SEO Freelancer: Best 20 Verified U.S. Platforms to Find Search Optimization Specialists in 2025

Discover top U.S. platforms to hire an SEO freelancer in 2025. Explore sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal to find freelance SEO experts. Learn about SEO services, costs, and hiring steps for independent SEO consultants and remote SEO specialists.

Finding the right SEO freelancer can transform your online visibility. U.S. businesses often turn to a freelance SEO expert or independent SEO consultant for specialized tasks—be it local SEO, technical audits, or e-commerce optimization. Whether you need a short-term project or long-term strategy, there are dozens of platforms to hire SEO freelancers. This guide covers 20 verified U.S. sites for finding SEO talent, outlines common SEO services, compares costs (freelance vs. agency vs. in-house), highlights key qualities of professional SEO experts, and walks through the steps to successfully hire a remote SEO specialist.

Top 20 U.S. Sites to Find an SEO Freelancer

A wide range of platforms cater to employers looking to hire SEO talent. Below are 20 reputable sites (general freelance marketplaces, job boards, and SEO-specific sites) where U.S. companies can find and hire SEO freelancers. Each bullet links to the platform homepage.

• Upwork – One of the largest global freelance marketplaces, listing millions of freelancers in marketing and software development. Upwork “lists freelancers in every conceivable job and every big industry,” making it easy to find an SEO specialisttechradar.com. (Has vetting and reviews for trustworthy hires.)
• PeoplePerHour – A UK-based site popular in the US. It boasts “more than three million people and one million businesses” using the platform across categories including SEO, content, and marketingtechradar.com, with freelancer ratings and certifications for quality control.
• Toptal (SEO) – A premium network where only the top ~3% of applicants pass a rigorous screeningtechradar.com. Companies like Microsoft and Salesforce use Toptal to find “world-class talent”techradar.com. (Great for high-end technical and strategic SEO needs, but hard to get into as a freelancer.)
• Fiverr – A massive gig marketplace where freelancers offer fixed-price services. Fiverr has “more than three million employers, including Netflix and Facebook” and covers virtually every type of tasktechradar.com. It’s strong on short-term SEO gigs (site audits, keyword research, link building) at all budget levels.
• Clarity.fm – A platform for one-on-one phone consultations with experts. You can schedule calls with SEO veterans for strategic advice or audits. (No formal marketplace list, but useful to get guidance from certified SEO consultants.)
• Freelancer.com – A straightforward marketplace used by companies like Amazon and IBMtechradar.com. Freelancer.com claims a global pool of ~50 million userstechradar.com, so you can post projects or contests for SEO work and rapidly receive bids. (Fast bids – 80% of jobs get a proposal in 60 secondstechradar.com.)
• SEOClerks – A niche marketplace dedicated to SEO services. You can purchase or bid on SEO tasks like backlink packages, keyword research, and more. (Note: Quality varies widely, so vet service ratings carefully.)
• Guru – A large general freelance site. Guru “is one of the largest freelance marketplaces on the web, with more than two million freelancers and 800,000 employers listed”techradar.com. (Covers programming, marketing, design, etc.) The site includes freelancer verification and secure payments for trust.
• FlexJobs – A remote- and flexible-work job board. While not SEO-specific, it has hand-screened listings for remote marketing and tech positionstechradar.com. (Focusing on remote and hybrid roles, which often include SEO and digital marketing jobs.)
• ZipRecruiter – A popular job search engine. It aggregates thousands of listings, including freelance and contract SEO roles. ZipRecruiter is “one of the easiest job boards to use” with a huge databasetechradar.com, ideal for searching by keyword (e.g. “SEO consultant”) and location.
• LinkedIn – The professional social network. Use LinkedIn Jobs or ProFinder to find independent SEO consultants in the U.S. Networking here (through posts or groups) can also yield referrals to freelance SEO specialists.
• Indeed – A massive job board. Employers sometimes post freelance or contractor SEO positions. (It’s broader, so try keywords like “remote SEO specialist” or “contract SEO”.)
• FreeUp – A curated freelancer platform. You fill out your project needs and FreeUp matches you to vetted freelancers. (Used by many small businesses to find qualified SEO experts.)
• Twine – A freelance platform for creative and marketing talent. You can find SEO writers and digital marketers here. (Search under “SEO” in the Twine job listings.)
• Aquent – A staffing agency/marketplace focusing on marketing, creative and tech roles. Aquent uses machine-learning matching to connect companies with freelancers in fields like SEO, content strategy, and designtechradar.com.
• StackOverflow Jobs – Mostly for developers, but sometimes SEO or marketing roles appear (especially technical SEO jobs).
• SimplyHired – A job aggregator. It collects listings from all over, including freelance SEO gigs. Use location filters (e.g. “Remote, US”) and “contract” to narrow to SEO freelancers.
• AngelList – A startup job board. Many early-stage tech companies hire remote SEO specialists or consultants through AngelList. Good for startup-centric SEO work.
• 99designs – Although design-focused, some creative and marketing gigs (including SEO content projects) can be found.
• Behance and Dribbble – Portfolios for designers and marketers. Some freelancers advertise SEO and content services here as part of their marketing portfolios.
• [Local Pro Networks] – Don’t overlook region-specific networks like local Chamber of Commerce directories or Meetup groups (e.g. SEO meetups). Sometimes you can find experienced independent SEO consultants through local business networks.

