Yes, for most businesses, professional SEO consultants save you months of frustrating trial and error. They keep up with algorithm changes, steer you away from expensive mistakes and usually deliver returns that justify what they charge.
You can handle SEO yourself if you are in a niche with little competition or if you are keen to learn technical marketing.
However, if you're running a complex site or competing in a crowded market, it makes financial sense to seek professional help. Choose someone who builds sustainable results rather than promising overnight miracles that often backfire.
Article Summary:
What You Get From SEO Professionals
Warning Signs of Dodgy Consultants
SEO consultants cost serious money, which makes this a legitimate question.
You need to weigh the investment against what you might get back. Any decent consultant will help you figure that out rather than insisting everyone needs their services. Some businesses benefit enormously. Others might be better off learning the basics themselves.
Here's what experienced consultants bring to the table:
Learning SEO properly takes ages. Basic SEO takes months at a minimum. Often, years if you want real expertise.
You can absolutely learn it yourself. But while you're studying and experimenting, your competitors who hired professionals are gaining ground. Catching up later gets progressively more challenging. For most businesses, the missed opportunities during your learning phase cost far more than paying someone who already knows what they're doing.
Consider going it alone if:
Even then, consider getting a few hours of consulting. Professionals can prevent mistakes that waste months of your effort.
Some consultants offer training rather than full-service work. They teach you the ongoing stuff whilst handling the technical setup you shouldn't touch. This middle ground works well for small businesses, as they watch their budgets carefully.
Plenty of SEO consultants are rubbish. Watch out for:
Trustworthy consultants tell you upfront what's realistic - no wild promises.
They explain their approach in plain English, not jargon designed to confuse you; you shouldn't feel mystified by what they're doing. They show examples of past results. They care about growing your business, not just hitting ranking targets that look impressive but don't pay your bills.
Consultants charge anywhere from £500 to £3,000+ monthly. Depends on how much work is involved and how competitive your market is.
Sounds expensive but think about it this way. Imagine better rankings bring you two extra customers each month. If each customer spends £500 with you, that's an extra £1,000 monthly. Even at the higher end of consultant fees, you're breaking even or ahead. Rankings improve over time, so returns compound.
The crucial bit is measurement. Track where your leads come from. Watch your conversion rates closely. Work out what customers are actually worth over time, not just their first purchase. Decent consultants help you measure properly so you know whether it's working.
If you hire someone, here's what realistic looks like:
SEO isn't something you fix once and then forget about.
Google constantly tweaks its algorithms. Competitors change tactics. Your business evolves. Effective SEO requires ongoing attention. Don't expect consultants to sort everything out in three months, then ride off into the sunset. The relationships that work best are long-term ones in which both sides understand the business well and adapt as things change.
"I am a big believer in transparency. You should know what I'm doing and why. Do not just accept it on faith because I claim to be an expert.
From the start, I'm honest about timelines. Nobody gets page one in 30 days, and I can't guarantee specific positions. What I can do is give you a realistic assessment based on your competition, your budget and what you're trying to achieve.
I care about outcomes that matter to your business - more phone calls, enquiries through your website and bookings."
At Mid Wales Marketing, everything we do focuses on building authority that lasts. We don't use tricks or shortcuts that might work briefly, then collapse when Google cracks down. Just solid work that builds genuine credibility.
We offer a range of options to suit you. Full ongoing SEO service. Strategic advice with your team on the implementation. One-off audits showing what needs attention. Training, if you want to manage it internally. We're flexible because what works for one business doesn't suit another.
Our job is to find the right level of support for your circumstances. We'll tell you honestly what makes sense rather than upselling services you don't need.
At Mid Wales Marketing, we believe in transparent consulting. No jargon, no false promises, just clear strategies that deliver measurable results. We'll honestly assess whether SEO makes sense for your specific situation and budget.
Get in touch for a straightforward conversation about whether SEO is right for your business.
Areas Served:
Aberystwyth, Bangor, Brecon, Builth Wells, Caernarfon, Colwyn Bay, Holyhead,
Llandrindod Wells, Llandudno, Machynlleth, Mold, Newtown, Rhyl, Welshpool and Wrexham
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Mid Wales Marketing, Darowen, Machynlleth SY20 8BW
Ph 01654 288007
Mid Wales Marketing is a regional initiative of Mark Woodcock, founder of Bigfoot Digital and Bigfoot Agency A.I.
