Outsource SEO: Why + 5 Steps to Do It in 2025

A survey from UpCity found that 26% of businesses are outsourcing search engine optimization (SEO) to third parties, while 22% hire a consultant or freelancer. The gist is that companies are choosing to outsource this critical service. But why exactly?

It’s simple, really. Outsourcing SEO, when done right, offers a good return on investment (ROI). 68% of all online experiences begin with a search engine. So, SEO provides businesses with an opportunity to capture organic traffic, convert users, and generate revenue.

The reality, though, is that SEO is incredibly complex and challenging. Not every business is capable of or has the resources to do it on its own. And that’s where SEO services come in with their many benefits.

TL;DR

SEO outsourcing involves hiring external experts, such as agencies or freelancers, to manage SEO tasks.
Outsourced SEO services typically include audits, keyword research, content optimization, and link building.
Key reasons to outsource SEO include access to specialized expertise and up-to-date knowledge, cost savings compared to building an in-house team, access to advanced SEO tools, and the possibility of achieving faster results.
Types of SEO services that can be outsourced include: On-Page SEO, Off-Page SEO, Technical SEO, Local SEO, E-commerce SEO, and Voice Search SEO.
SEO agencies offer comprehensive expertise and resources, better suited for larger or integrated projects. Freelancers are more cost-effective and flexible for specific or short-term needs, but may lack the broader resources and support of an agency.
Common challenges in SEO outsourcing include data security concerns, communication barriers (time zones, language), unrealistic expectations and finding providers with specific industry knowledge.
The five steps for outsourcing SEO include:

1. Define your SEO objectives clearly.

2. Determine the specific scope of work that needs to be outsourced.

3. Research and evaluate potential SEO service providers, including agencies and freelancers.

4. Set clear expectations and establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

5. Continuously monitor the results and provide feedback.

What Is SEO Outsourcing?

SEO outsourcing involves hiring an external party, such as a specialist agency or freelancer, to develop and implement an SEO strategy for your brand.

They work on increasing your website’s visibility on search engines, particularly Google, which dominates the search engine space with over 89% of market share.

Any business, regardless of size or niche, can outsource SEO services, especially if they don’t have such expertise on their own team. By outsourcing, you gain access to a team of SEO experts equipped with specialized tools and up-to-date knowledge of search engine algorithms.

5 Reasons Why You Should Outsource SEO

Outsourcing SEO comes with its fair share of advantages, which can help business owners, marketing managers, and entrepreneurs bring their brand to the front online.

Of course, it can be a major financial commitment, but here are five compelling reasons to consider this approach:

1. Specialized Expertise

SEO is a multifaceted discipline that includes things like technical audits, keyword research, content strategy, and link building. All of these components require specialized knowledge and experience, which not all marketers may possess, including those working for you.

Outsourcing connects you with a team of SEO experts who understand SEO through and through. More importantly, they’re aware of the latest search engine algorithms and updates.

For instance, Google made 4,725 algorithm changes in 2022. Although not all changes were significant, this number goes to show that search engines and their ranking mechanisms are constantly changing. And that’s where current knowledge of SEO experts can be incredibly beneficial.

At Blue Things, we tapped our expertise in SEO and took a multi-thronged approach to bringing Meridian Compensation Partners (MCP), an executive compensation consultant, to the front of search results. Our comprehensive approach to identifying niche keywords and on and off-page SEO achieved what we set out to.

MCP consistently ranks between 1 and 7 on Google search results for relevant keywords. It also experienced a spike in its organic traffic and a significant increase in its domain authority.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

Should you choose to maintain an in-house SEO team, you’re looking at significant increases to your payroll and expenses. That includes salaries, training, and subscriptions to specialized tools, which often have monthly subscription models.

Hiring an SEO specialist is a comparatively cost-effective option. As this is what they do all day, every day, most agencies are able to offer SEO services at a lower cost than what it would cost for you to DIY.