These platforms span general freelance marketplaces, job boards, and niche sites – covering local SEO to technical SEO to e-commerce SEO. Many let you filter by skill or job category, read freelancer profiles, and review client ratings. For example, sites like Upwork and Guru have verified profiles and work samplestechradar.comtechradar.com. Platforms like PeoplePerHour highlight SEO as a key categorytechradar.com. Using multiple sites increases your chances of finding the right freelancer for specialized needs.

Services Offered by an SEO Freelancer

A skilled SEO freelancer offers a wide array of services. Common offerings include:

• Technical SEO Audit & Fixes: An SEO freelancer can perform audits (using tools like Screaming Frog or SEMrush) to identify issues such as crawl errors, slow page speed, broken links, or mobile optimization gaps. They then implement fixes (improving site structure, loading speed, mobile design).
• Keyword Research & Strategy: Identifying the right keywords is fundamental. Freelancers research terms your audience is using to find your products/services. This involves analyzing search volumes, competition, and search intent (informational vs transactional)hawksem.com. The result is an optimized keyword list that drives content and targeting decisions.
• On-Page Optimization: This includes editing page elements to rank better. A freelancer will optimize headings, title tags, meta descriptions, images (alt tags), URL structure, and internal linking. They’ll also implement schema markup (structured data) so search engines better understand contenthawksem.com. (For example, adding Recipe or Article schema can improve rich snippets.) On-page services often cover page speed and Core Web Vitals as well.
• Content Strategy & Creation: SEO freelancers often plan and create content (blogs, articles, landing page copy) infused with targeted keywordshawksem.com. This includes content audits (evaluating existing pages) and gap analysis (identifying topics competitors rank for that you don’t). Quality content – optimized with keywords, images, and FAQs – is key for rankings. See HawkSEM’s guide: “Content creation… includes developing content that contains the right keywords, multimedia … and elements (such as templates and FAQs) to perform well on search engines”hawksem.com.
• Link Building & Outreach: Building high-quality backlinks remains a core service. Freelancers will reach out to industry sites for guest posts or links, engage in content marketing outreach, and help earn inbound links. (“Link-building and outreach services provide businesses with inbound links from authoritative and trusted websites”hawksem.com.) The focus is on quality over quantity – securing links from high-authority, relevant siteshawksem.com.
• Local SEO Optimization: For businesses targeting local customers, freelancers optimize Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), local citations (directory listings), and local keywords. They ensure your name, address, and phone (NAP) are consistent across sites. Local SEO specialists often focus on ranking in the local pack and maps. (HawkSEM notes: “Local SEO campaigns help brick-and-mortar stores and small businesses improve location-based traffic”hawksem.com.)
• E-commerce SEO: For online stores, freelancers optimize product pages and site architecture. This includes keyword optimization of product titles/descriptions, user-friendly filtering, and improving site speed. E-commerce SEO also involves optimizing category pages and product images, and often integrating review schema. (E.g., making a paint store rank for “buy paint online”hawksem.com.)
• Reporting & Analytics: Freelancers typically provide regular reporting on key SEO metrics. They monitor organic traffic, keyword rankings, bounce rates, and conversion events. Reports highlight what’s working (e.g. high-performing content) and what’s not. According to HawkSEM, SEO reporting “shows what topics, content types, landing pages, and messaging are most appealing” and reveals threats to traffichawksem.com. Many freelancers use Google Analytics, Search Console, and other tools to track performance.
• Tools & Technology: Experienced freelancers leverage SEO tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, Screaming Frog, and Google Analytics. For example, one Upwork SEO expert notes proficiency with “AHREFs, SEMRush” and “Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager” among othersupwork.com. They may also know Python or Google Tag Manager for advanced tasks. Familiarity with these tools is often listed on profiles.

