Find top content marketing agencies to craft engaging brand stories that drive tangible business outcomes. Select experts from our vetted list of content marketing companies that specialize in copywriting, social media, and SEO.
After carefully considering each agency’s client reviews, pricing, range of content marketing services, portfolios, and industry reputation, we handpicked the finest content marketing companies. Below, you’ll discover what sets each of these agencies apart, as well as our ranking criteria.
The Number 1 Content Marketing Agency as Selected by DesignRush Is:
Notable Clients: Warner Brothers, eBay, Caliber Collision, and more
HigherVisibility produces content marketing that drives profitable business growth through its proprietary Targeted Growth System (TGS). Its steps involve custom strategy development, precise audience targeting, data-driven execution, and continuous optimization. With it, the content marketing company has helped clients increase organic leads by 191% and achieved a 124% return on ad spend. Moreover, it has won multiple awards and recognitions, including the Search Engine Land Awards and the US Agency Awards.
Despite its established reputation, Allied Van Lines fell behind competitors. It struggled with low-quality content, leading to lower site authority, poor search visibility, reduced organic traffic and lead generation, and disavowed quality links.
To resolve these issues, it partnered with HigherVisibility. The content marketing agency used historic data to identify valuable keywords, develop relevant and engaging content, optimize on-page elements, and implement link building and conversion rate optimization (CRO) tactics. As a result, Allied Van Lines increased year-on-year (YoY) organic traffic by 2.6%, month-on-month (MoM) leads by 800%, and YoY organic conversions by 9.4%.
Notable Clients: Nextiva, Casper, TripAdvisor, Norton, Airbnb, and more
Siege Media offers a unique approach to enhancing your website's authority through passive link building. As a collective of creatives, marketers, and SEO experts, Siege Media has generated content valued at approximately $12,387,175 per month in client traffic, which equates to $148,646,100 per year.
Zendesk approached Siege Media with the realization that its outdated content failed to generate desired traffic levels. It needed experts who could implement SEO best practices, conduct comprehensive keyword research, and create high-quality and strategic content to enhance its search engine ranking, drive traffic growth, and increase conversions.
The agency then revamped Zendesk’s existing content, focusing on technical SEO and design optimization. It also implemented a bottom-funnel strategy on their blog and service pages, featuring content that showcased the client’s expertise in software, customer service, and technology. These content pieces effectively combined informational and transactional elements and utilized high-quality imagery and user-friendly charts. The result was a surge in traffic: 37% growth to Zendesk’s blog, $731,924 in overall traffic value growth, 94% growth in organic traffic, and 10,675+ passive links.
Notable Clients: Miner, Stanford University, Rubbermaid Commercial, Canva, Cisco Systems, and more
Brafton's mission is to help businesses succeed through content marketing services and technology solutions worldwide. Its creative and consulting teams write for any industry, from technically complex niches to B2B and B2C brands, utilizing data-led digital content to resonate with the audience and generate results.
The strategy for their client, Quench USA, was to increase brand awareness by enhancing the company’s presence on search. With this in mind, Brafton crafted an SEO strategy that targeted not just consumers but also executives, small-business owners, and office administrators. Using a mix of general terms, such as “hydration facts,” and commercial-intent terms, like “water cooler service for office,” the agency ensured that the website ranked on Page 1 for the right keywords. Consequently, Quench achieved 37 new Page 1 keywords, with 21 being in positions 1 to 5, a $55,377 boost in monthly traffic value, and an increase of 443% in monthly traffic.
Notable Clients: Adobe, Amazon, Asana, Dropbox, eBay, Facebook, Fiverr, and more
Since its establishment in 2009, Column Five has been a leading creative agency specializing in B2B ventures. The agency harnesses the incredible power of storytelling as the ultimate differentiator, transforming ideas into successful campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, startups, and SMEs. It empowers brands to connect with their lifelong customers, foster meaningful relationships, and make conscious decisions that benefit individuals, profitability, and our shared planet.
Dropbox wanted to enhance its Talent Brand by introducing its brand to potential employees, attracting new talent, and engaging with the community. To provide an honest and genuine glimpse into #LifeInsideDropbox, Column Five created a series of videos featuring employees from around the world sharing their career journeys at Dropbox. This series aimed to humanize the brand, generate enthusiasm, and inspire viewers by recounting an authentic view of life within the organization.
