Hire an SEO Specialist and future-proof your digital strategy

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is one of the most powerful ways to grow your business online. It helps you reach the right people, build trust, and drive consistent, high-quality traffic to your site. But as SEO continues to evolve, knowing how to hire an SEO specialist has become just as important as having a strategy in place.

Maybe your traffic is steady but not growing. Or your content is live, but not performing as well as you’d hoped. Or perhaps your in-house team is stretched thin, and you know it’s time to bring in extra support. Whatever stage you’re at, hiring the right SEO professional can unlock new momentum.

Today’s search landscape moves fast. AI-driven results are changing how people find and engage with content. Technical performance, user experience, and content quality all work together to influence visibility. A great SEO specialist understands how to bring those pieces together in a way that works for your business.

The right hire can elevate your whole digital presence. They’ll help you reach the right audience, turn more visitors into customers, and build a strategy that keeps delivering over time. With the right support, you don’t just improve rankings. You build lasting impact.

If SEO is part of your growth plan, but you know it could be working harder for you, now is a great time to think about how to hire an SEO specialist who can help you get there.

Signs your business needs an SEO Specialist

SEO is an ongoing effort that demands consistent attention, expertise, and strategy. These are the signs it’s time to bring in a dedicated SEO specialist:

Your organic traffic is slow or inconsistent

Organic traffic is the foundation of sustainable digital growth. When it stagnates or declines, an SEO specialist can uncover hidden opportunities, conduct technical audits, and optimise your website to realign with users’ needs and search engine algorithms.

You’re struggling to rank for relevant keywords

Over 91% of search traffic stays on the first page of Google. If your business isn’t visible, you’re losing opportunities. SEO experts move beyond surface-level tactics to design targeted keyword strategies and optimise user experiences that improve rankings and relevance.

You’re expanding into new markets or products

New product lines or regional expansion often mean navigating unfamiliar competitors and audiences. SEO specialists can help localise content, improve site structure, and ensure visibility in new spaces.

Your marketing team is stretched and need to innovate

SEO requires a deep focus that’s hard to maintain when your marketing team is juggling multiple priorities. Bringing in a specialist not only frees up capacity but also injects fresh thinking, helping you turn SEO from a checkbox into a growth-driving, creative part of your campaigns.

Hiring for SEO? Don’t overlook UX

If you’re building an SEO strategy – whether hiring contract or permanent – it’s not just about one specialist. Today’s search performance is tied to UX, so consider complementary skills in your hiring strategy.

Google’s Core Web Vitals have made user experience (UX) a fundamental ranking factor. Today, SEO specialists must optimise not just for algorithms but for how users interact with websites, ensuring speed, accessibility, and intuitive design.

Our recruitment advice:

• A strong SEO specialist should collaborate closely with UX and dev teams
  
• SEO experts will understand Core Web Vitals and site performance
  
• Consider UX or CRO hires alongside SEO to improve site structure, speed, and usability
  
• Look for teams who can optimise for AI-driven features like featured snippets and AIO

“In the current digital landscape, SEO that doesn’t include UX is incomplete. Seamless user experiences are as important as strong rankings.”
Annaleshia Pillay, Founder and Director of The SEO Agency

How to hire an SEO team who delivers

Finding the right SEO talent requires a careful approach. SEO expertise comes in many forms, from hands-on specialists to senior leaders who can guide long-term strategy and drive cross-functional results. The key is knowing what level of support your business needs. At Salt, we connect companies with SEO professionals at every level, helping you find the right expertise to meet your goals and grow with confidence.

Whether you’re hiring a freelancer, agency partner, or full-time Search consultant, here’s what to focus on:

Proven track record

The best SEO consultants will demonstrate measurable growth in rankings, traffic, or conversions, not just impressions.

Focus on sustainable SEO

Look for professionals who take a long-term view. The best SEO specialists understand that lasting results come from consistent and ethical strategies. They focus on strengthening your website’s technical foundations, improving content quality, and building authority in ways that align with search engine guidelines. This kind of approach supports your business goals and builds trust with your audience over time.

Technical and strategic balance

A strong SEO specialist brings more than one skill set. Look for someone who understands the technical foundations such as site speed, indexing, and website architecture, and who can also think strategically about content planning, keyword targeting, and aligning SEO with your broader brand goals.

SEO talent: 10 must-have skills 

The right SEO hire combines technical expertise, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Prioritise these skills:

1. Technical SEO: Managing site architecture, indexing, and optimisation.
2. Keyword Research: Identifying high-intent search terms that drive conversions.
3. On-Page Optimisation: Formatting content, metadata, and links effectively.
4. Content Strategy: Planning user-first content aligned with business goals.
5. Ethical Link-Building: Strengthening authority through white-hat practices.
6. Data Analysis: Leveraging GA4 and other tools for insights.
7. UX & Mobile SEO: Optimising for Core Web Vitals and seamless user experiences.
8. Local/International SEO: Tailoring strategies for diverse audiences.
9. Algorithm Adaptability: Staying ahead of industry changes and AI innovations.
10. Collaboration: Integrating SEO with broader marketing efforts.

“The best SEO professionals combine technical expertise with creativity, adaptability, and collaboration to drive meaningful results.”
Cindy Leow, Growth and SEO Manager, Salt

The future of SEO (and what it means for hiring)

SEO is evolving rapidly, and with that comes a shift in the types of skills and mindsets businesses need in their teams. Here are some of the biggest trends shaping the future of search, and what they mean when you’re hiring for SEO.

AI-driven search

AI is reshaping how people interact with search results. Tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience and ChatGPT are driving more conversational, visual, and immediate responses. This means hiring SEO specialists who understand how to optimise for AI-generated summaries, voice search, and new formats is becoming essential. These are the professionals who will help you stay ahead as search keeps changing.

Algorithm evolution

Google’s focus on Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust – E-E-A-T – has made credibility more important than ever. SEO candidates should not only understand these principles but know how to build and maintain them across your content and web presence. Look for people who can demonstrate strategic thinking and a track record of improving authority-based signals.

Zero-click searches

More users are finding answers without ever clicking a link. This shift requires a specialist who knows how to optimise for rich results, featured snippets, and structured data. When hiring, prioritise professionals who can adapt content strategies for maximum visibility within the search results themselves.

SEO and UX integration

Strong SEO is now inseparable from good user experience. Fast load times, mobile-first design, and intuitive navigation are all part of the ranking equation. The ideal hire understands how to work across teams — from developers to designers — to make sure SEO and UX are pulling in the same direction.

“SEO is no longer just about keywords and links. It’s about adapting to new formats like AI generated search, prioritising users, and creating value at every stage of the search experience.”
Jennifer Wood, Global Head of Marketing, Salt

Why work with a specialist recruitment agency like Salt

Hiring an SEO expert doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With industry insights and tailored talent and recruitment strategies, Salt connects businesses with proven professionals who align with their goals.

We help you:

• Identify the type of SEO expertise your business needs.
• Access vetted talent with technical and strategic capabilities.
• Streamline the talent process so you can focus on growth.

Whether you need freelance support or permanent hires, Salt ensures you find the right match for long-term success.

The right SEO talent isn’t just a hire -it’s a strategic advantage. Salt helps businesses find professionals who make a meaningful impact | Salt’s SEO recruitment team, Global

SEO is an investment, not a line item

Hiring an SEO specialist is not an expense – it’s a long-term investment in growth and visibility. If your rankings are stagnant, your team is overwhelmed, or your digital presence isn’t delivering results, now is the time to bring in dedicated expertise.