SEO Agency Not Delivering?
You're paying $1,500-5,000/month for SEO but traffic isn't growing. Before firing your agency, run this diagnostic to understand what's actually going wrong and what to do about it.
The 5-Point Agency Diagnostic
How many articles has your agency published this month?
15-30+ articles
Under 8 articles
Content volume is the #1 driver of organic growth. If your agency is producing under 8 articles/month for $2,000+, you're paying too much per article.
Can you see new pages indexed in Search Console?
New pages appearing weekly
Same pages for months
If Google isn't indexing new content, either nothing new is being published or there are technical issues preventing indexation.
Are impressions trending up in Search Console?
Steady upward trend
Flat or declining
Impressions should increase within 4-6 weeks of new content publishing. Flat impressions after 3+ months means the content isn't reaching Google's index or isn't targeting viable keywords.
What specific keywords are they targeting?
Documented list with difficulty scores
Vague or no answer
Every article should target a specific keyword. If your agency can't show you the keyword list and their rationale, they're not doing keyword research.
Are you ranking for any new keywords each month?
5-15+ new keywords monthly
0-2 new keywords
New keyword rankings are the leading indicator of SEO progress. If you're not gaining new keyword positions, the content isn't working.
What to Do Next
Have the Honest Conversation
Show your agency the diagnostic results. Ask for a specific keyword target list, content calendar, and measurable milestones for the next 90 days. Good agencies will welcome accountability.
Set a 90-Day Deadline
Give your agency clear metrics to hit: X new ranking keywords, Y increase in impressions, Z new articles published. If they can't commit to specific deliverables, that's your answer.
Consider a Content Volume Approach
If the core issue is insufficient content, you can supplement or replace your agency's output. FirstSearch delivers 30 articles/month for $99, which can run alongside or replace an underperforming agency.
Take Ownership of Tracking
Set up Google Search Console yourself (free). Check weekly: impressions, clicks, ranking keywords, and indexed pages. Don't rely on your agency's reports alone.
30 Articles/Month for $99
Run alongside your agency or as a replacement. Measurable content output you can track in Search Console yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
My SEO agency isn't getting me results. Should I fire them?
Not immediately. First, run a diagnostic: check how many articles they've published, whether impressions are trending up in Search Console, and if they can show you specific keyword targets. If after an honest conversation and a 90-day deadline they still can't deliver measurable progress, then yes, consider alternatives.
How long should I wait before expecting results from an agency?
You should see early signals within 4-6 weeks: increased impressions, new pages indexed, initial keyword rankings. Meaningful traffic should appear within 3-4 months. If after 4-6 months you see no improvement in any metric, the strategy or execution is failing.
What should an SEO agency actually deliver each month?
At minimum: a specific list of keywords being targeted, content published (articles, pages), technical issues found and fixed, a link building report (if included), and measurable progress data from Search Console. If any of these are missing, push back.
Is it the agency's fault or is SEO just slow?
SEO is slow, but not invisible. Even in the first month, you should see more pages indexed and initial impressions. By month 3, you should see clear upward trends. 'SEO takes time' is not an excuse for zero progress after 3+ months. Time is needed, but progress should be visible.
Can I run FirstSearch alongside my agency?
Yes. FirstSearch is $99/month and runs independently. It publishes content to your site via webhook without interfering with agency work. This lets you compare: is the agency's 4-8 articles/month driving more or less traffic than FirstSearch's 30? Data will tell you the answer.
What's a cheaper alternative to an SEO agency?
For the content production side (which is typically 50-70% of agency fees), FirstSearch delivers 30 articles/month for $99. For technical SEO, a one-time audit from a consultant ($500-2,000) may be more cost-effective than ongoing agency fees. For link building, targeted outreach services are available separately.