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10 Best SEM Consultants to Hire for Optimized Search Engine Visibility

Hire an SEM consultant to help you rank better—higher rankings result in increased visibilty, and higher conversions.

Dyllan Hopewell
By Dyllan Hopewell
Janet Barben editor profile photo
Edited by Janet Barben

Published March 3, 2024.

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Search engine marketing (SEM) has become one of the most far-reaching and impactful forms of digital marketing today. With most people turning to search engines like Google and Bing to discover information online, harnessing the power of SEM has become essential for driving business visibility, traffic, and conversions.

Businesses cannot afford to ignore the expansive reach and precision targeting enabled by SEM marketing. The data-driven nature of SEM provides unparalleled insights. Dynamic search ads ensure you get found for every relevant query, and shopping ads allow you to get your products in front of people ready to buy.

Our picks for the best SEM consultants to hire

1. Stephen H. - Best overall

2. Mihai T. - Best for optimizing PPC campaigns for SEM

3. Kristin S. - Best for tailoring SEM using industry best practices

4. David D. - Best for SEM in tech and digital industries

5. Gil M. - Best for high-budget SEM campaigns

6. Justin G. - Best for large-scale campaigns with max ROI

7. Pouria N. - Best for a creative approach to SEM strategies

8. Limor G. - Best for a diverse approach to SEM targeting

9. Iban R. - Best for driving traffic through targeted SEM

10. Pawel J. - Best for Best for leveraging SEM with PPC for maximum results



What does an SEM consultant do?

A SEM consultant specializes in helping websites get more traffic from search engines, using SEO (search engine optimization) and PPC (pay-per-click) tools, tactics, and strategies.

Essentially, an SEM consultant needs to have a solid knowledge of both SEO and PPC. An SEM consultant will help a website get more visibility in search engine results by optimizing the content of the website, managing different advertising campaigns, and analyzing the website’s performance.

Best overall

1


Exceptional
10
a man in a plaid shirt is posing for a picture

Stephen H.

Expert SEM consultant

Experience

12+ years


Country

USA


Industry focus

Technology | Home & garden | Automotive | Finance | Electronics | Art & entertainment | Health & wellness

With over 12 years of experience, Stephen is a skilled Digital Marketing Expert focusing on Search Engine Marketing and Paid Media.

He has worked with both B2C and B2B brands across various industries, particularly skilled in eCommerce and lead generation.

  • Search ads
  • SEM
  • Social ads
  • Amazon PPC
  • Tracking implementation

As an expert in Paid Media and Google/Bing Ads, Stephen leveraged his 12+ years of digital marketing experience to optimize multimillion-dollar campaigns and increase market share.

Stephen marketed engineering supplies, including electronic devices and measurement instruments. He set up ads in Bing/Google to target profitable categories.

Best for optimizing PPC campaigns for SEM

2


Outstanding
9.9
a man standing in a field with trees in the background

Mihai T.

Pro PPC marketer for SEM

Experience

10+ years


Country

UK


Industry focus

Art & entertainment | Home & garden

Enhance your business's digital footprint with Mihai, a skilled Digital Marketing & PPC specialist.

With over a decade of comprehensive experience across SEO, SEM, social media, PPC, web development, email marketing, web analytics, and conversion rate optimization, Mihai offers a breadth of expertise.

  • Google Ads
  • Bing Ads
  • SEM
  • SEO
  • Instagram Ads

Mihai's primary focus is optimizing pay-per-click advertising strategies using platforms like Google Adwords, Bing Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads to drive tangible results for your brand.

Best for tailoring SEM using industry best practices

3


Outstanding
9.8
a woman with long hair smiling in a circle

Kristin S.

SEM tailored ads specialist

Experience

8+ years


Country

USA


Industry focus

Travel | Health & wellness | Art & entertainment

Kristin brings over 8+ years of expertise in managing paid media campaigns for more than 80 clients, spanning budgets from thousands to millions.

