Regardless of the size of your business, if you are concerned with web traffic for either marketing or sales, mastering SEO becomes vital. An alternative would be to hire an specialist. Even though your website looks amazing, it doesn’t really matter if you’re not grabbing your audience’s attention. Targeted visitors matter the most because you have the best chances of converting them into valuable customers. How can an SEO specialist help? Before hiring anyone, make sure he or she has the following core qualities.

1. Thorough understanding of the best SEO practices

SEO adheres to three core areas: technical, on-page and offpage optimization. It’s not enough to have someone covering one of the stages; for the best results, you might want work with someone whose strategy covers all three angles.

If a search engine can’t have access to all the content on your website; or some parts of the content are buried into your website, then what you’re doing in terms of SEO is useless. What does this mean? Basically, it highlights that something is not right; and that you need to find other ways to restructure, at the very least, repurpose your strategy.

2. Savvy team player

After you’ve gotten used to the challenges that your website is facing, the next move is to focus on the content part. You have to pay better attention to the way your content is written; it has to benefit the reader/customer/prospect, and not sound superficial or overly salesy. Prior to hiring an SEO specialist, make sure they know the ins and outs of white-hat SEO. In the world of digital marketing the focus is on quality, not quantity.

When using keywords to write your content, make sure you don’t stuff phrases that don’t make any sense. Google’s algorithms have advanced tremendously; it’s almost impossible to get on Page 1 without strategies and tactics that are qualitative.

3. Communication skills

As far as communication is concerned, every SEO specialist should be able to convey a message clearly. He/she should be able to communicate clearly what changes they want to make when handing your website; recommendations are encouraged because they help the SEO strategies craft the technique that best matches with your demands and expectations. It’s impossible for a specialist to do everything without feedback.

4. A drive for execution 

Aim at finding an SEO specialist with a passion for flawless execution. A perfectionist in the field is just what you need to get things done fast and efficiently within your company. Needless to say, you should want your business to move forward; for that to happen, your business needs someone who’s capable and able to handle even toughest challenges.

When it comes to SEO, execution means:

• Choosing keywords wisely
• Using analytics and metrics software
• Planning content & focusing on top quality
• Managing multiple tasks at the same time
• Handling unforeseen situations
• Double checking all processes

5. Smart SEO strategy 

An SEO specialist should adhere to the best SEO practices. However, he/she must also know how to craft their own tactics. It’s very important to choose someone who knows that they’re doing. A smart strategy doesn’t always abide by the rules. A unique approach to conventional practices is often what your company needs to thrive.

Leaving a detailed strategic approach, aim at working with someone who’s detail-oriented and resourceful. The best SEOs should have a developed team spirit, and educate others in the company as well. Keep in mind that SEO rules and search engine algorithms change every couple of months. You need someone who’s aware of the latest trends; someone skilled and passionate about search engine optimization.

Bottom line is, there’s no one-fits-all strategy when it comes to SEO. Before choosing a specialist, ask about their background. How many years of experience in the industry they have? Do they have a portfolio? What other companies have they worked for? These are the questions you should ask before making a decision. Settle on a couple of priorities beforehand, and interview more than one individual. An excellent alternative would be to hire an SEO agency London; a company that knows the ins and out of SEO should be able to help your company skyrocket.