Notable Clients: Twenty 20, Nextiva, Harris Teeter, Intuit, and more
Single Grain is a team of passionate professionals who use cutting-edge tools and technology, and personalized marketing strategies to generate leads, drive sales, and foster genuine connections. The agency’s remote-first approach allows them to work with talented creatives regardless of location.
One of their clients, Intuit, a well-known name in tax and personal finance services, recognized an opportunity to provide easy-to-use tools for other business aspects, such as website creation. While Intuit developed and launched the Intuit Website Builder, it needed help to gain traction and visibility in a new and different marketplace dominated by more established competitors. To tackle this challenge, it enlisted the services of Single Grain to create high-quality content and solidify its reputation as a powerful website-building solution.
The firm conducted an in-depth competitive analysis and increased efforts in blogging and social media to engage the existing user community and connect with new users. Within only seven months, the collaboration significantly increased Intuit's visibility in a highly competitive keyword environment across a wide range of common search terms.
Notable Clients: Sodexo, Adobe, Cisco, Salesforce, Autodesk, and more
Tendo is a comprehensive B2B content agency with expertise in crafting, implementing, and optimizing integrated content experiences that drive toward ambitious business objectives. It is a collective of seasoned strategists and creative minds with the knack for transforming a distinctive value proposition into a captivating narrative that resonates with the client’s key audiences.
When the existing Cisco.com needed to revamp its outdated content, Tendo conducted in-depth research to develop a content framework that could be expanded and maintained easily throughout the site. After evaluating the site’s current state, reviewing competitors, and interviewing key stakeholders, they created a content architecture and scalable content models, including organization, prioritization, and copy specifications for key page types.
Following this redesign, unique visitors to Cisco.com increased by 15%, task completion rose by 13%, and the click-through rate skyrocketed to 68%. Additionally, "contact us" clicks saw a remarkable 32% increase. The success was further validated through metrics, prompting Cisco to develop a design system based on Tendo’s content framework and apply it across all business units.
Notable Clients: Semrush, BigCommerce, SpyFu, Sprout Social, Influencer Marketing Hubb, and more
Attrock is a results-driven digital marketing company with an impressive track record of helping clients achieve remarkable milestones, including ranking for over 5,000 keywords on Google's first page and driving a 128% increase in leads and conversions.
It also played a vital role in scaling agencies from five to seven-figure incomes within two years by providing digital marketing services like content marketing, SEO, influencer Marketing, PR, lead Generation, and more.
Its content marketing campaign for ShaneBarker.com was aimed at increasing backlinks, building a strong social media presence, improving SERPs rankings, and boosting site traffic. By optimizing the web content and implementing SEO measures, its blog posts started to rank on the first page of Google search results without the need for link building. High-quality social media content also helped nurture its robust social media presence, with the number of sessions from LinkedIn growing from 686 to 16,000 in two years.
Notable Clients: Las Vegas Tourism, Miami Beach Pride, Midmark, BurgerFi, and more
S&G is a renowned content marketing agency consisting of experienced experts with diverse backgrounds, from prestigious newspapers, renowned magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and innovative technology firms. Its expertise has earned them recognition, making it among the top 50 global content marketing agencies by The Content Marketing Institute.
S&G collaborated with JW Aluminum to position the brand as a disruptor in the traditional metals manufacturing industry; it launched a new app to reduce lead times for procurement professionals and streamline supply chains for customers.
The firm created a comprehensive white paper exploring supply chain logistics in the metals industry and how technology could improve efficiency and boost revenue. The white paper generated over 200 new leads in only six months and served as a landing page for JWA's PR campaign, resulting in feature stories in Forbes, Supply Chain Brain, and other relevant industry publications.
Notable Clients: PayPal, NetApp, Sofinnova, and more
The Content Bureau is a fully remote, majority-female team dedicated to ensuring client success by balancing corporate marketing and branding protocols with trusted partnerships to provide maximum value over time. Its specialty is crafting B2B marketing assets, including copywriting, editing, and layout solutions for articles, banner ads, blog posts, and webinars.
The firm produced authentic and unscripted thought leadership videos for their client, SAP, to help partners and marketing staff understand the company's software business model. The challenge was to create engaging and authentic content while adhering to SAP brand guidelines.
