By Clint Sanchez · Published · Updated · 5 min read
Quick answer
Successful SEO depends on ten roles inside a business: the CEO who backs the investment, the CFO who funds it, the head of marketing who plans it, the web developer who builds the technical foundation, the copywriter, the social media manager, the SEO consultant who designs and audits the strategy, the PR manager who earns links, the brand manager who protects reputation, and the customer service rep who keeps existing customers from venting online.
Key takeaways
- Without the CEO's buy-in, no other role in the company can execute an SEO strategy successfully.
- Nothing happens without a portion of the marketing budget dedicated to SEO, which makes the CFO a key role.
- A great web designer is not automatically an SEO expert; the technical build and the ongoing campaign are separate disciplines.
- Copywriters shape tone, style, and accuracy of content, and should know SEO best practices.
- An SEO consultant runs technical audits, handles on-page and off-page work, and reports progress using Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
- A PR manager who understands link building turns press mentions into high-quality backlinks.
- Customer service is part of SEO because unhappy customers who vent online can damage the business's reputation.
Most Baton Rouge area businesses do not have ten people, and the same owner is the CEO, CFO, and customer service rep before lunch. That is normal. The point is that each of these jobs still has to get done, and the ones a Denham Springs owner cannot cover, usually the developer, the copywriter, and the SEO consultant, are the ones to hire or outsource.
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SEO is one of the most complex and essential aspects of any online marketing strategy, but it can also be challenging to get right. Many businesses struggle with SEO because they don’t have the right team to make it successful.
So if you want your business to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), then you need to make sure that you have the following roles on your team:
Top Ten Business Employee SEO Roles that are key to SEO success
Several distinct tasks help a business optimize its SEO performance. Some may appear self-evident, while others might fly under the radar. This demonstrates that SEO strategy can be incorporated into your company’s operations at every level.
Here are our top ten roles:
1. The CEO (or another high-ranking official who sets the company’s vision and direction)
Why? The CEO needs to be on board with investing in SEO and understand its importance for the overall success of the company. Without the CEO’s buy-in, no other role in the company will be able to execute an SEO strategy successfully.
Want this handled for you? We build and market websites for Louisiana businesses, and we will tell you honestly if you do not need us.
2. The CFO (or another high-ranking official who has control of the funds)
Nothing else matters without a proportion of your marketing budget being dedicated to SEO. The CFO or other senior decision-makers at your company must understand the importance of investing in SEO. Without a budget for SEO, none of the different roles on this list will be able to do their jobs properly.
3. The Head of Marketing (or someone with equivalent responsibility)
The head of marketing is responsible for developing and executing a holistic marketing strategy that includes SEO. They need to clearly understand how SEO can help grow the business and must allocate resources (time and money) to make sure that the SEO strategy is successful.
4. The Web Developer/Designer
Web developers are responsible for building and maintaining your website and making sure it’s technically optimized for search engines.
They also play a important role in developing long-term content strategies, as they are often responsible for creating or modifying pages to include keywords and other Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques.
These content strategies help you reach your target audience by increasing your visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs).
It’s important to recognize that while a web developer handles the important technical foundation, their role is often distinct from that of an SEO strategist who manages the ongoing campaign. A common pitfall for businesses is assuming that a great web designer is automatically an SEO expert. While some are skilled in both, they are separate disciplines requiring different expertise.
5. The Copywriter/Editor
Copywriters are responsible for writing website content, including both the body copy and titles/headlines.
They also play an essential role in shaping the tone and style of your website’s content, which can significantly impact how well it ranks on search engine results pages (SERPs). Copywriters must also make sure that all website content is error-free and conforms to search engine guidelines.
Like any other content marketer, a copywriter should also be well-versed in SEO best practices to make sure that their content is optimized for search engines.
Additionally, your copywriter should work with the rest of your marketing team to make sure that the website’s content is aligned with your overall marketing goals.
6. The Social Media Specialist/Manager
Social media specialists manage all aspects of your company’s social media presence, including creating and publishing content, engaging with customers, and tracking results.
They are often responsible for optimizing social media posts for search engines, which can help increase traffic to your website from social media networks.
Interested in learning more about how rankings work on social media platforms? Read our recent article.
7. SEO consultant
Someone in charge of your brand must build your whole SEO strategy. An SEO consultant (SEO specialist) is responsible for designing and implementing your overall SEO plan. This involves conducting keyword research, improving website content, and developing links.
By working with your content writers, web developers, and social media specialists, an SEO consultant can make sure that your website is optimized for search engines at every level.
But…
It also goes beyond that. Your SEO consultant should run technical SEO audits to identify any issues that could be holding your website back from ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
They should also be proficient in both on-page and off-page SEO techniques. And most importantly, your SEO consultant should be up-to-date on all the latest trends and changes in the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization (SEO).
They should also monitor your website’s SEO performance and report on progress to make sure that the SEO strategy is on track.
Using tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics, they should track keyword rankings, website traffic, and conversions to give you an accurate picture of your SEO progress.
Lastly, a competent SEO consultant will use her skills to build a solid online presence and make sure that your website is seen by the people you want to reach out to.
8. PR manager
Because this person needs to know how to get the most SEO impact from promoting the company in a traditional PR sense.
A PR manager needs to have a good understanding of both SEO and link building. This is because they need to promote your company in a way that will help you earn high-quality links.
Your PR person will naturally always look for ways to get your business mentioned by other publications and websites. This lends itself perfectly to a clever strategy of building backlinks to your website.
9. The Brand Manager
This is someone who needs to think about how the company is perceived online. And that includes search engines.
A brand manager should understand how SEO works and how it can be used to build and protect the company’s reputation online.
10. The Customer Service Representative
Finally, it’s important to remember that SEO is not just about getting new customers. It’s also about keeping the ones you already have. And that’s where customer service comes in.
Your customer service representatives are the front line when dealing with unhappy customers. If those customers vent their frustrations on the Internet, it can hurt your business.
Do You Have the Right Team for Successful SEO?
Having the right team in place is essential to improving your SEO. Now that you know the business roles that are key to SEO success, consider hiring a copywriter, social media specialist, web developer, and SEO professional. With the right team in place, you’ll be on your way to SEO success.
Our team of digital marketing experts can help you develop an effective SEO strategy and put the right team in place to execute it. Contact us today to learn more.
Wondering if your SEO is actually getting traction, or where to focus next? Let’s diagnose it in a 15-minute Discovery Call.
About the author
Founder & Lead Developer · Denham Springs, LA
Clint has built and marketed websites for 26 years, since founding BlakSheep Creative in 2000. He is also a 29-year firefighter and a 23-year member of IAFF Local 557, which is where the bias toward plain answers over sales copy comes from.
- Veteran-owned
- Firefighter-owned
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Common questions about seo
Why does the CEO matter for SEO?
Is a web designer the same as an SEO specialist?
What does an SEO consultant actually do?
How does PR help with SEO?
What does customer service have to do with search rankings?
Which SEO roles should a small business hire first?
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