The Melbourne shortlist · Professional services

9 best SEO agencies
in Melbourne.

SEO is a long commitment, and results take months to show. This guide compares Melbourne agencies on what they can actually show: documented results, independent reviews, how clearly they price and report, and who does the work.

By James Richardson Published Last checked Method v1 20 businesses considered
Our two cents

Evidence of results beats promises.

StudioHawk scores highest, with independently judged award wins, detailed case studies and no lock-in contracts. Impressive and SIXGUN follow: Impressive suits brands that want SEO and paid media together, and SIXGUN publishes its full terms of business. Megantic is the specialist pick for online retailers.

Optimising, our featured placement, is owned by our publisher. It does SEO only, with detailed named case studies and B Corp certification, but publishes no pricing or contract terms. With any agency, get the minimum term and exit fees in writing, and walk away from guaranteed rankings.

How the shortlist is assessed ↗
In this guide
  1. Compare the shortlist
  2. Read the assessments
  3. Before you hire
  4. How we score
  5. Updates and corrections

The shortlist, at a glance.

2c editorial score / 100
9 SEO agencies in Melbourne, with rank, 2c score and what each suits best
#BusinessScoreBest suited to
01 OptimisingRichmond
Featured · Owned by our publisher
 87 Brands needing technical SEO depth
02 StudioHawkPrahran 94 Larger brands wanting SEO scale
03 ImpressiveCremorne 88 Brands combining SEO with paid
=04 MeganticSt Kilda Road 86 Ecommerce retailers only
=04 SIXGUNRichmond 86 Mid-size brands wanting clear terms
06 AperitifSouth Yarra 80 Boutique, senior-led search engagements
07 Clearwater AgencyCremorne 77 Multi-channel campaigns including SEO
08 ClickmatixDocklands 72 Local businesses accepting 12-month terms
09 eMarket ExpertsSt Kilda Road 67 Small business websites plus SEO

Scores compare businesses within this category only. They are editorial assessments from desk research, not customer star ratings. An “=” marks businesses with the same rounded score. Position 1 is a disclosed featured placement; positions after it follow the score.

01 / Best suited to brands needing technical SEO depth

Optimising

Featured · Owned by our publisherEvidence confidence: HighLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Disclosure: Optimising is owned by our publisher, James Richardson. It holds position 1 as a featured placement. Its score comes from the same rubric and the same kind of evidence as every other business in this guide.

Our two cents

Optimising is a Richmond agency that does SEO and AI search work only, founded by James Richardson in 2009. It suits Melbourne mid-size and national brands, particularly ecommerce, franchise and Shopify sites, that need technical SEO or migration support. Named case studies such as Chemist Warehouse and Jim's Mowing report specific organic gains, and B Lab lists it as a certified B Corp. The main caveat: no published pricing or contract terms, and its awards record is shortlist placings rather than wins.

Why it makes the list

  • Focuses on SEO and AI search only rather than selling paid media alongside it [optimising.com.au]
  • Detailed migration case study for Chemist Warehouse reporting 75% organic traffic growth after an 18-month replatform [optimising.com.au]
  • Certified B Corp since October 2021 with a B Impact score of 100.2 [bcorporation.net]
  • Monthly reports plus quarterly video walkthroughs covering rankings, organic traffic, conversions and AI visibility [optimising.com.au]

What to consider

  • No published pricing, minimum term or contract terms; ask for these in writing before signing.
  • Awards record is finalist and shortlist placings only; no search award wins listed.
  • No Clutch reviews, so independent feedback rests on 59 Google reviews.
  • Small team (it entered the 25 or under employees category), so check who will run your account day to day.
  • SEO only: businesses wanting paid search managed by the same agency will need a second provider.
  • Not verified: Pricing, Minimum contract term, Shopify Plus partner status (business claim only), Australian Web Industry Association board roles, Press items listed on the credits page other than the B&T profile, Case study figures (self-reported).
22.5/25Expertise and capability
25/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
9/15Transparency
12/15Professional standards
Services
Ongoing SEO campaigns, Technical SEO audits, Website migrations, Shopify SEO, Digital PR, AI search optimisation (GEO), AI visibility audits and reporting
Service area
Melbourne, and clients across Australia
Pricing
Not verified
Location
Office in Richmond VIC
Independent reviews
5 on Google Business Profile (59 reviews)
Visit Optimising ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: yes, disclosed above. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

