Millions of people rely on search engines each day to find the latest information on the products and services they need. When your website doesn’t show up on the first page for Google or Bing search results, your audience may not even know you exist.

A lack of effort in search engine optimisation causes your brand to fade into the woodwork, regardless of how well you did the company launching. Consumers are quick to forget when companies aren’t consistent with their offerings and promotions. Competition is also fierce no matter what niche you’re in.

To boost your business, expend time and energy towards improving your visibility online. This is critical to increasing visits which leads to more sales and brand awareness. If you lack the technical expertise to make it happen, call upon an expert then.

When looking for an SEO specialist or a digital marketer with such skills, you might be wondering how to choose the right person for the job. You want to be sure they really know SEO, especially when you’re unfamiliar with it yourself. Well, it’s in how they answer the following.

What to Ask When Looking for an SEO Specialist

What is the most integral component of SEO?

Break the ice with this question and learn more about their preferences from the get-go. Through this, you’ll find out if their specialities match up with your goals. For instance, if you’re aiming to boost your social media presence, go for candidates who bring up their love for all things social.

Take note that there’s no right or wrong answer as it’s a matter of preference. Expect to get as wide a range of answers as you have applicants.

Are you familiar with my audience?

There’s no need to worry about hiring an SEO specialist in the Philippines or Nicaragua who may not be familiar with your target customers. Just find someone who has been trained and/or handled campaigns for your particular audience, be they British, Australian, American, or even Chinese.

Many remote workers in these countries are bilingual yet mostly speak English as a second language. They tend to charge lower than their counterparts in the west so they’re always worth including in your recruitment efforts.

Do you know how to boost local search results?

Appearing in local results is important for brick-and-mortar establishments trying to attract customers nearby. By getting your website optimised for local SEO, it’ll appear when someone nearby is searching for keywords relevant to you.

Even if you don’t have a website or a physical location, local SEO can be useful to you when you want to cater only to consumers that are within the same country. For example, you’re an e-commerce site in Australia that delivers nationwide but not worldwide.

What are your rates and payment terms?

Find out how much you’ll be charged and whether they get paid by the hour or by project. Project-based payments are common but the actual fees vary widely depending on the project’s size and complexity. For your own protection, avoid paying in full before the job is complete.

As for retainer rates, it’s a good idea to check the average SEO specialist salary in the Philippines if you’re hiring someone from there, for instance, so you’ll be familiar with the price range for hourly, weekly, or monthly payments.

What strategies will you use for my business?

This allows you to know if they have a thorough understanding of your industry and your unique needs. At the same time, it keeps you out of trouble as you’ll discover if they’re planning to use any black hat techniques which must be avoided at all costs.

Ask specifically if they will be adhering to webmaster guidelines at all times, which means they’ll be using only white hat techniques. These include researching keywords and using relevant links as opposed to spamming keywords.

May I have a list of past and current clients?

A reputable SEO specialist is someone who should be open about the companies they have worked for or are working for. These references enable you to a) determine how effective they are, and b) to verify if they indeed work on the campaigns they mentioned in their resume.

Inform them that you’ll be reaching out to their previous employers and see if they seem reluctant about it. If they are, chances are that something went wrong—and you’ll want to be informed of that beforehand.

How long does it take to see any results?

Even the most experienced expert takes weeks or months to research the best tools and strategies to help you reach the first page. It takes just as much time to see a major improvement in your rankings too. This is completely normal and to be expected.

Avoid anyone who promises quick or instant results as they may be using black hat tactics which, as we’ve mentioned, are harmful for your online presence. Steer clear of anyone who takes too long to deliver as well. They might be wasting your time while taking your money.

What are your communication standards?

The last thing you want to happen is for your SEO expert to ghost you in the middle of your campaign. So, make sure you’re working with someone who respects your business and responds to you promptly. Be careful of anyone who communicates too much, however.

Ideally, they should be somewhere in the middle—not too quiet but not too noisy either. Choose someone you can count on to work with minimal supervision but can provide progress reports regularly too.

Where to Find an SEO Specialist

Now that you know what to ask a prospective SEO specialist when interviewing them, it’s time to draw in applicants. You can post on freelancing marketplaces like Upwork or scour LinkedIn for people to contact.

Do you want to know a simpler and easier way? Partner with us at Remote Workmate.

Our recruitment process is free of charge yet we conduct rigorous screening on all candidates. You’ll also be assigned a Customer Success Manager to give periodic evaluations, coaching, and mediation. Even replacing under-performing staff comes at no charge.

Our rates are more competitive than others too. We’re able to give you insights like the average SEO specialist salary in the Philippines or the best ways to keep your online employees motivated despite a pandemic as well. We’re truly looking forward to working with you in building your team!