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Hiring Offshore SEO Talent: LatAm vs. India vs. Philippines

Hiring Offshore SEO Talent: LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines

Considering hiring offshore SEO talent from LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines? This article provides guidance on the key differences between them.

Hiring Offshore SEO Talent: LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines

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Key Takeaways

  1. Hiring offshore SEO talent in different countries will get you different results. The right choice for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities.
  2. India and the Philippines are great for cost-effective, quick, early-development projects but may present challenges related to cultural or time zone differences.
  3. Latin America offers a balance of cost savings, time zone compatibility, and cultural affinity with US businesses.

Finding the right SEO talent locally can be challenging due to budget constraints, competition for top experts, and the need for specialized skill sets that can meet your business needs.

Fortunately, the rise of remote work has made it possible to hire offshore professionals from around the world. Today, the Philippines, India, and Latin America (LatAm) are three of the most attractive destinations for recruiting remote SEO experts. But which should you choose for outsourcing SEO for your business?

This article will list the primary differences between hiring offshore SEO talent from LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines. We’ll also offer guidance on the criteria to consider when choosing an offshoring destination for your SEO needs.

Hiring Offshore SEO Talent from LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines: Summary

At a glance, you can see what hiring offshore SEO talent from the three primary regions will look like for your business. 

Offshoring SEO to LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines: Key Differences

These three regions differ based on several factors, such as infrastructure, English proficiency, time zones, and cost. It’s critical to understand these differences before you choose a location to hire SEO talent.

Here, we’ll cover the key differences between LatAm, India, and the Philippines when it comes to SEO outsourcing to help you make a decision that best satisfies your company’s needs.

Availability of SEO talent 

The Philippines has up to 1.5 million registered freelancers, while India has around 15 million. In contrast, studies show that up to 25% of workers in LatAm countries are self-employed, many of whom do freelancing, and that number is expected to grow year over year. That means you can expect to pull from a pool of at least 30 million freelancers in the LatAm region. 

When it comes to marketing and SEO specifically, you’ll have a much larger talent pool to pull from in LatAm than in India or the Philippines

Technological infrastructure

When it comes to technological infrastructure, India stands out, with over 900 million internet users, making up over 63% of the population. 

The Philippines lags slightly behind other developed nations and its peers in Southeast Asia, with 69 million Filipinos (59% of the population) having access to the internet. 

In LatAm, the technology sector is growing at a rapid rate. In most metropolitan areas, like Buenos Aires, Medellin, or Lima, you’ll find infrastructure as good as, or better than, that of many US cities. 

Additionally, over 74% of the population has access to the internet. The population that doesn’t is often people in smaller towns and villages. However, the top talent who speak English are almost always in the large metro areas with very reliable internet. 

Time zone compatibility

When it comes to time zone alignment, the winner is clear. Latin American countries have a lot of time zones that overlap with the US, making it ideal in terms of time zone compatibility. When it comes to access and communication, professionals from LatAm are much more likely to be more responsive overall. 

India and the Philippines are at least nine hours ahead of the East Coast in the US. This means both of these distant countries are 12 hours or more ahead of any business on the West Coast of the US. 

It can be challenging to stay on task with your team when some of your team members are unreachable during your regular business hours. This can lead to delayed responses, missed deadlines, and more. If they do accommodate US hours, this could lead to increased burnout over the long term.

English language proficiency

While all three regions have a population of professionals proficient in English, LatAm and the Philippines are stronger contenders to win in this category, scoring moderate to high proficiency.

Indian English is typically more similar to UK English than US English, and India is estimated to have a lower English-speaking rate (between moderate and low proficiency), according to the EF English Proficiency Index. 

The Philippines has the strongest English proficiency overall, as Philippine schools conduct much of their schooling in US English and are aligned with the US education system. However, certain LatAm countries like Argentina and Costa Rica have a similar level of English proficiency as the Philippines.

Most Latin American countries have large populations of remote professionals who are not only English speakers but also intimately familiar with the US way of life. This is thanks to US tourists traveling throughout the region and US business and politics strongly influencing many LatAm countries. 

Cultural alignment with US businesses

Cultural compatibility is crucial for effective collaboration between your internal team and offshore workers.

