Wondering how to hire the right Freelance SEO consultant? If you're not sure how to find the right SEO consultant for you, here are six tips to point you in the right direction.

How to choose a freelance SEO consultant ?

Wondering how to hire the right Freelance SEO consultant? Here are my instructions:

If your website doesn't appear on the first page of search results on Google, Bing or Yahoo, your potential customers may not even know you exist. Improved search engine visibility can be critical to driving visits to your website, which can lead to greater brand awareness and increased sales and profits.

But what if you lack the time and technical expertise to improve your site's search engine ranking? It may be wise to hire an experienced and reliable freelance SEO consultant.

Today, increasing organic traffic and improving inbound marketing are both related to search engine optimization (SEO). Done right, your website will rank well in search results when your target audience searches for keywords related to your services.

Many brands don't know where to start to improve their website's ranking, which is why they seek professional search engine optimization services. The decision to hire a freelance SEO consultant can be a difficult one. If your brand is struggling to make a name for itself, you probably don't have extra cash in your budget. But by hiring the right consultant, you can turn things around. Not only will an SEO professional help you increase your traffic and conversion rates, but it will free up your time to focus on more important things, like running your business.

If you're not sure how to find the right SEO consultant for you, here are six tips to point you in the right direction.

Knowing the signs of bad SEO consulting is incredibly important when you're trying to choose the right service for your brand. There are tactics that some services will use to try and convince you that they know what they're doing and are the most qualified, but these can be empty promises.

One of the biggest red flags is what we call the black hat tactic in SEO. This is buying links from other sites, keyword stuffing, or writing poor, irrelevant content for the sole purpose of improving page rankings. These tactics can result in penalties from Google, and if you knew the consultant was doing this, you'll pay the price - not the consultant.

You should also be wary of big promises with vague descriptions. If a consultant says they can quadruple your website traffic in two weeks with a strategy only they know about, you can be sure it's too good to be true. SEO is a science and there are clear steps you can take to improve your ranking. If someone claims to have special knowledge or claims to know how to get incredibly good results, they are selling you a flashy presentation rather than demonstrating their expertise (or lack thereof).

One way to protect yourself from contracting with a bad SEO consultant is to read reviews from real people and your peers. Googling "best SEO consultants" may not be the best way to find the right consultant for you. Sure, they have shown their ability to rank high on that SERP (search engine results page) and that may seem to show their expertise. However, that doesn't tell you if they give the same care and attention to their clients.

Talk to others who have worked with a consultant to improve their inbound marketing strategies. Who did they work with? Were they satisfied? If not, why not? Talk to someone directly and ask them questions, otherwise you'll have to try to find your answers in reviews on third-party sites.

KPIs, or key performance indicators, are the metrics you'll use to determine if a consultant is actually helping you improve your inbound marketing strategy. You'll need to check in with the consultant regularly to see if these KPIs are improving.

When choosing a professional SEO service, keep in mind the specific goals you hope to achieve. Also think about the KPIs that will be used to measure whether those goals are being met. Some important KPIs include the number of organic sessions you have, search engine rankings for specific keywords, conversion rate, phone calls, etc. Ask the consultant how exactly they are improving these KPIs so you know you will get the results you need.

Asking an SEO consultant to provide you with concrete examples of their work is a great way to determine if they are a good fit for you. Ask them if they've worked for brands like yours and find out what results they've achieved. This is the time to be picky.

Also, take the time to check out their website. Are they writing good content? Is their site easy to navigate? These are good indicators of their capabilities. Keep in mind, though, that many consultants focus more on their clients' sites than their own, so don't lose confidence in them just because some things aren't what you expect.

Good communication is key to choosing the right SEO consultant. It takes months or even years to establish a good SEO strategy. When you make a long term commitment like this, you need to know that they will communicate with you effectively.

Determine how often and how you will communicate if you hire them. They should be easy to reach even when you are in the middle of a review. If you wait a long time to hear back, or even if you are not on the same page with the consultant on a personal level, it may be time to move on.

