Where to Find an SEO Expert: 12 Untapped Resources by Gordon IbarraWhere to Find an SEO Expert: 12 Untapped Resources by Gordon Ibarra

Where to Find an SEO Expert: 12 Untapped Resources

Gordon Ibarra

Digital Marketer

Content Strategist

Consultant

Google Analytics

SEMrush

Ahrefs

Moz

Marketing

Where To Find An SEO Expert: 12 Untapped Resources

I’ve been in the digital marketing world long enough to know when something’s not working anymore. Lately, I’ve seen more and more clients come to me frustrated—not because they don’t value SEO, but because they’re struggling to find someone who actually knows how to do it well.

A lot of the usual hiring routes feel... recycled. Same profiles, same pitches, same surface-level keyword strategies. When the algorithm shifts or a technical issue tanks their rankings, these businesses are left scrambling. I’ve had to step in more than once to clean up the mess.

This is what pushed me to start exploring new spaces. Not just for myself, but also for clients who need more than buzzwords and recycled blog posts. There’s real talent out there—they’re just not always where you expect them to be.

The Need For Fresh SEO Talent

Traditional platforms often prioritize general skills and fast turnarounds. But SEO isn’t one-size-fits-all, and specialists with deep technical knowledge or niche industry experience can be hard to spot in those crowded marketplaces.

Many experts now hang out in quieter, more focused communities—Slack groups, forums, virtual summits—places built on conversation rather than algorithms. These spaces can be slower to navigate but often lead to better matches.

“Looking for a great SEO on a high-traffic platform is like trying to meditate in an airport food court. Technically possible. Not ideal.”

Exploring beyond the usual suspects opens up access to people who are actually talking about the latest SERP volatility or schema updates—not just copy-pasting from an outdated playbook.

12 Untapped Resources You Should Know

1. Local Meetup Networks

Face-to-face SEO meetups often lead to faster trust-building than online platforms. They allow you to meet professionals who are active in your region and understand local search behavior.

“You’ll learn more about someone’s SEO skills over a coffee than a 500-word proposal.”

You can search platforms like Meetup.com or Facebook Events using filters like “SEO,” “digital marketing,” or “search optimization” + your city. Hybrid meetups may also offer virtual access if you're not nearby.

2. Hyper-Focused Freelance Platforms

Some freelance platforms focus on niche talent instead of mass listings. These often pre-screen SEO professionals for specific skills or industry experience.

Look for platforms that match based on your CMS, business model, or project scope. This narrows the field to people who’ve done similar work before. Avoid platforms that emphasize speed over strategy.

3. Slack Channels For SEO Pros

Slack communities provide immediate access to SEO professionals solving real issues in real-time. These aren’t job boards—they’re ongoing conversations.

Channels like Traffic Think Tank, Women in Tech SEO, and #seo in Online Geniuses often have invite-only access. Many include sub-channels by topic: technical SEO, local SEO, and algorithm updates.

4. Reddit SEO Communities

Reddit allows you to review a user’s post history, which reveals their depth of knowledge. Upvotes often signal helpful answers from experienced contributors.

Start with r/SEO and r/TechSEO. Look for users who consistently explain things in plain language and cite tools or case studies. Engage through comments or check their profile for contact info.

5. AI-Powered Hiring Tools

Some hiring tools now use AI to match SEO professionals to projects based on skillsets, past results, and industry relevance.

These systems often pull from completed work, certifications, and even writing samples. Evaluate the match suggestions by reviewing case studies or asking how the AI filtered candidates. Don’t rely on the algorithm alone.

6. University Marketing Programs

Students and recent grads from marketing programs often bring a fresh approach to search strategies. They may also be more open to experimental or research-driven work.

Start by contacting university career centers or professors in digital marketing courses. This can be useful for early-stage SEO tasks where budgets are limited but curiosity is high.

7. Competitor Link Analysis

By analyzing your competitors' backlinks, it’s possible to identify the writers, editors, or consultants behind their SEO growth.

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to find new referring domains. Check the authors or agencies associated with those links and reach out directly via LinkedIn or email. Avoid scraping—just look for patterns.

8. Zero-Volume Keyword Enthusiasts

Some SEO freelancers focus on keywords with low or no reported search volume. These are often long-tail or emerging queries that larger competitors ignore.

These professionals typically use tools like AnswerThePublic, and they’re active in niche forums or write long-form content targeting these terms. Their work can appear invisible in keyword tools but attract high-converting traffic.

