In-house marketing teams without an SEO specialist
A team that owns the website but has no one trained in search needs direction. You get a ranked list of fixes and content priorities your team can work through itself.
SEO consulting
For in-house teams and small business owners who need a prioritized SEO plan before spending on changes. You get a ranked list of fixes, not a retainer by default.
- Technical SEO audit with a ranked issue list
- Content, keyword and competitor review
- Monthly reporting and an agreed scope before work begins
Quick answer
SEO consulting is a paid advisory service in which a specialist reviews how your website performs in search and ranks what to fix first. Pugmarks Media delivers it through a discovery call, a site audit, and an agreed work plan. Your team or another provider usually carries out the fixes.
01Overview
What is SEO consulting?
SEO consulting is a paid advisory service in which a specialist studies how your website appears in search results and tells you which fixes matter most. The output is a plan, not ongoing execution. You decide who carries it out.
Here is a concrete example. A regional furniture retailer sees its category pages slip in search. A consultant checks the site and finds that product filters create hundreds of near-duplicate URLs, and that two category pages compete for the same search term. The consultant then ranks the fixes: consolidate the competing pages first, then control the filter URLs, then rewrite thin descriptions.
A good consultation covers three areas. Technical health asks whether search engines can crawl and index your pages. Content asks whether your pages match what customers actually search for. Competitor review asks what similar sites do differently.
At Pugmarks Media, every engagement starts with a discovery call and a site audit. We then agree a strategy and work plan with you before any changes go live. How long each step takes depends on the size of your site and how quickly we get access to your accounts.
SEO consulting suits owners and teams who want direction before they commit budget. If you later want help with the work itself, our broader SEO services cover execution.
02Fit
Who SEO consulting is for
Small business owners planning their first SEO spend
An owner who has been quoted several retainers often wants a second opinion first. Consulting shows which fixes matter, so you can decide what to buy and what to skip.
Sites whose search traffic has dropped
After a redesign, migration or a slide in visits, the cause is often unclear. The audit looks for crawl, indexing and page-overlap problems and ranks them by likely impact.
Developers who need an ordered fix list
Developers asked to "do SEO" need specific tickets. You get technical issues described clearly and sorted by priority, so engineering time goes to the right work.
Ecommerce stores with large catalogs
Filters, duplicate product URLs and thin category pages are common on big catalogs. Store owners get a plan for which templates and pages to fix first.
Businesses reviewing their current SEO provider
If reports are hard to read or results are unclear, an independent review helps. You get a plain assessment of past work and a scope you can take to any provider.
03Scope
What's included
- Technical SEO auditChecks crawlability, indexing, site speed, mobile usability and structure, then ranks issues by likely impact. Built for teams that need to know what to fix first.
- Content and on-page reviewCompares existing pages against search intent, titles, headings and gaps. Helps marketing teams decide which pages to rewrite, merge or create.
- Keyword researchMaps your pages to the searches your customers use and shows where pages overlap. Useful for owners choosing what to target before spending on content.
- Competitor analysisExamines how competing sites cover your target terms. Shows in-house teams and small businesses where rivals are strong and where openings exist.
- Backlink profile reviewAssesses link quality, risks and opportunities. Helps you judge whether to clean up, build links, or leave the profile alone.
- Prioritized action planDelivers a ranked list of fixes agreed with you before any changes go live. Your team or another provider can carry it out.
04Process
How our SEO consulting works
6 steps. You always know what's next.
The same path for every engagement.
1About 1 hour, then 1-3 days for access (estimate)
Hold the discovery call
We confirm your goals, markets, constraints and who owns the site. You share business priorities and key contacts. You receive a written summary of scope and a list of access we need.
21-2 weeks (estimate)
Audit the site technically
We check crawlability, indexing, site speed, mobile usability and structure. You provide access to your analytics, search console and CMS. You receive a ranked list of technical issues by likely impact.
31-2 weeks (estimate)
Review content and keywords
We compare existing pages with search intent, titles, headings and gaps, and map pages to customer searches. You confirm products and priority markets. You receive page-level notes: rewrite, merge or create.
4About 1 week (estimate)
Analyze competitors and backlinks
We study how competing sites cover your target searches and assess the quality, risks and opportunities in your link profile. You name the competitors you watch. You receive a gap summary.
52-4 days (estimate)
Agree strategy and work plan
We turn findings into a prioritized action plan and walk through it with you. You decide what to fix, what to skip and who does it. Nothing goes live before you approve the plan.
6Handover in 1 week, then monthly (estimate)
Hand over and review monthly
We deliver the roadmap and answer your team's questions. If you want us to carry out the first fixes, they follow the agreed plan. You receive monthly reporting while we work together.