6. Ask the Freelance SEO Consultant Questions

You can never ask too many questions when deciding on an SEO consulting service. Before you hire, make sure they can meet your needs and that you understand how they will do it. Here are some questions you should ask before hiring:

Will I own the website if I leave the contract?

What will you need from us to be successful?

Do you offer multiple contract or budget options? If so, what are they?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is considered as free because it does not require any direct expenditure in the purchase of advertising space, visibility, or software.

Is SEO really free?

Indeed, the effectiveness of the SEO strategy lies in two factors only: time and expertise.

Thus, we can assume that the natural referencing whether it is on Google, Bing or any other search engine represents a certain investment for a company, because time is .... money.

Why is it difficult to estimate the costs of SEO?

When you ask yourself if it is worth investing in free SEO and at what cost, the worst answer you can get is: it depends.

But the truth is that SEO prices vary considerably, depending on many factors.

You've probably already realized that there are far too many choices. Too many pricing models, too many agencies, too many prices...

In fact, according to extensive research by various specialized sites, you could end up paying less than €500 per month as well as €25,000 per month!

But such a wide price range doesn't help anyone. So let's take a closer look at some numbers, and then the pros and cons of each SEO pricing model.

How much does SEO cost for small businesses?

The average cost of SEO for small businesses is €400 to €2000 per month or €5000 to €30,000 for one-off projects. Small businesses that invest in SEO consulting services can expect to pay between €25 and €80 per hour.

A few different factors determine the average cost of SEO services, including

The experience of the agency or consultant

When looking at SEO costs, remember that SEO is an investment. You are setting your site up for success by making it more visible on search engines, which will help your business get more traffic, leads and sales.

Compared to other digital marketing strategies, such as online advertising (cost-per-click), SEO is a long-term investment in the success of your business. It will continue to provide a return on investment (ROI), whereas other strategies, like CPC, stop providing results as soon as you stop spending.

That's why, when considering the cost of SEO, focus on partnering with a qualified and experienced partner rather than the cheapest provider on the market

How much does SEO cost per hour, per month and per project?

No two SEO agencies or consultants price their services the same way. Company size, business model, and SEO needs will dictate the scope of your SEO program and how much you'll pay for it.

However, there are some basic SEO pricing models that many agencies and consultants use to determine the cost of their SEO services. The most common are hourly, monthly, and per-project rates.

Read on to find out the average cost of SEO for each of these models:

SEO consultants who don't work for agencies typically charge by the hour, and can charge anywhere from €25 to €500 per hour. The majority of clients, however, spend between €25 and €200 per hour, depending on whether they hire an individual or a small team and whether the consultant is a newcomer or brings years of SEO experience to the table.

Although not very common, a company may occasionally hire an agency or consultant to execute an SEO strategy on a particular project or campaign. Since the needs of a project vary depending on the company and the campaign, it is difficult to provide an estimate, and prices can range from €5,000 to over €30,000.

The cost ultimately depends on the scope of the project, the time frame and the level of experience.

This is the most popular model for companies that want to implement an ongoing SEO strategy and use services on an as-needed basis.

At the lower end of the spectrum - around $500 per month - an agency will handle basic SEO tasks, such as on-page optimization and copywriting. At the higher end of the spectrum - $5,000 per month or more - agencies will produce high-quality content and distribute it to other sites to build links.

Most companies fall somewhere in between these two extremes, investing about $750 to $2,000 per month in a customized strategy based on the services they need. The advantage of this pricing model is that as you establish a relationship with an agency, they will be able to build your site's SEO over time.

As you can see, the cost of SEO varies widely, which means you're probably asking yourself, "How much should I pay for SEO? You want to invest the right amount of money for your business, but how do you find the perfect figure.

A small company's website will not require as much time or effort as an international company's. If you have a small website or just want a starting point and plan to do ongoing SEO in-house, a project-based pricing plan or hourly consultant may be all you need.

