As digital marketing becomes more important for businesses, the role of a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) executive has grown to become a crucial role for any organization that seeks to put out content for the public. Professionals involved in SEO are responsible for developing and implementing strategies that help websites rank higher in search engine results pages. It is extremely advantageous to have this ranking when we are dealing with an industry that has a competitive market. The hiring of a SEO executive is done with the objective of increasing visibility, which drives a greater flow of traffic to the organization’s content. This ultimately leads to higher sales for the business.

However, before we can breach the topic of hiring professionals, we need to understand a few key aspects of doing so. We need to understand the role of the executive, what their day to day tasks are and how they go about completing them. We also need to know what we should look out for when we are sifting through the huge pool of candidates who are versed with Search Engine Optimization. In this blog we will be talking about the role of a SEO executive, what they do and how we should go about hiring one. Additionally, we also aim to highlight some of the advantages of hiring a SEO executive so that you can decide whether doing so is the right choice to satisfy the needs of your company.

Let us begin!

Firstly, why is SEO important for businesses?

Search engines are one of the primary ways that consumers find products and services online. By optimizing their website for search engines, businesses can increase the chance of internet traffic being redirected to their website. This leads to increased sales and revenue for the business.

So what is the role of a SEO Executive?

The primary role of a SEO executive is to increase the visibility and traffic of a website by optimizing its content and structure. The job involves researching and analyzing keywords and phrases that are relevant to the website's content and using them strategically in the website's content and meta tags. The SEO executive must stay up-to-date with the latest developments in search engine algorithms and develop strategies to keep the website ranking high in search engine results pages (SERPs).

It is important to remember that an SEO executive we choose to hire would not automatically be familiar with your company’s needs or target audience. They can provide optimization strategies but can only do so once they are assisted in understanding the organization’s goals and objectives as well as the company’s brand image.

Before hiring a SEO executive, it is imperative for the employer to conduct an audit of their company so that the SEO executive can get a grasp on the different aspects of the company that they would have to research into. This audit should contain the relevant information for the SEO executive such as the target demographic, the tools used for content distribution and management, the nature of the company (B2C,B2B,etc), the company branding policies and the latest metrics on content consumption. By doing this we can ensure that once the executive has been onboarded, they can promptly begin their duties with a comprehensive overview of the company.

Responsibilities of a SEO Executive

1. Research and Analysis

The first responsibility of a SEO executive is to conduct research and analysis to determine the most effective keywords and phrases for the website's content. This involves analyzing the competition and the search habits of the target audience. The SEO executive must use this information to develop a strategy for optimizing the website's content and meta tags to rank higher in SERPs.

2. On-page optimization

On-page optimization refers to the optimization of a website's content and structure. The SEO executive we hire must ensure that the website's content is of high quality, relevant to the target audience, and uses the relevant keywords and phrases in the right places. The website's structure must be optimized to make it easy for search engines to crawl and index the content. This includes optimizing the website's titles, headings, and meta tags.

3. Off-page optimization

Off-page optimization refers to the optimization of a website's online reputation through link building, social media, and other means. The SEO executive must work to build the website's reputation by getting high-quality backlinks from relevant websites, creating engaging social media content, and ensuring that the website is listed in relevant directories.

4. Technical SEO

Technical SEO refers to the optimization of a website's technical structure to improve its performance in search engine results pages. The daily tasks of a SEO executive in this respect can include ensuring that the website is optimized for mobile devices, has a fast loading speed, and is free from technical issues such as broken links or 404 errors.

5. Performance tracking and reporting

The SEO Executive must track the performance of the website's SEO strategy and report on the results. This involves using analytics tools to track the website's traffic and rankings, and analyzing the data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. This is also where the data we provide to them in the beginning returns to assist the company. By having accurate information on the performance of the company’s content prior and following the hiring of the SEO executive we can validate and quantify the impact that they have had on the company’s business.

6. Communicating with other departments

SEO executives are also tasked with communicating with employees from other departments in the company. For example, on a regular basis they may be responsible for relaying keywords and other relevant information to content writers or managers so that content produced can be modified to fit the strategy they have in place. They might have to communicate the website changes that they have in mind to the web development team or have to confer with the marketing team to determine whether the modified content fits the company’s brand image. Therefore, when we enter the process of hiring a SEO executive we must remember that their job would not limited to coming up with strategies but also includes assisting in implementing them.

Related Read: How to Assess and Hire SEO Managers?

7. Adapting to an evolving landscape

The field of search engine optimization is constantly evolving, which puts an impetus on SEO executives to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in search engine algorithms and changes to practices employed in different industries. This is achieved via continuous learning and improvement to ensure that the website's SEO strategy remains effective and competitive in a fluid industry..

