To outsource SEO means handing the work of being found better on Google over to a specialist or agency. That's smart if you don't have the time or knowledge yourself, and if visibility genuinely brings in customers. But it only works if you know what to expect and how to recognise a good partner.
In this article you'll read what an SEO partner actually does, when outsourcing makes sense, which questions to ask and which promises you'd better ignore. Want to understand how search engines work first? Then read our article what is SEO.
When is it a good idea to outsource SEO?
Not every business needs to outsource SEO. Sometimes you can do a lot yourself with a few hours a month. Outsourcing mainly makes sense if:
- Your customers actively search Google for what you offer.
- Your competitors clearly rank above you and you don't know why.
- You know what needs doing, but never get round to it.
- Your website has technical problems you can't fix yourself.
- You want to grow in new regions or with new services.
Do your customers hardly search online, for example because you work with a few large regular clients? Then your money is often better spent elsewhere. Torn between visibility and advertising? Read SEO or Google Ads.
What does an SEO specialist actually do?
Good SEO consists of three parts. A serious partner works on all three, in an order that suits your site.
- Technology: making sure Google can find and read your site and that it loads fast. Think errors, redirects, speed and mobile use.
- Content: finding out what your customers search for, improving pages and writing new pages that answer real questions.
- Authority: making sure other websites refer to you and that your reviews and Google Business Profile are in order.
- Measuring: tracking what works, reporting in plain language and adjusting course.
A partner that only 'sorts out links' or just sends a report full of technical warnings is only doing part of the job.
DIY SEO or outsource: what suits you?
There's a lot of room between doing everything yourself and handing it all over. Many business owners choose a mix.
- Do it yourself: cheapest in money, most expensive in time. Suitable if you enjoy it and can free up a few hours a week.
- Have a one-off analysis done: a specialist works out what's wrong and you carry it out.
- Outsource with your input: the specialist handles the technology and planning, you supply knowledge and examples for the copy.
- Fully outsource: you get a monthly report and focus on your business.
Even if you fully outsource, you still play a part. Nobody knows your customers and your trade as well as you do. The best results come when you share that knowledge and the specialist turns it into pages that get found.
Questions to ask before you outsource SEO
A short introductory call says a lot. At the very least, ask these questions:
- What exactly will you do in the first three months?
- How do you measure whether it works, and what will I see of that in the reports?
- How do you get backlinks? Do you buy links?
- Who does the work: you yourself or someone else?
- What's the contract term and how do I cancel?
- Do the copy, accounts and data remain mine if we stop?
- Do you have examples of similar businesses?
Pay particular attention to how concrete the answers are. 'We'll optimise your site' says nothing. 'We'll first improve your five most important service pages and fix the errors in Search Console' says a lot.
Red flags with SEO providers
- A guarantee of first place on Google. Nobody can promise that, because nobody decides the results except Google.
- Packages with a fixed number of backlinks per month. Bought links go against Google's guidelines. More on that in our article on link building.
- No insight into what's being done. You pay, but don't know what for.
- Long contracts with no option to cancel in between.
- Accounts such as Google Analytics or Search Console registered to the agency instead of to you.
- Reports full of numbers with no explanation of what they mean for your business.
What can you expect in the first months?
A good partnership has a recognisable rhythm. It often looks like this:
- Month one: an analysis of your site, your competitors and your keywords. Then a plan with priorities.
- Months two and three: fixing the biggest technical errors and improving your most important pages.
- After that: ongoing new content, updating existing pages and working on mentions and reviews.
- Every month: a short report on what's been done, how impressions, clicks and enquiries are developing and what the next step is.
Still not getting a clear answer after a few months on what's been done and why? That's a reason to have a conversation.
What does it cost to outsource SEO?
SEO is usually charged per month, sometimes with a one-off initial analysis. The price depends on the size of your site, how much competition there is and how much content needs writing. You'll find a detailed overview of the costs in our article how much SEO costs.
Allow for time, too. SEO doesn't work in a week. You often only see the first movements after a few months, depending on your starting point and your market.
Outsourcing SEO to Violexa
At Violexa we do SEO as part of our online marketing. We start with the technology and your most important pages, and report in plain English on what we've done and what it delivers. Accounts are in your name. We don't buy links and we don't promise first place. Online marketing starts at €599 excl. VAT (€725 incl. VAT) per month. There's no minimum term; you can cancel monthly with one month's notice.
Want to know first whether SEO is worth it for your business? Book a free quickscan. In a 30-minute conversation, online or on site, we look at your site and your market. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price indication, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Is outsourcing SEO worth it?
It is if your customers actively search for what you offer and you don't have the time or knowledge yourself. A good specialist works on technology, content and authority and clearly shows what it delivers. If your customers hardly search online, it makes less sense.
How long does it take for SEO to produce results?
You usually see the first movements after a few months. It depends on your website, your competition and how much needs doing. Be careful with agencies that promise quick results.
Can an SEO agency guarantee first place on Google?
No. Only Google decides the order of the search results. An agency that guarantees first place is promising something nobody can deliver. Ask instead how they work and how they measure results.
What do I need to do myself if I outsource SEO?
Share your knowledge about customers, services and prices, and give quick feedback on copy. Also make sure accounts such as Google Search Console and Analytics are in your name.