02 / Best suited to larger brands wanting SEO scale

StudioHawk

Evidence confidence: HighLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

StudioHawk is a Prahran-based SEO and AI search agency founded in 2015, now with 120+ specialists across Melbourne, Sydney, London and Atlanta. It suits Melbourne brands with enough budget for a structured, specialist SEO program, especially ecommerce and enterprise sites. It won Best Large SEO Agency at the APAC Search Awards 2026 and holds 4.8 stars from 129 Google reviews. The caveat: pricing is by proposal only, and with a large multi-office team you should confirm who will run your account.

Why it makes the list

What to consider

  • No published pricing or ranges; expect a bespoke proposal.
  • Large multi-office agency, so confirm which Melbourne team members will work on your account.
  • Only 6 Clutch reviews; most independent feedback is on Google.
  • Not verified: Pricing, AWIA board membership, Claim of 1000+ campaigns without a penalty, Earlier APAC Best Large SEO Agency wins (site claims four).
25/25Expertise and capability
25/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
10.5/15Transparency
15/15Professional standards
Services
Technical SEO, Ecommerce SEO, Local SEO, Enterprise SEO, AI SEO, Digital PR and link building, SEO website migrations, Content and SEO copywriting
Service area
Australia, the UK and the US, from a Melbourne head office
Pricing
No prices published. FAQ says SEO packages are priced by bespoke proposal based on budget, site condition and scope, and that it does not use lock-in contracts. [studiohawk.com.au]
Location
Head office in Prahran VIC
Independent reviews
4.8 on Google Business Profile (129 reviews) · 4.8 on Clutch (6 reviews)
Visit StudioHawk ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

03 / Best suited to brands combining SEO with paid

Impressive

Evidence confidence: HighLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

Impressive is a Cremorne digital agency founded in 2016 that runs SEO alongside Google Ads, paid social and analytics. It suits Melbourne businesses that want SEO coordinated with paid media under one roof. Its Rail Online SEO campaign won two APAC Search Awards categories in 2025, and it holds 4.8 stars from 145 Google reviews. Its FAQ says most Australian businesses pay $3,000 to $15,000 a month for this kind of agency. The caveat: SEO is one of several channels, so check the SEO team size on your account.

Why it makes the list

  • Four APAC Search Awards 2025 category wins, two for an SEO campaign [apacsearchawards.com]
  • Publishes a typical fee range and says it uses rolling terms rather than lock-in contracts [impressive.com.au]
  • About 170 reviews across Google and Clutch averaging about 4.8 [google.com]

What to consider

  • Multi-channel agency; Clutch lists SEO at about 35% of its service focus, so confirm dedicated SEO resourcing.
  • Published fee range is for performance marketing generally, not an SEO-only quote.
  • B Corp certification not independently verified in this research.
  • Not verified: B Corp certification, SEO-only pricing, Semrush award history, Sydney and Perth office presence.
20/25Expertise and capability
22.5/25Evidence of work
20/20Customer experience
12/15Transparency
13.5/15Professional standards
Services
SEO (technical, ecommerce, enterprise, local, international), AI SEO and ChatGPT GEO, Link building and digital PR, Google Ads and paid social, Conversion optimisation, Data and analytics
Service area
Australia-wide, from a Melbourne head office
Pricing
FAQ states most businesses pay between $3,000 and $15,000 per month for a performance-focused digital marketing agency in Australia, with pricing based on deliverables and scale. It says it offers rolling terms and does not lock clients into long-term contracts. [impressive.com.au]
Location
Office in Cremorne VIC
Independent reviews
4.8 on Google Business Profile (145 reviews) · 5 on Clutch (25 reviews)
Visit Impressive ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

