In-House vs. Outsourced SEO: Which Is Right for Your Business?

SEO is what makes your business visible online. It’s an essential part of any strategy and in growing your brand. But, when it comes to getting your SEO right, what is best for your business? Is it building your own SEO team or outsourcing the work to seasoned pros? While they both come with their own perks and challenges, which is specifically best for you depends on your goals, budget and how hands-on and involved you want to be.

Let’s unpack the pros and cons of in-house vs. outsourced SEO so that you can shape your SEO strategy with confidence, improving your digital marketing strategy to get the results you deserve.

What Is In-House SEO?

So, what do we mean by ‘in-house SEO’? Essentially, this means to manage your search engine strategy from within your own company. An internal SEO team will handle everything from content optimisations to technical fixes. Typically, this type of team includes SEO specialists, content creators and an SEO manager who oversees the entire operation. Because they are already part of your business, it’s easy for them to align with your brand voice. Additionally, they have the advantage of working closely with marketing, web development and sales teams.

Having an internal company SEO team allows for fast communication, control and seamless integration across the rest of your company’s marketing efforts and SEO strategy.

What Is Outsourced SEO?

On the other hand, outsourced SEO means partnering with an external expert, such as an SEO agency like Click Intelligence. Other examples of outsourced SEO include freelance SEO consultants and any other third-party SEO providers. Basically, anyone outside of your in-house team who handles your search engine efforts.

What’s great about SEO hiring outside of your company team is that you have access to global talent and specialised skills, meaning you will get the best of the best.

Here are some common SEO outsourcing services:

• Content creation
• Technical audits
• White label link building
• Blogger outreach
• Curated links

From strategy to execution, choosing managed SEO for your business makes it significantly easier to scale your digital presence.

Pros and Cons of In-House SEO

Weighing the pros and cons of in-house SEO will help you decide if an internal team is best for your business goals.

In-House SEO Advantages:

• Full team control and direct communication line.
• Better alignment with company goals.
• Seamless collaboration with in-house marketing team and other departments.
• Faster response times and immediate adjustments.

In-House SEO Disadvantages:

• High SEO staffing costs.
• Hassle of recruiting new team members and finding specialists.
• Time-consuming to build team and train them in relevant skills.
• Possible gaps in expertise and experience.
• Less flexibility than external options.

Cost Comparison: In-House vs. Outsourced SEO

To truly compare these costs, you need to look at the full picture and consider what you are investing in. Whether you choose to build an internal team or partner with an external agency, you need to consider your SEO budget, time, flexibility, long-term growth and other key factors. Let’s take a closer look at SEO cost comparison so you can make the right choice for your business.

In-House SEO Cost

Building an internal SEO department in-house comes with significant upfront expenses, particularly when considering hiring and long-term commitments. It does, though, offer you more control and alignment with your company goals.

Typical costs include:

• Salaries: You have to pay individual staffing members like an SEO manager and other SEO specialists, which all add up, especially if you want a good-sized team.
• Subscriptions: You’d also need to pay for a range of tool subscriptions to use for keyword researchKeyword research helps websites unearth the best keywords to drive traffic and visibility. This research is supported by a number of powerful web-based tools, the best of which we’ve listed here., SEO audits and analytics.
• Training: You would need to pay for training and development opportunities to keep your team up to date with changes and best practices.
• Overhead Costs: Don’t forget about the overhead costs as well, like providing new equipment, the onboarding process and HR.

Even after you have made all these investments, you are at risk of poor SEO hiring choices that can slow SEO ROI and waste your SEO investments entirely.

Outsourced SEO Cost

One of the main advantages of outsourcing SEO is that it avoids setup costs. It also makes it a lot easier for you, as you are paying for a package that includes everything, rather than spending money on each separate step of building a team from scratch.

Common pricing models include:

• Managed SEO: Monthly retainers for full-service packages.
• One-off fees: For projects like audits or content strategies.
• Performance-based pricing: In some cases, such as pay-per-link or traffic goals.
• White label link building services: Access to wider technical SEO.

Outsourced SEO pricing is more predictable and transparent, meaning you know exactly what you’re paying for and what you’re getting in return for that investment. You can adjust your SEO investments based on what your business needs without committing to salaries or overhead. Not only this, but agencies have access to premium tools and insights that you’d have to pay separately for.

Which Is Better for Your Business?

Choosing SEO strategy can be made easier when you know what to consider. Evaluate your goals, team size, budget and technical expertise to determine the optimal SEO solution for your business. If you already have an in-house team that’s ready to go, it could be a viable option. If not, though, outsourcing will save you valuable time and stress. A simple SEO plan checklist can guide you in your SEO decision-making process:

• What resources do you have available?
• What is your timeline?
• How much control do you want to have?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer; it depends on the unique needs of your company and how SEO fits into your broader digital marketing strategy. However, this guide should help you make an informed choice.

Key Takeaways: Choosing Your SEO Pathway

When it comes to in-house vs. outsourced SEO, the best choice depends entirely on your unique business, budget, goals and resources. An in-house team allows you more control and collaboration, while outsourcing brings a wide range of expertise and scalability, and may prove to be more cost-effective.

Not sure where to start? We’re here to help! Whether you’re building internally or seeking external support, it all starts with a smart SEO strategy. Book a free SEO strategy session today or simply book a call so we can find the approach that works best for you!