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, by nature, typically have a broad team of experts including SEO specialists, developers, account strategists, copywriters and more.
This allows them to collaborate effectively on cross-functional projects.
For brands looking for a single provider to cover a wide array of needs, agencies can be a natural fit.
Nonetheless, when the task at hand is relatively narrow, like SEO or PPC, this broader capacity may not be essential.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
Whilst agencies can offer competitive pricing, but their rates are often inflated by office-related expenses, management layers, and admin teams.
Freelance consultants usually sidestep these costs. You’re engaging directly with an expert, minus the extras.
As a result, SEO consultants often provide a more affordable alternative.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
Agencies are generally well-suited to manage larger projects thanks to their access to a wider team.
They’re able to assign different people to various parts of your SEO campaign at the same time.
If your business needs input from several individuals all at once, an agency could be the right fit.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
With multiple teams to coordinate, agencies often lean on standard operating procedures to keep things running smoothly.
While the individuals you deal with may be flexible, the broader team might take time to adjust to changes in direction.
Consultants offer a more fluid experience. They can shape their work around your needs and change tack as required.
That sort of adaptability is invaluable when digital trends shift rapidly.
If, mid-project, you decide to revise your SEO approach, a consultant is generally quicker to implement changes than an agency working through layers of process.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
A major perk of working with a consultant is having a single, reliable contact handling your SEO from day one.
It spares you the common agency challenge of shifting account managers or disruptions caused by team turnover.
With a consultant, you’re talking directly to the expert – not going through layers of staff.
This kind of open, direct communication leads to quicker decisions and a stronger working dynamic.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
For consultants, client success isn’t just a goal – it’s essential to their continued business.
They’re not buffered by layers of management or corporate structures like agencies often are.
That personal motivation tends to drive greater attention and dedication.
Where agencies may be balancing dozens of accounts, a consultant is more likely to treat your success as 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 Hubspot 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 Hubspot SEO consultant…read more