The Truth About SEO Agencies: What They Won't Tell You
An honest take on why many small business owners overpay for SEO and how you can do most of the work yourself.
I've consulted for dozens of small businesses that were burned by SEO agencies. The typical story: they paid $1,000-$3,000 a month for vague reports and little to no ranking improvement. Meanwhile, the agency was doing basic stuff you could do in a weekend.
Here's what agencies don't want you to know: 80% of local SEO success comes from three things—optimized Google Business Profile, consistent citations, and a few good backlinks. You can handle all three yourself with the right templates and a few hours of work.
If you do hire an agency, ask for specific deliverables and a clear timeline. Don't pay for long-term contracts. And never let them lock you into a proprietary platform. Your SEO should be portable.