Is It Possible to Do SEO Yourself? A Clear Breakdown for Business Owners
Many small business owners face the same question: “Can I really do SEO myself, or do I need to hire professional help?”
The honest answer: Yes, you can do SEO yourself—especially at the beginning. But as your website grows, there are times when bringing in extra help makes more sense.
In this guide from Optimize With Sanwal, you’ll learn what parts of SEO you can handle on your own, when it’s smarter to hire a consultant or an agency, and how to plan a phased approach that saves money while getting results.
Is It Really Possible to Do SEO Yourself?
For most SMBs, DIY SEO is absolutely possible. Many website owners start by handling basic SEO tasks, and some achieve meaningful growth without hiring anyone.
What you can do on your own:
- Choose and target keywords.
- Write blog posts and landing pages optimized for those keywords.
- Set up Google Search Console and Analytics.
- Create local business listings.
What’s harder without outside help:
- Technical SEO (site speed, mobile responsiveness, crawl errors).
- Building a high-quality backlink profile.
- Competing against national brands with big budgets.
The key is to start with doable basics and expand gradually.
What Is an SEO Consultant and When Do You Need One?
An SEO consultant is someone who reviews your website, identifies what’s holding it back, and gives you a strategy to improve.
When to consider a consultant:
- You’ve tried DIY but aren’t seeing results.
- You’re not sure why your traffic is flat.
- You need a one-time SEO audit with actionable steps.
Pros of hiring a consultant:
- Focused guidance tailored to your site.
- Saves you hours of trial and error.
- Helps you avoid mistakes that could hurt your rankings.
Cons:
- Cost (can range from a few hundred to thousands).
- You still need to apply the recommendations.
What Is an SEO Agency and How Do They Differ?
An SEO agency is a team of specialists who handle different parts of SEO: technical, content, link-building, and reporting.
Agency vs. Consultant vs. DIY:
- DIY: Time-heavy, low cost, learning by doing.
- Consultant: Medium cost, you get a roadmap, but still need to implement.
- Agency: Highest cost, but full-service and faster.
Agencies are ideal when your site has outgrown basic SEO and you’re competing at a bigger scale.
DIY SEO vs. Professional SEO – Costs and Outcomes
DIY SEO:
- Costs: Free to low (time + free tools).
- Outcomes: Gradual improvements, more control, longer timelines.
Consultant:
- Costs: Medium (one-time fee or monthly retainer).
- Outcomes: Clarity and direction, but you still do the work.
Agency:
- Costs: Higher (monthly packages).
- Outcomes: Faster results, done-for-you execution, best for scaling.
Example:
- A local bakery might grow website visits by 200% in a year with DIY SEO.
- An e-commerce store selling nationwide may need an agency to compete for broad, high-value keywords.
Phased Approach – From DIY to Hiring Help
Instead of choosing only one path, try a phased approach:
Phase 1 – Start DIY:
- Learn keyword research.
- Optimize titles, headings, and descriptions.
- Publish blog posts that answer customer questions.
Phase 2 – Get a Consultant’s Audit:
- Fix technical issues.
- Validate your keyword strategy.
- Learn where to focus next.
Phase 3 – Hire an Agency for Scaling:
- Build backlinks.
- Target national or global keywords.
- Handle advanced technical SEO.
This way, you save money in the beginning but don’t limit growth later.
Common Mistakes in DIY SEO
- Keyword stuffing instead of writing naturally.
- Ignoring site speed and mobile usability.
- Skipping local SEO for nearby customers.
- Not tracking progress with tools.
Solution: Focus on quality content, basic optimization, and steady improvement.
Tools That Help You Do SEO Yourself
Free Tools:
- Google Search Console → Check rankings and site issues.
- Google Analytics → Understand traffic sources.
- Ubersuggest → Get basic keyword ideas.
- AnswerThePublic → Find real questions people ask.
Paid Tools (Optional):
- Ahrefs or SEMrush → Deeper keyword and competitor insights.
- Screaming Frog → Technical SEO crawler.
- SurferSEO → Helps optimize content for better rankings.
Additional Learning Resources
If you’re serious about learning, go beyond articles. At Optimize With Sanwal, we’ve created ebooks that break SEO into easy-to-follow steps.
👉 Visit the Ebook page to download resources that will help you keep growing without guesswork.
Related Posts
- Full Guidance post: Can You Do SEO by Yourself?
- Can SEO Be Self-Taught?Is Paying Someone to Do SEO Worth It?
- How to Practice SEO for Beginners?
Conclusion
So, is it possible to do SEO yourself? Yes—especially if you’re willing to invest time and learn gradually.
- For local businesses and smaller sites, DIY SEO can work very well.
- For bigger growth, technical fixes, and advanced strategies, a consultant or agency makes sense.
The best approach: Start with DIY basics, grow your confidence, and bring in help when needed.
Keep learning with Optimize With Sanwal—download ebooks, read guides, and connect with us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
About the Author
Sanwal Zia has over 5 years of experience working with SEO strategies for small and growing businesses. Through Optimize With Sanwal, he shares practical approaches that make SEO clear and achievable.