For an ongoing strategy, however, monthly and annual plans are more cost-effective than paying by the hour.

What can you afford? If your business is in the startup phase, you probably don't have room in your budget for full Digital Marketing. Nevertheless, your site must be found online if you want to grow.

For the first few years, you may only need to work with a part-time consultant or contract with a basic SEO agency. As your business grows, so will the size of your business, your website, your SEO needs and your budget.

Then, if you decide you want to improve your SEO strategy, you can decide whether it makes more sense to hire an in-house team or contract with an agency.

What does your staff know about SEO? One of the reasons marketing agencies are so valuable is that they have years of experience building their clients' businesses online. However, if your business is technology-related, you may already employ people who know how to optimize your website and will stick to an internal cost structure.

If you run another type of business, it may be better to outsource the implementation of an SEO program to an experienced outside agency rather than trying to learn the practice and focus on the core business.

How much does SEO cost? Ultimately, not as much as what it brings in terms of revenue, traffic and brand awareness. Nevertheless, the appropriate SEO budget will depend on what your company wants to achieve and what it can afford.

If you are looking for an experienced consultant to help your business reach more customers online, I can help. Contact me today to discuss how we can boost your online visibility and sales.

As we move into 2023, it's important for businesses to stay up-to-date on the latest SEO trends in order to stay competitive in search engines and drive organic traffic to their website. Here are some of the top SEO trends to look out for in 2023:

Seo Trends for 2023 - Marving Moreton Blog

Mobile-first indexing: With the majority of searches now being conducted on mobile devices, it's more important than ever for businesses to have a mobile-friendly website. This means optimizing for a seamless mobile experience, including fast loading times and responsive design.

Voice search optimization: With the increasing popularity of voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant, it's important for businesses to optimize their websites for voice search. This includes using long-tail keywords and natural language in website content.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning: AI and machine learning algorithms are becoming more prevalent in search engines, and businesses should optimize their websites to be compatible with these technologies. This includes using structured data to improve the chances of appearing in Google's featured snippets.

User experience (UX): Google is placing an increasing emphasis on the user experience, and businesses should prioritize providing a positive UX on their website. This includes fast loading times, easy navigation, and relevant, high-quality content.

Video content: Video content is becoming more popular and is expected to drive even more traffic in the coming years. Businesses should consider incorporating video content into their marketing strategy, as it can improve engagement and increase the chances of ranking in search engines.

Local SEO: Local SEO will continue to be important for businesses with a physical location, as it helps improve visibility in search results for customers searching for products or services in a specific location. This includes optimizing for Google My Business, using local keywords, and obtaining local backlinks.

By keeping these SEO trends in mind and adapting their strategies accordingly, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and drive organic traffic to their website in 2023 and beyond.

Seo Trends for 2023

The SEO audit is a complete analysis of all the factors that determine the visibility of your website in search engines. Let's take a dive dive in it's structure.

How to perform a SEO audit - Marving Moreton

Have you ever thought about what you can do to increase your website's visibility in search engines? If so, an SEO website audit will certainly help you achieve your goals. As a business, it's essential to perform regular website audits, especially if you want to stay on Google's good side - you wouldn't want to be penalized for things you can handle, would you?

That said, it's in your best interest to conduct an annual or semi-annual audit to keep your digital strategy healthy. The big question is: What is an SEO audit?

You don't need to rack your brain to answer that question - this post explores all the information you need to know. Sound good? Let's go !

An SEO audit is a complete analysis of all the factors that determine the visibility of your website in search engines. Essentially, it involves hiring a professional to examine your website with the help of tools that allow you to better identify the problems that need to be addressed. In other words, a detailed audit of your website will allow you to better understand why your website is not performing as it should. In general, a normal website should serve its purpose, which is to attract visitors, keep them hooked and hopefully convert them into paying customers.

Now that you're ready to conduct a site audit, we recommend taking your time to plan things out before diving into the analysis. A thorough and complete audit essentially requires a bit of planning to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as expected.

