The digital marketing age is upon us, and many companies need experienced and knowledgeable players to keep their websites visible, keeping them competitive.

The complex world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) gets more complicated every day and is a long-term investment that businesses need to take seriously. Today, the success of companies revolves around bringing traffic to their website and converting it to revenue.

Hiring the right resource that helps implement a customized SEO strategy depends on your needs. Choosing between an SEO agency and a freelance SEO expert can be difficult because both have their pros and cons.

However, for anyone with little SEO knowledge, the choice can have a lasting impact on their business.

So, who do you hire?

First, we believe that knowledge is power, so we’ve included a list of standard terms with their descriptions, so you are more familiar with the digital marketing jargon.

Now that you are up to date on the terns, let's talk about the differences between an SEO agency and a freelancer SEO.

Several variables to consider include cost, quality, performance, results, and customer reviews.

The complexities of search engine algorithms and website visibility require specialized skillsets that can join together fundamental elements to assist businesses with improving SERP rankings, attracting visitors, increasing traffic and leads, and establishing an online presence.

A well-established digital marketing agency has a competent team of SEO specialists, content writers, backlink builders, and project managers who deal with diverse clients from different industries and countries.

SEO agencies have more breadth and more people with various skillsets. They typically carry a full complement of skillsets offering complete marketing strategies.

They offer a wide array of services ranging from setting up your paid ads to producing short videos to add to your website. Essentially, it is up to you to pick the right option which best fits the goals you are trying to accomplish.

Pros and Cons of hiring an SEO agency include:


PROS

  • Agency's offer a variety of marketing services – a one-stop-shop
  • They can leverage experiences with existing clients to provide exactly what you need
  • They will be monitoring your site's progress which will get you the results you expect
  • They have an office that you can contact during business hours
  • They are available for in-person appointments
  • They will provide you with an initial assessment of your website and produce in-depth reports and data tracking
  • They use software that keeps them on task for your project
  • They will focus heavily on backlinks and gaining backlinks because they understand those things matter
  • They can also focus more on On-Page SEO
  • They have business models of how websites rank based on your type of site
  • If your agency is competent, you can leave SEO operations to them

CONS

  • Agencies can be exorbitantly expensive, with some charging more than $3,000 per month
  • They will not be available during off-business hours
  • They may have a delayed response which could be a problem if your business requires a sudden change in your online marketing strategy
  • Employee turnover can be high, which means the possibility of establishing a relationship with new players often.
  • Agency players tend to be a little less personable because they work with a larger number of clients

How do you choose the best SEO agency for you and your company?


- Understand the jargon
- Study their online presence – Is their website ranking towards the top?
- Check out their customer reviews – Both the good and the bad
- Take any replies to customers comments into account

Choosing the best SEO agency for you will depend on the complexity of the job you need. If you need a few small changes to your website's SEO, you may be better off doing it yourself or hiring a freelancer.

But, be careful.

We recommend that if you have access to your website, leave it alone and avoid messing with things that you don't fully understand.

It's just like taking your car to the shop for repair. They tell you what's wrong and what it costs to fix the problem. You usually don't ask how they fixed it, and you are just happy it's fixed.

Lastly, avoid hovering over your SEO agency. Let them do their job, keep your distance but ask questions if you do not see the results you expect. Remember, it takes time to get a website ranking so, be patient.

The question of whether or not to hire an SEO agency depends on many variables. Do your due diligence and hire the SEO agency that works best for you and your company.