<div class="tldr">
<h2>TL;DR</h2>
<ul>
<li>Recruiting an effective SEO team is vital for your startup's success in a competitive digital environment.</li>
<li>Key SEO skills include content creation, link building, and marketing promotion.</li>
<li>Establishing a clear team structure with roles like team leader, SEO manager, and specialists enhances productivity.</li>
<li>Using platforms such as LinkedIn, referrals, and conferences helps find qualified SEO professionals.</li>
<li>Writing detailed, technical job descriptions including salary ranges attract experienced candidates.</li>
<li>Administering technical SEO tests during hiring ensures candidates possess essential SEO knowledge.</li>
<li>Set a budget that covers salaries and necessary SEO tools; also invest in ongoing training for team growth.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-96faf62e-7fff-7f89-ac33-4c93c2cd5f62" dir="ltr">Search engine optimization is an essential part to have when starting a business. Many startups don't pay that much attention to their SEO team, which is where they fail in this sector.</p>
<p>In addition to that, SEO is becoming even more critical than ever due to the high volume of content posted daily. According to research, about<a href="https://firstsiteguide.com/blogging-stats/#:~:text=3.-,Around 7 million blog posts are published per day.,blog posts are published daily." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> seven million</a> blogs are published every single day, and 77% of blogs are read online. So, even if your content isn't SEO optimized, good luck finding it anywhere on Google!</p>
<pre><img src="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/upload/blog/Blog_Publish_Stats.webp.dat" alt="Blog Publish Stats" width="1260" height="735"></pre>
<h2>7 Tips for Recruiting a Winning SEO Team for Your Startup</h2>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-b2f1f595-7fff-026c-daa2-721e64fdcd54" dir="ltr">Before writing a single job description, get clear on the skills your SEO team must bring. In 2026, the scope of SEO has broadened significantly beyond keywords and backlinks. Many businesses also look to an experienced <a href="https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-finding-an-seo-agency-that-delivers-real-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO agency</a> for guidance on technical optimization, content strategy, and long-term organic growth planning.</p>
<h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-16044614-7fff-2a91-39ab-2c8c6b5124ca">1. Determine what kind of key skills your SEO team should have </span></h3>
<pre><img src="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/upload/blog/skills_of_SEO_team.webp.dat" alt="skills of SEO team" width="1260" height="841"></pre>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-63446e48-7fff-7c71-8986-05e434894c9a" dir="ltr">There are a set of skills every SEO team needs to possess even before hiring them and setting up a winning SEO team. These skills are even more important to possess in 2022 because of the increased blogs that are being published each day and the <a href="https://blackstormroofingmarketing.com/will-seo-exist-in-5-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amount of focus most companies</a> are giving to SEO. </p>
<p>As of 2022, <a href="https://www.safaridigital.com.au/blog/seo-statistics-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google accounts for nearly 80% of all searches</a> that are conducted on the internet. Moreover, here are the key skills your SEO team should possess - </p>
<h4><span id="docs-internal-guid-5c468395-7fff-a6f5-4116-9e4a1f49c08e">Content creation </span></h4>
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">As we mentioned before, over seven million blogs get published every day. It’s very important you have the <a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-boost-online-recruitment-with-content-marketing">right person write your content</a> and make it SEO focused, such as including the right keywords, using quality backlinks, writing a good headline/title tag, and much more.  To support these efforts, many teams rely on dedicated SEO Software that helps with keyword research, backlink analysis, and title optimization. This doesn’t mean writing as many 2000 word articles as you can, in fact, <a href="https://www.impactplus.com/blog/seo-statistics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">36% of SEO experts claim that only the headline</a> is enough to encourage people to click on your content. After all, quality is above everything. For better understanding you can approach <a href="https://www.manaferra.com/higher-education-seo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher ed seo</a>.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b2136c7-7fff-0928-cead-d02cad9dcdec">Link building </span></h4>
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Link building remains a <a href="https://backlinko.com/link-building" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top three SEO skill</a>, so you want to <a href="https://swordfish.ai/news/people-finder-sites/" rel="noopener nofollow">find people</a> who is able to conduct broken <a href="https://seene.online/how-to-do-link-building/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">link building</a>, link prospecting, blogger outreach, or in short, someone who can link people to awesome content that you are publishing. For those wondering <a href="https://editorial.link/outsource-link-building-the-pros-and-cons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">where to look for trusted link builders</a>, exploring dedicated platforms and services that specialize in link building can provide access to skilled professionals who understand how to enhance your SEO efforts effectively.</p>
<h4><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c4ff1f4-7fff-5ca1-86b5-56c17a91524a">Marketing and promotion </span></h4>
