Fractional SEO Consulting

Expert SEO Strategy,
Exactly When You Need It

Get senior-level SEO leadership and hands-on execution without the cost of a full-time hire. I embed with your team and drive organic growth — on your terms.

The Model

What Does "Fractional" Actually Mean?

A Fractional SEO Consultant operates like a senior in-house hire — but on a part-time or project basis. You get the strategic thinking, the hands-on execution, and the accountability of a dedicated SEO lead, without paying a full-time salary or locking into a long-term agency retainer.

It's the model that smart, growing businesses are increasingly choosing when they need senior expertise but not a permanent headcount addition.

Think of me as your Head of SEO — available for the time you actually need, fully invested in your results, and always just a message away.

"Most businesses need a seasoned SEO strategist, not an entry-level hire following a generic playbook. The fractional model closes that gap — senior expertise, real ownership, at a fraction of the cost."

— Timothy Backes, Fractional SEO Consultant
Junior agency exec

Managing your account between 5 others

10+ year SEO specialist

Fully focused on your organic growth

What's Included

Everything You Need to
Win in Organic Search

A fractional engagement covers strategy and execution across every pillar of modern SEO — no cherry-picking, no upsells.

🔍

SEO Strategy & Roadmap

A clear, prioritised roadmap built around your business goals — not a generic template. Updated regularly as results and the landscape evolve.

🔧

Technical SEO

Full technical audits, crawl health monitoring, Core Web Vitals, site architecture, schema, and developer briefing to keep your site search-ready.

✍️

Content Strategy

Keyword research, topical authority mapping, content briefs, and editorial strategy that earns rankings and builds genuine audience.

🤖

AI Search Optimisation

Optimising for AI Overviews (AIO), Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), and emerging AI-driven SERP features — future-proofing your visibility.

🔗

Link Building

Strategic link acquisition through digital PR, outreach, and content-driven programmes that build real authority — not PBN shortcuts.

📊

Reporting & Stakeholder Comms

Clear, jargon-free reporting on what matters: organic traffic, rankings, conversions, and the business impact of SEO activity.

Is This Right For You?

You're a Great Fit If You…

Want senior SEO expertise without the full-time salary commitment
Are frustrated by generic agency strategies that don't move the needle
Need someone who can own the SEO channel end-to-end — strategy and execution
Want to be AI-search ready, not left behind by the GEO/AIO shift
Value transparency, direct communication, and measurable results
Are ready to invest in organic as a long-term growth channel
Not the Right Fit If…

This Probably Isn't For You If…

You want overnight ranking shortcuts or "guaranteed" results
You're looking for a low-cost, automated SEO service
You have no appetite for content investment or technical improvements
You need a large managed team with multiple account executives
How It Works

The Engagement
Process

Simple, transparent, and designed around your needs. Here's what working with me looks like from first conversation to ongoing partnership.

01

Discovery Call

We talk through your business, your current SEO position, your goals, and what success looks like. No hard sell — just an honest conversation about whether this is a good fit.

02

Audit & Opportunity Review

I conduct a technical audit and competitive landscape review to understand exactly where you stand and identify the highest-value opportunities.

03

Strategy & Roadmap

You receive a clear, prioritised roadmap — what to fix, what to build, and why — with effort and impact estimates so you can make informed decisions.

04

Ongoing Execution & Review

We work through the roadmap together — I execute, collaborate with your team, and report on progress. Engagements are reviewed regularly and adjusted as results and priorities shift.

Engagements

Flexible to Fit
Your Situation

Every engagement is tailored — the structure below gives you a sense of how most clients work with me.

🎯

SEO Audit

A comprehensive one-off review of your technical SEO, content, and competitive position. Includes a prioritised action plan. Ideal for a starting point or second opinion.

Enquire
Most Popular
🤝

Ongoing Retainer

A structured monthly engagement covering strategy, execution, reporting, and stakeholder support. Typically 1–3 days per week depending on your needs and budget.

Let's Talk

Project-Based

Need help with a specific initiative — a site migration, a market expansion, a content pivot? I can engage on a defined-scope project basis.

Enquire

All engagements start with a free discovery call. No commitment required.

FAQs

Common Questions

With an agency, you're typically paying for overhead, account management layers, and junior staff following a templated playbook. With a fractional consultant, you get direct access to a senior practitioner who owns your results personally. The work I do on your account, I do — not a junior exec with 18 months of experience.
It varies based on what you need. Some clients need 1 day a week, others need 3. We discuss your requirements in the discovery call and agree on a structure that makes sense — then review it regularly as the engagement evolves.
Over 10+ years I've worked across e-commerce, SaaS, professional services, B2B, media, and more. SEO fundamentals transfer across industries — and I always invest time in understanding your specific market, audience, and competitive landscape.
Yes — and this is increasingly core to what I do. AI Overviews (AIO) and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) are reshaping how search works. Any engagement I take on has AI-search readiness built in as a pillar, not an afterthought.
SEO is a long-term channel — meaningful organic growth typically takes 3–6 months to build momentum, and compounds from there. That said, technical fixes and quick-win opportunities are often identified and actioned early in the engagement, and can show uplift faster. I'll always be honest with you about realistic timelines.
For retainer engagements, I typically ask for a 3-month initial commitment — enough time to complete an audit, build a strategy, and start executing properly. After that, engagements roll monthly. Project-based work is scoped case by case.

Ready to Talk Fractional SEO?

Let's start with a free, no-obligation discovery call. We'll explore your goals, your current position, and whether a fractional engagement makes sense for you right now.