Article Summary
Most SEO agencies promise the world and deliver generic reports, shallow strategies, and outsourced work handled by junior staff. After 25+ years in the industry, I’ve seen this pattern repeat, big retainers, little ROI. In this article, I break down why the traditional agency model fails most businesses, especially those needing real strategy, not cookie-cutter tactics. From firsthand agency experience to solo consulting, I explain how high-ticket clients often get low-effort execution and why boutique teams or solo experts can offer more value, attention, and results. If you’re tired of wasting money on SEO packages that don’t move the needle, this is the truth you need to hear, and a path toward smarter, focused digital growth.
I’ve been in SEO since the early 2000s. Back when you could rank on Google with a few keyword-stuffed meta tags and some directory links. I’ve seen every phase of SEO, the loopholes, the algorithm updates, the tools, the trends. And through it all, one thing has stayed consistent:
Most SEO agencies still don’t actually know what they’re doing.
I know that sounds harsh, especially because I currently work with a couple agencies, but I’ve worked with enough companies and seen enough smoke and mirrors to speak on this honestly. This isn’t a rant just to bash agencies. It’s more of a wake-up call for business owners trying to figure out why they’re spending thousands a month and still seeing weak results.
I recently acquired a client, which put a smile on my face from what they told me “We want to work with you, because we know an agency is not going to give us the attention our business needs” Basically, this client knows they’re just going to be just another number on the balance sheet.
I’ve worked as a Digital Marketing Director for fintech startups, I’ve hired SEO agencies with $10K+/mo retainers, and I’ve also worked as a freelancer and consultant myself for these SEO / Marketing Agencies. So I’ve seen both the vendor side and the client side.
So let me fill you in on the reality of SEO / Marketing Agencies.
Here’s the Problem With Most Agencies
Let me clarify something upfront: not all agencies are bad. There are some damn good ones out there, teams that care, that innovate, that actually give their clients real attention. I’ve worked with a few. But unfortunately, those are the exception, not the rule.
Most agencies I’ve come across fall into the same cookie-cutter model:
- They charge $8,000 to $15,000 per month
- They assign your account to a junior staffer with little to no experience
- They outsource most of the actual work overseas at a fraction of the cost
- They recycle the same 2–3 SEO strategies across 15–30 clients
- They overpromise in the sales pitch, and underdeliver once the contract is signed
This model works for them because they’re built for volume, not depth. They’re not trying to understand your business. They’re trying to scale. And scale means one account manager juggling 10–15 clients at a time, if not more.
So what do you get? Maybe a blog post here and there. A few meta tag updates. Some questionable backlinks. But is anyone actually thinking about your local market? Your customer journey? Your sales funnel? Your positioning?
You’re just another invoice in their system. Your business will not get the level of attention you can get from hiring an expert or small team.
No. They’re not.
You’re just another invoice in their system.
A Real Story (with Fictitious Names, But a Very Real Problem)
Let me give you an example.
A few months ago, I was brought into a mid-sized agency — let’s call it “RankEdge Media” — as a contract Marketing Strategist. I was skeptical from the beginning, but figured I’d give it a shot.
Within the first two weeks, I was thrown into their overly complicated, bloated client process with zero real training. Then — like clockwork — they dumped 8 client accounts on my plate.
I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I already knew what was coming. But one account in particular stood out…
They handed me a high-end client, let’s call them “Atlas Law Group” who was paying the agency $18,000 a month. This client had already been with the agency for 3 months, and from what I could tell, nothing had been done.
No strategy docs. No keyword research. No technical audit. No content roadmap. Not even basic competitive research. I was stunned.
Internally, this client was already enraged and ready to walk. And I was tossed into a meeting with their team, expected to magically fix everything.
So the client starts asking basic questions:
- What’s the content strategy?
- How are we building authority?
- What’s our plan for local search?
These are questions that should’ve been answered during onboarding, or honestly, before the client even signed the contract. And yet, I had nothing. My only honest thought was:
“The truth is… this agency didn’t do sht.”*
But of course, I couldn’t say that. Instead, I had to cover for them, make excuses, and try to spin it like there was a “shift in internal priorities” or “we’re currently repositioning the strategy”, all just fluff to buy time.
And here’s the sad part: this agency didn’t have the experience, the structure, or the people to handle a $18K/month client. They should have never taken them on. But they did, because they saw the dollar signs and assumed they could fake their way through it.
This agency, like many others I’ve seen, operates in reactive mode, not proactive. Their whole model is to put out fires, send pretty PDF reports with generic metrics, and do just enough to keep the client from leaving.
They’re not building strategies. They’re building illusions.
And my heart honestly goes out to the account managers, people who are told to lie, deflect, and smooth things over with clients every single week. They’re stuck trying to keep clients happy with no support, no strategy, and no time.
