What is SEO Management and How to Manage Your SEO Efforts in 2024?

SEO in 2024 can feel like a rollercoaster.

With ever-changing algorithms, AI harming your positions, and unproven strategies, figuring out how to manage your SEO efforts is crucial for staying ahead and driving organic traffic to your site.

Here at SaaSpirin, we face it all the time.

The big question is: Should you hire an agency, bring in a freelancer, or build an in-house team? Each option has its own perks and challenges, for sure, and choosing the right path can make a huge difference in your success.

Today, we'll break down what SEO management is all about and explore the different ways you can manage your SEO efforts. We’ll take a glimpse at how to work effectively with an SEO agency, the pros and cons of hiring freelancers, and what it takes to build a solid in-house SEO team.

By the end, you’ll have a better idea of which approach might be the best fit for your business in 2024 and beyond.

What is SEO management?

Let’s take small steps and see where it will bring us. The first small step is the actual definition.

So, SEO management is all about organizing and directing your SEO efforts to boost your website's presence on search engines like Google or Bing. No matter, if you're working with an in-house team, with an agency, or a freelancer, good SEO management keeps everything running smoothly and efficiently.

We think of it as being the conductor of an orchestra.

Your role is to make sure every part of the SEO process—from keyword research and content creation to link building and technical audits—works in harmony.

We know the definition; let’s see the place of SEO management in your life.

What’s the role of SEO management in your SEO strategy?

SEO management is what keeps all the different pieces of your SEO efforts working smoothly together. And first off, SEO management gives you direction.

It’s all about setting clear goals and creating a roadmap. You may look to boost organic traffic, improve search rankings, or increase conversions—be ready to build a solid management plan where everyone knows what they’re working towards.

The coordination is another biggie of this plan.

SEO involves a lot of tasks like keyword research, content creation, technical optimization, link building, you name it. Good SEO management ensures these tasks are well-coordinated and not working in silos.

Think of it as being a project manager—making sure all parts of the project move forward together, on schedule, on budget, within capacity, achieving goals, on budget.

How to keep everything on track? Monitoring and adjusting. Period.

SEO management means regularly checking performance metrics and analytics to see what’s working and what’s not working in SEO. This ongoing evaluation allows you to tweak your strategy as needed, making sure you stay on track and respond to any changes in the search engine landscape.

Lastly, but not less importantly, SEO campaign management fosters collaboration. It promotes open communication among team members (both in-house and external) and encourages the sharing of ideas and feedback.

That’s the role, not a big deal, right? But wait, let’s dive into the key steps—the place where the SEO magic happens.

What are the steps to start SEO management?

Managing SEO is like being the captain of a ship, making sure everything is heading in the right direction and running smoothly.

Here are the key steps you need to keep your SEO ship sailing.

1. Put together your SEO team

First, gather your SEO team.

You'll need a mix of skills: content creators, technical SEO experts, and analysts. If you're a small business, this might be a few people wearing multiple hats. For larger companies, you might have dedicated roles.

In-house or agency—not a big deal, but make sure everyone understands their responsibilities and how they contribute to the SEO goals.

2. Set clear goals

Next, set clear, measurable goals.

Are you looking to increase organic traffic, improve search rankings, or boost conversions? Define these goals in specific terms, like "increase organic traffic by 20% in six months."

Use SMART goals to make it clear what you want to achieve. Clear goals provide direction and a way to measure success.

3. Pick the right tools

Choosing the right tools for managing your SEO efforts is crucial. SEO project management software like Asana, or Airtable, or Notion help keep track of tasks and deadlines.

Use Slack for communication. Don’t forget about tools like Google Data Studio, which can help visualize and report your SEO progress.

These tools keep your team organized and ensure efficient workflow.

4. Plan your strategy

Now, plan your strategy. If your goal is to boost traffic, focus on content creation and optimization (and SEO reputation management).

