Some may disagree, but it’s genuinely never been more important to have a strong SEO strategist on your team. The ongoing changes in search and content guidelines make it an absolute essential to round out your content team.
There’s been a bit of a narrative spinning that SEO is “dead”—it’s not. In fact, the SEO services market grew from $90.35 billion in 2024 to $106.9 billion in 2025, an 18.3% increase, following another 18.3% increase from 2023 to 2024.
SEO still has a massive role to play. According to HubSpot’s 2025 State of Marketing, SEO was among the top 3 channels for B2B brands that saw ROI.
What SEO is doing is evolving. People still Google questions, people still use the PAA question tabs, and people still shop for services and products online.
Now, let’s unpack what you need to know before you hire an SEO expert in 2025.
What an SEO Strategist Does
An SEO strategist will go beyond technical SEO and actually formulate a long-term plan for ranking in the SERPs. It’s not just a quick fix or basic audit – they’re an integral partner in your marketing strategy. An SEO strategy consultant will ensure SEO activities align with your broader content strategy and revenue goals.
The proof is in the numbers. The average ROI for a high-quality SEO campaign is 748%, and small businesses investing in SEO report returns of 400% or more.
An SEO strategist who is really ahead of the curve may also use an informal process called AI mapping. Oversimplified, AI mapping involves using tools like ChatGPT to flesh out conversational queries that populate the new AI Overview feature. They’ll also work with social media teams to ensure captions and text overlays are optimized for multimodal search results.
It’s not just about ranking in the SERPs anymore. It’s about appearing where your audience is, having their questions answered.
Signs It’s Time to Hire an SEO Strategist
Not sure if you’re ready to bring on an SEO strategy consultant? Let’s unpack a few signs you’ve outgrown the basic SEO tactics of yesteryear:
Flatlined Organic Growth
This is a big sign rooted in numbers, not easy to look away from. If you’re publishing consistently and your organic traffic has stagnated, it’s likely you’re missing key opportunities.
A savvy SEO strategist can help you understand why your rankings stall and build a better roadmap to move the needle.
Overwhelmed Internal Teams
This is quite a common issue – your content team can’t wear every hat. They may be stretched too thin trying to juggle SEO efforts as well as social media and content writing. Hiring an SEO strategist will help focus your efforts and boost productivity.
This way, everyone can focus on their zone of genius without worrying about tasks that don’t align with their experience.
Complex Site or Industry Needs
SEO strategies are like leaves – none are exactly alike. Technical websites, competitive industries, or businesses that target multiple regions often need deeper SEO expertise.
This ties back to an overwhelmed team – do you have one dedicated individual who can navigate common SEO challenges? Issues like crawl errors, content cannibalization, and high-stakes search require focused attention.
Note: SEO has gone through a lot of changes in the last three to four years. Just because you’re using methods from 2021 or 2022 doesn’t mean they’re ‘wrong.’ Yet, SEO is evolving so quickly these days. It’s important to find someone to step in with a fresh plan if you want to see growth.
Where to Look for the Right SEO Strategist
The decision to bring a new team member on board to help with SEO strategy is half the battle. The good news is that there are strong options to help you find the right person for your team.
Did you know that about 65% of SEO jobs are in-house, while the remaining 35% are with agencies? No matter which route you choose, it’s easy to find a great candidate if you know where to look.
Trusted Professional Networks
We recommend starting the search on platforms where SEO strategists showcase their expertise, such as LinkedIn and nDash.
Keep an eye out for profiles that emphasize strategy over trendy buzzwords. Ask to see their portfolio, and/or examples of audits, briefs, or keyword frameworks.
Referrals and Peer Recommendations
Tap into Slack groups, Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or your own personal network. You may find the perfect match without having to go through the process of finding and connecting yourself.
Ultimately, leaning on your network generally means a faster route to a decision – and a more confident one.
What to Ask Before You Hire
How you approach the hiring process will depend on whether your candidate is a freelancer, an agency, or an in-house prospect:
- With freelancers, comms will be less of a formal interview and more of a conversation.
- With agencies, you’ll likely speak with one or more team members, likely involving a structured discovery process.
- With in-house candidates, you will take the reins in the interview, so be sure that the process is smooth.
Now, let’s highlight some questions to ask that will apply to any style of candidate:
Experience with Similar Business Models
One of the most important starting points is gauging their experience with a business model like yours. SEO efforts for B2C and B2B are different beasts.
A strong candidate will be able to explain how they tailor strategy by business type and funnel specifics.