9. Specialized Social Media Groups

Industry-specific Facebook and LinkedIn groups are often curated spaces where SEO professionals congregate around a specific niche.

Join groups aligned with your industry—e.g., “SEO for eCommerce” or “Real Estate SEO.” Before posting a job, review member activity. Look for advice-givers, not link-droppers.

10. Local Business Associations

Chambers of commerce and small business groups often partner with SEO consultants for workshops and events. These are usually local experts with experience in optimizing for regional search.

Offline collaboration also leads to backlinks from business directories and event pages—small signals that boost local SEO. Attend events or ask for a referral list.

11. Community-Driven Networks

On Contra, freelancers operate in a commission-free space where work and outcomes—not fees—lead the way. You can connect with SEO experts without hidden markups or rushed timelines.

“No one’s rushing to land a gig when they’re not losing 20% of their income to get it.”

Since profiles on Contra emphasize portfolios and verified projects, it’s easier to evaluate someone’s actual contributions. The platform also encourages transparent communication, which reduces misalignment from the start.

12. Exclusive Newsletters

Some SEO professionals don’t promote on platforms—they share insights via email newsletters. These often include case studies, tool reviews, or early access to strategies.

Sign up for newsletters like SEO For Lunch or #SEOFOMO. You can also reply directly to authors when they mention availability or upcoming projects. Keep it conversational—many of these connections start informally.

Vetting Your SEO Collaborator

Once you're exploring lesser-known resources, vetting becomes less about job titles and more about how someone actually works. A few specific questions can clarify this quickly:

Can you show examples of SEO work you've done in the last 6–12 months?

What tools do you regularly use, and why?

How do you track and measure results?

What’s your experience with recent algorithm updates (March 2024, September 2024)?

Can you walk me through a strategy you scrapped and why?

Answers that lean too heavily on buzzwords or tool names without specifics usually signal inexperience. It's more useful to hear what someone did, what changed, and what they learned.

Avoid candidates who guarantee rankings, promise #1 on Google in under 30 days, or avoid documentation. SEO is layered, iterative, and slow. Overpromising is often a sign they’re optimizing only for your expectations—not your actual outcomes.

“If someone says they’ve ‘mastered the algorithm,’ it’s probably time to close the tab.”

Look for red flags like:

Avoiding analytics or refusing read-only access to reporting tools

Overreliance on outdated tactics (e.g., keyword stuffing, PBNs)

No version control or documentation of changes

Vague or recycled proposals with no context to your industry

Set expectations early. Ask how long a technical audit or content plan typically takes. Ask how many hours per week they’ll realistically need. Align that with your internal capacity to implement changes—especially if you're not hiring for execution.

If the budget is tight, prioritize one clear goal—like fixing technical issues, not "improving SEO overall." That prevents scope creep and makes results easier to measure.

✨ A candidate who asks questions back—about your CMS, traffic sources, user intent, or historical data—is usually worth a second conversation.

Maximizing Your Results With A Freelancer On Contra

Working with an SEO freelancer on Contra starts with clarity. Include specific goals in your project brief—like improving Core Web Vitals, increasing organic traffic to a product category, or cleaning up crawl errors. Attach recent analytics screenshots or export keyword reports when possible. This gives the freelancer a starting point without needing access right away.

Before the kickoff, align on communication cadence. Weekly async updates (via Loom or Notion), biweekly check-ins, or shared tracking docs are common setups. Decide how progress will be measured—rankings, indexed pages, traffic lifts, or technical fixes completed. Agree on which tools will be used: GA4, Ahrefs, or a custom dashboard.

Contra profiles include work history, case studies, and published deliverables. Use these to ask informed questions. For example, if a freelancer mentions improving CTR by 18% for a SaaS brand, ask what headline variants they tested and how they tracked changes.

“Actually reading someone’s portfolio before the discovery call is the new ‘respecting people’s time.’”

If the project is ongoing, consider breaking it into 4-week sprints. This makes feedback loops tighter and avoids scope creep. For audits, ask for a prioritized checklist instead of a 40-page PDF. For content, request live Google Docs so revisions can happen in context.

Contra doesn’t charge commission fees on projects. That changes the dynamic. Freelancers don’t have to inflate their rates to offset platform cuts, and clients don’t lose part of their budget to intermediaries. The entire payment goes to the person doing the work.

