DIY or Pro? Deciding When to Hire an SEO Expert

Thinking about whether to hire an SEO expert can be a bit like trying to decide if you should fix your own leaky faucet. Sure, you can probably figure out some of the basics with a quick search on YouTube. You might tighten a few things here and there, and maybe the drip slows down a bit. But what if it’s a bigger issue? What if you’re dealing with a whole mess of pipes and pressure issues? At some point, it’s easier, faster, and more effective to just call a plumber.

The same goes for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

We get it—as a small business owner, you’re constantly weighing costs and benefits. You’ve heard that SEO is a powerful tool for driving traffic to your site, and you’ve probably already done some of the basics yourself. You might be using keywords in your blog posts or ensuring your images have alt text. And that’s fantastic! These are great first steps.

But what if you’re not seeing the results you want? What if your competitors are consistently outranking you, and you’re not sure why?

When to DIY Your SEO

If you’re a new business just starting, handling the basics of SEO yourself is a great way to learn and keep costs low. You can focus on:

• On-page SEO: This includes things like using relevant keywords in your headings and content, optimizing your meta descriptions, and creating quality content that your audience wants to read.
• Technical SEO basics: Ensuring your site is mobile-friendly and loads quickly are things you can often tackle with a little effort and the right website tools.
• Local SEO: If you have a physical location, claiming your Google Business Profile and getting positive reviews can make a big difference.

These are the digital equivalent of tightening a few bolts—they’re necessary, foundational tasks that can get you started.

When to Call in a Pro

But if your business goals are more complex, or you’re ready to accelerate your growth, it might be time to bring in an expert. An SEO professional offers specialized knowledge and tools that can make a huge difference, including:

• In-depth Keyword Research: A professional can uncover high-value keywords that you might never have thought of, helping you attract more qualified leads.
• Competitive Analysis: They can analyze what your top competitors are doing right (and wrong) and develop a strategy to help you surpass them.
• Technical SEO Audit: An expert can dive deep into the technical side of your site, fixing issues that could be holding you back in search rankings, such as broken links, crawl errors, or site architecture problems.
• Strategic Link Building: They can develop a plan to build high-quality backlinks from other reputable sites, which is a major factor in search engine rankings.
• Access to Premium Tools: SEO professionals use expensive, specialized software that provides valuable insights into what’s working and what isn’t, saving you time and guesswork.

The decision to hire an SEO expert isn’t about whether you can do any of it yourself. It’s about recognizing when the complexity of the task outweighs the time and resources you have available. A professional can help you achieve your goals faster and more effectively, giving you a significant advantage over your competitors.

If you’re tired of guessing and ready to build a comprehensive strategy that truly drives results, we’re here to help.

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? Head over to MakeItAllWork to see how we can help you build a smarter, more effective SEO strategy for your business!