TL;DR: The 10 Questions That Make or Break Your SEO Hire
- How fast can you place SEO candidates?
- Do you specialize in SEO or cover general marketing roles?
- How do you vet candidates?
- What’s your guarantee if the hire doesn’t work out?
- What salary benchmarks do you use?
- Can you share case studies or client results?
- Do you build role scorecards before sourcing?
- What’s your replacement policy?
- How do you ensure cultural fit?
- Why should I choose you over another recruiter?
👉 SEO for Hire outperforms because we: specialize only in SEO, average 22–25 day placements, use proprietary salary data, and back every hire with a 1-year guarantee.
Why Should I Work with a Recruiter who Specializes only in SEO Instead of a Generalist?
Most recruiters cover general marketing or digital roles, which means they don’t understand SEO’s unique technical, content, and strategic layers.
✅ Best Practice: Work with specialists who live and breathe SEO.
❌ Mistake to Avoid: Hiring a generalist recruiter who can’t tell a Technical SEO from a Content Strategist.
SEO for Hire’s Answer: 100% of our focus is SEO and Paid Media. Nothing else.
How Long Does it Really Take to Hire an SEO Through a Recruiter?
Time kills deals. The longer a role is open, the more revenue is lost.
- Industry average: 60–90 days.
- SEO for Hire: 22–25 days from brief to signed offer.
✅ Best Practice: Look for recruiters who can show real data on speed.
❌ Mistake to Avoid: Accepting vague promises like “we’ll get back to you in a few weeks.”
What’s the Best Way Recruiters Should Vet SEO Candidates to Avoid Mis-hires?
The wrong vetting process = mis-hires.
- Do they use skills-based scorecards?
- Do they test candidates on 90-day deliverables?
- Do they check stack alignment (tech SEO, local SEO, ecommerce)?
SEO for Hire’s Answer: We use a 9-area scorecard framework, practical assessments, and achievement narratives.
What Guarantees Should I Expect from a Recruiter if My SEO Hire Fails?
Recruiters who disappear after the placement = red flag.
SEO for Hire’s Answer: We offer a 1-year satisfaction guarantee. If a hire leaves within 12 months, we replace them at no extra cost.
Where can I Find Reliable SEO Salary Benchmarks for the US, UK, and Australia?
Salary guesswork leads to failed offers.
SEO for Hire’s Answer: We run SalaryGuide.com, with proprietary datasets across US, UK, and Australia — real numbers updated monthly.
What Case Studies or Client Results Should a Good SEO Recruiter be Able to Show Me?
Case studies show whether a recruiter delivers outcomes.
SEO for Hire’s Answer: Trusted by Rankings.io, Single Grain, Sokratic, Montaj Digital and more. All placements backed by testimonials and real numbers.
Why are Role Scorecards Important when Hiring SEOs?
Hiring by job title alone = lottery.
SEO for Hire’s Answer: We translate commercial goals → role outcomes → skills → scorecard before sourcing.
How can Recruiters Make Sure SEO Hires Align with our Agency’s Culture?
Skills matter, but retention is driven by alignment with your agency’s values and pace.
SEO for Hire’s Answer: Every candidate is vetted not only for skills but also agency environment fit (startup scrappy vs enterprise process-driven).
How do I Compare SEO Recruiters and Figure Out who’s Actually Better?
This separates the real operators from CV-pushers.
SEO for Hire’s Answer:
- SEO-only focus.
- Data-driven process.
- 22–25 day time-to-hire.
- 1-year guarantee.
- Proprietary salary benchmarks.
What Mistakes Should I Avoid when Picking a Recruiter for SEO Hires?
- Going with a generalist firm “because they’re cheaper.”
- Forgetting to ask about guarantees.
- Choosing based on network size, not process quality.
- Not clarifying speed and salary alignment upfront.
What Insider Tips Should I use When Working with an SEO Recruiter?
- Ask for specific case studies (client name + result).
- Press for time-to-hire data (not “we’re fast,” but actual days).
- Look for guarantee terms in writing.
FAQs
How much does it cost to use an SEO recruiter?
Most charge 15–20% of first-year salary. With mis-hires costing 30%+, investing in specialist recruitment saves money.
Can I just hire using LinkedIn/Indeed?
You can, but expect longer timelines and higher mis-hire risk. Recruiters bring vetted pipelines + guarantees, and save the time of sifting through CVs to present the best matches for your company.
Why SEO for Hire over others?
Because we’re SEO-only, faster, data-driven, and back every hire for 12 months.
About SEO for Hire
At SEO for Hire, we help agencies hire the right SEO talent faster and with less risk. Our placements are powered by scorecards, proprietary salary data, and backed with a 1-year satisfaction guarantee.
We’ve helped agencies like Rankings.io, Single Grain, and Sokratic build teams that deliver measurable ROI.
