Master the Art of Outsourcing SEO with This Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The Benefits of Outsourcing SEO
3. Step 1: Creating Detailed SOPs 3.1 Why SOPs are important 3.2 How to create effective SOPs
4. Step 2: Hiring Freelancers 4.1 The benefits of hiring specialized freelancers 4.2 Tips for hiring freelancers 4.3 Recommended platforms for hiring freelancers
5. Step 3: Systematizing Your Workflow 5.1 The importance of project management tools 5.2 Choosing the right project management tool 5.3 Setting up a Kanban board for SEO tasks
6. Conclusion

How to Systematize and Outsource SEO Using a Simple 3-Step Framework

Outsourcing SEO can be a dream for many business owners and managers. It allows you to focus on more valuable tasks and removes geographical limitations when building your SEO team. However, effective outsourcing requires a systematic approach to ensure success. In this article, we will discuss a simple 3-step framework that will help you systematize and outsource SEO effectively.

The Benefits of Outsourcing SEO

Outsourcing SEO offers two significant benefits over in-house efforts. Firstly, it gives you more time to focus on tasks where you provide the most value, such as managing in-house employees or growing your business. Secondly, it allows you to tap into a global talent pool, working with smart and talented individuals from all over the world.

Step 1: Creating Detailed SOPs

The first step in systematizing and outsourcing SEO is to create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). SOPs are detailed documents that explain how to carry out specific tasks from start to finish. To create effective SOPs, it is essential to outline every last detail and provide step-by-step instructions. Treat your SOPs like McDonald's does - detailed manuals that leave no room for ambiguity. By creating thorough SOPs, you ensure that your expectations are properly communicated and followed.

Why SOPs are important

SOPs serve several crucial purposes. Firstly, they make it easier to hire and onboard new team members when someone quits or needs to be replaced. Secondly, they help team members stay on track when they haven't performed a task for a while, enabling them to reference the SOPs and get back up to speed quickly. Thirdly, SOPs enhance efficiency by allowing team members to complete tasks faster. When you have already optimized the process, documented the steps, and outlined the most efficient ways of working, your team can work more cohesively. SOPs also save you time by reducing the need to answer repetitive questions and prevent deviation from a system that works. Finally, SOPs pave the way for your eventual removal from the process, providing you with the freedom to focus on other endeavors.

How to create effective SOPs

When creating SOPs, don't assume that your hired help knows your expectations. Outline every detail, leaving no room for confusion. SOPs can be in written form or in video format. Use whatever format works best for you and your team.

To illustrate the creation process, let's consider the example of creating a team for link building. Break down the tactics you'll be using, such as guest posting, broken link building, and unlinked mentions. Then, create detailed descriptions of each tactic and how they should be executed. Be thorough and leave no room for guesswork.

Step 2: Hiring Freelancers

Hiring freelancers can be a cost-effective way to build an outsourced SEO team. It is essential to hire freelancers based on the tasks outlined in your SOPs rather than seeking one person to do everything. By assigning specific tasks to specialized freelancers, you ensure that they can focus on mastering their respective areas. This approach improves the quality of work and overall efficiency.

The benefits of hiring specialized freelancers

Hiring specialized freelancers offers several advantages. It allows team members to become experts in their designated tasks, which improves the quality of their work. When freelancers focus on specific tasks, they can provide better results compared to when they are spread too thin. Additionally, by hiring freelancers to handle specific tasks, you can leverage their expertise and tap into their unique skill sets, resulting in better overall performance.

Tips for hiring freelancers

When hiring freelancers, it is crucial to write a clear and specific job description based on your detailed SOPs. Clearly state the skills and requirements necessary for the role. To ensure that applicants pay attention to details, consider providing specific instructions on how they should apply. This could include asking them to use a specific subject line or providing a simple qualification task to gauge their abilities.

There are various platforms available for hiring freelancers, each with its own strengths based on the specific skills you need. Some popular platforms include Upwork, People per Hour, and Mechanical Turk. It may take some trial and error to find the best fit for your requirements, and manual vetting of candidates is essential.

Step 3: Systematizing Your Workflow

Managing outsourced SEO tasks can be challenging due to the complexity and numerous moving parts involved. To ensure smooth operations, it is crucial to have a project management tool in place. There are many project management tools available, such as Trello, Asana, Notion, Airtable, and Basecamp. Choose a tool that best suits your needs and preferences.

The importance of project management tools

Project management tools serve as a centralized hub for all your SEO tasks. They allow you to keep track of ongoing projects, deadlines, and progress. With a project management tool, you can easily assign tasks, track their status, and ensure that everyone is on the same page. This level of organization and transparency is essential when managing an outsourced team.

Choosing the right project management tool

Choose a project management tool that aligns with your preferred workflow and provides the necessary features for effective collaboration. Consider using Kanban boards, which allow you to visualize your projects' progress at a glance. Set up columns in your Kanban board based on the steps outlined in your SOPs. This visual representation helps everyone on your team understand what needs to be done and when it needs to be completed.

Setting up a Kanban board for SEO tasks

To illustrate how to set up a Kanban board for SEO tasks, let's take the example of content creation for a blog. Create a column for documentation, where you attach SOPs and relevant documents. Assign topics to team members in the keyword research column. As each step is completed, move the task card to the appropriate column, such as outlining or drafting. This visual workflow ensures that everyone knows the status of each task and can easily collaborate.

In conclusion, outsourcing SEO can be a highly effective strategy when done right. By following a simple 3-step framework of creating detailed SOPs, hiring specialized freelancers, and systematizing your workflow using project management tools, you can build an efficient and successful outsourced SEO team. Remember to continuously refine your processes and optimize your SOPs to scale effectively.

Thank you for reading this article. If you have any questions or need further clarification on any of the steps discussed, please leave a comment below. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more actionable SEO and marketing tutorials.