    • Google Ads
    • Bing Ads
    • YouTube Ads
    • SEM

Kristin's track record demonstrates a knack for optimizing results through bespoke strategies and industry best practices. Kristin's method begins with a deep comprehension of your business objectives, aligning her insights to craft the most effective approach.

She prides herself on being highly responsive, transparent, and seamlessly integrating as an invaluable extension of your team.

Best for SEM in tech and digital industries

4


Outstanding
9.7
David Dubrino

David D.

Tech-savvy SEM marketer

Experience

8+ years


Country

USA


Industry focus

Technology | Health & wellness | Art & entertainment | Finance

David is a results-oriented digital marketer with a wealth of experience managing six-figure ad spends monthly across diverse industries including software, biotech, cybersecurity, and legal lead generation.

  • SEM
  • Google Ads
  • Facebook Ads
  • Instagram Ads
  • YouTube Ads
  • LinkedIn Ads

Renowned for consistently delivering high ROI for clients and projects, David's expertise is unparalleled.

His accomplishments in SEM include facilitating executive strategy sessions at Google Headquarters for clients, and enhancing their search and display capabilities for rapid expansion.

Best for high-budget SEM campaigns

5


Outstanding
9.6
Gil Manor

Gil M.

Experienced SEM professional

Experience

6+ years


Country

Israel


Industry focus

Education | Finance | Electronics | Automotive | Professional services

Gil brings over 6 years of expertise in the PPC/SEM field, transitioning recently to embark on a self-employed venture.

    • Search ads
    • Taboola
    • Social ads
    • SEM
    • Amazon PPC
    • Video

Gil's extensive experience encompasses managing substantial accounts, notably overseeing PPC campaigns for high-profile entities like Fortnite, with a monthly spend of $6 million, as well as driving traffic for industry giants such as Zynga, Playtika, Gett, and Plarium, among others.

With proficiency in running traffic across platforms including Google, Facebook, and more, Gil is poised to deliver exceptional results in his entrepreneurial pursuits.

Best for large-scale campaigns with max ROI

6


Outstanding
9.5
a man in a red jacket and white shirt

Justin G.

Holistic and experienced SEM pro

Experience

15+ years


Country

USA


Industry focus

Beauty | Health & wellness | Finance | Real estate | Style & fashion | Automotive

Justin, a seasoned digital marketing expert with 15 years of industry experience, specializes in paid media strategies.

  • Google Ads
  • Bing Ads
  • SEM
  • Google Shopping
  • YouTube Ads

Justin has a proven track record of handling budgets of up to $10 million per year, demonstrating his ability to manage large-scale campaigns effectively while delivering exceptional results.

What sets Justin apart is his holistic approach. He doesn't just focus on driving traffic to your website but also pays close attention to post-click interactions to ensure maximum ROI. This unique perspective ensures that every aspect of your digital marketing strategy is optimized for success.

Best for a creative approach to SEM strategies

7


Outstanding
9.4
a close up of a person with a beard

Pouria N.

Creative and data-driven SEM expert

Experience

5+ years


Country

USA


Industry focus

Automotive | Finance | Health & wellness | Technology | Sports, outdoors & fitness

With over 5 years of experience, Pouria has a strong passion for paid media and has worked with prestigious brands and agencies across the US. He takes a data-driven and creative approach, going beyond just channel expertise.

  • SEM
  • Search ads
  • Google Shopping
  • Facebook Ads
  • LinkedIn Ads
  • Instagram Ads

Pouria leverages his creative capabilities and marketing strategy to drive impact for his clients. His experience and expertise in paid media enable him to guarantee satisfaction.

Outside of platform knowledge, he brings creative thinking and strategic insight to generate results. Pouria's unique blend of data-driven decision-making, creativity, and marketing strategy creates value for the brands he collaborates with.

