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$28M+ Revenue GeneratedFor our clients2,140+ Keywords — Page 1Google rankings$12M+ Ad Spend ManagedAcross channels2.5M+ Signups DrivenUser acquisitions87,200+ Leads GeneratedQualified pipeline
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SEO Consulting Services: Expert advice and a plan your team can follow

Find out what is holding your website back in Google, get a clear plan your team can follow and have an expert guide every fix.

We'll reply with a written proposal: the work, what we need from you and an estimated timeline.

Sound familiar?

Why your SEO isn't moving, and what an SEO consultant checks first

Flat traffic is a symptom, not a cause. Before we suggest anything, we look for the real reason. These are the six problems we find most often.

  • Traffic is flat or falling and nobody knows why

    Visits from Google drop after a site change, a Google update or a competitor's push, and nobody on the team can say which pages lost out or what to do first.

  • Agency reports you can't judge

    You get monthly reports full of rankings and charts, but you can't tell whether the work is right, whether it is working or what you are paying for.

  • Technical problems nobody fixes

    Slow pages, broken links, pages Google can't find or duplicate pages sit on a list for months because nobody explains them clearly enough for a developer to act.

  • Content without a plan

    Blog posts get written, but they target the wrong searches, compete with each other or never link to the pages that bring in customers.

  • Losing to competitors on Google Maps

    Local rivals show up in the map results for your main services while your Google Business Profile, reviews and local pages fall behind.

  • Missing from AI answers

    Customers ask ChatGPT or see Google's AI answers, and your business isn't mentioned, even for topics you know better than anyone.

Exactly what's included

What our SEO consulting services include

SEO consulting services give you expert advice on how to get found on Google (SEO means search engine optimization). Instead of handing all the work to an agency, you get an SEO consultant who audits your website, finds what is really holding it back, ranks every fix by impact and effort, and guides your team or developer while they make the changes. It suits businesses with a team but no SEO lead, businesses that want a second opinion on their agency, and anyone about to redesign or move their website. If you would rather have the work done for you, our SEO services team can take it on.

Eight areas of work take you from a full audit to a ranked fix list, a 90-day roadmap, clear briefs for the people doing the work and regular check-ins. Your proposal states which areas, how many hours or calls, and who carries out the changes.

Full SEO audit

We review how Google finds and reads your site, your page content, speed, mobile use, links, local listings and tracking, and write down what is working and what isn't.

Competitor and keyword review

We look at which searches bring customers in your market, who wins them today and why, and where you have a realistic chance to compete.

#1

Prioritized fix list

Every issue we find is ranked by expected impact and effort, so your team works on the fixes that matter most first instead of a long, flat list.

90-day SEO roadmap

A short written plan that puts the fixes, new pages and content in order, with owners and dates, and the measures we will use to judge progress.

Developer and writer briefs

Clear, step-by-step instructions your developer or writers can follow, with examples, so changes are made right the first time.

Monthly strategy calls and on-call advice

Regular calls to review progress, answer questions and adjust the plan, plus advice before big changes like a redesign, a new section or a website move.

Team training

Practical sessions that teach your marketing staff, writers or developers how to keep SEO right in their daily work, so you rely on us less over time.

Reporting and tracking setup

We set up Google Search Console and analytics correctly, decide what counts as a good lead and build a simple report that shows progress toward real customers.

How we consult

How we consult: plain-English SEO advice you can act on

Advice is only useful if your team can act on it. Every recommendation comes with the reason, the expected effect, the effort and a way to check it worked.

Every fix ranked by impact and effort

You always know what to do first and why. Small, high-impact fixes come before big projects with uncertain returns.

We explain the why, not just the what

Your team learns the reason behind each change, so they can make good SEO decisions on their own between our calls.

We check changes once they are live

After your team makes a fix, we check the live site to confirm it works as intended, and flag anything that needs another pass.

We follow search visitors through to customers

Rankings and visits only matter if they bring calls, forms and sales. We check pages, forms, call tracking and CRM records, not just Google.

No ranking guarantees

Google decides rankings, and anyone who promises a set position is guessing or using risky tactics. We explain what we expect and why, then report what happened.

You own everything

Your website, Google Search Console, analytics, content and reports stay in your name. Our audits and roadmaps are yours to keep.

