Updated March 2024
There’s a seemingly infinite number of SEO companies out there, many of whom will promise you the moon. But which is the best SEO agency? Which ones will actually deliver? Which agency can you trust to provide a legitimate service with tangible, measurable results?
Most importantly, what should you be looking for to determine the agency that best fits you and your business’ goals?
In this comprehensive guide to the best SEO agencies, we’ll do the legwork for you and let you decide.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Best SEO Company: 6 Top-Tier Choices
1) Single Grain
Specializes in: Full-service SEO
Top 3 Clients:
- Salesforce
- Amazon
- Intuit
Pricing: $$$
Single Grain is a full-service digital marketing company with 12+ years of experience in SEO consultancy and strategy implementation. We’ll set you up with a specialist (not a fancy but worthless “dedicated account manager”) to focus on building website authority, fixing technical SEO and developing content marketing strategies that deliver long-term online success.
Our team’s great work ethic has allowed us to work with some of the largest companies like Uber, Amazon, Lyft, Salesforce, Airbnb and other industry-leading brands, and consequently enjoys great reviews. We specialize in elevating your company above the competition.
Our SEO campaign strategy consists of:
- SEO goal evaluation and KPI setting
- Keyword research
- Competitor analysis
- Technical SEO analysis
- High-quality link acquisition
- Voice search optimization
- Core web vitals optimization
- Content marketing and optimization
- Conversion tracking
- Search Console and analytics monitoring
- Regular reporting
Our proactive SEO services analyze your company’s strengths and use them to solidify your brand’s presence online. In addition, we constantly track your closest competitors to identify gaps in opportunities and capitalize on them to keep your business ahead of the rest.
For CEO Eric Siu and the SG team, the pursuit of SEO growth is relentless. We’re continually exploring new frontiers in technology, including the smart use of AI, and digital marketing strategies to ensure that what works wonders for us also delivers exceptional results for our clients:
Our case studies showcase our SEO work, including this one where we helped Winedeals improve their blog performance by focusing on articles with low click-through rates.
By using Google Search Console data, we identified blogs with low click-through rates and then we used ChatGPT with specifically tailored client prompts to build SEO-optimized content.
The result? Their clicks increased by 268% over six months:
Need some help with strategic optimization to grow organic traffic? Single Grain’s SEO experts can help! 👇
2) Ignite Visibility
Specializes in: Enterprise-level SEO, industry thought-leadership
Top 3 Clients:
- Tony Robbins
- 5-Hour Energy
- The Knot Worldwide
Pricing: $$$$$
Ignite Visibility is a multi-national SEO firm driven by some of the industry’s leading experts.
A regular keynote speaker at industry events, founder John Lincoln is the author of Digital Influencer and has been recognized as among the top consultants in the game.
Their team of experts puts their deep understanding of search and digital marketing to work via custom SEO solutions that combine on-page and off-page strategies with clear communications that have produced strong results for major names like motivational speaker Tony Robbins and the 5-Hour Energy Brand.
Though the company boasts that they manage over $100M in advertising spend per year, their team of 110 full-time experts ensures a low employee-client ratio which ultimately means each client gets the time and attention they deserve.
3) ReachLocal
Specializes in: Local SEO
Top 3 Clients:
- Santa Ana College
- Skin Spa New York
- F1 Boston Racing
Pricing: $$
For many small and growing businesses, local SEO is the key to success to ensure that your brand is highly visible when people look for products or services like yours in their area.
As their name implies, ReachLocal is an SEO firm that has carved out an enviable reputation as one of the best around when it comes to helping companies both large and small to use local SEO to its full effect.
The company is a proud partner with Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Yelp and Facebook. They use these platforms, along with their industry expertise, to help drive leads, increase sales, and boost brand visibility in local search.
