17 Practical Steps to Find and Hire the Right Technical SEO Specialist
Finding a skilled technical SEO specialist can feel overwhelming, especially when you need someone who can actually fix crawl errors, speed up your site, and make sense of structured data. This guide walks you through seventeen actionable places and methods to find qualified candidates. Whether you run a small business or manage a larger team, these practical tips will help you connect with the right talent and make informed hiring decisions quickly.
- Start Your Search on Legiit for Vetted Freelancers
Legiit specializes in connecting businesses with verified digital marketing professionals, including technical SEO specialists who have proven track records. The platform lets you review detailed profiles, past work samples, and client feedback before making contact. You can filter by specific skills like site audits, schema markup, or Core Web Vitals optimization. This makes it simple to compare candidates and reach out to those who match your exact requirements. Many specialists on Legiit offer fixed-price packages, which helps you budget accurately from the start.
- Post Detailed Job Listings on Specialized Job Boards
Rather than using general job sites, try niche boards that cater specifically to SEO and digital marketing roles. Sites like SEOjobs.com or MarketingHire attract candidates who actively work in the field and understand technical requirements. When you post your listing, be specific about what you need: mention whether you want someone experienced with JavaScript SEO, log file analysis, or international SEO. Clear job descriptions attract better matches and save you time sorting through unqualified applicants.
- Search LinkedIn with Targeted Skill Filters
LinkedIn’s advanced search lets you filter by specific skills like technical SEO, site migrations, or page speed optimization. Start by searching for people who list these skills and have recent activity showing they stay current with algorithm updates. Look at their posts and articles to gauge their actual knowledge, not just their resume claims. You can reach out directly with a personalized message explaining your project needs. Many technical SEO specialists are open to freelance work even if they have full-time positions.
- Request Recommendations from Your Professional Network
Ask colleagues, business partners, or members of your industry associations if they have worked with technical SEO specialists they would recommend. Personal referrals often lead to higher-quality matches because the person vouching for them has direct experience with their work style and results. When you receive a recommendation, follow up by asking specific questions about what projects they handled and how they communicated throughout the process. This gives you a realistic picture before your first conversation.
- Browse Portfolios on Personal Websites and Blogs
Many experienced technical SEO specialists maintain personal websites where they showcase case studies, explain complex concepts, and share audit samples. Finding these sites through Google searches for terms like “technical SEO consultant” plus your industry or location can surface strong candidates. Review their blog posts to see if they write clearly and demonstrate deep knowledge of topics like crawl budget optimization or hreflang implementation. A well-maintained site often signals someone who practices what they preach.
- Attend Virtual SEO Conferences and Webinars
Online SEO events give you direct access to speakers and attendees who specialize in technical aspects of search optimization. Pay attention to presenters who explain complex topics in practical terms and answer questions thoughtfully. After sessions, reach out via the conference chat or social media to start a conversation about potential collaboration. Many specialists are more approachable in these informal settings than through cold outreach. You can also join breakout rooms or networking sessions specifically for hiring discussions.
- Check Freelance Marketplaces with Strong Review Systems
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have thousands of technical SEO specialists, but success depends on filtering carefully. Look for freelancers with high ratings, detailed reviews that mention specific technical skills, and a history of repeat clients. Read the negative reviews too, as they often reveal important details about communication style or project management. When you find promising candidates, start with a small paid test project to evaluate their actual abilities before committing to a larger engagement.
- Join SEO-Focused Slack and Discord Communities
Private communities on Slack and Discord host active discussions where technical SEO specialists help each other solve problems and share insights. Many of these groups have job boards or channels specifically for hiring. By participating in discussions, you can observe who provides helpful, accurate answers to technical questions. This gives you a sense of their expertise before you even post a job opening. Some communities require an application to join, which helps maintain a higher quality of membership.