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">It’s important you recruit someone that knows how to get the right traffic to your site. You can write SEO-focused content, but if nobody knows how to promote it, it won’t generate as much traffic as you think. An <a href="https://www.agencyplatform.com/seo-reseller-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO reseller</a> can help bridge this gap by implementing proven distribution strategies to optimize your content for maximum reach. Promote your SEO-focused content via email, in this process following <a href="https://easydmarc.com/blog/phishing-statistics-easydmarc-report-january-june-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phishing statistics</a>, which will guarantee your email security and create an image of a credible company.</p>
<h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-670bed2c-7fff-c323-db9e-0c1bf9cb8a1c">2. Structure what Your SEO Team Should Look Like</span></h3>
<pre><img src="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/upload/blog/Structure_of_Your_SEO_Team.webp.dat" alt="Structure of Your SEO Team" width="1260" height="859"></pre>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-be4886cc-7fff-2862-1e0e-04644fa951f6" dir="ltr">Before setting up your team, initially define what your team will look like. According to a recent <a href="https://www.hoppier.com/blog/virtual-team#:~:text=Having a defined structure helps,exactly who to speak to." target="_blank" rel="noopener">report by Hoppier</a>, it claims that a defined structure helps team members stay more focused, organized, and goal-driven when hired. Here is an example of what your team structure can look like:</p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f0ad6ec5-7fff-4208-446f-73a707a876ca">Team leader</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">Unless you are an SEO expert, it's a whole different story. <strong><a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-7-best-practices-for-effective-team-building">Having a team leader</a></strong> for SEO is essential if you want to have someone continuously updated with algorithmic changes.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6764bc5d-7fff-adba-908b-fc510c7af27c">SEO manager</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">Under the team leader should be an SEO manager. An SEO manager can substitute for and coordinate with the team leader to identify which SEO algorithms are changing and what new implementations to make.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b1a8b1a2-7fff-1c47-9c05-9985fef8d4bd">SEO specialists</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">SEO specialists have excellent in-depth technical knowledge of SEO. <a href="https://seo.london/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An SEO specialist can do many things</a> at once, from being a copywriter or content writer to setting up content marketing <a href="https://www.getjop.com/blog/strategies-to-grow-your-business-in-a-competitive-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strategies</a> and doing the necessary keyword research.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0ce47714-7fff-8286-6fa3-f87c70a21b94">Link building specialists</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">Link building specialists play a crucial role when setting up a rocking <a href="https://www.sortlist.co.uk/blog/seo-agency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO team</a>. While the specialist may do most of the work, link-building specialists focus on building new links with other websites through <a href="https://outreachmonks.com/link-insertion-niche-edits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-quality link insertions</a> and promoting your content.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-24d46ffa-7fff-db80-9874-755f538ef9ec">Content or copywriter</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">If you want maximum optimization on your website and blog posts, then a copy or content writer will do the job for you. Content writers and copywriters must have strong SEO knowledge; otherwise, their content won't be ranked on Google. It is never a bad idea to have them on your team. Another way to establish a strong online presence is to use an <a href="https://contentatscale.ai/ai-powered-seo-content-generator/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI SEO content generator</a>.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-77d7e919-7fff-7098-04ec-f98a9c23173b">3. Use the Right Channels to Find SEO Talent</span></h3>
<h4 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">LinkedIn</h4>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">AI-powered candidate matching tools are now integrated into most major hiring platforms, and LinkedIn remains the most direct route to active and passive SEO professionals. Search for "SEO specialist," "SEO manager," or "technical SEO" to surface candidates in your target location or open to remote work. You can also post the role, activate the hiring frame on your profile, and let candidates come to you.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr">Referrals</h4>
<p>Referrals remain one of the highest-quality sourcing channels in any profession. If you know someone who has worked with a strong SEO professional or a <a href="https://www.softtrix.com/blog/does-seo-work-for-small-businesses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small business SEO consultant</a> and had a great experience, that is your first call. People trust recommendations from their network, and referred candidates tend to be better culture fits from day one.</p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-98993f36-7fff-25f7-c21e-8b9ffd74f526">Furthermore, there are many alternative methods and areas you can search for in order to do this. Here are some suggestions of alternative methods you can use to find <a href="https://bulldogdigitalmedia.co.uk/white-label-seo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO professionals</a> other than LinkedIn: </span></p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b3c4ce3-7fff-8c42-c065-07658e91e35a">Conferences</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">Many SEO conferences across the internet take place every day. Most of these conferences all have SEO professionals and juniors in the group participating, so this is your bingo. Some of the <a href="https://firstpagesage.com/seo-blog/the-best-seo-conferences/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best SEO conferences that will take place in 2022</a> include DigiMarCon California, MozCon 2022, Content Marketing World, and much more.</p>
