Briefly: A freelance SEO specialist is an independent professional who works directly on a website’s search visibility without agency layers; questions and decisions are discussed with the person doing the work. At Onur Freelance, the work consists of audits, keyword mapping, technical corrections, content, and Search Console reporting. Monthly SEO services start from 9,000 TL; a written work plan is provided instead of ranking guarantees.
A freelance SEO specialist is a self-employed professional who handles the technical, content, and measurement work required for a website’s visibility in search results without belonging to an agency hierarchy. In this model, the business sits at the same table with the person who develops the strategy and works on the website; requests are not first sent to a representative and then passed to the implementer. In search engine optimization, results are influenced not only by the tasks completed, but also by who performs them, which methods they use, and how openly they work.
This page focuses on the working model rather than technical service details: differences between an independent specialist, an agency, and an in-house team; questions to ask when evaluating a specialist; risky promises Google warns against; tools used; and the monthly reporting arrangement. Onur Freelance operates from its office in Gülsuyu, Maltepe, drawing on founder Onur Ertem’s more than 8 years of experience; it makes no ranking guarantees and records every website change with its date.
Let us discuss your website directly with the team doing the work
When you send the website address and priority services through WhatsApp, we carry out a free initial assessment. The person you speak to belongs to the team actually carrying out the work; there is no intermediary representative layer.
Freelance SEO at Onur Freelance: Quick facts
- Team: Founder Onur Ertem, with more than 8 years of experience in web design and digital marketing, and two digital marketing specialists. There is no intermediary account representative; meetings take place with the team actually doing the work.
- Fee: Monthly SEO services start from 9,000 TL; a written work plan is provided instead of ranking guarantees.
- Data: Reports are taken from the business’s own Search Console and Google Analytics accounts; accounts remain in the business’s name, and the specialist is added only as a user.
- Location: Maltepe (Gülsuyu), Istanbul. We work face to face with businesses in Istanbul by appointment, and online with those in other cities and abroad.
- Case studies: ten cases showing the problem, the work completed, and results measured through Search Console.
- Google reviews: A rating of 5.0 on Google Business Profile, 217 reviews.
Video transcript
What does working with a freelance SEO specialist mean? Without an agency layer, questions and decisions are discussed directly with the team actually doing the work; there is no intermediary account representative. The team includes founder Onur Ertem and two digital marketing specialists. The three-person structure preserves direct communication; monitoring continues even when one specialist is on leave. Three models suit different structures. A freelance specialist suits SMEs and local businesses, an agency suits companies managing multiple brands, and an in-house team suits large websites that treat SEO as a daily operation. Work begins with an audit, followed by a keyword map. Technical corrections and content adjustments are made; every month, a report is shared using Search Console and GA4 data. Warning signs include a first-place promise, proposals to buy links, hiding the method as a trade secret, and claims of a special relationship with Google. The website owner is ultimately responsible for what is done on the website. Tools used, required access, and pricing information are on this page. A Google rating of five out of five, with two hundred fifteen reviews. You can contact us through WhatsApp for an initial assessment. Onur Freelance dot com.
Who is a freelance SEO specialist, and what work do they undertake?
A freelance SEO specialist is a search engine optimization professional working with multiple businesses on a contract or project basis without being a company employee. Their responsibilities range from auditing website crawlability and indexing to planning which page addresses each query and measuring results.
Google’s document on choosing an SEO specialist lists professionals’ services in this field, including reviewing website content and structure, technical advice on matters such as hosting and redirects, content development, keyword research, and expertise in particular markets or geographies. An independent specialist differs by bringing these subjects under one responsible person. When the same person audits, sets priorities, and implements changes, there is no difference in interpretation between decision and execution.
Who carries out SEO work at Onur Freelance?
From the first consultation to the monthly report at Onur Freelance, your point of contact is the team actually doing the work; there is no intermediary customer representative or account manager. Studio founder Onur Ertem has more than 8 years of experience in web design and digital marketing; two other digital marketing specialists work alongside him.
