Why should web design agencies offer SEO?
Because most web design revenue ends at launch, while the client's need for traffic starts there. Offering SEO turns a one-time project into a monthly retainer, protects the site you built from being blamed for weak results, and keeps another agency from taking over the relationship once the client starts looking for growth.
Recurring revenue
A $10,000 build becomes a long-term account with a predictable monthly fee.
Protect your work
SEO-safe launches and redirects mean your beautiful site does not lose the traffic the old one had.
Keep the client
When growth comes from you, nobody else gets invited to 'take a look at the website'.
Bigger proposals
Bundle launch SEO and a 6-month plan into every proposal to raise the average deal.
What does SEO look like around a website launch?
Before launch, SEO means keyword-mapped pages, a clean structure, schema and speed. During launch, it means a redirect map from every old URL to its new home, as Google recommends. After launch, it means monitoring Search Console, fixing errors fast and starting the content and local work that grows traffic month after month.
Google's own guide to site moves and migrations recommends permanent 301 redirects and a mapping of old to new URLs. It sounds simple, and it is the step most often skipped. My website redesign SEO checklist covers every step.
What you can add to your offer
| Stage | What I deliver under your brand | Wholesale |
|---|---|---|
| Before launch | Keyword and content map, page structure, schema | From $350 |
| Launch | Site migration SEO: redirects, checks, Search Console | From $900 |
| After launch | Monthly SEO plan per client | $1,000 to $2,500 / month |
| Speed | Core Web Vitals fixes in your build | Included in plans |
Speed matters to both users and Google: its Core Web Vitals guidance targets a Largest Contentful Paint within 2.5 seconds. Full prices are on the pricing page.
How does it work with your team?
Your team keeps designing and building. I join at the planning stage to map keywords and structure, review the staging site before launch, handle the redirects and Search Console setup, then run the monthly SEO plan. Everything goes out in your templates, and I only speak to clients when you ask me to.
- You share the project brief and the old site's URLs.
- I deliver the keyword map and page structure for your designers.
- I review staging, then handle the launch checks and redirects.
- You sell the monthly plan, and I deliver it under your brand.
Pricing SEO next to your builds
Most agencies resell at around two times the wholesale price. Nico Digital's 2026 benchmark places agency margins on SEO retainers between 45% and 65%. The full math is in how much to mark up white label SEO, and the pitch scripts for past clients are in how to sell SEO to existing clients.
Want to see the full model first? Start at the white label SEO services page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change my design process?
No. I plug into the planning and staging steps and work with whatever stack you use.
Can you work with WordPress, Webflow and Shopify?
Yes. I work with the common CMS platforms and prepare exact instructions when a change needs your developers.
What if a client's traffic dropped after a redesign?
I audit redirects, indexing and lost pages first. Many post-launch drops are recoverable when caught early.
Will you talk to my clients?
Only if you ask me to, and always under your agency's name.
Can I start with one client?
Yes. A single pilot client is the recommended way to start.
About the author
Juan José Giraldo is a senior SEO specialist with 5+ years of experience. He works on technical and local SEO for 600+ US car dealerships and supervises the SEO of 18 US e-commerce stores. He runs White Label SEO LATAM from Medellín, Colombia, and delivers white label SEO for agencies in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Read more · LinkedIn.