In the digital age, the role of an SEO consultant has become increasingly prominent. The influence of digital and search engine marketing has made their expertise a necessity for businesses that aim to optimize their online presence.
Whether it is to increase traffic and keyword rankings, outperform competitors, improve website technology, find and attract a target audience, or optimize website content, an expert SEO consultant can help your company achieve stable, consistent business growth.
At Searchbloom, we understand how challenging it can be to find a good SEO consultant. That is why we work to be the industry’s most trusted and transparent SEO agency. With us, you can rest assured knowing you are working with experts in SEO consulting who care for your business’s success as you do.
In this article, we discuss:
- What an SEO consultant is
- What SEO consultants do
- Services that SEO consultants provide
- Signs for businesses to hire an SEO consultant
- How to find a good SEO consultant to work with
- Common tools used by SEO Consultants
What Does an SEO Consultant Do?
An SEO consultant helps a business’s website appear closer to the top of search engine results. This provides the visibility, traffic, and online sales that paid advertising does without the need for advertising budgets.
Their role in digital marketing is to optimize a business’s online presence to enhance its visibility. They do this by improving a website’s ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs). Achieving a higher ranking increases organic traffic, contributing to business growth and competitiveness.
SEO consultants use various techniques and strategies to meet their client’s objectives, including keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building. Each of these, in their own ways, ensures a website appears in crucial search engine result pages.
An SEO consultant’s role requires a deep understanding of how search algorithms work and how to use search engine optimization tools effectively. Furthermore, the field of search engine optimization is dynamic and constantly evolving. Consultants must always stay current with the latest trends and algorithm updates.
They should also know how to analyze a website’s performance. Consultants, sometimes called “SEOs,” identify areas for improvement within a website as well as its organic search potential. SEO consultants also implement data-driven solutions that can increase organic traffic and search engine rankings.
A consulting SEO specialist will not only be able to increase website visibility but also help improve its user experience, ensuring visitors can easily navigate the site, find the information they want, and quickly convert. This dual focus on search engine performance and user satisfaction is critical to any business’s online success.
Ultimately, the goal of an SEO consultant is to help a business grow by increasing its visibility in search engine results.
What Do SEO Consulting Services Include?
Search engine optimization consultants can offer a wide range of SEO services, as there are many methods of improving a business’s web presence. Some consultants may specialize in a few key services. Others have marketing teams for support, allowing them to offer a more comprehensive list of services. Below are some major SEO consulting services to look for:
Site Audits
During the early stages of an SEO consultant’s engagement, a comprehensive website audit is often conducted to identify current strengths and weaknesses in the website’s SEO strategy.
A site audit aims to discover opportunities for improvement and create a roadmap for future SEO efforts. It can involve checking the website’s technical infrastructure, including site speed, mobile compatibility, and site architecture, to ensure they meet current technical SEO standards.
An SEO consultant may also review a site’s web pages concerning their content, structure, keyword usage, and metadata. They will check to see how they can optimize them for search engine visibility. Some consultants may analyze a website’s backlink profile to identify high-quality links to amplify and harmful links to fix or remove, avoiding penalties from search engines.
Having an experienced SEO consultant audit your website will clarify the current state of its online visibility and user experience. Thorough SEO audits lead to strong SEO recommendations that improve website performance and online presence.
Keyword Research
In SEO consulting services, keyword research plays a pivotal role. It forms the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. Keyword research involves identifying and analyzing popular words or phrases people enter into search engines.
Using various SEO tools, a consultant can measure the demand and competition of these keywords. Their tools show each keyword’s search volume, competitiveness, and relevance to your products or services.
The aim is to target keywords with high relevance and search volume but low competitiveness. Through their research, a consultant will find the optimal keywords relevant to your business.
Through comprehensive keyword strategy and research, an SEO consultant can improve your website’s ranking by helping you better understand your audience’s search habits and provide keywords crucial to crafting content that is meaningful to them.
Link Building
Among the many services SEO consultants offer, Link Building is one of their most important strategies. It involves reaching out to webmasters to get hyperlinks from other websites to your own. It aims to enhance a website’s visibility and ranking on SERPs.
A worthwhile SEO consultant will focus on obtaining links from reputable and high-ranking websites. They understand that search engines view higher-quality links as more valuable, resulting in higher rankings for clients. They will also ensure the links they use are relevant to your business, boosting the chances of attracting the right audience.
Through these honest link-building practices, reliable SEO consultants help produce organic, natural links over time — rather than manipulative tactics that could harm your website’s ranking. They ensure their link-building service provides stable, long-term online search results growth for your business.
Content Strategy & Optimization
SEO consultants also regularly engage with your website’s content. A good consultant will work out ways to optimize existing content and add new content that improves your site’s visibility and user engagement.
This involves a consultant reviewing your website’s text, images, and videos. They will look for areas they can optimize and contribute valuable information that will interest your visitors. As a result, your site’s content will attract more potential and improve your site’s search rankings.
Content strategy optimization is among several vital SEO consulting services aimed at enhancing your website’s user experience and boosting your site’s search engine performance.