In the meantime, you'll want to do your research and find some of the most effective site auditing tools to ease you into the planning phase. The good news is that the web is saturated with different site auditing tools, most of which can help you determine problem areas that are affecting your site's performance. One of the best tools to check out is SE Ranking Website Audit - it can help you identify site errors at a glance, giving professionals all the information they need to work on your site and keep it in top shape.

At this point, you'll want to focus your attention on developing an actionable strategy that will help you get a better idea of your goals. The fact is, a site audit can improve a plethora of issues and push your site to new heights. In most cases, a thorough audit can help you:

Right off the bat, you can see that an SEO audit goes far beyond improving site rankings: it gives you a clearer picture of what's good and what needs improvement. With that in mind, here are the four main things an SEO auditor should do.

To begin with, you will have to check if your website is working properly and make sure that everything is in perfect condition. The concept is pretty simple: it's never a good idea to build your website on the wrong foundation, it will surely affect you in the long run. That said, you'll want to start the process with a technical analysis.

At this point, you'll want to look at accessibility and indexability.

What's the point of creating a website if Google and users can't access its content? It's extremely important to check everything from your robots' meta tags to the robots.txt file to XML sitemaps and more. It is highly recommended that you check the robots.txt file and the robots meta tags, as they usually restrict access to certain areas of your site. Just be sure to check them manually and make sure everything is in good shape.

Next, you will need to check the XML sitemaps. An XML sitemap is a way for site owners to let search engines know all the pages that exist on their site. That said, it is incredibly important to format your XML sitemap and submit it to the webmaster tools account; this will ensure better accessibility.

It is also essential to check the overall architecture of your website. Just make sure that the auditor reduces the number of clicks needed to get from the home page to the landing page - this will make it easier for the crawlers. Also, the issue of redirects should be addressed accordingly.

Now that Google is out of the picture, it's time to focus on the user experience. As we know, visitors are more likely to hit the back button if they can't navigate freely, which is pretty bad for business. That's why you should strive to improve your website's speed as well as other elements that can make users bounce.

In addition, it is essential to consider the impression your site leaves on visitors and never forget to make it mobile-friendly. Don't forget that a large number of internet users are using mobile devices, so it's in your best interest to follow the trend.

Now that you're done with accessibility, you'll want to focus on indexability.

For the most part, accessibility is focused on the ability of crawlers to access your pages. Indexability, on the other hand, has to do with how those pages are displayed in Google after they are accessed.

So why are some pages not being presented to users?

At this point, your site may be on the wrong side of Google, perhaps as a result of a crime or something else. The very first thing you need to know is that Googlebot works differently from site to site. For example, a well-known company with a lot of content is more likely to be indexed in no time than personal bloggers who post occasionally.

Chances are that the latter group will panic at some point and the only thing that comes to mind is the Google penalty. However, in the end, they will find that their problem is centered around accessibility and such.

Note: If you find out you've been penalized, it's in your best interest to admit your mistake and, of course, make the necessary changes - any form of denial will only make the problem worse.

At this point, chances are your website is perfect - users and crawlers can access its content easily. You should now consider performing an on-page analysis, focusing on general content issues and single page issues.

To begin with, it is in your best interest to focus your efforts on creating content that is relevant to the main idea of your site. The two main challenges bloggers face with general content issues are keyword cannibalization and duplicate content.

When it comes to duplicate content, Google gets confused when you create and publish articles with similar content, which eventually leads to indexing issues. Keyword cannibalization occurs when the owner focuses their efforts on ranking for a particular keyword from several different pages. In this case, Google will not recognize multiple pages; it will only focus on the best one, rendering the others useless and inaccessible to search engines.

At this point, you probably know that good content is essential to getting the top spot in Google's SERPs. Single page issues are essentially focused on how each page is built from the ground up, rather than how its content is designed.

The very first thing you need to know is that every piece of content on your site should be created with visitors in mind; it should be engaging and resonate with them at all times.

