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Solving Your SEO Needs: The Agency versus In-House Conundrum
If you think a website is enough to thrive in the online marketplace, chances are that your business will most likely take a static turn. Simply having one is like whispering in a stadium – your customers won’t hear you, let alone find you.
Attaining true digital success hinges on several factors including online visibility, which means your website doesn’t function just as an address but also as a beacon.
We’re talking about a site that’s not only optimised and user-friendly, but brimming with effortless-to-navigate content that draws your audience in.
At its core, this visibility often boils down to the strategic deployment of cutting-edge Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tactics.
Once businesses grasp the immense value of truly investing in their SEO, a pivotal question emerges: Should you build an internal team, or is outsourcing to a specialised agency the better path?
Both paths offer distinct advantages and their own set of challenges. Let’s help you weigh this significant financial investment and decide which approach aligns best with your unique business goals.
Understanding Your Unique SEO Landscape: Pre-Decision Assessment
The choice between bringing in an SEO agency and developing an in-house SEO team is a pivotal strategic decision.
The choice between bringing in an SEO agency and developing an in-house SEO team is a pivotal strategic decision.
Before you pick an SEO path, you need to understand your current situation and what you hope to achieve. Think of it like mapping out your journey before choosing a vehicle.
SEO has transformed dramatically into a complex field demanding expertise in creating compelling content, implementing technical solutions, designing user-friendly experiences, interpreting data, and crafting strategic plans.
It’s all about making a calculated move that will profoundly influence your company’s digital footprint, the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, and ultimately, your financial performance.
This decision requires carefully aligning your chosen SEO strategy with your overarching business goals, available resources, and your projected growth.
1. Defining Your SEO Goals
Start by figuring out your main goals for SEO. What do you actually want it to accomplish for your business?:
- Do you want more people to know about your brand and see you as an expert in your industry?
- Is your main aim to get more potential customers through organic searches?
- If you sell online, are you focused on boosting sales directly and getting customers to spend more each time?
- For local businesses, is it crucial to show up at the top of local searches and get more people through your doors?
And don’t forget the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)! These are essentially your scorecards, telling you exactly if your SEO is hitting the mark.
What are your deadlines for achieving these wins? They’ll help you lay out your entire SEO roadmap and guide where every ringgit and minute is spent.
2. What Resources Do You Already Have?
Next, take an honest look at what you have available, both in terms of money and people.
- Budget: How much can you realistically spend? Think about both one-time setup costs and ongoing monthly investments. Can your budget cover salaries, benefits, software, and training for an in-house team, or would a service-based fee from an agency be more fitting?
- Team Skills: Does your current marketing team already understand the basics of SEO, content creation, or managing a website’s technical side? Or would you be starting from scratch, meaning you’d need to invest heavily in training?
- Time: How much time can your existing team actually set aside to learn, implement, and constantly manage SEO alongside their other daily tasks? Remember, SEO isn’t a “one-and-done” job; it needs continuous attention.
3. How Big and Complex Are Your SEO Needs?
Another important factor to take in is to consider the depth and breadth of what you need from SEO.
- Do you need a complete SEO solution that includes technical checks, a detailed content plan, link building, local SEO, or even international SEO? Or do you only need help with specific things, like updating old content or managing a website redesign?
- How complicated is your website? Do you have many different sections, a huge online store, or a site that changes often? How tough is the competition in your industry for search rankings? More complex situations usually require more specialised knowledge.
With these questions in mind, you’ll have clearer picture of your SEO landscape, making it easier to decide whether an agency or an in-house team is the right fit for your business in the planning phase.
Take your website’s SEO game to the next level with these best SEO tips to boost your organic rankings and traffic.
The In-House SEO Team: Control, Integration & Hidden Costs
When your business has a website, one of the goals is wanting your customers or businesses to easily locate you when they search on Google or other search engines.
“In-house SEO” simply means you have your own dedicated person or team working inside your company whose main job is to make sure your website shows up high in search results.
They function as your personal website boosters playing key roles in:
- Website Setup: Make sure your website’s “behind-the-scenes” code and structure are neat and organised so search engines can easily read and understand it. (This is the “techie” stuff.)
- Great Content: Create interesting and useful stuff (like articles or product info) that uses the words people type into search engines when they’re looking for something.
