What is an SEO agency and why do you need one?

What is an SEO agency and why do you need one?

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a critical factor for businesses with an online presence, but if you find the complexities overwhelming, you’re not alone. This is where an SEO agency can step in to help, with the right expertise to demystify the process.

SEO agencies work with a wide variety of clients, from small businesses to large firms across a wide variety of industries and sectors. Working with one could see your business secure top search engine rankingspots for popular keywords and provide your customers with compelling content.

Read on to find out how working with an agency could boost your business.

What is SEO?

SEO is a multi-channel process that aims to help your business become more visible online and achieve higher search rankings on search engines. This is done by optimising various facets of a website, from the site speed to the copy to the embedded images.

By doing this, businesses can enjoy more web traffic, increasing the chances of conversions as brand awareness and business performance improve. But SEO isn’t an overnight job – it requires continuous efforts and monitoring to create long-term, sustainable success.

That’s where an SEO agency can come in handy.

What services do SEO agencies offer?

An SEO agency might offer a package of services or help with a specific campaign or problem.

Audits

Think of an SEO audit as a health check for your website – a comprehensive examination aimed at pinpointing areas of improvement to enhance your site’s search visibility.

Without running an audit, it’s not possible to know what’s already working, what needs improvement and what your next steps should be.

We’re a Semrush Agency Partner with access to a wide library of SEO auditing tools – from SEMrush to Screaming Frog – all designed to spot SEO problems, recommend fixes, increase site speed and help Google crawl, index and rank your site highly on SERPs.

SEO strategy

An SEO agency can use the data it collects from an audit to create a robust SEO strategy. While you may want to focus on one area of SEO, an agency can point out the benefits of a holistic strategy that covers multiple areas and works together for maximum impact.

An SEO strategy is tailored to suit your unique needs, but an overarching one might include keyword research, on-page SEO, backlink building and content creation to increase organic traffic, boost visibility, and improve overall business performance.

Learn more about our SEO strategy service.

Keyword research

Keyword research is a fundamental service offered by SEO agencies. It involves identifying relevant words and phrases that potential customers use in search engines, with the aim of targeting those keywords so potential customers see your business listed as high as possible on SERPs.

With a good understanding of what their audience is searching for, businesses can tailor content to meet user needs. This is also crucial for targeted PPC and Google Ads. An effective keyword strategy with the right balance of keyword usage across various channels can increase organic traffic, leading to higher engagement and better conversion rates.

Content creation

Content marketing works to attract and engage target audiences by providing engaging and valuable information.

By creating high-quality, keyword-rich content across your website, you not only provide your target customers with valuable insights and information but also increase your brand trust, authority and online visibility. Content can include blog posts (76% of B2C marketers use blogs to distribute content), product descriptions, landing pages, guides and more.

We have a unique content creation service that ensures we deliver high-quality, well-researched and authentic content tailored to your customers’ needs.

Find out more about our content marketing services, from web copy to white papers.

Link building

Backlinks are links from one website to another – and they’re vital for businesses because they significantly influence search engine rankings. When another website links to your business, it’s like giving a vote of confidence to your content or services.

But link building requires a keen eye, perseverance, time and resources, which is why using an SEO agency is a good option. Building links off the back of quality content doubles your SEO efforts, giving you both a home for information and for backlinks that will boost your site’s authority and credibility.

Competitive analysis

Anything your competitors do, you can do better – with the help of an SEO agency. A competitive analysis involves studying your competitors’ digital strategies to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities they’re missing. This process can reveal valuable keywords to target, backlink opportunities and effective content strategies.

All of this information is then used to refine a bespoke SEO strategy. The goal of competitive analysis is to help brands understand their market position and exploit competitors’ weak spots, earning them better search engine rankings.

Analytics and reporting

Analytics and reporting involve tracking and examining website data to evaluate the performance of SEO efforts and then consolidating it into a cohesive, clear report. Key metrics that are tracked typically include organic traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, keyword rankings, SERP rankings and click-through rate (CTR).

SEO agencies have the resources and time to dedicate to continuous monitoring and create bespoke reports based on their clients’ SEO needs. As a result, informed decisions can be made on how to improve your current strategy for maximum SEO success.

On-page optimisation

On-page optimisation involves enhancing various elements on a website’s individual pages to improve search engine visibility.

This includes optimising title tags, meta descriptions and content with relevant keywords. It also includes improving website code, site structure, internal links and ensuring the site is mobile-friendly.

Effective on-page optimisation makes a website more user-friendly and easier for search engines to index. The result? Better visibility, increased organic traffic and improved user engagement.

Discover Submerge’s on-page optimisation services.

The benefits of using an SEO agency

Although some SEO actions could be handled successfully in-house, having a dedicated SEO agency on your side has its benefits:

• You can save time and money – With an SEO agency handling all your SEO needs and troubleshooting, you can focus on your business priorities. You also avoid making costly mistakes, saving you time and resources.
• Technical expertise – An experienced SEO team will have more technical knowledge and insight than you may have in-house and a better understanding of the complexities of SEO.
• Access to new SEO tools and technologies – SEO tools and software can be costly, especially if you have to pay for multiple monthly subscriptions. An SEO agency will already have access to these, including the premium versions with more functionality for better results.
• Internal support – In addition to expertly handling your organisation’s needs, an SEO agency can also provide your internal team with learning opportunities and support. This might include talking employees through strategies, troubleshooting and SEO tools.

How to choose the right SEO agency for you

Identify your SEO goals

Start by identifying what you want to achieve with SEO. This could be increased website traffic, higher search engine rankings or more conversions. With defined goals, you’ll find it easier to choose an SEO agency that has particular experience in those areas.

Do your research

Look at the services offered by your chosen agency and see if they align with your goals. Ask about their past work to understand how they’ve performed for their past and current clients. Look for an agency with positive feedback on their professionalism, impressive results and a good communication style.

Schedule a discovery chat

A discovery chat is a chance for you and a potential SEO agency to sit down and learn more about one another – your current approach and ultimate goals, their way of working and recommendations, your budget and so on. An introductory call gives you a chance to gauge their understanding of your business and goals, to see if they’re a good fit for your business.

What questions should you ask an SEO agency?

An introductory chat is a good opportunity to ask all the questions you have to ensure the SEO agency is the right fit for your business needs, budget, and timeline. Some key questions to ask might include:

• Can you describe your approach to managing SEO projects?
• How frequently do you report progress, and what format do these updates take?
• What’s your level of familiarity with our specific industry?
• Can you share examples of clients with similar goals to ours?
• What are your fees, and how do you structure your pricing?
• If initial strategies don’t achieve the expected results, how do you adapt your SEO approach?
• How long before we can start seeing results?

Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions – a professional SEO agency will be more than happy to answer any you have.

Where can you find an SEO agency?

There are multiple paths to finding the right SEO agency for your business. Start with an online search, considering agencies that rank well and actively demonstrate their expertise.

Many SEO agencies will maintain a business page, keeping it updated with industry insights and company updates. Online directories or industry publications may also list reputable agencies. Those listed on the Semrush Agency Partners database are skilled SEO marketers familiar with Semrush’s expansive and valuable toolkit.

Contact Submerge – get in touch with our friendly team today for a chat about your project – we can help you achieve your digital marketing goals.