An SEO Agency is a marketing agency staffed with experts trained in various tactics to help a website rank higher in search engines. An SEO agency should be able to perform content optimization, technical SEO optimization, and link building at the most basic.

Some SEO agencies specialize only in Local SEO and others specialize only in specific industries such as Automotive or Lawyers.

One thing to be wary of is web design companies, computer repair businesses, and PR agencies claiming to be SEO agencies. While some parts of SEO are well-known today and these companies might be able to perform those tactics, many more are rather esoteric and unlikely that these types of business would be able to perform them at a high level.

Another thing to be aware of is that some SEO agencies, both large and small, perform outdated tactics that no longer have positive results and still others perform SEO tactics that are known to have negative impacts. Due to the nature of SEO it is difficult to ascertain the credentials and credibility of an SEO agency you’re considering hiring. If you’re concerned look for an agency located in or near your market area with a physical office you can visit before hiring them and for ongoing meetings.