According to the client, the collaboration between them and the agency resulted in fun, painless, and on-brand videos. It successfully delivered work quickly and professionally, reaching thousands of viewers and earning positive feedback from field sales representatives. Overall, the authenticity behind the videos proved to be a successful sales tool that effectively communicated the message to their target audience.
Notable Clients: monday.com, Freshworks, ActiveCampaign, AdEspresso, Zapier, and more
Codeless produces hundreds of long-form articles each month for some of the internet's biggest SaaS, service, and affiliate brands. Its process begins with SEO experts identifying content categories that resonate with the target market. The dedicated account managers then facilitate the production process, from keyword identification to uploading the finished product to your CMS.
The agency helped monday.com increase monthly blog traffic from 12,586 to more than 304,000 within 18 months. Despite the hyper-competitive nature of B2B and SaaS niches, Codeless helped them expand its business and secure significant clients such as Coca-Cola, Hulu, and Universal.
Its strategy involved creating content at scale to produce 950+ articles (2,000 words each). This enabled the client to rank for 140,000+ organic keywords with 25,626 first-page rankings on SERPs and amass backlinks from 6,500+ domains, adding to their traffic numbers.
How We Picked the Best Content Marketing Companies
To curate the list of the top content marketing companies, we examined the agencies’ client roster, testimonials, case studies, industry reputation, team expertise, and executive management. Our team of agency experts created a scoring system to gauge their overall performance based on metrics such as:
Relevant content marketing service catalog
Coverage of content marketing topics on their website and other channels
The number of content marketing projects delivered
The quality and diversity of portfolio, and success stories
Notable clients and well-known brands
Their online reputation on DesignRush, Google, and other platforms
This qualitative process helped us narrow down the cream of the crop content marketing providers you can work with on your upcoming project.
10 Most Popular Content Marketing Agencies Compared
Agency Name
Location
Hourly Rate
Size
Best For
HigherVisibility
Memphis, TN
Inquire
50-99
Overall
Siege Media
San Diego, CA
$100
100-249
Conversion-Focused Content
Brafton
Boston, MA
$150
100-249
SEO
Column Five Media
Orange County, CA
$145
Under 49
SaaS Companies
Single Grain
Los Angeles, CA
Inquire
Under 49
B2C Enterprises
Tendo Communications
San Francisco, CA
Inquire
Under 49
B2B Brands
Attrock
Miami, FL
$49
Under 49
Content Analysis
S&G
Miami, FL
$175
Under 49
Branded Content
The Content Bureau
Orinda, FL
Inquire
Under 49
Internal Marketing
Codeless
Lone Tree, CO
Inquire
50-99
Long-Form Content
Best Content Marketing Companies
7,105 Companies-Rankings updated: September 08, 2026
DesignRush assesses content marketing companies for their expertise and verified client experiences to help you make better decisions. Certain agencies have paid placements.
Providing execution needed to bring our clients' great ideas to life.
Providing execution needed to bring our clients' great ideas to life.
In 2022, Shields Design Studio and Shotgunflat joined forces to form a new company, combining over 50 years of experience and a true passion for people to deliver a uniquely different agency experience...
At Lucror Marketing, we help entrepreneurs and small businesses gain more clients through digital marketing strategies tailored to their business. From SEO to social media advertising, Google search campaigns, and Whatsapp business integration, we provide personalized solutions that fit your company's size...
First impressions happen in seconds and can determine whether visitors stay or leave. With the perfect combination of web design, development, copywriting, and marketing materials, Neon Web Design Poole ensures every second counts...
Our Food Marketing Agency Uncomplicates Marketing for High Impact Brands
Our Food Marketing Agency Uncomplicates Marketing for High Impact Brands
Most food and beverage brands struggle with increasing their online presence. We guide you through a framework that will increase sales, achieve goals and, most importantly, promote your mission...
Done-for-you video series and podcasts for small scrappy B2B marketing teams.
Done-for-you video series and podcasts for small scrappy B2B marketing teams.
Motion is a content marketing agency specializing in the creation of video series and podcasts. We work with B2B marketing teams to plan, create, and manage content theyre proud to share with customers...
Welcome to Evoquesys, a premier digital agency specializing in graphic UI/UX design, website development, eCommerce solutions, and comprehensive digital marketing services. With a team of talented professionals, we strive to deliver exceptional results that elevate your brand and drive business growth...