Look inside the work

Our SEO consulting process: what we review, how we work and how to choose

Open each tab to see when consulting is the right choice, what our SEO audit covers, how we handle local and AI search, how pricing works and how to judge any SEO consultant.

Part 01 · Consulting or full SEO?

Is SEO consulting right for you?

SEO consulting works best when someone on your side can make the changes. If nobody can, full SEO management is usually the better choice.

If you want the work done for you, our SEO services team can run it. You can also start with a consulting audit and move to managed SEO later.

Team, no SEO lead good fitYou have a marketer, writer or developer but nobody who knows SEO well.
Second opinion good fitYou have an agency and want an outside view of their work and plan.
Redesign or move good fitYou are about to rebuild or move your site and don't want to lose traffic.
Sudden traffic drop good fitVisits fell and you need to know why before deciding what to do.
No one to make changes managedNobody can update the site or write content. Managed SEO fits better.
Need it all done managedYou want results without managing the work. Managed SEO fits better.
Part 02 · How Google finds and reads your site

Technical and on-page SEO review

We check whether Google can find, read and understand your pages, and whether each page clearly answers what searchers want.

Not every warning from an SEO tool matters. We only put issues on your fix list when they affect how Google or customers use your site.

Crawling and indexing accessWhether Google can reach and store your important pages.
Speed and mobile speedHow fast pages load and how they work on phones.
Site structure structureMenus, internal links and page addresses that help Google and visitors.
Titles and headings matchPage titles, descriptions and headings that match what people search.
Duplicate pages mergePages that compete with each other for the same search.
Schema labelHidden labels that tell Google your business type, products or FAQs.
Part 03 · What you publish and who points to it

Content, keywords and links

We look at which searches your pages target, how useful and trustworthy they are, and which other websites link to you.

We only recommend earned links: digital PR, outreach, useful content and fixing broken or unlinked mentions, within Google's spam policies. We never recommend paid or hidden link schemes.

Keyword map assignOne main page for each important search, with no overlap.
Content gaps gapsQuestions customers ask that your site doesn't answer yet.
Trust signals trustAuthor details, real experience, proof and clear sources on key pages.
Weak pages improveThin or outdated pages to improve, merge or remove.
Link profile reviewWhich sites link to you, and any risky links that need review.
Link chances earnReal ways to earn links from relevant sites in your field.
Part 04 · Maps and AI answers

Local SEO and AI search consulting

Local businesses need advice on Google Maps, reviews and local pages. More and more businesses also want to know how they appear in AI answers. We cover both.

No one can promise a top spot on Google Maps or a mention in ChatGPT or Google's AI answers. We improve what you control and record what those tools actually show.

Google Business Profile profileCategories, services, hours and details checked against Google's rules.
Reviews reviewsA fair way to ask real customers for reviews, with no rewards.
Local pages localLocation and service-area pages with real local details.
Listings matchYour business details made consistent across key directories.
AI answers recordWhat ChatGPT and Google's AI answers say about you, with dates and sources.
AI-ready pages clarifyClear answers, facts and sources that AI tools can understand.
Part 05 · From search visit to customer

After the click: turning search visitors into calls and customers

More visitors only help if they get in touch and get a fast reply. We check what happens after someone lands from Google.

This is where most SEO consultants stop looking. We don't, because it is often the quickest way to get more customers from the traffic you already have.

Next step actionEach key page has a clear way to call, book or ask for a quote.
Forms and calls testForms work, phone numbers can be tapped and calls are tracked.
Reply speed timeHow long a lead from search waits for an answer.
CRM records recordLeads from search tagged in your CRM (customer records system).
Good leads qualifyWhich searches and pages bring good-quality leads, not just visits.
Sales feedback learnWhat sales says about search leads, used to adjust the plan.
Part 06 · Formats and what drives cost

Ways to work with an SEO consultant, and how pricing works

Pick the format that matches your team and budget. Each one is priced on the work involved, and we explain it in your proposal.

We don't publish a fixed price, because sites differ so much. Your scoped proposal gives a clear fee and states what is and isn't included.

