Last updated 21 September 2026 · rankings snapshot 21 September 2026 · reviews, team and client data read 14–15 September 2026 · re-run periodically
Everything in this guide is public information. We have no relationship with any business named here. We compete with most of them. This is our attempt to gather every public data point we could find and turn it into something useful.
We are not saying the top 10 are all good, and we are not saying an agency outside the top 10 is bad. We are not endorsing any agency in this list, nor are we discounting any that have not made it. A score is a summary of public signals on the dates stated, not a judgement of the people, the quality of their work or how they would perform for you. You should enquire with whichever agencies appeal to you most, get multiple quotes and make a call based on your own assessment.
We are an SEO agency, and we are in this list. Local Digital built the index, paid for the data and is scored by the same rules as everyone else. Our row is marked, our full scorecard is published, and the weights were fixed before we ran the numbers. Every figure comes from public sources: Google Business Profiles, Trustpilot, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, ABN Lookup, the Wayback Machine, each agency's own website and DataForSEO's keyword database. No agency paid to be listed or to move.
The limits. Public data can be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and third-party estimates such as keyword databases are estimates. Figures are correct to the best of our knowledge on the read dates shown and will change when we re-run the index. Nothing here is professional, financial or legal advice, and we accept no liability for decisions made on it. If your agency is named and a figure is wrong, contact us: we correct and log every change, and every agency gets a right of reply before the index is re-run.
The short answer
SIXGUN is the highest-scoring SEO agency in Melbourne on our index at 71.1 out of 100, with Optimising (68.4) and Impressive (64.4) next. Around 1,600 people a month search for an SEO agency in Melbourne, and the first page of Google answers them with lists that state no criteria. This page scores every eligible Melbourne agency, whether it calls itself an SEO agency, an SEO company or a search engine optimisation firm, on the same nine pillars, from the same public sources, on the same day, and puts the evidence beside the score.
The index is national: Melbourne agencies are scored by exactly the rules used for Sydney or Melbourne, so a Melbourne score can be compared with any other city’s. The national index and the methodology page explain every rule.
The top 10 SEO agencies in Melbourne, ranked
Cynical lists are made by agencies that just place themselves at #1. We all know that's nonsense and it provides no real value. This list is our attempt to extract as much data as possible and score everyone fairly. At the end of the day you probably won't go wrong speaking to a few of the agencies in the top 10 nationally or in each city and picking the one that works best for you.
| # | Agency | HQ | Score | Client results | Staff / tenure | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIXGUN | Melbourne | 71.1 | 4.6 / 10 | 5.0 (102) | 23 / 1.8y | |
| 2 | Optimising | Melbourne | 68.4 | 5.4 / 10 | 5.0 (59) | 25 / 2.8y | |
| 3 | Impressive | Melbourne | 64.4 | 2.7 / 10 | 4.8 (139) | 94 / 2.7y | |
| 4 | Megantic SEO | Melbourne | 63.0 | 6.2 / 10 | 4.9 (112) | not read | |
| 5 | SEO Empire | Melbourne | 61.8 | 4.0 / 10 | 5.0 (15) | not read | thin review base (5–19 reviews) |
| 6 | Shout Digital | Melbourne | 61.1 | 4.0 / 10 | 5.0 (76) | 21 / 2.9y | |
| 7 | Top Rankings | Melbourne | 60.8 | 5.0 / 10 | 4.8 (59) | not read | |
| 8 | StudioHawk | Melbourne | 58.3 | 3.8 / 10 | 4.7 (123) | 107 / 2.3y | |
| 9 | Salt & Fuessel | Melbourne | 57.8 | 4.6 / 10 | 5.0 (40) | not read | |
| 10 | Intelligent Online Solutions (Intesols) | Melbourne | 57.5 | 2.7 / 10 | 4.9 (278) | not read |
Every number on this page comes from a published rulebook. Nine pillars, 27 sub-metrics, fixed weights, named sources and dated reads, written down before the scores were run so anyone can re-run them. Read the full methodology.
A note on Local Digital
We built this index and we serve Melbourne clients from Sydney and Burleigh Heads, but we are ranked in Sydney, where our head office is. We score 72.4 nationally, #3 of the national agencies, by the same rules as every agency on this page. Our full scorecard is on the national index.
