Hiring a digital marketer or SEO specialist can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what to look for.

You may have heard terms like SEO, digital ads, or online growth—but when it’s time to hire someone for a digital marketer or SEO specialist, you might hesitate. That’s completely normal. Many business owners feel unsure about where to start.

The truth is, hiring the right person can accelerate your business growth—or lead to wasted time and money.

This blog is here to walk you through 10 simple but powerful tips to help you make the right choice.

Whether you run a small business, manage an online store, or want to grow your personal brand—these tips will help you hire someone for a digital marketer or SEO specialist with confidence.

Hire Someone for a Digital Marketer or SEO Specialist

1. Know What You Need First

Before you even start looking for someone, take a moment to ask yourself: what do I want?

Do you want more visitors on your website? Do you want more followers on social media?

Maybe you want more customers calling your shop. The clearer you are with your goals, the easier it will be to find someone who can actually help.

2. Freelancer, Agency, or Full-Time—Which One?

This depends on your budget and how much help you need. A freelancer is good for short-term help or smaller tasks.

Agencies often have a full team, but they cost more. Hiring someone full-time means they work only for you, but that’s a big commitment.

Think about your business size, time, and how much control you want.

3. Look for Experience That Matches Your Industry

You don’t just want any digital marketer—you want someone who understands your business.

If you’re running a restaurant, it helps if they’ve worked with restaurants before. If you’re in e-commerce, they should know how online sales work.

Ask them about past clients that are like you. The more they know your world, the faster they can get results.

4. Ask to See Their Work

Anyone can say they’re good at SEO or marketing, but proof matters. Ask for samples of their work or case studies.

Have they helped a business grow before? Can they show you websites they’ve worked on or campaigns they’ve run?

Seeing real results helps you trust that they can do the same for you.

5. Don’t Just Trust Testimonials—Verify Them

Yes, reviews and testimonials are helpful—but try to dig a little deeper. Can they show you a LinkedIn recommendation?

Are there real people behind those reviews? You can even ask if you can speak to one of their past clients.

If someone is confident in their work, they won’t mind.

6. See How They Communicate

Good communication is key. Are they replying on time? Do they explain things clearly?

If you ask a question and they confuse you more, that’s a problem. You want someone who listens to your needs.

They should explain things in a way that makes sense to you. Great marketers are also great at talking to people.

7. Ask About Their Process

You don’t need to know everything about SEO or digital marketing. But a good marketer should be able to walk you through how they work.

What steps do they take? How do they plan campaigns? What happens first, and what do you get at the end?

If their process sounds organized and clear, that’s a good sign.

8. What Tools Do They Use?

Great marketers use tools to track and improve their work. They may use Google Analytics, SEMrush, Meta Ads Manager, or WordPress.

These tools help them check traffic, run ads, and fix problems. Ask what tools they use and why.

You don’t need to understand everything—they should be able to explain it simply.

9. Set Clear Goals Before You Start

Always talk about what success looks like before the project begins. Do you want to rank on Google? Get more leads from Facebook?

Grow your email list? Ask how long it will take and how they measure results.

Having clear goals helps both of you stay on the same page.

10. Try a Small Project First

It’s smart to test the waters. Start with a small project before going all in.

Maybe a quick SEO audit or a small ad campaign. This lets you see how they work, how they report results, and how they treat you.

If it goes well, you’ll feel more confident moving forward.

Bonus: Red Flags to Watch Out For

If someone promises you “#1 on Google in 7 days”—run. If they can’t explain their work or avoid giving reports, be careful.

Trust your gut. A real expert will be open, honest, and never rush you into a long contract.

It’s your business. You deserve someone who treats it like their own.

Hiring a digital marketer or SEO expert doesn’t have to be scary. Use these tips as your guide.

Take your time, and ask the right questions. The right person can change your business—and your life.

If you need support or want help getting started, feel free to reach out. You’re not alone on this journey.