- Stay Current: Search engines like Google are always changing their rules. You need to keep up so your website doesn’t get “lost” and can still be found.
- Check & Improve: Regularly look at how well your website is showing up in search results and figure out what you can do to make it even better.
They work closely with your other marketing people to make sure your website’s online visibility helps achieve your overall business goals. Instead of hiring an outside company, you have these experts as part of your own staff, fully focused on your business’s success in online search.
Advantages vs Disadvantages
For businesses aiming to boost their online visibility and organic traffic, a critical decision arises: what are the upsides and downsides to building an in-house SEO team?
This section will delve into a direct comparison, highlighting the key considerations when deciding whether to cultivate your SEO capabilities internally.
| Advantages | Disadvantages & Realities |
| Deep brand integration– intimate understanding of company culture, values, products, and target audience for perfectly aligned SEO. | Can lack external perspective or exposure to diverse industry challenges and solutions. |
| Day-to-day oversight of all SEO activities- tight feedback loops for quick adjustments and seamless inter-departmental communication. | Scalability limitations– difficult to quickly scale up or down based on fluctuating project needs without major HR implications. |
| 100% dedicated attention solely on your business’s specific SEO challenges and opportunities; not juggling multiple client accounts. | Talent acquisition challenge- difficult to find a single individual or even two with diverse expertise (technical SEO, content strategy, keyword research, link building, analytics).
Building a comprehensive team often requires multiple, highly skilled hires. |
| SEO expertise and institutional knowledge are built and retained within your organisation, becoming a permanent asset. | The SEO landscape evolves relentlessly. Keeping skills cutting-edge requires continuous professional development, conferences, and new courses, adding to cost and time. |
| Lower ongoing costs after initial setup- Ideally, the investment is a long-term asset | Significant upfront investment– underestimated costs including competitive salaries, benefits, recruitment, ongoing training, and annual subscriptions to premium SEO tools (thousands of dollars annually). |
The SEO Agency Partner: Expertise, Scalability & Proven ROI
Trying to handle all your SEO yourself, especially without expertise, is like building a complex shop from scratch—pixel by pixel. You’d need to master architecture, construction, interior design, and marketing, all at once!
When your priority is to concentrate on key business functions, the reality is you probably lack the time and budget to become an SEO expert overnight. In such cases, partnering with a dedicated SEO agency is the smartest move.
Think of them as your external SEO special forces. You pay them a fee, and they take on the following responsibilities in the package:
- Strategising and executing SEO campaigns: This is where the agency acts like your digital architect and builder. It isn’t a guessing game, but rather a conduct of in-depth research of your business, your industry, your competitors, and your target audience. Based on this, they’ll create a tailored roadmap – an SEO strategy – designed to achieve your specific goals, whether that’s boosting brand awareness or driving sales. Once the strategy is approved, they actively put it into motion, managing every step to make sure those plans turn into real results for your website!
- Optimising your website: Optimising your website is a comprehensive effort aimed at making it irresistible to both search engines and your potential customers, through its design and content. It involves several key areas:
Examples of Corporate Web Design by VeecoTech
- Technical SEO: Your outsourced SEO experts will dive deep into your website’s backend to ensure that it’s healthy. This means checking things like site speed, mobile-friendliness, how easily search engines can “crawl” and understand your site, and fixing any broken links or code issues. Think of it as making sure the foundation and plumbing of your house are perfect.
- Content Optimisation: This is about making sure the words, images, and videos on your site are not just engaging for people, but also rich with the keywords your audience is searching for. They might help you create new blog posts, rewrite existing product descriptions, or optimise page titles and meta descriptions to attract more clicks. Here are some examples:
GTHH
Studio Pandan - Link Building: This involves getting other reputable websites to link back to your site. These “backlinks” are like votes of confidence from other sites, signalling to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy, which can significantly boost your authority and rankings.
This includes everything from making sure your site’s technical aspects are sound, to creating and optimising content such as through blog post creation, and building valuable links.
- Keeping up with algorithm changes: SEO agencies constantly monitor updates from search engines like Google that are constantly updating their algorithms and adjust your strategy to ensure your rankings don’t suffer.
These changes can happen frequently, from minor tweaks to major overhauls.
An SEO agency acts as your early warning system and rapid response team, crucial for navigating the ever-changing landscape of search algorithms.