- Review Contributors to Technical SEO Publications
Websites like Search Engine Journal, Moz Blog, and Search Engine Land regularly publish articles by technical SEO specialists. Authors who contribute quality content typically have strong practical experience and stay current with industry changes. Check their author bios for contact information or links to their consulting services. Reaching out to writers whose articles helped you solve a problem can be a natural way to start a conversation about working together. Many are available for consulting work beyond their writing commitments.
- Explore Agency Partnerships for Project-Based Work
SEO agencies often have technical specialists on staff who can handle specific projects without requiring you to hire a full-time employee. This works well when you need someone to complete a site migration, fix indexing issues, or perform a comprehensive audit. Contact agencies that specialize in technical SEO rather than general marketing, and ask about their process for assigning specialists to projects. Request to speak with the actual person who would work on your account, not just the sales team.
- Post in Reddit Communities for Direct Responses
Subreddits like r/bigseo and r/TechSEO have active communities of practitioners who discuss advanced technical topics. You can post a detailed description of what you need and ask for recommendations or direct offers. Be transparent about your budget and timeline to attract serious responses. Review the post history of people who respond to verify they have genuine expertise and aren’t just sales representatives. Reddit conversations tend to be more candid than formal job applications.
- Use Twitter to Find Active SEO Practitioners
Twitter hosts a vibrant SEO community where specialists share insights, debate algorithm updates, and offer advice. Search for hashtags like #TechnicalSEO or #SEO and follow people who regularly post helpful technical content. Look for those who engage in discussions rather than just promoting services. Many specialists mention when they have availability for new projects. You can send a direct message or reply to a relevant tweet to start a conversation about your needs.
- Check Referrals from Your Current Development Team
Your web developers likely know technical SEO specialists from past projects or professional networks. They understand the technical requirements better than most hiring managers and can recommend people they have successfully collaborated with before. Ask your developers about specialists who communicate well, meet deadlines, and deliver code that actually works. This also helps ensure the SEO specialist you hire will work smoothly with your existing team, which matters more than many people realize.
- Review Speaker Lineups from Past SEO Events
Conference websites typically maintain archives of past speakers and their presentation topics. Look for people who spoke about technical subjects that match your needs, such as JavaScript rendering, API-based SEO, or enterprise site architecture. Download their slide decks if available to assess how they explain complex topics. Contact speakers directly through the information provided in their conference bio. Many specialists get inquiries this way and are responsive to well-crafted messages about potential projects.
- Examine GitHub Profiles for Technical Depth
Some technical SEO specialists maintain GitHub repositories with scripts, tools, or code samples they have created for SEO tasks. Searching GitHub for terms like “SEO audit” or “schema generator” can help you find people with genuine technical skills. Review their code quality, documentation, and how recently they have been active. This approach works especially well if you need someone comfortable working with APIs, Python scripts, or custom SEO tools. You can reach out through their GitHub profile or linked contact information.
- Contact Authors of Technical SEO Tools and Software
People who build SEO tools often have deep technical knowledge and may offer consulting services. Check the about pages of tools you use or have researched for information about the creators. Even if they are not available for hire, they often know other specialists in their network and can provide referrals. This method works particularly well for specialized needs like log file analysis tools or custom crawling solutions. A brief email explaining your situation can open doors to qualified help.
- Search YouTube for Technical SEO Tutorial Creators
YouTube hosts detailed technical SEO tutorials from specialists who explain concepts like rendering, canonicalization, and server configuration. Creators who produce clear, accurate educational content typically have strong practical skills. Check their video descriptions for contact information or links to their consulting services. Watch several videos to evaluate their teaching style and depth of knowledge. Many tutorial creators take on client work and appreciate when potential clients found them through their educational content.
Hiring a technical SEO specialist becomes much simpler when you know where to look and how to evaluate candidates properly. Each of these seventeen methods gives you a practical way to find qualified professionals who can handle your specific needs. Start with two or three approaches that fit your timeline and budget, then expand your search if needed. Remember that the best hires often come from taking time to verify skills through portfolios, conversations, and small test projects rather than rushing into commitments based solely on resumes.
