Skills to Look Out for When Hiring a Tech SEO

Having a Tech SEO in your SEO team is not only a strong asset to have, but also extremely vital to your agency.

With the right Tech SEO specialist, your agency can ensure that websites are accessible, optimised, and ready to rank. 

Without this crucial necessity, other departments (such as your content department) will struggle to see as effective success. 

In doing so, SEO strategies for clients may weaken, as a result. 

Hiring the right professional isn’t just about checking technical skills, it’s about finding someone who can: 

• Adapt
• Collaborate
• Communicate complex SEO insights effectively

While there are fantastic check-box Tech SEOs out there, having an A-player Tech SEO can help spot: 

• Opportunities
• Grow the business
• Align the team through effective communication and strategies 

This results in a seamless, well-oiled engine of a team. 

In this article, we’re going to break down the essential hard and soft skills to look for when hiring a Tech SEO expert.

In doing so, see what separates a check-box SEO from a powerful Tech SEO that’s an asset to any business.

Hard Skills for a Tech SEO

• Web Crawling and Indexing Knowledge
  

   

  A solid understanding of how search engines crawl and index sites is fundamental to Technical SEO.

  These skills ensure search engines can efficiently discover and index a website’s pages, helping to maximise organic visibility.
  
  Look for candidates who know how to manage: 

1. Crawl budgets
2. Optimise robots.txt files
3. Configure XML sitemaps

    

• Site Architecture and Structure Design
  

   

  SEO-friendly site architecture makes it easier for search engines to understand page relationships and hierarchy.
  
  Look for candidates skilled in:

1. Internal linking strategies
2. URL structuring
3. Managing page hierarchy to build a strong foundation for SEO

    

• Page Speed Optimisation
  

   

  Candidates should be experienced with: 

1. Google PageSpeed Insights
2. Core Web Vitals
3. Techniques for:
   – Image compression
   – Caching
   – Minimising JavaScript

    

   These skills directly contribute to both better SEO performance and user experience, and satisfaction.

• Proficiency in SEO Tools
  
  A Tech SEO should be adept at using essential SEO tools:

1. Key Tools:
   1. Google Search Console
   2. Screaming Frog
   3. Ahrefs
   4. SEMrush

       

2. Analytics: 
   1. Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics

       

• Coding and Scripting Abilities
  
  Tech SEOs need a basic understanding of:
  – HTML
  – CSS
  – JavaScript

  In order to troubleshoot on-page issues and improve the site structure.

  With this, knowledge of Python or JavaScript for automation and data extraction is an asset, allowing them to scale and streamline repetitive tasks.

  This is especially beneficial for larger sites.

  In addition to this, knowledge of AI’s incorporation within automations is especially beneficial, as SEOs aim to stay ahead of the trend curve. 

• Mobile Optimisation Skills
  
  With mobile-first indexing now a standard, Tech SEOs need experience in mobile optimisation:

1. Mobile-First Indexing:
   Candidates should understand how mobile-first indexing impacts SEO and how to prioritise mobile content.

    

2. AMP and PWAs:
   Experience with Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Progressive Web Apps (PWA) can be beneficial, ensuring mobile users have fast, engaging experiences.

    

• On-Page and Technical SEO Knowledge:

1. On-Page SEO:
   
   Strong skills in optimising: 
   – Meta tags
   – Schema markup
   – Content structuring
   – Image optimisation
2. Technical Audits:

•  
• Candidates should have experience conducting technical SEO audits to identify and resolve issues affecting site performance, making sure the site meets all technical requirements for ranking.

Soft Skills for a Tech SEO

• Communication Skills
  
  The ability to communicate complex technical SEO concepts in simple terms is a crucial soft skill for Tech SEOs. They should be able to present SEO insights and recommendations to non-technical stakeholders, including executives, ensuring everyone understands the strategy and its impact.

   

• Collaboration and Teamwork
  

   

  Tech SEOs often work closely with developers, content creators, and UX/UI teams to implement SEO strategies.

  Look for candidates with experience in cross-functional collaboration, who can facilitate clear communication across teams.

• Problem-Solving and Analytical Thinking
  
  Technical SEO involves troubleshooting, which requires strong problem-solving skills. 
  
  A good Tech SEO will diagnose and resolve SEO issues effectively, often analysing data, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions to improve outcomes. 

• Adaptability and Continuous Learning
  
  Tech SEOs need a willingness to stay current with constant SEO algorithm changes, updates and learn new tools as needed. 
  
  Candidates who are adaptable and open to continuous learning will be better equipped to keep up with the demands of SEO.

When hiring a Tech SEO, it’s essential to balance both hard and soft skills. 

A strong candidate will have technical expertise, as well as the communication and problem-solving skills needed to work effectively with teams. 

For a successful hire:

Ask questions during the interview to probe their experience in specific areas and assess their adaptability and collaborative mindset.

If you’re looking to hire your next Tech SEO, SEO for Hire has strong experience in finding talent best suited to your company’s needs. 

Get in touch with our team to find out more.