How SEO agencies can earn recurring revenue with site management services

SEO agencies are perfectly positioned to expand their services to include website management. 

The connection between SEO and site maintenance is clear: both prioritize keeping websites fast, functional, and optimized for search engines. 

Tasks like improving load times, fixing errors, and maintaining security align with what SEO agencies already do.

By offering website management alongside SEO, agencies can build new revenue streams, potentially including reselling site hosting. Unlike project-based SEO work, site management creates opportunities for ongoing, predictable income through recurring service plans. This is a strategic way to grow your business and build stronger client relationships.

At Kinsta, a worldwide go-to hosting provider for agencies, we’ve seen how agencies can thrive when they pair their SEO expertise with site management. 

We’ve built tools and services to help agencies maintain fast, secure websites that deliver exceptional results. With this experience, we understand how closely SEO and site maintenance are connected — and why SEO agencies can excel in this space.

Let’s dive into why this evolution makes sense and how you can make it happen.

Why SEO agencies are well-suited for site management services

The skills and expertise needed for effective SEO often overlap with those required to maintain high-performing websites. From understanding technical site structures to optimizing load speeds and resolving errors, SEO professionals already possess much of the knowledge necessary to manage sites effectively. 

Let’s look at each aspect in more detail.

Understanding SEO helps focus maintenance efforts

SEO is far more than keywords and content – it requires a deep understanding of technical processes like site speed, structure, and performance. These factors matter a lot for SEO success, but they’re also central to effective website maintenance.

Whether it’s fixing crawl errors, optimizing code, or ensuring mobile responsiveness, SEO professionals are well-versed in tasks that overlap with maintaining a website’s functionality.

SEO pros know what makes websites successful

SEO expertise goes beyond making a site rank higher. It also involves creating a user experience that matches what search engines like Google want. Those working in SEO already know how critical factors like server uptime, fast loading speeds, content structure, and error-free markup are to maintaining visibility in search results.

This understanding gives SEO agencies an edge in prioritizing maintenance tasks that directly impact performance. Instead of guessing which updates matter most, agencies with SEO expertise can focus on improvements that enhance functionality and boost search engine rankings.

The benefits of offering site management services as an SEO agency

Expanding into site management services is a strategic way for SEO agencies to grow their revenue, improve client retention, and stand out in a competitive market. 

Bundling site management with your existing SEO services in this way means you can position your agency as a comprehensive solution for your clients’ online needs. 

Here’s a closer look at the benefits of a setup like this:

It provides recurring revenue

SEO work often revolves around project-based contracts, which can lead to unpredictable cash flow. 

On the other hand, site management services provide an opportunity to shift toward ongoing revenue through subscription-based or retainer models. Recurring maintenance plans allow you to establish a steady income stream that stabilizes your agency’s finances and supports long-term growth.

This predictable revenue also makes it easier to scale your operations, hire new talent, or invest in tools and infrastructure.

It builds stronger client retention

When clients can rely on your agency for SEO and site management, they no longer need to juggle multiple providers. Offering a one-stop shop for their site’s maintenance and management builds trust and loyalty, and clients are less likely to become churn statistics.

Regular site management work also keeps your agency in consistent contact with clients, creating more opportunities to demonstrate value, upsell additional services, and strengthen relationships.

It keeps your agency competitive

More agencies are diversifying their offerings to stay competitive. Offering a whole-site service can differentiate you from competitors that focus only on SEO.

End-to-end packages that cover content management and optimization, maintenance, and perhaps hosting as a reseller position your agency as a full-service partner that’s invested in client success. Make this your key selling point when competing for new clients, particularly those looking for simplicity and efficiency in supporting an online presence.

Making the leap from SEO agency to full-service agency

When expanding into site management, you will be taking on new tasks that, while complementary, go beyond SEO territory. A few examples: 

• Performance optimization: Fast-loading sites rank better and keep users engaged, according to Portent. Websites that load in under two seconds have a conversion rate that’s three times higher. SEO pros already know about optimizing images and minimizing code, but tuning server performance and managing a content distribution network (CDN) might be new. 
• Content management: Fresh, optimized content helps make websites successful. Some SEO agencies might shift from advising clients on improving SEO for their content to full-on content management. Not a big leap for many SEO agencies.
• Security and backups: Secure websites protect rankings and maintain trust. Regular scans, software updates, and reliable backups prevent vulnerabilities and minimize downtime. 

