Are Agencies Still Necessary For SEO Success?
It’s no secret that search engine optimization has become more complicated over the years—at least in some ways. Google GOOGL +0.85%’s algorithms have become radically more advanced, using semantic search to understand user queries rather than dissecting them into discernible words and phrases and incorporating countless offsite factors like online reviews and social signals. But while the code that backs Google’s search algorithm has become much more difficult to analyze, the actual process for optimizing a website has become simpler.
Agencies and in-house SEO professionals used to be essential for webmasters and entrepreneurs looking to climb the rankings. Only a few years ago, SEO was a very mathematical, precise process, and few had the technical expertise to make the adjustments necessary to gain visibility in search engines. Today, SEO is more about producing a high-quality user experience, which doesn’t require nearly as much technical expertise. Additionally, keyword research and competition analysis weren’t always made easy with the range of free online tools available today.
But while there are more opportunities for individuals to optimize their websites on their own, agencies are still useful. Specialized agencies can complement your SEO capacity, aiding you in particular areas where you might not have expertise or human bandwidth. In some ways, agencies are still necessary for many businesses, but individuals have more power than they ever have before to influence their own rankings.