One-off audit and roadmap projectA fixed project: full audit, fix list and 90-day plan your team runs.
Monthly consulting monthlyRegular calls, briefs, reviews of live changes and plan updates.
Hourly advice hourlyTime as you need it, for questions or before big decisions.
Consulting plus delivery hybridWe advise and our team also makes some or all of the changes.
What changes cost driversSite size, technical state, competition, hours needed and delivery work.
Kept separate separatePaid tools, development and content production unless listed in scope.
Part 07 · Before you sign

How to choose an SEO consultant, and the red flags

Good SEO consultants ask about your business first, explain their reasoning and want access to your real data. These checks help you test that.

Be careful of anyone who guarantees page-one rankings, uses secret methods, sells link packages or keeps your accounts in their own name.

Asks about your goals listenThey want to know your customers and services before giving advice.
Shows their reasoning clarityEvery recommendation comes with a clear reason you can follow.
Uses your real data evidenceThey ask for Search Console and analytics access, not just a quick scan.
Clear deliverables scopeYou know exactly what you receive and when.
Ranking guarantees red flagNobody controls Google. A guarantee is a warning sign.
Paid link schemes red flagBuying links breaks Google's rules and can harm your site.
What changes

What changes after your first SEO consulting cycle

Before

Most sites we review have plenty of SEO activity but no clear priorities, no trusted measures and fixes that never get finished.

  • Long, flat issue listsTool reports with hundreds of warnings and no sense of which ones matter, so nothing important gets fixed.
  • Unclear measuresRankings and traffic are reported, but nobody knows which searches and pages bring real leads.
  • No one steeringYour team, developer and agency each work on their own ideas, with no shared plan or order.
Changes

We deliver the audit, the ranked fix list and the roadmap, then guide your team through the first round of changes.

  • Ranked fix listIssues sorted by impact and effort, with clear briefs your developer and writers can follow.
  • Tracking that worksSearch Console, analytics and lead tracking set up so progress can be measured.
  • First fixes liveThe highest-impact changes made by your team and checked by us on the live site.
After

By the end of the first cycle your team knows what to do next, why it matters and how to tell if it worked.

  • Progress you can seeFixes done, pages improved and changes in Google results shown side by side with leads from search.
  • A more confident teamYour staff understand the reasons behind the work and handle routine SEO decisions themselves.
  • Next roadmap readyA new 90-day plan based on what moved, including whether to keep consulting or switch to managed SEO.
Your type of business

SEO consulting for your type of business

A law firm, a clinic, an online store and a software company each win search traffic in different ways. We start with what usually matters in your market, then check it against your real data.

Law firms

Law firms and lawyers

Practice-area pages, local search and trust signals matter most. Content must follow lawyer advertising rules, such as the ABA Model Rules 7.1 to 7.3 and your state bar's rules.

FocusPractice-area pages, local search, author pages, compliant claims
MeasureConsultation requests by practice area
Healthcare

Clinics and healthcare practices

Medical content needs real expertise and accuracy, and HIPAA (the US patient privacy law) limits tracking. We work with your compliance team.

FocusDoctor and service pages, medical review, local search, privacy-safe tracking
MeasureAppointment requests from search
Dentists

Dental practices

Treatment pages, local search and reviews drive most new patients. Each dentist and location needs clear, non-duplicate pages.

FocusTreatment pages, Google Business Profile, reviews, booking checks
MeasureNew patient bookings from search
Home services

Home and on-site services

Most customers search locally and call right away, so map results, service pages and call tracking matter most.

FocusService-area pages, Google Business Profile, call tracking, reviews
MeasureCalls and booked jobs from search
HVAC & plumbing

HVAC and plumbing companies

Emergency and seasonal searches spike fast. Pages for each service and area need to be ready before the busy season.

FocusService pages, seasonal content, local search, emergency call paths
MeasureService calls from search by season
Roofing

Roofing contractors

Competitive local searches and high-value jobs. Strong project proof and local pages help stand out.

FocusLocal pages, project galleries, reviews, lead tracking
MeasureInspection requests from search
Real estate

Real estate agents and brokerages

Big portals dominate many searches, so neighborhood and niche content is where smaller firms can compete.

FocusNeighborhood pages, agent pages, local search, lead routing
MeasureBuyer and seller inquiries from search
Insurance

Insurance agencies

Local and product searches compete with national carriers. Claims follow state rules and carrier approval, and we work with your compliance team.

