The Pros & Cons of DIY SEO

SEO (search engine optimisation) is one of the most effective ways of bringing long-term organic traffic to your website. But when it comes to actually carrying out SEO, many business owners, bloggers and influencers alike will face a common dilemma: should I do it myself or hire a professional? SEO can be extremely complex, with many technical aspects to it that require years of training and experience to perfect. But are there really any benefits to doing SEO work yourself? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of DIY SEO:

What are the benefits of DIY SEO?

While there are some benefits to taking SEO into your own hands for your website, it’s often worthwhile to take the more cost-effective and time-saving route – professional SEO services from a digital marketing agency. However, there are a few upsides to carrying out DIY SEO, and those pros are as follows:

Cost savings

It can be more cost-effective to carry out SEO work yourself, with agencies charging for their expertise. But you have to remember that the amount they’re charging is warranted. You’ll experience a quality service that’s carried out by experienced industry professionals. However, if you’re looking to get SEO done on a budget, then by all means, give it a try yourself.

You have full control

If you’re in charge of your own SEO, then you have complete control over campaigns. It’s also entirely transparent. You’ll be able to monitor traffic, leads and other analytical data associated with website traffic, engagement and performance. Although here at Kumo, we ensure total transparency when it comes to the work we do, supplying you with regular reports outlining the performance of your site, in-depth. In addition, your input will always be taken into account. But if you want to run the show, then give DIY SEO a try.

It gives you the opportunity to learn new skills

SEO marketers are extremely skilled and highly trained in the work they do. Much of their expertise and knowledge comes from years of experience in the field of marketing and SEO. While it will take you a while to perfect and fine-tune your SEO knowledge and capabilities, carrying out DIY SEO will broaden your skillset, eventually. It depends on how much time you’re willing to dedicate to it as an already-busy business owner.

What are the disadvantages of DIY SEO?

While it’s easy to look at the world of DIY SEO through rose-tinted glasses, there are actually plenty of reasons why people leave it all down to the professionals. From simply not having the time to lacking the knowledge needed to carry it out effectively, here’s why DIY SEO might not be a good idea:

The learning curve is steep

SEO is not just about adding keywords to a page. It involves technical aspects (site structure, crawlability, mobile optimisation, etc), content strategy, link acquisition and constant adaptation to Google’s ever-evolving algorithms. Without any experience, SEO mistakes are far more likely to occur and keep occurring. 

It takes up a lot of time

If you want your SEO to be done properly and to give you the best possible results, then you need to dedicate a lot of time to it. When you run your own business and are juggling family commitments, this can be a struggle, often leading SEO to fall by the wayside. Proper SEO takes time: researching keywords, optimising images, creating content, tracking analytics and building links. If you’re a business owner who also has to deal with customer service, finances, HR and, in and amongst all of that, has a personal life, then it’s easy for SEO to fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Instead, leave it to the professionals here at Kumo to help take a weight off your shoulders. 

You risk using outdated techniques & tactics

The world of SEO is constantly changing and evolving. What worked a year ago probably won’t work now, and what works now might not work a year down the line. You need to be committed nd have your ear to the ground about algorithm updates. When you’re running your own business or blog, this is the last thing you’re going to have the time for. The professionals, on the other hand, will have all the time in the world to make sure your SEO is up to scratch to give you the best possible results.

Results could be a lot slower

Even if you’re doing everything right, results can take months to come to fruition. Without the experience and resources of an expert, your progress may be slower compared to competitors using professional SEO services.

When to consider hiring an expert to do SEO for you

• If your website drives the majority of your revenue
• If you’re in a highly competitive niche
• If you don’t have the time or interest to stay updated with SEO trends
• If you’ve tried DIY SEO but haven’t seen results 

Kumo provides customised digital marketing solutions for businesses throughout the UK. From our base in the heart of Nottingham, our skilled team specialises in SEO, PPC, content creation, web design and more. If you’re looking to grow your business, reach out to our approachable team – we’re ready to help you achieve success.