While SEO might not be the trendiest online marketing solution anymore, it is still among the most effective options available. The research company Borrell Associates estimate that SEO spending will reach almost $80 billion by 2020, with small businesses being a major driver of the growth. An important factor in this growth is the fact that SEO gets results, helping businesses of all sizes find their ideal audiences. Every business should have an optimization strategy in place, but the smart option is often to outsource the work to an experienced SEO agency. So what are the main benefits of outsourcing SEO?
Benefits of Scale
An established SEO agency will be running campaigns for a broad selection of businesses. The size of the operation means they can benefit from scale, reducing the cost to perform activities in bulk. Starting an account with a quality press release service, for example, will be more expensive if you are only sending out occasional releases. Enterprise accounts at many software services offer bulk discounts, but these won’t be available for individual businesses running small campaigns. When you can benefit from scale, the buyer can see reduced prices.
Cutting Edge Knowledge
SEO is evolving at a rapid pace, but it is not always clear what is going on at the time. Industry professionals keep a keen eye on the best blogs and speak with their industry contacts. An SEO agency will ensure they are working with the most cutting-edge knowledge and techniques, making it easier for their clients to benefit. A small business that runs its own SEO campaigns is far more likely to be using outdated information, eventually leading to declining results.
Software
Software is a key part of the SEO process. SEO is used to perform market research, competitive analysis, and rank tracking. While there are plenty of software options, the best tools come at a premium. An agency will have a collection of the best tools, using the most advanced products to run their campaigns. Small businesses could purchase the same quality tools themselves, but the monthly costs can quickly eat into profits. The larger agencies even have their own software created for them, offering bespoke solutions to their work processes.
Consistency
One of the major keys to successful SEO is consistency. You cannot complete some initial work and hope the results stick. Not only will your competition be working on their own optimization, but the search engines can quickly drop a site if they are not experiencing any promotional activity. Without a dedicated SEO department work can gradually slip, so employing an agency will ensure focus is maintained to a strict schedule.
No Staff Training Required
The nature of SEO means you cannot simply provide some initial training and never worry again. Changes in the industry, algorithm updates, and unexpected search results will need to be addressed through training and analysis. A quality agency will make ongoing training a priority, ensuring all staff is working with the correct information. Training is an aspect that is not often considered in the planning phase, but will become an essential part of the SEO process.
There may be occasions when it benefits a company to run their own SEO campaigns. The number of SEO service providers means it is also possible to design your own campaigns and outsource individual aspects to others. For many businesses, though, it will be more beneficial to find an agency that can control your optimization efforts from start to finish. While finding the right agency can be time-consuming and the ongoing costs will add up, the ROI should ultimately make the process worthwhile.
