Why Choose an SEO Agency for Link Building?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become an essential ingredient for cooking up successful online presence. One of the most important aspects of that is Link Building. Think of it like a digital game of connect the dots – you want to make links to your website to create a vivid picture that search engines will love. Some may wonder, why partner with an SEO agency for Link Building when you can just do it yourself?
If you are considering incorporating Link Building into your SEO strategy, you may be unsure about the most suitable approach for your business. The optimal method will depend on various factors such as your budget, level of expertise, and the amount of time and resources available to devote to Link Building. You have the choice to take it on yourself or outsource to an agency. Both options have their pros and cons. While taking the DIY approach might seem like the no-nonsense choice at first glance, there are several compelling reasons why the agency route is often the wiser move.
Let’s take a look at the differences between in-house and agency SEO, and try to give you a better idea when it comes to determining the best approach for your business.
The Advantages of Outsourcing Link Building to an Agency
Expertise:
SEO Link Building requires a great deal of knowledge and expertise to be done effectively. Hiring an agency that specialises in this area can give you access to a team of experts who have the skills and knowledge to create a comprehensive and effective SEO strategy.
This expertise extends beyond simple Link Building tactics to encompass other critical components of SEO, such as content creation, on-page optimization, and social media engagement. It’s a constantly evolving landscape: staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques is time-consuming and tough for businesses without dedicated teams to do so.
Agencies have access to the latest tools and resources, making it easier to achieve desired results efficiently. However, it can be costly and may require a long-term commitment, and you may not have as much control over the day-to-day operations.
Time:
SEO Link Building can be a time-consuming process, especially if you’re new to it. Hiring an agency allows you to focus on other aspects of your business while they handle the Link Building for you. You can leave it to the experts to research, reach out to other websites, negotiate terms, and follow up on agreements. Attempting to handle everything in-house can be overwhelming, especially for businesses that lack the necessary resources or expertise. An SEO outreach agency will already have the tools and training to execute a comprehensive SEO strategy while freeing up valuable time and resources for your other important business tasks.
Outreach:
Good SEO agencies will possess established relationships with high-authority websites willing to link to relevant business sites. Outreach is the process of reaching out to other sites, bloggers, or influencers, and getting them to link to your website. It involves identifying websites that are relevant to your industry or niche, and then reaching out to them to establish a connection and ask them to link to your content. Effective outreach can also help to improve brand awareness and establish a positive reputation in your industry. By connecting with other websites and influencers, you can create valuable relationships that can lead to further opportunities for collaboration and exposure.
Content:
Quality content is important for getting hits because it’s like a magnet that attracts visitors to your website. So if you want those high-quality, authoritative websites to link back to your site, you better make sure you have some killer content that’s worth linking to. Many (though not all) SEO outsourcing agencies are also able to come up with quality content.
High-quality content can help to attract links naturally, but outreach efforts can also help to promote the content and build backlinks. In other words, outreach can be a way to amplify the reach and impact of content, making it more likely to attract backlinks and improve search engine rankings.
Resources:
Any agency worth its salt will boast the resources to help their clients improve their search engine rankings and increase organic traffic to their websites. In most cases, these are resources that in-house teams will lack, not least of all the include various software needed to perform keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and for tracking performance. Some of the most notable examples include Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and Google Analytics. The ultimate resource, though, will be the dedicated and qualified hit squad of SEO professionals.
Scalability:
As a business grows, so do its SEO needs. If you’re looking to scale your Link Building efforts quickly, hiring an agency can be a great way to achieve that. An agency can quickly ramp up or down their efforts to match your business’s needs. An agency can easily scale their efforts to match a company’s growth, providing more comprehensive services that help businesses stay competitive and relevant. Scaling up requires adding more resources and expertise, which an SEO outreach agency can readily provide. Scalability is an important factor because you can increase access to a larger pool of resources and expertise as a company grows.
Measurable Results:
An SEO outreach agency can provide businesses with measurable results. Unlike other forms of marketing, such as traditional advertising or social media, SEO Link Building is actually (thankfully!) highly measurable. An agency can track the progress of their efforts, providing detailed reports that demonstrate the success of their tactics. This transparency provides businesses with valuable insights into their SEO strategy, allowing them to make informed decisions about future investments and adjustments.
Convenience:
There’s already an endless array of responsibilities to attend to when running a business. The prospect of adding Link Building into the mix can be a daunting one. The reality is that going alone with SEO demands a lot. Even then, the results can be highly unpredictable. Outsourcing SEO can be easier for businesses because it allows them to focus on their core competencies while leaving the SEO work to experts. Outsourcing to an SEO agency simply provides access to a wider range of tools and resources that may not be available in-house. Additionally, outsourcing can help businesses save money on hiring and training new employees, as well as on equipment and software costs. Overall, outsourcing SEO can provide a more efficient and effective solution for businesses looking to improve their online presence.