According to an analysis by Girl Power Talk, the cost savings from outsourcing SEO can be well over 50%, as indicated by the comparison they cite.

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Although cost savings are definitely there, interestingly, that’s not the driving factor for many. The Deloitte Global Outsourcing survey revealed that cost-saving as the primary outsourcing driver has reduced from 70% in 2022 to 34% in 2024.

3. Utilization of Advanced Tools

Professional SEO agencies have access to a suite of advanced SEO tools that are essential for tasks such as keyword research, competitor analysis, and performance tracking. These tools typically include Google Analytics, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest These tools offer crucial insights for developing and refining effective SEO strategies.

By hiring SEO services, you don’t have to invest in these tools. For small and medium-sized businesses, the cost of these tools can be prohibitive. For them, outsourcing is a more practical solution.

4. Faster Results

It’s true that SEO takes time, but doing it with the help of experts may get you the results you need relatively faster. In one survey, 64% of businesses reported measurable SEO results within 3 to 6 months of outsourcing.

This efficiency and speed come from experience and the streamlined processes that SEO professionals follow. Additionally, unlike in-house SEO, there is no need for hiring or training. As soon as you sign up, SEO efforts start rolling.

We delivered SEO goals for iWave, a fundraising intelligence software, in just six months. Tackling the unique challenges of SEO in the non-profit sector, we created strategic blog articles to help it rank number one and experience a 6x increase in organic traffic (again, in just six months).

5. Scalability

Outsourcing provides the flexibility to scale SEO efforts in response to business needs. So, for example, if you’re launching a new product or entering a new market, an external SEO partner can adjust strategies and resources accordingly.

This scalability ensures that SEO campaigns align with evolving business objectives without being constrained by internal team capacities.

Pro Tip: When selecting an SEO outsourcing partner, choose an agency that offers transparent reporting and regular communication. This approach ensures they help deliver the desired goals and adjust the strategy based on performance analytics.

What Do SEO Services Include?

SEO services typically cover a comprehensive suite of strategies and tasks necessary for increasing a website's visibility in search engine results. This includes everything from SEO audits, keyword research, content optimization, and performance monitoring.

That said, some SEO specialists may only focus on specific components. For example, link builders specialize in providing link-building services.

Here’s what SEO services typically include:

SEO audits: analysis of the website to assess its current ranking and state, and to identify areas of improvement.
Keyword research: identifying relevant keywords that the target audience uses to find similar products or services and understanding search intent.
SEO strategy: a strategy based on SEO principles and latest developments to achieve the business goals (for example, more traffic from a certain region).
Optimizations: efforts to optimize web pages (through on-page and off-page strategies) to bring them more traffic.
Content creation: designing and producing relevant, high-quality content to improve website ranking and establish its authority.
Performance monitoring: tracking and analyzing your website's performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to measure the effectiveness of SEO strategies

To understand what should be included in SEO services, it’s best to understand the different types of SEO.

Types of SEO Services

Here are the different kinds of SEO services you can outsource:

1. On-Page SEO

On-page SEO focuses on optimizing individual web pages to improve their search engine rankings and attract more relevant traffic. This includes optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and enriching content with relevant keywords.

2. Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO involves activities outside your website that impact your rankings within search engine results pages (SERPs). This primarily includes building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites. That signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative.

In a survey by Authority Hacker, over 79% of SEO experts said link building is a key part of their strategy. Off-page SEO strategies include guest blogging, influencer outreach, and social media.

3. Technical SEO

Technical SEO involves optimizing the website's infrastructure to facilitate the crawling and indexing process by search engines. If a search engine can’t access the web page, it can’t rank it.

Technical aspects like site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability are important for search engines, including Google. SEO services that cover technical SEO improve, assess, and optimize these factors.

4. Local SEO

46% of Google searches have a local intent, with people looking for services and businesses in their vicinity. Local SEO optimizes brand presence to attract more business from relevant local searches.

