SEO Agency or DIY SEO: Which Path to Higher Rankings?

Choosing between hiring an SEO agency or handling your own SEO can feel like standing at a crossroads.

On one path, you see the opportunity to master SEO yourself, while the other leads to professional expertise and managed services.

But which direction is right for your business?

Having worked for several SEO agencies and being a DIY SEO enthusiast, I’ve seen both the structured expertise and collaborative power of agency teams and the scrappy resourcefulness and deep satisfaction of individual effort.

In this article, I will present both sides of the argument so you can make an informed decision about which route to take.

Spoiler alert: there’s no right or wrong path. It all depends on your current needs.

Understanding SEO: The Basics

Before diving into the DIY SEO versus SEO agency debate, let’s establish a solid foundation of what SEO means. Doing so will help you refine your personal needs, resulting in your knowing which option best suits you.

So, let’s dive right into it.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is more than just sprinkling keywords throughout your content. It’s a comprehensive strategy to improve your website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). In essence, SEO is optimizing your online presence to rank higher in search results for specific keywords and phrases that your target audience uses when searching for solutions you offer.

Think of SEO as your website’s marketing manager working 24/7 to attract potential customers.

A strong SEO strategy isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for survival and growth.

Overview of the 3 Pillars of SEO

SEO consists of 3 main pillars:

On-page SEO

On-page SEO includes everything you do within your web pages. This includes:

• Using target keywords naturally in titles, headings, and body content
• Writing compelling meta descriptions and title tags
• Optimizing images with alt text
• Ensuring a user-friendly site structure
• Internal linking
• Meeting search intent

For more information, check out our on-page SEO checklist. You could also consider the on-page SEO tools we recommend.

Off-page SEO

Off-page SEO refers to building your website’s authority and reputation through activities outside your site.

This primarily involves:

• Building backlinks
• Listing on business directories and platforms like Google Business Profile
• Guest posting to boost your online visibility and authority
• Activities outside your website that affect rankings, such as backlink building and social signals

Technical SEO

Technical SEO refers to the behind-the-scenes work ensuring your website is structured properly for users and search engines. Tasks include:

• Improving site speed and mobile-friendliness
• Creating and submitting an XML sitemap
• Managing crawl errors and ensuring proper site architecture

Check out our guide to technical SEO audits for more information and tips on winning with this pillar of SEO.

Now that we understand what SEO is, let’s continue with today’s debate—SEO agency or DIY SEO.

Exploring DIY SEO

DIY SEO, or do-it-yourself search engine optimization, is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher on SERPs without hiring professional SEO services. It involves understanding and implementing various strategies and techniques to improve your site’s visibility and organic traffic.

Pros of DIY SEO

The DIY route has several compelling advantages that make it an attractive option for many business owners. Some of the top ones include:

Cost-Effectiveness

For businesses with limited budgets, DIY SEO can be significantly more cost-effective. Your primary investment will be time and some tools, rather than agency retainers that can run into thousands of dollars monthly.

Regarding SEO tools, you won’t get anything better than All In One SEO (AIOSEO).

AIOSEO is a powerful yet easy-to-use SEO plugin that boasts over 3 million active users.

Millions of smart business owners rely on the plugin to effortlessly improve their search engine rankings and drive targeted traffic to their WordPress sites. Recognizing the importance of qualified traffic for business success, AIOSEO offers a range of powerful yet user-friendly SEO features.

Some features and modules that can help you boost your online visibility include:

• Cornerstone Content: Helps you build topical authority and enhances your semantic SEO.
• Search Statistics: This powerful Google Search Console integration lets you track your keyword rankings and see important SEO metrics with 1-click, and more.
• Advanced Robots.txt Generator: Easily generate and customize your robots.txt file for better crawling and indexing.
• Keyword Rank Tracker: Keep track of your keyword performance on Google right inside your WordPress dashboard.
• AI Writing Assistant: Identify relevant keywords, improve readability, and optimize your content for search engines, ensuring it ranks higher in search results.
• TruSEO Analysis: Makes it easy to spot on-page SEO issues and gives recommendations for fixing them.
• Next-gen Schema Generator: This no-code schema generator enables users to generate and output any schema markup on your site.
• Redirection Manager: Helps you manage redirects and eliminate 404 errors, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site.
• And more

What’s more, AIOSEO includes dedicated modules for local SEO, on-page SEO, and technical SEO, streamlining the process of organic business growth and ultimately leading to lower customer acquisition costs. 💪

No Technical Knowledge, No Problem

Besides being cost-effective, AIOSEO is also super easy to use, even if you have zero technical knowledge. Plus, it’s designed to give your website and content a better chance of ranking, making it a fantastic DIY SEO tool for individuals and small businesses.