Research & Reporting
This is another crucial service provided by SEO consultants that can help enhance your website’s visibility. A good SEO consultant with expertise in analytics will interpret and report your site’s performance and competitors. SEO consultants offer a variety of services that revolve around this concept.
Another significant aspect of a consultant’s SEO research service is their competitive analysis. This involves comparing your site’s content or technical elements to your competitors. By studying your competitors’ SEO, a consultant can conceive new strategies that will put your site ahead of theirs
SEO consultants will also analyze and report the kinds of traffic your website is attracting. This means they will regularly check which pages are most visited, user behavior on those pages, how many conversions your site is generating, and how much revenue it is bringing in. They will then report these and other elements of your site’s performance to you, showing you what efforts have achieved success for your business and what could be improved in the future.
Thorough research and reporting from an experienced SEO consultant can form the basis of an excellent SEO strategy to increase your website’s visibility and ranking on SERPS and thus attract more user traffic and revenue.
SEO Strategy
SEO consulting may or may not include the services mentioned above. However, its key purpose is to help businesses develop a comprehensive SEO strategy tailored to their business goals, whether it is to increase organic traffic, ensure your site ranks higher than competitors, or simply generate more leads and conversions.
An SEO consultant will show what it takes to develop a multi-faceted strategy that encompasses keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and content creation. They will aim to create a roadmap for your team that will enhance your site’s search engine rankings. Look for a strategy that considers months or even years ahead. This is a sign of planning and preparation that will lead to long-term results.
An SEO consultant will also provide companies with accurate research and actionable insights for their marketing team. An even better sign is if a consultant shows that their insights are based on your site’s analytics and makes data-driven recommendations to further improve your site’s SEO.
Searchbloom is an SEO agency that offers excellent consulting services backed by a team of search engine marketing experts with decades of combined experience. Contact us and get a free marketing plan tailored for your business today.
4 Signs You May Need to Hire an SEO Consultant
It’s important to know when you should find an SEO consultant so you can resolve issues with your online presence and turn around your website’s performance as soon as possible. Below, we describe four signs that show when you should consider hiring an SEO consultant for your business:
Declining Website Traffic
A strong sign to hire an SEO consultant is a consistent decline in your website’s traffic despite several attempts to raise it. This drop in site visits can be due to various factors, all of which an SEO consultant will analyze and resolve.
One example is when a search engine has recently updated its algorithms, causing a client’s site rankings to plummet. An SEO consultant can help identify ways to improve your website’s SEO to follow the search engine’s new standards. A great consultant will ensure your site rises to an even higher ranking.
In other cases, you may need a consultant to provide keywords and SEO strategies and point out technical SEO issues. Slow loading times, broken links, and other technical issues can deter visitors.
An SEO consultant can help address these issues, implement strategies to boost your ranking, and ultimately increase your website traffic.
Poor Search Engine Rankings
Struggling with poor search rankings despite investing in quality content and website design is another clear indication that you might need the expertise of an SEO consultant.
Search engines use complex algorithms to determine the relevancy of your website to a user’s search query. Your search rankings could suffer if your website is not properly optimized for these algorithms. That will then make it harder for potential customers to find you online.
In Need of a Website Redesign
Many businesses today have websites with poor or outdated user interfaces and a site structure that is difficult for potential customers to navigate. This can lead to poor search engine rankings, as well as low conversion rates and revenue.
In this case, a website redesign may be necessary. An SEO consultant can suggest ways to improve user experience — a key factor in Google’s ranking algorithm. They can also help make your website more conversion-friendly and ensure its new design and content appeal to your target audience.
Working with an SEO consultant when redesigning can ensure the project achieves results the first time. Their experience and in-depth knowledge will minimize the number of missteps that may occur and provide a high chance of success for your fresh, new website design.
Lack of SEO Strategy
Navigating the digital landscape without a strong, data-driven SEO strategy can lead to dire consequences for your business: poor search engine rankings, high bounce rates, low conversions, and, eventually, a negative return on investment from your site.
Your current strategy may have been successful but can get stagnant over time. If you lack a proactive and ongoing strategy, you’ll see lower search engine rankings allowing your competitors to raise their site’s ranking above yours easily.
However, an SEO consultant can work with you to produce an effective strategy that keeps you competitive and generates plenty of traffic and conversions for your site.
A reliable SEO consultant will be able to recognize what your website lacks compared to competitors. They will also identify ways to enhance your site for stronger SEO performance. Furthermore, partnering with a good SEO will also result in a strategy tailor-fit to your business.
To recap, declining website traffic, poor search engine rankings, requiring a website redesign, and lacking an SEO strategy are just a few indicators that your business may need to hire an SEO consultant. In addition, many SEO consulting companies like Searchbloom offer free consultations, providing initial evaluations and recommendations for businesses that are in the market to hire a reliable consultant.