This involves managing your Google Business Profile, acquiring local citations, and ensuring your name, address, and phone number (NAP) information is consistent across all platforms. This can also include localizing the website by creating a version of it in the local language or creating content in the local language.

For instance, we localized the website for Hurom Canada and created a French version of the website to cater to French-speaking audiences in Quebec.

5. E-commerce SEO

E-commerce SEO focuses on optimizing online stores to improve their visibility in search engine results. This includes optimizing product pages with relevant keywords, improving site navigation, and creating a seamless user experience (all these things matter for Google).

Also, this type of SEO includes structured data markup, which helps search engines better understand product offerings.

6. Voice Search SEO

This is a relatively new area of SEO, and according to HubSpot, only 13% of marketers are leveraging voice search optimizations.

Voice search SEO involves targeting long-tail keywords and natural language phrases that people use when speaking, rather than typing. This helps content and web pages rank for verbal queries through voice assistants like Google and Siri.

Here’s what people are using voice search for:

When Should You Outsource SEO?

Most businesses stand to benefit from outsourcing SEO. After all, the number one page on Google results gets over 27% of clicks (potentially more conversions and revenue). At the same time, not every business needs SEO, or more specifically, outsourced SEO.

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Here’s when you should consider hiring an SEO specialist:

Limited internal resources: If your internal team lacks the time, expertise, or tools to manage SEO tasks, outsourcing is a logical solution.
Need for specialized expertise: Perhaps you have marketers with some level of expertise in SEO but lack specialized skills and knowledge. In such cases, you may hire an SEO agency for specific goals.
Budget constraints: If your marketing budget is limited and you can’t hire a full-time SEO expert in-house, you can find budget-friendly SEO agencies and freelancers online.
Scaling your business: As your business grows, so do your SEO needs. Outsourcing offers scalability, particularly with dedicated SEO companies that have large teams.
Quick results: You want SEO outcomes as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, though, SEO doesn’t show results overnight.

SEO Agency vs. Freelancers: Which Is Better?

When it comes to outsourcing SEO, you have two choices: an SEO agency or a freelancer. Both have their pros and cons, but one is arguably (and evidently) better than the other.

Let’s discuss both:

SEO Agencies

SEO agencies are full-fledged businesses that specialize in different areas of SEO. They are comprised of diverse skill sets that are ultimately essential for implementing a comprehensive SEO strategy. Think content creators, editors, designers, link builders, and SEO analysts all under one roof.

Also, agencies have access to advanced SEO tools. They can use them to get the job done more efficiently and accurately.

However, this level of service comes at a higher cost. According to a study by Ahrefs, agencies charge an average of $3,209 per month.

Freelancers

Freelancers offer a more flexible and cost-effective solution, especially for businesses with specific, short-term SEO needs. They usually specialize in particular areas of SEO, allowing you to hire an expert tailored to your immediate requirements.

Freelancers are also more affordable with lower rates. The same Ahrefs study indicates that SEO freelancers charge an average of $1,348 per month. That price point may be more feasible for small businesses with low budgets and relatively simpler SEO goals.

However, freelancers lack the resources and support systems that agencies provide. For large SEO projects, you may need to work with several freelancers, which can be time-consuming and confusing.

Also, although many freelancers are great at what they do, they’re notorious for duping customers (just read the stories yourself). They lack the same level of transparency and accountability that a registered company typically provides.

Pro Tip: Learn SEO, at least the basics of it, before outsourcing it. That will go a long way in finding the right partner, whether an agency or freelancer, and maintaining quality control.

How to Outsource SEO: Step-by-Step

Now that you’re ready to outsource SEO for your business, here are five steps to do it:

1. Define Your SEO Objectives

The first order of business is defining exactly why you need SEO and what you want to achieve with it.

