🎙️ Unscripted SEO Podcast
Mastering the ROI Mindset to Boost SEO Agency Profits with Liam Quirk
MD of Quirky Digital on building a 15-person agency from a bedroom during COVID, shifting clients to ROI-first thinking, and where SEO specialization is heading.
Liam Quirk, MD at Quirky Digital
Liam Quirk is an ambitious entrepreneur and the Managing Director of Quirky Digital, a Liverpool-based SEO agency. With a career deeply rooted in the SEO industry, Liam has a proven track record of helping businesses of all sizes dominate their niches by securing top rankings on Google. His expertise has benefited one-man operations with modest budgets and multinational brands alike, earning him features in prestigious publications such as Huffington Post, Ahrefs, Yahoo Finance, Liverpool Echo, and MSN.com.
Liam’s journey into SEO began in his teenage years, influenced by his uncle, a pioneer in digital PR and SEO. At just 16, Liam left school and plunged into an apprenticeship. Four years ago, on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic, Liam took the bold step of founding Quirky Digital. What started as a one-man operation in his bedroom has since grown into a thriving agency with a team of 15.
“Ryan Darani on Becoming the Go-To SEO Authority in Your Niche” — the former Head of SEO at Staysure on why career positioning matters as much as technical skill, and how to build genuine authority in a crowded space.
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Interview Q&A
What sort of learnings have you had from working within somebody else’s agency to actually running and building your own agency?
There are quite a few lessons I’ve learnt along the way. Initially, one of my main motivations for starting my own agency was the desire for flexibility in my time and travel. Ironically, since making that decision, I haven’t had that luxury, as growing the agency has demanded my constant attention. When I worked for someone else, I had more personal time, which is a common misconception about running a business. Another significant learning curve has been managing workloads and expectations. The third major learning point is the importance of systems and processes — my agency now operates with well-defined systems tailored to each client’s budget and needs.
Have you recently seen a shift in client expectations?
Absolutely. Businesses and their marketing teams have become more sophisticated. Tracking expenditure has become easier with advanced analytical tools like GA4, Shopify analytics, etc. Consequently, business owners accustomed to measurable returns from Facebook and Google ads now expect similar transparency and returns from SEO. SEO is inherently more complex, with a broader funnel. To address this, we provide estimated returns on investment based on keyword volumes and conversion rates.
How important is it for an agency to provide a solid ROI?
Yes, absolutely. It’s crucial. When you’re an SEO professional working within an agency, it can be difficult to grasp the impact of your work unless you’re dealing with an e-commerce campaign where results can be seen directly in analytics. Ensuring that SEO consultants understand the commercial implications of their work is vital. They should be able to articulate how their efforts translate into financial benefits for the client.
Where do you think the future of the SEO agency world is heading?
What I’m noticing is a shift towards specialisation. I believe that larger businesses with substantial budgets will start seeking specialised agencies — a technical SEO agency, a digital PR agency, or a content agency. I’ve already observed this trend where clients tell us they don’t need certain services because they have in-house teams handling those aspects. The direction is certainly moving towards a more holistic, multi-specialist approach.
Connect with Liam Quirk
- Agency: quirkydigital.com
- Twitter/X: @quirkydigital
- LinkedIn: Liam Quirk
The Unscripted SEO Podcast features candid, unscripted conversations with SEOs and digital marketers. Hosted by Jeremy Rivera.