<h4><span id="docs-internal-guid-91909463-7fff-e9c6-5eac-d9b1072b38ad">Freelance sites</span></h4>
<p>Upwork, Freelancer.com, and many other freelance sites give you the ability to view reviews of other clients about a typical freelancer. This gives you an advantage since when you seek to <a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-creative-ways-to-hire-top-talents-for-your-startup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hire the right people</a>, you'll already get a chance to see what others have to say about them. Furthermore, rarely will anybody hire a freelancer without any positive reviews on freelance sites!</p>
<h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-1cc5f241-7fff-35e1-5327-548dc74ea553">4. Write a great job description when hiring </span></h3>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-4480b12f-7fff-8333-d246-24d8195c820d" dir="ltr">Job descriptions are the key to hiring the right SEO specialists. You don't want to attract beginners who lack experience, but it depends on how much they are willing to learn, even if you do. Anyways, here is what you should consider including in your job description -</p>
<h4 dir="ltr">Use Technical Language</h4>
<p dir="ltr">If you want to hire experts or those who are experienced enough, you should use technical language to attract those who really understand the terms. However, it doesn't always mean that you will be <a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-recruiting-methods-to-hire-top-talent"><strong>attracting top talents</strong> </a>until you put them to the test.</p>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b7a2ec85-7fff-bb81-da2b-669d51e840fd">Include the salary range</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr"><a id="docs-internal-guid-cb24e701-7fff-db62-ff2e-b502337040e9" href="https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/talent-acquisition/stats-that-will-change-the-way-you-write-job-posts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">61% of candidates that applied for a job</a> on LinkedIn stated that the salary range was the most important part of a job description. A startup company's biggest mistake is posting a job description and not including any salary ranges.</p>
<pre dir="ltr"><img src="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/upload/blog/Job_Description.webp.dat" alt="Job Description" width="1260" height="735"></pre>
<h4 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5b05ca8d-7fff-5cef-4e28-4a25ad215473">Include your company's values</span></h4>
<p dir="ltr">What the company stands for and what it aims to achieve is very important for those who apply for a position at your startup company. SEO specialists or experts want to be part of a goal-driven team and not part of an employer who uses traditional methods of working.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1245c619-7fff-bcaa-5966-5d4fc12b2a74">5. Use a technical SEO test before hiring </span></h3>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-a6e9e3df-7fff-dcfa-c5d2-300b84d67bea" dir="ltr">If it is not the best way, one of the tops ways to hire the proper SEO professionals is by giving them a technical SEO skills assessment to conduct. These types of tests can be considered as pre-employment tests which <a href="https://xobin.com/blog/reasons-to-use-pre-employment-tests/#:~:text=of the applicants.-,Types of Pre-Employment Tests,companies use pre-employment testing.&text=These tests can be of,recruitment depending on your needs." target="_blank" rel="noopener">82% of Fortune 500 companies use</a> as a method of recruiting. </p>
<p dir="ltr">A technical SEO test can evaluate candidates' skills based on how they are using keywords on websites and improving the <a href="https://googlerankcheck.com/">SEO rankings</a> of websites and content that is published. Moreover, this test shows the results to distinguish whether you have the <strong><a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-tips-hiring-right-candidate">right candidates</a></strong> in order to proceed to the next stage. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Furthermore, a technical SEO test will show all the necessary skills an SEO specialist needs to have, including -</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ability to find the right keywords for your site </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The number of potential customers they can acquire every day with an optimized site</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Optimized sites load faster, and this makes them rank faster</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Quality of the backlinks </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">URL and file structure </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mobile optimization and problem-solving</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-190c2ed8-7fff-54f2-0e6f-e64a37cf7430">6. Set a Realistic Budget for Salaries and Tools</span></h3>
<pre><img src="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/upload/blog/Set_your_budget.webp.dat" alt="Set your budget" width="1260" height="709"></pre>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-26e6cd9e-7fff-8f1a-7ad2-821fca8a19d1" dir="ltr">Some of the biggest companies around the world such as Toys R Us, Blockbuster, and more, failed due to <a href="https://www.e-careers.com/connected/10-business-that-failed-due-to-poor-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor budget management</a>. Taking this into consideration when <a href="https://www.omnicoreagency.com/hire-an-seo-company/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hiring an SEO team,</a> you'll have to know that not every SEO specialist, SEO manager, link-building specialist, copywriter, or any other position you are seeking to hire will charge you the same amount of money for hiring them. Additionally, companies also set their budget by hiring <a href="https://www.highervisibility.com/seo/services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO services</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, before you hire them, make sure to set a defined budget so you are close enough to the range. Here is the average annual wage (firmly depends on the country) of an SEO related position -</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">SEO specialist - $52,865 </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Copywriter - $69,046</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Content writer - $52,121</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Link building specialist - $67,406 </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">Moreover, you must research to check the salary ranges for a specialist, manager, and more positions you are seeking to hire. Additionally, your budget should also include the tools you'll have to pay for when your team uses them. Some of these tools include SEMrush, YOAST SEO, Grammarly premium, and other tools an SEO specialist would use. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Most <a href="https://www.qureos.com/career-guide/top-seo-tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEO tools</a> have a monthly or annual payment for their subscription rates. Moreover, costs vary, but these tools can sometimes add up to a percentage of your entire team's salaries!</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-413ab262-7fff-c1b0-e8b9-b726a65690a3">7. Invest in Ongoing Training</span></h3>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-2e00763a-7fff-f717-186f-08e486cc9ad2" dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.lorman.com/blog/post/39-statistics-that-prove-the-value-of-employee-training#:~:text=start to finish.-,Employee training statistics,not more, than their employers.&text=34% of employees are very,it to be very important." target="_blank" rel="noopener">34% of employees claim that training opportunities</a> make them very satisfied with their job and 41% claim that it’s essential for becoming more skilled at your job. Let's say you have your team ready now, but some team members are still juniors and might need training. That is fine because what matters is that you have juniors that want to get better at what they do and <a href="https://www.embarque.io/post/global-seo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">learn more about SEO</a>. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Sometimes you may not even have the financial resources to hire an expert when <a href="https://osome.com/hk/guides/how-to-start-a-business-in-hong-kong/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">starting a business</a>, which is okay because what matters is <a href="https://www.ismartrecruit.com/blog-digital-age-modern-recruitment-trends">hiring someone</a> who wants to grow with your company. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Furthermore, what you can do for your junior members is pay for the professional courses they can attend and even direct your SEO managers and specialists to teach their team members what they might lack some knowledge in. After all, it is an effective way of growing together.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Build Your SEO Team Strategically</h2>
<p id="docs-internal-guid-85749b5b-7fff-5690-cd9d-f7e6ee559963" dir="ltr">That's it for this article. These were our seven tips you can use for creating a winning SEO team. Your team is waiting for you; you have to search in the right areas. The only important thing is that you search in the right areas to find them. </p>
<p>This article goes into an in-depth review of what you should do to recruit a winning SEO team. If a section caught your attention, we recommend you stop and carefully read through it. After all, you can't risk continuously hiring new people from time to time. For further insights and <a href="https://editorial.link/case/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cases</a> on successful SEO strategies and team compositions, exploring comprehensive studies can provide valuable lessons and actionable strategies for building your own effective SEO team.</p>
<div class="faqs">
<h2>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h2>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">1. What key skills should I look for when recruiting an SEO team?</h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">In 2026, prioritise candidates with skills in technical SEO, content creation, link building, data analytics, and AI search optimisation. The ability to adapt to rapidly evolving search features like Google AI Overviews and generative search is becoming increasingly important for any SEO hire.</p>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">2. How important is structuring my SEO team correctly?</h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Very important. A clearly defined structure with distinct roles, from strategic leadership to specialist execution, keeps your team focused and accountable. Undefined structures often lead to overlapping responsibilities and gaps in coverage, both of which hurt performance.</p>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">3. Why should I use a technical SEO test before hiring?</h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Resumes and interviews do not reliably predict SEO performance. A practical skills assessment reveals whether a candidate can actually diagnose technical issues, conduct keyword research, and interpret analytics data. This step saves significant time and reduces the risk of a costly bad hire.</p>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">4. What budget should I set for an SEO team in 2026?</h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The average US SEO professional earns approximately $74,795 per year. Factor in role seniority, your location, and the cost of essential tools such as Semrush or Ahrefs when building your budget. For early-stage startups, a leaner team of two to three strong generalists often delivers better ROI than a large team of specialists hired too quickly. </p>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">5. How do I find qualified SEO professionals<strong>?</strong></h3>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">LinkedIn is the most direct channel for active and passive candidates. Employee referrals consistently deliver higher-quality hires. Industry conferences are ideal for meeting practitioners who are invested in staying current. Freelance platforms can be useful for trial engagements before making a full-time offer.</p>
</div>