An SEO outsourcing company is a third-party marketing company that helps increase a brand’s online visibility and organic traffic. This specialized firm optimizes the website to improve user experience and search engine crawlability, targets relevant keywords that potential customers use when searching for topics related to the brand, and acquires backlinks from authoritative sources to boost the website’s authority. 

In contrast, an in-house SEO team is part of the brand’s internal team and company. While this option may be more convenient for certain businesses, an SEO outsourcing company and services are ideal for businesses seeking cost-effective expertise and flexibility without long-term overhead costs. 

Complimentary to these benefits, SEO outsource providers are well-equipped to help businesses overcome the following challenges: 

• Poor website visibility and brand presence 
• Low website traffic and conversion rates 
• Inability to rank on search engines for important keywords 
• Difficulty standing out against strong online industry competition 
• Negative online feedback and reviews associated with branded keywords 
• Struggling to achieve a favorable return on investment (ROI) on SEO efforts  
• Search engine algorithm updates negatively impacting search engine rankings 
• Experiencing penalties from search engines like Google 
• Limited internal resources and experience 

Considering that many enterprises delegate some or all of their SEO planning and execution to external providers, the global SEO market is anticipated to remain prolific. Notably, the market was valued at $74 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $129.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2023 to 2030. The growth during the period can be attributed to increased digital media consumption, rising smartphone and internet access, and supportive government initiatives. 

Success story 

To showcase how an SEO outsourcing company can help businesses propel their traffic organically, we selected the following case study from Searchbloom: 

• Challenge: Facing stiff competition in a niche market, a glass smokeware company struggled to establish brand visibility and drive traffic. Seeking to build awareness around its offering, the business consigned Searchbloom’s services. 
• Solution: After auditing the client’s website and conducting an in-depth market analysis, Searchloom developed a multifaceted SEO strategy. The agency acquired industry-specific backlinks, enhanced internal link equity distribution, optimized on-page content, and targeted relevant keywords. To amplify the effort, Searchbloom refined the content structures and featured content and made adjustments to the structure data markup, website speed, and content silo structure. 
• Results: Within two years, Searchbloom helped the client increase page-one rankings by 548%, top 3 keyword ranking by 429%, and domain rating by 169%. The client also experienced an 189% rise in revenue and a 118% boost in keyword ranking during its off-peak sale period. 

SEO outsourcing companies conduct keyword research, curate SEO-rich content, optimize on-page elements, acquire links from high-traffic sources, and perform technical updates, aiming to achieve higher rankings on relevant search engine results pages (SERPs). As a result, target customers are more likely to discover the brand’s website when searching for topics related to the brand and its products or services. 

Here are some commonly outsourced SEO services: 

• Market analysis 
  Researching the brand’s target market, competition, and industry trends to understand the audience’s search intent and develop more informed strategies 
• SEO audit 
  Performing a comprehensive evaluation of a website’s SEO performance to identify and resolve issues, such as broken links, slow page speed, and mobile incompatibility 
• Keyword research 
  Identifying and targeting niche-specific words and phrases that ideal buyer personas use and targeting keywords with low competition that can potentially bring high ROI 
• Technical SEO 
  Optimizing the technical aspects of a website, including website structure, site speed, and device compatibility to make it easier to crawl and index 
• Off-page SEO 
  Building the website’s authority through external measures, including link-building and outreach campaigns, influencer partnerships, and affiliate marketing 
• On-page SEO 
  Improving the meta tags, headlines, URL structures, and page content to better respond to the informational needs of the target audience 
• Local SEO 
  Enhancing a brand’s local search visibility by targeting local keywords, setting up a Google My Business profile, building local citations, and producing localized content 
• Content strategy 
  Planning and creating valuable, high-intent content aimed at building thought leadership and educating potential clients 
• Analytics and reporting 
  Monitoring the impact of the SEO activities by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as lead quality, engagement rates, and return on investment (ROI), creating reports to analyze performance, and identifying areas for improvement, and inform future SEO strategies 

Other services that SEO outsourcing agencies provide include web design and development, Amazon SEO, Shopify SEO, YouTube SEO, international SEO, and enterprise SEO. 

