Read THIS, Before Hiring a Keyword Research Specialist

A skilled keyword research specialist does two things:

1) Finds relevant keywords to improve your SEO

2) Stops you from going down keyword research rabbit holes when you should be working on your business.

It can be hard to find a skilled expert. Hiring the wrong person can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities, potentially setting back your digital marketing efforts.

In this article, I’ll show you exactly what to consider before outsourcing keyword research.

What is a Keyword Research Specialist?

A keyword research specialist is an expert focused on finding, analyzing, and using keywords to build effective SEO strategies. Their work helps ensure your content ranks well and reaches the right audience.

These keyword experts focus on identifying valuable search queries that your target customers search for when looking for products, services, and just general information.

Here are some tasks that keyword research experts handle:

• Finding high-traffic, low-competition keywords that are relevant to your business.
• Understanding what users are looking for (aka search intent) when they search specific keywords.
• Checking out competitor keywords to spot gaps and opportunities.
• Monitoring keyword rankings and adjusting strategies based on results.
• Grouping related keywords to optimize content and boost search visibility.
• And lots more tasks…

You get the point: there are a lot of moving parts to keyword research.

Which is one of the reasons you might be considering getting someone else to do it for you…

Why should I hire a keyword research consultant?

Keywords are the foundation of effective SEO. If no one is searching for your topic, you won’t get any traffic from Google — regardless of your efforts.

That’s why doing effective keyword research is key for SEO success:

Choose the wrong keywords, and you risk wasting time and resources.

By hiring a keyword research specialist, you can streamline the process and focus on what matters most—growing your business.

How to outsource keyword research (5 KEY considerations)

So you want to outsource your keyword research to an expert.

Good choice.

Here are five key considerations to keep in mind when selecting a specialist:

1. Experience and Expertise

When outsourcing keyword research, it’s crucial to evaluate the specialist’s experience and expertise to ensure they can meet your needs.

What to Look For:

• Specific qualifications such as certifications in SEO and digital marketing.
• Years of experience in keyword research and SEO.
• Relevant skills including proficiency with keyword research tools (e.g., Ahrefs, SEMrush).

Why It Matters:
Ensures the specialist has the necessary background and knowledge to deliver effective keyword strategies tailored to your business needs.

2. Reputation and Reviews

Checking the reputation and reviews of a keyword research specialist can provide valuable insights into their reliability and past performance.

What to Look For:

• Client testimonials that highlight successful projects.
• Case studies demonstrating the specialist’s ability to achieve results.
• Online reviews on platforms like Google, LinkedIn, or specialized SEO forums.

Why It Matters:
Provides insight into the specialist’s reliability, work quality, and past performance, helping you make an informed decision.

You can read our real reviews (from real clients) here or check us out on Trustpilot.

3. Approach and Methodology

Understanding the specialist’s approach and methodology helps ensure their working style aligns with your expectations and business goals.

What to Look For:

• The specialist’s process for conducting keyword research, including the tools they use and how they analyze data.
• Their approach to problem-solving and adapting strategies based on performance metrics.
• Transparency in their methodology and willingness to explain their process.

Why It Matters:
Helps determine if their working style aligns with your expectations and ensures that their methods are up-to-date and effective.

4. Cost and Value

Understanding the specialist’s approach and methodology helps ensure their working style aligns with your expectations and business goals.

What to Look For:

• Clear pricing structure, including what is included in their services (e.g., number of keywords researched, reports provided).
• Any additional costs that may arise during the project.
• Comparison of cost versus the value provided, ensuring you get a good return on investment.

Why It Matters:
Ensures you get the best value for your investment and prevents unexpected expenses, allowing for better budget management.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Being aware of common mistakes in keyword research can help you choose a specialist who avoids these pitfalls and delivers effective results.

Overreliance on Keyword Research Tools

While keyword research tools are essential, relying too heavily on them can be problematic. These tools often provide historical data, which may not accurately reflect current or future search trends.

Additionally, they may offer incomplete or misleading data due to limitations like search personalization or regional restrictions.

This can result in targeting keywords that no longer drive traffic or conversions, leading to ineffective SEO strategies.

Quality Mismatches and Lack of Control

Outsourcing keyword research can sometimes lead to mismatches in quality and expectations.

Businesses may find that the keywords provided do not align well with their content strategy or target audience.

Lack of control over the process can make it challenging to ensure that the research aligns perfectly with the company’s goals and branding, potentially leading to suboptimal results.

Communication Challenges

Effective communication is crucial when outsourcing keyword research.

Miscommunications or delays in feedback can lead to misunderstandings and suboptimal results.

Ensuring that the external specialist fully understands the business’s needs and objectives requires clear and ongoing communication, which can be difficult to maintain consistently, affecting the overall success of the project.

Hire a Loganix Keyword Expert

Effective keyword research remains a foundational part of SEO.

Hiring a skilled keyword research specialist can significantly improve your strategy.

They’ll identify valuable search terms, help go after relevant traffic, not to mention save you from falling down keyword research rabbit holes.