Best SEO Agencies in Melbourne (2026): My Shortlist of 8

If you want an SEO team that ships changes to your website every week and measures each one, my pick is Searchmaxxed. I run it and put it first, so weigh that. For a large Melbourne team that specialises in SEO and AI search, call StudioHawk.^[1] Impressive, SIXGUN, First Page, Prosperity Media, Online Marketing Gurus and eMarket Experts complete the list.

Which Melbourne SEO agencies made my shortlist?

Eight agencies made it. I read each agency's own pages on 28 September 2026 and filled every row from those pages.

How did I choose them?

I used five criteria and applied them the same way to every agency:

• Presence: an office or team the agency itself places in Melbourne. A page with "Melbourne" in the title didn't count.
• Method: a published method, in enough detail to question on a call.
• Proof: case studies with numbers, which I quote as the agency's own claim.
• Shipping: who does the work, how you see it and what you own.
• AI search: a described offer for ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or Google's AI answers.

I made this selection on 28 September 2026 from what each agency publishes. It's my selection as the person who runs Searchmaxxed. Read it as one operator's view, rather than a survey, an award or a measure of client satisfaction.

1. Searchmaxxed: best for owner-operators who want the work shipped and measured every week

Searchmaxxed is the agentic SEO team I run. Our AI agents plug into your Search Console and GA4. Every week they scrape your competitors' sites and check what AI answers say about you. Then our Managed Search Loop picks the next best job.

• Where they are: We're a Queensland team, and I'm on the Sunshine Coast. We have no Melbourne office, and our Melbourne page explains how we'd approach your market.
• What they sell: We build page work on your Agentic Website, which lives on GitHub and Vercel and which you own. Off-page work runs through our Off-Page Source Layer, and a person checks every change before it goes live.
• Proof they publish: I took Radiant Roof Repairs from zero to more than $1 million a year, with search as its only marketing channel. I ran those steps by hand. Across our client book, our work has generated more than $10 million in revenue through search.
• Pricing: Let's talk pricing. We scope each business after we look at its site, market and goals.
• AI search: AEO and GEO sit inside every managed package. Agentic Search Engineering tracks AI answers across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and AI Overviews.
• Ask them: Show me last week's release, and the data that chose it.

2. StudioHawk: best for larger brands that want an SEO-only specialist team

StudioHawk^[10] describes itself as "a specialised agency dedicated to search engine optimisation (SEO) and AI search".^[1] Harry Sanders founded it in 2015.^[1] It says it has more than 120 SEO specialists in Melbourne, Sydney, London and Atlanta.^[1]

• Where they are: Its Melbourne HQ is on Mount Street in Prahran.^[11]
• What they sell: SEO, AI search optimisation and digital PR.^[10] It promises "No account managers, only SEO Specialists."^[10]
• Proof they publish: It says it helped Officeworks "deliver a 32% increase in organic revenue".^[12] It calls itself a "4x APAC Search Awards winner of 'Best Large SEO Agency'".^[1]
• Pricing: Not published, and it weighs "your budget, your site’s current state and the work that needs to be done" before quoting.^[10]
• AI search: Its homepage lists an AI search optimisation service and a free white paper on AEO.^[10]
• Ask them: Who's the specialist on my account, and how many other accounts do they run?

3. Impressive: best for revenue-led and ecommerce brands that want fees linked to targets

Impressive^[13] runs SEO with content, technical and CRO work, and it has operated since 2016.^[2][13] It says it's a certified B Corp.^[2] It suits a brand with revenue data and targets it wants the fees tied to.

• Where they are: Its SEO page says "Our team is based in Melbourne".^[2] Its HQ is in Cremorne.^[14]
• What they sell: SEO, content, technical and CRO work.^[2] You deal with "the project manager, the technical lead, the content strategist, and the analyst tracking performance".^[2]
• Proof they publish: Its homepage credits Acer with a 159% increase in online revenue in five months.^[13]
• Pricing: Not published, and it says "Fees connect to agreed performance targets, not fixed retainers that reward activity alone."^[2]
• AI search: Its Kudosity case shows 370% growth in ChatGPT traffic and a 590% increase in ChatGPT-driven conversions.^[2]
• Ask them: Which targets do the fees attach to, and who sets the baseline?

