SEO Company vs. In-House SEO: Which Is Better for Your Business?

SEO Company vs. In-House SEO – it’s a common dilemma for businesses aiming to boost their online presence and drive more traffic. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) plays a pivotal role in achieving these goals, but choosing between hiring an SEO company or building an in-house SEO team can be challenging.

Both options have their unique advantages and challenges, so it’s important to consider which one aligns best with your business goals. In this article, we’ll explore the differences, pros, and cons of each approach, and help you decide which SEO strategy is best suited for your business.

What is SEO?

Before diving into the comparison, let’s quickly define SEO. SEO refers to the process of optimizing your website and its content to improve its visibility in search engine results
pages (SERPs).

Effective SEO helps increase organic traffic to your website, resulting in higher visibility, more potential customers, and increased revenue. Whether you hire an external SEO company or build an internal team, SEO is critical for your business’s success.

What is an SEO Company?

An SEO company (or SEO agency) is a third-party organization that specializes in providing SEO services. These companies have teams of SEO experts who can help businesses improve their website rankings, write and optimize content, conduct keyword research, perform technical SEO, build backlinks, and much more. They typically offer flexible service packages based on your business’s needs and goals.

According to WebFX, 44% of companies are actively using SEO to drive growth—and for good reason. SEO leads boast an impressive close rate of nearly 15%. With the global SEO services market projected to jump from $90.35 billion in 2024 to $106.9 billion by 2025, it’s clear that businesses are investing more in organic strategies to stay competitive online.

What is In-House SEO?

In-house SEO refers to hiring a dedicated internal team to manage all SEO activities within your company. This team may consist of full-time SEO specialists, content creators, developers, and designers. In-house teams are fully immersed in the business, understanding its core values and long-term goals, which can result in more tailored and focused SEO strategies.

According to Semji, 75% of companies entrust their content to a team of in-house writers and 36% use external editorial support (content agencies, freelancers ect.) . So from these stats, we know that while the majority of companies prefer to keep content creation in-house, a significant portion still sees value in outsourcing to agencies or freelancers—often to scale production or bring in specialized expertise.

SEO Company vs. In-House SEO: 8 Key Differences

1. Expertise & Experience

• SEO Company: Brings specialized knowledge and broad experience across various industries. Agencies often work with multiple clients and are up-to-date on the latest SEO trends and best practices.

• In-House SEO: Has deeper brand and business knowledge, making it easier to align SEO efforts with company goals. However, the team may lack expertise in specialized SEO areas or advanced techniques.

2. Cost

• SEO Company: SEO companies usually charge either on a monthly retainer or a project-based pricing model. While this can be more expensive upfront, it’s a more flexible model that doesn’t require long-term commitments or additional resources.
• In-House SEO: Hiring an in-house team involves salaries, training costs, recruitment, and ongoing tool investments, which can become expensive. However, this can be a cost-effective option for larger businesses with the resources to build and maintain an internal team.

3. Scalability

• SEO Company: Agencies can quickly scale efforts up or down depending on your business needs. If you want to ramp up SEO efforts for a product launch or marketing campaign, an agency can easily allocate more resources.
• In-House SEO: Scaling in-house SEO efforts can be challenging and slow, as it requires hiring additional staff or reallocating internal resources.

4. Time & Focus

• SEO Company: SEO agencies are dedicated to SEO tasks and can often deliver quicker results. With a team focused exclusively on SEO, they are likely to make faster adjustments based on performance.
• In-House SEO: An in-house team often has multiple responsibilities, which can divide their focus between SEO and other marketing tasks. This could result in slower execution of SEO strategies.

5. Flexibility

• SEO Company: Agencies are more adaptable and can easily shift strategies based on trends or changing business needs. They can implement new tactics quickly and effectively.
• In-House SEO: In-house teams might follow more rigid processes, as they are tied to internal guidelines and business objectives, making it harder to pivot strategies quickly.

6. Resources & Tools

• SEO Company: SEO agencies come with advanced tools and resources, including premium SEO tools for keyword research, link building, and competitor analysis. The cost of these tools is typically covered by the agency.
• In-House SEO: In-house teams are responsible for purchasing and maintaining their own tools, which can be costly and may limit access to advanced resources, especially for smaller businesses.

