Manchester Google Premier Partner agency founded 2009, with fixed-price SEO packages
About Digital Next
Digital Next is a digital marketing agency founded in Manchester in 2009 by brothers Justin and Mark Blackhurst. Their head office is Gold 157 at The Sharp Project on Thorp Road, Manchester, a creative and media hub, and they opened an office in Melbourne, Australia, in 2014 or 2015 that grew to more than 20 staff. They reached 1 million pounds in turnover within two years and bought the agency Just Search in 2014.
The agency covers SEO, local SEO, PPC, Google Shopping, paid social, AI search and generative engine optimisation, web design on Shopify, WordPress and Magento, email, content, reputation management, hosting and cybersecurity, and training. They hold Google Premier Partner status, awarded in 2023, and Google placed them in the top 1 percent of UK agencies that year. In 2026 they launched a product called AI-Visibility. They also published a cybersecurity book with Bloomsbury in 2019.
Their SEO process has six stages: discovery and audit using Screaming Frog, Ahrefs and Semrush; competitor and keyword research; technical fixes such as mobile use and speed; on-page copy and calls to action; content planning and production; and reporting through GA4 and custom dashboards. Local SEO is offered as its own service, though few details on its method are published.
There is no dental page. Their closest healthcare page is aimed at opticians, where they argue the sector needs locally relevant, practical content rather than a different technical approach. Health-related work includes a case study listing for The Laser Treatment Clinic and social ads and Facebook remarketing for Essilor, the lens manufacturer. Most published clients are outside healthcare, including Qantas, NordVPN, Decathlon, Hormann, Nadine Merabi, Perfume Direct and WestLab Salts. Case study figures are hidden, so no measurable healthcare results are published.
They suit practices or groups that want a large, multi-channel agency and plan to run SEO alongside Google Ads or paid social. They have 70 Google reviews rated Excellent, with themes of traffic and ranking growth and good return on SEO spend. Most new business comes from referrals.
Pricing is more open than at most agencies of this size. Small business SEO packages are 179 pounds a month for 5 keywords, 299 pounds for 10 keywords and 499 pounds for 20 keywords with local and multi-location options. Packages include keyword and competitor research, on-site and technical work, link outreach, monthly reporting and monthly or quarterly calls, with no setup fees. Larger engagements fall into budget bands from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds a month up to 4,000 to 10,000 pounds or more.
Digital Next's Website
Digital Next at a Glance
| Founded | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Gold 157, The Sharp Project, Thorp Road, Manchester, England, UK |
| Other offices | Melbourne, Australia |
| Leadership | Justin Blackhurst (Co-founder); Mark Blackhurst (Co-founder) |
| Languages | English |
| Pricing | SEO packages: Essential GBP 179/month (5 keywords), Starter GBP 299/month (10 keywords), Grow GBP 499/month (20 keywords, local and multi-location options); no setup fees. Larger budget bands GBP 1,000-2,000, 2,000-4,000 and 4,000-10,000+ per month; one-off projects available. |
| Contracts & reporting | No setup fees; monthly reporting; monthly or quarterly phone meetings depending on package; GA4 and custom dashboards; reply to enquiries within one working day. No minimum term published. |
| Tools & partnerships | Google Premier Partner; Google Analytics (GA4); Microsoft Advertising; Meta partner; Screaming Frog; Ahrefs; Semrush; Shopify; WordPress; Magento |
Dental Marketing Services
- SEO
- local SEO
- technical SEO audits
- SEO content
- link building and digital PR
- Google Ads
- paid social and remarketing
- reputation management
- web design
- AI search optimisation
- email marketing
Why Dentists Choose Digital Next
- Office inside The Sharp Project creative hub in Manchester
- Case study for The Laser Treatment Clinic
- Offers reputation management alongside local SEO
- Runs ChatGPT ads management as a separate service
- Budget bands start at £1,000 to £2,000 per month
Key Strengths
- Provides WordPress hosting, security and speed services for practice sites
- Designs dedicated treatment landing pages for paid search campaigns
- Offers blog writing packages for ongoing treatment content
- Runs Google and Facebook remarketing to re-engage potential patients who visited the site
Awards & Recognition
- Google Premier Partner (2023)
- placed in top 1 percent of UK agencies by Google (2023)
How the DSA Score Breaks Down
Points earned: 26.4 of 100 (profile 33 × 0.8 + client feedback 0). DSA Score: 85/100
Where Digital Next Is Listed
Questions Dentists Ask About Digital Next
Do they have a dental SEO service?
They have no dental-specific page. Their closest healthcare page targets opticians, and their case study list includes The Laser Treatment Clinic.
How much does their SEO cost?
Small business SEO packages cost 179, 299 and 499 pounds a month, depending on how many keywords are targeted. There are no setup fees.
How long have they been operating?
They were founded in 2009 by brothers Justin and Mark Blackhurst and are based at The Sharp Project in Manchester.
How will I see results?
SEO packages include monthly reporting and monthly or quarterly calls. They report through GA4 and custom dashboards.
Are they Google accredited?
They became a Google Premier Partner in 2023 and display Google, Microsoft and Meta partner badges.
Reviews of Digital Next
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