The short answer
An SEO agency is a company that helps businesses appear higher in Google's free search results. It does the technical, content and promotional work needed to rank, so that more of the right people find your website, call you or visit you.
Some agencies are large teams working with national brands. Others, like us, are small specialists focused on local businesses in one area. The work is similar; the scale and price are very different.
What does an SEO agency actually do?
A good SEO agency will usually handle most of the following:
Audit and strategy
A review of your website, your Google Business Profile and your competitors, to find what is holding you back and where the opportunities are. From that comes a plan: which searches to target, in which areas, and in what order.
Keyword research
Working out what your customers actually type into Google, how often, and which searches are worth chasing. See our guide on how many keywords to target.
Technical SEO
Fixing speed, mobile issues, broken links, indexing problems, structured data and anything else that stops Google reading your site properly.
On-page SEO and content
Writing and improving page titles, headings and copy; creating service pages, area pages and guides that answer what your customers search for.
Local SEO
Managing your Google Business Profile, building consistent directory listings and helping you get more reviews, so you appear in Google Maps and the local pack.
Link building and digital PR
Earning links and mentions from relevant, reputable websites, which act as votes of confidence in Google's eyes.
Reporting
Regular updates on what was done, how visibility and traffic are changing, and what's next.
Types of SEO agency
| Type | Who it suits | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|---|
| Local SEO specialist | Trades, shops, clinics and service businesses serving one area | £250 to £600 a month |
| Full-service digital agency | Businesses that want SEO, ads, web design and social in one place | £500 to £1,500 a month |
| National or enterprise SEO agency | Large brands, ecommerce and multi-location businesses | £1,500 a month and up |
| Freelancer | Small budgets or one-off projects | Varies widely |
For a full breakdown, see how much SEO costs in the UK.
SEO agency vs freelancer vs doing it yourself
- DIY: cheapest, and fine for the basics, but it takes time every week and it's easy to miss the technical side.
- Freelancer: often good value and personal, but you depend on one person's skills and availability.
- Agency: a team with a set process and cover for holidays and sickness, usually with more services under one roof.
Do you need an SEO agency?
You probably do if:
- Competitors appear above you on Google and Google Maps
- Your website gets few enquiries, or you don't know how many it gets
- You don't have time to work on SEO every month
- You're relying on paid ads, word of mouth or one platform for all your work
You may not need one yet if you're brand new, fully booked from referrals, or happy to learn and do the basics yourself first.
What a good SEO agency won't do
- Guarantee number one rankings. Nobody controls Google.
- Lock you into a long contract with no way out.
- Keep ownership of your website, Google profile or accounts.
- Buy cheap links in bulk. See our guide to cheap SEO red flags.
- Send reports you can't understand.
How to choose one
Ask what they'll do in the first three months, how they report, what results they've had for similar local businesses, and what happens if you want to leave. We've put together 10 questions to ask an SEO company to help.
About us
SEO Milton Keynes is the local SEO service from Lillian Purge Ltd. We look after local businesses across Milton Keynes with one simple £350 a month package: local SEO, Google Maps, social media, AI optimisation and website management, with no tie-in.