Low Key:
Something often-overlooked: Because Link Building agencies handle all aspects of outreach and public relations involved in the link-building process, brands can remain low-key and anonymous until the very end (ie., when the link is acquired). This is particularly valuable for many companies that prefer not to have their name constantly mentioned while reaching out all the time; contacting others for potential link-building collaborations. This minimizes any potential damage to the brand and its brand image.
Cost:
Hiring an agency may seem like the more expensive option upfront, but the reality is that it can save money in the long run. In-house Link Building requires a significant investment in time, training, and resources — all of which can add up quickly. To establish an effective in-house SEO team, it would be necessary to recruit skilled content writers who can produce high-quality content for the website, as well as a proficient PR or outreach specialist who can cultivate relationships with other authoritative sites to secure placements.
It’s important to factor in expenses related to Link Building software, which typically includes the likes of Ahrefs and Semrush for evaluating backlink profiles and identifying link-building prospects, as well as PitchBox or other outreach tools that facilitate outreach management and streamline cold emailing while also helping to coordinate your team.
Outsourced Link Building agencies may not be cheap… but in so many scenarios, it is for these reasons they often provide better results at a lower cost.
Advantages of Link Building SEO In-house
Taking care of SEO in-house gives businesses more control and flexibility over the whole process. You can ensure that the SEO strategy aligns with your company’s goals and values, and it can be easier to integrate with other marketing efforts. Link Building agencies may require your input from time to time and, if there are any misunderstandings, you might not get the best return on your investment.
In-house SEO can benefit a company’s KPIs in several ways. Firstly, an in-house team can be more agile and responsive to changes in the company’s goals and market trends, which can lead to faster implementation of SEO strategies. This can positively impact KPIs such as website traffic, conversion rates, and revenue. Secondly, an in-house SEO team has better communication and collaboration with other departments, such as marketing and development. This can lead to a more integrated approach to SEO that aligns with the company’s overall business goals.
The decision to invest in an in-house SEO program is often based on the potential value that SEO can bring to the company. Businesses need to consider the costs when obtaining high-quality and authentic outreach-based links. Quality content depends on a lot of creative types (who don’t come cheap) and, ultimately, it will depend on the company whether it’s worthwhile to outsource or do it in-house.
It’s important to be cautious of SEO agencies that make unrealistic promises and don’t provide transparency about their methods. Beware of services that seem too cheap, as they may use unethical blackhat SEO practices, which could result in penalties from search engines. New agencies may over-promise in order to attract customers, but end up under-delivering on their projects. To ensure transparency, an agency should disclose information about its founder or Link Building team, as well as share case studies of successful projects completed recently. If there are few reviews or case studies available, it’s possible that the agency isn’t being transparent.
Taking the pros and cons into account, it’s always going to require a lot in the way of time and resources to build and maintain an effective in-house SEO team. That may not be a consideration for the largest companies with the deepest pockets, but the majority of businesses lack the expertise or access to specialised SEO tools to make the in-house approach fruitful.
Finding the Right SEO Backlink Provider
There are several steps you can take to ensure you choose a reliable and reputable backlinks provider.
Do your research:
Start by researching potential providers online. Look for reviews, case studies, and testimonials from previous clients. Check out their social media profiles and browse their website to get a sense of their services and pricing.
Check for transparency:
Look for providers who are transparent about their Link Building process and methodology. They should be open about the types of links they will build for you and the strategies they will use to acquire them.
Avoid cheap providers:
Avoid providers that offer extremely low prices or promise too much for too little. Such providers may be using blackhat SEO practices, which can harm your website in the long run.
Check the quality of their links:
Ensure the provider offers high-quality links that are relevant to your niche or industry. Avoid providers that build links on low-quality or spammy websites, as these links can harm your website’s reputation.
Communication:
Choose a provider that values communication and is responsive to your inquiries. They should be able to provide regular updates on your Link Building progress and be available to answer any questions you may have.
Experience:
Look for providers with a track record of success in Link Building. They should have experience working with businesses in your industry and be able to provide examples of successful campaigns they have executed.
The Bottom Line
It’s important for companies to weigh their options and decide for themselves whether to handle SEO in-house or outsource to an agency. Every company is different, with unique needs, resources, and goals. While doing SEO in-house offers more control and a deeper understanding of the brand, it can be time-consuming and require specialized expertise that the company may not have. On the other hand, outsourcing to an SEO agency can bring in fresh ideas, advanced tools, and expert knowledge, but may also result in less control and higher costs in some cases.
While doing SEO in-house may seem the more flexible choice, let’s be real — the majority of companies simply don’t have the know-how or time to make it work, and even for the largest organisations, outsourcing means scalability. That’s why outsourcing your SEO to a reputable, top-notch agency can be such a significant game changer. A reputable agency should be able to offer the best bang per buck. With the latest tools, cutting-edge tech, and SEO experts who know all the latest tips and tricks, choosing a dedicated agency can help you dominate the search engine rankings, connect with high-authority sites, and generate buzz and profit in equal measure.
Ultimately, it’s up to the company to weigh the pros and cons and make the decision that best aligns with their goals and resources.