In 2025, Google rolled out the “Adaptive Search Algorithm,” a significant update that greatly impacted local businesses by shaking up search rankings based on how real people were actually engaging with content.
And it’s not just on the big algorithm names; Google’s also super keen on the “E-E-A-T” method (that’s Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness for your content, basically proving you know your stuff!).
With a reliable SEO agency, they keep an eagle eye on all these ever-evolving rules where they’ll quickly figure out what’s new, what it means for your site, and whip up a game plan faster than you can say “page one.”
That way, your website stays happily visible, no unexpected dives allowed!
- Providing reports and insights: You won’t be left in the dark about how your investment is performing as they’ll regularly show you how your website is performing and what results their efforts are achieving.These reports go beyond just raw data and into what’s working, what could be improved, and how your website’s performance is contributing to your business objectives. Such transparency allows you to understand the return on your investment and make informed decisions moving forward
An SEO agency works independently, bringing their broad experience from helping many different clients to benefit your business. It’s a way to access a full suite of SEO expertise without needing to hire and manage an internal team.
Advantages vs Disadvantages
When it comes to boosting your online presence, the path you choose — an SEO agency or an in-house team — comes with its own unique set of pros and cons. Let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of each path to guide you on taking the first step.
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When to Choose Which: Making Your Strategic Decision
The choice between building an in-house SEO team and partnering with an external agency isn’t about finding a universally “better” option.
Instead, it’s about discovering which approach aligns perfectly with your unique business goals, resources, and operational style. This is all about finding the right fit for your business.
Let’s have a look on when opting for one, the other, or both comes in beneficial for you!
1. When to Opt for In-House
Going in-house means bringing your SEO talent under your roof. This path will make sense if:
- You’re Ready for a Big, Stable Investment
You have a substantial, consistent, and long-term budget specifically earmarked for a comprehensive SEO team. This includes your employees’ salaries, benefits, and the costs of premium SEO tools and continuous training to keep your team sharp.
- Your SEO Needs Are Predictably Consistent
Your website’s SEO requirements are stable and unlikely to shift dramatically over time. Stability and consistency in your business’ SEO requirements will ensure gradual development of your dedicated team and minimise unexpected fluctuations in resource demands.
- You Demand Absolute Control & Knowledge Retention
Your top priority is having maximum internal oversight of every tiny detail of your SEO operations. You want all SEO expertise to reside permanently within your organisation, ensuring complete control and institutional memory.
2. When to Opt for an Agency Partner
Bringing in an SEO agency means leveraging external expertise and trusting them on the task for better organic growth and website exposure of your business. This strategic move is ideal for you if:
- You Need Immediate, Specialised Expertise
If you require advanced SEO knowledge right away, without the lengthy and often costly process of recruiting, hiring, and onboarding multiple in-house specialists, choosing an SEO agency partner will be the right path for your business.
- You Seek Clear, Measurable ROI
You want demonstrable results and a clear return on your SEO investment. You’re looking for an external partner who is accountable for performance and provides transparent reporting.
- You Value Scalability and Flexibility
You are seeking to rapidly scale your SEO efforts up or down to adapt to market shifts, launch new products, or seize emerging opportunities, all without the internal HR burdens of hiring or laying off staff.
- Your Internal Team Needs to Focus on Core Business
Many businesses would prefer that their existing team concentrate on their primary business functions. With this mindset, delegating the complex, time-consuming, and constantly evolving task of SEO to dedicated external experts helps you save your time and costs.
- You Crave External Insights and Best Practices
You want the benefit of fresh, data-driven perspectives and proven strategies. Agencies work with diverse clients, offering insights that can help you stay ahead of competitors and navigate tricky algorithm changes.
- Your Budget Prefers Predictable, Service-Based Costs
You need a more flexible investment model with clear, predictable monthly service fees, rather than the significant fixed overheads associated with building and maintaining an internal team.
3. The Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds
Sometimes, you don’t have to choose just one. A hybrid model can be incredibly effective, blending the strengths of both approaches.
For example, your in-house content team might collaborate with an agency for highly specialised tasks like complex technical SEO audits, advanced link building campaigns, or high-level strategic consulting. This way, you get the best of both internal knowledge and external specialised expertise.
