How Do I Attract SEO Talent When Competitive Salaries Are Rising Across Industries?

• Overview
• What I Think
• Deep Dive: How and When to Outsource SEO
• 13-Step Action Plan for Partnering with an SEO Vendor
• Quick Solutions
• About Us

Overview

If you want to attract high-caliber SEO talent in a competitive job market, you need well-rounded recruitment strategies, competitive compensation/benefits packages and a work environment that nurtures professional growth and innovation. 

What I Think

Competitive salaries across industries have made securing SEO talent increasingly challenging. 

In my experience, however, offering more than just financial rewards makes SEO positions much more attractive. 

This can include everything from remote work to career growth plans and professional development.

In addition, the businesses that create a strong employer brand with a happy workplace culture stand a better chance to attract and retain the best SEO talent.

The hiring approach matters, too. During the hiring process, be sure to emphasize the role’s challenges and the potential for impactful work. Increasingly people want meaningful positions. 

And then of course, investing in the right recruitment strategies helps find the best talent, including partnerships with educational institutions and training organizations to find those skilled professionals.

Deep Dive: Attracting SEO Talent

Finding the best SEO talent in a competitive space takes strategy. Here are some tips.

Define Roles

You’ll first need to understand what talent you absolutely need. 

Hiring the best SEO talent begins with defining the roles and skills that will align with strategic business goals. 

Of course, a detailed job description that outlines responsibilities, expectations and opportunities for growth sets the stage for attracting skilled candidates. 

Be sure to include information about your company’s culture and values so you can further appeal to professionals who are seeking alignment with their own values.

Create Compensation Packages

Competitive compensation packages are often a deciding factor for candidates but it’s often not the only thing that matters.  

As salaries rise, you can offer other perks that can be attractive to top talent, including:

• Insurance benefits.
• Work-life balance programs.
• Flexible schedules.
• Remote working options.
• Wellness programs. 

… or anything else that can set your offer apart.

Be a Desirable Employer

Building a strong employer brand is essential in a competitive market. This involves promoting your company’s achievements, culture and commitment to innovation.  

Positive employee testimonials and reviews matter, too, as well as showcasing the SEO team’s successes. 

Recruit Innovatively

Use industry networks and professional events to identify and connect with potential candidates. 

You will also want to look into industry-specific job boards as well as training organizations to expand the pool of qualified candidates.

Promote Upskilling

Creating opportunities for skills development within your organization is another way to attract top talent. 

For example, you can offer access to certifications, workshops and training programs to show that you are committed to career growth. 

These initiatives help attract talent and also improve team retention. 

Be Adaptive

Be adaptive with your hiring process to help ensure your SEO team stays effective as the SEO industry changes. 

This requires regularly assessing the team’s capabilities, updating job descriptions and seeking feedback from colleagues on how you can enhance the SEO team. 

12-Step Action Plan for Attracting Top SEO Talent

The following 12 steps can help you attract and retain top SEO talent: 

1. Define the specific SEO roles required in your team, and identify the skills and attributes needed for each role.
2. Develop comprehensive job descriptions, and be sure to include company culture and values in the job postings.
3. Determine a competitive compensation structure but also offer attractive benefits, flexible work options and career growth. 
4. Build and maintain a strong employer brand.
5. Collect and use positive employee testimonials and reviews.
6. Establish partnerships to develop a pipeline of emerging talent, attend professional networking events and partner with training organizations and educational institutions to find more candidates.
7. Use advanced recruitment tools for candidate screening and conduct virtual interviews to streamline the process.
8. Provide access to ongoing professional development such as workshops, certifications and training programs.
9. Foster a supportive and innovative workplace culture.
10. Regularly update your recruitment strategies based on industry trends, and monitor competitor hiring practices.
11. Seek feedback from current employees about the hiring process.
12. Evaluate and refine your strategies to remain competitive.

Bruce Clay Inc.’s SEO experts can immediately serve as an extension of your SEO team. In addition, our certified SEO training course creates qualified SEO professionals to contribute to any SEO department.

Contact Us to Learn How We Can Partner with You!

Quick Solutions

• How Do I Restructure My SEO Team to Lead in This New Era of AI and Search Innovation?
• How Do I Determine When Outsourcing Is the Right Choice for My SEO Needs?

About Us

Bruce Clay Inc. has been a leader in digital marketing and SEO innovation since 1996. Our team is dedicated to empowering businesses with the tools and strategies they need to thrive in a competitive online landscape. We offer comprehensive solutions tailored to meet unique organizational challenges. Learn more about our expertise on our About Us page.

Bruce Clay is founder and president of Bruce Clay Inc., a global digital marketing firm providing search engine optimization, pay-per-click, social media marketing, SEO-friendly web architecture, and SEO tools and education. Connect with him on LinkedIn or through the BruceClay.com website.

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