What matters more when judging an SEO freelancer: experience or results?

0xusmanali

Newbie

Dec 5, 2024

1

4

• Sep 13, 2026

• #1

I've seen people with years of experience deliver weak results, while newer freelancers sometimes get better outcomes.

Personally, I'd rather see what someone has actually done than how long they've been doing SEO.

What's your take?

 

HustleTong

Elite Member

Jr. VIP

May 30, 2019

13,528

10,702

• Sep 13, 2026

• #2

You can't validate the experience. Results are transparent

 

marybluur

Newbie

Sep 13, 2026

8

3

• Sep 13, 2026

• #3

Honestly, results all day. Having 10 years of experience doesn't mean much if the strategies are outdated. I'd take someone with recent wins over years on paper anytime.

 

sharifawan

Elite Member

Jr. VIP

Apr 30, 2009

1,882

124

• Sep 13, 2026

• #4

Problem is a screenshot proves about as little, you cant tell whose site it is or what else was running at the time. Ask for something you can open and verify yourself instead.

 

ads studio

Elite Member

Jr. VIP

Mar 2, 2021

4,350

1,330

• Sep 14, 2026

• #5

to be honest years of experience is helpful in some niche but not all just imagine how google have been changing things recently and AI doing its thing so its not about newer freelancer

 

tonbetan

Newbie

Aug 25, 2026

21

3

• Sep 14, 2026

• #6

marybluur said:

Honestly, results all day. Having 10 years of experience doesn't mean much if the strategies are outdated. I'd take someone with recent wins over years on paper anytime.

Click to expand...

Yes, new data reveals more than experience listed on your resume. SEO evolves too quickly for me to care about how much experience you have, so let’s look at what you are ranking for now.

 

R

rehaniya

Newbie

Aug 11, 2026

4

2

• Sep 14, 2026

• #7

ads studio said:

to be honest years of experience is helpful in some niche but not all just imagine how google have been changing things recently and AI doing its thing so its not about newer freelancer

Click to expand...

Indeed, experience is helpful, but only if one adapts to changes. Personally, I would look at the success of a freelancer based on his recent work rather than his experience per se.

 

medialounge

Elite Member

Jr. VIP

May 13, 2013

7,173

2,020

• Sep 14, 2026

• #8

In my opinion, having experience is good since it means you have the foundational concept of how things work but that alone cannot guarantee you will produce good results. A result oriented person must not necessarily have to do with years of experience.