When we hire a SEO executive we must inquire into their knowledge of these tasks and responsibilities but at the same time we should also pay heed to the qualities and qualifications they possess.

Speaking of which,

What to look for when hiring a SEO executive

1. Experience and history of work

When hiring a SEO executive, it's important to prioritize candidates with relevant experience. The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of the SEO landscape and a proven track record of achieving positive results for previous clients or employers. Look for candidates who can demonstrate their ability to work with various SEO tools and platforms, as well as their knowledge of on-page and off-page optimization techniques.

2. Check for certifications

While experience is important, certifications can also be a valuable indicator of a candidate's expertise in SEO. There are various certifications available, such as Google Analytics and Google Ads, that can demonstrate a candidate's proficiency in SEO-related tools and techniques. Additionally, certifications from industry organizations, such as the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), can also be a valuable credential.

3. Assess technical knowledge

SEO requires a combination of technical and creative skills. When assessing candidates, it's important to evaluate their technical knowledge, including their understanding of website architecture, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Candidates who can demonstrate experience working with Content Management Systems (CMS) and website development will also be valuable to your organization.

4. An eye for data analysis

SEO is a data-driven field, so it's important to hire a SEO executive who has a strong analytical mindset. Your ideal candidate should be able to analyze large data sets, identify trends and insights, and use that information to develop effective SEO strategies. To this end, we must identify candidates who have experience working with Google Analytics, as well as other data analysis tools.

Advantages of hiring a SEO Executive

1. Increased visibility and traffic

One of the most significant advantages of hiring a SEO executive is increased visibility and traffic for your website. By optimizing your website's content and structure for search engines, the SEO Executive can help your website rank higher in search engine results pages. This can lead to increased visibility and traffic for your website, and ultimately, more sales for your business.

2. Cost-effective marketing

SEO is a cost-effective way of marketing your business. Unlike traditional marketing methods, such as print and television advertising, SEO does not require a significant financial investment. By hiring a SEO executive, you can attract more customers to your website without spending a lot of money on advertising.

3. Better user experience

A good SEO strategy involves optimizing your website's content and structure for both search engines and users. By optimizing your website's content for search engines, the SEO executive can help your website rank higher in search engine results pages. By optimizing your website's structure for users, the SEO executive can create a better user experience. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and retention.

4. Better ROI

SEO has a better return on investment (ROI) than traditional marketing methods. By hiring a SEO executive, you can attract more customers to your website without spending a lot of money on advertising. This can lead to increased sales and revenue for your business, and ultimately, a better ROI.

5. Increased brand awareness

By ranking higher in search engine results pages, your website will be more visible to potential customers. This can lead to increased brand awareness for your business. By hiring a SEO executive, you can create a strong online presence for your business, which can help increase brand awareness and recognition.

6. Competitive advantage

A good SEO strategy can give your business a competitive advantage. By optimizing your website for search engines, you attract more customers to your website and away from competitors with similar content . This helps you stand out from your competitors and gain a competitive advantage by increasing sales for your business.

7. Long-term benefits

Unlike traditional marketing methods, such as print and television advertising, SEO has long-term benefits. By optimizing your website for search engines, you can attract more customers to your website for a long period of time. Similarly, a better user experience, increased brand awareness and customer retention are benefits that persist over time. This again leads to a consistency in the sales and revenue generation of your business which in itself is a long term benefit.

We can help you source and assess SEO executives with ease!

We at HireQuotient understand the importance and need for effective candidate sourcing. With access to over 600 million candidate profiles across the globe and a concise pre-screening procedure, HireQuotient can help you finish your candidate sourcing in days rather than weeks with the use of automation. Utilize our free job description builder to quickly create the ideal job description when you decide to hire a SEO executive and access and communicate with HireQuotient’s vast pool of candidates via our targeted mass outreach procedures. This has saved over 70,000 hours for recruiters and with our pre screening you can sort out candidates and find the ideal candidate in under 5 minutes!

HireQuotient also provides an entire plethora of skill assessments that you can employ in gauging the skill of your employees. Our repository is constantly updated with the latest industry relevant tests and assessments pertaining to all non-tech related positions. The questions are created by dedicated subject matter experts in the relevant industries and are categorized based on the difficulty levels so that you can effectively assess the candidate you choose to hire.

All of this is available in a few clicks of your mouse, so check out the company website to book a demo or get on a call with our experts here at HireQuotient to learn how we can help you hire SEO executives for your company.

Hiring a SEO Executive : What you need to know