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Agency wants to sell us SEO optimization — what exactly is it, and what do we need to do?

VVildan B***Member
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Doki · Mobile app · 2023

#1

We're a 9-employee laboratory based in Cologne manufacturing dental prosthetics and orthodontic supplies. A local digital agency that redesigned our website pitched us an ongoing "SEO optimization service" post-launch for 1.100 Euro per month... Their proposal uses generic terms like keyword tracking on-page improvements and monthly visibility growth.

Our industry is quite niche, and we sell directly to dentists. No one on our staff fully grasps what this involves and we've never run this kind of marketing before.

What concrete tasks does an agency's SEO optimization package actually cover? Is it a "pay and forget" setup, or does it require continuous effort from our side as a business?

DDoruk Y***Member
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Most Helpful#2

Short answer: SEO optimization is the systematic improvement of your website's technical foundation, page speed, content quality, and industry reputation so it ranks higher in searches conducted by your target audience. It is not an off-the-shelf package you can completely hand off; it's a collaborative process that constantly relies on your company's subject-matter expertise.

The tangible deliverables an agency should provide generally break down into three areas: 1) Technical SEO: Page load speeds, mobile responsiveness, fixing crawl errors, and sitemap management. 2) On-page SEO and content: Structuring service pages around terms dentists actually search for, optimizing meta tags, and planning informative industry articles. 3) Off-page SEO: Securing backlinks from industry directories, professional platforms and digital trade publications.

Your side of the workload will never be zero. The agency won't know dental prosthesis terminology clinician expectations, or your product certifications inside and out. You have to verify the technical accuracy of the content, feed the agency common questions dentists ask you, and provide case studies. Without steady feedback, the content will sound generic and fail to convince prospective clients.

DDilara Ş***Member
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#3

In a niche B2B sector, standard packages focusing on broad search volume will just burn through your budget. You don't need a hundred thousand visits a month; you need 50 dentists in your region landing on your site via high-intent queries. Demand metrics on targeted leads and contact form conversions from the agency, not generic traffic spikes.

EErcan C***MemberCommunity member
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#4

Before signing any contract, have the agency clarify these three points: 1) How many pieces of content and technical fixes will be delivered each month? 2) Which keywords are we targeting, and what's the reporting schedule? 3) Will the agency implement changes directly on the website, or just send a list of instructions to your developer?

AAycan P***MemberCommunity member
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#5

1.100 Euro a month isn't pocket change for a niche B2B. A lot of agencies will just take that money, send an automated monthly PDF report, post two mediocre blog entries, and call it a day. Never lock into a long-term commitment without a clear roadmap and an hourly breakdown of the planned work.

YYasemin K***Member
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#6

Back when I worked at a similar medical supply company, we started at 1.000 Euro a month. The first 4 months were spent entirely on cleaning up technical debt and rewriting product catalog pages; we saw zero uptick in search rankings. From month 6 onward, we hit page one for specific material codes clinicians search for, and inbound inquiries doubled. It requires patience.

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#7

the idea that you can just pay and sit back is definitely not true. you know what dentists are searching for way better than any agency youll constantly be reading and correcting drafts, just be prepared for that tbh.

İİlker K***Member
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#8

Don't sign a 12-month contract right off the bat. Offer a 3-month trial period instead; let them do a comprehensive site audit and technical cleanup in the first month. Once you see their work ethic and how they communicate with you you can decide whether to keep going.

SSerapNew member
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#9

Dental prosthetics is a very niche field; the agency probably doesnt know much beyond basic keywords like implants and zirconia. If theyre going to produce content, make sure your in-house technical staff reviews and approves the copy—putting incorrect medical terminology in front of doctors will hurt your brand image.

RRecep N***MemberCommunity member
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#10

To sum it up, SEO isn't magic; it's a mix of technical infrastructure, proper content, and external references. You can't just leave it entirely to the agency; you need to contribute your industry expertise. Since you're in a niche market, tracking direct conversions from doctors rather than generic traffic is the best way to go.

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Doki · Corporate website · 2024

#11

The answer above hits the nail on the head. The harder it is to reverse a decision, the slower you should make it.

That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

AAhmet A***MemberCommunity member
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#12

Saved. Everyone rushing into what is SEO optimization gets stuck at the same point.

Speed is a threshold issue; if you're already fast, making it faster changes nothing. Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

İİbrahim Y***MemberCommunity member
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#13

youre right Ive been down that road too but a page that answers one question works better than one touching on five topics.

the real issue isnt the number but what its based on. proven by experience.

OOya B***MemberCommunity member
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#14

Let me speak from the other side; I'm on the supplier side. Merge instead of deleting; deleted content doesn't come back.

Start with a small trial; don't commit to everything at once. This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

MMerve Y***Member
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#15

Here's how it went for us. Everyone rushing into what is SEO optimization gets stuck at the same point.

If you have questions write them; I'll answer as best I can.

LLeventVeteran
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#16

I'd say don't rush. Internal linking is the cheapest and most neglected task.

Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.

AAslıhanMember
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#17

Don't miss this: Hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

Proven by experience.

PPerihan T***New memberCommunity member
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#18

Same here. When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand.

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Doki · Penetration test · 2026

#19

Let me share my experience. A competitor's ranking might come from years of accumulation, not just their content.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

OOzan M***New member
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#20

im writing this so you dont make the same mistake and just because everyoe does it doesnt mean its right.

everything goes well for the first thrree months; problems arise in the fourth but tbh correct me if I'm wrong.

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