Success story

Our experts have selected the following case study to portray a more comprehensive image of SEO outsourcing companies' services: 

• Challenge: Heavy equipment supplier AGA Truck Parts wanted to expand into markets beyond the continental US, seeking to build an engaging, SEO-optimized website to sell its machine parts.  
• Solution: SmartSites extensively researched the market and industry of AGA Truck Parts’ target countries to understand buyer preferences and behavior. Next, it selected the most profitable product lines based on keyword research and client data. Once the details were finalized, SmartSites translated the client’s website into four languages, implemented international link-building strategies, and targeted country-specific keywords. 
• Results: By partnering with SmartSites, AGA Truck Parts increased its organic search traffic by 1,057% and total site traffic by 685%. 

SEO outsourcing companies charge an average of $500-$5,000 per month, depending on the project scope and complexity, industry competition, current SEO performance, and length of service. Agency location also affects pricing, with SEO outsourcing companies and services based in regions with a low cost of living offering more affordable rates. 

Here’s a breakdown of monthly rates by region: 

You should hire an SEO outsourcing company because it can economically scale your SEO campaigns without worrying about overhead fees and the complexities of hiring and training internal staff. These firms can use the search engine algorithm to your advantage and oversee all SEO activities while you focus on other core business activities, like product development and customer services. 

Moreover, SEO outsourcing companies help you: 

• Get objective insight into your current search engine strategies  
• Explore new opportunities to elevate your SEO performance 
• Understand complex buyer journeys and curate content that resonates with ideal customers 
• Accelerate your SEO growth and results by using advanced techniques and technologies 
• Amplify the overall user experience through technical SEO techniques 
• Strengthen your online presence and brand recognition by securing top rankings in SERPs for important keywords 
• Obtain qualified leads and enhance conversion rates through high-intent, SEO-rich content 
• Gain a competitive advantage by staying ahead of trends and search engine algorithm changes 
• Maximize the impact of your marketing campaigns by aligning your SEO efforts with them 
• Make informed decisions using the data gathered and analyzed from your SEO strategies 

Success story 

To highlight the transformative advantages of partnering with an SEO outsourcing company, we’ve selected an insightful case study from HigherVisibility: 

• Challenge: Moving company Allied Van Lines experienced low domain authority and limited online visibility due to spammy links, low-quality content, and disavowed high-quality links.  
• Solution: HigherVisibility focused on three core objectives: boosting conversion rates, enhancing Allied Van Lines' link profile, and developing strategic content that resonates with the intended audience. The agency audited the visitor recordings, heat maps, link opportunities, and previous PPC efforts. It cleaned up previous link building efforts, performed strategic outreach campaigns, identified high-converting keywords, and conducted technical and on-page optimization. It also developed multiple content aligned with user intent and implemented conversion rate optimization (CRO) tactics.  
• Results: Within a year, Allied Van Lines increased organic conversions by 9.4% year-over-year (YOY), organic traffic by 2.6% YOY, and website leads by 800% month over month (MOM). 

You can choose the best SEO outsourcing company and services for your business by following these steps: 

1. Identify your objectives 
   Clearly outline your SEO goals to establish a strong foundation for your collaboration. Whether you aim to increase organic traffic, enhance keyword rankings, or boost conversion rates, having specific, measurable objectives will guide your strategy. 
2. Define your project scope 
   Specify your target audiences, the services you want to outsource, the number of content pieces you want to produce, and your timeline. 
3. Determine whether you want to hire offshore, nearshore, or onshore SEO service 
   Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option — cost, cultural alignment, communication ease, and time zone differences. By evaluating these factors, you can identify which model provides the highest strategic advantage to your business. 
4. Set your budget 
   Decide how much of your marketing budget you can allot for SEO activities, recognizing that it is a long-term strategy rather than a one-time event. 
5. Research potential partners and ask for references 
   Look for agencies with experience in your industry across marketplaces, publications, and agency directories like DesignRush. You can also ask business partners for recommendations. 
6. Evaluate their credentials 
   Review the agencies’ client reviews, testimonies, case studies, portfolios, and list of recognitions to verify their credibility and quality of service. 
7. Inquire about their service scope and technology 
   Check their list of services, specializations, and tools to determine if they can provide your required services and integrate with your current SEO and marketing platforms. 
8. Send a request for proposal (RFP) 
   Outline your project requirements, objectives, brand brief, website link, timeline, and budget, and submit a detailed RFP to the shortlisted agencies. Compare proposals from different vendors and select those that offer the best value for money. 
9. Schedule an interview 
   Verify the agency’s expertise by asking about its approach to your project, team capabilities, and experience in your niche. Shortlist agencies that appear invested in your success and understand your goals. 
10. Observe their communication style 
    Pay attention to how the agency interacts with you and your team, as this can give insight into their soft skills. It’s important to outsource SEO services from an agency that is responsive, transparent, professional, aligns with your culture and values, and uses white-hate SEO tactics. 
11. Ask about trial services 
    Inquire if the agency offers short-term trial services so you can gauge their skills and knowledge in implementing your project requirements and see if they fit your needs. 
12. Select your agency 
    Contact your chosen SEO outsourcing company and services and settle on the payment method, list of deliverables, project milestones, and other aspects of your collaboration. 

