model such as online retailers, SEO and online marketing can be mission-critical. However, other business models or other industries won&#8217;t require the same importance.</p>
<p>If SEO and digital marketing are absolutely critical for your business, consider increasing the allocated budget with a mission to build an excellent in-house SEO team in the long run. Initially, you may begin with outsourcing. However, in the long run, having an in-house team will give you more control and better ROI.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Bottom Line: What&#8217;s Ideal For Your Business?</h2>
<p>In the end, there will be no perfect answer to this question. Ideally, an in-house team will always be the best choice, provided you have an unlimited budget. The best way to approach this question is to treat your SEO team -whether in-house or outsourced- as an investment. Which option will give you the best ROI? Assess all available factors depending on your business model and industry.</p>
<p>If you have a budget constraint and you are happy with the environment of an SEO company, it is definitely a viable choice. However, if you are looking for a dedicated person to handle your project, you might be better off <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-expert">outsourcing to a freelancer SEO expert</a>.</p>
<p><!-- Calendly badge widget begin -->
<link href="https://assets.calendly.com/assets/external/widget.css" rel="stylesheet">
<script src="https://assets.calendly.com/assets/external/widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<script type="text/javascript">Calendly.initBadgeWidget({ url: 'https://calendly.com/mike-call/seo-strategy', text: 'Schedule a Free SEO Strategy Session', color: '#77da55', textColor: '#ffffff', branding: false });</script><br />
<!-- Calendly badge widget end --></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/house-seo-vs-seo-agency-vs-freelancer-expert">In House SEO Vs SEO Agency Vs Freelancer Expert</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Choose An SEO Expert For Your Website</title>
		<link>https://mikekhorev.com/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-for-your-website</link>
					<comments>https://mikekhorev.com/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-for-your-website#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Khorev]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 May 2017 21:19:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo expert]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mikekhorev.com/?p=9835</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>In today&#8217;s competitive online business environment, hiring the right SEO expert is critical. In fact, the success of your overall marketing strategy depends on it. Research shows that organic searches account for over 70% of all traffic to websites that sell business services. Paid searches account for only 10%. What does this mean? It means that unless you&#8217;re well-versed in SEO, you need to hire someone else to build up your online presence. PPC alone won&#8217;t cut it.  But what&#8217;s the best way to ensure that the people you hire to improve your ranking are competent? The answer is a lot more complex than you think. In this article, we&#8217;ve outlined some of the most important steps you need to take before deciding on an SEO expert. Keep reading to find out how to pick the right person or agency for your website! Ignore Snake Oil Salesmen When you sift through your SEO options, you&#8217;ll begin to notice a trend. Many SEOs say that their techniques ensure a spot on the first page of Google. Now, if you think that&#8217;s an overly bold claim to make, then you&#8217;re right. Google&#8217;s exact algorithm is a mystery—even to the most knowledgeable SEO expert. The tech giant has many reasons to protect its search engine&#8217;s algorithm from competitors like Microsoft. In order to improve the quality of its search results, Google can (and will) enact penalties as it sees fit. From year to year, Google averages more than one algorithm change per day. Anyone that claims to have knowledge about all of these changes is peddling snake oil. That said, an expert SEO will definitely be able to help you improve your rankings. By how much? It depends on various factors. In very rare cases, it may be possible to guarantee a high ranking... </p>
<p><a class="readmore" href="https://mikekhorev.com/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-for-your-website">Continue Reading</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-for-your-website">How to Choose An SEO Expert For Your Website</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In today&#8217;s competitive online business environment, hiring the right SEO expert is critical.</p>
<p>In fact, the success of <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/effective-marketing-strategies-technology-companies">your overall marketing strategy</a> depends on it.</p>
<p>Research shows that <a href="http://searchengineland.com/study-organic-search-drives-51-traffic-social-5-202063">organic searches account for over 70%</a> of all traffic to websites that sell business services. Paid searches account for only 10%.</p>
<p><strong>What does this mean?</strong></p>
<p>It means that unless you&#8217;re well-versed in SEO, you need to hire someone else to build up your online presence. PPC alone won&#8217;t cut it.  But what&#8217;s the best way to ensure that the people you hire to improve your ranking are competent?</p>
<p>The answer is a lot more complex than you think.</p>
<p>In this article, we&#8217;ve outlined some of the most important steps you need to take before deciding on an SEO expert.</p>
<p>Keep reading to find out how to pick the right person or agency for your website!</p>