This three-person structure preserves the direct communication offered by a freelance SEO specialist while reducing dependence on one person. Monitoring does not stop when a specialist is busy or on leave, yet the business still speaks to people it knows by name and can reach directly. Because the same team also handles the studio’s web design and WordPress work, a technical correction identified during an SEO audit can be implemented without writing a work order to another company. The team and working principles are explained separately on the about us page.
Differences between freelance, agency, and in-house SEO
The main differences among the three models are who does the work, who handles communication, and how much knowledge remains within the business. None is the single right option for every business:
| Topic | Freelance SEO specialist | SEO agency | In-house SEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | The specialist or small team conducting the consultation | Team members assigned tasks by an account manager | The business’s own employee |
| Communication | Directly through WhatsApp, telephone, and scheduled meetings | Mostly through a customer representative | Through internal company meetings and correspondence |
| Cost components | The specialist’s time; limited management layers | Team, management, and sales expenses included in the price | Salary, benefits, training, and tool expenses |
| Capacity | A limited number of simultaneous projects | Can handle large and multilingual projects in parallel | Full-time focus on one company |
| Suitable structure | SMEs, local businesses, medium-sized e-commerce stores | Companies managing numerous brands or markets | Large websites treating SEO as a daily operation |
| Main risk | Interrupted continuity if the specialist leaves | Loss of history when the representative changes | Knowledge becoming concentrated in a single employee |
Employing an in-house specialist makes sense in companies whose websites continually produce new pages and where search traffic has become a daily operation. For businesses with a few priority tasks and regular measurement each month, a freelance SEO specialist or small studio can provide the same discipline without the burden of full-time staff. When choosing, who will access the website and prepare the report matters more than the job title.
Which businesses does an independent SEO specialist suit?
The independent SEO specialist model best suits structures where decisions are made quickly and the business owner or manager participates directly. Four typical profiles are:
- SMEs and corporate service websites: Companies with a few main service pages, an occasionally updated blog, and inquiries collected through a contact form or telephone.
- E-commerce stores: Websites requiring category and product template adjustments, indexing control for filter pages, and consistent product data; details are on the e-commerce SEO optimization page.
- Local service businesses: Technical services, workshops, offices, and educational institutions seeking visibility in map results and ‘near me’ searches.
- Exporters and manufacturers selling abroad: Companies needing language versions and market-specific keyword research to reach buyers searching in the target country’s language.
For structures simultaneously managing many brands, dozens of languages, and hundreds of daily content updates, a large agency team or in-house department may be more appropriate. If this situation emerges, it is stated clearly during the first consultation.
Who is this model unsuitable for?
Working with a freelance SEO specialist or small studio does not suit every business. In the following situations, another model may be more appropriate, or another task needs to be completed before monthly SEO:
- Those expecting a promised position or date: Google states that nobody can guarantee first place; this working model likewise makes no ranking or timing commitments. Why guarantee promises carry risks is explained in the article on guaranteed SEO services.
- Those managing many brands, languages, and markets simultaneously: Where dozens of daily content updates proceed in parallel, a large agency team or in-house SEO department is more suitable in terms of capacity.
- Those wanting their own team to implement changes: Companies with software or marketing teams seeking only audits, a roadmap, and oversight do not need monthly implementation services; this requirement is met through the SEO consulting model.
- Those whose website cannot support SEO: On a hacked, very slow, or unindexable website, repairs or rebuilding come first; monthly SEO begins after this work is finished.
- Those seeking link packages or quick traffic: Purchased links and automatically generated bulk pages violate Google’s spam policies and are not used in this work.
- Professions whose promotion is restricted by legislation: The Union of Turkish Bar Associations’ Regulation on the Advertising Ban for law firms and the regulation published in Official Gazette issue 33075 for healthcare organizations determine what is permitted; scope is first clarified according to legislation.
If none of these situations applies and the business owner or manager can participate directly, the freelance model generally works well: decisions are made quickly, who works on the website is clear, and the monthly report is reviewed with the person doing the work.
How should a professional SEO specialist be evaluated?
The most reliable way to evaluate a professional SEO specialist is to ask the right questions and assess how concrete the answers are. Google also recommends interviewing a specialist before working with them; the following questions are based on Google’s suggested subjects:
- Can examples of previous work be shown, and what was the specialist’s role in those projects?
