Part 4 of a 10 part series: The Small Business Owner’s Guide to SEO in 2025
When you’re running a small business, every dollar—and every hour—counts.
You know SEO is important. You want your website to rank, show up in local searches, and actually attract people ready to buy. But the big question is:
Should you learn SEO and do it yourself, or should you hire someone to handle it for you?
Let’s walk through both options—what you can do on your own, when it makes sense to outsource, and how the costs (and time) actually shake out.
What You Can Realistically Do on Your Own
If you’re willing to put in a little time, there’s a lot you can accomplish with DIY SEO—especially in the beginning.
Here’s what small business owners can usually handle on their own:
- Setting up Google Search Console and Google Analytics
- Optimizing basic on-page SEO (page titles, meta descriptions, heading structure)
- Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile
- Writing helpful blog posts that answer your customers’ questions
- Learning how to use a tool like Ubersuggest for basic keyword research
- Building internal links between your own pages
And yes—this blog post you’re reading? Totally part of a strategy you can learn.
🔗 If you’re taking the DIY route, start here: The Small Business Owner’s Guide to SEO Costs in 2025. It breaks down what you should expect when budgeting for SEO.
When It Makes Sense to Outsource SEO
Here’s the truth: SEO isn’t hard—but it is a lot. And sometimes doing it yourself slows you down more than it saves you money.
So, when should you hand it over to a pro?
Consider outsourcing if:
- You don’t have time to consistently blog, optimize, and analyze results
- You’ve been DIY-ing for 6+ months with minimal traffic growth
- You’re launching a new site and want to start with a strong SEO foundation
- You’re in a competitive industry or saturated local market
- Technical things like schema, redirects, or site speed make your brain hurt
In other words, when SEO feels more like a full-time job than a marketing strategy—you’re ready to bring someone in.
🔗 Want to know what that might look like? Check out my web design and SEO services here. I keep it simple, stress-free, and small-business friendly.
DIY SEO vs. Hiring an Expert: What’s the Cost?
Let’s talk money. Because yes, SEO is an investment—but the costs (and risks) look different depending on the route you choose.
| SEO Approach | What You Get | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| DIY SEO | Full control, self-paced learning | Free–$500/year (tools, courses, plugins) |
| Freelancer | Personalized help, budget-friendly | $500–$2,000/month |
| Agency | Hands-off, full-service support | $1,500–$5,000+/month |
Don’t forget to factor in your time, too. Your hours are valuable. If you’re spending 10 hours a week learning SEO, writing content, and fixing technical stuff—that’s time you’re not serving clients or growing your business.
The SEO Time Commitment: What You Should Expect
SEO isn’t a quick fix. Whether you’re doing it yourself or outsourcing, it takes time and consistency to see real results.
If you’re DIY-ing:
⏳ Plan to spend 5–10 hours per week learning, researching, writing content, and tracking progress.
If you’re outsourcing:
⏳ Expect to spend 1–2 hours per month reviewing reports, sharing business updates, and giving feedback.
Time is a cost, too. Be honest with yourself about how much you can realistically give to SEO before deciding which path to take.
🔗 If you’re still unsure where you fall, this post might help: Understanding SEO Pricing Models: What’s Right for Your Business?
Final Thoughts: Which Path Is Right for You?
If you enjoy learning new things, have some time to commit, and want to get your hands dirty—DIY SEO can absolutely work for you.
But if SEO is distracting you from your core business, or if it’s starting to feel overwhelming, that’s your sign to get help.
At the end of the day, your website needs to work for you. Whether you do the SEO yourself or hire someone to handle it, the goal is the same:
✔️ Get found
✔️ Attract the right people
✔️ Book more clients
Need support? Want to make sure your SEO foundation is solid before you scale it?
Let’s talk. Check out my services and how I help small business owners like you.
What’s Next in the SEO Cost Series?
Coming up next:
👉 The SEO Strategy That Gets the Best Results for Small Businesses
Don’t miss it!
And if you’ve been juggling SEO on your own—tell me in the comments: What’s working? What’s driving you nuts? Let’s figure it out together.
