Screaming Frog: Optimise your website for search success
Screaming Frog is a powerful website crawler that provides SEO specialists with invaluable insights into a website's technical health and structure. It simulates how search engines crawl and index websites, identifying issues that can hinder search engine visibility and user experience. Hiring a freelancer proficient in Screaming Frog can be a game-changer for businesses looking to improve their online presence and organic search rankings.
What to look for in a Screaming Frog freelancer
When searching for a Screaming Frog expert, look for evidence of a strong understanding of SEO principles. Proficiency in Screaming Frog alone is not enough; they should be able to interpret the data and translate it into actionable recommendations. Look for freelancers who can demonstrate:
- Experience using Screaming Frog to conduct technical SEO audits.
- A strong understanding of core SEO concepts like site architecture, crawl budget optimisation, and redirect management.
- Ability to clearly communicate findings and recommendations.
- Experience with other SEO tools, such as Google Analytics and Search Console.
Main expertise areas to inquire about
Different freelancers may specialise in specific areas of Screaming Frog usage. When hiring, consider the following areas of expertise:
- Technical SEO audits: Identifying and resolving issues related to broken links, crawl errors, duplicate content, and XML sitemaps.
- Content optimisation: Analysing meta descriptions, title tags, and content length to improve on-page SEO.
- Competitor analysis: Using Screaming Frog to analyse competitor websites and identify opportunities.
- Site migration support: Ensuring a smooth transition during website migrations by identifying potential issues and redirecting old URLs.
Relevant interview questions
Here are some key questions to ask potential freelancers:
- Can you describe your process for conducting a technical SEO audit using Screaming Frog?
- How do you prioritise SEO issues identified by Screaming Frog?
- Have you used Screaming Frog for competitor analysis? If so, can you provide an example?
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest SEO best practices and Screaming Frog updates?
- Can you share a case study where you used Screaming Frog to improve a website's performance?
Tips for shortlisting candidates
- Review portfolios and case studies to assess the impact of their previous work.
- Look for quantifiable results, such as improved search rankings, increased organic traffic, and higher conversion rates.
- Client testimonials can also provide valuable insights into their communication skills and work ethic.
Potential red flags to watch out for
Be wary of freelancers who:
- Promise guaranteed rankings.
- Focus solely on technical aspects without considering the broader SEO strategy.
- Lack a clear understanding of core SEO principles.
- Cannot provide concrete examples of their previous work.
Typical complementary skills
Screaming Frog expertise is often complemented by skills in:
- Google Analytics
- Google Search Console
- SEO copywriting
- Content marketing
- Link building
Benefits of hiring a Screaming Frog freelancer
Hiring a skilled Screaming Frog freelancer can help your business:
- Improve your website's technical SEO health.
- Increase organic search visibility and traffic.
- Enhance user experience.
- Identify and fix crawl errors and broken links.
- Optimise your website's content for better search performance.
- Gain a competitive edge in your industry.
Example use cases
E-commerce website migration: A Screaming Frog freelancer can ensure a seamless migration by identifying and redirecting all old URLs, preventing a loss of organic traffic.
International SEO: Screaming Frog can be used to analyse hreflang tags and ensure proper implementation for multilingual websites, targeting the correct audience in each region.
Content audit for a large blog: A freelancer can use Screaming Frog to identify thin content, duplicate content, and opportunities for content consolidation and improvement, boosting overall site performance.
