Businesses unsure whether to get SEO from the generalist agency they already use for other things, or from one specialized purely in rankings.
At an agency that offers everything, SEO is usually just one of several services, sometimes handled by the same person managing social media or ads, with no dedicated focus. It's not that they're bad at it by definition: it's rarely that agency's real priority, and SEO needs constant attention to actually deliver results.
Written and verified by Cristian Romero, founder of SeoClaro — 10+ years of SEO experience.
What's included
Depth versus breadth
A generalist agency spreads its focus across several services; a specialized one dedicates all its expertise to SEO.
Who's actually handling your SEO
At generalist agencies, SEO is sometimes handled by the same person managing social media, with no real specialization.
The convenience of one provider
Working with a single agency for everything has coordination advantages, though not always results advantages.
When it makes sense to combine both
You can keep your generalist agency for other services and hire specialized SEO in parallel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my generalist agency is handling my SEO well?
Ask exactly who manages it and how many hours a week they dedicate to it. If it's the same person running your social media with no dedicated time, that's a sign it isn't their priority.
Do I have to leave my current agency to hire specialized SEO?
Not necessarily: you can keep your generalist agency for other services (social media, design) and hire SEO separately with a specialist in parallel.
Is a specialized agency always more expensive?
Not always, but when it is, it usually reflects that all its expertise and time goes into that one discipline, instead of being spread across several services.
What's the key question to ask any agency about SEO?
What percentage of their revenue or team is dedicated exclusively to SEO, and who specifically would handle your account.
How we work
Assessing your current results
We see whether your current SEO is delivering the results you expected.
Comparing depth of expertise
We assess how specialized your current provider actually is.
Deciding whether to keep one or combine both
We help you decide without having to break existing relationships.
Tracking results after the change
We measure whether the change actually improves results.
It's not that generalist agencies are inherently bad at SEO, it's that it's rarely their real priority. If SEO matters for your business, it's worth having it be someone's actual priority.
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