05Deliverables
What you get
| Deliverable | What it is | Cadence | Starts in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery summary | Written scope, goals, markets and a list of access needed | One-time | Week 1 |
| Technical SEO audit | Crawlability, indexing, speed, mobile and structure checks | One-time | Weeks 1-2 |
| Ranked issue list | Technical fixes ordered by likely impact | One-time | End of audit |
| Content and on-page review | Existing pages compared with search intent, titles, headings and gaps | One-time | Weeks 2-4 |
| Keyword mapping | Pages matched to customer searches, with overlaps flagged | One-time | Weeks 2-4 |
| Competitor analysis | Review of how competing sites cover your key topics | One-time | Weeks 2-4 |
| Strategy and work plan | Agreed priorities and sequence before any changes go live | One-time | After the audit and reviews |
| Performance report | Progress against the agreed plan | Monthly | After the work plan is agreed |
| Strategy review call | Walkthrough of findings and next steps with your team | Quarterly | After the first report |
06Compare
SEO consulting: in-house team, agency or Pugmarks Media
Swipe to compare →
| Criteria | In-house | Typical agency | Pugmarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Depends on hiring and training | Depends on sales and onboarding process | Starts with a discovery call and site audit |
| Specialisation | Usually one or two generalists | Varies by agency size and focus | 25+ SEO specialists |
| Reporting | Set by your own team | Varies by contract | Monthly |
| Cost model | Salaries and tools | Often a monthly retainer | Scoped to site size, locations and competition |
| Risk | Skill gaps or key-person dependency | Scope may extend past what you need | Plan agreed with you before changes go live |
| Flexibility | High control, limited capacity | Often fixed by contract terms | Advice only, or ongoing work if you choose |
07Cost
What does SEO consulting cost?
The cost of SEO consulting depends on three things: the size of your site, the number of locations or markets you cover, and how competitive your search market is. A 30-page local site takes less review than a large catalog with many filters and several regions. We scope each engagement after a short discovery call, so you see what is covered before you commit. For details, see our pricing page or contact us for a quote.
Package prices are published so you can compare before you call.
See all packages11Years in business
08Proof
Results for clients like you
Only results our clients have approved for publication. No made-up logos or numbers.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. We reply with honest next steps, even if that means we're not the right fit.
Ask our teamWhat does an SEO consultant do?
An SEO consultant reviews how your website performs in search and tells you which fixes to make first. The work typically covers a technical audit, content and keyword review, and competitor analysis. The output is a written plan, and your team or another provider can carry it out.
How is SEO consulting different from hiring an SEO agency?
SEO consulting gives you advice and a prioritized plan, while a typical agency retainer includes ongoing execution. Consulting suits teams that can make changes themselves or want a second opinion before committing to a retainer. You can add hands-on help later if you want it.
How much does SEO consulting cost?
The cost depends on the size of your site, the number of locations or markets, and how competitive your search area is. A small local site needs less review than a large catalog with many regions. We scope each engagement after a discovery call. See our pricing page or contact us to talk it through.
How long does an SEO consulting engagement take?
Most engagements run about one month from discovery call to final plan, though this is an estimate. The audit and content review each take roughly one to two weeks. Timing depends on your site's size and how quickly we receive access to your analytics, search console and CMS.
What happens after the discovery call?
After the discovery call, we send a written summary of scope and a list of the access we need. We then audit the site and agree a strategy and work plan with you. No changes go live on your site until you have agreed that plan.
Who needs SEO consulting?
SEO consulting suits in-house marketing teams without a search specialist, small business owners planning a first SEO spend, and sites whose traffic has dropped after a redesign or migration. If you only want advice on what to fix first, consulting is usually a better fit than a full retainer.
Will SEO consulting guarantee higher rankings?
No. No honest consultant can guarantee rankings, traffic or leads, because search engines control results and competitors keep changing. Consulting can show which fixes are most likely to help and in what order. Outcomes depend on how well the plan is carried out and on your market.
Do you report on progress during consulting?
Yes. We provide monthly reporting, and the scope is agreed with you before work begins. Reports cover what was done and what comes next against the agreed plan. Our case studies show how we present work, and you can read client reviews too.
09Keep reading
Related services and guides
Related pages cover Magento SEO and Shopify SEO for online stores, Enterprise SEO for large sites, link building services, and pricing.
Services
Proof
- Case studies
- Client reviews
- Pricing
Free resource
The SEO checklist
The checks we run first on every site, as a one-page list.
Get the checklistGet in touch
Get a ranked SEO plan before you spend
Book a discovery call to confirm your goals and site scope. We then send a written summary and the access we need. The call itself typically takes about an hour.