Ready to Make Your SEO Decision? Ask These Critical Questions
To finalise your decision, ask yourself (and potential partners) these penetrating questions:
- What is the true total cost of an in-house SEO team, encompassing not just salaries but also benefits, premium tool subscriptions, ongoing training, and recruitment overhead? Don’t forget the opportunity cost of internal resources dedicated to non-core activities.
Check out how much will SEO really cost in 2025!
- How quickly do you need to see tangible SEO results? Can you afford the time it takes to build an in-house team from scratch before seeing significant impact?
- Do you have the internal leadership, infrastructure to effectively manage an in-house SEO function, including team development, performance tracking, and strategic oversight?
- Are you prepared to invest continuously in cutting-edge SEO tools and ongoing professional training to keep an in-house team competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape?
- Ultimately, are you seeking a strategic partner to proactively drive your SEO growth, bringing diverse expertise and proven methodologies, allowing your internal team to focus on their core business strengths and innovation?
With these fundamental inquiries thoughtfully navigated, the fog of uncertainty will lift, enabling you to decisively forge the optimal SEO strategy that truly propels your business forward!
Blueprint Your SEO Success with VeecoTech!
When choosing between your business’s SEO success, there is no universal answer to the in-house vs. agency dilemma. The optimal choice is highly individualised, depending on your company’s specific goals, available resources, risk tolerance, and long-term vision.
However, for many businesses—especially those seeking rapid growth, diverse expertise, and measurable ROI without the substantial overhead and management complexities of building an internal department—an experienced SEO agency offers a powerful, cost-effective, and scalable solution to achieve ambitious digital marketing goals.
Traditional SEO is a thing of the past. Hiring an SEO agency now means gaining a strategic extension of your marketing team, one that brings innovative, cutting-edge solutions directly to your business.
Still weighing your options, or ready to explore how a dedicated SEO agency can propel your business forward with proven strategies and a focus on tangible results, including cutting-edge services like Large Language Model (LLM) optimisation and intelligent content remixing?
Simplify your search for the right SEO partner. VeecoTech offers transparent, goal-oriented solutions in Malaysia, custom-fit to propel your business forward.
Contact us today for a personalised consultation, and let’s discuss your unique SEO needs and how our expertise can drive your success in the competitive digital landscape.
FAQ
1. Is it worth hiring an SEO agency?
The question “Is it worth hiring an SEO agency?” is a great one, and the answer, as with many strategic business decisions, is “it depends.” However, for many businesses, especially in a competitive market like Malaysia, the answer is often a resounding yes, if you choose the right one.
Here’s a breakdown of why it’s generally worth it, along with the key considerations:
- Specialised expertise and depth
- Up-to-date knowledge
- Broad industry insights
- More cost-effective
- Focuses on measurable results and ROI
- Has an external, unbiased perspective
2. How much do SEO agencies charge per month?
Based on our extensive industry survey and evaluation (powered by insights from advanced AI research tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini Deep Research!), you can generally expect monthly retainers for Malaysia-based SEO agencies to range from RM900 to RM10,000 or more.
To help you navigate these costs, we’ve broken down typical SEO pricing into key service tiers, categorised by industry focus and common needs.
This insight will empower you to understand the value you’re receiving at each price point, helping you avoid overpaying for unnecessary services – or underpaying and being disappointed by the results.
| Industries | Price |
| One-off SEO audit | RM3,000-5000 per audit |
| Local SEO for niche businesses with minimal content | Rm900-1,500 per month |
| Full-service for SMEs in moderate competition | Rm1,200-5000 per month |
| National brands, eCommerce, enterprise scale | Rm5,000-10,000+ per month |
| One-off SEO Project | RM1,000-10,000 per project |
3. What are the skills you need to do SEO?
SEO is a multifaceted discipline, and the skills needed to excel in it are equally diverse, encompassing a blend of technical knowledge, analytical prowess, creativity, and strong communication.
As search engines and user behavior constantly evolve (especially with the rise of AI in search), so too do the required skills.
Here’s a breakdown of the essential skills for doing SEO effectively if you’re looking to start up an in-house SEO for your business:
| Technical & Analytical Skills | Content & User Experience Skills |
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About the Author
Meet VeecoTech Team sharing cutting-edge insights on software, mobile apps, SEO and digital marketing. We’re passionate about empowering businesses with digital success. Join us on this exciting journey towards online excellence.
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