For step-by-step instructions on how to install AIOSEO, check our detailed installation guide.

Full Control Over SEO Strategies

When you manage your own SEO, you have greater control of your search visibility. This level of control brings several advantages that many business owners find invaluable:

• Immediate implementation: No need to wait for agency approval or scheduling—you can change your website, content, or strategy the moment you see an opportunity.
• Flexible decision-making: You can quickly adapt to market changes, competitor moves, or new Google algorithm updates without going through multiple approval layers.
• Brand voice preservation: Your intimate knowledge of your brand ensures all SEO efforts perfectly align with your company’s voice, values, and messaging.
• Testing freedom: Run A/B tests, try different keyword strategies, or experiment with new content formats whenever you want.

For example, if you notice a trending topic in your industry, you can immediately create and optimize content to capture that traffic. An agency might take days or weeks to get approval and implement similar changes.

Learning Opportunity: Mastering SEO Yourself

The educational value of handling your SEO cannot be overstated. It’s like learning to fish instead of having fish served to you. You’ll:

• Learn how search engines crawl and index websites
• Understand the impact of Google algorithm updates on rankings
• Understand content performance metrics
• Learn to interpret SEO data meaningfully
• Find out how to develop a content strategy

This knowledge becomes a valuable asset that extends beyond SEO. You’ll find yourself applying these insights to social media marketing, paid advertising, and overall business strategy.

When you manage your own SEO, you have complete control over every decision and action. You can pivot strategies quickly, experiment with different approaches, and maintain consistency with your brand voice without external interpretation.

Cons of DIY SEO

While DIY SEO offers appealing benefits, it also presents its own set of challenges and potential drawbacks. Here are some of the major ones:

Time-Intensive

SEO requires consistent effort and attention. From keyword research to content creation, link building, and technical optimization, you’ll need to dedicate substantial time to see results. This can take away from other crucial business activities.

Requires a Steep Learning Curve

The SEO landscape is complex and constantly evolving. You’ll need to invest significant time learning and staying updated with the latest best practices, algorithm changes, and industry trends.

Risk of Outdated or Incorrect Tactics

Without proper guidance, you might inadvertently use outdated or black-hat SEO techniques that could harm your rankings or even lead to penalties from search engines.

Should You Consider an SEO Agency?

An SEO agency is a company that specializes in helping businesses improve their online visibility. Their primary goal is to increase organic traffic to a website, which can lead to more leads, sales, and overall business growth.

Think of them as experts in understanding how search engines work and what factors they consider when ranking websites. SEO agencies use a variety of strategies and techniques to make your website more appealing to search engines and ultimately rank higher for relevant keywords.

Pros of Hiring an SEO Agency

Hiring an SEO agency offers many advantages that can significantly impact your business’s online success. Here’s a more comprehensive look at some key benefits:

Access to Expertise, Experience, and Tools

SEO agencies have teams of specialists who work with various clients and stay current with industry changes. They bring proven strategies and deep expertise in different aspects of SEO. This level of expertise increases your chances of getting impactful results faster.

Another advantage of hiring an SEO agency is that agencies bring a collective wealth of knowledge gleaned from working with various clients across various industries. This exposure allows them to develop and refine proven strategies that have delivered tangible results. They’ve likely encountered and overcome a wide array of SEO challenges, giving them the practical experience to navigate complexities and implement effective solutions.

Apart from experience and expertise, reputable agencies typically have access to premium SEO tools and technologies. These tools often come with significant subscription costs that might be prohibitive for individuals and small businesses.

Saves Time

Implementing and maintaining a successful SEO strategy is a time-intensive endeavor. It demands consistent effort in different disciplines such as content creation and optimization, technical audits, link building, performance monitoring, and reporting.

By entrusting these responsibilities to an SEO agency, you free up valuable time and resources that can be better allocated to your core business operations. Instead of getting bogged down in the intricacies of search engine algorithms and website optimization, you and your team can concentrate on product development, customer service, sales, and other activities that directly contribute to your company’s growth and profitability.

Agencies Keep Up With Algorithm Changes

The algorithms that power search engines like Google are not static. They undergo frequent and often significant updates designed to improve the quality and relevance of search results. These algorithm changes can drastically impact website rankings, and staying informed about them is crucial for maintaining and improving online visibility.

