SEO Governance
SEO Governance is an independent oversight service for companies looking for an unbiased view of whether their SEO investment is helpful, wasteful, or simply unclear.
Overview
A fixed-fee review that determines whether the SEO work you receive (or are considering starting) is worth the investment. This includes evaluating audits, tickets, work already implemented, and more.
What it is
For companies that want a second opinion on their SEO program. We carry vast experience in large Fortune 500 eCommerce websites and small local businesses alike.
Who it’s for
How it’s unique
This offering doesn’t exist in the SEO industry — until now. Since we refuse to provide optimization work for our Governance clients, our interests are purely to advocate for you (not to earn follow-up work).
Why hire Smedley Digital?
Jacob Smedley has seen the need for Governance first hand. Since 2018, Jacob has held senior SEO specialist positions with the world’s number-one and number-two advertising agencies (by revenue). Jacob works relentlessly to reduce bureaucracy and busywork in these complex environments. Multiple SEO vendors and employee turnover create even more inefficiency. Plus, as a business owner, most of his business is won by fixing other agencies’ mistakes.
We’ll explain our findings in a way that, perhaps for the first time, you can actually understand.
Intake Call
Discuss your SEO program, goals, concerns, and scope of the review.
The SEO Governance Process
Collection
Gather the deliverables, reports, roadmaps, and other materials needed for evaluation.
Evaluation
We independently assess the work to determine what should be kept, challenged, or stopped.
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We present the findings and recommended next steps in clear business terms.
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We’ll provide further guidance as you act on our findings.
Why is there so much waste in the SEO industry?
Common reasons include…
Inexperience: when “specialists” simply don’t know SEO. Sometimes, agencies assign non SEO experts to SEO projects. It’s easier for them to utilize existing personnel than hire a dedicated specialist. Even with a great SEO specialist, the implementation team (developers) must possess the skills to implement the optimizations.
Over-reliance upon automated SEO tools: when simple exports are sold as audits, which are then uploaded to an LLM, to produce specific SEO recommendations. This results in recommendations for pages that do not exist and fixing problems that do not exist, or at best, do not drive results. This is very common upon the advent of AI tools.
Employee turnover: while inevitable to some degree, frequent churn can present major delays.
Bureaucracy: your agency may undergo weeks of internal approvals to access essential SEO tools, to properly staff your project, and more.
Inflated pricing: due to internal staffing requirements and agency markups, SEO can become unnecessarily expensive.
Multiple SEO vendors: larger corporations sometimes deploy multiple SEO agencies for one website. While not inherently unwise, there are risks:
Paying for the same work multiple times
Errors due to the “telephone-game” effect
Slower implementation timelines due to communicating simple tasks through multiple contributors
Contradictory recommendations due to one agency not knowing what the other agency is working on
Exaugurated complaints from one agency claiming another agency is doing bad work (in an effort to take the work from them)
How do I know when I need a Governance evaluation?
If you can’t understand what’s happening within your SEO program you need a Governance evaluation. Or, if you’re considering an investment into an SEO program, you also need a Governance evaluation.
You need an SEO Governance evaluation if you don’t understand what’s happening within your current SEO program.
You should co
Our process is simple and thoughtful.
Explore our range of services designed to help you move forward with confidence, wherever you're headed next.
In-person and remote options
Our office is conveniently located in Manhattan. A place to gather, grow, and reconnect.
Our Services
Explore our range of services designed to help you move forward with confidence, wherever you're headed next.
Meet the Team
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Monet Goode
FOUNDER
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience.
They set the tone for everything we do. -
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Emmett Marsh
SALES MANAGER
Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care. -
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Eleanor Parks
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience. -
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Karl Holland
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.