Dive Deeper: 9 Factors that Can Immensely Boost Your Local SEO
4) Higher Visibility
Specializes in: On-page optimization
Top 3 Clients:
- Calibre Collision
- Allure Bridals
- Fitness 19
Pricing: $$$
In 2020, Higher Visibility was named SEO Agency of the year by reputable industry news outlet Search Engine Land. They earned that thanks to the company’s honest, transparent approach and a commitment to really understanding the unique needs and goals of each individual client.
To meet those needs, Higher Visibility focuses on providing some of the best on-page optimizations in the business, striving to ensure that every page on your site is maximized to its full SEO potential.
One of the top SEO companies, Higher Visibility also promises to deliver clear, simple-to-follow yet easy-to-understand reports so that you can keep a close eye on the kind of return you’re getting on your investment.
Dive Deeper: 8 Essential SEO Reports to Create for Your Client
5) Duffy Agency
Specializes in: Multilingual and international SEO
Top 3 Clients:
- United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP)
- Niquitin
- Cavidi
Pricing: $$$$
Local agencies may be a great choice for local SEO, but what if you’re expanding internationally and need to reach customers in multiple languages across multiple countries?
If your business is anything like the United Nations World Food Program or Niquitin, you turn to the Duffy Agency. They’ve carved out a niche as a successful multilingual SEO firm by channeling their wealth of international marketing experience into the research, development, implementation, and management of results-oriented SEO strategies.
Dive Deeper: International SEO: How to Optimize Your Website to Capture a Global Audience
6) OuterBox
Specializes in: E-commerce SEO
Top 3 Clients:
- Atlas Oil Company
- K2 Awards & Apparel
- Matco Tools
Pricing: $$$$
While many of the top SEO companies are well equipped to work with all kinds of businesses, those running an online store may prefer to work with a specialist who truly understands the unique pain points faced by e-commerce companies.
OuterBox is an ecommerce SEO specialist that proudly claims to have helped their clients drive over $5.3B in revenue by providing effective solutions for stores that run on all major platforms, including WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce.
Held in high regard by a number of digital marketing industry thought-leaders as the best ecommerce SEO agency to work with, OuterBox’s excellent reputation speaks for itself.
Dive Deeper: SEO for E-commerce Sites (Beginner & Intermediate)
What Is an SEO Agency?
Once, search engine optimization was all about choosing the right keywords and placing them appropriately and effectively throughout your website.
Today, SEO is a multifaceted operation, encompassing various elements essential for online success, including:
- Site Performance: Ensuring websites are fast, responsive, and user-friendly.
- User Experience: Crafting an interface that’s easy and enjoyable for visitors.
- Link Building: Establishing a network of quality links to enhance domain authority.
- Content Strategy: Developing relevant, engaging content that resonates with the target audience.
- Authority Building: Positioning a brand as a thought leader in its industry.
Managing these components effectively is a daunting task for most businesses. Moreover, with Google’s ever-evolving algorithms, staying abreast of SEO best practices becomes a challenge.
This is where an SEO firm steps in.
An SEO agency is a specialized digital marketing firm that helps businesses improve their online visibility in search results pages and are equipped with in-house experts for each SEO strategy, including:
- Website Audits: Analyzing and optimizing website structure and content.
- Link Building: Creating strategies to acquire quality backlinks, crucial for improving organic search traffic.
- Content Marketing: Developing and executing content plans that attract and engage the target audience.
- Overall SEO Strategy: Crafting comprehensive strategies tailored to enhance a brand’s visibility in search.
With a team of certified experts, these agencies easily keep up with the latest trends and algorithm updates of major search engines. They use this knowledge to tailor custom strategies for each of its clients that enhance online visibility, increase organic traffic and click-through rates and, ultimately, boost conversions for their clients.
Just want someone to do all the work for you? Single Grain’s SEO experts can help! 👇
Common Challenges Businesses Face with SEO
Businesses face numerous challenges when it comes to SEO, stemming from the complexity of search engine algorithms, the competitive landscape, and the constant evolution of best practices. This can significantly impact their online visibility, traffic and, ultimately, their bottom line.
