Sarah Jacobson 
Technology has made it easier for us to navigate and even find exactly what we’re looking for with just a click of a button, and for online businesses to thrive, even those users that live far away, search engine optimisation, or SEO, has become a lifesaver for many businesses in Australia.
But how do you even acquire this SEO? Is it something you need to work on with a specialist, or are they a group of people? An in-house SEO specialist and an SEO agency have their own set of pros and cons, and we’re here to help you break them down.
What is SEO?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, makes your website more visible on search engines online. This practice helps starting businesses or micro and small enterprises to be on the first results of the search engine pages so that more and more people can find your site and visit it, whether they are local or foreign.
What Is In-House SEO?
An in-house SEO is hiring an employee to either be a part of your team or to work for you to manage the SEO of your business website. Here are some of the things you need to know about having an in-house SEO:
- Having an in-house SEO team will leave you relieved knowing that they are solely focused on your brand strategies and goals.
- Their responsibility is to be immersed in your company’s products and services, as well as culture, so that they curate for you relevant content for your website.
- Working with an in-house team is more cost-effective than having to hire someone as an outsource even if salaries for these professionals are competitive too.
However, because they focus solely on your brand, they find it difficult to keep up with the trends because of how their jobs are structured for your company.
What Is an SEO Agency?
On the other hand, an SEO agency is an outsourced or third-party company that is a team of specialists focusing on different areas of SEO. Let’s find out some of the pros and cons of hiring an SEO agency:
- Different skills require a diverse set of people, and you won’t be getting this skill set from an in-house team. Although this might also be a disadvantage, as there will be learning curves in the process of your production with the agency and your brand.
- Although your brand is not their focus, this also makes them experienced in handling different industries with various sets of challenges, so they know what works and what doesn’t.
- And because they are an agency, they usually invest in premium SEO tools so no issue can go ignored. However, this might be one of the reasons why they will charge you higher, other than them being experts in their own field.
Which One Is Right for Your Business?
The answer lies in where your business currently is and what the goal of your brand should be. Keep in mind that the budget and also expertise will factor in with your decision. If you are still struggling as to which is the best team to work on, here are a few of our thoughts:
- If you are the type of executive who wants immediate communication and hands-on involvement in the SEO efforts of your website, have the budget to hire and train an SEO specialist, and have planned a long-term strategy for the brand’s SEO, an in-house SEO is the appropriate choice for your company.
- However, if you are the type of business that is still in the starting phase, or maybe a big company that can afford a variety and the skill set of a team of SEO specialists, an SEO agency will best help you. They also give a bit of flexibility on your end because they adapt and grow with you.
Grow With the Right SEO
Having SEO in place to help your website boost its online presence is crucial, especially in a very vast pool of business owners who have been in this game for a long time. SEO makes you feel relieved that there are still ways on how users can still be in touch with your brand even without having to know about it first.
Resources, budget, and brand goals—these are the elements that would help you decide which approach you and your business need to take. Keep in mind that you still need to weigh in your options so that you and your approach will lead your company in the right direction for business growth.
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