To outsource SEO services well, you need three things: a clear idea of what you’re handing off, someone who explains their work in plain language, and a way to see what’s being done to your site. Where that person sits matters much less than whether they communicate clearly and follow Google’s guidelines.
I’m writing this from the other side of the arrangement. I’m an SEO specialist and WordPress developer based in Bislig City, in the Philippines, and I’ve worked with clients overseas since 2013, including 9.5 years at a dental marketing agency. Here’s how outsourcing SEO actually works, what to look for, and when it’s a bad idea.
What you can outsource
Most SEO work can be done remotely. The common pieces:
- Local SEO: setting up and optimizing your Google Business Profile, categories, citations and review processes. See my local SEO guide for small businesses.
- Technical SEO: site speed, crawling and indexing problems, structured data, site structure.
- On-page SEO: keyword research, page titles, service and location pages, internal links.
- Content: articles and pages planned around what your customers search for.
- Websites: building or rebuilding a site so it’s fast and set up for search from day one.
What you shouldn’t outsource entirely: knowledge only you have. Your SEO can draft, but you should check service details, prices and claims, and you’re the one who should ask customers for reviews.
Outsourcing SEO to the Philippines: how it works in practice
The Philippines is on UTC+8 all year, with no daylight saving time. That puts it 12 to 16 hours ahead of the US, depending on the coast and the time of year, and 7 to 8 hours ahead of the UK. Australia’s east coast is only 2 to 3 hours ahead.
In practice, that means:
- Work happens while you sleep. You send a request at the end of your day and wake up to progress.
- Hours can overlap where it matters. I schedule my working hours to overlap with my clients, so calls happen in your business day.
- Communication is mostly written. Email, Slack or a shared document, with scheduled calls when they’re useful. Written updates are easier to check later anyway.
- Replies are predictable. I reply within one business day. Agree on that expectation with whoever you hire.
English is widely used in business in the Philippines, so language is rarely the barrier people expect. Clear briefs and clear reporting matter far more.
What to ask before you hire anyone
Google publishes its own advice on hiring an SEO, and its suggested questions are the right ones:
- Can you show me examples of your previous work and some success stories?
- Do you follow the Google Search Essentials guidelines?
- What results do you expect, in what timeframe, and how do you measure success?
- What’s your experience in my industry, and in my country or city?
- How long have you been in business?
- How will we communicate? Will you share every change you make and explain why?
Google’s bluntest line: if they guarantee first place in search results, find someone else. No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.
Red flags
Google also lists warning signs, and in my experience they’re still the best filter:
- Guaranteed rankings. No one controls Google’s results.
- A “special relationship” with Google, or a “priority submit”. Neither exists for organic search.
- Secrecy. If they won’t explain what they plan to do, don’t let them do it.
A few more from the practical side:
- They want your passwords. You can add an SEO as a user on your Business Profile, Search Console, Analytics and website. Never share your own login.
- They register things in their own name. Your domain, profile and accounts should always belong to you.
- No written scope or price. You should know what’s included before work starts. I quote a fixed price up front for exactly that reason.
- Reports full of numbers that don’t connect to calls, leads or sales.
How a typical engagement works
Every SEO works a little differently, so ask anyone you’re considering to walk you through their process. Here’s mine, so you have something to compare against:
- Discovery. We talk through your goals, and I look over your website, Google Business Profile and top competitors, so the quote matches the real work.
- Plan. We agree on target keywords, pages and a timeline. Fixed scope, fixed price, in writing.
- Access. You add me as a user on your Business Profile, Search Console and website. You keep ownership of everything.
- Build and optimize. I fix or rebuild what’s holding the site back, then handle on-page work, local listings and content.
- Report and grow. Monthly reports tied to leads and calls, not just rankings, and we adjust the plan based on what the data shows.
If a provider can’t describe their process this clearly before you sign, that tells you something too.
What it costs
Location affects price less than scope does. A one-off Google Business Profile cleanup costs far less than ongoing SEO for a competitive city. For reference, my own local SEO work ranges from $500 to $5,000 USD, depending on what’s involved. My guide on how much local SEO costs breaks down what changes the price.
Whatever you pay, compare it with the value of a customer. If one new client is worth more than a month of SEO, the maths is simple.
When outsourcing SEO is a bad idea
Outsourcing isn’t always right. I’d hold off if:
- You can’t give any time to it. Someone still needs to answer questions, check facts and approve changes.
- You need leads this week. SEO takes months. Ads are the faster option.
- The real problem is elsewhere. If the phone rings but jobs don’t close, or reviews are poor because of service issues, SEO won’t fix that.
- You’re choosing purely on the lowest price. Cheap SEO that breaks Google’s rules can cost far more to undo.
For agencies
If you’re an agency looking for overflow or white label help rather than SEO for your own business, see my guide to white label local SEO, which covers how that arrangement works.
If you’d like to see how I work and what I’ve done for clients, start at my home page, or tell me about your project and I’ll send you a fixed quote.
