When it comes to outsourcing, a lot of people are still on the fence when it comes to SEO. While SEO seems like a function that could be easily handled by overseas service providers, there are some certain intricacies of SEO that might not be suited for offshore agencies. In this article, we’re going to explore whether outsourcing SEO to an overseas firm is really a viable choice for your business.

Outsourcing Overseas Affect Security

While we’re somewhat accustomed with dealing with service providers we’ve never actually met face to face, this can be especially problematic when it comes to SEO. When it comes to search engine optimization, you’ll often have to divulge personal information about your business and website(s) that could be easily compromised in the wrong hands. Furthermore, this information could easily be used against you if there is some kind of conflict in the future. Furthermore, you may have difficulty prosecuting the provider since they’ll be in a foreign jurisdiction, which further complicates things.

Communication Issues

Another common issue with dealing with overseas SEO providers is the communication barrier. First of all, you might have to deal with providers who don’t speak English as a first language. This could be a major issue, especially when it comes to something like SEO, which in many ways revolves around words. Also, you might have difficulties reaching them since you work in different time zones. In some cases, you’ll have to deal with a machine instead of getting direct assistance, and when you do, getting your point across might be very difficult. All these problems are eliminated when dealing with local providers.

Also, since social media plays a big role in SEO these days, a staff that lacks fluent English speakers may end up hurting your brand. You’d be surprised how fast readers will dismiss a website, blog post or social media message for a single grammar mistakes, so imagine if they are repeated. Also, interaction with any content from non-English speakers can feel really unnatural and even robotic, which can further hurt your brand. This is why you should at least stick with agencies with fluent English speakers on board if you don’t want to come across as unprofessional.

Using Outdated Techniques

Then there is the chance that the firm you’re hiring isn’t up on all the latest developments. Some may still be stuck on antiquated concepts like the overt use of long tail keywords or putting too much emphasis on keyword density. Some might be little more than glorified link building services.

In many cases, overseas service providers do not put as much emphasis on content because of language limitations. Since they may not have access to the same talent as local agencies, or might not have the editorial staff on hand to give content a natural feel, they might put more focus on other aspects of SEO to compensate.

Conclusion

While hiring an overseas agency for SEO might be tempting at first, it might not be the best choice for your business. Between the language and communication issues, understanding of most recent developments and security issues, it’s usually best to work with a local SEO provider if you want to get the best results.