In this guide, we’ll explore whether it’s better to manage SEO in-house or outsource it to an agency. We’ll compare costs, expertise, control, and results to help you make the best choice for your business.
In-House vs. Outsourced SEO: The Big Question
When you realize you need to get serious about SEO, a big question comes up: should you handle it yourself with an in-house team, or should you hire an external agency? This decision isn’t a simple one, as both options have their own benefits and drawbacks. Your choice will depend on a few key factors, including your business goals, your budget, and the expertise you need.
Quick Breakdown: In-house vs. Outsourced
| Column 1 | In-House SEO | Outsourced SEO |
| Cost | A full-time role comes with a salary and benefits. | You can scale up or down as needed. |
| Dedication | Your in-house team is focused exclusively on your business. | An agency juggles multiple clients. |
| Expertise | You hire for a specific skill set, which might be a generalist. | Agencies have specialists in many different areas of SEO. |
| Training | You are responsible for keeping your team’s skills up-to-date. | An outsourced team stays current on the latest trends and updates. |
Key Factors to Consider Before You Decide
How Much Control Do You Want?
When you handle SEO in-house, you hold all the reins. You’re working with your internal team, so you can meet as frequently as you’d like, evaluate results regularly, and iterate until you’re completely satisfied with the approach. You can quickly make changes and course-correct on the fly. When you outsource, you have to be more flexible. You share your goals with the agency, but they will have their own approach.
What Level of Expertise Do You Need?
This is a crucial point. If you handle SEO in-house, you might hire a generalist who can handle a variety of tasks, from content marketing to on-page optimization. But if your SEO needs are complex, a generalist might get overwhelmed. An agency, on the other hand, has a team of specialists who can handle everything from structured data and canonicalization to link building and technical audits. Our platform, Clickrank.ai, can help with this. The automated audit feature can check your site for technical issues and provide a clear, prioritized list of what to fix, so you can determine what expertise you need.
How Quickly Do You Want to See Results?
SEO is a long-term strategy, but some tactics yield results faster than others. An agency can often get you initial results faster because they have a team of dedicated staff. If you’re first launching a website, they can get you off the ground faster than just one in-house SEO generalist. However, if you have a great in-house team, they can spot opportunities and act on them faster because they are immersed in your business.
A Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
If you found yourself agreeing with both sides of the argument, a hybrid approach might be right for you. You can have an in-house person who focuses on high-level strategy and content, while an external agency or freelancer handles more specialized, time-consuming tasks. For example, your in-house team can focus on keyword research and content creation, while you outsource technical SEO and link building.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision to hire in-house or outsource SEO depends on your goals and abilities. SEO is not a one-and-done affair; it’s a long-term cost. Industries and consumer preferences change constantly, so you need to be continuously optimizing. A professional SEO platform Clickrank can help you with this by automating your audits and providing you with a clear roadmap of what to do next. The platform’s powerful features can help you master SEO without hiring an entire team.
