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 are often composed of a multi-talented team, bringing together SEO technicians, coders, strategic planners and writers.
Their collective know-how is particularly useful for complex digital initiatives.
For firms looking to cover multiple bases with one partner, agencies are an attractive choice.
That said, for more focused projects centred solely on SEO or PPC, the full scope of agency resources may be unnecessary.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Winner: Consultant
Agency rates can be competitive, but they usually reflect the costs of offices, managers, and support staff.
Consultants usually avoid these layers. What you’re paying for is their time, their skill, and nothing more.
That’s why SEO consultants are often more affordable overall.
3. Resources
Winner: Agency
Agencies tend to be a strong option for large projects, simply because they have more people to draw upon.
They’re able to spread tasks across a team, which can speed up delivery and manage multiple campaign strands.
If your business requires this level of resource, an agency might be the better route.
4. Adaptability
Winner: Consultant
Agencies often operate using standardised processes, simply because they manage multiple teams and clients.
While the individuals working on your account may be adaptable, making wider changes can take time due to the setup and number of people involved.
Consultants, however, can tailor their approach from the start and adjust quickly if your business shifts direction.
This kind of agility is especially valuable in today’s fast-paced digital world.
Say you need to alter your SEO strategy mid-way through a project – a consultant can typically action that quickly, whereas agencies may need more time due to internal approvals and coordination.
5. Communication
Winner: Consultant
One key benefit of working with a consultant is the simplicity of having a single, steady point of contact.
This removes the typical agency experience of juggling different team members or onboarding new account managers.
Consultants offer direct access and communication with the person doing the work, not someone relaying messages.
That directness leads to better collaboration and a more efficient working relationship.
6. Personal Service
Winner: Consultant
Because their income and reputation are closely tied to performance, SEO consultants are usually highly invested in getting results for their clients.
Agencies tend to work within larger teams, which can sometimes dilute individual focus.
Consultants, on the other hand, are laser-focused on you and your success.
They often see your achievements as a direct extension of their own work.
7. Quality of Work
Winner: Equal
You can get excellent SEO support from both agencies and independent consultants.
Agencies often involve a range of specialists, but that sometimes means the work is distributed to junior staff for training.
Consultants tend to manage every detail themselves, resulting in a more consistent and focused execution.
Final Score
- Agency: 3
- Consultant: 5
Conclusion
Both Tech 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 Tech SEO consultant…read more