This structure supports longer-term collaboration. Freelancers are more likely to invest in detailed onboarding, proactive suggestions, and ongoing optimization if they’re not operating under margin pressure. It also allows both sides to renegotiate scope without factoring in platform fees.

“When nobody’s losing 15–20% of every invoice, everyone gets to work smarter—not faster.”

On Contra, freelancers are responsible for their own client relationships. That creates built-in accountability, since reputation and referrals come directly from platform activity. Both parties can uncouple easily if the fit isn’t right, and there are no penalties for walking away.

FAQs About Finding An SEO Expert

What is the average cost of an SEO expert?

As of April 2025, hourly rates for freelance SEO experts range from $50 to $150. Entry-level or junior freelancers, often recent grads or part-time consultants, typically charge $40–$75/hour. Mid-level experts with technical skills, client experience, and specialized knowledge sit around $80–$120/hour. Senior strategists with 10+ years in enterprise SEO or niche markets may charge $150/hour or more.

“If someone offers to rank you #1 on Google for $99, either they’re lying or you’re the keyword.”

For project-based pricing, audits start around $500 for basic technical reviews and can exceed $5,000 if they include implementation. Monthly retainers for ongoing SEO support generally range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on scope, vertical, and geography. Local SEO campaigns tend to cost less than national or international ones.

Should I hire a specialist or a full-service agency?

A specialist works on one or two core areas—technical SEO, local SEO, content strategy, link building, or analytics. A full-service agency offers most or all of those through a team. If the SEO work is tightly scoped (e.g. fix crawl errors, improve mobile performance, optimize for Shopify), hiring a freelancer or specialist is more efficient and cost-effective.

“If you need a plumber, you don’t hire a construction firm.”

Agencies are more suited for cross-disciplinary needs, like SEO + paid ads + dev support. They often have account managers, internal QA, and more bandwidth. However, agencies usually cost more and can introduce delays if the team isn’t deeply familiar with your specific CMS or business niche.

Are zero-volume keywords really worth targeting?

Zero-volume keywords often have no reported search traffic in tools like Ahrefs or Semrush, but that doesn’t mean no one is searching them. These queries are typically long-tail, hyper-specific, or emerging. They convert well when they match exact search intent, especially in B2B, SaaS, or niche e-commerce.

“No one searches it—until they do. Then they really mean it.”

Examples include “HIPAA-compliant CRM for therapists” or “2025 GA4 ecommerce event setup.” These keywords may generate 10–50 visits/month, but those visitors often take action. Specialists who target these terms usually use AnswerThePublic, Reddit, GA4 internal site search data, or user interviews to surface them.

Can AI tools replace a human SEO professional?

AI tools can automate keyword clustering, content briefs, SERP feature tracking, and basic audits. They cannot independently build a comprehensive SEO strategy, interpret ambiguous data trends, or troubleshoot site-specific issues across platforms. AI lacks contextual judgment, especially when working with brand tone, competitive nuance, or algorithmic volatility.

“AI can tell you what to rank for. It still needs someone to explain why it matters.”

As of now, SEO professionals often use AI to speed up routine tasks—like generating title tag variants or summarizing analytics—but final decisions still require human oversight. AI is a tool for SEO, not the strategy itself.

One Last Note

As of April 14, 2025, most SEO hiring still happens through traditional platforms, but they aren’t the only options—and often not the most effective. Many SEO specialists now work inside communities, Slack groups, newsletters, or niche directories where their expertise is visible through contributions instead of titles.

Hiring through AI-matching tools, exploring local business networks, or reverse-engineering competitor backlinks are all ways to discover specialists who don’t rely on job boards. Some focus entirely on zero-volume keywords, others on schema markup or multilingual local SEO. Not all use flashy portfolios, but many share real strategies and results in public forums or private channels.

“The best SEO expert you’ll ever hire probably isn’t running ads to get hired.”

Vetting still matters. So does being specific about what kind of SEO work is needed—technical, content, local, or something else. Most of these untapped sources aren’t designed to scale applications, but to create better-fit matches between people and projects.

There’s no single path to finding the right SEO partner. But if the usual channels haven’t worked, try exploring the ones where people talk more than they pitch.

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Posted Apr 14, 2025

Find an SEO expert using 12 untapped resources beyond job boards. Discover smarter ways to connect with real talent for technical and content SEO.

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