4. SIXGUN: best for small and mid-sized businesses that want a Richmond team

SIXGUN^[4] says it's "an award-winning digital marketing agency based in Melbourne".^[4] Founder and managing director David Pagotto runs it, and it works "from ambitious small businesses to global corporations".^[4]

• Where they are: Its office is on Bromham Place in Richmond.^[4]
• What they sell: SEO, AI SEO, content writing, Google Ads and international marketing.^[4] It says it doesn't chase ranking promises.^[15]
• Proof they publish: It lists a "142% increase in organic revenue" and a "289% increase in organic sessions".^[15] My capture shows no client name beside those figures.
• Pricing: Not published. Its enquiry form offers monthly budget bands from $1,000 to $2,000 up to $15,000 and above.^[3]
• AI search: "Ask ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Google's AI Mode about your industry and either your name comes up, or it doesn't."^[4]
• Ask them: Which client produced the 142% revenue figure, and over what period?

5. First Page: best for buyers who want pay-on-performance terms

First Page^[16] sells SEO, AI search, content and link building, plus Google Ads and paid social.^[16] Shark Tank investor Nick Bell founded it.^[16] It says its SEO campaigns have run from Melbourne since 2011.^[5]

• Where they are: Church Street in Richmond.^[17] It says it has "100+ in-house SEO specialists based in Melbourne".^[5]
• What they sell: Local, international, ecommerce and enterprise SEO.^[16] Reporting runs through SENTR, which connects "with Google Search Console and Google Analytics".^[5]
• Proof they publish: It claims "$3.8+ billion in sales" for clients.^[16] That's a portfolio total, so ask for a case close to yours.
• Pricing: Its own fee isn't published. It says Melbourne campaigns "typically run from $2,000 to $15,000 AUD per month".^[5]
• AI search: "Get your brand recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overviews."^[5]
• Ask them: Which benchmarks go in my pay-on-performance agreement, and what do the exclusions cover?

6. Prosperity Media: best for mid-market and enterprise brands that want a low client load

Prosperity Media^[7] calls itself "Australia's Leading SEO, GEO, Content & Digital PR Agency".^[7] It says "Our team of 35+ staff only has around 50 clients", mostly companies above $1 million in revenue.^[6]

• Where they are: Its main office is in Sydney.^[7] It publishes a Melbourne office on Simmons Street, South Yarra.^[18]
• What they sell: SEO, GEO, content, digital PR, link building and technical SEO.^[6] It usually plans 12 months with "a flexible 30 day clause".^[18]
• Proof they publish: Macquarie Telecom's marketing manager said: "We saw a 74% YOY increase in organic SEO sales and visibility working with Prosperity."^[6]
• Pricing: Hourly, with 15 to 30 hours a month advised for a small business.^[6] Local SEO "starts at around $2,000 + GST per month".^[6]
• AI search: "We also focused on getting cited in LLM's at scale."^[7]
• Ask them: How many hours does my budget buy, and what ships in those hours?

7. Online Marketing Gurus: best for SEO, paid media and AI search under one roof

Online Marketing Gurus^[19] started in Sydney in 2012 as a two-person agency.^[8] It now has more than 200 specialists across six offices.^[8] It suits a business that wants search and paid media run by one agency.

• Where they are: It opened its Melbourne office in 2015, at 152 Elizabeth St.^[8]
• What they sell: Generative AI SEO, enterprise, technical, local and ecommerce SEO, plus digital PR.^[8] Gurulytics reports "rankings, organic traffic, conversions, and revenue from search in one place".^[20]
• Proof they publish: It claims a "1,462%" increase in revenue from AI-driven traffic for Scorptec.^[20] Manly Pavilion saw a 40% increase in organic traffic within nine months.^[20]
• Pricing: Not published. Its homepage offers a free strategy session first.^[19]
• AI search: A Generative AI SEO service and ChatGPT Ads.^[8]
• Ask them: Who in the Melbourne office runs my account?

8. eMarket Experts: best for Melbourne SMEs and startups that want SEO plus GEO

eMarket Experts^[21] sells SEO, GEO, Google Ads, web design and copywriting.^[21][9] It has grown in Melbourne since 2013.^[21] Its case studies focus on smaller businesses.

• Where they are: "West Tower, Level 2/608 St Kilda Road".^[21]
• What they sell: SEO built around Google's EEAT criteria, with reporting under "TRACK RESULTS WITH ACCURATE REPORTING".^[9]
• Proof they publish: One Melbourne health food brand got "10x ROI with a 304% Jump in Online Sales".^[9] A model-car startup went "From $0 to $150K".^[9]
• Pricing: Not published. Its SEO page says costs depend on keywords, competition, site condition and goals.^[9]
• AI search: GEO for retrieval and citation in tools such as ChatGPT, and AEO for Google's AI answers.^[9]
• Ask them: Which case study is closest to my business, and can I speak to that client?

