Choosing the right help
SEO consultant, agency or in-house hire?
There's no single right answer. It depends on who you already have, how much time they've got, and how important search is to your business.
| SEO consultant | SEO agency | In-house hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | Your team, with our guidance | Our team | Your own staff |
| Best when | You have a developer or marketer already | You want it handled end to end | SEO is core and constant |
| Strategy | Senior, from day one | Included | Depends on who you hire |
| Ongoing cost | Lowest | Moderate | Highest (salary, tools, training) |
| Speed to start | Days | Days | Months to recruit |
| Range of experience | Across many industries | Across many industries | Usually one person's experience |
We offer the first two, and we're happy to help you brief an in-house hire if that's the better fit.
Ways to work with us
Three ways to work with an SEO consultant
Strategy session
Best for: Business owners who want a clear plan before spending anything
- Review of your site and top competitors
- The three to five priorities that matter most
- A written summary you can act on straight away
Monthly advisory
Best for: In-house marketers and developers who need an expert in their corner
- Regular calls to set and review priorities
- Briefs your team can follow for content and fixes
- Second opinions on agencies, tools and changes
Done for you
Best for: Businesses that want SEO handled, with a strategist leading it
- Strategy, implementation and reporting by our team
- Technical, content, local and links covered
- Monthly reporting tied to enquiries and sales
Buyer's guide
Five questions to ask any SEO consultant before you hire them
Q1.What would you do first on my site, and why?
A good consultant can answer this after a quick look. Vague answers usually mean a templated plan.
Q2.How will we measure success?
The answer should mention enquiries or sales, not only rankings or traffic.
Q3.Who will actually do the work?
Know whether it's the person you're talking to, a junior, or an outsourced team.
Q4.Can I see examples of past work?
Ask about businesses similar to yours in size, industry or location.
Q5.What happens if I want to stop?
You should keep your content, accounts and data. Long lock-ins are a warning sign.
Red flags to walk away from
- ×Guaranteed number-one rankings
- ×Secret methods they can't explain
- ×Hundreds of backlinks for a low monthly fee
- ×Reports with no mention of leads or revenue
- ×Keeping your Google accounts in their name
FAQ