Last updated: September 2026
Leeds has more people selling SEO than most cities its size, and the lists that claim to rank them go out of date fast. Agencies merge, rebrand or close, and a few domains that still appear in roundups now point somewhere else entirely. So before shortlisting any SEO experts in Leeds, we checked every candidate against three things: a Leeds address on their own website, a site that actually loads and is still about SEO, and enough public detail to judge who they suit.
Nine passed. Four are independent consultants and five are agencies, ranging from a one-person practice in Horsforth to a 150-strong team that started in Leeds in 2005. Below you'll find a quick comparison, how each one was checked, and a short list of questions to ask before you sign anything.
Quick Comparison: 9 SEO Experts in Leeds
| Name | Type | Leeds base | Best fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Leeds SEO | Freelance consultant | Leeds | Brands wanting strategy, technical and content from one person |
| Rob May SEO | Freelance consultant | Leeds, West Yorkshire | Ecommerce and brands wanting ex-agency organic SEO |
| Jonny Russell | Freelance consultant | Park Cross Street, LS1 | Businesses that want SEO and PPC together |
| SEO Specialist Leeds (Tim Halloran) | Freelance consultant | Horsforth, LS18 | Small local businesses on a tight budget |
| Wolfenden | Agency | The Calls, LS2 | Mid-market brands wanting search within wider performance marketing |
| Stickyeyes | Agency | Wellington Street, LS1 | Large and multi-location brands |
| Havas Market (formerly Search Laboratory) | Agency | West Park Ring Road, LS16 | Enterprise and international, data-led programmes |
| ICS-digital | Agency | Park Lane, LS3 | International and multilingual SEO |
| Pedro | Agency | Aire Street, LS1 | SMEs wanting SEO, paid search and CRO in one place |
None of the nine publish fixed prices on their websites, so every "Pricing" line below reflects that. Expect a discovery call and a quote based on scope.
How These SEO Experts in Leeds Were Chosen
We started with just over 20 names pulled from Leeds search results, the Google Maps local pack and the directories that most roundups copy from. Then we opened every website on 22 September 2026 and checked it by hand.
Candidates were dropped for plain, checkable reasons:
- No Leeds base. Several consultants rank for "Leeds" searches but list an address in Beverley, Warrington or London on their own site. Three agencies that appear on Leeds lists are based in Manchester or Leicester.
- The domain has changed hands. One agency name that still appears on older Leeds roundups now leads to an unrelated gambling page.
- Merged or rebranded. Where an agency has joined a larger group, we listed it under its current name, or left it out if its Leeds SEO team is no longer clear from its website.
- Site would not load. One well-reviewed Leeds agency's website timed out on two separate attempts during testing, so we left it out until we can check it properly.
Anything a business says about itself, such as years of experience, team size or client names, is marked as self-reported. We couldn't audit those claims, and you should confirm them on a call.
1. Sarah Leeds SEO
Sarah is a freelance SEO consultant based in Leeds. Her site says she has worked in SEO for fourteen years, covering strategy, technical SEO and content writing, and she positions herself as "an SEO team rolled into one". That makes her one of the few independent SEO experts in Leeds who offers both the technical audit and the writing.
She works with in-house teams as an adviser as well as running SEO directly, and her site carries a testimonial from a client, Displaysense, describing sustained growth in organic performance under her guidance.
Best fit for: Businesses that want one experienced person to set the strategy and also produce or fix the content.
Pricing: Not published. Quote on request.
2. Rob May SEO
Rob describes himself as a freelance organic SEO specialist based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and a former Head of SEO at several agencies. His site says he has more than 13 years in the industry and names past clients including Wren Kitchens, Paymentsense, Thortful, Bloom & Wild and Ladbrokes (self-reported).
His services cover the usual organic work plus a separate local SEO strand: local audits, local link building, local competitor analysis and local keyword research. The agency background shows in how the site talks about priorities and return on spend.