As an SEO expert within a digital marketing agency, understanding these challenges is crucial to developing effective strategies for clients.
Below, I’ll outline common SEO challenges and how agencies typically address them, including mentions of specific tools and strategies where relevant.
1) Ever-Changing Search Engine Algorithms
- Challenge: Google frequently updates their algorithms, affecting how websites are ranked. Staying ahead of these changes can be difficult for businesses.
- Solution: SEO agencies continuously monitor these updates using tools like Moz, Semrush, and Google Search Console. They adapt strategies accordingly, focusing on long-term SEO practices such as creating high-quality content and improving user experience.
2) Keyword Optimization and Research
- Challenge: Identifying the right keywords to target is critical yet challenging. The competition for high-volume keywords is fierce, and trends can shift rapidly.
- Solution: Agencies use advanced keyword research tools like Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner, and Semrush to identify both high-volume and long-tail keywords with lower competition. They focus on intent-based keywords to match user queries more effectively.
3) Quality Content Creation
- Challenge: Creating content that is both valuable to the audience and optimized for search engines is a common struggle. Content must be engaging, informative, and optimized to rank well.
- Solution: Agencies often have dedicated content teams that work on crafting SEO-friendly content strategies. They use tools like BuzzSumo to identify trending topics and Grammarly for quality checks. The content is optimized for both users and search engines, incorporating targeted keywords naturally.
4) Technical SEO
- Challenge: Technical SEO issues like slow site speed, mobile unfriendliness, and crawl errors can severely impact rankings but are often overlooked.
- Solution: Agencies conduct comprehensive site audits using tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Google’s PageSpeed Insights to identify and rectify technical issues. They ensure the website is mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and easily crawlable by search engine bots.
5) Local SEO
- Challenge: For businesses that operate locally, appearing in local search results is crucial but can be challenging due to competition and the specifics of local SEO ranking factors.
- Solution: Agencies leverage Google My Business optimization, local citations, and localized content creation to improve local search visibility. They use tools like Moz Local to manage listings and track local rankings.
6) Building Quality Backlinks
- Challenge: Acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable websites is essential for SEO but challenging due to the need for high-quality content and relationships with other webmasters.
- Solution: Agencies focus on creating share-worthy content and leveraging relationships to build backlinks. They use tools like Majestic and Ahrefs to analyze backlink profiles and identify opportunities for high-quality link-building.
7) Measuring SEO Success
- Challenge: Tracking the effectiveness of SEO efforts and understanding the return on investment (ROI) can be complex.
- Solution: Agencies use a combination of analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Semrush to track traffic, rankings, and conversions. They set clear KPIs and use these tools to report progress to clients regularly.
8) Adapting to User Behavior Changes
- Challenge: User behavior, like the increase in mobile search and voice search, continues to evolve, requiring adjustments in optimization strategies.
- Solution: Agencies stay informed on user behavior trends and adapt strategies accordingly, optimizing for mobile search, focusing on conversational keywords for voice search, and improving user experience across devices.
9) Competition Analysis
- Challenge: Keeping ahead of competitors in SEO requires understanding their strategies and performance.
- Solution: SEO firms conduct thorough competitor analysis using tools like SpyFu and Semrush to understand competitor keywords, backlinks, and content strategies. This information helps in crafting superior strategies for their clients.
10) Compliance with Web Standards and Regulations
- Challenge: Ensuring that websites comply with the latest web standards and regulations, like GDPR, can affect optimization strategies.
- Solution: Agencies make sure that websites are compliant with current regulations, focusing on privacy, accessibility, and security aspects that can impact search engine rankings.
SEO is a complex and ever-evolving field. By understanding and addressing these challenges through specialized tools and strategies, agencies can significantly improve their clients’ online visibility and success.
Benefits of Working with a Leading SEO Company
Hiring a reputable SEO services company may cost money in the short-term, but the long-term results from an effective strategy can pay dividends in terms of organic growth and increased conversions.