The Melbourne top 10, agency by agency
1. SIXGUN, Melbourne (71.1)
Best for: domain authority and client sentiment
SIXGUN is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 71.1 of 100 on the index, strongest on domain authority and client sentiment. Google 5.0 (102), 23 staff on LinkedIn, median tenure 1.8 years. Clients we audited: raywhitecommercial.com 1.0, petersheppard.com.au 2, infotrust.com.au 2.5 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 24.6/28, SEO focus 9.9/14, own rankings 6.8/8, tenure 4.8/8, authority 5.7/6, transparency 6/10, thought leadership 1.7/6, team stability 7/10, client results 4.6/10.
2. Optimising, Melbourne (68.4)
Best for: tenure and SEO focus
Optimising is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 68.4 of 100 on the index, strongest on tenure and SEO focus. Google 5.0 (59), 25 staff on LinkedIn, median tenure 2.8 years. Clients we audited: yla.org.au 2.5, youi.com.au 1.5, unitingvictas.org.au 2.5 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 24.4/28, SEO focus 12.5/14, own rankings 3.1/8, tenure 8.0/8, authority 3.9/6, transparency 2/10, thought leadership 2.1/6, team stability 7/10, client results 5.4/10.
3. Impressive, Melbourne (64.4)
Best for: domain authority and tenure
Impressive is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 64.4 of 100 on the index, strongest on domain authority and tenure. Google 4.8 (139), 94 staff on LinkedIn, median tenure 2.7 years. Clients we audited: podium.com.au 1.0, lifely.com.au 0.75, autobarn.com.au 1.5 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 19.6/28, SEO focus 8.9/14, own rankings 4.9/8, tenure 6.4/8, authority 4.9/6, transparency 6/10, thought leadership 3.0/6, team stability 8/10, client results 2.7/10.
4. Megantic SEO, Melbourne (63.0)
Best for: client sentiment and tenure
Megantic SEO is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 63.0 of 100 on the index, strongest on client sentiment and tenure. Google 4.9 (112). Clients we audited: houseofgolf.com.au 2, coopsandcages.com.au 2.5, nourishedlife.com.au 3 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 24.1/28, SEO focus 8.8/14, own rankings 0.0/8, tenure 6.4/8, authority 3.5/6, transparency 5/10, thought leadership 3.0/6, team stability 6/10, client results 6.2/10.
5. SEO Empire, Melbourne (61.8)
Best for: client sentiment and tenure
SEO Empire is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 61.8 of 100 on the index, strongest on client sentiment and tenure. Google 5.0 (15). Clients we audited: yourdentisthawthorn.com.au 1.75, mcnews.com.au 2, bikedomain.com.au 1 out of 4. Note: thin review base (5–19 reviews).
Pillars: sentiment 22.9/28, SEO focus 10.9/14, own rankings 0.6/8, tenure 6.4/8, authority 4.3/6, transparency 5/10, thought leadership 1.7/6, team stability 6/10, client results 4.0/10.
6. Shout Digital, Melbourne (61.1)
Best for: tenure and client sentiment
Shout Digital is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 61.1 of 100 on the index, strongest on tenure and client sentiment. Google 5.0 (76), 21 staff on LinkedIn, median tenure 2.9 years. Clients we audited: 28bysamwood.com 1.75, repco.com.au 1.5, provincialhomeliving.com.au 1.5 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 23.4/28, SEO focus 10.9/14, own rankings 1.2/8, tenure 8.0/8, authority 4.9/6, transparency 2/10, thought leadership 1.7/6, team stability 5/10, client results 4.0/10.
7. Top Rankings, Melbourne (60.8)
Best for: tenure and SEO focus
Top Rankings is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 60.8 of 100 on the index, strongest on tenure and SEO focus. Google 4.8 (59). Clients we audited: termitespecialist.com.au 3.0, pestline.com.au 0.5, approvedelectrix.com.au 2.5 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 19.4/28, SEO focus 11.0/14, own rankings 2.5/8, tenure 8.0/8, authority 3.0/6, transparency 5/10, thought leadership 0.9/6, team stability 6/10, client results 5.0/10.
8. StudioHawk, Melbourne (58.3)
Best for: thought leadership and tenure
StudioHawk is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 58.3 of 100 on the index, strongest on thought leadership and tenure. Google 4.7 (123), 107 staff on LinkedIn, median tenure 2.3 years. Clients we audited: ajeworld.com.au 1, shiels.com.au 1.5, kipandco.com.au 2 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 11.6/28, SEO focus 9.0/14, own rankings 5.2/8, tenure 6.4/8, authority 4.7/6, transparency 4/10, thought leadership 5.6/6, team stability 8/10, client results 3.8/10.