FocusProduct and location pages, local search, approved claims, quote tracking
MeasureQuote requests from search
B2B

B2B and professional services

Few searches but high-value buyers. Content must answer the questions decision makers ask at each stage.

FocusProblem and solution pages, case content, technical SEO, CRM tracking
MeasureSales meetings from search
Ecommerce

Online stores

Category and product pages, site structure and duplicate pages decide how much of the catalog Google shows.

FocusCategory structure, product pages, schema, crawl checks
MeasureRevenue from search, where tracking allows
SaaS

Software and SaaS companies

Comparison, feature and how-to searches bring buyers at different stages. Docs and help pages need to work with the marketing site.

FocusFeature and comparison pages, content plan, technical SEO, sign-up tracking
MeasureTrials and demos from search
Small business

Small and local businesses

Limited time and budget mean a short fix list and a few strong pages beat a big content plan.

FocusQuick technical fixes, key service pages, Google Business Profile, simple tracking
MeasureCalls and inquiries from search
Clear ownership

Who does what: your team, your developer and your SEO consultant

Your proposal lists what we deliver, what your team or developer carries out, and the decisions that stay with you.

We advise

Your SEO consultant.

  • Run the SEO audit and competitor and keyword review
  • Write the ranked fix list and 90-day roadmap
  • Write clear briefs for your developer and writers
  • Check fixes once they are live
  • Run monthly calls, training and plan updates
  • Report progress in plain English
Your team carries out

Or our team, if you choose.

  • Your developer makes technical and template changes
  • Your writers create and update content from our briefs
  • Your marketer updates titles, pages and Google Business Profile
  • Your sales team shares feedback on leads from search
  • Our SEO team can take on any of this work if you choose
  • We work with your agency if you already have one
You decide

Your business stays in charge.

  • Give access to your website, Search Console and analytics
  • Share your services, customers and business goals
  • Approve the roadmap and the order of work
  • Approve claims and content before it goes live
  • Make time for calls and quick decisions
  • Keep ownership of every account, file and report
What to expect

Your first 12 weeks of SEO consulting

The audit usually takes two to three weeks once we have access to your website, Google Search Console and analytics. The roadmap follows in week four. Fixes then go live as fast as your team or developer can make them. Google decides when it re-reads your pages and how it ranks them, so we can't promise ranking dates.

SEO consulting, first 12 weeks

Weeks 1–2

Access and audit

Once we have access to your website, Google Search Console and analytics, we start the full audit and the competitor and keyword review.

KPI Access confirmed
Weeks 2–4

Findings and roadmap

We present the audit in a working session, then deliver the ranked fix list and 90-day roadmap with owners and dates.

KPI Roadmap approved
Weeks 4–6

Briefs and first fixes

Your developer and writers get clear briefs and start the highest-impact fixes. We answer questions as they work.

KPI First fixes started
Weeks 6–8

Live checks and training

We check the first fixes on the live site and run training for your team on keeping SEO right day to day.

KPI Fixes checked
Weeks 8–10

First progress review

We compare Google results, visits and leads from search with your starting point, and note what Google hasn't processed yet.

KPI Progress reviewed
Weeks 10–12

Next roadmap

We update the plan from what moved and agree the next 90 days, including whether to keep consulting or move to managed SEO.

KPI Next plan ready

Our full growth plan (all services together), month by month

Month 1

Foundation and review

We review your whole website, where you rank and your competitors, agree how the site should be organized, and set up hosting, analytics (visitor tracking) and your GoHighLevel lead system. The first agreed pages start going live.

KPI pages live
Month 2

Build and launch

The site is built or rebuilt. Main, service and industry pages go live with on-page SEO, website labels and technical fixes. Your Google Business Profile is improved and lead follow-up automations are switched on.

KPI pages in Google
Month 3

Early rankings, paid ads start

More pages built from templates (programmatic pages) start going live, paid ads and email follow-ups are switched on for early leads, and Google adds your pages to its results as the first rankings usually appear.

KPI search terms ranking
Month 4

Momentum builds

Rankings often start climbing, visits from free search begin to rise, ad spending is tuned to the return it brings (ROAS, return on ad spend), and groups of related articles and links from other sites build your reputation with Google.

