What is an SEO Agency - and How Do I Choose One?

Welcome to the competitive world of SEO, where the difference between a thriving website and one that’s hidden behind pages of search engine results comes down to a thoughtful online strategy. With less than 1% of online users clicking on the second page of Google results, you want your website to land on that first page (preferably as one of the top three options). You can’t just launch a website and expect visitors to come rolling in. In fact, Google uses over 200 factors in their algorithm to rank websites — meaning you’ve got some serious work to do.

So, while ranking well for keywords is important, making sure your website isn’t stuck in the Stone Age is just as crucial. For example, around 40% of consumers will leave a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load, so checking your site’s infrastructure is a must-do.

But here’s the kicker: optimizing your site for SEO takes time. And expertise. And let’s face it, many companies have enough on their plates already (like juggling marketing, sales, and, oh yeah, running a business). Plus, if you don’t know what you’re doing with SEO, you could actually make things worse — think keyword stuffing, bloated image files, and wonky code that could make even your IT team wince.

So, what’s a busy business owner to do? Invest in an SEO agency to take care of all this for you. Read on to learn what an SEO agency is and why you need one in your corner.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and is a practice that focuses on making sure your website shows up on search engine results when someone searches for something relevant to your business. There are a few different types of SEO you should know about as they can help you hone in on the audiences you want walking through your digital doors:

• Local SEO: A more localized approach to helping your company rank for searches in your area (great for small businesses and those with brick-and-mortar storefronts).
• Technical SEO: This is the behind-the-scenes stuff like page speed, mobile optimization, crawlability (making sure search engines can navigate your site), security, and fixing broken links or errors that could be dragging your site down.
• On-Page SEO: Includes onsite keywords, high-quality content, and metadata to signal to search engines that your site is relevant and valuable to users.
• Off-Page SEO: Trickier to master, off-page SEO takes into account traffic that happens outside of your website, including link-building, social media posts, and even online reviews.

Now that you’ve got the SEO basics down, let’s talk about how an SEO agency can take the headache out of it all.

What is an SEO agency?

An SEO agency is a specialized company that works with businesses to improve their online visibility by optimizing their websites for search engines. Their primary goal is to help you rank higher on search engines like Google, drive more organic traffic to your site, and ultimately increase leads and sales.

SEO agencies start by assessing your current website performance — examining factors like site speed, mobile usability, content quality, and keyword targeting. Based on this analysis, they create a tailored SEO strategy designed to address your specific needs and goals.

For example, if your website is slow or difficult to navigate, the agency will focus on technical SEO to improve site speed and make it more user-friendly. If your content isn’t ranking well, they might optimize your pages with better keyword research, high-quality content, and internal linking. They also help ensure your website is mobile-optimized, as a huge portion of global internet users are browsing on their phones — up to nearly 60%, according to web optimization software developer MobiLoud.

In short, hiring an SEO agency is like giving your website a personal trainer: it gets stronger, faster, and can actually hold its own in the online arena after some extensive guidance and a solid game plan.

What are the benefits of an SEO agency?

Why go pro when you can DIY, you ask? Well, for starters, SEO is a full-time job — actually, it’s more like several. Hiring an SEO agency means you get an entire team of experts who live and breathe this stuff. They’ll stay on top of algorithm changes, keyword trends, and SEO best practices, so you don’t have to.

Here are a few more reasons why you should consider an SEO agency over going at it alone:

• Clear, detailed reporting (you’ll actually know what’s working and what’s not).
• Improved rankings both locally and nationally.
• More time for your internal team to focus on high-level business priorities.
• Access to tools and software that would cost you a fortune on your own.
• Consistent improvements to your website’s speed, mobile experience, and usability.

Between handling transactions, hiring new talent, and ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly, who really has all that time to dedicate to SEO’s demands? Consider leaving this hefty task to a team that values your brand (and time).

How do I choose the right SEO agency?

Not all SEO agencies are created equal, and choosing the right one can make all the difference in your website’s success. To make your search for a future SEO partner a bit easier, try to spot some key traits that many top SEO agencies share.

For example, you want to start by looking for a team with years of experience under their belt and a portfolio of success stories. Check out their case studies, client testimonials, and examples of past work for a glimpse into how effective their strategies are. Agencies that have helped businesses like yours (whether you’re in e-commerce, B2B, or local service industries) will understand your challenges and have an idea of how to best approach your specific SEO needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask agencies about the tools they use — the best ones invest in advanced solutions and resources like SEMrush, Google Analytics, and HubSpot to track progress, conduct audits, and refine strategies. The more information they can get a hold of in terms of your site, the better positioned they will be to diagnose issues and implement solutions in the snap of a finger.

An agency that treats your brand like any other is a red flag. You want to work with someone who sees the unique value of your business the way you do and creates customized SEO strategies that are ideal for your goals, audience, and industry. A giveaway that an agency templatizes their solutions? They push service packages instead of asking about your company’s specific needs (trust us, you don’t want that).

Make sure that the agencies you’re looking at also offer clear, detailed reports on their progress. They should be able to show you exactly what they’ve done, the results they’ve achieved, and how they plan to adjust strategies moving forward if numbers aren’t moving in the right direction. Also, beware of agencies that promise “quick fixes” — real, sustainable results take time (we’re talking months or even years) to manifest.

Last but not least, you want to team up with an agency that integrates SEO strategies with content marketing. They say “Content is King” for a reason — it engages and resonates with users in a way that keeps them coming back for more valuable insights, news, and updates. Plus, search engines rely on content copy to determine your site’s authority and value to users, so you definitely don’t want to rule it out.

Now that you know what to look for, you’re ready to waltz through your SEO agency search process with confidence (psst, Terra’s a great option if vetting agencies gets a bit overwhelming).

Find an SEO marketing agency that works as hard as you do

A top-notch agency won’t just boost your rankings; they’ll drive traffic, fine-tune your site, and help your business grow for the long haul. With the right SEO partner, your website can go from just average to a lead-generating, competition-crushing machine.

At Terra, we’re all about making your brand shine. Our SEO strategies are built around your business and goals — whether you want to own your local market, turbocharge your site’s speed, or craft content that clicks with your audience. We’ve worked with clients like Airbnb, the United Nations, and Healthline Media, among other leading organizations across healthcare, tech, finance, and the nonprofit space. No matter what your needs are, we’re with you every step of the way, giving you clear insights, transparent reporting, and real results.

Ready to start climbing the ranks? Check out our SEO services and let’s make some magic happen.