Devoratorii de Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency committed to elevating brand growth through innovative ideas and cutting-edge technology. The agency specializes in transforming digital campaigns by leveraging AI to maximize customer interactions and drive conversions. Its team delivers...
Transform your digital presence with our comprehensive marketing services. We offer expert SEO optimization, engaging social media management, compelling content creation, and professional website development and maintenance all designed to elevate your brand and connect you with your audience...
VSLB is a multidisciplinary studio specializing in 3D Images, Animations, VR, AR, Virtual Production environments. We create immersive content using realtime rendering to elevate brands and products. Founded in 2017 by Sarah Schmidt and Giacomo Mason, we operate from our offices in Seoul and Padova...
Jackson Wynne, crafts meaningful experiences. From planning to execution, we elevate your brand with clarity and purpose, ensuring it stands out where it matters most...
Atlanta SEO Agency That Wins in Google and AI Search
Atlanta SEO Agency That Wins in Google and AI Search
SEO Guru Atlanta helps local and national businesses generate consistent leads by building search authority that AI engines trust. We dont chase algorithmswe build brands that dominate organic visibility in 2026 and beyond...
Redcore Digital Is an Award Winning Digital Marketing Agency.
Redcore Digital Is an Award Winning Digital Marketing Agency.
RedCore Digital is an award winning digital marketing agency specialising in search engine optimisation. Through a full-disclosure approach, we work with our clients on the forefront of their marketing team and embed ourselves in their existing operations. We provide honest advice, bespoke strategies and a...
Codisweb is a dynamic digital agency specializing in custom website design, SEO, and social media marketing. We create tailored solutions to help businesses boost their online presence and reach their goals. From eye-catching websites to effective online campaigns, Codisweb offers a full range of services to...
EightySix Digital provide Digital Marketing services to all businesses. Get your business in front of hundreds of new clients and grow your online presence...
Knowledgeable, Talented, and Nice. Youve Hit the Trifecta.
Knowledgeable, Talented, and Nice. Youve Hit the Trifecta.
Specializing in branding, creative, content marketing, and marketing strategy development. We're passionate about building brands. From logo to copy, website to billboards, every element counts. A cohesive vision, relatable message, and flawless execution make a brand ultimately successful...
Revolutionizing the way businesses experience the digital world.
Revolutionizing the way businesses experience the digital world.
Quantum Dreamworks is a leading innovator in web development and AI automation, specializing in creating dynamic and custom digital experiences. From captivating websites to transformative web applications, we bring visions to life with technology that inspires...
Were determined to see our clients achieve their goals.
Were determined to see our clients achieve their goals.
Hills Web Design is a boutique web design agency based in the Hills District of Sydney. With over two decades of experience, we bring our expertise across various CMS platforms such as WordPress, Joomla, WooCommerce, and more. By integrating IT and marketing solutions, we deliver industry-relevant services to...
We carry the Marketing load so you can focus on what matters most. At Solitude Marketing, we specialize in taking the stress out of digital marketing, allowing you to focus on what you do best...
Global & Local Marketing Solutions | Expert in SEO, SEA, and Digital Growth.
Global & Local Marketing Solutions | Expert in SEO, SEA, and Digital Growth.
At Marcom.eu, we specialize in delivering comprehensive global and local marketing solutions. From SEO to SEA, social media marketing to web development, our expert team helps businesses grow their online presence, drive targeted traffic, and increase conversions. As a trusted partner for companies expanding...
We Deliver Customized Strategies to Boost Your Online Presence
We Deliver Customized Strategies to Boost Your Online Presence
Creative SEO Hub is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, PPC, and web design. We deliver customized strategies to boost your online presence and drive business growth...
Were a Sales & Marketing Team Focused on Traffic, Leads and Conversions for Growing Businesses.
Were a Sales & Marketing Team Focused on Traffic, Leads and Conversions for Growing Businesses.
We focus on B2B and Account Based Marketing for growing businesses. We create highly targeted first-data tracking solutions for business. From strategy to creative to campaign execution and CRM, MAP and SEP management, we're your ideal B2B sales and marketing partner...
GrowthIQ Digital is a Colorado-based digital marketing agency specializing in data-driven PPC, SEO, and strategic digital marketing solutions designed to fuel business growth. We empower brands to maximize their online presence, engage their target audience, and drive measurable results. At GrowthIQ, our team...
