Buyer guides
Plain guidance for businesses hiring an SEO agency. None of it promises rankings, revenue or a fixed timeline.
How to Choose an SEO AgencyA step-by-step buying process that turns a crowded agency market into a short, evidence-based shortlist.What Does an SEO Agency Cost?A guide to how agencies price SEO work, what drives quote differences, and how to compare proposals fairly.Monthly Retainer vs Project PricingA comparison of retainer and project pricing for SEO, with guidance on which suits which situation.Technical SEO vs Content SEOExplains the difference between technical and content SEO and how to decide which to prioritize when hiring.Local vs National vs International SEODistinguishes local, national and international SEO and explains what to look for in an agency for each.Choosing a Shopify SEO AgencyA buyer's guide to the platform-specific skills and evidence that matter when hiring a Shopify SEO agency.Questions to Ask Before SigningA structured question list for the final conversation with an SEO agency, with what good and poor answers look like.Evaluating an SEO Case StudyA framework for judging whether an agency's case study actually supports the claims made in it.Understanding SEO ReportingA buyer's guide to reading SEO reports, separating activity from outcomes and spotting reporting that hides more than it shows.SEO Migration Checklist for BuyersWhat to require from an SEO agency, developers and your own team at each stage of a website migration.Agency vs Freelancer vs In-House TeamA decision guide for choosing between an SEO agency, an independent freelancer and an internal team.Evaluating Link Acquisition ServicesA buyer's framework for judging link acquisition services, with the risks, evidence and contract terms to examine.Understanding AI Search Visibility ClaimsA skeptical buyer's guide to agencies that sell visibility in AI answers, chat assistants and AI-generated search summaries.