Can You Do SEO by Yourself?
Many small businesses and bloggers hesitate to start SEO because they think it’s a complex, expensive project that can only be handled by an agency. The truth is, a lot of basic SEO can be done by yourself, and it’s a powerful way to empower your business.
This article will outline what you can realistically achieve on your own and when it makes sense to hire a professional. If you need a refresher on the basics, start with How to Do SEO for Beginners.
Yes—Basic SEO Can Be DIY
For many smaller sites, you can achieve significant results by doing the following yourself:
- Keyword research: Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Google’s own search autosuggestions to find relevant search terms.
- Creating content: Write high-quality blog posts and articles that answer your audience’s questions.
- Basic on-page optimization: Add keywords to your titles, headings, and meta descriptions.
- Internal linking: Link your new articles to old ones to build site authority.
For a full guide on these tasks, check out How to Do SEO.
Benefits of DIY SEO
- Saves Costs: The most obvious benefit is saving thousands of dollars on agency fees.
- Empowers Business Owners: Doing SEO yourself gives you a deeper understanding of your customers and your market. You are closer to the process and can make faster, more informed decisions.
- Builds In-House Expertise: You or a team member can develop a valuable skill set that will benefit the company for years to come.
Challenges of DIY SEO
While DIY SEO is possible, it’s not without its challenges:
- Time Commitment: Effective SEO is a long-term, ongoing effort that requires consistent work.
- Technical Fixes: More complex technical SEO issues, like server-side problems or schema markup, can be difficult to fix without expertise.
- Staying Up-to-Date: The SEO landscape changes constantly due to algorithm updates. Keeping up with these changes requires dedicated time and research.
For a breakdown of these technical aspects, read our guide on Types of SEO.
When to Bring in Professionals
There are specific situations where a DIY approach may not be enough:
- Large Websites: If you have an eCommerce store with thousands of products or a large enterprise site, a professional can scale your efforts more efficiently.
- High Competition: If you are in a highly competitive niche, you will need advanced strategies like sophisticated link-building campaigns and deep competitor analysis.
- Technical Audits: For serious technical issues that are hurting your rankings, an expert can perform a full site audit and make critical fixes.
For a full list of these advanced strategies, see What are SEO Techniques.
Final Thoughts
The best approach for many small businesses is to start with a DIY strategy. Learn the basics, make consistent efforts, and see what results you can achieve. Once you’ve grown and are ready to scale, consider bringing in an expert to take your efforts to the next level.