Need help finding an SEO outsourcing company for your business? Explore our Marketplace and send us details about your project. We’ll connect you with five leading agencies that meet your requirements — for free! 

The key success metrics in SEO outsourcing are listed below. Use these metrics to monitor the effectiveness of your strategies and make strategic decisions on how to improve them according to data. 

• Keyword ranking 
  Tracks a website’s position on SERPs for specific keywords and helps identify which keywords effectively bring quality leads and traffic 
• Search visibility 
  Measures how frequently a brand appears on relevant SERPs, covering conventional and other search forms like map and local packs, featured snippets, and the Google knowledge panel 
• Organic traffic
  Calculates the number of people who visit the website from unpaid sources, including search engines and social media links 
• Branded traffic 
  Measures the website traffic that a website receives when visitors type keywords related to the company’s brand, including brand name, a coined term, or proprietary technology 
• Non-branded traffic 
  Measures the traffic that a website receives from keywords that don’t specifically mention the related brand 
• Organic click-through rate (CTR) 
  Calculates the number of people who saw the website link on search results pages to those who clicked it 
• Organic conversion rate 
  Identifies the number of people who take a desired action after arriving at the website organically, like scheduling an interview or visiting the product page 
• Average session duration 
  Monitors the average length of time people spend exploring the website, helping businesses gauge audience engagement 
• Bounce rate 
  Measures the percentage of visitors who exit the website after looking at one page without taking additional actions
• Number of backlinks 
  Measures the total number of inbound links pointing to a website from other domains, emphasizing links from high-traffic and authoritative sources within a specific timeframe 
• Cost per acquisition (CPA) 
  Calculates the average cost a brand incurs to acquire a customer through various SEO efforts and is often tied to other marketing strategies and channels 
• Return on investment (ROI) 
  Measures the profitability of an investment relative to its cost, often computed through advanced analytics tools and software 

You should ask the SEO outsourcing companies the following questions before hiring one to understand if they’re the right fit for your business needs: 

Its Relevant Background

1. Have you worked on a project similar to mine? If so, can you provide case studies? 
2. How familiar are you with my industry and niche? 
3. Can you provide client references so I can inquire more about your work? 
4. How do you ensure that your team is up to date with search engine trends and algorithm updates? 

Its Services and Processes

1. What is your keyword research process? 
2. How do you select the relevant audiences to target? 
3. How do you define and measure success?  
4. What is your review and approval process, especially for content production and strategy? 
5. What platforms, tools, or resources do you use? How do you adjust your strategies to algorithm changes? 
6. What sets you apart from other outsourcing SEO providers? 
7. Are you available during my office hours? 

Related to Your Project 

1. How will you personalize your services to my needs? 
2. How will you integrate your SEO strategies with my overall marketing? 
3. Can you integrate your tools and software with my current tech stack? 
4. Who will be working on my project and what are their credentials? 
5. How often will I receive project updates? 
6. When will I start seeing results from your SEO efforts? 
7. Are you amenable to adjusting your project scope to meet my evolving business needs? 

The top SEO outsourcing companies in the US are the following: 

1. SmartSites 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (51 reviews) 
   • 4.9 stars on Google (681 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Rolls Royce, Classic Audi, Rakuten, Poker Stars 
2. Searchbloom 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (48 reviews) 
   • 4.9 stars on Google (65 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Nordstrom, 1800 contacts, Jitterbug, Bill.om 
3. Ignite Visibility 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (12 reviews) 
   • 4.5 stars on Google (64 reviews) 
   • Top clients: DoorDash, COX, Tony Robins, Jazzercise 
4. HigherVisibility 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (19 reviews) 
   • 4.5 stars on Google (138 reviews) 
   • Top clients: eBay, Warner Brothers, Caliber Collision, Allied Van Lines 
5. Marquade Inc 
   • 4.8 stars on DesignRush (5 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (4 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Panasonic, Universal, Payoneer, Legend Networking