The Dynamics and Challenges of Using In-House Talent Versus Outsourcing

Once your organization has embraced the need for SEO, you must decide whether to hire someone in-house or work with an outside consultant or agency. The same decision must be made when the time comes to expand an existing SEO team. Here are the factors you should consider:

  1. Is there enough work to justify a full-time, part-time, or contract employee?

  2. Is in-house knowledge on SEO strategically necessary for the business?

  3. Are people with the right SEO skill set for your website available for hire within your target salary range? (What each company needs will vary.)

  4. Do you want to access and leverage experienced talent from an external agency to supplement an internal team?

  5. Is your organization so complex that it would benefit from the presence of an in-house SEO champion?

The Value of In-House SEO

One of the significant advantages of in-house SEO is the ability to access search expertise whenever you need it. Some additional advantages are:

  • A greater likelihood that SEO best practices will be integrated into the company culture.

  • Greater accountability.

  • Faster ramp-up time (familiarity with the core business).

  • Faster implementation time (greater leverage in the development process).

  • There is someone to ensure that SEO requirements remain in scope (and raise the flag when they are descoped).

  • The SEO expert can be tapped anytime and her work reprioritized immediately for quick deliverable turnarounds.

The Value of Outsourced Solutions ...

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