That largely depends on your business niche and model. For instance, an ecommerce store would have the following SEO objectives:

More organic traffic
Traffic from a specific segment (target audience)
More conversion
Higher revenue

The simpler and clearer your goals are, the easier it will be for you to find the best match when outsourcing SEO.

2. Determine the Scope of Work

Based on your goals, identify which SEO tasks you plan to outsource. That will define the scope of the work (and also determine the cost).

For example, if you’re only focusing on improving the technical SEO of your website, you expect to pay less than what you would have had you hired the service for full website SEO (on-page, off-page, and everything in between).

Define the services you require, which may include keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, technical SEO audits, content creation, and reporting.

Most importantly, establish the key performance indicators (KPIs) that you ultimately want to improve and can track to measure the effectiveness of the SEO service.

Here are the main KPIs used in SEO:

Organic Traffic: The number of visitors who find your website through unpaid search engine results.
Keyword Rankings: The position of your website in search engine results pages (SERPs) for specific keywords.
Organic Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors from organic search who complete a desired action on your website, such as a purchase or form submission.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who click on your website's listing in the SERPs after seeing it.
Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page.
Average Session Duration: The average amount of time visitors spend actively engaged on your website during a single session.
Page Load Time: The speed at which your website pages fully load for a user.
Backlinks: The number of external websites that link to your pages, indicating external validation and authority.
Search Visibility: The overall percentage of times your website appears in the SERPs for a set of target keywords.
Indexed Pages: The number of pages on your website that have been discovered and added to the search engine's index, making them eligible to appear in search results.

3. Research SEO Service Providers

Look for SEO agencies or freelancers online with a proven track record in your industry. Evaluate their expertise, client testimonials, and case studies.

Don’t just take their word for it, do your research! Run Google searches to see how well their previous clients rank.

Speak directly with their representatives to explain your requirements and see what solutions they offer. Ask specific questions.

Here’s what one Reddit user who had dealt with plenty of SEO providers recommends:

Don't be fooled by SEO PowerPoints (fancy graphics, infographics, and so on). Ask SEO experts specific questions; in order to do this, you need to use basic terminology (many SEO experts keep people in ignorance via acronyms) + basic concepts. Invest in training your content creators in basic SEO, which is mostly common sense.

‍Don’t forget to compare costs, as pricing may differ by agency size, expertise, location, and, of course, your project’s demands.

4. Set the Right Expectations

The thing about SEO is that you can’t be sure it will work when hiring an agency or freelancer. It’s a bit of a dice roll!

Still, establishing clear communication channels and reporting schedules can help create realistic and achievable expectations on your part.

Discuss KPIs relevant to your goals with the SEO services provider and set baselines. Agree on timelines for deliverables and ensure that they fully understand your business goals and target audience.

Setting clear expectations from the get-go creates accountability and clarity for both parties.

5. Monitor Results

Regularly review the performance of your SEO campaigns using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

Track progress against the established KPIs and provide feedback to the SEO provider for continuous improvement.

Ask for trackable results from the provider every month or so. Allow some flexibility, as changing algorithms can sometimes throw a wrench into the SEO strategy (but any good SEO specialist would quickly adapt).

Challenges of SEO Outsourcing (And How to Overcome Them)

Here are the common challenges businesses face when hiring specialists for SEO:

1. Data Security Concerns

When outsourcing SEO, you might be giving access to your website and other digital assets to the service provider, which raises concerns about security. A data breach that affects the provider can potentially impact your business as well.

Ensure your SEO partner follows stringent data protection measures, including encryption and regular security audits. Additionally, establish clear contracts that outline data handling procedures and confidentiality clauses.

“Clear contracts and NDAs are essential to keep your SEO data safe when working with others. They ensure everyone knows what’s expected, what’s off-limits and what happens if someone slips up. These agreements help build trust and set clear rules so everyone’s on the same page. No confusion, just straightforward protection for your business,” says Deividas B., On-Page SEO Specialist

2. Communication Barriers

Differences in time zones, language, and communication styles can lead to misunderstandings and project delays. Effective communication is crucial for aligning SEO strategies with business goals.

