How to Start an SEO Agency (and Actually Get Clients)
TL;DR: If you're a solo operator looking to start an SEO agency in 2025, here's your no-BS guide. From getting your first client to leveraging and building GPTs like my Video SEO Ranker, to help your clients rank page one of Youtube in addition to Google and more. I’ve personally landed 15 active clients, scaled past revenue goals, and built my own systems. No shortcuts—just real results.
Ready to start an SEO business and sell seo services like the seo professionals? Let’s dive in!
Why Start an SEO Agency in 2025?
The global SEO market is projected to reach $143.9 billion by 2030. There is so much opportunity in this space.
Low overhead — Laptop, Wi-Fi, and you.
High demand — Local businesses, YouTube creators, SaaS startups—everyone needs SEO.
Recurring revenue — SEO is a long game. Monthly retainers = stability.
Build authority through action, not theory.
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Learn SEO by Doing It
The fastest way to become good at SEO is by doing it.
Forget the fluff—start a website and try to rank it. Start a Youtube page and try ranking a YouTube video. Help your friend’s local plumbing business show up on Google.
Real-world results > certifications.
Real experience is irreplaceable.
What you DO need:
Hands-on experience (start with your own site)
Basic technical SEO (site structure, indexing, crawlability)
Content strategy (keyword research, topic clustering, internal linking)
Off-page SEO (backlinks, citations, press)
Want to go deeper?
I did this myself by launching ShaunSavvy.com, where I built and ranked my own content before ever offering SEO services to clients.
Start with tools like:
Step 2: Get a Niche or a Clear Angle
Niching down helps you stand out. You don’t have to commit forever, but you need to have a focus when you start. Avoid offering SEO services to anyone and everyone.
Ask yourself:
Who do I already understand?
What industries are underserved in SEO?
Who has money and motivation to grow?
For example, I specialize in wedding venues and farms, and my clients come to me because I don’t just “do SEO”, I get them booked solid with real leads from Google, Meta, and Youtube. Then, after I proved my value, I offer SEO services to compliment my other services.
Step 3: Don’t Overcomplicate Your Offer
When starting, your offer should be simple: “I help [target] get more leads through Google.”
You don’t need a massive suite of services. Focus on one thing and crush it. For me, that was driving Meta leads and then eventually it was getting local businesses to rank on page 1 for their keywords.
Once I proved that, referrals followed.
Here’s what I typically offer now:
Google Business Profile Optimization
Blog Writing
SEO Strategy
Meta & Google Ads
Youtube SEO
Step 4: Land Your First Client (without Ads or Cold Emails)
Here are three fast ways to get your first client:
Use your network. Ask people you know if they need help with their website or if they’re trying to get more traffic.
Leverage Facebook groups or Reddit. Join niche groups where business owners hang out and offer value first.
Rank your own site. This is how I get inbound leads today—people find my site through search and reach out to work with me.
I also analyzed two posts from this Reddit thread that share how solo founders got started. Most of them either ranked a personal site or helped a local business first, then expanded via referrals or results.
What worked for me:
I helped a farm sell $75K in CSA farm shares two straight years with < $750 meta ad spend. They were then happy to provide a case study for me.
I asked for referrals and built systems for wedding venues and pay commission to those who actually drive me business.
Step 5: Get a Simple System to Deliver Results
Once you’ve got a client or two, it’s time to systemize. But don’t overthink it.
Here’s the bare-bones system I used:
Keyword research (SEMrush, ChatGPT Deep Research)
On-page SEO fixes
GMB optimization
Develop topical authority plan and map
Consistent blog content
Basic tracking setup (GA4 + GSC)
You can do all of this yourself, or use affordable tools like:
Surfer SEO for content outlines
Ubersuggest for keyword ideas
Google Sheets to manage deliverables and timelines
SEMrush if budgets permits
Want a shortcut?
Here's how I structure a blog post for SEO—this template alone has helped my clients hit page 1 faster than expected.
Step 6: Build Authority as You Go
As you grow, publish your learnings. Start a blog. Share client wins. Post short videos breaking down Google updates. Don’t hide behind a logo, people hire people.
Think of it this way: You don’t need 10,000 followers. You just need 5 business owners who trust you.
Step 7: Build Systems, Not Chaos
How I scaled:
1-hour onboarding call
Custom-built dashboards in Sheets & Trello
Monthly reporting cadence
Answer my clients emails and texts quickly
Client content calendar with deadlines
Always come to meetings with upsell options or offer ideas that may help business owners save time and grow revenue
NEW for 2025: Build & Sell GPTs to Scale Even Faster
Want a competitive edge? Learn how to build your own GPTs to productize your SEO knowledge. You can offer it as a product, or give it away free to increase trust with your clients and audience.
I built Video SEO Ranker — a free AI assistant that helps you:
Optimize YouTube titles and descriptions
Extract keyword ideas from your video transcript
Improve your ranking on YouTube (and Google)
GPTs are the future of productized SEO. They work while you sleep. I’ll be teaching more soon.
Mistakes to Avoid
Selling SEO before proving you can rank.
Charging too little and getting burnt out.
Ignoring local search and GMB optimization.
Not building an internal link strategy.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be the smartest SEO in the world to start an SEO agency. You just need to care more than the next person—and show results.
Start small. Get real outcomes. Then scale smart.
Starting an SEO agency isn’t about hype. It’s about delivering results, building relationships, and staying consistent.
Want help? Hire me to build your SEO foundation.
FAQ: Starting an SEO Agency
Q: Do I need to register an LLC first?
No. Get results first. Register when you're ready to scale or protect your personal liability.
Q: Do I need to learn everything about SEO?
No. Master the 20% that gets 80% of the results. Then learn the rest as needed.
Q: Can I start this with $0?
Yes. I started with a $12 domain and a free Google account. You don’t need tools at first—just hustle.
Q: Do I need to niche down?
Yes. I focus on wedding venues and farms. Niche = faster referrals.
Q: Can I use AI for SEO content?
Yes, with a strong human editor. I use ChatGPT & SEMrush for outlines, cleanup and content optimization.
