The decision whether to use a freelance SEO expert or an internet marketing company which offers SEO as one of its services is more than deciding who is has more experience or knowledge. The bottom line is that you want your business to be first when potential clients are searching Google for the services you offer.

Before we dive deeper into the question at hand, it’s important to clarify that we are comparing professional freelancers with professional Internet marketing companies.

Here are 5 things to consider when you are choosing between an SEO freelancer and an Internet marketing company.

1. Price – One of the disadvantages of a company is that in a majority of cases the company will charge you more than a freelancer. Therefore, one of the benefits of using a freelancer is that he or she will charge less. This is because, in most cases, freelancers work from home so they do not have to rent an office or incur other overhead costs. They can charge less than a company that has to rent an office and employ multiple staff.
2. Brainstorming – Brainstorming is an integral part of teamwork and many times brainstorming with a group, which is more likely to happen in a company, produces better results than one person thinking on their own. Group thinking can lead to a greater diversity of solutions that is not always possible when only one person is working on the project. There are instances where a freelancer can provide multiple solutions, but this is not always the case.
3. Availability – Another disadvantage of using a company is availability. The project manager you are working with is most likely in charge of multiple projects, not just yours, and, therefore, may not always be available when you need them. He or she may also have to consult with other professionals on the team who also might be working on other projects. Therefore the advantage of a freelancer is that they will be available when you need them. At the end of the day the freelancer is a one-person team who is more available to his or her clients.
4. Personalized Attention – Many small-business owners have limits on what they are willing to give up. One of these is good customer service, where they receive personalized attention as opposed to a generalized protocol. In most cases, big website companies are used to working with larger corporations and businesses, and big budgets and multiple departments. They have less experience with the needs and workings of small businesses. As a result, small businesses might find it easier to work with freelancers who can adjust to their needs and answer them directly and quickly on the phone or emails instead of dealing with multiple actors in different departments and bureaucratic procedures. Freelancers can take the time to explain the different options and their pros and cons as they apply the specific needs of the small business. With freelancers, the small business owner will not need to bounce back and forth from different people in multiple departments that handle the different aspects of promoting their business.
5. Support – Another issue with Freelancers is the range of services they can offer. A freelancer might be very knowledgeable and supportive, but, in the majority of cases, he or she is just one person and cannot complete with variety of services that you will receive from a company that employs multiple professional SEO and marketing staff.

So, what’s the answer?

When you are deciding between an SEO freelancer and a SEO company, it important to take into account that you will find freelancers and companies with all levels of abilities and services. You will also find a variety of prices being offered for their services.  So its important to understand what kind of service you actually need – are you looking for a professional who will be available to you at all times (within regular business hours of course) or are you okay with having to wait for them to get back to you? Is the lowest price the most important factor, or can you invest more in your online advertising? Once you answer these questions and clearly define and prioritize your needs, you will be closer to a solution.