Digital Next
Founder-led Manchester SEO and PPC agency with a Melbourne office and AI visibility platform
- Founded
- 2009
- Team size
- 51-200
- Headquarters
- Manchester, United Kingdom
- Avg. cost
- Quote builder budget bands: £1,000–£2,000, £2,000–£4,000 and £4,000–£10,000+ per month, plus one-off projects
Overview
About Digital Next
Digital Next is a Manchester SEO and PPC agency founded around 2009 by brothers Justin and Mark Blackhurst, based at The Sharp Project with a second office in Melbourne. It offers local, ecommerce and technical SEO, Google Ads, web development on Shopify, Magento and WordPress, and newer AI search services. Google Premier Partner since 2023.
Digital Next was started by brothers Justin and Mark Blackhurst at the end of the 2000s; the site gives both 2009 and 2010 as the starting point. According to the agency’s own timeline it reached £1 million turnover in 2011, bought rival Just Search in 2014, and opened a Melbourne office in 2014/15 that now has more than 20 staff. The Manchester headquarters at The Sharp Project in north Manchester houses a team of over 40, which puts the combined business in the mid-size bracket.
This Manchester SEO agency sells a wide menu. Search work spans local SEO, ecommerce SEO, technical audits, migrations, digital PR and link building. Paid media covers Google Ads, Shopping, remarketing and Bing, and the agency now advertises ChatGPT Ads and AI SEO/GEO services alongside an AI-Visibility platform launched in 2026. A development team builds on Shopify, Magento and WordPress, and the firm also sells hosting, security, training and reputation management. Monthly budgets on its quote builder run from £1,000 to £10,000-plus.
Clients named on the site include Qantas, NordVPN, Decathlon, Hörmann, Essilor and Perfume Direct, mixed with UK SMEs such as Sigma 3 Kitchens and WestLab Salts. The agency became a Google Premier Partner in 2023. Independently, its Google Business Profile shows a 4.8 rating from 76 reviews as reported by Sortlist, and a Rating Captain review ranking placed it first among Manchester SEO firms in 2024.
The strength here is stability and coverage: a long-running, founder-owned firm that can handle SEO, ads and a rebuild in one place. The gap is evidence. Case study pages show services rather than numbers, so buyers should request performance data and named references during the pitch.
What they do
Services
- SEO and technical audits
- Local SEO
- Ecommerce SEO
- Digital PR and link building
- PPC (Google Ads, Shopping, Bing)
- AI SEO / GEO
- Web development (Shopify, Magento, WordPress)
- UX and CRO
- Paid social and email marketing
Specializations
Industries served
Ideal client
Who they help
UK SMEs and mid-sized brands that want SEO, local SEO and Google Ads handled together, often alongside a site build or migration, by an established agency with a large in-house team.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Long track record: founded around 2009, passed £1m turnover by 2011 and acquired Just Search in 2014 (agency timeline)
- Google Premier Partner since 2023
- Strong Google review profile, 4.8 from 76 reviews (via Sortlist)
- Covers SEO, PPC and development in-house, so migrations and rebuilds can sit with the same team
- Names large brands such as Qantas, NordVPN and Decathlon among clients
Cons
- Homepage case studies show services but no published performance metrics
- Founding year is given inconsistently on its own site (2009 and 2010)
- Very broad service menu may mean less depth in any single channel than a specialist
Pricing
Notable clients
Awards & recognition
- Google Premier Partner (since 2023)
Common questions
FAQ
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What services does Digital Next offer?
Digital Next offers SEO and technical audits, Local SEO, Ecommerce SEO, Digital PR and link building, PPC (Google Ads, Shopping, Bing), AI SEO / GEO, and more.
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Where is Digital Next based?
Digital Next is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom and works with clients remotely worldwide, with additional offices in Melbourne, Australia.
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How much does Digital Next cost?
Digital Next operates on a mixed model, typical costs of Quote builder budget bands: £1,000–£2,000, £2,000–£4,000 and £4,000–£10,000+ per month, plus one-off projects.
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Who is Digital Next best for?
UK SMEs and mid-sized brands that want SEO, local SEO and Google Ads handled together, often alongside a site build or migration, by an established agency with a large in-house team.
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What industries does Digital Next serve?
Digital Next serves clients in Ecommerce and retail, Travel, Legal services, Technology and software, Manufacturing, Home improvement.
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How big is Digital Next and when was it founded?
Digital Next was founded in 2009 and has a team of 51-200 people.
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How do I contact Digital Next?
You can visit www.digitalnext.co.uk, or email info@digitalnext.co.uk, or call 0161 203 3190.
Editor’s take
Digital Next suits SMEs and mid-market brands that want a one-stop Manchester SEO, PPC and web team with a long track record. Buyers who need detailed, published proof of results should ask for case data before signing.
