When considering SEO services for your business, one decision you will have to make on the way is choosing between an SEO agency and consultant (in fact, you most likely clicked on this article to help with that exact decision!).
While both agencies and consultants aim to improve your website’s search engine rankings, their approach, structure, and relationship with clients differ significantly.
- SEO agencies typically consist of multiple people skilled in SEO, account managers, developers, admin staff and directors.
- SEO consultants on the other hand are just the person skilled in SEO, covering admin duties themselves.
To help you decide between the two, I’ll compare both against seven key factors that are important to businesses deciding between choosing an agency or a consultant:
- Variety of Skills
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Resources
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Personalised Service
- Quality of Work
1. Variety of Skills
Winner: Agency
SEO agencies typically bring a varied skill set to the table, with teams made up of specialists in SEO, web development, content and strategic planning.
This makes them well-equipped to execute campaigns requiring collaboration across different disciplines.
For clients seeking an all-round digital partner, an agency setup can be ideal.
However, not every project warrants such a wide-ranging team, particularly if the focus is only on SEO or PPC.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
While agency quotes can be cost-effective, they often build in expenses for physical premises, leadership staff, and admin personnel.
With consultants, you bypass all of that. You’re investing in their knowledge, not a corporate hierarchy.
Consequently, SEO consultants typically prove the more economical option.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
Agencies are typically well-equipped to handle large-scale projects due to having access to multiple people.
They can allocate teams to work on different aspects of your SEO campaigns simultaneously.
If your business requires significant resources from multiple people at once, an agency might be the better choice.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
Agencies, with their multi-person teams, tend to run on streamlined processes to manage workflow across accounts.
This can mean that adapting your account setup or strategy involves multiple steps and takes longer than expected.
Consultants are more agile. They’re able to adapt their work directly to your evolving needs without the red tape.
In a fast-moving digital world, this kind of responsiveness can make a real difference.
If plans change, a consultant can often pivot within hours – something agencies may struggle with due to approval chains and team structures.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
One of the clear benefits of choosing a consultant is consistency – you’ll deal with the same person throughout your project.
Unlike agencies, where staff changes and account handovers are more common, consultants provide stability.
You’re in touch with the individual doing the actual work, not a middleman.
That makes communication simpler and helps to build a more genuine working relationship.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
Consultants are deeply invested in their clients’ outcomes, because their reputation and livelihood are directly tied to each project.
Unlike agencies, which may report through layers of management, consultants are accountable to no one but you.
That tends to result in better service and genuine dedication.
While agencies might see you as one client among many, a consultant views your success as central to their own.
7. Quality of Work
Winner: Equal
You can receive excellent SEO services from both consultants and agencies.
Agencies might offer access to various experts, though this often means parts of the work are given to less experienced team members for development.
Consultants tend to handle everything themselves, offering a more consistent and detail-focused approach.
Final Score
- Agency: 3
- Consultant: 5
Conclusion
Both Celebrity SEO agencies and consultants have their strengths.
While agencies bring extensive resources and a variety of skills, consultants may offer a more cost-effective, adaptable, and personalised approach.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of working with a Celebrity SEO consultant…read more