<h2>Ignore Snake Oil Salesmen</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-9838" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/scam-artist.jpg" alt="" width="345" height="323" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/scam-artist.jpg 345w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/scam-artist-300x281.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 345px) 100vw, 345px" /></p>
<p>When you sift through your SEO options, you&#8217;ll begin to notice a trend.</p>
<p>Many SEOs say that their techniques ensure a spot on the first page of Google. Now, if you think that&#8217;s an overly bold claim to make, then you&#8217;re right. Google&#8217;s exact algorithm is a mystery—even to the most knowledgeable SEO expert.</p>
<p>The tech giant has many reasons to protect its search engine&#8217;s algorithm from competitors like Microsoft.</p>
<p>In order to improve the quality of its search results, Google can (and will) enact penalties as it sees fit.</p>
<p>From year to year, Google averages more than one <a href="http://searchengineland.com/google-makes-one-change-per-day-to-search-algorithm-40508">algorithm change per day</a>. Anyone that claims to have knowledge about all of these changes is peddling snake oil.</p>
<p>That said, an expert SEO will definitely be able to help you improve your rankings.</p>
<p>By how much? It depends on various factors.</p>
<p>In very rare cases, it may be possible to guarantee a high ranking if you&#8217;re targeting a genuinely simple keyword. But a legitimate SEO expert will only make such a claim after reviewing your site and business.</p>
<p>In most cases, however, if you get an email with a title such as &#8220;Guaranteed first page ranking on Google&#8221;, your best bet is to mark it as spam and move on.</p>
<h2>Ask About Their Process</h2>
<p>You want to start any discussion with <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2014/03/26/7-reasons-why-your-business-should-invest-in-seo/#2f333bde2563">a discussion about your goals</a>.</p>
<p>Lay them all out on the table so both parties can determine if they&#8217;re a good fit for one another. Be as specific as possible. Ask your prospective SEO expert to explain the process they&#8217;ll use to accomplish your goals.</p>
<p>But don&#8217;t stop there. You need to dig a little deeper to find out who&#8217;s serious about helping you rank high. While it&#8217;s great to know the process, you also want to know the reasoning behind it.</p>
<p>In order to find this out, ask them to cite reasons for why they use a particular process.</p>
<p>Ideally, these sources should come from Google. This is the only source you can trust 100%.</p>
<h2>Look at Their Track Record</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-9818" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/serpbook-1024x368.png" alt="" width="537" height="193" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/serpbook.png 1024w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/serpbook-300x108.png 300w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/serpbook-768x276.png 768w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/serpbook-500x180.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px" /></p>
<p>Research shows that almost <a href="https://consumerist.com/2015/06/03/nearly-70-of-consumers-rely-on-online-reviews-before-making-a-purchase/">70% of consumers </a>look at online reviews before buying.</p>
<p>Now, you most likely won&#8217;t find many online reviews on your potential SEOs.</p>
<p>However, what you can do is ask them to provide information about businesses they&#8217;ve worked with. Every successful SEO expert has a list of former clients that they can refer to. In fact, the best SEOs are itching to show you because they&#8217;re proud of their work.</p>
<p>They probably won&#8217;t let you review their entire list, but they should be able to give you a glimpse of it. Additionally, they should be able to share long-term results.</p>
<p>A great way to check this is to ask about how long they&#8217;ve worked with their longest client.</p>
<p>Businesses love to stick with successful SEOs, so anything less than 12-24 months is worrisome. That said, make sure the clients they provide are real businesses.</p>
<p>Reach out to those businesses, and see if they&#8217;re willing to share their experiences.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>Inquire About Communication</h2>
<p>Before investing any money into an SEO expert, you must ask several questions.</p>
<p>These questions will help you find out which SEO is the best fit for your business. One of the first things you want to ask is how often the SEO will contact you, and how. See if they prefer to communicate through email, Skype, or phone.</p>
<p>Whatever the communication channel, it should align with your preferences.</p>
<p>Also, make sure that experts will be available when you need to talk to them about important issues. You need to be able to reach your SEO during emergency situations, no matter how rarely these occur.</p>
<p>Lastly, find an SEO expert that has a similar communication style to your own.</p>
<p>If your conversations feel awkward or hard to understand, go with a different option. Communication is vital when formulating a <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-strategy-best-practices-software-companies">successful SEO strategy</a>.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>Find out How they Deal With Penalties</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-9840" src="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Banner2.jpg" alt="" width="472" height="373" srcset="https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Banner2.jpg 472w, https://mikekhorev.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Banner2-300x237.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px" /></p>