Here are several key benefits of outsourcing your search engine optimization:
- Expertise and Experience: SEO agencies have specialized knowledge and experience in implementing successful SEO strategies. They stay up to date with the latest trends, algorithm updates, and best practices in SEO, which can be challenging for businesses to keep up with on their own.
- Time-saving: SEO is time-consuming and requires ongoing effort. By outsourcing SEO to an agency, businesses can save time and focus on their core operations while experts handle the complexities of search engine optimization.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Although hiring an SEO agency involves an investment, it can be more cost-effective in the long run compared to investing in the wrong strategies or in-house resources that may not yield the desired results. Agencies can provide a higher ROI through their expertise and efficient execution of strategies.
- Access to Advanced Tools: SEO agencies have access to advanced tools and software for keyword research, analytics, competitor analysis, and more. These tools can provide valuable insights and data that help in formulating more effective SEO strategies.
- Customized Strategies: An SEO agency can develop tailored strategies that align with your business goals, target audience, and industry specifics. They can identify opportunities and challenges unique to your business and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Improved Website Performance: Agencies not only focus on improving rankings but also on enhancing the overall user experience of your website. This includes optimizing site speed, mobile responsiveness, and user navigation, which are crucial for retaining visitors and converting them into customers.
- Long-term Results: SEO is not a one-time effort but a long-term strategy. An agency can help you achieve sustained growth in website traffic, brand visibility, and customer engagement over time.
- Competitive Advantage: By employing the latest SEO techniques and strategies, an agency can help you outperform competitors and gain a more prominent online presence in your industry.
- Comprehensive Approach: SEO agencies often offer a holistic approach to digital marketing, integrating SEO with other online marketing strategies like content marketing, social media marketing, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising for a comprehensive online presence.
- Continuous Optimization and Monitoring: SEO agencies continuously monitor the performance of your website and SEO campaigns, making ongoing optimizations to ensure that you achieve and maintain high rankings in the SERPs.
Dive Deeper:
* How to Create a High-Performance Content Marketing Strategy
* How to Rank Your Brand-New Website When You Don’t Know SEO
How to Choose the Right SEO Firm
So, you’ve made up your mind that hiring an SEO firm is the best move for your business, but with so many options to choose from, there’s still the not-so-small matter of picking the right one.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when looking for quality SEO service providers, plus some common traits that set the top SEO companies apart from the rest.
Tips for Choosing an SEO Company:
- Do your research: Read reviews, compare prices, and look for agencies that specialize in your industry.
- Define your needs: Clearly outline your SEO goals and budget constraints.
- Compare options: Assess prices and services from various agencies.
- Seek references: Request past client details and read agency reviews.
- Ensure price transparency: Look for clear pricing and regular reporting from agencies.
- Industry focus: Choose an agency with expertise in your specific niche.
- Get a free consultation: This will give you a chance to ask questions and get a feel for the agency’s expertise.
- Set realistic expectations: SEO takes time and effort. Don’t expect overnight results.
- Track your results: Make sure the agency is providing you with regular reports on your SEO progress.
- Inquire about their SEO strategy: Understand how they plan to improve your search engine optimization, including keyword research and link building.
- Evaluate their technical SEO capabilities: Make sure the agency can handle the technical aspects of SEO that impact your site’s performance.
- Comprehensive services: Make sure they offer complete SEO solutions like keyword research and link building within your budget.
- Scalable services: Select an agency that can adapt their services to your evolving business needs as your business grows and your SEO needs evolve.
Key Factors to Consider:
- Experience and Track Record in Search Engine Optimization: The internet marketing agency should have a track record of successful past SEO campaigns. Look at their case studies and client testimonials, focusing on their expertise in improving search rankings and traffic.
- Understanding of Your Business and Industry: The agency should have a deep understanding of your business and industry, and the challenges it faces, in order to provide tailored – and not general – SEO services that align with your specific needs.