Best for a diverse approach to SEM targeting

8


Outstanding
9.3
Limor Gurevich

Limor G.

Dynamic SEM expert and media pro

Experience

10+ years


Country

Israel


Industry focus

Travel | Beauty | Style & fashion | Finance | Health & wellness

With over 9 years of experience, Limor is a Media VP, SEM expert, and PPC campaign manager. She has led digital marketing campaigns for major brands across diverse industries.

  • Tracking implementation
  • Email marketing
  • SEM
  • Social ads
  • Search ads
  • Outbrain
  • Google Shopping

As a media and marketing strategy leader, Limor is an expert in media analysis and is certified in Google AdWords. She is highly experienced in all programmatic advertising platforms.

Her deep expertise in paid search, campaign management, and strategic leadership enables Limor to drive success for brands through paid media.

She leverages her analytical skills and platform knowledge to optimize digital marketing performance.

Best for driving traffic through targeted SEM

9


Outstanding
9.2
a black and white photo of a man smiling

Iban R.

Traffic-focused SEM and web expert

Experience

8+ years


Country

UK


Industry focus

Education | Professional services | Style and fashion | Food & drink

Iban is dedicated to empowering brands to enhance their visibility, relevance, and appeal to users on Google.

  • SEM
  • Search ads
  • Social ads
  • Outbrain
  • Amazon PPC
  • Google Shopping

With expertise in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), and Website Performance Optimization (WPO), Iban ensures that brands achieve optimal online presence and performance.

As a Website Experience Specialist, Iban focuses on crafting seamless user experiences that drive engagement and conversions, ultimately helping brands thrive in the digital landscape.

Best for leveraging SEM with PPC for maximum results

10


Outstanding
9.1
a man in a suit and tie looking at the camera

Pawel J.

SEM and PPC marketing expert

Experience

10+ years


Country

Poland


Industry focus

Education | Electronics | Automotive | Home & garden | Style & fashion

Pawel is an experienced Digital Marketing and SEM/PPC professional with over 10 years of global experience focused on lead generation, ROAS and ROI.

  • Google Ads
  • YouTube Ads
  • LinkedIn Ads
  • Facebook Ads
  • SEM

Pawel has worked with major global eCommerce, education, and SaaS clients, including Unbrokendesigns, SomProduct Poland, Hult International Business School, ChannelAdvisor, Nestle, Land Rover, Jaguar, Ford, LG, ITV, and other bespoke brands.

His decade of experience driving performance for top companies worldwide makes Pawel an expert in leveraging digital marketing and paid search to deliver results - from increasing leads to optimizing returns.

His specialized expertise in SEM and PPC enables data-driven decision-making to maximize marketing impact across industries.



What skills should your SEM consultant have?

If you want to hire the best SEM expert, make sure they have the following skills:

Solid SEO knowledge

Your SEM consultant should know the latest SEO techniques and be able to optimize your website for targeted keywords, as well as make sure all of your content is high quality and relevant.

Excellent PPC know-how

Generally, PPC campaigns require more maintenance and monitoring than SEO campaigns, so ensure that your SEM consultant understands how to manage PPC campaigns. Generally, an SEM consultant will be able to set up and monitor an AdWords account, as well as create search ads that are highly targeted and effective.

Extensive knowledge of digital marketing in general

Your SEM consultant should also understand other digital marketing disciplines, such as email marketing and social media. This will help them understand the full customer journey and create the most effective campaigns.

Understanding of content marketing

Although content marketing is not strictly considered a part of SEM, it is an essential element that goes hand in hand with SEO. An experienced SEM consultant should know how to create content that will help improve a website’s ranking in search engine results, thus helping your overall digital marketing efforts. 

Understanding of copywriting

Copywriting is an important part of any digital marketing strategy, and your SEM consultant should understand how to write compelling copy that will help improve your website’s visibility in search engine results.

