Renting vs. Buying Your SEO Solution

If you’re a renter like me, you’ve heard this from well-meaning homeowners: you are “wasting your money” renting instead of taking advantage of this all-time-low housing market and its super-low interest rates. You could be putting all that rent money into a mortgage and soon enough, you’d own that house instead of walking away with nothing.

home sweet home

And okay, I get it. For a long time, owning a home was an Investment. It was meant to be not just a place to live but also a place that you could, one day, hand down to your children. (Or at least mortgage the heck out of it for your children’s college education.) You were building equity and the home was gaining value and someday, perhaps many years from now, you would get more out of the house than you put into it.

I live in California. The average home valuation in my city, even in these times, is $463,000. Using the handy NY Times calculator and putting that housing cost against my current rent, do you know where I am at the end of 30 years? $200,000 poorer (but with a house for my trouble).

Emotionally, having a home may seem like the right thing to do, but that’s clearly not the case for me.

In a way, this is a problem that small business owners face as well. Do you contract an agency or SEO consultant for your search marketing efforts (rent), or do you put a ring on it and hire an in-house employee (buy)? Let’s take a look at a few pros and cons to get started.

Rent an SEO – Agencies and Consultants

Pros:
Controllable cost — You’re a small business who can’t afford to hire, train, and maintain another person on staff. Hiring an agency gets you an expert who is ready on Day One to make improvements to your site and help you build traffic and brand. You don’t have to pay health insurance on your rented SEO. That’s someone else’s problem.
Short-term relationship — Feeling confident about your ability to do it yourself? Unhappy with the results you’re getting? Contracts with consultants and agencies are usually designed with end dates in mind. You’re not locked into anything.
Only 20 hours a month! — Your SEO campaign isn’t going to happen overnight, but that’s okay. You only need a few hours a month to keep going, and you’re only paying for what you’re using.

Cons:
No buy-in — The agency is in business to help your SEO efforts, but they are not living and dying by your success.
Short-term relationship — Some people stay with their agencies and consultants forever but that’s not always the case. Agencies go out of business or raise their rates, consultants move away, change their specialties. You have no obligation to them, but they have no obligation to you either.
Only 20 hours a month? — Your SEO campaign needs attention but you can’t afford any more time this month, so you don’t get any work done.

Buy into the SEO Dream – Hire In-house

Panda Latte

Pros:
40 hours a week – For what is usually far less an hour, you can hire an employee to devote every waking hour to making your site succeed and there’s no arguing about who’s the boss.
SEO, Web designer, fetcher of coffee – Your in-house employee can wear as many hats as they have time in the day. Don’t need 20 hours of work this month on SEO? That’s okay, she can also write up some PPC ads, run your analytics program, write press releases, help out with customer support, even make coffee in the morning.
In-house means in the building – Your in-house employee, the one making coffee, is literally in the house. When something goes wrong or you have a question, it’s a matter of walking down the hall not calling across the country. Their schedule is your schedule.

Cons:
SEM Training – it’s a rare hire that comes in with 100 percent knowledge. Your best case is picking up a consultant who wants to go in-house; but most of the time, hiring an SEO means hiring someone with knowledge of the Internet that you can train to be an SEO. So you end up spending time and money on SEO training courses.
Search Industry Research – Keeping up with Internet marketing is a full-time job, one that you’ll be footing the bill for. Search marketing changes every week and that means constantly doing research and testing to keep up. While agencies and consultants absorb this cost as a matter of staying in business, a small business may not be able to support the cost of staying on the cutting edge of the industry.
Desk space – the flip side of your SEO being in your building is that he’ll need a place to work, he’ll need equipment, he’ll need all sorts of things. If you’re a small business and your office is just the space you’ve cleared in the backroom, you might not have space for an SEO, even if they do make a mean latte.

Obviously, the answer is going to depend on your business, your market and your life. What makes sense here in California might not make sense in Ohio, and the right choice for Beth’s Auto Emporium might not work out for Todd’s Teahouse and Spa. The one option that isn’t on the table is going homeless. You need an online presence and that means investing in SEO.

Comments are closed on this post. Join us over at 5 Things Businesses Should Know About SEO Agencies for more discussion on how in-house and agency SEO can work together.

FAQ: Should I Rent or Buy My SEO Solution for Small Business Success?

