If your website isn’t showing up in search results, you’re already behind. Your competitors are getting the clicks, leads, and revenue that could have been yours. An SEO agency helps close that gap. Our job is to improve your visibility on search engines like Google, so the right people find your business when it matters most.
SEO isn’t just about traffic. It’s about the right traffic. The kind that turns into leads, sales, and long-term customers.
What Does an SEO Agency Do?
An SEO agency helps you rank higher in organic search results, leading to more visibility, more site visitors, and more chances to convert them into customers. However, SEO is a moving target as Google updates its algorithm constantly, and what worked last year may be ineffective now.
An agency doesn’t just fix technical issues or add keywords, they deliver measurable results. Take REFY Beauty, for example: starting with no internal SEO team and only basic Shopify SEO, Studiohawk boosted their non-branded search impressions by 537%, showing how technical fixes and content optimisation can transform visibility. Find out how we helped REFY Beauty here.
Here’s how an agency can tackle the key components:
Technical SEO:
This is about making your website technically sound by including things like improving page speed, fixing crawl errors, and making sure your site is mobile-friendly. If Google can’t access your site properly, it won’t rank, no matter how good your content is.
On-page SEO:
Agencies optimise page titles, headings, meta descriptions, internal links, and the actual content itself. This tells search engines what your pages are about and helps match them to relevant searches.
Off-page SEO:
This is mostly about building backlinks from other websites. High-quality backlinks signal trust and authority to search engines.
High-quality backlinks → More trust → Better rankings.
SEO isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring, adjustment, and refinement. Agencies have the experience and resources to do that at scale.
Services Offered by SEO Agencies
Different businesses have different goals, so agencies usually offer a mix of services that can be tailored to your needs.
Content creation and technical SEO often work hand-in-hand. For Fantasy Football Hub, Studiohawk combined technical SEO expertise with strong on-page optimisation, leading to a 303% year-over-year increase in top UK keyword rankings.
Technical SEO:
This includes fixing broken links, removing duplicate content, and improving site architecture. It's foundational because if your site is broken, everything else falls apart.
On-page SEO:
Beyond just keywords, this involves making your site readable, structured, and easy for both users and search engines to navigate. Small changes like better headers or internal links can have big impacts.
Off-page SEO:
Agencies build links through outreach, partnerships, and digital PR. This boosts your domain authority and helps you rank for more competitive terms.
Content Creation:
Quality content is the backbone of modern SEO. Agencies often produce blog posts, guides, product pages, and other content designed to rank and convert.
Local SEO:
Perfect for businesses with physical locations. This involves optimising your Google Business Profile, building local citations, and earning local reviews to help you show up in “near me” searches.
Local businesses see tangible results too. London Hearing Specialists improved their search presence for multiple locations, driving a 78% year-over-year increase in bookings, demonstrating that local SEO can directly impact footfall and sales.
SEO Audits:
Think of this as a deep dive into your site’s health. Audits uncover hidden issues, prioritise fixes, and create a clear path forward.
The value here is in knowing what to prioritise, what to ignore, and how to get long-term results.
Benefits of Hiring an SEO Agency
Hiring an SEO agency isn’t just another expense on your marketing budget. It’s an investment that can directly influence your growth. Agencies bring experience that covers all sides of SEO: technical setup, content strategy, and marketing instinct. They’ve worked on dozens, sometimes hundreds, of websites before yours. That means they already know what works, what fails, and how to avoid costly mistakes. Instead of experimenting, you’re relying on proven knowledge backed by real data.
Learning SEO from scratch takes months, and doing it well takes even longer. If you’re already running a business, adding “SEO expert” to your to-do list isn’t realistic. Hiring an agency lets you skip the steep learning curve so you can keep your focus on running the business while they handle the rankings.
Consistency is another reason it pays to bring in professionals. SEO isn’t a one-time project. It needs regular audits, content updates, technical fixes, and reporting. Agencies use systems and frameworks designed to deliver steady progress. The result is fewer mistakes, faster wins, and growth that you can actually measure.
Then there’s Google.
The search engine updates its algorithm constantly, sometimes with small tweaks and other times with sweeping changes. Agencies make it their job to stay on top of these shifts. They test new approaches, adjust strategies, and make sure you’re not left behind when the rules change.
SEO also doesn’t exist in isolation. It ties in closely with content marketing, conversion rate optimisation, and even paid search. A good agency knows how to connect these pieces so that SEO isn’t just about rankings but about building a stronger growth engine for the whole business.
If you’ve been winging your SEO, you’ve probably noticed how easy it is to lose track of what’s working and what’s not. Agencies bring structure and clarity. They set goals, track results, and give you numbers that show exactly how things are moving. That kind of visibility is hard to achieve when you’re doing it on your own.
Hiring an SEO agency buys you more than just rankings. It gives you time back, adds structure to your marketing, and puts experts in your corner who know how to drive reliable growth. If you’ve been managing SEO on the side, bringing in an agency can give your business the focus and consistency it needs to scale.
Types of SEO Agencies
Not all SEO agencies are created equal. Some specialise in certain industries or tactics.
Here’s a breakdown:
Local Agencies:
Best for businesses that rely on foot traffic or local clientele, like trades, medical practices, or retail. These agencies focus on local rankings, map visibility, and geo-targeted content.
Niche Agencies:
These work within specific verticals like SaaS, eCommerce, or law. They already know what content works, what terms convert, and how to compete in crowded markets.
White Label SEO Providers:
These agencies work behind the scenes for other agencies. If you’re an ad agency that doesn’t have in-house SEO skills, you can offer it to clients under your brand.