=04 / Best suited to ecommerce retailers only

Megantic

Evidence confidence: HighLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

Megantic is a St Kilda Road SEO agency that works exclusively with ecommerce brands, with a team of 100+ across Australia, the UK and Europe. It suits Melbourne online retailers that want an SEO team focused only on retail, including multi-market stores. It won three APAC Search Awards categories in 2025 and holds 4.9 stars from 112 Google reviews. The caveat: it is not a fit for service or local businesses, and no pricing is published.

Why it makes the list

What to consider

  • Ecommerce only; service businesses and local trades are outside its stated focus.
  • No pricing published.
  • Team is spread across Australia, the UK and Europe, so ask where your account team sits.
  • Not verified: Founding year, Founder and senior staff names, Pricing, Clutch reviews.
22.5/25Expertise and capability
22.5/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
9/15Transparency
13.5/15Professional standards
Services
Ecommerce SEO, Technical SEO, Enterprise SEO, SEO migrations, SEO keyword research, AI SEO for ecommerce
Service area
Ecommerce brands in Australia and overseas
Pricing
Not verified
Location
Office on St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC
Independent reviews
4.9 on Google Business Profile (112 reviews)
Visit Megantic ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

=04 / Best suited to mid-size brands wanting clear terms

SIXGUN

Evidence confidence: HighLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

SIXGUN is a Richmond SEO and digital marketing agency founded in 2017 by David Pagotto. It suits Melbourne businesses that want an SEO-led team with analytics and paid support, and that like seeing contract terms up front. It placed silver for Best Small SEO Agency at the APAC Search Awards 2026 and holds 5.0 from 108 Google reviews. The caveat: its published terms allow a minimum term with early exit fees of 20% to 50% of the remaining value, so check your campaign particulars.

Why it makes the list

  • Publishes its full Terms of Business, including notice periods and exit fees [sixgun.com.au]
  • Dated, named SEO case studies such as Novotel Melbourne Airport (+289% organic sessions) [sixgun.com.au]
  • 5.0 stars from 108 Google reviews and 5.0 from 23 Clutch reviews [google.com]
  • Silver, Best Small SEO Agency, APAC Search Awards 2026 [apacsearchawards.com]

What to consider

  • Terms allow a minimum term; leaving early costs 20% to 50% of the remaining contract value.
  • No price list; only budget bands on the enquiry form.
  • Some showcased results are analytics or paid media work rather than SEO.
  • Not verified: Actual minimum term offered to new clients, Pricing, Team size beyond the Clutch band.
20/25Expertise and capability
22.5/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
12/15Transparency
13.5/15Professional standards
Services
SEO, International SEO, Google penalty recovery, Link building and digital PR, Content writing, Search engine marketing, Social media marketing, Google Analytics and tracking, Conversion rate optimisation
Service area
Australia-wide, from a Melbourne office
Pricing
No price list. Enquiry form offers monthly budget bands from $1,000 to $2,000 up to $15,000+. Its pricing article gives general industry ranges ($1,000 to $10,000 per month for retainers), not SIXGUN's own fees. [sixgun.com.au]
Location
Office in Richmond VIC
Independent reviews
5 on Google Business Profile (108 reviews) · 5 on Clutch (23 reviews)
Visit SIXGUN ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

06 / Best suited to boutique, senior-led search engagements

Aperitif

Evidence confidence: HighLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

Aperitif is a small South Yarra search agency founded in 2020 by Joe Romeo, an SEO consultant with over 10 years' experience. It suits Melbourne businesses that want a boutique team covering SEO and paid search with senior involvement. It won Best Global Small SEO Agency at the Global Search Awards 2025 and holds 4.9 stars from 44 Google reviews. The caveat: it is a young, seven-person business with no published pricing, so check capacity before committing.