KPI visits from search
Month 5

Results start to show

Main search terms can move closer to page one, the first leads from free search often arrive, AI tools may begin to mention you, and testing improvements to your pages (CRO, conversion rate optimization) helps more visitors get in touch.

KPI leads from search
Month 6

Growth builds on itself

Pages that are working are protected and improved, template pages bring in visitors searching for very specific terms, and SEO, ads, email and automation work together to bring steadier leads and sales. Timing varies by market and competition, and no ranking is guaranteed.

KPI leads and sales
How we compare

SEO consultant vs a typical SEO agency or freelancer

An agency is usually paid to deliver a fixed package each month. A freelancer usually covers one skill. An SEO consultant is paid to find what matters most, explain it and check that it gets done right.

The risk of using a different agency for everything
  • Sells a fixed monthly package whatever your site needs
  • Hands over a long tool report with no priorities
  • Gives instructions developers can't follow
  • Reports rankings and traffic, not leads
  • Ignores what happens after the click
  • Guarantees rankings or page-one positions
  • Sells link packages or uses hidden link schemes
  • Keeps accounts and reports in the agency's name
  • No way to build or control pages at scale
  • Hands you a fix list and reports rankings, never revenue
vs
Softscotch
  • Scopes the work to what your site actually needs
  • Ranks every fix by impact and effort
  • Writes clear briefs and answers your team's questions
  • Reports fixes done, Google changes and leads from search
  • Checks forms, calls, reply speed and CRM tracking
  • Explains what we expect, without guarantees
  • Recommends earned links only, within Google's rules
  • Keeps every account and report in your name
  • Category and use-case pages built programmatically, with thin-content guards
  • Every change shipped into your CMS and measured on clicks and revenue
The numbers

Results from Softscotch client work.

These totals come from work for Softscotch clients across search, paid ads, websites and lead generation, as published on softscotch.com. Past results don't guarantee future results.

$12M+Ad spend managed for clients
87,200+Leads generated for clients
2,140+Search terms ranked on Google's first page
$28M+Revenue generated for clients
Client case studies

All six Softscotch client stories.

Every Quick Story currently published on Softscotch.com, covering education, ecommerce, healthcare and SaaS. Stock photography represents each client industry; the figures are reported historical results and do not guarantee future performance.

Education consultant speaking with a prospective student Education Ads + local SEO
+183%leads

183% more leads for an education consultancy

WordPressQuora adsLocal SEO
The challenge

An education consulting business in India needed to build its digital presence and lead flow from scratch.

What changed
  • Built a new WordPress website
  • Used Quora ads to grow daily lead volume
  • Added Local SEO and community engagement
+183% leads25+ leads/day-38% bounce rate+273% new users
Bright modern home interior representing the home-solutions client Home solutions Shopify + SEO
+82%Shopify sales

Home-solutions ecommerce growth

ShopifyOrganic searchAmazon ads
The challenge

A home-solutions business was dependent on business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces, losing sales and recovering from a Google penalty.

What changed
  • Resolved the Google penalty
  • Revamped the website and online store
  • Improved organic visibility and Amazon campaign performance
+82% Shopify sales+147% organic+23% Amazon ROAS
Mother and baby representing the lactation-consultant client Health consultant $20/day
5/daybooked calls

Five booked calls a day for a health consultant

Facebook adsGoogle AdsLocal SEO
The challenge

A Houston lactation consultant needed to recover a malware-damaged website and rebuild local patient acquisition.

What changed
  • Rebuilt the hacked site and migrated it to secure hosting
  • Ran targeted Facebook and Google campaigns
  • Reached top-three local Google positions
5 calls/day$20 daily spend+87% local traffic+34% new users
Ecommerce owner preparing customer orders beside a laptop Ecommerce 10 months
+315%organic traffic

315% organic growth for an ecommerce site

Content strategyOn-page SEO
The result

Softscotch reports a 315% increase in ecommerce organic traffic over 10 months through focused on-page SEO.

What changed
  • Optimized product and collection pages
  • Improved the links between pages and the page addresses (URLs)
  • Made the site easier for Google to explore and better matched to what people search for
+315% organic10 monthsProductsCollections
SaaS team reviewing campaign data around a laptop SaaS platform Cold outreach
16%reply rate

9% close rate for a transcription SaaS

ProspectingSMTP
The challenge

A transcription platform needed a qualified prospect list and a reliable email-sending setup for outreach we managed.

