About
Independent, because I’ve sat on the other side of the table.
Before You Invest exists because most people signing an SEO contract have no way to independently check if it’s any good. I built this because I’ve spent my career inside agencies, and I know exactly what a strong proposal looks like versus a padded one.
Who’s Behind This
Hi, I’m Andy.
I’m Head of Digital Strategy at a UK digital agency, where I work on SEO, AI, content, and search strategy for real client budgets every day. Before that, I’ve worked agency-side at McCann and others, with a background of Computer Engineering underpinning everything technical.
I’ve written the proposals and worked in the agencies you’re trying to evaluate. I know which parts of a strategy deck are genuinely tailored to a client’s business, and which are copy-pasted from the last ten pitches. I know what a fair price actually looks like, and what padded scope creep looks like dressed up as thoroughness.
Why This Exists
Everyone selling you SEO has a reason to say yes.
Agencies want the signature. In-house hires want to justify the role. Even well-meaning advice tends to come from someone with something to gain from your decision. Before You Invest is built to have nothing to gain either way — we don’t sell SEO services, so there’s no upsell hiding in the verdict.
The BYI Principles
Principles, not just a methodology.
Independent
We don’t sell SEO services. Nothing we say is shaped by what we’d like to sell you next.
Evidence-led
Every point in your Decision Pack is backed by something we can point to, not a gut feeling.
Commercial
We care whether you’ll actually get value for the money, not just whether the strategy sounds good.
Plain English
No jargon, no acronyms you have to look up. If we can’t explain it simply, we don’t include it.
Honest
Sometimes the right advice is: don’t sign this proposal, or don’t hire anyone at all.
Ready to get an independent second opinion?
Send us your SEO proposal and get a clear, evidence-led verdict before you sign anything.