Full-Service Digital Agencies:
SEO is just one part of what they do. These agencies are a fit if you also need web design, content marketing, or PPC management.
Choose based on your business model, budget, and internal capabilities.
How to Choose the Right SEO Agency
Choosing an SEO agency is a big decision. The wrong choice wastes time, money, and energy. The right one, though, can become a long-term partner in your growth. The challenge is telling the difference before you sign a contract.
Industry experience is the first thing to look at.
An agency that already knows your field has a head start. They understand your audience, your competitors, and the pain points of your market. That means less guesswork and faster results. For example, an agency that has worked with multiple e-commerce brands already knows how to deal with issues like duplicate product pages or seasonal keyword swings, while one without that background might need months just to catch up.
Transparency is just as important.
SEO is filled with agencies that hide behind jargon and black-box tactics. You should know exactly what’s being worked on and why. A good agency will share their process, explain the steps in plain language, and set realistic expectations.
If all you hear are vague promises of “big rankings fast,” that’s a red flag.
Proof matters too. Case studies, metrics, and testimonials show whether an agency can actually deliver. Ask for real examples of results, not just generic claims. Look for before-and-after data on traffic, rankings, or conversions. If an agency can’t provide that, they’re either new or they don’t have the track record you need.
Communication style might not seem like a priority at first, but it becomes critical over time. SEO is not a quick job. It’s a partnership that often runs for months or years. You’ll want a team that answers questions, explains things clearly, and avoids drowning you in jargon. If you leave meetings feeling confused, you’re not going to build a productive relationship.
Finally, be wary of cookie-cutter packages. Your business is unique, so your SEO plan should be too. A good agency will take the time to understand your goals and design a strategy around them. That might mean focusing on local search, building out content, or tackling technical fixes first.
If the proposal feels generic, it probably is.
Choosing the right SEO agency isn’t about ticking off a checklist. It’s about finding a partner who listens, understands your goals, and has the experience to help you reach them.
The best agencies don’t just sell services. They bring clarity, direction, and results you can measure. That’s the difference between wasting months on the wrong choice and building a partnership that actually drives growth.
Common Myths About SEO Agencies
Some of the most common SEO myths come from outdated advice or shady providers. Here’s what you need to stop believing:
“SEO is a one-time job.” Not true. SEO needs regular attention. Content gets old. Algorithms shift. Competitors improve. Staying still means falling behind.
“Any traffic is good traffic.” False. Ranking for irrelevant terms just inflates numbers. You want traffic that actually converts.
“Agencies can guarantee #1 rankings.” No one controls Google. Guarantees are often a sign of black-hat tactics or unrealistic promises.
SEO is long-term and results build over time. With a solid partner, you’ll see steady growth that sticks.
SEO Agency vs. Freelancer vs. In-House Team
When it comes to handling SEO, businesses usually weigh up three main options: hiring an agency, working with a freelancer, or building an in-house team. Each path has pros and cons depending on your goals, budget, and how hands-on you want to be.
SEO Agency
An SEO agency brings a full team of experts under one roof. That usually includes specialists in technical SEO, content writing, link building, analytics, and more. You’re getting access to a wide skill set without needing to hire five different people.
Agencies also tend to have established processes, proven strategies, and access to industry tools. They’ve worked with many clients, so they know what works and what’s likely to fail. For businesses that want results without managing the nitty-gritty, this is a major plus.
The trade-off? You’ll usually pay more than you would for a freelancer, and some agencies manage multiple clients at once. That means you might not get immediate turnaround or highly personalised attention unless you’re a top-tier account.
Freelancer
Freelancers are a good middle-ground option, especially for smaller businesses or specific short-term projects. They’re typically more affordable, flexible, and easy to communicate with directly.
If you find the right person, a freelancer can produce excellent work. But SEO is broad. One person might be strong in content and weak in technical issues or vice versa. Most freelancers simply can’t match the range or depth of an agency team.
Capacity can also be an issue. A solo freelancer can only take on so much work at a time, which can cause delays or missed opportunities if your needs grow.
In-House Team
Hiring an in-house SEO means bringing someone fully into your business. They’ll be across your brand, your strategy, and your internal goals. For medium to large businesses with a long-term focus on organic growth, this can work well.
The upside is direct communication, fast execution, and alignment with your overall marketing plan. The downside? Hiring is expensive and slow. SEO specialists are in demand, and the good ones cost a lot. Even if you find someone great, you may still need to hire others to cover gaps in content, dev support, or analytics.
Building an in-house team gives you control, but it also comes with overhead. It’s a bigger commitment and works best when you’re ready to invest long-term.
So, What Should You Choose?
- If you need broad support across multiple SEO areas and don’t want to manage everything yourself, go with an agency.
- If you have a smaller budget or just need help with a few tasks, a skilled freelancer could be enough.
- If SEO is central to your growth strategy and you’re ready to invest in a team, building it in-house may be the right move.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right fit comes down to your resources, expectations, and how involved you want to be in the process.
Final Thoughts: Is an SEO Agency Right for You?
If SEO feels like guesswork or you’ve tried it without results, it’s probably time to call in help. A good agency can fix what’s broken, build what’s missing, and focus your efforts where they’ll pay off most.
SEO takes time, skill, and patience. An agency gives you all three and turns guesswork into growth.
Need help growing your organic traffic?
If you're unsure where to begin or want expert support to build a content strategy that actually delivers results, speak to the team at Studiohawk. We'll help you create and maintain content that remains relevant, useful, and optimised for long-term growth.
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