- Does the work follow Google Search Essentials?
- Which results are expected, over what timeframe, and which data will measure success?
- Does the specialist have experience in the relevant industry and target city or country?
- Which channel will be used for communication, and how frequently?
- Will every website change be shared along with its reasoning?
Another notable criterion in the same document is the specialist’s interest in understanding the business: a good SEO consultant asks about competitors, how customers find the business, and what makes it different. The document also recommends asking past customers whether the service was helpful and whether collaboration was easy. A specialist supporting recommendations with official Google documents is easier to evaluate than someone giving advice with unclear sources. Other questions for comparing agency and specialist proposals are collected in the how to choose an SEO agency? guide.
When a freelance SEO specialist offers an audit, what it covers and which document will be delivered should be clarified from the outset. According to Google, an audit should include realistic improvement estimates and an estimate of the required workload. A report providing only an automated tool’s score list without prioritization is insufficient for making decisions.
Warning signs: Guarantees, buying links, and secret methods
The strongest warning sign is a promise of first place on Google or the first page within a set period; Google explicitly states that nobody can guarantee first place. Other warning signs include:
- Claims of a ‘special relationship’ with Google: Google does not accept payment for inclusion or ranking in organic results; advertising does not change organic visibility either.
- Proposals to buy or exchange links: Google’s spam policies consider acquiring or providing links in exchange for money, products, or services for ranking purposes to be link spam.
- Hiding the method as a ‘trade secret’: If the work is not explained, changes to the website cannot be evaluated either.
- Promises to register with thousands of search engines or directories: Google states that such practices do not positively contribute to rankings in major search engines.
- A requirement to link to the specialist’s website: According to Google, receiving SEO services does not require providing the specialist with a link.
- Requests for write access during the audit: Read-only Search Console access is sufficient for the initial review.
One reminder in Google’s document is particularly important: the website owner is ultimately responsible for what a hired freelance SEO specialist or agency does on the website. A practice violating spam policies can reduce visibility or even result in removal from the index; the penalty affects the website rather than the person responsible for the practice.
Let us first see the planned work in writing
After a brief consultation, we prepare a written task list showing the website’s priorities. The consultation can take place at the Maltepe office by appointment or through a video call.
The working model: Six steps from audit to monthly report
The work follows a six-step cycle and is replanned each month using data from the report. The order may change according to website condition; for a website with indexing problems, technical corrections come before content.
- Audit: Search Console indexing and page experience reports, a website crawl, and mobile appearance are examined; findings are collected in one document in priority order.
- Keyword map: Closely related queries are grouped, and each group is matched with one page; pages competing for the same query are merged or differentiated.
- Technical corrections: Redirect chains, duplicate addresses, missing headings and meta tags, and heavy images are resolved. Details are on the technical SEO services page.
- Content: Existing service and category pages are reorganized around real customer questions, and new pages are planned for missing subjects.
- Local visibility: Categories, services, and contact details in Google Business Profile are aligned with the website; this step is handled within local SEO services.
- Monthly reporting: Work completed and observed changes are shared using Search Console and GA4 data, and the following month’s priorities are determined.
Google’s SEO starter guide states that a change may take from a few hours to a few months to appear in search results and that evaluating its impact generally requires waiting a few weeks. The monthly cycle matches this waiting period: each change is recorded with its date, and its effect is reviewed in the next report.
The first month focuses on audits, keyword mapping, and the most urgent technical corrections; content production generally accelerates once this foundation is established. If a redesign or new website launch is planned, involving a freelance SEO specialist early prevents address structure and redirect errors from the outset; Google also states that the redesign stage is one of the best times to obtain SEO support.
Which tools does a freelance SEO specialist use?
The work is based on Google’s free tools and an SEO plugin used on WordPress websites; a paid tool subscription is not a prerequisite.
- Google Search Console: Queries, impressions and clicks, indexing status, and sitemap monitoring.
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4): What search visitors do on the website; interactions such as form submissions, calls, or clicks.
- Rank Math: Title, meta description, structured data, and redirect settings on WordPress websites.