Transforming Knowledge and Skills Into Persuasive Propositions.
Transforming Knowledge and Skills Into Persuasive Propositions.
We help clients express the ideas that lie behind product and service labels. People buy ideas, and ideas sell. Our job is to create compelling messages which motivate people to take action...
At Adverge, we blend technology, strategy, and creativity to deliver impactful digital marketing solutions that drive business growth and engagement...
Beautiful, Functional Websites That Grow Your Business Online.
Beautiful, Functional Websites That Grow Your Business Online.
KennyK3 Digital is a premier web design agency based in Charlotte, NC, specializing in creating stunning, user-friendly websites tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses. With a focus on innovative design and strategic digital solutions, KennyK3 helps clients enhance their online presence and drive...
Now Technology Systems offers comprehensive web solutions, including visually pleasing web design, expert WordPress support, seamless eCommerce solutions, and professional video production and editing...
MAGNA APEX was founded by Reneir Cruise in June 2012 and identifies itself as The FITNESS Marketing Agency, working with Clients that own small to medium business that specialize in Physical Fitness, Mental Wellness, and Financial Advisement...
Our team of IT experts can assist you with a number of web development, computer, and network related issues. We do it all from website design and creation to virus removal, data backup and system diagnostics, as well as VPN setup and ongoing network support. We have operated in the Coachella Valley for...
Article-Writing.co is a content marketing and writing agency dedicated to transforming B2B firms into thought leaders in their industries. With over 15 years of experience, the agency provides high-impact SEO strategies, guest posts, and social media content that effectively engages target audiences. Trusted...
No more one-size-fits-all email blasts. Let's craft tailored emails that segment your audience, sell your services, and scale your business strategically. I'm a professional conversion copywriter who understands the unique needs of woman-owned and LGBTQ-owned service businesses. I know you're not just looking...
Fheba Design is a results-driven digital marketing agency specializing in web design, content creation, and innovative marketing strategies. With over 25 years of experience, the agency collaborates with clients to develop tailored solutions that enhance online presence and drive engagement. Its expertise in...
We transform ideas into memorable creative output. Our team deliver distinctive designs, craft compelling campaigns, inspire impactful branding and develop dynamic digital solutions that help elevate brands, engage audiences, build trust and foster growth...
Maximize Your Brand Visibility with the Most Effective Marketing Tactics from My Marketing Stars.
Maximize Your Brand Visibility with the Most Effective Marketing Tactics from My Marketing Stars.
My Marketing Stars is a vibrant digital marketing agency in New York that has a lot to offer to businesses in terms of online growth and real performance. With a group of skilled marketers, we give a large list of services like SEO, social media marketing, PPC ads, content creation, and web development...
Improve your agency's financial success and the quality of your copywriting. content Rocket provides a revolutionary solution: experienced writers from top-tier agencies generate content that not only increases sales but also builds long-term brand equity...
At Best SEO Company for Real Estate, we provide customized solutions to real estate agents and investors to generate more traffic, leads and sales. We have helped hundreds of real estate business owners to increase their website traffic from 0 to 10k in just 3 months. If you want to grow your business 10x...
Top seo company in India and website development company in India, Dedicated to your growth. Mediaofficers is your go to partner for building a powerful online presence...
Unlocking Digital Success for the Financial, Government and Legal Industries
Unlocking Digital Success for the Financial, Government and Legal Industries
Whether you have an in-house marketing expert or are just starting to look for a digital marketing consultant for your financial, legal, or government organization, we can help accelerate your growth with results-driven digital marketing campaigns. As a digital marketing consultant, my team and I will work...
Elevate your Brand with Optimized Influencer Marketing!
Elevate your Brand with Optimized Influencer Marketing!
Audiencly started out creating ad campaigns in the gaming sector. After numerous viral campaigns, we quickly established ourselves in lifestyle marketing and now create ad campaigns for brands from various segments.We take advantage of the fast pace of the internet and develop online advertising...
Wyoming SEO Company | Sheridan WY SEO Agency | Web Development Services
Wyoming SEO Company | Sheridan WY SEO Agency | Web Development Services
Easy Services Club LLC is a Sheridan, Wyoming SEO and web development agency specializing in technical SEO, local SEO, content strategy, and authority link building. We help businesses strengthen online visibility, improve rankings, and generate consistent organic leads...
