Founder-run Edinburgh SEO firm built around manual audits for small local businesses
About Alba SEO Services
Alba SEO Services is the trading name of SEOALBA LTD (company SC657394), a small search marketing business in Edinburgh's New Town. Its office is at 21 Young Street (some listings still show 10 York Place), and the team can also meet clients in Glasgow. The team has two to nine people. Search engine optimisation is the core offer, with web design, pay-per-click advertising and social media management alongside it.
Owner and founder Caroline Phillips trained as a scientist and worked on bank IT systems until she was made redundant in 2011. She first applied SEO to another business she owned, then began selling it as a service, and the company dates from 2013. Her two SEO specialists, Janet and Julie, came from banking, teaching and IT development, so the team has a technical rather than an advertising background.
Work usually starts with a manual audit. The team reviews sites by hand instead of relying on an automated checker, and an audit can take several hours. A client can buy the audit alone and act on it, or move into an ongoing campaign of keyword research, on-page changes, link building and monthly reports. Reviewers on the Edinburgh Trusted Trader scheme mention help setting up and tidying Google Business Profile listings, and work on an existing Wix site without being pushed onto new hosting. The agency will also take over campaigns started by someone else.
Most clients are local service firms, trades and small online shops. Named accounts include Hero Locksmith, Pure Cleaning Scotland, CAS Hire, Pinnacle Fitness and the Home Report Company. Dental experience is limited to one named client, Hope Park Dental, and it has no page aimed at dentists. A single-site practice in Edinburgh or Glasgow that wants a hands-on audit and steady local work is the most natural fit.
In 2024/25 the firm won SEO Agency of the Year at the Scotland Prestige Awards. It has been a Trusted Trader member since 2019, where all 17 reviews score five out of five, and on Trustpilot it has 16 reviews, all five-star. Recurring themes are quick replies by phone, email and WhatsApp, monthly reports that are easy to follow, and rankings that climb once audit fixes are made. For one reviewer, the average keyword position moved from 7.8 to 1.3.
Prices are not published. The agency looks at a site and sends an estimate, and it adapts packages to small budgets. The average rate is about $99 an hour, and most Trusted Trader reviewers spent under 5,000 pounds in total.
Alba SEO Services' Website
Alba SEO Services at a Glance
| Founded | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Team size | 2-9 employees |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Leadership | Caroline Phillips (Owner and Founder); Janet (SEO Specialist); Julie (SEO Specialist) |
| Languages | English |
| Pricing | No published prices. The agency reviews the site and sends an estimate; it is flexible with smaller budgets. Average rate about $99/hr. Most Trusted Trader reviewers spent 1 to 1,000 or 1,001 to 5,000 pounds, two in the 5,001 to 25,000 pound band. |
| Contracts & reporting | Audit can be bought on its own or followed by an ongoing campaign; existing campaigns can be taken over; monthly reporting; face-to-face meetings in Edinburgh or scheduled calls. |
| Tools & partnerships | WordPress; Wix (client work); Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce member; Edinburgh Trusted Trader member since 2019 |
Dental Marketing Services
- Manual SEO audit
- keyword research
- on-page optimisation
- link building
- Google Business Profile setup and optimisation
- search-friendly web design
- Google Ads and Facebook advertising
- social media management
- monthly ranking reports
Dental Clients & Results
- Unnamed Trusted Trader reviewer: average keyword position moved from 7.8 to 1.3
Dental Practices They Have Worked With
- Hope Park Dental (Edinburgh)
Why Dentists Choose Alba SEO Services
- Scotland Prestige Awards 2024/25 SEO Agency of the Year
- Clutch rating of 5.0 from seven reviews
- Clutch hourly rate listed at $50 to $99
- Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Trusted Trader member
- Works mostly with local trades and service firms
Key Strengths
- Runs SEO audits that find small on-page fixes with big ranking effects for practices
- Sets up and optimises Google Business Profile so practices show in the local map pack
- Works within a practice's existing Wix site and budget rather than forcing a rebuild
- Targets ranking in a practice's own catchment area for local patient searches
Awards & Recognition
- Scotland Prestige Awards 2024/25: SEO Agency of the Year
How the DSA Score Breaks Down
Points earned: 47.7 of 100 (profile 41 × 0.8 + client feedback 14.9). DSA Score: 90/100
What Clients Say About Alba SEO Services
- 2 on Google
- 2 on review sites
Clients Most Often Praise
- Higher Google Maps & local rankings 3
- Dental website design 1
- Value for money 1
In ShortConsistent praise for Caroline's responsiveness and measurable ranking gains for small businesses.
Janet's SEO audit was thorough; one small change moved a keyword from #67 to #2.
See it on designrush.comCaroline answered many questions quickly and patiently while respecting their wish to control their Wix site and costs.
See it on designrush.comAbout five years of high-quality, professional work with steady year-on-year ranking gains in a competitive UK market.
See it on trustedtrader.scotShow 1 more client review
- Barry Fitzgerald: After poor results with other SEO firms, now ranks highly in his target area and got Google Business Profile help. Trusted Trader, 11 Jun 2021
Where Alba SEO Services Is Listed
Questions Dentists Ask About Alba SEO Services
Has Alba SEO Services worked with dental practices?
Yes. Hope Park Dental in Edinburgh is a client. The agency has no dedicated dental page, and most of its named clients are trades and local service firms.
How does an engagement usually start?
The team carries out a manual audit of the website, which can take several hours. You can buy the audit on its own or continue into an ongoing SEO campaign with monthly reports.
Can they help with our Google Business Profile?
Yes. Trusted Trader reviewers mention help creating and improving Google Business Profile listings, and the agency sets local map visibility as part of its SEO work.
How much does it cost?
Prices are not published. The agency quotes after reviewing your site and can work with small budgets. The average rate is about $99 an hour.
Do we need a new website to work with them?
No. Reviewers describe work on existing sites, including a Wix site, without being asked to move hosting. The agency also offers web design if a rebuild is wanted.
Reviews of Alba SEO Services
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