This is another arena where SEO agencies have the upper hand over DIY SEO.

SEO agencies invest significantly in monitoring these updates, analyzing their implications, and adapting their strategies accordingly. They have dedicated resources and processes to understand each change’s nuances and implement necessary adjustments to ensure clients’ websites remain compliant and competitive.

However, if you use a plugin like AIOSEO to DIY your SEO, you can see the impact of Google algorithm updates in your WordPress dashboard.

For more on this, check out our tutorial on monitoring the impact of Google algorithm updates in WordPress.

For individual business owners or in-house teams with other responsibilities, keeping pace with these constant shifts can be challenging. This could lead to missed opportunities or negative impacts on their search rankings.

Partnering with an agency provides the assurance that your SEO strategy is always aligned with the latest search engine guidelines and best practices.

Cons of Hiring an SEO Agency

Working with an agency isn’t without potential drawbacks that need careful consideration.

Higher Upfront Costs

Quality SEO agencies require significant investment. Monthly retainers typically range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on your needs and the agency’s expertise level. This can be a substantial burden for smaller businesses or startups.

May Not Fully Understand Your Industry/Niche

Some agencies may not fully grasp the nuances of your industry or maintain the level of communication you desire. This can lead to misaligned strategies or frustration with the process.

Risk of Choosing an Ineffective Agency

Unfortunately, not all SEO agencies deliver quality work. Some may use outdated techniques or make promises they can’t keep. Choosing the wrong agency can waste both time and money.

Key Considerations: SEO Agency vs. DIY

Now that we’ve looked at both scenarios, which is better for you?

I wish I could give you a clear-cut answer, but it’s not that simple. The ideal solution isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s tailored to your business’s specific situation. However, to help you decide, evaluate these critical factors:

• Time availability: Do you have the internal capacity to dedicate the significant time required for effective SEO research, implementation, and ongoing management?
• Current skill set: Does your team possess the necessary SEO knowledge, or would you be starting from scratch, potentially facing a steep learning curve?
• Financial commitment: What level of financial resources can you allocate to SEO? While greater investment often yields stronger results, even a modest budget can be a starting point for professional help.

Going the DIY SEO Route?

Once you’ve answered these questions, choosing will be much easier. You can decide to go the DIY route and use a plugin like AIOSEO to perform on-page and technical SEO tasks.

What I love about AIOSEO is that it practically guides you through optimizing your site with its notifications and tooltips. It also has an SEO Analysis tool that shows you a snapshot of your SEO and gives you an overall score.

It also gives recommendations on what to improve to get your site properly optimized.

AI Writing Assistant for Content Optimization

If you create your own content, the AI Writing Assistant walks you through creating SEO-friendly content that ranks.

The AI Writing Assistant works with SEOBoost, AIOSEO’s full-suite content management platform. This must-have tool makes it easy to conduct keyword research, create topic reports and content briefs, and even helps with content audits.

The AI Writing Assistant in AIOSEO draws on SEOBoost data, but provides proprietary data you won’t find elsewhere.

To help you create high-performing SEO content, AI Writing Assistant offers key advantages:

• Detailed Reports: Get detailed data about your keyword, your competitors’ content, and more.
• Optimization Wizard: This guides you on the best possible way to optimize your content.
• Competitor Analysis: Gives you insights into top ranking content and its main on-page factors.

For example, one feature I use a lot in the Optimization Wizard is the See Examples link under each suggested keyword. Clicking on this opens a window where you can see how other publishers use that keyword, giving you ideas for your content.

This is a game-changer as it makes it easier to see how you can use that term in your content, speeding up the content optimization process.

With AIOSEO, even if you have no technical or coding knowledge, you can easily master SEO as it guides you through SEO best practices.

For detailed help on DIY SEO, check out our ultimate WordPress SEO guide.

Going the SEO Agency Route

If you’ve decided to go the SEO agency route, you’ll probably be faced with another hard decision to make—which SEO agency to trust with your business.

This choice isn’t one to take lightly, as the right agency can be a powerful catalyst for growth, while the wrong one can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities.

While the definition of the best SEO agency can be subjective, you should always look for practitioners. In other words, look for an agency with a proven track record of ranking its website.

So, which SEO agency do I recommend?