How should you choose an SEO agency in Melbourne?

Make each agency answer these on the first call:

• Presence: Decide whether you need people in the room. If video calls suit you, who does the work matters more than the address.
• Method: Ask what ships in months one, two and three, and who builds it.
• Proof: Look for a named client, a metric, a period and a channel.
• Shipping: Ask for a release log with dates and live URLs, alongside the monthly report.
• AI search: Ask which engines they check and what they change when you're missing. My AI SEO agencies shortlist compares specialists.
• Exit: StudioHawk says "we don’t do lock in contracts".^[10] Ask every other agency for its exit terms.

What does SEO cost in Melbourne?

Melbourne SEO campaigns "typically run from $2,000 to $15,000 AUD per month", according to First Page.^[5] The page I captured carries no GST note.

• First Page: It puts local businesses at $1,500 to $3,000 monthly and SMEs at $3,000 to $5,000.^[5]
• Prosperity Media: Local SEO "starts at around $2,000 + GST per month".^[6] Its contact form's lowest monthly SEO band is $5,000 to $10,000.^[18]
• SIXGUN: Its enquiry form's monthly budget bands start at $1,000 to $2,000.^[3]
• Impressive: Most businesses pay "between $3,000 and $15,000" monthly for a performance-focused digital marketing agency.^[13] That covers digital marketing, beyond SEO alone.

StudioHawk, Online Marketing Gurus and eMarket Experts publish no figures. Searchmaxxed lists what each package includes on the pricing page and quotes after reading your site and market. Let's talk pricing.

Frequently asked questions

How does Searchmaxxed's agentic SEO work?

Our AI agents plug into your Search Console and GA4. Every week they scrape competitors and check AI answers. The Managed Search Loop picks the next job. We ship page work on your Agentic Website and off-page work through the Off-Page Source Layer. A person checks every change before it goes live.

How much does SEO typically cost in Melbourne?

First Page says Melbourne campaigns "typically run from $2,000 to $15,000 AUD per month".^[5] Prosperity Media starts entry-level local SEO at around $2,000 plus GST monthly.^[6] Most agencies here publish no fee, so ask for the scope behind each quote.

Who is the best SEO agency?

I found no public source that audits agency results side by side. Every agency on this list quotes its own proof. Choose the one whose method, proof and terms fit your business, then test it on a first call.

Who is the best SEO expert in Australia?

Awards give no settled answer. StudioHawk and Prosperity Media both claim APAC Search Awards "Best Large SEO Agency" wins.^[1][6] Judge the person on your account by the work they show you.

Is SEO still worth it in 2026?

Yes, when the work targets searches that bring customers. I built Radiant Roof Repairs past $1 million a year with SEO as the only marketing channel. A page that answers a buying search keeps earning after the work ships.

Do I need an SEO agency with a Melbourne office?

You need one if you want in-person meetings. Seven agencies here publish Melbourne offices. If you work by video, judge the team, method and release cadence of their SEO work instead. Searchmaxxed works from Queensland with no Melbourne office.

Can an SEO agency promise first-page rankings?

An agency can offer performance terms, but it can't control Google's rankings. SIXGUN says it doesn't chase ranking promises.^[15] First Page offers pay-on-performance terms with conditions and exclusions.^[5] Read any performance clause in full.

Should I sign a 12-month SEO contract?

Sign one only if it has a clear exit. Prosperity Media offers "a flexible 30 day clause" in its contracts.^[18] Searchmaxxed terms run monthly, six-monthly or 12 months, agreed on the call.

How long does SEO take to work in Melbourne?

First Page says most businesses see meaningful results between three and six months.^[16] At Radiant, three high-intent searches reached number one within 90 days.

What's the difference between SEO, GEO and AEO?

SEO targets rankings in Google's results. GEO targets retrieval and citation in AI tools such as ChatGPT. AEO targets Google's AI answers, snippets and voice results, as eMarket Experts defines them.^[9] Our GEO and AEO pages cover the work.

Can I trust Clutch and other directory rankings?

Use them to find names, then check each agency yourself. Clutch shows 623 Melbourne companies and opens with a sponsored listing.^[22] It also says "We may earn a fee for some placements."^[22]

What do I own if I leave an SEO agency?

It depends on the contract, so ask before you sign. At Searchmaxxed, you own the site, repository, content and data from day one.