How to get SEO clients: A practical guide for agencies and freelancers
Stevia Putri
Katelin Teen
Last edited January 27, 2026
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If you're an SEO pro, you know the technical side of the job is often the simplest part. The real headache is finding a steady stream of good clients, especially when the market feels packed. Old-school tactics aren't cutting it. The best way to land your ideal clients is to show them you know your stuff before you even have a conversation.
This guide breaks down three key ways to build your client list: attracting them with inbound marketing, reaching out directly, and using strategic partnerships. You'll see a common thread here: proving your expertise through great content. But who has the time for that? It's a huge time-sink for agencies and freelancers. That's where a tool like the eesel AI blog writer comes in. It helps you create a lot of content without the manual grind, so you can spend more time closing deals and getting results for your clients.
What are the main approaches to getting SEO clients?
The smartest agencies don't put all their eggs in one basket. They mix three main strategies to keep a steady flow of leads coming in. This way, if one channel dries up for a bit, you're not left scrambling.
First, there's inbound marketing. This is where clients find you. You create helpful content that answers their questions, positioning yourself as the expert they need. They come to you because you've already proven your value.
Then you have outbound marketing. This is you going out and finding clients. You identify businesses that are a perfect fit and reach out to them directly with things like personalized emails or messages.
Finally, there are partnerships and referrals. This is about using your network. You build relationships with other businesses that can send warm, qualified leads your way. These are often the easiest to close.
The inbound approach: Demonstrating expertise
With inbound marketing, clients come to you. It works because you aren't just selling; you're proving your expertise. When a potential client needs SEO, you're the first name that comes to mind.
Prove your value with your own website's SEO
Your agency's website is your number one case study. Think of it as your "practice what you preach" moment. When a potential client sees your site ranking high for relevant keywords, it’s solid proof of your skills. They don't have to take your word for it, they can see the results right there.
A high-ranking site isn't everything, though. It also needs to look clean, professional, and be easy to use if you want to turn visitors into leads. As the team at Copyblogger points out, SEO brings people to your site, but great content and design keep them there. Also, don't forget about local SEO. Ranking for terms like "SEO agency in [Your City]" is a direct path to attracting local businesses that need help now.
Scale your content marketing with the eesel AI blog writer
Content is the fuel for your inbound engine. Writing useful blog posts, guides, and case studies is the best way to show off your expertise and attract good leads. The only problem is it takes a ton of time, which is time you could be spending on client work.
This is why you need a system to produce more content without letting the quality slip. The eesel AI blog writer is a platform that automates the whole content creation process, not just spitting out paragraphs. It's the same tool we used to grow our own traffic from 70k to over 750k impressions in just three months by publishing high-quality, optimized articles at scale.
Here’s how it helps SEO agencies prove what they know:
- Full-Cycle Automation: You can go from a single keyword to a finished, publish-ready blog post in minutes. It does the research, structuring, writing, and even creates the assets for you.
- Deep Research and AEO: The AI does real, context-aware research. It structures content to be used as a source by AI answer engines like Google AI Overviews, which is a step beyond old-school SEO.
- Automatic Asset Generation: It creates and adds relevant images, infographics, and data tables right into the article. This saves hours of work you'd otherwise spend finding or making visuals.
- Built-in Social Proof: To make the content feel more credible than generic AI text, it automatically finds and embeds real Reddit quotes and relevant YouTube videos. This makes your articles feel more human and trustworthy.
It’s the tool that lets you run a serious, SEO-focused content strategy without pulling you away from your clients.
Leverage social media and online communities
Show up where your potential clients hang out online. This could be LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), or specific Reddit communities in their industry. The goal is to be genuinely helpful, not just to sell. Answer questions, share things you've learned from your latest blog posts, and join conversations.
When you consistently appear as a helpful expert, you build trust. People remember the person who gave them solid advice for free. When they finally decide to hire an SEO professional, you’ll be the first one they think of.
The outbound approach: Reaching prospects directly
While inbound is great for attracting leads, an outbound strategy lets you hand-pick the clients you really want to work with. When you do it right, it’s a great way to fill your pipeline with your ideal customers.