- PageSpeed Insights: Mobile and desktop performance measurement and Core Web Vitals data.
- Google Business Profile: Business information, categories, photographs, and review replies in map results.
Google also reminds users that it does not evaluate or endorse third-party SEO tools and that these tools have no access to Google’s internal ranking data. Search Console data is the primary source for decisions; a tool’s score alone does not constitute a work plan.
What information appears in the monthly report?
The monthly report includes that month’s work, changes observed in Search Console and GA4, and the following month’s plan. Data comes directly from the business’s own accounts rather than selected screenshots.
The report’s first section lists changed pages, added content, and corrected technical errors with their dates. The second compares impressions, clicks, and average position with the previous period; rising and declining queries are reviewed page by page.
If conversions from organic visits, such as forms, calls, or WhatsApp clicks, are measured in GA4, those data are also included. If measurement has not yet been established, setup is included among first-month tasks. The final section is the following month’s work list, prepared according to priorities indicated by the data.
Communication with a freelance SEO specialist: WhatsApp, phone, and face-to-face meetings
Communication is directly with the people conducting the work. The line is open from 09:00 to 21:00; a WhatsApp message or phone call to 0532 690 9924 is sufficient, and questions do not enter a queue in a support form.
Businesses wishing to meet face to face can visit the Gülsuyu, Maltepe office by appointment; details of district-focused work are on the SEO agency in Maltepe page. We work with businesses in other Istanbul districts, other cities, and abroad through video calls and screen sharing; the monthly report can be presented the same way.
Important website changes, particularly those affecting address structure or menus, should be discussed with the business before implementation. Obtaining approval through a written channel such as WhatsApp or email makes it easier to trace which change was made when and with whose approval.
Which access permissions are needed to begin?
Getting started requires access to Search Console, GA4, the website administration panel, and Google Business Profile if available. These accounts remain in the business’s own name; the specialist is added only as a user.
- Search Console: Restricted read access is sufficient during the audit; required permissions are discussed separately when implementation begins.
- GA4: Viewing permission is granted for reporting, and editing permission if conversion measurement will be configured.
- WordPress administration panel: A separate user account for the specialist is recommended; avoiding sharing the main administrator password is the appropriate security practice.
- Google Business Profile: Ownership remains with the business, and the specialist is added as a manager.
Keeping accounts in the business’s name ensures that all data and history stay with the business when collaboration ends. Removing a departing specialist from the user list is enough to revoke access.
What promises are not made as an SEO consultant?
No promise is made of a particular position, first-page placement within a set timeframe, or a numerical increase in traffic or sales; Google’s systems and competitors’ work together determine rankings. The commitment is written tasks, recording every change, and reporting data as it is.
Link packages promising quick results, automatically generated bulk pages, text hidden from users, and redirect networks built from other domains are not used. Even if these methods have short-term effects, they put the entire website at risk because they violate spam policies.
In certain industries, legislation also sets limits: healthcare promotion is restricted by the regulation published in Official Gazette issue 33075, and lawyers’ keyword use intended to gain higher search engine rankings by Article 7/e of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations’ Regulation on the Advertising Ban; scope is narrowed accordingly for these businesses.
Freelance SEO specialist fees in 2026: From 9,000 TL per month, market median 15,999 TL
At Onur Freelance, monthly SEO services start from 9,000 TL; this starting price is the same for local, corporate, and e-commerce SEO. The exact amount is determined in a written proposal after a free initial assessment reviews page count, technical condition, number of target areas or countries, and monthly content requirements.
To understand this figure’s market position, the pricing pages of 13 Turkish SEO agencies and specialists publicly publishing monthly SEO fees were examined individually on October 7, 2026. The company-by-company list is in the SEO prices 2026 market study; the overview follows:
| Indicator | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Entry package range across the 13 firms examined | 8,000 – 28,000 TL |
| Entry package median | 15,999 TL |
| Starting prices of two consultants providing services under their own names | 14,000 TL and 14,900 TL |
| Onur Freelance (local, corporate, e-commerce SEO) | From 9,000 TL |
The table shows only list prices from firms publishing their fees openly; it is not a market average, and package scopes differ. In this sample, there was no clear price separation between agencies and individual specialists; differences appeared more in scope, communication style, and team size. Therefore, when comparing two proposals, before discussing numbers, ask which work will be completed each month, what the report will show, and whose name the accounts will be opened in.