Steps to Find a Reliable SEO Consultant
It can be difficult to find the right SEO consultant — one who will care for your business success as much as you do and works to be as honest and transparent as possible about their process and results. In your search for a trustworthy SEO consultant, here are some key steps to follow:
1) Inspect a Consultant’s Expertise
First, it is important to identify the SEO consultant’s skills and experience. Do this by researching their background, qualifications, and experience in SEO. Look for consultants with a proven track record of success and a deep understanding of the latest SEO techniques, best practices, and trends.
Gauge their understanding of SEO by asking questions and observing how promptly and accurately they answer. An expert will be able to articulate complex SEO concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.
Also, check if they stay up-to-date with the latest algorithm changes and marketing trends. Staying informed on essential SEO knowledge is a sign you are talking to professionals at the top of their field.
2) Review Their Track Record
Next, ask the prospective consultant for previous references and review their business’s reputation online. This will give you a sense of their past work experience and the results they’ve achieved for other clients.
A competent SEO consultant should have a proven track record of achieving high search engine rankings for their clients. Ask for case studies or client testimonials to verify their expertise.
Also, pay attention to the types of businesses they have worked with. Having experience in your industry means they can provide unique advantages for your business.
Some consultants may provide their portfolio. These should include case studies demonstrating their ability to improve a website’s search engine ranking and drive increased traffic. A good sign is specificity in their case study results, such as percentage increases in organic traffic, improvements in keyword rankings, or revenue increases.
An exceptional portfolio will indicate the consultant’s adaptability to different industries and large and small business strategies. Review the consultant’s previous works thoroughly, and you’ll surely find one worth it.
3) Evaluate Their Communication Skills
In addition to expertise and experience, an SEO consultant must have good communication skills. A reliable SEO consultant will follow effective communication practices to ensure your business requirements and marketing goals are correctly understood and implemented.
For example, a good SEO consultant can clearly explain their strategies, promptly answer your questions, and provide regular updates on their progress.
To verify that a given consultant is a strong communicator, check if they can explain complicated SEO concepts in simple terms you understand. This will show their desire to keep you on the same page and maintain transparency.
They should also have a good track record of providing regular updates, detailed reports, and proactive communication on sudden changes to strategy or unexpected complications.
Finally, find out how quickly they respond to queries and concerns. A reliable consultant prioritizes client communication and will always make time to give support and assistance when you need it.
While providing strong results and helping you create a solid SEO strategy are signs of a worthwhile SEO consultant, a long-term partnership is best built through consistent and clear communication.
4) Assess Their SEO Strategies
Finally, assess the consultant’s SEO strategy. Evaluating the SEO strategy proposed by a potential consultant is a critical step in determining their reliability and competence in the field. It reflects their understanding of SEO and its specific application to your business needs.
First, study their proposed approach to keyword research and optimization. This is the backbone of SEO, and your consultant should have a clear, effective plan for identifying and using optimal keywords. Then, consider their strategy for link-building. This should involve a mix of internal, external, and backlinking strategies.
Finally, assess their plan for content optimization. This should involve making your content more attractive to search engines and users alike. A well-rounded strategy addressing these three areas suggests a reliable, competent SEO consultant.
Filtering potential SEO consulting candidates by their level of expertise, proven track record, strong communication skills, and quality SEO strategies will help you identify your best candidates. From there, you can determine the best option based on your budget and industry needs.
Tools Professional SEO Consultants Use
Another great way to identify a professional SEO consulting firm is by checking what tools they use. This helps indicate how well they follow the latest trends in their industry. It also shows how they are willing to invest in the best tools for their clients. Here are some solid SEO tools that professional consultants utilize in their services:
Ahrefs: A comprehensive SEO tool that provides a wide range of functionalities, including backlink analysis, keyword research, content exploration, and rank tracking.
Screaming Frog: A desktop-based website crawler designed for SEO professionals to quickly analyze and audit technical and onsite SEO.
Hotjar: A user behavior analytics and feedback service that allows SEO consultants to view how users interact with their client’s websites and provide recommendations for optimizing their user experience.
Local Viking: A tool that manages a client’s local SEO campaign and their Google Business Profile (GBP). It features GBP post-scheduling, geo-grid rank tracking, and much more to help businesses improve their local online visibility.
Surfer SEO: An on-page content optimization tool. It helps give SEO consulting and marketing teams the ability to optimize a site’s content based on keyword density, page structure, and many other factors. Using it ensures client web pages rank high on search engines.
There are numerous SEO tools available, many of them with similar features. However, finding a consultant who can clearly explain how they use theirs to develop their SEO strategies is an excellent way to identify their level of expertise. Like any good service provider, don’t just choose those who have the best tools but the ones who know how to use them to the fullest.
Elevate Your Marketing with SEO Consulting from Searchbloom
A dependable SEO consulting service can make a huge difference, even for companies with their own in-house marketing team. With decades of experience and many partners across a range of industries, Searchbloom provides top-notch, results-driven SEO consulting services. We’ll help take your business’s online presence to the next level.
We not only stand by our expertise but also by our commitment to providing honest, transparent service to our partners. We ensure you gain a better understanding of our SEO strategies and practices by making clear, consistent, and responsive communication as one of our core values.
Learn how Searchbloom’s SEO consulting services can help your business transform online.