7. Industry Knowledge

• SEO Company: Agencies often have a broad industry perspective, working with clients from various niches. This can bring fresh insights and innovative ideas to your SEO strategy.
• In-House SEO: In-house teams are deeply familiar with your specific industry, brand, and target audience, which helps tailor SEO strategies to align with company values and customer needs.

8. Control

• SEO Company: By working with an agency, you relinquish some control over daily operations and decision-making. However, this often results in less hands-on management, as the agency handles most tasks.
• In-House SEO: With an in-house team, you have complete control over SEO strategies, adjustments, and timelines, ensuring everything is aligned with your business’s overall objectives.

Pros and Cons of Hiring an SEO Company

Pros:

• Expertise: SEO companies bring specialized knowledge, with a team dedicated solely to SEO.
• Access to Tools: Agencies often have access to premium tools and resources, which can boost the effectiveness of your SEO campaigns.
• Scalable: Easily scale efforts as needed, whether you want to ramp up SEO for a product launch or scale back during slower periods.
• Time-Saving: Outsourcing SEO frees up your internal resources to focus on other aspects of your business.
• Fresh Perspective: Agencies often bring new ideas and insights that can help optimize strategies and improve results.
• Focus on Core Business: Allows you to focus on your business’s core operations without being bogged down by technical SEO tasks.

Cons:

• Higher Costs: SEO agencies can be more expensive, especially for small businesses with limited budgets.
• Limited Brand Knowledge: While agencies are skilled in SEO, they may not fully understand your company’s brand or unique market.
• Communication Gaps: Working with an external agency may lead to delays or misunderstandings in communication.
• Less Control: With an agency, you might have less direct oversight and control over the daily management of SEO efforts.
• Quality Concerns: The agency you hire may not always deliver the desired results if not properly vetted.
• Dependence on an External Team: Your SEO efforts are dependent on the agency’s availability and performance.

Pros and Cons of In-House SEO

Pros:

1. Brand Knowledge: In-house teams have a deep understanding of your business, values, and target audience, which helps create more tailored SEO strategies.
2. Direct Communication: With an in-house team, there’s no middleman, making communication faster and more efficient.
3. Control: You have full control over SEO strategies, execution, and adjustments, allowing you to align SEO with long-term business goals.
4. Team Collaboration: In-house teams can work closely with other departments, like marketing and design, to ensure a more unified approach to SEO.
5. Customization: SEO strategies are fully customized to fit your specific brand, business needs, and goals.
6. Long-Term Focus: In-house teams are more likely to focus on long-term SEO efforts, as they are closely tied to your business’s future.

Cons:

1. Limited Resources: In-house teams may lack access to the same advanced tools and resources as agencies.
2. Higher Costs: Hiring, training, and retaining an in-house team can be expensive, especially when it comes to recruitment and providing necessary tools.
3. Skill Gaps: Your in-house team may not possess the specialized skills needed for certain SEO tasks, such as advanced technical SEO.
4. Risk of Burnout: If your in-house team is stretched too thin with other responsibilities, SEO might get sidelined or poorly executed.
5. Slow Scaling: Expanding or adjusting SEO efforts requires hiring more staff or increasing resources, which takes time.
6. Dependence on a Single Team: If key team members leave, there could be a knowledge gap or delays in your SEO efforts.

Which Is Better for Your Business?

Choosing between hiring an SEO company or building an in-house SEO team depends on your business’s specific needs, goals, and resources.

• SEO Company: Ideal for businesses seeking specialized expertise, quick scalability, and the ability to outsource SEO tasks to focus on other areas of the business.
• In-House SEO: Best for larger businesses that can afford to invest in an internal team with deep brand knowledge and long-term SEO goals.

Hybrid Approach: Can You Have Both?

Many businesses find that the best solution lies somewhere between hiring an SEO company and building an in-house team—this is where the hybrid approach comes into play.