Tech In A Tux delivers comprehensive digital presence solutions, from Website Design to SEO and Social Media Marketing, helping businesses thrive in the online world. With a focus on personalized service and expert support, we make technology accessible to businesses of all sizes...
MadeSouthern Marketing is a boutique marketing agency that provides creative, modern solutions for small business owners through marketing strategy, brand strategy & identity, custom website design, content creation & strategy, creative design services, and social media marketing and management...
7 Frequently Asked Questions About Content Marketing Agencies
What do content marketing companies do?
Content marketing companies create and distribute digital content intended to inform, attract, engage, retain, and inspire action across target audiences. The main goal of their produced work is to drive greater brand awareness, boost organic traffic and SEO rankings, and guide prospects through the buyer's journey to ultimately increase leads and sales.
What services do they provide?
Key services provided by content marketing agencies include:
Content strategy development: Curating bespoke plans to align content with business objectives, ideal customer profile (ICP) intent, and industry trends.
SEO copywriting and keyword research: Optimizing content to rank higher in search engine result pages (SERPs) and improve visibility to potential customers.
Editorial management and publishing: Sourcing writers, editing content, managing content calendars, and handling the publishing process.
Distribution and promotion: Making sure the content reaches the target audience through social media, email campaigns, and paid advertising.
Performance analysis: Monitoring how content performs and tracking traffic, engagement, and conversion rate metrics to refine strategies.
How much does a content marketing company cost to hire?
Across the US, a content marketing company usually charges between $100 to $500 per 1000-word post.For social media content, the price usually goes between $50 and $150 per post.
The final price can vary based on a combination of factors:
Length and topic complexity: Shorter, simpler posts cost less compared to in-depth, longer articles.
Expertise: Posts requiring niche knowledge or specific writing style entail higher fees.
SEO adjustments: Extending the service with SEO services like keyword research and integration can also raise the price.
Additional services: Content promotion, social media sharing, and visual add-ons count as an addition to the base fee.
How long do different content pieces take to write?
Short, standard articles can take an experienced writer 1 to 3 hours to write, while research-heavy pieces may require over 10 hours. Same as with pricing, the topic complexity and research requirements affect the writing time as well.
In general, seasoned writers can produce 500 words in 30 to 60 minutes, while for the same work, a beginner might need 2 to 3 hours or more.
Here are some average time estimates by content type:
Social media posts/short content (75 to 300 words): 30 minutes to an hour
Standard blog post/article (500 to 1000 words): 1 to 3 hours (assuming moderate research)
1,500-word piece: 3 to 6 hours, depending on depth
Long-form, 2,000-word content piece: 6 to 10+ hours
Technical content piece: Up to 10 hours per 500 words, given the need for extensive research and citations
Full website content coverage (20 pages): 11 to 40 days, depending on the complexity of the brand voice and required research
What types of businesses benefit most from working with a content marketing agency?
Small businesses, startups, expanding brands, and companies looking to set or correct a brand image benefit the most from a content marketing collaboration.
Businesses starting from the ground up benefit a lot from a content marketing agency as it maps out a clear strategy and builds an audience from day one. Companies dealing with a bad reputation or a complex rebranding phase also see considerable returns, as a good agency can use honest storytelling to fix misconceptions and win back trust.
At the same time, if a brand is entering a new market or launching a unique product line, specialized content helps them spread the message more easily by producing pieces in the local language.
How long does it take to see results from content marketing services?
Content marketing follows a more extended trajectory as it takes time for search engines to recognize and rank the content. As the content library expands and gains credibility, brands start to see incremental growth in 3 to 6 months.
The same goes for social media: as content compounds and reaches more people, the organic traffic gets steadier and lead generation efforts start gaining more traction.
How is content marketing different than SEO?
Content marketing is the substance, i.e., the strategy of creating value to build a relationship with the intended audience. SEO is the visibility or the technical process of making that value discoverable by search engines.
Essentially, they are two sides of the same coin: SEO makes demands (keywords, structure), and content marketing fulfills them.
Across both practices, quality comes first. Namely, if the piece is optimized for a search engine but fails against the intent of the reader, the content will eventually lose its rank because it lacks topical authority.