Each freelancer may specialize differently (some focus on technical SEO, others on content or link-building), so clarify needed services when hiring. Together, these services form a comprehensive SEO strategy to boost organic rankings and traffic.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an SEO Freelancer in the U.S.?

SEO freelancer pricing varies widely based on experience, scope, and engagement model. Here are some general benchmarks and comparisons:

• Freelancer Rates: According to ZipRecruiter, U.S. freelance SEO professionals earn on average about $47.71 per hourziprecruiter.com (roughly $99K per year full-time). Typical hourly rates might range from $15–$80 for entry-level work up to $100+ for expert consultants, depending on complexity. Many freelancers also charge by project or retainer. Ahrefs’ 2024 survey found that freelancers’ average monthly retainer is around $1,349ahrefs.com. The most common retainer range for freelancers was $250–$1,000/month (42.8% charge up to $2,000)ahrefs.comahrefs.com.
• Agency Pricing: By contrast, SEO agencies usually charge more. Clutch’s 2025 pricing guide notes most agencies charge $100–$149 per hourclutch.co, with typical monthly retainers starting around $2,000 and often going up to $5,000 or moreclutch.co. Ahrefs found agencies average about $3,209 per monthahrefs.com. In fact, agencies “charge 138% more than freelancers” on averageahrefs.com. Clutch also observes that “SEO companies are generally more expensive than freelancers” due to their broader resourcesclutch.co.
• In-house SEO Salaries: Hiring a full-time SEO specialist involves salary plus benefits. In the U.S., in-house SEO salaries often range roughly $50,000–$85,000 per year for specialists (entry to experienced), according to job sites. (For example, Glassdoor cites ~$85K/year for a U.S. SEO Specialist.) Spread over 40 hours/week, that can equate to around $25–$40 per hour. An in-house hire means fixed cost and time investment in recruiting and management.
• Project vs. Monthly vs. Hourly: Freelancers may bill hourly (common for small tasks), per-project, or on a monthly retainer. Ahrefs reports 78% of SEO providers use retainersahrefs.com. Many small businesses start with hourly rates or a short-term trial. Larger projects (site migration, major audit) often have flat fees (e.g. $3,000–$10,000). Agencies often require 6-12 month contracts.
• Budget Ranges: As a very rough guide, simple SEO tasks (keyword report, on-page fixes) might run a few hundred dollars. Ongoing optimization for a mid-size business often costs $1,000–$5,000 per month in freelance or agency fees. (HawkSEM notes average on-page & off-page SEO service costs of $3K–$10K/monthhawksem.com, though that is often agency-level pricing.)
• Market Data: In summary, expect to pay $20–$75/hour for freelancers (with an average around $47.71ziprecruiter.com) and $100+/hour for agenciesclutch.co. Monthly retainers often start low for freelancers (a few hundred dollars) and rise into the thousands for more comprehensive engagement. Use job market sites like ZipRecruiter or Clutch for up-to-date local salary/fee info.

Ultimately, hiring an SEO freelancer is usually more budget-friendly than a full-service agency or team. Clutch notes freelancers are often “more affordable and can be brought on for specific projects,” whereas agencies, while more expensive, offer a full teamclutch.co. Carefully balance your goals and budget: a freelancer may suit a targeted SEO fix or smaller business, while an enterprise-level SEO strategy often requires agency resources.

Qualities of a Professional Freelance SEO Expert

When evaluating candidates, look for these key attributes in a freelance SEO professional:

• Proven Track Record: The best freelancers show results. Ask to see case studies, past client results, or portfolio samples. “Case studies or testimonials are gold”digitalsolutionsking.com for gauging how a candidate improved search visibility or traffic. A history of boosting rankings or conversions indicates competency.
• Diverse Skillset: SEO covers many areas. A strong freelance SEO expert should understand multiple SEO facets: content optimization, technical audits, link-building, local SEO, and analyticsgoodfirms.co. (GoodFirms advises they “must be capable of handling local search optimization, on-page optimization, mobile optimization, content development, keyword research… link building, etc.”goodfirms.co.) If you need niche support (e.g. ecommerce), ensure they have relevant experience.
• Clear Communication: Excellent communication is essential. The freelancer should explain strategy and changes in plain language. GoodFirms notes a pro “must be able to clarify the need for any changes… to developers… and in layman terms”goodfirms.co. They should provide regular updates and be responsive to questions. (Look for fluent English and a professional demeanor in their profile or interview.)
• Ethical (“White-Hat”) Practices: Ensure the freelancer follows Google’s guidelines. Beware of anyone promising instant #1 rankings. Transparent professionals focus on content quality and user experience, not shady tricks. Clarity and honesty are crucial: avoid providers who keep tactics secret or offer unrealistic guaranteesdigitalsolutionsking.com.
• Analytical & Reporting: A good SEO consultant will define KPIs (like traffic or ranking goals) and share reports. They should be comfortable using analytics tools (e.g. Google Analytics, Search Console) and explain data insights in your contextupwork.com. Ask how often they report progress and request sample dashboards or spreadsheets.
• Up-to-Date Knowledge: SEO rules change constantly. A top freelancer keeps up with Google algorithm updates and industry best practices. Look for certifications (like Google Analytics), and see if they mention following industry blogs or participating in SEO communities.
• Professionalism: They should be punctual, meet deadlines, and be easy to work with. Reviews on Upwork/PeoplePerHour and LinkedIn recommendations can reveal professionalism. Good communication and a collaborative attitude are positives.

In short, a professional independent SEO consultant is track-record driven, ethical, communicative, and well-rounded in SEO. As one writer advises: prioritize “expertise, clear expectations, and transparent reporting” when hiringquicklyhire.comquicklyhire.com.

Steps to Successfully Hire a Remote SEO Freelancer

Follow these best practices to hire and onboard your remote SEO specialist:

1. Define Your SEO Goals: Be very clear about what you want. Are you looking for a one-time site audit, ongoing content support, or a complete SEO strategy? Identify target metrics (e.g. “20% more organic leads in 6 months”). Define your audience and geographic focus. (Use tools like Google Analytics to understand your current visitors.) This clarity helps both you and candidates align on the project scopequicklyhire.com.
2. Choose the Right Platform: Post your job on reputable freelance sites or job boards. As discussed, platforms like Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, or LinkedIn are great starting pointsquicklyhire.comdigitalsolutionsking.com. Many allow you to specifically search for SEO freelancers or filter by skill level. (For example, Upwork and Guru offer category filters for “SEO/SEM Specialists.”)
3. Review Profiles and Credentials: Screen candidates’ profiles before contacting. Look for verified credentials (certifications, degrees, or notable past clients). Read reviews and ratings. On most sites you can see examples of previous work. Specifically, look for case studies or client testimonialsdigitalsolutionsking.com. These are “gold” for judging a freelancer’s results. Also check their portfolio or LinkedIn for relevant industry experience.
4. Interview and Verify Expertise: Contact promising candidates and ask specific questions. Inquire about their approach to keyword research, technical audits, and updates. Ask for examples: “Can you share a success story or before/after metrics?”digitalsolutionsking.com. Good questions include how they adapt to algorithm changes and what SEO tools they use. (Avoid anyone who can’t answer clearly.) Consider a small paid test task (like an audit snippet or keyword list) to gauge skill.
5. Set Clear Expectations: Once you select a freelancer, outline deliverables and KPIs upfront. Draft a simple contract or agreement specifying the services (e.g. number of articles, types of reports, target metrics) and payment terms (hourly, fixed price, or milestones)quicklyhire.com. For instance, define what a monthly report should include (traffic stats, keyword rankings, completed tasks). Make sure timelines and communication frequency are agreed upon.
6. Establish Communication and Reporting: Decide on tools (email, Slack, project management software) and how often to meet or report. A good SEO freelancer will proactively provide updates. During the project, regularly review progress against KPIs. If possible, schedule weekly or bi-weekly check-ins. Early on, ensure they explain their reports and you understand the next steps. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings.
7. Use Milestones or Retainers: If the platform allows, pay in milestones or retainers. For example, split payment by project phases (audit, on-page fixes, monthly maintenance). This gives both parties security. Ensure the contract allows easy modifications – SEO needs can change over time.
8. Maintain an Ongoing Relationship: Good SEO often requires long-term effort. If the freelancer does well, consider extending their contract or hiring for new projects (content marketing, technical migrations, etc.). Keep them in the loop on website or business changes so they can adjust strategy.

By carefully defining your needs, vetting freelancers on the right platforms, and setting explicit expectations, you’ll be well-positioned to hire a remote SEO specialist successfully. Many clients report that this diligent process leads to better outcomes and a smoother collaboration