What changed
  • Built a comprehensive prospecting list
  • Managed the cold outreach campaigns
  • Set up reliable email-sending servers (SMTP)
9% close rate16% reply rateSaaSManaged outreach
Healthcare professional consulting with a patient Healthcare 6 months
+182%organic traffic

182% organic growth for a healthcare clinic

HealthcareOn-page SEOOff-page SEO
The challenge

A clinic in a competitive location needed to build organic search visibility from the ground up.

What changed
  • Built the clinic's foundation for unpaid (organic) Google search
  • Combined on-page and off-page SEO
  • Reached top-five positions in Google Search
+182% organic6 monthsTop 5 Google
01 / 06
In their words

Teams that stopped leaving clicks on the table.

★★★★★

"The Softscotch team has been a solid partner as our business evolved over the last five years. Unlike most agencies, they have never charged us for work that falls outside the agreement. That is what sets them apart."

IM
Imtiyaz MominHairareus
★★★★★

"Without their knowledge, we would be in a very different place than we are now. Whenever they find something that can be improved, they implement it quickly. I could not be happier with their performance and response time."

AP
Aaron PaulsonBaby Pavilion
★★★★★

"Softscotch goes above and beyond the scope. The time, effort and dedication they put in is like having your own in-house marketing team. They are not just another marketing company."

TM
Tabassum MithaniTRS Care
★★★★★

"We are extremely happy with Softscotch, such an attentive team. No project is too small, and they give their 100%. We are extremely satisfied with their work."

SH
Safiya HafiziSimply Lactation
★★★★★

"Softscotch is a great team to work with: transparent, reliable and genuinely invested in the growth of your company. They are good partners to have by your side."

MJ
Malvika JainCyclop
★★★★★

"The Softscotch team has been a solid partner as our business evolved over the last five years. Unlike most agencies, they have never charged us for work that falls outside the agreement. That is what sets them apart."

IM
Imtiyaz MominHairareus
★★★★★

"Without their knowledge, we would be in a very different place than we are now. Whenever they find something that can be improved, they implement it quickly. I could not be happier with their performance and response time."

AP
Aaron PaulsonBaby Pavilion
★★★★★

"Softscotch goes above and beyond the scope. The time, effort and dedication they put in is like having your own in-house marketing team. They are not just another marketing company."

TM
Tabassum MithaniTRS Care
★★★★★

"We are extremely happy with Softscotch, such an attentive team. No project is too small, and they give their 100%. We are extremely satisfied with their work."

SH
Safiya HafiziSimply Lactation
No black box

You'll always know exactly what we changed.

Plenty of agencies go quiet after the audit and you never quite know what you're paying for. We do the opposite. You get a live view of every change and what it moved, in plain language you can act on.

Your delivery, at a glanceSample
Changes shipped12
Pages reviewed28
StartMidpointNow
Delivery activity✓ Up to date
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Live client dashboard

Every change, score and ranking in one place you can open any time, not a monthly PDF you wait around for.

This week, explainedSample
✓Titles updated
Ready for your review
SSSoftscotch weekly update
0:00
2:00
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Weekly video summary

A short screen-recorded video (Loom) each week walking you through exactly what shipped and what it moved, so nothing is a mystery.

The change is clearSample

Before

Titles30 / 100
Structure42 / 100
Content28 / 100

After

Titles84 / 100
Structure79 / 100
Content90 / 100
Same page. Reviewed changes.
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Before/after score per page

See the exact lift on every page we touch, not a vague "it's improving" you have to take on faith.

Your weekly reportSample
01
What shipped

Approved page updates are live.

02
What we learned

Product details need a review.

03
What happens next

Confirm the next priority pages.

HTML mockupExplore mockup ↗

Plain-English reporting

Clicks, rankings and revenue, explained in words you can act on, instead of a wall of charts about how often you were seen (impression charts.

Your data. Your view.Sample
Organic search
StartMidpointNow
Sample report preview↗
HTML mockupExplore mockup ↗

Reports on demand

Ask for any cut of the data whenever you need it and get it, no waiting for the end of the month.