That’s not unique to “RankEdge Media.” I’ve seen the same setup at other agencies. Same playbook. Different logos.
SEO Is Not a Commodity — It’s a Craft
Real SEO takes time. It takes research. It takes testing. You need someone who knows how to audit a site beyond checking if H1s exist. You need someone who can look at the intent behind keywords, who knows how to structure content for both Google and AI-powered search, who understands how to build authority, not just rankings.
You won’t get that from someone is managing 10-15 accounts, reporting to a director or account manager who knows nothing about SEO or Digital Marketing, and expect them to get you results, leads or what really matters for your business, which is sales.
Why I Only Take On a Few Clients (And Why That Matters)
When I take on an SEO client, I usually charge between $5,000 and $8,000 per month, depending on the client needs. I’m not the cheapest, and honestly, I’m not trying to be. Because when I take on a client, I go all in, I get really involved in the business and process of the business I just don’t do SEO, I do Digital Marketing, Traditional Marketing and Business process. My goal is to see your business grow.
- Deep technical audits
- Keyword and content mapping
- AI-mode optimization for new search tools
- Link building with an actual strategy
- In-Take Analysis
- PPC Campaigns and Management
- Competitive gap analysis
- Tracking leads, not just traffic
- Just to name of a few..
And here’s the key: I only take on a few clients at a time. That’s it. Why? Because SEO done right requires mental bandwidth. I can’t split my attention across 20 clients and still be great. And anyone who tells you they can? They’re either outsourcing everything or faking it.
A Real Example: Why I Took On a Client I Wasn’t Looking For
Not long ago, a company hired me to redesign their website. After we launched, they asked me to take over all their marketing. I told them straight, I’m not really looking for new clients right now.
But I asked, “Why not just hire an agency?”
Their response?
“I don’t want to work with an agency because I know we’re just another number to them. They won’t dedicate their time to our business.”
That hit me. I’ve been in their shoes. I’ve watched companies waste 6 months and $30K on agencies that gave them templated reports and generic blog posts that never ranked.
That one comment convinced me to say yes; not because I needed the work, but because I respected that they understood the value of focused attention.
So Why Hire Someone Like Me?
I’m Carlos Arias — a Software Engineer, Digital Marketing Strategist, and AI Automation expert with over 25 years in the industry. I’ve served as both CTO and CMO for fintech startups and digital agencies, and I’ve launched, scaled, and exited multiple businesses of my own.
You have a CTO / CMO Level Expert with 20yrs of Digital Marketing and Technology experience and Agency experience. Fighting in your corner.
In other words, I understand what it’s like to be in the shoes of the business owner. I’ve been on both sides of the table.
I typically only handle marketing for my own ventures, but in 2025, I started selectively taking on outside clients for SEO, PPC, Local SEO, and full-funnel strategy. I’m not building an agency. I’m only looking to focus on few clients, so I can give each business the level of attention it actually deserves.
When you work with me, you’re getting personal, hands-on execution. I’m easily reachable via Zoom, messaging apps, or email. I don’t hide behind account managers. And if your project ever requires a bigger team, I’ll be transparent about it; and only bring in elite-level partners who operate at the same standard I do.
I take this work seriously, deeply seriously. I love what I do. And I only work with businesses I actually believe in.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone
After 25+ years working with clients and agencies, I’ve written thousands of proposals and sat on both sides of the table, hiring and vetting teams. Here are few questions that will instantly separate the pros from the posers.
- How many clients does your strategist handle at once?
→ If it’s over 4, you’re not getting much attention. - Can you show me an actual strategy you used for another client, and the outcome?
→ Real strategists will have examples and lessons learned. - Who is doing the work, and how much of it is outsourced?
→ Transparency matters. If it’s white-labeled, you should know. - What’s your link-building strategy, and can I see real placements?
→ This is where a lot of the BS hides! - How do you measure success? Traffic? Leads? Conversions?
→ Don’t let them hide behind vanity metrics. - Does the agency introduce their senior-level team?
→ You need to know who’s actually managing the junior staff, because every agency has them. And in most cases, the real work is being outsourced or handed off to low-level talent.
Final Thoughts
I’m not saying all agencies are bad. I’m saying the majority are straight-up predatory, taking money from people who trust them while delivering nothing but broken promises and wasted budgets.
If you’re a law firm, tax pro, or service-based business, you don’t need another “SEO package.” You need someone who actually understands your business, your market, and your goals, not an account manager juggling 15 clients with a recycled playbook.
Big agencies sell volume. Real experts deliver results.
Whether you work with me, a boutique team, or another seasoned strategist, make sure the person running your SEO actually gives a damn and has the time and expertise to prove it.
If you ever want a second opinion, give you an honest assessment. No sales pitch. Just experience, from someone who’s seen how this industry really works.