Hire · Marketing
Where to hire an SEO specialist
Page question. You need search visibility help and want the right hiring venue before you grant Search Console or CMS access.
| If you need… | Consider | Be careful when… |
|---|---|---|
| A technical audit + fix list | Marketplace or direct hire with crawl samples in the portfolio | They sell “#1 ranking guaranteed.” |
| Ongoing content + links retainer | Open marketplace proposals or agency-style Direct hire with monthly milestones | Link building methods are undisclosed or spammy. |
| Local/maps pack work | Specialists with GBP case studies | You conflate local SEO with national blog SEO. |
Portfolio checks specific to SEO
- Before/after for metrics they controlled (organic sessions, indexed pages) — not vanity screenshots alone.
- Sample audit outline; tooling named (crawl, log, Search Console).
- Red flag: buying links or PBNs as the primary tactic without disclosure.
Brief checklist
- Primary locales/languages; competitors; CMS; what is out of scope (ads, PR).
- Access: Search Console user, analytics viewer, staging — not shared passwords.
- Deliverables: audit PDF, ticket list, content briefs count, reporting cadence.
Closest broad BLS OEWS category often used for search marketing specialists is Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (SOC 13-1161), May 2025 median $37.87/hour (about $78,760/year) per BLS OEWS national Table 1 (checked Nov 9, 2026). It is a broad marketing category, not an SEO-specific survey; employee wages ≠ freelance retainers.
Fees: Platforms fee comparison. Brief template: hiring brief.
FAQ
Is SEO the same as running Google Ads?
No. SEO is organic search work; paid search is a separate craft. Scope them separately.
Should I share wp-admin as admin on day one?
Prefer least-privilege roles and a revocation checklist. Avoid personal password sharing.
Sources
- BLS OEWS news release tables: www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.t01.htm (checked Nov 5, 2026)
- Best Freelance Platforms — Fee comparison: bestfreelanceplatforms.com/articles/fee-comparison (checked Nov 5, 2026)
No affiliate links on this page. Figures change; re-check the official page before you rely on them.