I run a digital agency and I will tell you personally, I kill my competition for one reason.
I don't operate like your typical white hat SEO professional. I do some manual SEO but I've been doing it for long enough that I outsource to people who will do $10k worth of SEO for $720. Literally $720 a month and I outrank huge competition for businesses that I charge $4k a month to.
I'm a digital agency and I outsource to over seas.
Big businesses outsource their work to overseas.
Most digital agencies are beginning to hire from the Philippines and other countries. I know I speak with the big guys.
So, I say that to say, if you can and you know what you are doing, then outsource to developing countries. Don't know what you are doing? Do your research and find an affordable SEO agency that does quality work for a low price. I'm not giving a low price ;P
I'm gonna ride the money train until the tracks end. So are most digital agencies that actually get results.
I do a lot of manual work too.
Like checking the work I outsource to make sure it's A++ lol