<p>Google does its best to fight spam and promote high-quality content.</p>
<p>They usually do this by altering their algorithm on a regular basis. Other times, they opt to do it manually. As mentioned earlier, this often leads to penalizing sites that break their rules. Although it doesn&#8217;t happen often, penalization is still a possibility.</p>
<p>When penalties rain down, it can be hard to recover.</p>
<p>And if you&#8217;re hiring someone else to head your SEO strategy, you need to know how they plan to help you <a href="http://www.business2community.com/seo/survive-google-algorithmic-update-01838061#sg0B9gKB0mEewEC7.97">survive Google updates</a>.</p>
<p>You should find out how they plan to avoid penalties in the first place. Ask for detailed answers. Be wary of those that shy away from this topic.</p>
<p>Most competent SEOs have solid strategies for dealing with issues related to penalization.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>Make Sure They Provide Detailed Reports</h2>
<p>Full SEO reports should occur month-to-month, and they must be timely and detailed.</p>
<p>You can ask for a different frequency, but a monthly schedule tends to be the norm in this industry. Within these reports, you should see several things. First, you should find rundown of all activities</p>
<p>Your SEO expert should also provide an update on the rankings of your primary keywords.</p>
<p>Most importantly, the report should have a section showcasing increases in search traffic. This helps you keep tabs on how good (or bad) of a job your SEO is doing.</p>
<p>While your prospective SEO&#8217;s monthly report may contain other pieces of info, the ones mentioned here are the most important.</p>
<p>Engage in an in-depth conversation about this topic early in the selection process. Once you decide on an SEO expert, compare what they deliver during the first month to what they promised.</p>
<p>If the first report is neither complete nor timely, it might be time to take your business elsewhere. It’s best to double-check the accuracy during the first month as well.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that these reports are serious business. They provide the best way to track the progress of your SEO strategy.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>Pay Close Attention to Link Building</h2>
<p><a href="https://mikekhorev.com/link-building-startups">Link building</a> is one of the most important steps in building a respectable online presence.</p>
<p>It just so happens to be one of the most difficult to pull off on your own. Any SEO expert worth their salt will include link building in their packages. If you see anyone offering hundreds or thousands of links for a few bucks, don&#8217;t even think about it.</p>
<p>When an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is.</p>
<p>Low-quality backlinks have a higher chance of harming your ranking than helping it. You&#8217;re looking for high-quality links, not spam.</p>
<p>However, a knowledgeable SEO expert can lay out a multi-step plan for building links. They might not be able to get too specific out the gate, but they need to provide some steps.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>Consider Price and the Structure of the Contract</h2>
<p>Price is not necessarily a great indicator of service quality.</p>
<p>Of course, you want to choose an agency or freelancer within your price range.</p>
<p>That said, stay away from anyone who makes too many promises for a low cost. Also, you may run into some unorthodox payment schedules. Many people and agencies charge month-to-month, but it varies. When deciding on an SEO expert, find out what happens if you need to break the contract for whatever reason.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to shield yourself from any early termination fees. Keep in mind that these fees are often well-hidden in the contract.</p>
<p>Contracts without extra fees protect you against companies that provide lackluster services. Plus, it takes a while to see significant results with SEO.</p>
<p>Therefore, any additional flexibility is nice to have when you don&#8217;t know what lies ahead.</p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>You&#8217;re Now Ready to Hire an SEO Expert</h2>
<p>The process of choosing the right person for the job can seem like navigating a minefield.</p>
<p>The last thing you want to do is invest a bunch of your money and time in a service that doesn&#8217;t work. But using some of the tips outlined in the article will help you to differentiate the experts from the imitators.</p>
<p>By asking the right questions, you can slice your chances of choosing the wrong person or agency for the job.</p>
<p>Remember to stay away from those who promise too much for too little. Instead, consider people or agencies that provide realistic and direct answers.</p>
<p>Contact me if you are looking for a <a href="https://mikekhorev.com/seo-expert">trusted SEO consultant for your business</a>.</p>
<p><!-- Calendly badge widget begin -->
<link href="https://assets.calendly.com/assets/external/widget.css" rel="stylesheet">
<script src="https://assets.calendly.com/assets/external/widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<script type="text/javascript">Calendly.initBadgeWidget({ url: 'https://calendly.com/mike-call/seo-strategy', text: 'Schedule a Free SEO Strategy Session', color: '#77da55', textColor: '#ffffff', branding: false });</script><br />
<!-- Calendly badge widget end --></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-for-your-website">How to Choose An SEO Expert For Your Website</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://mikekhorev.com">Mike Khorev - SEO Consultant</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://mikekhorev.com/how-to-choose-an-seo-expert-for-your-website/feed</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