It is also particularly important in content creation, which is often an important aspect of SEO. You want to make sure you hire team members who understand a US-based audience and can speak in the “same language” to them as if they, too, are from the US.

Due to their geographical proximity, the LatAm and US cultures are similar, and professionals from both regions often work together in multinational companies. The US has also influenced LatAm’s infrastructure and economic development. 

Though cultural alignment with the US isn’t as strong in India or the Philippines, US culture is increasingly influencing these countries through business and tourism. This means that you can still find SEO experts who understand US audiences and business practices. 

Cost

Professionals in India and the Philippines typically offer more competitive rates than even those in LatAm. 

The average cost of living is much higher in LatAm than it is in India or the Philippines, which translates to higher salary expectations. Still, you stand to save at least 30% by hiring LatAm SEO talent compared with hiring in the US.

SEO service specializations

You’ll have no trouble finding specific SEO service specializations in India, the Philippines, or LatAm. However, certain countries are better at certain specializations than others. Understanding these strengths can help you choose the right pool of talent for your needs:

  • LatAm: This region is the best pick if you’re looking for someone with a solid understanding of the lifestyle and businesses in the US. It’s also a good choice for building high-quality links and writing relevant, relatable blog and social content. Additionally, LatAm is a solid choice for multilingual SEO (particularly in Spanish or Portuguese). 
  • The Philippines: This country is a good choice for content writing, as English proficiency tends to be higher there than in the other outsourcing destinations. While content may not always be as closely aligned with US audiences, it is still a great resource for keyword research and technical writing.
  • India: Indian professionals are best suited for technical SEO, as the country is known for its large talent pool of highly technical workers. India is great for affordable website auditing, page speed optimizations, and fixing technical errors like indexing.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Offshore Location for SEO Outsourcing

Of course, the best choice for your company will be based on your business requirements, but here are a few factors to consider when deciding. 

Skill requirements

If you’re looking for quick, efficient labor, India is a good option. If you’re aiming to achieve more thorough, long-term results, LatAm is likely the better option. The Philippines falls somewhere in between the two. 

SEO strategy 

You need the smartest, most skilled talent with excellent critical thinking skills. You want to build an effective long-term SEO strategy (the most important factor in ranking on page one), and you’ll be more likely to achieve this when outsourcing in LatAm than in India or the Philippines.

Thanks to more effective communication and a deeper understanding of your US customer base due to stronger cultural alignment, Latin American talent is better suited to developing an SEO strategy that aligns with your business goals. 

Communication and collaboration needs

Thanks to its similar time zones with the US, LatAm talent is likely to be more responsive. It’s more challenging to run a project or manage a remote team that is 12 hours ahead of you. 

Again, if you’ve got simple tasks that can be farmed out with a later deadline and can afford to wait, India and the Philippines are strong contenders. If you want to be able to pick up the phone for an immediate call or text, LatAm stands alone. 

Cost efficiency

This last consideration is one you’ll have to approach with great caution. It can be easy, especially when you’re on a tight budget, to choose the cheapest option. But there are many other factors you must consider alongside up-front costs.

You may find cheap freelancers willing to engage in ineffective or even unethical “black-hat” SEO practices that can damage your company’s reputation or result in penalties for your website. You could even find your content removed from search engines altogether.

Paying the lowest rates without considering other factors, like those listed above, is a common mistake that may actually end up costing you money. What you should do is balance savings with value.

Final Thoughts 

The best choice between hiring offshore SEO talent from LatAm vs. India vs. the Philippines is not cut and dry. There are many factors to consider, including your budget and goals. 

SEO professionals from the Philippines and India are cost effective, quick, and efficient. Meanwhile, LatAm SEO talent can still offer high-quality work and lower rates than you would pay to US workers, as well as seamless communication and a strong familiarity with US business culture. 

If you’re ready to reap the full benefits of affordability, quality of work, time zone compatibility, and cultural alignment with Latin American talent, Near is here to help. At Near, we specialize in connecting businesses with top-tier SEO talent from LatAm, ensuring cultural fit and efficiency without the high labor costs of onshore professionals.

Want to learn more? Book a free consultation with Near today to get started.

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