Why it makes the list

What to consider

  • Small team of about seven named people, so capacity and key-person reliance are worth checking.
  • Trading only since 2020.
  • No pricing published; South Yarra office is by appointment only.
  • Not verified: Pricing, Contract terms, Founder's prior employment, Full case study figures.
20/25Expertise and capability
20/25Evidence of work
16/20Customer experience
10.5/15Transparency
13.5/15Professional standards
Services
SEO, AI SEO, Google Ads (PPC), Social ads
Service area
Australia and the UK, from a Melbourne office
Pricing
Not verified
Location
Office in South Yarra VIC (by appointment)
Independent reviews
4.9 on Google Business Profile (44 reviews)
Visit Aperitif ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

07 / Best suited to multi-channel campaigns including SEO

Clearwater Agency

Evidence confidence: ModerateLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

Clearwater Agency is a Cremorne digital agency founded in 2012 by Glenn Lockwood, now running SEO alongside paid social, paid search and creative. It suits Melbourne organisations, including not-for-profits and finance brands, that want SEO as part of a wider campaign. Its finance SEO work won at the Global Search Awards 2026, and it holds 4.9 stars from 87 Google reviews. The caveat: SEO is one channel among several, and no pricing is published.

Why it makes the list

What to consider

  • Multi-channel agency; confirm how much of the team works on SEO specifically.
  • No pricing or contract terms published.
  • Not verified: Pricing, Contract terms, Size of the SEO team.
17.5/25Expertise and capability
20/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
9/15Transparency
12/15Professional standards
Services
SEO, AI SEO and AEO, Paid social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube), Paid search, Creative
Service area
Australia-wide, from a Melbourne office
Pricing
Not verified
Location
Office in Cremorne VIC
Independent reviews
4.9 on Google Business Profile (87 reviews) · 5 on Clutch (11 reviews)
Visit Clearwater Agency ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

08 / Best suited to local businesses accepting 12-month terms

Clickmatix

Evidence confidence: ModerateLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

Clickmatix is a Docklands SEO and Google Ads agency trading since 2014. It suits Melbourne small and mid-size businesses, including trades and local services, that want SEO and paid search from one team and are comfortable with a fixed term. It holds 4.7 stars from 199 Google reviews and 4.7 from 15 on Clutch. The caveat: its published SEO terms set a minimum 12-month term, with the remaining balance payable if you leave early.

Why it makes the list

What to consider

  • Minimum 12-month SEO term; the balance of fees becomes payable on early termination.
  • No senior SEO staff named on the pages loaded.
  • No independent awards or industry memberships found.
  • Not verified: Pricing, Team members and qualifications, ROI claim.
15/25Expertise and capability
17.5/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
12/15Transparency
9/15Professional standards
Services
SEO (local, ecommerce, enterprise), AI SEO, Google Ads (PPC), Social media marketing, Growth marketing
Service area
Melbourne, plus Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide
Pricing
No own price list. Its cost guide says most Melbourne businesses using a reputable agency should expect $1,500 to $3,000 per month, with one-off audits or migrations $1,500 to $10,000+ (general guidance, not a Clickmatix quote). [clickmatix.com.au]
Location
Office in Docklands VIC
Independent reviews
4.7 on Google Business Profile (199 reviews) · 4.7 on Clutch (15 reviews)
Visit Clickmatix ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

09 / Best suited to small business websites plus SEO

eMarket Experts

Evidence confidence: ModerateLast checked 28 October 2026 · Desk research

Our two cents

eMarket Experts is a St Kilda Road agency trading since 2013 that combines SEO, Google Ads and website builds. It suits Melbourne small businesses that want a new website and ongoing SEO from one provider. Clients rate it 4.9 from 117 Google reviews and 5.0 from 24 on Clutch, and its Polito case study reports leads up more than 500%. The caveat: no senior SEO staff are named, and the site's 'guaranteed' wording deserves a direct question about what is promised.

