What is an SEO Agency?

Discover what an SEO agency is, what services they provide, and how they help businesses improve visibility, traffic, and sales online.

At Lillian Purge, we specialise in Ecommerce SEO Services and have developed comprehensive guidance on what is an seo agency.

An SEO agency is a company that helps businesses improve their visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation, which is the process of enhancing a website’s structure, content, and authority so it ranks higher in search results for relevant keywords.

In simple terms, an SEO agency helps your business get found online by the right people at the right time. Their job is to ensure your website appears prominently when potential customers search for the products or services you offer.

What an SEO Agency Does

An SEO agency provides a range of services designed to improve your website’s performance and attract more organic traffic. These typically include:

1. Keyword Research
Identifying the search terms your target audience uses. This helps shape the content strategy and ensures your website targets the right phrases to capture potential leads.

2. On-Page Optimisation
Improving elements within your website, such as titles, meta descriptions, headings, and internal links, to make them more relevant to search engines and users.

3. Technical SEO
Ensuring your website runs smoothly behind the scenes. This includes optimising site speed, mobile responsiveness, and indexing so that search engines can easily crawl and rank your pages.

4. Content Creation and Strategy
Developing high-quality blog posts, product descriptions, and landing pages that answer user questions, demonstrate expertise, and target relevant keywords.

5. Link Building
Acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable websites to improve your site’s authority and trustworthiness in Google’s eyes.

6. Local SEO
Optimising your website to attract local customers, especially for businesses with physical locations. This includes managing Google Business Profiles, local citations, and location-based keywords.

7. Analytics and Reporting
Tracking your SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. The agency provides detailed reports showing how your rankings, traffic, and conversions are improving over time.

Why Businesses Use an SEO Agency

SEO is a long-term process that requires technical knowledge, time, and consistency. Many businesses outsource SEO to agencies because they have the expertise, tools, and experience needed to deliver measurable results.

Some of the main reasons companies choose to work with SEO agencies include:

  • Access to specialist skills and industry insights.

  • Time savings, allowing internal teams to focus on core operations.

  • Access to advanced SEO software and analytics tools.

  • Improved website visibility and traffic without relying on paid ads.

A good agency not only improves rankings but also helps convert traffic into real customers through a combination of SEO, content, and user experience improvements.

The Benefits of Working with an SEO Agency

Partnering with an SEO agency can have a direct impact on your business growth. Benefits include:

  • Higher search rankings: Better visibility on Google for important keywords.

  • Increased organic traffic: More visitors from unpaid search results.

  • Improved user experience: A faster, more user-friendly website that keeps visitors engaged.

  • Better return on investment: SEO delivers long-term value compared to short-term paid advertising.

  • Data-driven decisions: Agencies track and refine campaigns based on measurable results.

How an SEO Agency Works with You

When you hire an SEO agency, they will start with an in-depth audit of your website to identify opportunities for improvement. They’ll then create a strategy tailored to your business goals, which might include:

  • Improving your website’s technical structure.

  • Enhancing content to match user intent.

  • Building backlinks and improving online authority.

  • Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) like traffic, rankings, and leads.

Regular communication is key. A good SEO agency provides monthly reports, strategy updates, and insights so you always understand what’s being done and how it benefits your business.

Choosing the Right SEO Agency

Selecting the right agency is crucial for achieving long-term success. When evaluating agencies, consider the following:

  • Experience: Look for a proven track record in your industry.

  • Transparency: A reliable agency should explain their methods and provide regular reports.

  • Ethical practices: Avoid agencies that promise instant results or use manipulative tactics, as these can lead to penalties.

  • Custom strategies: Every business is unique, so the agency should tailor their approach to your goals.

Ask for case studies, testimonials, and examples of real results to help you gauge their effectiveness.

How Long SEO Takes to Show Results

SEO is not an overnight fix. It can take three to six months to start seeing noticeable improvements, depending on competition, website history, and the scope of work. However, unlike paid advertising, the benefits of SEO are long-lasting. Once your website gains authority and rankings, it can continue to attract traffic with minimal ongoing cost.

A trustworthy agency will set realistic expectations and focus on sustainable growth rather than short-term spikes.

The Cost of Hiring an SEO Agency

The cost of SEO services varies widely depending on your goals and the size of your business. In the UK, agencies typically charge:

  • Small business packages: £300 to £800 per month.

  • Medium-sized businesses: £800 to £2,000 per month.

  • Large or enterprise campaigns: £2,000 and above per month.

Some agencies offer project-based pricing, while others work on monthly retainers. The right investment depends on your growth targets and how competitive your industry is.

Why SEO Agencies Are Essential for eCommerce Businesses

For eCommerce stores, SEO is particularly important because it helps customers find products through organic search. An SEO agency specialising in eCommerce focuses on:

  • Optimising product and category pages for search visibility.

  • Improving site speed for better user experience.

  • Managing structured data and product schema.

  • Creating keyword-rich content for product descriptions and guides.

  • Reducing cart abandonment through better navigation and usability.

These efforts help online retailers rank higher, attract motivated shoppers, and increase sales without relying solely on paid ads.

Final Thoughts

An SEO agency helps businesses grow by improving their search engine visibility, driving organic traffic, and building online authority. Through technical optimisation, content creation, and strategic analysis, they ensure your website not only ranks well but converts visitors into customers.

For businesses aiming to stand out in competitive markets, partnering with a professional SEO agency provides the expertise and consistency needed to achieve sustainable growth.

We have also written in depth articles on Why SEO Fails and How Does SEO Work? as well as our SEO Hub to give you further guidance.