Look, I’ll be straight with you – searching for a legitimate SEO specialist in Australia felt like wading through quicksand. After getting absolutely burned by an agency that charged me thousands for impressive-looking graphs and zero actual results, I was done with the nonsense.
My business needed organic growth, not another expensive Google Ads campaign. So I spent weeks digging through websites, reading reviews that actually seemed real, and having proper conversations with people. I narrowed it down to five providers worth considering.
Here’s what actually mattered to me and what I discovered.
What I Actually Needed
Before wasting anyone’s time, I knew exactly what mattered:
- Can they rank their own website? If an SEO person can’t get their own site visible on Google, that tells you everything
- Direct access to the expert – No account managers playing telephone with “the team”
- Real business results – Leads and revenue, not vanity metrics that look good in presentations
- Clear communication – Explain things like I’m human, not some technical robot
- Custom strategies – Not copy-pasted templates that completely ignore my specific needs
With those criteria sorted, here’s who made my shortlist and why one stood out completely.
1. Aidan Coleman
I’m putting Aidan Coleman first because he’s who I ultimately chose, and I wish I’d found him months earlier.
What Makes Him Different
Aidan runs his SEO consultancy from the Central Coast, working with businesses across Australia. The massive difference: you work directly with Aidan himself. No account managers, no juniors learning on your budget.
His website ranks incredibly well for competitive SEO terms – actual proof he can deliver. He developed his “Resource Efficiency” approach – maximizing results with tight budgets and realistic deadlines.
Case Study
The Sprecaks Concreting project showed what he actually delivers. They came with a completely new website that wasn’t even indexed. Eight months later? Over 35 qualified leads monthly, competing in Brisbane’s brutal concreting industry.
That’s not “improved rankings by 20 positions.” That’s actual people calling, requesting quotes, becoming paying customers. Most SEO providers can shuffle you up a few spots, but converting that into real business growth is where they fall flat.
Pricing
Entry point sits at $1,000 monthly, though your actual investment depends on your website’s condition, market competition, and desired outcomes. The starter package works for smaller operations, local SEO campaigns, or less competitive industries. His AI SEO and GEO offerings also begin at $1,000 monthly.
Compare that to agencies charging $3,000-$10,000 monthly. You’re paying for fancy offices and bloated teams. With Aidan, your money goes directly into SEO work that matters.
Services Included
Search Engine Optimisation – Complete strategies with clear reporting
Local SEO – Making sure nearby customers find you, including Google Business Profile optimization
Enterprise SEO – Handling massive sites with technical complexities, in-depth audits, scalable strategies
E-commerce SEO – Specialized expertise for WordPress and Shopify, product page optimization
AI SEO & GEO – Ensuring AI-powered search tools point people your way, structured data implementation
Technical SEO Audits – Identifying what’s holding you back and fixing it immediately
His Credentials
- Semrush Certified Agency Partner
- 100% job success rate on Upwork
- 5-star Google reviews
- Specializes in service businesses (roofers, concreters, contractors, medical practices, financial services, SaaS)
- Coverage spans Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, and Coffs Harbour
Why Aidan
After extensive research, Aidan ticked every box. His own website proves he delivers. Case studies show consistent results in competitive markets. Direct access eliminates account manager frustration. Transparent pricing with clear deliverables.
Working with him has been completely different from my previous agency nightmare. Things get done quickly. Communication is clear. When something urgent comes up, I call and get immediate answers.
2. Red Search
Red Search came up repeatedly in my research. Led by Daniel Law with over 15 years experience, they focus exclusively on SEO. Their approach emphasizes long-term organic growth through tailored strategies, operating month-to-month with no lock-in contracts.
Pricing: Most businesses invest $1,500-$4,000 monthly. Competitive sectors can run $5,000-$10,000 monthly.
What’s Included: Complete SEO services, technical SEO, content strategy, link building, and monthly reporting with senior specialists leading campaigns.