Map out what keywords to target, which pages need updates, and what new content to create. Your strategy should be a detailed roadmap of how you’ll achieve your goals.

5. Get started

With your team, goals, tools, and strategy in place, it’s time to get started.

Begin by tackling high-priority tasks first, like fixing technical SEO issues or updating old content. Ensure everyone knows their tasks and deadlines to keep things moving smoothly.

6. Track your results

Once you’re up and running, start tracking your results. Use your chosen tools to monitor key metrics like traffic, rankings, and conversions. If you see that a particular strategy isn’t working, analyze why and adjust your approach.

Regular tracking helps you stay on course.

7. Keep improving

SEO is a continuous process. Keep improving by staying updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithms. Regularly review your performance data, get feedback from your team, and tweak your strategy as needed. Continuous improvement ensures long-term success in your SEO efforts.

Yep, that’s all, folks. Seems easy, right? But it’s not. To manage SEO properly, you need a visionary, a leader. And that could be an SEO manager.

Let’s see who that is.

What’s the role of the SEO manager?

The SEO manager is the backbone of any successful SEO strategy, keeping everything running smoothly. They could be:

Part of an internal team, a solo player
A freelancer from Fiverr, Upwork, you name it
A project manager handling the agency collaboration.

Their role is dynamic and hands-on, for sure.

When they're part of an internal team, an SEO manager is really in the thick of things.

They're working daily with content creators, web developers, and marketing teams to ensure SEO best practices are baked into every project. For example, they might sit down with the content team to brainstorm keyword-rich blog posts that attract the right audience.

At the same time, they’ll work with developers to make sure the website is fast and mobile-friendly, covering all the technical bases. All inside of the company, without support aside.

When working with an SEO manager as a freelancer, it’s essential to find someone who is flexible and always on top of their game.

Freelancers often juggle multiple clients, each with unique needs. For your business, this means you need to be clear about your expectations and goals from the start. A typical process might begin with the freelancer, as a white-label SEO management guy, analyzing your website, identifying areas for improvement, and creating a custom action plan.

They’ll then communicate their findings to you, breaking down complex SEO jargon into simple, actionable advice. To make this relationship work, ensure there are regular check-ins and clear communication. Provide feedback and be open to their suggestions, as their outside perspective can be invaluable.

When coordinating with an agency, your SEO manager acts like a project manager.

They bridge the gap between the in-house team and the external agency, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.

In this setup, there are usually two SEO managers: one from your internal team and one from the agency (think of it as an SEO management company). They need to work closely together, setting up regular meetings to review progress, provide feedback, and tweak strategies based on performance data.

This dual-manager system helps ensure that the agency’s efforts complement what the internal team is doing, fostering smooth collaboration and a unified approach.

No matter where they’re working, the SEO manager is focused on getting the best results. They stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends, continuously tweak strategies based on analytics, and ensure every part of the SEO campaign is optimized for success.

A dual-SEO-manager setup might sound a bit daunting on paper. Let’s dive into how it works and what you should expect.

How is managing SEO different for in-house teams vs. agencies?

Managing SEO for in-house teams vs. SEO agencies is a whole different ballgame.

When you’re handling SEO for an in-house team, you’re part of the family, but with all the consequences.

You’re involved in the company’s daily grind and have direct access to all departments. This means you can quickly coordinate with content creators, developers, and marketing teams to get things done. If a new product is launching, you can seamlessly work with the content team to whip up optimized landing pages and blog posts.

The downside?

Sometimes, you have to deal with internal bureaucracy, which can slow things down.

Working with an SEO agency can be an “everything-has-changed point” for your business. These pros handle multiple clients and bring a wealth of experience from various industries.

This means they can offer fresh perspectives and innovative strategies that you might not have considered. They’re used to a fast-paced environment, which keeps them on their toes and ready to adapt to any challenge.

One of the best parts of collaborating with an agency is the variety of insights they bring to the table. They’ve seen what works across different sectors and can apply those winning tactics to your business. This diversity often leads to creative solutions and keeps the whole process interesting.

