This blog explains why you might need a website SEO consultant, what they actually do, when to hire one, and how to choose the right SEO agency.
A website SEO consultant is a specialist who helps businesses improve visibility in search engines, attract the right audience, and generate more leads. We’ll also explore real-world examples of SEO consultancy in action and answer some of the most common questions people ask about SEO in 2025.
Why Do You Need a Website SEO Consultant?
Hiring a website SEO consultant can be a game-changer for businesses that want to compete online. Search engine optimisation (SEO)(external link) is no longer about stuffing keywords into content, it requires expertise, planning, and ongoing execution.
Expertise You Can Trust
An experienced website SEO consultant brings deep technical knowledge and proven strategies that can’t be replicated by guesswork.
Google is constantly updating their algorithms so you need someone who can monitor your SEO performance on a week-to-week basis and knows how to optimise your website for long-term visibility.
Local Knowledge
For businesses in New Zealand, local search is particularly important.
A website SEO consultant familiar with the NZ market understands how to target searches by region, use locally relevant keywords, and ensure compliance with New Zealand privacy and accessibility standards.
Cost-Effective Results
Working with a consultant is often more cost-effective than hiring a full in-house SEO team. You gain access to expert skills, tools, and reporting without the overheads.
Depending on the size of your website you may not need much SEO work done every month so an SEO Consultant would be a more cost effective option in the long run. Alternatively, if your organisation has multiple sites you need an expert who understands how to optimise SEO for different niches so that your sites aren't competing against each other.
At Somar, we are very much against applying a cookie cutter approach to our clients SEO. Before any contract is signed we work with our clients to assess their site and come to an agreement about how many hours per month it makes sense to spend on SEO. The last thing we want to do is overcharge our clients, we want to make sure they get the best bang for their buck!
Benefits of SEO Consultancy
- Increased visibility in search results
- Higher-quality traffic to your website
- Better user experience through technical improvements
- The potential for more leads and conversions
- Long-term sustainability compared to paid advertising
What Does a Website SEO Consultant Do?
A website SEO consultant provides a structured approach to improving your website’s performance. At Somar Digital, we take a more personal approach to our SEO consultancy combining technical expertise with a user-first mindset.
Website Audit
An audit is the starting point for any SEO strategy. It identifies what’s working, what’s broken, and where improvements are needed.
For example, with our audit of the Plan My Walk app, we uncovered a lack of unique URLs and header tags that needs optimisation. By updating the effected URLs and adding appropriate H1s, H2s and H3s to properly structure the content this helped Google understand the site better and contributed to SEO gains in organic traffic, and SERP and Keyword rankings.
Keyword Research
Effective keyword research ensures your website targets the right audience. A website SEO consultant will analyse what your customers are searching for and map keywords to your services or products.
We’ve helped clients like the Ministry of Social Development focus on high-intent keywords that drive meaningful engagement to their sites, which provide resources for individuals impacted by family violence. The Are You Ok site in particular deals with sensitive issues so we needed to make sure the site is discoverable for the people who most need this information.
On-Page Optimisation
This includes refining page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and internal linking.
Many of these optimisations are often relatively straightforward to fix but it makes a big difference to your site's overall SEO performance.
Technical SEO
Technical elements like site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability are essential.
We worked with Greater Wellington Regional Council to ensure their website structure was easy for both users and search engines to navigate, improving indexing across thousands of pages.
Content Strategy
Content is at the heart of SEO. A website SEO consultant can create or refine a strategy that balances keyword targeting with valuable, user-focused content.
This could mean building resource hubs, optimising blogs, or updating service pages for clarity and relevance.
Backlink Strategy
High-quality backlinks(external link) signal authority to search engines. A consultant helps identify link-building opportunities from trusted sources while avoiding low-quality links that can damage rankings.
Monthly Reports and Insights
Transparency is key. SEO Consultants provide regular reports on performance metrics such as rankings, organic traffic, conversions, and technical health.
At Somar, our monthly reporting helps our clients stay in the loop and keeps them informed on any changes to the SEO of their website.
When Is a Good Time to Hire a Website SEO Consultant?
The best time to hire a website SEO consultant(external link) is you think your site is losing visibility. Maybe you notice a drop in website traffic or you might be making a major update to your old site.
SEO is proactive, waiting until rankings have dropped or traffic has stalled means you’re already behind competitors.
Good times to engage a consultant include:
- Launching a new website or redesigning an old one
- Expanding into new markets or regions
- Experiencing a decline in website traffic
- Wanting to compete for more competitive keywords
- Preparing for digital campaigns that require search visibility
How Do I Choose an SEO Consultant?
Choosing the right website SEO consultant requires careful evaluation.
Look for:
- Proven track record: Ask for case studies and results.
- Transparency: A good consultant explains strategies clearly without jargon.
- Local expertise: Especially if targeting the NZ market.
- Tailored approach: Avoid one-size-fits-all packages.
- Ongoing support: SEO is continuous, not a one-off task.
At Somar Digital, we prioritise collaboration. We work with you to understand your goals, then apply SEO strategies that align with your organisation’s needs.
If you’re ready to boost visibility and attract the right audience, partnering with a website SEO consultant can transform your digital presence.
Somar Digital has worked with not-for-profits, government agencies, and businesses across New Zealand to deliver sustainable SEO results.
Get in touch today to see how we can support your organisation.