Best fit for: Ecommerce sites and established brands that want agency-level organic SEO without paying for an agency's overheads.
Pricing: Not published. Quote on request.
3. Jonny Russell
Jonny is a freelance digital marketing consultant whose site lists an office on Park Cross Street, Leeds LS1 2QH. He says he started in SEO more than 10 years ago, worked at a Leeds agency, then spent four years running digital growth in-house for Intelligent Business Transfer and Bizdaq (self-reported).
What sets him apart on this list is the paid search side. If you want one person looking at both organic and paid results, so the two stop competing for the same clicks, that combination is rarer among solo consultants than it should be. His site carries several named client testimonials, including one describing a move from local to national page-one rankings.
Best fit for: Lead generation businesses that want SEO and Google Ads run by the same person.
Pricing: Not published. The site offers a free initial consultation.
4. SEO Specialist Leeds (Tim Halloran)
SEO Specialist Leeds is run by Tim Halloran from Low Lane in Horsforth, LS18 5PX. The site is aimed squarely at small businesses in Leeds and West Yorkshire, and it talks about building a plan around "a budget you're happy with" rather than a fixed retainer.
Tim lists SEO alongside Google Ads, Facebook advertising, retargeting, link building and blogging, which suits an owner who wants one local contact for most of their online marketing. The site also offers a free website audit and a free SEO ebook.
Best fit for: Sole traders and small local firms that want a named local contact and flexible spend.
Pricing: Packages are mentioned but prices are not published. A free audit is offered first.
5. Wolfenden
Wolfenden is based at Studio 5, 46 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7EY. According to its own history, Ben Wolfenden founded it in 2011 as a specialist search agency. It is now led by Managing Director Daisy Wolfenden and describes itself as an integrated performance marketing partner.
That history matters if SEO is your main need. It is an agency that grew out of search rather than adding it later, and its pitch is about working as an extension of the client's own team.
Best fit for: Mid-sized brands that want SEO planned alongside paid media and other channels.
Pricing: Not published. Quote on request.
6. Stickyeyes
Stickyeyes works from West One, 100 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4LT. Its site describes an international team of more than 200 people speaking over 20 languages, backed by the Interpublic Group, and says it has delivered search and content strategies for more than 20 years (self-reported).
One detail worth knowing for multi-location businesses: Stickyeyes runs District, its own local search management tool. If you manage dozens of branch listings, that is a more practical reason to shortlist them than any award badge.
Best fit for: Large brands and businesses with many locations to manage.
Pricing: Not published. Expect enterprise-level engagements.
7. Havas Market (formerly Search Laboratory)
If you remember Search Laboratory, this is the same Leeds team under a new name. It was founded in Leeds in 2005 and merged with Havas Market UK in January 2025, creating what the company describes as a 150-strong agency. The Leeds office is at Blokhaus, West Park Ring Road, LS16 6QG.
Its strengths, by its own description, are data science, analytics, international search and Google Marketing Platform work. Many Leeds lists still show the old name, so it is easy to miss that the team is still here.
Best fit for: Enterprise and international brands that want SEO tied closely to analytics and paid media.
Pricing: Not published. Enterprise engagements.
8. ICS-digital
ICS-digital is on the 4th floor of 2 Park Lane, Leeds LS3 1ES. It says it has worked since 2008 with a team of more than 90 people in Leeds, plus over 300 international writers and editors, and runs campaigns in more than 100 languages (self-reported).
This is the specialist choice for international SEO. Its process describes human-led audits across technical performance, content and links. It also lists sectors including iGaming, finance, travel, legal, ecommerce and SaaS.
Best fit for: Brands expanding into non-English markets that need native-language content and local links.
Pricing: Not published. Quote on request.
9. Pedro
Pedro lists its office at 1 Aire Street, Leeds LS1 4PR. It covers SEO, paid, content, social and conversion rate optimisation, and it has a dedicated local SEO service built around "the natural radius of coverage" for a business.