Process and Strategic Thinking
In most cases, you’ll want someone on your team who is reasonably self-led and can hit the ground running.
More than that, you’ll want to ascertain how they build a strategy. What’s their thought process? How do they do their research? Can they walk you through a recent SEO roadmap they created? A good strategist will be able to break this down easily.
Approach to Collaboration
Marketing is often a team effort, even freelancers have regular contacts with whom they collaborate. Be sure to cover questions about how they work with writers, developers, or stakeholders.
It may seem simple, but listen to your gut when interviewing. If it doesn’t feel like a fit, don’t be afraid to interview a few more candidates. It’s important to ensure you find the right person for you and your team.
Onboarding Your SEO Strategist
Bringing on an SEO strategist isn’t just about signing the dotted line; it’s about setting them up for success.
Define Scope and Deliverables
Even before you send an offer email or letter, scope should be very clearly outlined. Be clear (and realistic) about your expectations.
Looking for an audit? Keyword strategy? Content briefs? Comprehensive, ongoing support? Write it down and make sure they understand. Be sure to answer any questions they have in a timely manner.
This helps avoid the dreaded scope creep and sets realistic timelines for you as the brand.
Clarify Communication and Access
Your new SEO strategist will likely have their own tools, especially if you’re hiring an agency or freelancer. However, they’ll still need to gain proper access to your Google Analytics, Search Console, and CMS.
You’ll also want to send over any passwords, brand guidelines, and customer profiles. Get them the access and documentation they need quickly so that onboarding is breezy and they can get to work.
Establish Payment and Process
Whether you’re bringing on a freelancer, collaborating with an agency, or hiring internally, clear payment terms are essential.
Clarify your payroll process for your new hire, and let them know if you have specific invoicing terms to be aware of.
Best Practices for Collaborating with an SEO Strategist
Maintaining a strong working relationship is just as important as finding the perfect candidate. SEO is a long game, so you’ll want to ensure you build a good relationship with your new hire.
Respect Their Time and Role
Keep in mind that many successful SEO strategists are freelance professionals managing multiple clients.
Be mindful of boundaries; avoid late-night texts, adding last-minute work, or booking unnecessary meetings. Keep communication on approved work platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
Give Clear Feedback and Address Issues Early
Growing pains are normal. If something isn’t working, say so! As we know, SEO takes time. Open communication is key to correcting small issues before they become roadblocks.
Be specific, kind, and actionable with your feedback so that your strategist can adjust quickly and easily.
Stick to the Plan Unless You Renegotiate
If the project scope changes or you want to add new deliverables, have a transparent conversation and adjust the agreement. Strategists do their best work when they know what’s expected and can plan accordingly.
Regular Check-ins and Strategy Reviews
As with most marketing tactics, SEO is not set-it-and-forget-it. It requires constant iteration and a firm finger on the pulse of the current ever-changing SEO best practices.
Bi-weekly or monthly touchpoints help ensure your strategist has the support they need and that your strategy is evolving.
Addressing Common Questions About SEO Strategy
Even with the right hire, SEO can feel like a black box. Here are a few common questions that come up during early conversations.
How Long Before You See Results?
A positive ROI in an SEO campaign normally happens within a six- to 12-month period, with peak results occurring in the second or third year of the campaign.
This timeline depends on the competitiveness of the industry, your strategy, and domain authority.
What About Backlinks?
Backlinks still matter, but not all links are created equal. A good strategist won’t chase spammy guest posts. They’ll focus on relevance, authority, and long-term trust.
Do You Need Ongoing SEO Help?
Yes. SEO isn’t a one-and-done task. Ongoing strategy, content updates, audits, and SERP changes need consistent strategy to stay competitive.
Let’s look at some facts:
- Content marketing leaders experience 7.8 times more site traffic than non-leaders
- 91% of marketers reported that SEO improved their website’s performance and helped achieve marketing objectives
- In 2024, 91% of respondents reported that SEO had a positive impact on website performance and marketing goals
The SEO Strategist You Hire Today Shapes Tomorrow’s Results
Good SEO happens on purpose. Hiring the right SEO strategist means you’ll build a strong content engine that will pay dividends for years to come.
About the Author
Katie Major is a versatile marketing professional with a passion for content creation and strategic storytelling. She leads creative initiatives as Lead Creative at Major Marketing and serves as a Content Strategist and Copywriter at Katherine Major Creative. To learn more about Katherine — and to have her write for your brand — be sure to check out her nDash profile page.