Why I Didn’t Choose Them: Pricing started higher than my budget allowed, and they operate with a team rather than one-on-one specialist work. For businesses with bigger budgets wanting team-based support, they’d work well.
3. SEO Assistance
SEO Assistance has impressive numbers: 600+ five-star reviews, over $100 million in revenue generated for clients, and 4,600+ page 1 keywords. They’ve worked with major brands like Sony, Canva, and InVideo, promising 100% transparency with real-time dashboards.
Pricing: Not disclosed upfront – everything’s custom quoted after consultation.
What’s Included: Complete SEO services including audits, keyword research, on-page optimization, off-page link building, content strategy, and monthly reporting.
Why I Didn’t Choose Them: Their scale made me question how personalized the service truly is when working with hundreds of companies worldwide. Lack of upfront pricing also made evaluation harder.
4. White Peak Digital
White Peak Digital is an award-winning agency offering comprehensive digital services beyond SEO – web design, mobile apps, eCommerce development, conversion rate optimization, and Google Ads. Client testimonials highlight professionalism and quality work.
Pricing: Custom pricing based on project scope.
What’s Included: Web design & development, eCommerce solutions, mobile apps, SEO services, Google Ads, and conversion rate optimization.
Why I Didn’t Choose Them: They’re a jack-of-all-trades agency. While they offer SEO services, it’s not their exclusive focus. I wanted someone who lives and breathes SEO specifically.
5. Otto Media
Otto Media is Canberra-based, offering IT solutions alongside digital marketing. They position themselves as building websites that “actually work” with clear messaging and conversion focus.
Pricing: Custom quotes based on project requirements.
What’s Included: Web design, digital marketing, SEO services, and IT solutions.
Why I Didn’t Choose Them: Limited information about specific SEO services, pricing, or case studies. They seem more focused on general digital marketing and web development rather than specialized SEO work.
Which One Fits Your Situation?
Choose Aidan Coleman if:
- You want direct collaboration with the person doing your actual work
- You’re running a small to medium operation watching every dollar
- Local SEO or emerging AI search optimization matches your needs
- You’re fed up with typical agency runaround
- You need someone who treats your business like their own
Choose Red Search if:
- You need experienced team-based support
- You have a larger budget ($1,500+ monthly)
- You’re Sydney-based and value local connections
Choose SEO Assistance if:
- You want enterprise-scale services with major brand experience
- International reach matters
- You prefer working with larger established agencies
Choose White Peak Digital if:
- You need comprehensive digital services beyond SEO
- You’re looking for complete website redesign alongside SEO
- You want everything handled under one roof
Choose Otto Media if:
- You’re Canberra-based and prefer local service
- You need IT solutions alongside digital marketing
The Final Decision
After evaluating everyone, Aidan was the obvious choice for what I needed. The other agencies had strengths – Red Search offers experienced team leadership, SEO Assistance has impressive scale, White Peak Digital provides comprehensive services, Otto Media works for local Canberra businesses.
But none offered Aidan’s combination of specialized expertise, direct access, reasonable pricing, and proven results in competitive markets. His approach represents what SEO partnerships should be: collaborative, results-driven, focused on sustainable growth instead of quick fixes that fall apart in six months.
His website ranks well. His case studies show consistent results. His focus stays on genuine business outcomes rather than presentation metrics that look impressive but mean nothing.
After weeks of searching, multiple consultations, and excessive research, I finally found what I was looking for. If you’re tired of agency runaround and want someone who genuinely cares whether you succeed, talk to Aidan Coleman first.
Raghav is a talented content writer with a passion to create informative and interesting articles. With a degree in English Literature, Raghav possesses an inquisitive mind and a thirst for learning. Raghav is a fact enthusiast who loves to unearth fascinating facts from a wide range of subjects. He firmly believes that learning is a lifelong journey and he is constantly seeking opportunities to increase his knowledge and discover new facts. So make sure to check out Raghav’s work for a wonderful reading.