Offer value upfront with free SEO audits
One of the best outbound moves is to find businesses with obvious SEO problems you can fix and offer them a free, quick audit. This tactic, used by well-known SEOs like Brian Dean of Backlinko, works because you immediately show your value. You’re not just telling them you can help, you're showing them how.
Find a business that's stuck on page four for a valuable keyword, or one with clear on-page technical issues. Send them a short video or a one-page report that points out 2-3 big problems you found and explains how you'd fix them. This changes a cold outreach into a warm conversation about value.
Master personalized outreach
In 2026, quality always wins over quantity. Blasting out generic, mass-sent messages on LinkedIn or via cold email is a waste of everyone's time. They usually get ignored and can even hurt your reputation.
Instead, focus on personalized outreach that’s tailored to the person you're contacting. Here are a few tips:
- Do your homework: Personalize every message. Mention a recent company win, an article they published, or a connection you share. It shows you’ve actually paid attention.
- Keep it short: Your message should be brief and focus on one clear problem you've noticed. Don't hit them with a wall of text.
- Use a simple call to action: Instead of asking for a 30-minute demo, try something easier, like asking if they’re open to a quick 15-minute chat to go over what you found.
The leverage approach: Building a pipeline through relationships
The best long-term play for getting clients is to build systems that bring warm, qualified leads to your door automatically. This means building relationships and using your network so new business comes from people who already trust you.
Form strategic partnerships with complementary agencies
Think about it: businesses rarely need just one thing. A company that just invested in a new website from a design agency will likely need SEO to get traffic. A business with a great PPC campaign could also benefit from strong organic traffic.
Reach out to agencies that offer complementary services, like web design firms, PPC agencies, content writers, or social media managers, and suggest a referral partnership. You can send clients to each other, which creates a win-win and a steady flow of qualified leads. To make it official, you could offer a commission or referral fee to sweeten the deal.
Encourage and systematize client referrals
Your happiest clients are your best salespeople. Period. A referral from a client who loves your work is one of the easiest leads to close because the trust is already there. The thing is, most clients won't think to send someone your way unless you ask.
Get in the habit of asking for referrals at the right moments. The best times are right after you've hit a big goal, like a new traffic milestone, or during a positive check-in call when they're happy with your results.
You can also set up a simple referral program to make it a regular thing. For example, offer a small discount on their next bill or a gift card for any referral that turns into a signed contract. It's a small investment that can bring in a lot of ideal clients.
Foundational strategies for success
The tactics we've covered work best when you have a solid foundation in place. These core principles will make all your efforts to get new clients more effective.
Define your niche and unique selling proposition
If you try to be an "SEO agency for everyone," you'll struggle to stand out. When you specialize, you become an expert. You could focus on a specific industry (like SaaS, e-commerce, or local law firms) or a specific service (like technical SEO, link building, or local SEO).
Having a clear niche makes your marketing much more focused and effective. It helps you attract the right clients, build a reputation as the expert in your field, and charge more for your specialized skills.
Create transparent pricing and packages
Putting your prices out there builds trust and makes the sales process smoother. Many potential clients won't even book a call if they don't know whether they can afford you. When they can see clear packages on your website, they can figure out for themselves if it's a good fit.
This saves everyone time. It makes sure you're talking to businesses that are serious and understand the value you offer, which helps you close more deals. Transparent pricing shows you're confident in what you do and have nothing to hide.
For those who prefer a visual breakdown of client acquisition strategies, the following video offers practical advice on hunting for and landing your ideal SEO clients.
A YouTube video from Osborne Digital Marketing explaining various methods for finding and securing SEO clients.
Final thoughts
Landing a steady stream of SEO clients isn't about finding one magic trick. It’s about using a smart mix of inbound marketing, targeted outbound outreach, and strategic partnerships. The one thing that connects all of these is your ability to consistently prove your expertise and build trust.
Today, the best way to get clients is by proving your value with high-quality content. By showing what you can do, not just talking about it, you’ll attract the right clients and build a business that lasts. If you're ready to scale your content and prove your expertise, there's no better first step.
Ready to prove your expertise and attract more SEO clients? Try the eesel AI blog writer for free and generate your first publish-ready article in minutes.
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Article by
Stevia Putri
Stevia Putri is a marketing generalist at eesel AI, where she helps turn powerful AI tools into stories that resonate. She’s driven by curiosity, clarity, and the human side of technology.
