Search for “best SEO company UK” and you will find plenty of top-ten lists, many written by SEO companies themselves. Rather than relying on rankings, it pays to ask the right questions before you sign. Here are the seven we suggest every UK small business owner asks.
How do you choose an SEO company in the UK?
Choose an SEO company that can explain exactly what it will do in the first three months, reports on enquiries rather than rankings alone, lets you own every account and your data, and can show real results for similar businesses. If your customers include Chinese speakers or Hong Kongers in the UK, also check that it can write natural Traditional Chinese, not machine translation.
What should you ask an SEO company before signing?
- What exactly will you do in the first three months? A company that cannot say usually has no plan.
- Which keywords will you target, and why? They should match your services and buying intent, not just search volume.
- How will you report results? Look for enquiries, calls and messages, not only rankings and impressions.
- Who owns the website, Search Console and Google Business Profile? The answer should be you.
- Can you show results for businesses like mine? Ask for real websites and outcomes, not just client logos.
- How long is the contract, and how do I leave? Know the minimum term and what happens to your content and accounts.
- Do you cover AI search (GEO) and other languages? More customers now ask ChatGPT and Google AI Mode directly.
Which SEO companies should you avoid?
- Guaranteed first place on Google. Nobody controls Google’s results. Google’s own advice is plain: no one can guarantee a #1 ranking, and if an agency promises one, find someone else.
- Very cheap, vague packages. A few pounds a month with no clear work plan usually means low-quality links.
- No access to your own data. You should always be able to see your Search Console and Analytics.
- Machine-translated content. Awkward copy puts customers off and is rarely cited by AI.
How much does an SEO company cost in the UK?
Most UK small businesses pay £350 to £1,000 a month for SEO, and published UK prices in 2026 had a median of £799 a month. What each price band includes varies widely; see our UK SEO pricing guide for the detail.
Do you need a bilingual SEO agency?
If some of your customers search in Chinese, yes. A bilingual team can research the words Chinese-speaking customers actually use, write natural Traditional Chinese pages, and set up the language signals that tell Google which version to show to whom. It also means you can discuss your business in Cantonese or English, whichever you prefer.
Do you need an SEO company in London?
Not necessarily. Most SEO work can be done remotely, so businesses anywhere in the UK can work with a London team. If your business is in London, though, a local team will know the market and competition, and you can meet in person.
Who is Tiso Digital a good fit for?
Tiso Digital is a London-based SEO, AI search and web design team working in English and Cantonese, named Best SEO & Digital Marketing Services Provider 2026 – UK by Acquisition International. We see ourselves as a digital partner that grows with our clients.
We are a good fit for:
- UK small businesses that want enquiries from Google and AI search, not just referrals
- Businesses serving both English-speaking and Chinese-speaking customers
- Owners who care about enquiries more than ranking reports
If you only need a one-off technical fix, or want guaranteed rankings, we may not be the right choice, and we will tell you so. See our case studies and SEO services.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a good SEO company in the UK?
Ask what they will do in the first three months, how they report results, who owns your accounts, and to see results for similar businesses. Avoid anyone who guarantees rankings.
How much does an SEO company charge per month in the UK?
Most UK small businesses pay £350 to £1,000 a month. Published UK prices in 2026 had a median of £799 a month.
Can an SEO company guarantee first place on Google?
No. Rankings are decided by Google. A good SEO company sets measurable goals, such as enquiries and visibility for target searches, instead.
Is there an SEO company in the UK that speaks Cantonese?
Yes. Tiso Digital is a London-based SEO team that works in English and Cantonese and writes content in English and Traditional Chinese for businesses across the UK.
Talk to us about your business
In a free SEO audit, we will show you where your website stands, what your competitors are doing, and what is worth investing in first.
Get your free SEO audit or message us on WhatsApp.
Sources: Whito, UK SEO pricing study (45 published UK prices, June 2026); Google Search Central, “Do you need an SEO?”.
Eric Lee
Founder & CEO, Tiso Digital
Eric Lee founded Tiso Digital to give small and medium-sized businesses the kind of senior digital strategy usually reserved for large brands. He has spent more than a decade designing websites, leading SEO programmes and, more recently, helping businesses appear in AI-generated answers.
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