Here are some tips to avoid this common issue:

Set expectations clearly from the beginning.
Learn about and accommodate any cultural differences.
Use communication tools to stay in touch with people working on your project.
Document key requirements and interactions to avoid confusion.

3. Unreasonable Expectations

Now, this one is a challenge on the client’s part, as they often expect results to be delivered in days or weeks, whereas SEO is a process that can take months. Additionally, some businesses may not fully understand the complexity of SEO efforts and perceive the cost as too high, when in fact it’s not.

Like we said before, it’s best first to familiarize yourself with SEO, so you can have realistic goals and expectations.

4. Industry-Specific Knowledge

An SEO provider unfamiliar with your industry may not effectively target the right audience or understand specific market nuances. This can be all the more true for niche industries.

Here’s how you can deal with this challenge.

Choose SEO partners with experience in your industry. For instance, at Blue Things, we have extensive experience with SEO for software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers.
Share detailed information about your products, services, and target audience.
Work closely with the provider to ensure content aligns with industry standards and customer expectations.

Outsourcing SEO Checklist

Work with Blue Things: the Best SEO Agency

Looking to outsource SEO to an agency that specializes in SEO and delivers what it promises? Blue Things fits the bill perfectly!

We’re the masters of this trade, particularly for B2B and SaaS companies that are competing in an ever-challenging online space.

Our expertise includes SEO management, technical SEO, content writing, and high-quality link building. We know what works and what doesn’t, and we have the evidence to back that.

What makes us unique is that we’re data and ROI-driven. Our SEO strategy for your business will be driven by actual, tangible performance and revenue goals, not random numbers on a spreadsheet.

If you’re ready for organic growth, domain authority, and hitting those SEO KPIs, let’s talk.

FAQs

What type of SEO tasks can be outsourced?

You can outsource virtually all SEO-related tasks to an agency or freelancer. These tasks can include keyword research, competitor analysis, link building, technical SEO, and content creation.

How much does SEO outsourcing cost?

SEO outsourcing cost depends on several factors like the scope of work, the provider's expertise, and your business goals. On average, hourly rates range between $75 and $200. Monthly retainers can start at $2,000, especially for enterprises.

How long does it take to see results from outsourcing SEO?

SEO is a long-term strategy, and results typically manifest over time. Generally speaking, you may see initial improvements within 3 to 6 months. However, drastic changes to your ranking can take up to a year.

Where can I find SEO service providers?

Several platforms and directories can help you identify reputable SEO service providers, like Clutch.co, DesignRush, and Semrush Agency Partners.

You can also conduct your own search and evaluate companies, or get referrals from partners or friends who have used SEO agencies.

How can I ensure a successful SEO partnership?

To ensure a productive relationship with your SEO provider:

Set Clear Objectives: Define your SEO goals and desired outcomes.
Establish Effective Communication Channels: Maintain regular updates and establish clear feedback loops.
Monitor Performance Metrics: Track key indicators, such as organic traffic, keyword rankings, and conversion rates.
Collaborate on Strategy: Work together to adapt and refine your SEO approach as needed.

How to measure SEO success?

Assessing the effectiveness of your SEO efforts involves monitoring various metrics, such as:

Organic Traffic
Keyword Rankings
Click-Through Rate
Conversion Rates
Bounce Rate

Can I learn SEO?

Absolutely! Many resources are available for those interested in understanding and implementing SEO strategies:

Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera offer comprehensive courses in SEO.
SEO Blogs and Guides: Websites like Moz and Ahrefs provide in-depth articles and tutorials.
Google's SEO Starter Guide: An official resource outlining best practices.

Keep in mind that learning SEO takes time and practice, so you may need to dedicate significant time to this endeavor.