First of all, your URL should be well written - it should describe the content correctly and briefly. Also, be sure to hyphenate if you're looking to separate words and don't forget to include the main keyword.

When it comes to content, it's a good idea to write longer articles to ensure that they resonate with readers and provide value. Also, your article should be unique and contain relevant LSI keywords. In short, make sure you do everything necessary to rank well in Google searches.

It's also worth noting that links are great for SEO - they improve the quality of the content, making it more relevant and trustworthy. The key is to make sure that each of your links is healthy, relevant and, of course, keyword rich.

Now that we've checked off technical analysis and on-page analysis, it's time to focus on off-page analysis. In general, off-page analysis focuses on the popularity of your site in cyberspace.

At this point, the trust factor should be examined. Trust factor? This simply means that a website has earned the trust of the Google search engine and that's huge. In fact, your website can gain more trust if you avoid all unethical and dishonest SEO techniques.

Once you have gained trust, you will want to make sure that your content resonates with your audience and other bloggers. As we know, every single piece of content on the web is intended for the end user. That being said, a good website is characterized by more traffic, better links, higher retention, more shares and lower bounce rates. Ultimately, off-page analysis gives you a better idea of the impression your site leaves on users.

Competitive analysis and keyword research

No more internal questions? If so, you're ready to perform a keyword analysis. It's worth noting that keyword research and competitive analysis are pretty much the same - that's just the way it is in the world of SEO.

In most cases, your ideal keyword should fall somewhere between difficulty and traffic. It should essentially have medium difficulty and medium volume. However, it is in your best interest to find high performing keywords if you are looking to beat the competition and increase traffic.

In summary, it is recommended that an auditor consider several different options before selecting keywords for their client. As you've probably guessed, the recommended keywords will be the backbone of your site, and that's pretty much what you need to reach new heights.

With all that has been said, you can agree that SEO audit is crucial for the long-term success of your website. When you perform an SEO audit, you get to know the problems with your site and work to solve them accordingly. If you do it right, you will see a big difference in the overall performance of your website.

If you need help with your SEO audit, don't hesitate to contact me.

Start with a crawl of your website: Use a tool like Screaming Frog or DeepCrawl to crawl your website and identify any issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and redirects.

Analyze your website's technical SEO: Check for issues such as slow page loading times, mobile-friendliness, and the presence of a sitemap and robots.txt file.

Review your website's content: Look for opportunities to optimize your website's content with targeted keywords and phrases, as well as ensure that the content is relevant, valuable, and of high quality.

Check your website's on-page SEO: Ensure that your website's title tags and meta descriptions are optimized for your target keywords and that your website's headings and subheadings are properly formatted with H1, H2, and H3 tags.

Analyze your website's off-page SEO: Evaluate the quality and quantity of your website's backlinks, as well as the diversity of the linking domains.

Monitor your website's search engine rankings: Use a tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush to track your website's search engine rankings and monitor any changes or fluctuations.

Create a plan for improvement: Based on the findings of your SEO audit, create a plan to address any issues and implement strategies to improve your website's search engine rankings.

How to do an SEO audit?

Marving Moreton's blog: Discover the latest and greatest in new technologies, web development, and SEO as we explore the ways in which they are shaping the future of online business and marketing.

Marving Moreton's blog about new technologies, development and SEO

Discover the latest and greatest in new technologies, web development, and SEO as we explore the ways in which they are shaping the future of online business and marketing.

Welcome to my blog on new technology, development, and digital marketing! I am excited to share with you the latest and greatest in the world of technology and how it is changing the way we do business and connect with my partners.

From the development of new software and hardware to the use of digital marketing techniques to reach a wider audience, we will explore the many ways that technology is shaping the future of commerce. I hope you will join us on this journey and learn something new along the way!

Marving Moreton

Everything Tech.

Latest Blog Posts

How to choose a freelance SEO consultant ?

Is SEO really free?

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How to do an SEO audit?