For web design and development agencies, launching a beautiful, functional website is often the final step in a project. But for the client, it’s just the beginning of their journey to being discovered online.
That’s why SEO is the natural next step — and one of the most valuable upsells your agency can offer.
Yet many design agencies hesitate to offer SEO services. Why? Because it requires technical expertise, content strategy, ongoing management, and more — all of which can be expensive and time-consuming to build in-house.
Fortunately, there’s a way to upsell SEO profitably and at scale, without adding stress to your team or sacrificing quality. Here’s how to offer SEO services to your web clients and turn one-time projects into long-term revenue — without the overhead.
Why SEO Is the Easiest Upsell After a Web Build
When a client invests in a new website, they’re focused on improving their brand presence and user experience. But once the site goes live, they naturally start asking:
- “How do I get found in Google?”
- “Why am I not showing up in my area?”
- “How do I start generating leads now?”
That’s your opening.
Upselling SEO isn’t about pushing an extra service — it’s about offering the essential next step to ensure their investment performs. SEO turns static design into discoverable, lead-generating digital real estate.
The Problem: Offering SEO In-House Is Expensive
To fulfill SEO internally, most agencies would need to:
- Hire an SEO strategist
- Bring on writers and link builders
- Invest in tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, Screaming Frog, and others
- Train the team on technical, on-page, and off-page optimization
- Manage ongoing deliverables and reporting
It’s a heavy lift — especially if you’re not yet at the scale where SEO is your core focus.
The Solution: White Label SEO for Web Agencies
By partnering with a white label SEO provider, you can confidently sell SEO services under your agency’s brand while outsourcing the fulfillment to an experienced team.
You stay client-facing. The work happens behind the scenes. Everyone wins.
Here’s how it works:
- You build the site
- You offer SEO as a follow-up or bundled service
- Your white label partner handles audits, content, keyword research, local SEO, technical fixes, and reporting
- You deliver branded reports and results to your client
- You keep the margin — and the credit
What to Include in Your SEO Upsell Offer
Whether you offer SEO as an add-on or part of a post-launch growth package, your upsell should focus on value and clarity.
Basic SEO Package
Great for brand-new sites that need a strong foundation:
- Keyword research and mapping
- On-page SEO for key landing pages
- Google Business Profile optimization
- Basic site speed and technical fixes
- Setup of tracking and Google Search Console
Monthly SEO Growth Plan
For clients ready to generate traffic and leads:
- Ongoing keyword targeting and content strategy
- Blog or landing page creation
- Link building and local SEO
- Conversion optimization recommendations
- Monthly reporting and consulting
These packages can be tailored to niche verticals like home services, medical, legal, or real estate — all fulfilled by your white label partner, branded under your agency.
How to Position the SEO Upsell Without Feeling Pushy
You don’t need a hard sales pitch — just a clear value message.
Here’s how to introduce it:
- During development:
“Once the site goes live, we want to make sure your customers can actually find it. We offer SEO packages that help you start ranking and bringing in leads.” - At launch:
“Your site is ready, and now it’s time to drive traffic to it. Most clients continue with us for SEO to make sure they appear in Google for the right searches.” - With results in mind:
“You’ve invested in your online presence — now let’s make it work harder by ranking for the keywords your customers are searching every day.”
Benefits to Your Agency
Offering white label SEO gives your agency:
- Recurring revenue from existing clients
- Higher client retention with longer engagement cycles
- Stronger results that position you as a full-service partner
- No added overhead — fulfillment is handled externally
- Scalability — sell more SEO without needing to scale your team
If you’re already designing websites, you’re only one step away from offering the most natural, profitable service your clients will thank you for. With white label SEO, you don’t need to build an SEO department — just a smarter way to deliver value.
Looking to upsell SEO without the fulfillment burden?
The SEO Consulting Experts team provide white label SEO solutions tailored for web design and digital agencies that want to grow faster — without growing overhead.