Plus, agencies are great at communicating and explaining complex SEO concepts in simple terms. They make it easy to understand the value of their work and keep you in the loop with regular updates. This way, you can see the progress and impact of their efforts on your business.

Here’s a quick comparison to make it clearer:

What’s the deal	In-house SEO	Agency SEO
Integration	Deeply embedded in company culture and daily ops. They know the brand inside out.	Works with multiple clients, bringing fresh perspectives and quick adaptability.
Coordination	Easy collaboration with other departments, just pop over for a chat.	Pros at communication, with regular check-ins to keep everyone aligned.
Speed	Can be slowed down by internal red tape and approvals.	Fast and adaptable, with streamlined processes for quick changes.
Experience	Deep understanding of the company’s brand and long-term goals.	Broad experience across various industries, offering creative strategies.
Strategy	Tailored and consistent, aligned with long-term company goals.	SVersatile and full of new ideas, with regular updates to fit your needs.

You know the difference, so let’s not pause—check out these SEO best tools from our experience because we use them all the time.

What tools can help you manage SEO better?

Managing SEO can be a lot easier with the right tools in your arsenal. Here are some of the best SEO management tools to keep everything organized and running smoothly:

Slack is a go-to for keeping communication flowing. It keeps everyone in the loop. Set up channels for different projects, share quick updates, and sort out issues instantly with direct messages.
Airtable is like a supercharged spreadsheet, the best to be your SEO project management tool. It’s great for tracking your SEO projects, from keyword lists to content schedules and backlink outreach. Its flexible layout makes managing your SEO tasks a breeze.
Zapier is the ultimate automation tool. If you find yourself doing repetitive tasks, Zapier can help. For instance, it can automatically add new leads from your website form to your CRM or ping your team on Slack when a new task is added in Trello. It saves you time and keeps everything running smoothly.
Notion is an all-in-one workspace that's great for organizing your SEO strategies, keeping meeting notes, and tracking progress. You can customize it to fit your workflow perfectly, making it a versatile tool for any team.

Using these tools (and choose a few from this guide about SEO tools), you can streamline your SEO management, improve collaboration, and keep your projects on track. Whether you’re working solo or with a team, these tools help you stay organized and effective.

Wrap up

So, that’s the scoop on SEO management and how to handle your SEO efforts in 2024. Matter-of-factly, if you’re rolling with an in-house team, a freelancer, or an agency, the key is to stay organized, keep the lines of communication open, and always be learning.

But in the world of SEO, the only constant is change, so keep learning about new trends and strategies to keep your management efforts effective.

Encourage your team to do the same so you’ll succeed in no time.

At SaaSpirin, we're on top of all the latest trends and quick wins to boost your organic growth. Curious to know more? Just reach out, and let's have a friendly chat about your future results!

See ya!

FAQ

What is SEO management?

SEO management is all about organizing and coordinating your SEO efforts to improve your website’s visibility on search engines. It involves setting goals, planning strategies, and tracking results to ensure everything runs smoothly.

What is SEO project management?

SEO project management involves overseeing specific SEO tasks and campaigns. It’s about planning, executing, and monitoring SEO projects to ensure they meet their goals and deadlines.

How to manage SEO projects?

To manage SEO projects, start by setting clear goals and deadlines. Use project management tools like Trello or Asana to keep track of tasks and progress. Regular check-ins with your team help keep everyone on the same page.

How to build an SEO team?

Start by hiring a mix of skills: content creators, technical SEO experts, and analysts. Look for people who are passionate about SEO and willing to learn. Create a collaborative environment where everyone can share ideas and insights.

How to manage an SEO team?

Keep communication open and regular. Use tools like Slack for real-time updates and Trello for task management. Set clear goals and provide regular feedback. Encourage continuous learning and keep everyone updated on the latest SEO trends.

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