Entrepreneurs and business owners often wonder whether renting or purchasing SEO solutions to assist their small businesses is best. I am an expert in this field and will provide information that will enable you to make an informed decision.

Renting Your SEO Solution:

Renting an SEO solution can be a cost-effective option for small businesses, especially those just starting or with budget constraints. This approach allows you to access professional SEO services without the high upfront costs associated with purchasing your own solution.

  1. Flexibility: Renting an SEO solution offers flexibility as you can tailor it to meet your particular business needs and goals. Services can be increased or decreased as per budget constraints or goals set.
  2. Access to Expertise: Hiring services provides access to an SEO team that stays current on all the latest algorithms and trends, which is particularly helpful for small businesses.
  3. No Long-term Commitment: Many rental agreements are on a month-to-month basis, allowing you to test the waters without a significant long-term commitment.

Buying Your SEO Solution:

Owning your SEO solution means investing in an in-house team, technology, and resources. While it may require more initial capital, it can be a valuable long-term strategy for some businesses.

  1. Full Control: When you buy your SEO solution, you have complete control over your strategy, allowing customization to meet your specific needs and objectives.
  2. Cost Efficiency in the Long Run: Over time, owning your solution can be more cost-effective compared to continuous rental payments.
  3. Data Privacy and Security: Owning your SEO solution means you have full control over your data and can ensure its security, which can be crucial for some businesses.

Making the Decision:

Consider your business’s unique circumstances and objectives to make the right decision. Start by evaluating your budget, long-term goals, and available resources. It’s also essential to assess your team’s expertise and the level of control you desire over your SEO strategy.

The decision to rent or buy your SEO solution for small business success is more than one-size-fits-all. Individual goals and needs dictate which options are most suitable, so consult industry experts when determining what’s right for your business. Digital marketing is a constantly evolving field; what works today may no longer work tomorrow  —  stay informed, and flexible, and make data-driven choices to ensure the success of your small business SEO strategy.

Step-by-Step Procedure: Renting or Buying Your SEO Solution for Small Business Success

  1. Assess Your Budget: Determine your available budget for SEO services, including monthly expenses and initial setup costs.
  2. Identify Business Goals: Clearly define your business objectives, such as increasing website traffic, improving search engine rankings, or boosting sales.
  3. Evaluate Resources: Consider the expertise and resources within your organization for managing SEO internally.
  4. Analyze the Market: Research SEO service providers and evaluate the options available for renting SEO solutions.
  5. Examine Long-term Costs: Compare the long-term costs of renting SEO services versus buying and maintaining an in-house team.
  6. Consider Flexibility: Assess your need for scalability and flexibility in adapting your SEO strategy as your business evolves.
  7. Evaluate Control: Determine how much control you desire over your SEO strategy and data.
  8. Data Security: Consider the importance of data privacy and security for your business.
  9. Consult Experts: Seek advice from SEO professionals to help you understand which option aligns best with your business goals.
  10. Perform a Cost-Benefit Analysis: Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of renting and buying an SEO solution based on your circumstances.
  11. Decision-Making: Make an informed decision based on your budget, objectives, and the factors mentioned above.
  12. Implementation: Execute your chosen SEO strategy, whether it involves renting services or establishing an in-house team.
  13. Monitor and Adjust: Continuously analyze the performance of your SEO strategy and make necessary adjustments.
  14. Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes to ensure ongoing success.
  15. Data Management: If you opt for an in-house solution, establish protocols for data management and security.
  16. Track Progress: Monitor the progress of your SEO efforts using relevant analytics and key performance indicators.
  17. Adapt and Optimize: Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on performance data to maximize results.
  18. Seek Expert Advice: Consult with SEO professionals periodically to stay on top of industry best practices.
  19. Budget Reassessment: Periodically review your budget and assess whether your chosen SEO solution remains cost-effective.
  20. Long-term Planning: Consider long-term strategies and objectives to ensure sustained SEO success.

By following this comprehensive step-by-step procedure, you can confidently determine whether renting or buying an SEO solution is the right choice for your small business’s success.

This article was updated on November 23, 2023.

Susan Esparza is former managing editor at Bruce Clay Inc., and has written extensively for clients and internal publications. Along with Bruce Clay, she is co-author of the first edition of Search Engine Optimization All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies.

