DIY SEO for Small Business- Is It Worth It?

You might be thinking, “Hey, I’ll just do my own SEO and save a ton of money!” And trust me, that’s not a bad idea. DIY SEO for small businesses is a great way to cut costs, especially when budgets are tight. But here’s the kicker—SEO takes time, energy, and a lot of patience. It’s not just something you can “set and forget.” If you’re not careful, you could spend hours optimizing your site only to find out that Google’s algorithms changed the next day. Fun, right? (Yeah, not so much.)

As someone who lives and breathes SEO every day, I can tell you that while DIY SEO can save you some money, it’s not always the smoothest path. Let me walk you through what it’s really like and share a few of my own experiences along the way. I promise to keep it light!

The DIY SEO Route: A Fun Challenge (Or a Hair-Pulling Experience)

So, you want to give DIY SEO a shot. Awesome! But just like fixing your own car or cutting your own hair, it’s one of those things that can go really well—or horribly wrong.

The Pros:

1. You’ll Save Money: Let’s start with the most obvious perk. By handling your own SEO, you can avoid the costs of hiring someone. All you need is some good research, a few SEO tools, and a bit of elbow grease. You can Google your way to success, right?
2. You Learn a New Skill: SEO is something that, once you get the hang of it, can be pretty cool to know. You’ll be able to track your website’s performance, optimize content, and maybe even help out a friend who’s struggling with their site. Plus, it’s always fun to feel like a marketing wizard when your site starts ranking higher!
3. You’re in Control: You get to make all the decisions. Want to write a blog post on the best pizza toppings? Go for it! (But maybe optimize it for local keywords while you’re at it.) When you do SEO yourself, you have complete control over what gets done and when.

The Cons:

1. It’s Time-Consuming: SEO is not a one-and-done deal. It’s like that plant you got as a gift—it needs constant watering, pruning, and attention (and no, you can’t forget about it for a month). You’ll spend hours researching keywords, optimizing your pages, and building backlinks. And if you’re already running your business, that can be a lot to take on.One of my clients once spent weeks trying to optimize their site on their own. They called me up, completely frustrated, saying, “Mary, I’ve spent 12 hours on SEO, and my traffic hasn’t moved an inch!” They eventually handed the SEO reins over to me, and within a few months, their rankings started climbing.
2. Google Loves to Change the Rules: Just when you think you’ve cracked the code, Google switches things up. What worked last month might not work next month. It’s like a never-ending game of hide and seek—except Google’s constantly changing the hiding spots.
3. Mistakes Can Be Costly: One wrong move, like targeting the wrong keywords or forgetting to optimize for mobile users, can send your rankings tumbling. Imagine spending weeks working on your SEO only to realize you’ve been using keywords no one searches for. Been there, done that.

Hiring a Professional: The Shortcut to SEO Success

If you’re like most small business owners, you probably don’t have hours to spare on SEO research. That’s where hiring an expert can make all the difference.

The Pros:

1. They Know Their Stuff: SEO professionals (like me!) spend every day tracking the latest trends, testing new strategies, and staying up to date on Google’s algorithm updates. We’ve been through the trenches and know how to get results without wasting time.
2. Faster Results: Because we’ve been around the block, we know how to spot what’s holding your website back. Instead of spending months testing different tactics, we can usually pinpoint what your site needs and get it optimized quickly.
3. You Get to Focus on What You Do Best: Let’s face it—your time is valuable. By handing off your SEO to a professional, you get to focus on what really matters—running your business, making sales, and doing the things that made you start the business in the first place.

The Cons:

1. It’s an Investment: Hiring a professional costs money. That’s just the reality of it. But like any good investment, you’re paying for expertise and results. It’s about deciding whether you want to spend time learning SEO or pay someone who already knows the ropes.
2. You Lose a Little Control: When you bring someone on to handle your SEO, you have to trust them with your website. That’s why it’s so important to find someone who understands your business and keeps you in the loop about what’s happening.
3. Finding the Right Expert Can Be Tricky: Not every SEO expert is a good fit for every business. It’s important to find someone who knows your industry and can adapt strategies to suit your specific needs. When you do find that person, though, it can feel like a huge weight lifted off your shoulders.

My Take: A Mix of Both Might Be the Sweet Spot

Here’s something I often recommend: why not do a bit of both? Start with some basic DIY SEO—do your keyword research, optimize your content, and get a feel for the process. This will give you a foundation and save you some money in the early stages. As your business grows, or when SEO starts feeling like a full-time job, that’s when you can bring in a professional to fine-tune things.

For example, one small business I worked with had done a great job with their on-page SEO but was struggling to build quality backlinks. They reached out to me, and we worked together to create a backlink strategy that got them the authority they needed to rank higher.

So, What’s Best for Your Small Business?

Whether you choose DIY SEO for your small business or decide to hire a professional, the most important thing is to just start. SEO can feel overwhelming, but it’s one of the most effective ways to grow your online presence and bring in customers.

If you’re doing it yourself, take it one step at a time—start with keyword research, write optimized content, and keep your site updated. If you find yourself getting frustrated or simply don’t have the time, hiring a professional can save you a lot of headaches.

And if you ever need a little guidance, you know where to find me. (No pressure, I promise!)