The monthly fee does not include Google Ads management, the advertising budget, or building a website from scratch. Google Ads management is a separate service and also starts from 9,000 TL per month; the advertising budget is paid directly to Google. The complete list of included work and excluded items is on the SEO prices page.
The initial assessment and proposal process
The proposal is shared in writing after the free initial assessment and review of the website’s scope; SEO services start from 9,000 TL per month, and the precise amount is determined by this review. The assessment discusses the website address, priority services or product groups, target area, and any previous SEO work.
The proposal includes monthly tasks, the reporting format, and the list of access permissions required. Technical condition, page count, content needs, and the number of target cities or countries are the main factors determining scope. The full service, with its technical, content, and local components, is on the SEO search engine optimization page.
If the initial assessment reveals that the website requires technical repairs, speed improvements, or redesign before SEO, this is stated separately. In such cases, the infrastructure problem is solved first and SEO begins on a sound foundation; an unnecessary monthly service is not recommended.
Let us take the first step toward an initial assessment
When you send the website address and target services through WhatsApp, the initial assessment is free; a written proposal is prepared once the scope is clear. A consultation can be arranged face to face in Maltepe or online.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What does a freelance SEO specialist do?
A freelance SEO specialist handles a website’s technical audits, keyword plan, content adjustments, and measurement without belonging to an agency’s staff. The business communicates directly with the person developing the strategy and implementing website changes.
When does working with a freelance SEO specialist instead of an agency make sense?
The decision depends on website size and communication expectations. Working directly with a specialist can be practical for SMEs, local businesses, and medium-sized e-commerce websites making quick decisions; a large agency team may be more suitable where numerous languages and brands are managed in parallel.
Can an SEO specialist guarantee rankings?
No, Google states that nobody can guarantee first place and warns against those making this promise. A reliable specialist offers a written work plan, realistic expectations, and regular data sharing instead of guarantees.
Which access permissions should an SEO specialist receive?
Read access to Search Console is sufficient during the audit. When implementation begins, a separate user account is provided for the WordPress panel and user permissions for GA4 and Google Business Profile; account ownership remains with the business.
What determines the fee for SEO consulting?
SEO services start from 9,000 TL per month; the precise fee depends on technical condition, page count, content requirements, and the number of target areas or countries. Instead of a fixed package, a written proposal is shared after a free initial assessment.
When will the effect of SEO work become visible?
No definite timeframe can be given; according to Google, some changes appear within hours and others within months. Evaluation of impact generally begins after a few weeks and is monitored using Search Console data in the monthly report.
Can work be carried out without paid SEO tools?
Yes, the foundation is free Google tools such as Search Console, GA4, PageSpeed Insights, and Google Business Profile. On WordPress websites, meta and schema settings are configured through Rank Math; Google states that third-party tools have no access to internal ranking data.
Can I meet Onur Freelance face to face?
Yes, face-to-face meetings are available at the Gülsuyu, Maltepe office by appointment. We work with businesses outside Istanbul and abroad through video calls, WhatsApp, and telephone; the line is open from 09:00 to 21:00.
How much does a freelance SEO specialist cost in 2026?
At Onur Freelance, monthly SEO services start from 9,000 TL; the exact amount is determined in a written proposal after a free initial assessment. Among 13 SEO agencies and specialists openly publishing fees on October 7, 2026, entry packages range from 8,000 to 28,000 TL per month, with a median of 15,999 TL.
Who is working with a freelance SEO specialist unsuitable for?
The monthly freelance model may be unsuitable for businesses expecting ranking or timeframe guarantees, managing numerous brands and languages simultaneously, or wanting only guidance while their own team implements changes. Hacked or unindexable websites also require technical repairs first.
Is Google Ads included in a freelance SEO specialist's fee?
No. Google Ads management is a separate service and also starts from 9,000 TL per month; the advertising budget is paid directly to Google. When both services are purchased together, each receives a separate proposal according to its own scope.
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