- Comprehensive Range of Services: Check if the agency offers a broad spectrum of services beyond SEO, like other digital marketing services. This includes content marketing, paid search advertising, social media marketing, and more.
- Transparency in SEO and Marketing Strategies: The agency should be clear about thee SEO and marketing strategy it can provide, and offer regular, detailed reports on the progress and effectiveness of their efforts.
- White-Hat SEO Methodology: Confirm that they employ ethical, white-hat SEO techniques that comply with search engine guidelines, avoiding any strategies that could risk penalties. White hat SEO includes keyword research, indexing and site architecture, on-page SEO (URL structure, H1 headlines, meta description, image SEO), and link building.
- Effective Communication and Support: Look for an agency that values open communication, offering consistent support and collaboration with your team. They should be available and easy to get a hold of.
- Customized Strategies: A top agency will provide customized SEO strategies for each client and each goal, particularly emphasizing content marketing, which is crucial for organic search success.
- Clear Pricing for SEO Services and Contract Terms: Understand their pricing structure for SEO services, ensuring it’s transparent and fits your budget. Check the contract terms to avoid long-term commitments before assessing their effectiveness.
- Use of Advanced Tools for SEO and Paid Search Campaigns: Inquire about the tools and technologies they use for SEO tasks, including keyword research and paid search campaign management, and make sure that they are industry-standard.
- Cultural Fit and Alignment with Your Business Values: Choose an agency that aligns well with your company’s culture and values, as this will ensure a smooth working relationship and a mutual respect.
- Referrals and Recommendations for SEO: Seek referrals or recommendations specifically for their SEO and marketing services from trusted business associates.
- Local SEO Expertise (if applicable): If your business targets local customers, ensure the agency has proven expertise in local SEO strategies, which are crucial for attracting location-based traffic.
- Adaptability to Future SEO Trends: The agency should not only be current with today’s best practices in SEO services but also adaptive to future changes in search engine algorithms and digital marketing trends.
Dive Deeper:
* How to Write a Strong SEO Title Tag (with Formulas & Templates!)
* 9 Quick SEO Tactics That Only Take 10 Minutes to Implement
* 10 Underrated SEO Reporting Metrics That’ll Impress Your Clients
Ready to Work with the Best SEO Firm?
While each of the top six SEO agencies listed above are the very best in the industry, each one focuses on a different speciality. This means that a large part of choosing which one to work with comes down to seeing which of those specialities best aligns with your SEO goals.
But if you want a full-service SEO solution tailored to the unique nature of your business and the challenges you face, look no further than Single Grain. With SEO specialists and thirteen years’ in the business with results to show, we can help you truly level up your digital presence.
If you’re ready to drive measurable increases in organic traffic, Single Grain’s SEO experts can help! Let’s discuss your campaign requirements.👇
SEO Agency FAQs
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Which is the best company for SEO?
The “best” SEO company varies depending on your specific needs and industry. Generally, the top search engine optimization companies are those with extensive experience, a proven track record of success, and a comprehensive understanding of the latest SEO trends. Read our article to discover several top agencies!
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Who is the best SEO company in the USA?
The best SEO company in the USA is subjective and can depend on the type of industry and specific services required. It’s recommended to look for companies that offer a wide range of digital marketing services, have a strong reputation, and demonstrate success in diverse projects. Read our article to discover several top agencies!
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How do I choose a good SEO agency?
To choose a good SEO agency, focus on their expertise in search engine optimization services, transparency in strategy and reporting, customizability of their services to your business needs, and their ability to stay updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes. Read our article to discover more tips on choosing a good agency!
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Who is the best SEO consultant?
The best SEO consultant is one who has extensive experience in the field, a solid understanding of how various search engines operate, and a track record of helping clients improve their online visibility and search rankings. They should also offer personalized solutions and keep up with the evolving landscape of SEO.
