What does an SEO agency actually do?

An SEO agency typically starts with a full audit to find both technical and content issues, then builds a keyword strategy targeting real search demand genuinely relevant to that specific client's business and goals.

From there, the ongoing work usually includes producing or overseeing content directly, pursuing backlinks through outreach or partnerships, and closely monitoring rankings and traffic month over month against the original goals.

Reporting ends up being a bigger part of the job than most clients initially expect, since agencies need to show, in plain, concrete numbers, that the retainer is actually moving the needle for the client.

Getting that same research, writing, and reporting loop without a retainer is what automatic SEO software replaces.