See Susan's author page for links to connect on social media.

Comments (27)
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27 Replies to “Renting vs. Buying Your SEO Solution”

Great resources, indeed the Father of SEO

Really nice blog but there is more to internet marketing than just SEO.

Having worked both in-house and now for an agency I’ve seen both sides and you’ve got the pros and cons covered well there.

If it was MY small business, I’d hire an agency, simply because of cost issue. Being in-house and doing more than ‘just SEO’ still didn’t justify my salary (and I was honest enough to tell my employer that and move on!), whereas having an agency does, as you say, allow you to control the cost.

For a small business, it’s all about the bottom line. That said, as you grow and you need more time spent on SEO, getting a full time in-house employee could be the way to go if you can justify the cost.

Brent Rangen

Buying training for your employees can be a better investment. Teaching your own staff the fundamentals can mean good visibility for years to come. Too many people focus on the right now to realize it’s even an option.

Susan Esparza

I agree, Brent. I don’t think there’s any substitution for someone in your company knowing about SEO. In fact, I think you have to have someone even if you are working with an agency. There’s just too much potential for disaster if you don’t know the basics yourself. Training is SO important.

Nataliya Yakushev

Nice article! Another cons of the outside (agency) SEO is that they usually have the limited pre-selected vendors they will hook you up with. For example link building is a complex task and it is far better to go with several vendors vs one link building company. An agency would prefer to use their own internal resources or one vendor they already have a partnership with. In-house SEO will always be on the lookout for new resources out there and will test everything.

So my question for the author is. What is a good SEO company? I ask because I handle a ton of affiliates and I have never had an affiliate tell me WOW this is a great SEO firm. Most of the time I hear well I spend 30k ove rthe last 6 months and nothing has changed. I would say from experience in the field for over 8 years that most SEO companies are scams. Oh they seem great at first, well at least there sales pitch. But month after month and nothing, only to lose tens of thousands of dollars.

Tim,

Well, obviously, I’m going to be a little biased here, being that Bruce Clay, Inc is an Internet marketing services company and ‘what’s a good SEO company’ could be a whole post on its own but I’ll try to keep it concise.

The first thing I think you’re looking for is experience. I don’t just mean years in the industry but actual hands on work that’s consistent and continuing. You want someone with a strong commitment to education and ethics — there are a lot of shady companies out there (that’s why SEO gets a bad rap after all) and getting into bed with one without knowing what they stand for is a bad idea.

I think you want someone who is going to be honest with you. If they’re guaranteeing rankings or promising instant results, they’re lying. If they’re going to tell you that you can rank for your most competitive keyword in 6 months, they’re probably lying or they’re planning on spamming.

We really strongly believe that a good SEO company is going to engage in knowledge transfer. If you’re handing everything over to an SEO company and they never ask you to understand what it is that they’re doing, that’s not valuable to you.

I think you want someone who can handle all types of sites — big, small, local, global, niche — and has the portfolio to prove it.

I’m sure there are lots more criteria that people could add so I’ll leave it here.

I am not a big fan of ranting or switching SEO consultants. I don’t mind paying a bit more but want to stick someone I can work with.

Marina

Hey Susan, you forgot one thing: the perfect balance between these two! We have a few clients (mostly already working on distributed teams) that treat us just like their employees. They pay us a ton of money to handle everything for them, they trust us completely, and we’re able to dedicate a lot of time to making their sites better. I’m even copied on internal emails to share my ideas with their team.

It’s win-win for everyone.

Does anyone else have that relationship?

Susan Esparza

Xander,

We absolutely have that relationship with some of our clients and when it works out that way, it’s an awesome thing. The advantage of hiring outside the company is that you can tailor that relationship to be as close or hands-off as you like. Not something you can get with an in-house solution.

SEO is so important, you don’t want to get it wrong. If you don’t know much about it, hire someone.

“If you don’t know much about it, hire someone.”
But if don’t know much about it how do you know the hired person is doing their job properly?…
I always like to do things myself – but then again I don’t have big online business to worry about… Thank god!

Susan Esparza

Me,

Doing it yourself is also an option. That’s another cost to your business, however. It means you have to be the one taking the training courses and keeping up with the industry. Usually small business owners are busy enough with their first job that taking on a second is overwhelming.

Great post, Susan!