Why it makes the list

What to consider

  • Site refers to 'guaranteed digital marketing services'; no agency can guarantee rankings, so ask what is guaranteed.
  • No named senior SEO specialists or verified awards.
  • No pricing or contract terms published.
  • Not verified: Awards, Pricing, Contract terms, Team qualifications.
15/25Expertise and capability
17.5/25Evidence of work
18/20Customer experience
9/15Transparency
7.5/15Professional standards
Services
SEO, Google Ads, Website design and development, Ecommerce websites, Social media marketing
Service area
Australia-wide, from a Melbourne office
Pricing
Not verified
Location
Office on St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC
Independent reviews
4.9 on Google Business Profile (117 reviews) · 5 on Clutch (24 reviews)
Visit eMarket Experts ↗ Read full assessment

Research basis: desk research, checked 28 October 2026. No service was purchased or tested. Commercial relationship: none. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

Before you hire

Before you sign an SEO retainer.

  • Ask for the contract in writing before you sign: minimum term, notice period and any early exit fee. Published terms in this category range from no lock-in to a 12-month minimum with the remaining balance payable if you leave.
  • Be wary of anyone guaranteeing rankings. Search results are outside any agency's control, and reputable agencies say so in their terms.
  • Ask for two or three case studies in your industry with named clients, dates and organic metrics (clicks, sessions, conversions or revenue from organic search), and ask to see the Google Search Console data behind them.
  • Find out who will actually do the work: names, seniority and location of your account team, and whether any work is outsourced.
  • Check award claims against the organiser's own winners page and note the category. APAC and Global Search Awards list SEO and PPC categories separately, and a Google Partner badge relates to Google Ads, not SEO.
  • Confirm you will own your Google Analytics, Search Console, Business Profile and any content or links created, and that reporting covers more than rankings.
  • Compare like with like on price: get a written scope listing monthly deliverables (technical fixes, content, links, reporting) rather than comparing retainer figures alone.

Worth knowing

No SEO-specific licence or accreditation scheme exists in Australia, so awards, independent reviews, published terms and named staff are the main quality signals.

Price guides in this category are published by agencies, not independent surveys. SIXGUN’s guide puts SEO retainers at $1,000 to $10,000 a month and one-off projects at $2,000 to $30,000. [sixgun.com.au]

Clickmatix’s Melbourne guide says most businesses using a reputable agency should expect $1,500 to $3,000 a month. [clickmatix.com.au]

Clutch’s Melbourne SEO listing shows most agencies charging $100 to $199 an hour. [clutch.co]

Award claims are easy to check: the APAC Search Awards publish their winners by year and category. A Google Partner badge relates to Google Ads, not SEO. [apacsearchawards.com]

Behind the score

Same framework. Relevant evidence.

  • 25Expertise and capability
  • 25Evidence of work
  • 20Customer experience
  • 15Transparency
  • 15Professional standards

We considered 20 SEO agencies with a Melbourne office, found through search results, Clutch, Google Maps and search award shortlists. Eight competitors were chosen on the strength of their published evidence, and one more was assessed but left out because it publishes too little to score. Interstate agencies with only a Melbourne page were excluded, as were two agencies with commercial ties to our publisher. Optimising is included as our disclosed featured placement.

Each pillar is rated 0 to 5 against published anchors and weighted to 100. Unknown evidence is recorded as “not verified”, never as zero. Evidence confidence is separate from the score: High means several independent sources, checked recently, cover most pillars. Moderate means mostly the business’s own published claims, with some independent checks.

Read the full methodology.

Updates and corrections

Something needs correcting?

Corrections are free. Send us the fact, the page and a link to evidence. A submission does not change a score by itself; we check it and record any material change below.

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