After getting this question a lot from our customers, we realized we were not being fully helpful to them. That’s why we decided to bridge the gap and offer some SEO services at AIOSEO. You can choose from 2 tiers of services, namely:

SEO Essentials

The SEO Essentials service is designed to help lay the foundation of a solid SEO strategy. It involves:

• Audience research
• Market study
• Keyword research
• Content gap audit
• On-page optimization
• Domain overview

With this service, you’ll receive detailed reports showcasing the advancements in your SEO optimization. Your dedicated SEO manager will expertly align your strategy with your specific objectives, ensuring efficient targeting of the highest-value keywords.

Site Optimization

Drawing on 20+ years of experience supporting millions of sites worldwide, we’ve developed a streamlined process to optimize websites. This is how the Site Optimization service was born.

I don’t mean to brag, but this process has proven to deliver a superfast website at an affordable cost.

The Site Optimization service provides technical SEO support, giving your site a complete tune-up for maximum performance. Some of the tasks involved include:

• Software updates (WordPress, plugins, themes, etc.)
• Caching
• Image and video optimization
• Database analysis
• And more

If you find technical SEO daunting, let an agency with a proven track record handle all the heavy lifting.

Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds

For businesses seeking a balanced and potentially more cost-effective solution, a hybrid approach that strategically combines in-house efforts with the expertise of an SEO agency or consultant can yield optimal results.

This model allows you to leverage your internal team’s strengths while tapping into specialized external knowledge where it’s most needed. Here are a few compelling ways to blend these approaches:

1. Handle Content Creation In-House While Outsourcing Technical SEO

Your team likely possesses the deep industry knowledge and brand voice necessary to create compelling and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. By keeping content creation in-house, you maintain direct control over messaging and can efficiently produce content that aligns with your marketing calendar.

Simultaneously, you can outsource the complexities of technical SEO to an agency specializing in these areas.

This division of labor ensures your content is high-quality and relevant, while your website’s technical foundation is robust and search engine-friendly. Taking this approach maximizes your team’s content expertise while ensuring seasoned professionals handle crucial technical aspects.

2. Start with an Agency for Setup, Then Maintain Internally

If you’re new to SEO or undergoing a significant website overhaul, engaging an SEO agency for the initial setup can provide a strong and well-structured foundation. The agency can:

• Conduct comprehensive audits
• Develop a tailored strategy
• Optimize key website elements
• Establish essential tracking and reporting mechanisms

Initially, the agency establishes the foundational work. During this phase, your internal team collaborates with them. This partnership builds a strong understanding of the strategies and best practices that have been implemented. Afterward, your team can take over the continuous management and implementation.

This approach allows you to benefit from expert guidance during the critical initial phases while building your team’s capacity for long-term management, potentially reducing ongoing costs.

3. Use Consultants for Strategy While Executing Internally

This model involves engaging SEO consultants or strategists to develop a comprehensive SEO roadmap. They would also provide expert guidance on the overall strategy, keyword targeting, and competitive analysis. Your internal marketing team then takes ownership of the execution, implementing the recommended optimizations and content strategies.

This approach provides access to high-level strategic thinking and expert insights without the ongoing cost of a full-service agency. It empowers your internal team to build their SEO skills through hands-on implementation while benefiting from the direction of experienced professionals.

Regular check-ins and consultations can ensure the internal execution remains aligned with the overarching strategy and adapts to evolving search engine landscapes.

By strategically combining the strengths of your internal team with the specialized knowledge of external SEO professionals, a hybrid approach can be a good solution. It offers a flexible, cost-effective, and highly effective path to achieving your online visibility goals. It allows you to retain control over key aspects like content while leveraging expert assistance for more technical or strategic elements, ultimately leading to a well-rounded and sustainable SEO strategy.

SEO Agency or DIY SEO: Your FAQs Answered

For more information, check out our article that looks at how long SEO takes.

SEO Agency vs. DIY SEO: Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Ultimately, deciding between DIY SEO and hiring an agency hinges on your business’s unique situation, not a universally superior option.

DIY offers control, cost-effectiveness, and valuable learning, especially with tools like AIOSEO guiding the way. However, it demands significant time, continuous education, and carries the risk of missteps.

Conversely, agencies provide specialized expertise, save time, and stay updated with algorithm changes, though they represent a financial investment requiring careful selection.

I hope this post helped you decide between an SEO agency or DIYing your SEO. You may also want to check out other articles on our blog, like our SEO hacks for better rankings and our guide to starting a small business blog.

If you found this article helpful, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You’ll find many more helpful tutorials there. You can also follow us on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, or Facebook to stay in the loop.

The post SEO Agency or DIY SEO: Which Path to Higher Rankings? first appeared on AIOSEO.



Source link