If you’re running a business in Melbourne—whether you’re a tradie in Narre Warren or a boutique owner in South Yarra—you’ve probably been burned by “marketing experts” before. Your inbox is likely a graveyard of cold emails promising the first page of Google for fifty bucks a week.
It’s tempting to hit delete and move on, but the reality is that your competition is already eating your lunch because they’re showing up when your customers search. You know you need SEO, but the thought of hiring a massive agency with its jargon and overhead makes your wallet ache.
That’s usually when business owners start looking for an SEO freelancer. It’s a smart move. You get the expertise without the agency bloat. But finding the right one? That’s where things get tricky.
The Local Advantage is Real
There’s a specific kind of nuance required when you’re targeting the Melbourne market. If someone tells you they can rank your business from an office in another country, they’re technically right—Google is global. But they don’t know the difference between the vibe in Berwick and the expectations in Brighton.
A local freelancer understands that “Narre Warren SEO” isn’t just a keyword; it’s a community of people who value reliability. They know that Melburnians are picky. If your website feels like a generic template, people won’t just leave; they’ll remember not to come back.
Technical Chops Over “Vibes”
You’ll meet a lot of freelancers who talk about “brand awareness” and “visibility.” Those are nice words, but they don’t pay the rent. When you’re vetting someone, you need to look for technical competency.
SEO isn’t just about sprinkling keywords onto a page like seasoning. It’s about how your site is built. If your site takes five seconds to load, Google will bury it, and your customers will abandon ship before they even see your logo.
Sometimes, the issue isn’t even the SEO—it’s the foundation. If you’re working with a freelancer who points out that your site is fundamentally broken, listen to them. Often, a professional web design overhaul is the actual prerequisite for SEO success. You can’t optimize a sinking ship.
Ask the Uncomfortable Questions
Don’t be polite during the interview. This is your livelihood. You should be asking:
- “What happens if we don’t see results in three months?” (A real pro will explain that SEO is a long game, but they’ll also show you the incremental markers of progress).
- “Can I see a site you’ve actually ranked recently?” Not three years ago. Search algorithms change faster than Melbourne’s weather.
- “Who is actually doing the work?” Many “freelancers” are actually just middlemen who outsource the work to overseas providers. You want the person who is actually clicking the buttons and writing the code.
You want someone who understands the backend as well as the front. If your business needs something more complex than a standard site—maybe a custom portal or a unique booking system—you might need to look beyond basic SEO.
In those cases, web app development becomes part of the conversation. A good freelancer knows when a simple WordPress site isn’t enough to handle your growth.
The “Fixed Price” Litmus Test
One of the biggest red flags in this industry is the “open-ended” invoice. You know the one—where you get a bill for “consulting hours” but have no idea what was actually done.
A reputable SEO freelancer in Melbourne should be able to give you a fixed, transparent cost. You should know exactly what you’re paying for: the strategy, the content, the technical fixes, and the monitoring. If they can’t give you a straight answer on pricing, they’re probably making it up as they go.
Content Still Reigns (But it Has to be Good)
We’ve all seen those blogs that look like they were written by a robot from 2012. They use the same keyword ten times in the first paragraph and offer zero value. That doesn’t work anymore.
Exceptional website copy isn’t just about SEO; it’s about persuasion. If your freelancer is providing content, it needs to sound human. It needs to address the pain points of your customers in Narre Warren or Cranbourne. It needs to make them feel like you’re the expert they’ve been looking for.
Stop Leaking Leads
Ranking is only half the battle. If your freelancer gets you to the top of Google, but your phone still isn’t ringing, you have a “leak.”
Maybe your contact form is broken. Maybe your “Call Now” button is hidden. A great freelancer won’t just stop at the traffic report; they’ll look at the conversion rate. They’ll help you fix the leaks so that the traffic they’re bringing in actually turns into cash flow.
Let’s Get Your Website Working
At Hayz, we’ve seen too many Melbourne business owners struggle with sub-par websites that just don’t perform. We don’t believe in “nasty surprises” or hidden fees. We provide a solid SEO strategy, weekly blog posts, and ongoing monitoring to ensure you’re not just ranking, but growing.
Whether you need a complete web design refresh or a dedicated SEO freelancer to take the reins, we’re just a phone call away.