Every step, visibleSample
  1. ✓
    Proposed

    Softscotch prepares the change.

  2. ✓
    Approved

    Your team gives the go-ahead.

  3. ✓
    Published

    Checked live and recorded.

HTML mockupExplore mockup ↗

Ethical, transparent, always on

One accountable team, strictly white-hat (only methods search engines and platforms allow), no shortcuts and no surprises. Support whenever you need it.

One plan, full-stack access

One Softscotch plan gives you access to the full service stack, coordinated around your priorities.

You do not need a separate agency or retainer for every channel. Your plan can draw from search, paid media, web, ecommerce, outreach, automation, lead generation, messaging, content, creative and operations. The agreed scope sets what is active, in what order and at what capacity.

Questions, answered

SEO consulting services FAQs

Straight answers on what an SEO consultant does, what you receive, cost, timing, local and AI search, red flags and who owns the work.

Filter
What does an SEO consultant do?

An SEO consultant reviews your website, finds what is holding it back in Google, ranks the fixes by impact and effort, and guides your team or developer while they make the changes. Unlike a typical agency, the main product is expert advice and a plan, not a fixed monthly package of tasks.

What exactly will I receive from your SEO consulting services?

Usually a full SEO audit, a competitor and keyword review, a ranked fix list, a 90-day roadmap, clear briefs for your developer and writers, monthly strategy calls, team training and a simple progress report. Your proposal lists exactly which of these are included.

SEO consultant, SEO agency or in-house SEO: which do I need?

A consultant suits you if you have people who can make changes but need expert direction. An agency suits you if you want the work done for you. An in-house SEO hire makes sense once SEO is big enough to need someone full time. Many businesses start with a consultant to set the plan, then decide.

Can you just advise, and my developer or team do the work?

Yes, that is the most common setup. We write clear briefs, answer questions and check the changes once they are live. If your team gets stuck or runs out of time, our SEO team can take on some or all of the work.

Do you offer a one-off SEO audit, or only monthly consulting?

Both. A one-off audit with a roadmap suits teams that can run the plan themselves. Monthly consulting suits teams that want ongoing guidance, live checks and plan updates. Hourly advice is also available for specific questions or before a big change.

How much do SEO consulting services cost?

It depends on your website's size and state, your competition, the format you choose, the hours you need and whether our team also does any work. We don't publish a fixed price. Your scoped proposal gives a clear fee and lists what is and isn't included. Our SEO pricing guide explains the common pricing models across the market.

How long does it take to see SEO results?

Quick technical fixes can show an effect within weeks once Google re-reads the pages. Bigger gains from new content and earned links usually take several months. Timing depends on your site, your competition and how quickly fixes go live, and nobody can promise dates.

Is hiring an SEO consultant worth it?

It often is when you have people who can make changes but nobody who knows what to change first, or when you want an honest view of an agency's work. It is less useful if nobody can act on the advice. In that case managed SEO is usually a better fit, and we will tell you so.

Can you help as a local SEO consultant for Google Maps?

Yes. We review your Google Business Profile, reviews, local pages and directory listings, and give your team a clear plan. Our local SEO services team can also do the work. No one can promise a top spot on Google Maps, because distance from the searcher plays a big part.

Can an SEO consultant help with AI search like ChatGPT and Google's AI answers?

Yes. We record how AI tools describe your business, check whether your pages give clear, well-sourced answers and recommend changes that help AI tools understand what you do. These tools change often and decide for themselves what to show, so we can't promise a mention.

What are the red flags when hiring an SEO consultant?

Guaranteed rankings or page-one positions, secret methods they won't explain, paid link packages, no access to your own data and accounts held in their name. A good consultant explains their reasoning, uses your real data and leaves you owning everything.

Will I own all the work and accounts?

Yes. Your website, Google Search Console, analytics, Google Business Profile, content, audits and reports stay in your name. If we stop working together, you keep everything.

How do you report progress if you're not doing the work?

We track every roadmap item, who owns it and whether we have checked it live. Then we show what changed in Google results, visits and leads from search, and what to do next. That way you can see both whether the work got done and whether it is helping.

Do you work with agencies that need an SEO consultant behind them?

Yes. Agencies can bring us in for audits and advice on their clients' sites, or use our white label SEO service, where we deliver the work under the agency's brand.