A couple of additional points on renting vs. buying:

If your primary revenue stream is from leads/retail/etc. on the internet, SEO really should be a core competency that is in-house (never outsource your core competency, etc.)

However, here’s a common scenario when you “buy”:
You hire someone with raw talent and a little experience. You spend time and money to train her up. She’s good and she realizes how much she can make somewhere else- after all, she came in as a trainee, and leaves as an SEO ninja.
So, you have to hire and go through the cycle again.
This is not to say you should not “buy”- but I’ve seen this scenario quite a few times.

Again, great post, and I agree with most of your points!

Susan Esparza

Peter,

Thanks for dropping in. Great points about core competency versus risk. That’s something you have to be wary of no matter what your business is, of course. Training up a superstar usually means accepting that your superstar may outgrow you.

I’m biased, but for the majority of small businesses, you’re best outsourcing SEO. For a start, you’ll get someone with experience (and hopefully a few people on staff to come up with strategies and solutions one person might miss), and you’re not tied to a new employee.

Financially, it makes sense.

That said, I can see why people want in-house SEO, but if you’re a small or medium business I can’t imagine it being cost effective.

Susan Esparza

Andy,

I think it really depends on the business. A business that relies completely on being online may need that full time Internet marketing person on staff. But the local cupcake shop probably just needs a few hours of consulting a month.

Miles Carter

I agree Andy 100%, but maybe I’m biased too – it seems to me most small/medium sized companies are less likely to attract someone experienced to an in house position unless they’re offering very good levels of compensation – I feel SEO is not a game for beginners working alone.

More importantly these businesses are unlikely to be in a position to judge candidates levels of expertise and knowledge in the field.

Got to say, a few times I’ve seen job ads for in house SEO positions at small/medium sized businesses in things like local newspapers (in a fairly rural area), it’s difficult to imagine they will have a single good candidate applying.

Susan Esparza

Miles, I think you’d be surprised by how many SEOs there are out in those rural areas but you’re right that it does seem like you’re fishing in the wrong pond.

For small businesses, I really do think that unless they’re lucky enough to find someone really amazing, they need to also hire an outside consultant, if only just to keep things on track.

I personally think, for business that are not completely sure what SEO is about, it’s better they acquire service from agency first to get a bit of the flavor how to increase their online presence. Many agencies provide training as well, once small business owners are confident about the process of site optimisation, can always hire an inhouse SEO to take over.

I like the panda chocolate sprinkle on top of the coffee by the way, cute!

Susan Esparza

Thanks, Ching!

I agree, the try before you buy option is a good one. To belabor my rent vs buy analogy, it gives you time to learn the area and figure out where you want to live. Jumping in blind can lead you into scary neighborhoods really fast.

(Click through on the panda pic! The photographer has more cute foam art.)

Great points! It really depends on what product or service the company handles. But if they can afford it they should go in house and invest for the long run.

I am in-house internet marketing manager for a mid-size company so my opinion is informed but biased.

There is more to internet marketing than just SEO, obviously, so I think the real question is in-sourcing vs out-sourcing the entire internet marketing department. If the internet marketing dept. is in-house than hiring an in-house SEO is a no brainer.

In my opinion, the biggest factor in the decision process is the size of the business. It’s hard for small business to take on more employees of any sort and over sight is always an issue. SEO is French to those not in the business, how do you manage a position you don’t understand?

However, if your a mid-size to large company and doing SEM, SEO and SMM then bringing in an internet marketing team is the way to go.

I was in a meeting earlier today with the franchise sales team going over their internet marketing strategy. At the end of the meeting they asked, “do we have to pay any extra for this?”

Other agency cons:
Potentially buying shady links
Short term results

Susan Esparza

Thanks for stopping by, Jonathan.

Great points. I also left out an awesome solution which is having it both ways. There are plenty of big companies out there that have an agency to consult and an in-house team to implement. Sometimes you need both to get the whole picture. The trouble is that having it both ways doubles the cost, not feasible for smaller businesses.

I really like in-house as a solution if companies can afford it. It shows a commitment to SEO that I think is really important.

That is how we operate, partnering with an agency. They have more case studies to draw from so we don’t have to waste time testing different strategies. They also help validate what we are doing to the executive team.

That being said, the greatest benefit has been them helping with bottlenecks in IT!

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