The homepage leads with a client result about enquiries rather than rankings, which is the right instinct. As with any agency, ask who would run your account day to day.
Best fit for: Small and medium businesses that want SEO, paid search and CRO under one roof.
Pricing: Not published. Quote on request.
Freelance SEO Consultant or Leeds SEO Agency?
The nine options above split cleanly into two groups, and choosing the group first saves you a lot of discovery calls.
A freelance consultant means you deal with the person doing the work, usually with lower overheads and faster decisions. The trade-off is capacity: one person can only cover so much content, development and link building at once.
An agency gives you a team, so strategy, technical fixes, content and digital PR can run in parallel, and holidays don't stop the work. The trade-off is that a senior person may sell the project while a junior person runs it. Ask who will actually be on your account.
How the 9 Leeds SEO Experts Compare
- Tight budget, local customers: SEO Specialist Leeds, or Rob May for the local SEO strand.
- Experienced all-rounder, one point of contact: Sarah Leeds SEO or Rob May SEO.
- SEO and Google Ads together: Jonny Russell, or Pedro if you want a team.
- Search inside a wider marketing plan: Wolfenden or Pedro.
- Many locations or a big brand: Stickyeyes.
- International and multilingual: ICS-digital or Havas Market.
What to Check Before You Hire an SEO Expert in Leeds
Google's own guidance on hiring an SEO suggests asking for examples of previous work, checking references and being wary of anyone who guarantees a #1 ranking. On top of that, these questions separate the careful from the rest:
- Who does the work each month? Get names, not job titles.
- What will you change in the first 90 days? A good answer is specific to your site, not a template.
- How do you build links? Ask for examples of placements. Walk away from anyone selling links in bulk.
- What will you report on? Enquiries, sales and qualified traffic matter more than keyword positions.
- What is the notice period? Rolling monthly terms are common for freelancers. Agencies often ask for longer.
- Do I own everything? Your Google Business Profile, Search Console, analytics and content should all stay in your name.
If you are still weighing up SEO against other channels, our guide to digital marketing in Leeds covers how search fits alongside paid and social in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best SEO experts in Leeds?
It depends on your size and goals. For small local businesses, independent consultants such as SEO Specialist Leeds, Sarah Leeds SEO and Rob May SEO are a good fit. For large or international brands, Leeds agencies such as Stickyeyes, ICS-digital and Havas Market have bigger teams.
How much does SEO cost in Leeds?
None of the nine experts on this list publish fixed prices. Freelancers usually quote a monthly fee based on hours or scope, while agencies quote by project or retainer. Always compare what is included, not just the total.
Should I hire a freelance SEO consultant or an agency in Leeds?
A freelancer suits smaller budgets and businesses that want to deal directly with the person doing the work. An agency suits businesses that need several skills at once, such as technical fixes, content and digital PR, running in parallel.
How were these Leeds SEO experts checked?
Every website was opened by hand on 22 September 2026. We kept only those with a Leeds base on their own site, a working website that is still about SEO, and enough public detail to judge who they suit.
What happened to Search Laboratory in Leeds?
Search Laboratory, founded in Leeds in 2005, merged with Havas Market UK in January 2025. The Leeds team now works under the Havas Market name, and the old website redirects to the new one.
Which Leeds agency is best for international SEO?
ICS-digital focuses on international and multilingual SEO, with content produced in more than 100 languages by its own account. Havas Market also lists international search as a core strength.
How long does SEO take to work?
There is no fixed timeline. It depends on your site's starting point, how competitive your searches are and how quickly recommended changes get made. Ask each expert what they expect to change in the first 90 days and how they will show progress.
Can an SEO expert guarantee first place on Google?
No. Google's own guidance says no one can guarantee a #1 ranking. A trustworthy SEO expert will explain what they plan to change and how they will measure progress, not promise a position.
Do I need a Leeds-based SEO expert for local SEO?
Not strictly, but someone who knows Leeds areas, competitors and local directories can move faster on local searches. Every expert on this list has a Leeds base.
