How To Hire An SEO Analyst

An SEO Analyst plays a key role in helping businesses increase visibility, attract qualified traffic, and improve search engine rankings through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations. They interpret search data, audit websites, and work with content and development teams to implement SEO best practices. Hiring the right SEO Analyst can help you understand where your traffic is coming from and how to get more of it.

Understanding The Role & Responsibilities

An SEO Analyst is responsible for monitoring and improving a company’s organic search performance. They turn search data into action by identifying opportunities, diagnosing issues, and measuring results. Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting keyword research and identifying growth opportunities.
• Performing on-page SEO audits and recommending content or technical updates.
• Tracking SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEMrush or Ahrefs.
• Collaborating with content writers and developers to implement SEO recommendations.
• Monitoring competitor SEO strategies and industry trends.
• Creating reports that measure rankings, traffic, and conversions tied to SEO initiatives.

Depending on your team structure, an SEO Analyst may also contribute to content planning, link-building analysis, and broader digital marketing strategies.

Skills To Look For In A Great SEO Analyst

A strong SEO Analyst brings a mix of technical understanding, content knowledge, and analytical capability. When evaluating candidates, focus on the following skills:

Keyword Research & SERP Analysis

A great SEO Analyst understands how to select target keywords based on search intent, volume, competition, and alignment with business goals. Look for experience using tools like SEMrush, Moz, or Ahrefs.

Technical SEO Knowledge

They should know how to identify crawl errors, indexing issues, broken links, and other technical problems that impact rankings. Familiarity with XML sitemaps, schema markup, canonical tags, and site speed optimization is essential.

Google Analytics & Reporting

Top candidates are data-driven and know how to translate analytics into actionable SEO insights. They should be comfortable setting up goals, filtering traffic sources, and reporting on organic performance.

Competitor & Market Research

Strong SEO Analysts regularly review what competitors are ranking for and use those insights to develop new content strategies or technical improvements.

Content Collaboration Skills

While they may not write content, great SEO Analysts guide content teams by providing briefs, keyword recommendations, and feedback that aligns with user search intent.

Attention To Detail

From metadata to mobile usability, the smallest detail can impact SEO. Look for candidates who are thorough and meticulous in audits, reporting, and optimization tasks.

Other Transferable Titles

Candidates with SEO-related skills often come from a variety of backgrounds. Consider applicants from the following roles:

Digital Marketing Analyst

These professionals often work across channels but typically have exposure to organic search performance and analytics platforms.

Content Strategist

Writers or strategists who focus on keyword-driven content creation and performance reporting can transition smoothly into SEO Analyst roles.

Marketing Data Analyst

Candidates with strong analytical skills, especially those who have worked with web traffic or lead generation metrics, may be a strong fit with some SEO training.

Technical SEO Specialist

If you're looking for someone with deeper backend knowledge, this title reflects candidates who focus on site structure, crawlability, and schema markup.

Web Analyst

Web Analysts who have worked on improving site architecture and optimizing for user behavior metrics often have overlapping responsibilities with SEO Analysts.

Interview Questions

Here are a few interview questions to help you evaluate SEO Analyst candidates effectively:

1. Walk us through a time when your SEO analysis led to a measurable traffic increase.
2. How do you prioritize technical vs. content-related SEO recommendations?
3. What tools do you use for keyword research and site audits, and why?
4. How do you measure the success of an SEO campaign?
5. Describe a situation where you identified a drop in organic traffic. What steps did you take to fix it?
6. What’s your process for optimizing content for both users and search engines?
7. How do you stay up-to-date with changes to Google’s algorithm?
8. What’s the biggest SEO mistake you’ve encountered, and how did you resolve it?

These questions evaluate technical ability, data interpretation, communication skills, and SEO strategy.

Evaluating & Making The Final Decision

When evaluating final candidates, look for a mix of technical proficiency, curiosity, and strategic insight. The best SEO Analysts are:

• Detail-oriented, analytical, and capable of identifying what others miss.
• Comfortable working with both content creators and developers.
• Proactive in spotting issues, testing improvements, and reporting on outcomes.
• Up-to-date with industry trends and Google algorithm updates.

If possible, review past audit examples or dashboards to get a sense of their work style. During reference checks, ask about the candidate’s initiative, communication skills, and impact on past SEO results.

The right SEO Analyst won’t just report on traffic, they’ll help you increase it.

Partner With Premier

Hiring an SEO Analyst is a smart move for businesses that want to make their website work harder. The right candidate will find new opportunities, fix hidden issues, and help you rise in the rankings.

At Premier, we connect companies with SEO and digital marketing professionals who bring a mix of strategic thinking, technical skill, and results-driven focus. Whether you're building your SEO team or looking to level up performance, let us help you find the perfect analyst. Contact Premier today to get started.