Agencies will want tools and a platform that makes it easier to take on new site-management tasks.

Go with what you know: WordPress CMS

With WordPress powering more than 43.6% of the web, SEO agencies are often familiar with one of the most popular and versatile platforms available. WordPress is a key part of many SEO campaigns, thanks to its flexibility and dedicated SEO plugins like RankMath or Yoast. 

This familiarity gives SEO agencies an advantage when expanding into site management. They can build on their existing WordPress knowledge to offer services like performance optimization, security updates, and content management – delivering value that aligns with their clients’ SEO goals while taking on new site management tasks.

Many clients will already be using WordPress. If it’s also your CMS of choice, a full-service agency can recommend it to clients launching new sites.

How the right hosting supports your site management goals

Choosing the right managed hosting for WordPress matters for SEO agencies expanding into site management. 

A quality hosting provider simplifies the technical side of running WordPress sites. Whether an agency resells hosting or simply recommends a hosting provider, the right solution allows them to focus on what they do best: delivering results. 

Kinsta, a trusted leader in managed hosting, simplifies day-to-day operations and eliminates the need for server-level expertise from many WordPress developers and agencies.

Let’s look at the most important services to look for in the company you choose to host your clients’ websites:

Provide streamlined performance and security

Managed hosting takes care of critical tasks like automated updates, malware protection, and optimized load times. 

With features like server-level caching and advanced security measures, hosts like Kinsta ensure sites are fast, secure, and always online. This means agencies can offer high-performing sites without spending extra time on backend maintenance.

Offer built-in tools to create efficient processes

Top-tier managed hosts include tools like uptime monitoring, analytics dashboards, and CDN integration. These features potentially cut hours of your work week, making it easier for agencies to manage multiple sites without requiring advanced technical skills. 

Kinsta’s intuitive platform, for example, offers one-click staging environments and detailed performance metrics, giving agencies everything they need to deliver results efficiently.

Help you focus on what matters

SEO agencies can focus on strategy, content, and optimization by outsourcing the heavy lifting to a managed host. 

Instead of troubleshooting server issues or juggling updates, your team can dedicate its energy to activities that drive measurable client success, like building stronger relationships and scaling your services.

Tips for success in website management

Expanding into site management doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just take a strategic and gradual approach. Then, over a time period you set, you can add these services and maximize client value. 

Here’s how to get started:

Start small

Begin with essential, easy-to-manage services like uptime monitoring and link management. 

These foundational offerings allow you to demonstrate value to clients while building confidence in your agency’s new capabilities. 

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can scale to more complex services like performance optimization and security management.

Make full use of automation

Automation is your best friend when managing multiple client sites. 

Kinsta includes tools that handle tasks, like automated backups, software updates, and uptime monitoring. 

These features save time and ensure consistent results so your team can focus on strategic priorities.

Bundle smartly

Combine SEO and site maintenance into packages that provide added value for your clients. 

For example, offer a plan that includes regular site updates, performance checks, and monthly SEO reporting. 

Think about what your clients would most benefit from and build your package deals around that.

Upskill your team

Train your SEO specialists in basic site maintenance tasks and WordPress management tools. 

Familiarity with hosting dashboards, backup systems, and plugin management ensures your team can handle site management efficiently. 

Many hosting providers, like Kinsta, offer agency-specific resources and training to help you upskill your staff quickly.

Summary 

Expanding into site management presents a real opportunity for SEO agencies to grow their services, build stronger client relationships, and generate predictable, recurring revenue. 

By leaning into your existing SEO expertise, you can offer high-value maintenance solutions that ensure websites run smoothly while staying optimized for search engines.

Kinsta’s managed hosting solutions for agencies make the transition easier, offering automation, performance monitoring, and security features designed to simplify WordPress site management. 

For SEO agencies, we have a special offer: the first month is completely free and unlimited site migrations are included. So now is the perfect time to get started!