With a hybrid SEO strategy, businesses keep an internal SEO team for ongoing tasks and day-to-day management of SEO efforts, while outsourcing specific tasks to an SEO company. This approach gives businesses the flexibility to tap into specialized skills when needed, without losing the in-house control and deep brand knowledge that an internal team provides.

Here’s how the hybrid approach works:

• In-House SEO Team: Your internal SEO team can focus on long-term strategies, content creation, on-site SEO, and making sure the company’s core objectives are always aligned with SEO efforts. They’ll also handle routine tasks such as monitoring traffic, implementing SEO best practices, and collaborating with other teams like marketing and sales.
• SEO Company: For specific, specialized needs—like technical SEO, advanced link-building, or keyword research—you can bring in an agency. The agency will provide expertise in areas where your in-house team might be lacking or where additional resources are required, such as during peak business periods or when a complex SEO challenge arises.

The hybrid approach is great for businesses that need flexibility and access to a broad range of SEO skills without committing fully to an external agency or hiring a full in-house team. It allows you to build an agile, balanced strategy while maintaining control over your brand’s voice, messaging, and goals.

FAQ Section:

What’s the difference between in-house SEO and SEO companies?
In-house SEO is when you hire an internal team to handle SEO efforts within your company. SEO companies are third-party agencies that specialize in SEO and provide services to businesses on an outsourced basis. The primary difference is that in-house SEO teams are deeply integrated into the business and its culture, while SEO companies bring specialized expertise and external perspectives.

How do I know if I need an SEO company or an in-house team?
It depends on your business needs. If you have the resources and long-term goals to build an SEO strategy from the ground up, an in-house team might be the best fit. If you need specialized skills or don’t have the bandwidth to handle SEO internally, an SEO company can offer the expertise you need. A hybrid approach can also be effective if you need the flexibility of both.

Can an in-house team and an SEO company work together?
Yes! A hybrid approach can be very effective. In-house teams can focus on day-to-day SEO tasks and brand strategy, while SEO companies can be brought in for specialized tasks such as technical SEO, advanced content strategies, or to scale efforts when necessary. Collaboration between the two can create a more robust and flexible SEO plan.

Is hiring an SEO company more cost-effective than building an in-house team?
It can be, depending on your business size and goals. Hiring an SEO company generally has lower upfront costs compared to building and maintaining an in-house team. However, over time, having an internal team might be more cost-effective if SEO is a long-term priority for your business, as you’ll have more control over salaries and tools.

What are the most common tasks an SEO company handles?
SEO companies typically handle tasks such as technical SEO, advanced keyword research, link-building, content creation for blogs and website pages, SEO audits, and ensuring that your website is optimized for search engines. They can also provide ongoing performance monitoring and adjustment based on analytics.

Can I do SEO myself without an in-house team or SEO company?
It’s possible, especially for small businesses or startups, but it requires a significant investment of time and learning. SEO involves both technical skills (like understanding how search engines rank pages) and creative work (like writing optimized content). If you have the time and desire to learn, you can manage basic SEO efforts yourself, but for more complex tasks, it may be worth hiring professionals.

How long does it take to see SEO results?
SEO is a long-term strategy, and it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to see significant results, depending on factors like the competitiveness of your industry, the quality of your content, the effectiveness of your keyword targeting, and your website’s technical health. Both in-house teams and SEO companies will need time to research, optimize, and improve your site before results start showing.

Should I choose an SEO company that specializes in my industry?
While it’s not a requirement, an SEO company with experience in your industry can bring added value. They’ll likely have a deeper understanding of your target audience, competitors, and specific challenges, which could lead to more effective strategies. That said, many SEO companies have broad expertise and can work with businesses in various industries.

Conclusion

Deciding whether to hire an SEO company or build an in-house SEO team requires careful consideration of your business’s size, budget, goals, and expertise. While each approach has its strengths, the hybrid strategy offers flexibility by combining the benefits of both in-house and outsourced SEO efforts. By understanding the key differences, pros, and cons of each, you can choose the best option for your business or opt for a combination of the two to get the best of both worlds.

If you need help navigating this decision or would like to discuss a customized SEO plan for your business, contact us today for a consultation. We’re here to help you grow your online presence and reach new heights with effective SEO strategies!