Data analysis and reporting

Your search engine marketing expert should also have solid analytical skills, and they should know how to create comprehensive reports that show the progress of your campaigns. This will help you make informed decisions about where to invest more resources. 

To run in-depth data analysis, your search engine marketing consultant should be an expert Google Analytics user, and they should be adept at using additional SEO and PPC analytics tools, as well as competitive analysis tools. 

Strong communication skills

Your search engine marketing consultant should also be an excellent communicator, as they must communicate effectively with your dedicated team. They should also be able to explain complex concepts in simple terms.

Project management

Lastly, your SEM consultant should also have good project management skills. This will enable them to manage multiple projects simultaneously and always meet deadlines. It also helps them better collaborate with freelancers, internal teams, and stakeholders.

What's the difference between an SEM consultant and an SEM specialist?

The main difference between an SEM consultant and an SEM specialist lies in their primary job duties. While an SEM consultant is typically responsible for helping businesses implement SEO and PPC strategies, an SEM specialist is usually more focused on managing and optimizing existing campaigns. The terms are frequently interchangeable and that's not necessarily incorrect -- but generally, a consultant is focused on high-level strategy, while a specialist is in the trenches, doing the day-to-day work.

Questions to ask when hiring an SEM consultant

If you want to hire the best SEM consultant, here are some questions to consider asking during the recruitment process:

  • What is your experience with other areas of digital marketing (aside from search engine marketing?)
  • Have you ever worked with a business in our industry (e.g., online business eCommerce, SaaS, etc.)?
  • In your opinion, what are the top three most important search engine optimization tactics? 
  • Can you tell us about a search campaign you created and its success? 
  • Do you have experience running Google Ads (other than search ads, like display advertising, for example?)
  • How do search ads and search engine optimization affect a company's overall marketing efforts?
  • What are, in your opinion, the essential elements of building a successful online marketing campaign? 
  • Other than search, what marketing channels do you think we should invest in, based on your information about our company and market? 
  • What is your favorite marketing tool, and why?
  • What is, in your opinion, the biggest challenges of running Google Ads?
  • Can you tell us how you would run a search engine marketing campaign for us? 
  • Do you have experience in online advertising outside of search engines (like running ads on social media platforms, for example?)
  • How do you make sure your SEO drives relevant traffic? 
  • How do you choose strong keywords for your search engine marketing campaigns? 
  • What is the biggest challenge of modern online advertising, in your opinion?
  • Do you have experience running link-building campaigns? 
  • How do you collaborate with internal marketing departments? Do you have a process for this? 
  • What are some of your favorite digital marketing experts? 
  • In your opinion, what are the challenges of search advertising vs. display advertising? 
  • What advertising budget would work for our company (given the information you have?)
  • What tactics do you use to ensure the success of your advertising bids? 
  • Other than search, what advertising platforms do you think suit our business? 
  • Other than the price of running actual ads, what other advertising costs do you consider when building a search engine marketing campaign? 
  • How do you connect advertising dollars spent and business goals? 

How to hire the perfect search engine marketing consultant

Not sure how to hire the right search engine marketing consultant? You have several options available:

Freelance boards

You can find SEM professionals on freelance boards like Upwork and Freelancer. You can search for freelancers by their skills and experience, read through their reviews and portfolios, and contact those who seem suitable.

Social media

Social media is a great way to find experienced and knowledgeable SEM consultants. LinkedIn, in particular, is a great resource for finding freelancers and consultants with specific skill sets. You can search through profiles and contact the best candidates directly.

Referrals

Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find a reliable SEM consultant. Ask your contacts and colleagues if they know any good freelancers or consultants and if they can recommend any.

Hire vetted SEM consultants through Mayple

If you're looking for the quickest way to hire an SEM consultant with a proven track record, Mayple is what you're looking for. We only work with vetted SEM consultants and can match you with the best one for your industry and requirements in a few days. Contact us, and let's chat about it!