9. Salt & Fuessel, Melbourne (57.8)
Best for: client sentiment and domain authority
Salt & Fuessel is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 57.8 of 100 on the index, strongest on client sentiment and domain authority. Google 5.0 (40). Clients we audited: eastsideplumbingco.com.au 1, beachsidedentalstudio.com.au 2, seqpipeworks.com.au 2.5 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 23.2/28, SEO focus 5.5/14, own rankings 3.1/8, tenure 4.8/8, authority 4.7/6, transparency 5/10, thought leadership 0.9/6, team stability 6/10, client results 4.6/10.
10. Intelligent Online Solutions (Intesols), Melbourne (57.5)
Best for: tenure and domain authority
Intelligent Online Solutions (Intesols) is an SEO agency in Melbourne scoring 57.5 of 100 on the index, strongest on tenure and domain authority. Google 4.9 (278). Clients we audited: babymade.com.au 1.75, fussyeater.com.au 0.5, vicbuild.com.au 1 out of 4.
Pillars: sentiment 22.9/28, SEO focus 6.1/14, own rankings 0.0/8, tenure 8.0/8, authority 5.4/6, transparency 6/10, thought leadership 0.4/6, team stability 6/10, client results 2.7/10.
Every Melbourne agency we considered
Every Melbourne agency below was analysed on the same rules; the top 10 above are the best performers among them. Candidates came from Google search, Google Maps, directories and AI answers. The methodology explains the listing rules and why some were not ranked.
23 Digital, AEK Media, Blue Sense Digital, Calibre9, Clearwater Agency, Clickmatix, Digital Movement, Digital Next, eMarket Experts, Emote Digital, First Page, Growth Digital, Impressive, Intelligent Online Solutions (Intesols), Kill Boring Dead, King Kong, Media Exchange, Megantic SEO, Melbourne Local SEO, MLK Marketing, Mojo Dojo, Optimising, Pinpoint Local, PixelRush, POP MEDIA & DESIGN SERVICES, Rank My Business, Reform Digital, Salt & Fuessel, SE Digital, Search Marketing Group®, Sentius, SEO Advantage, SEO Empire, Seriously Good Design (SGD), Sharp Instincts, Shout Digital, SIXGUN, Sod, Sorted Digital Marketing, SoudCoh, Star Digital Marketing, StudioHawk, Supple Digital, TAG, Top Rankings, Traffic Radius, WebSavvy, Xugar, Zib Digital.
How the score works
Nine pillars, fixed weights, public sources: verified client sentiment 28 (full Google review history, Trustpilot, review integrity), SEO focus 14, own rankings 8, tenure 8, own-domain authority 6, transparency 10 (replies, published pricing and contract terms, no guarantees), thought leadership 6 (measured publishing, research, awards and press), team stability 10 (verified Glassdoor, LinkedIn headcount and tenure) and client results 10 (three named clients audited in DataForSEO Labs, scored against a market where the median client fell −24% in a year). The full rules and thresholds are on the methodology page. Prices for the Melbourne agencies that publish one are in How much does SEO cost in Australia.
Weights are frozen for 12 months, the index is re-run periodically, and every agency named here has a right of reply.
Questions people ask
Who is the best SEO agency in Melbourne?
On our index, SIXGUN scores highest in Melbourne at 71.1 out of 100, followed by Optimising (68.4) and Impressive (64.4). The score combines verified client sentiment, SEO focus, rankings, tenure, authority, transparency, thought leadership, team stability and audited client results.
How many SEO agencies are there in Melbourne?
We pooled 49 candidates for Melbourne from Google search, Google Maps, directories and AI answers, and 35 met the listing rules: a verified Google Business Profile with five or more reviews in the city and reviews that are actually about SEO.
How much does SEO cost in Melbourne?
Among the Australian agencies that publish a price, entry prices run from $750 to $2,000 a month and the middle of the market is $1,000 to $3,500. Our study How much does SEO cost in Australia lists every published price, including the Melbourne agencies that publish one.
Is it worth hiring an SEO agency in Melbourne?
It is worth it when the agency can show you named Melbourne clients with real rankings, publishes its terms and prices, keeps its team, and you can afford at least the middle of the market for six to twelve months. Each card above shows which of the Melbourne agencies clear those tests.
Why is an agency I know not on the list?
It was either excluded by the rules (reviews rarely mention SEO, a web or design shop, a trainer, fewer than five reviews, no profile in the city) or it sits below the top 10; the 'also ranked' and 'excluded' lists on this page name every candidate and the reason.
How were client results measured?
Up to three named clients from each top-10 agency's own case studies were read in DataForSEO Labs for keywords ranked, top-3 share and year-on-year change, scored against a market where the median client fell −24%. An agency that names no client on its site scores 0 on that pillar.
