BeSpottd vs Hiring an SEO Agency
Agencies can transform your online presence. But for many small businesses, a £49 action plan is all you need to get started.
How the agency model works
A typical SEO agency charges between £500 and £2,000 per month for a small business client. Most require a minimum 3–6 month commitment, bringing your minimum spend to £1,500–£12,000 before you can even assess results.
For that money, you usually get a mix of keyword research, on-page optimisation, content creation, link building, and monthly reporting. Good agencies deliver real results — but it takes time, and the cost adds up quickly.
The challenge for many small businesses is that they don't need ongoing SEO management. They need to fix the basics first: a missing meta description, an incomplete Google Business Profile, inconsistent business details across directories, slow page speed, and so on.
Cost comparison
Typical SEO agency
BeSpottd
Agency pricing based on publicly available UK market data. Costs vary significantly by agency, location, and scope of work.
Feature comparison
| SEO agency | BeSpottd | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial audit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Step-by-step fix instructions | Sometimes | Always |
| Fixes done for you | ✓ | ✗ |
| Content creation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Link building | ✓ | ✗ |
| NAP consistency check | Usually | ✓ |
| Social media audit | Sometimes | ✓ |
| Ongoing monitoring | ✓ | BeSpottd Pro (£99/mo) |
| Competitor comparison | Sometimes | Up to 2 competitors |
| On-demand rescans | Varies | 4/month (Pro) |
| Score drop alerts | Sometimes | ✓ (Pro) |
| Results timeline | 3–6 months | Immediate (DIY fixes) |
| Control over your site | Shared with agency | 100% yours |
| Understand what was done | Monthly report | Every fix explained |
When an agency makes sense
We're not here to say agencies are bad. They're not. You should consider hiring one if:
- You have the budget for a £500+/month ongoing commitment
- You want someone to do the work for you, not just tell you what to do
- You need content creation, link building, or advanced technical SEO
- You're in a competitive market and need ongoing strategy
- You've already fixed the basics and need to go further
When BeSpottd is the smarter first step
For many small businesses, the basics aren't in place yet. Before spending £500/month on an agency, it makes sense to:
Think of BeSpottd as the diagnostic before the treatment. Even if you do hire an agency later, you'll be a more informed client — and you'll know exactly what you're paying them to do.
The smart path
Scan with BeSpottd
Get your full audit for £49. Understand exactly what needs fixing.
Fix the basics
Follow the step-by-step instructions. Most fixes take 10–15 minutes.
Then decide
Score improved? Great. Need more? Hire an agency as an informed client.