Best Search Engine Marketing Companies

Each agency listed on DesignRush is assessed for industry expertise and customer testimonials are evaluated in order to provide you with a vetted selection. Certain listings represent paid partnerships.

Expertise
Other
$10,000 - $25,000
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United States × Illinois × Search Engine Marketing × Other × $10,000 - $25,000 × Clear Filters

  • AreaClicks

    Drive Better Business Results

    From custom web builds to data-enriched campaigns, we craft tailored strategies that skyrocket traffic, conversions, and ROI...

    Top Services:

    • Digital Marketing
    Location
    Oak Brook, Illinois
    Number of Employees
    Under 49
    Average Hourly Rate
    $150/hr
    Minimal Budget
    $10,000 - $25,000
    Portfolios Count
    2 Projects Listed

    AreaClicks Services

    • Digital Marketing
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
    • Allstate
    • Exxon Mobil
    • Stash Dispensaries
    • Pfizer
    • CarShield
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile

    AreaClicks Reviews & Testimonials

    • MJK Law Group
      MJK Law Group Review from Google
      5.0 ★

      MJK Law Group's Review Sourced from Google

      Their team knew exactly how to navigate the strict rules around legal advertising. They tightened up our website, ran compliant Google Ads, and built some targeted lead systems that actually brought in the right kind of calls. It took a few months to ramp up, but by the end of the year those leads had generated eight figures in total settlements for us.

    • J Gann
      J Gann Review from Google
      5.0 ★

      J Gann's Review Sourced from Google

      I don’t generally leave business reviews but we signed up our dealership with them in January to handle our search engine feeds and our ad campaigns. All I can say is thank you for all of your hard work. They truly underpromised and over delivered phenomenal results. We went from having horrible luck with online marketing to thousands of new walk ins this year. Looking forward to our continued success. Greatly appreciated.

    • Nadia L
      Nadia L Review from Google
      5.0 ★

      Nadia L's Review Sourced from Google

      As a law firm specializing in personal injury, we needed a marketing team that could highlight our expertise. They delivered with a professional website and targeted PPC ads that increased our client inquiries by 25%. Their attention to detail and quick responses made all the difference. We’re thrilled with the results!

    Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile View All Reviews
    Visit Website View Profile
    5.0 5.0 (40)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SEO and SEM?

The main difference between these two marketing branches is how they acquire traffic: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) earns traffic organically, while Search Engine Marketing (SEM) buys traffic through paid ads. 

Aspect SEO SEM
Traffic source Organic (unpaid) Paid (ads on search engines)
Cost model No cost-per-click Pay-per-click (PPC)
Result speed Slow, builds over time Fast, immediate visibility
Placement Organic search results Top and bottom ad placements
Strategy Content, technical setup, backlinks Bidding, ad copy, targeting
Long-term value High, compounding over time Stops when the budget stops
Control Limited control over rankings Full control over spend and targeting

What platforms are used for search engine marketing?

Search engine marketing runs mainly on paid search platforms. Google Ads leads globally, with regional and niche platforms used based on audience and market. 

  • Google Ads is the largest platform and covers Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, and partner sites. 
  • Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads) reaches Bing, Yahoo, and AOL users. It often has lower CPCs. 
  • Amazon Ads shows search ads inside Amazon for product-driven campaigns. 
  • Apple Search Ads promotes apps within App Store search results. 
  • Baidu Ads is the primary platform in China. 
  • Yandex Ads is dominant in Russia and nearby markets. 

Can a search engine marketing company guarantee a #1 ranking?

No. An SEM agency cannot guarantee a #1 ranking. 

Search ads run on an auction, and ad rank depends on bid, ad quality, expected click-through rate, and landing page experience. Competitors change bids constantly, so positions shift in real time. 

Agencies control strategy, targeting, and optimization. They improve results, reduce costs, and increase conversions, but they do not control the auction or competitors, so no one can consistently promise the top spot. 

How much do SEM services cost?

Best SEM agencies typically charge between $100 and $300 per hour. Most businesses spend $500 to $5,000+ per month on SEM, while competitive industries can spend from $10,000 to $50,000+. Total cost combines ad spend and agency fees. 

  • Ad spend: You pay for each click, but some clicks cost a few dollars, while competitive keywords like legal or finance can go above $50 per click. Total spend depends on how many clicks you want and how competitive your market is. 
  • SEM companies’ monthly fees: 
    • $500 to $1,500 per month for basic setup and management 
    • $1,000 to $5,000 per month for full service and optimization 
    • $10,000 to $50,000+ for large-scale, multi-platform campaigns 

Search engine marketing agencies can also charge a percentage of ad spend, usually between 5% and 20%. 

As a general rule, many companies allocate around 10% to 12% of revenue to SEM and digital advertising. 

How long does it take to see SEM results?

SEM companies can deliver results for paid search within days, while SEO takes months to build traffic and rankings. 

Paid search can drive traffic almost immediately after launch. Early results appear within hours or days, but campaigns need a few weeks to stabilize. Most accounts become efficient within 2 to 8 weeks, and performance becomes stronger after 2 to 3 months. 

SEO works much more slowly. The first 1 to 3 months usually go into technical fixes, content creation, and indexing. Noticeable traffic growth often occurs between 3 and 6 months for less-competitive terms. Strong rankings and consistent traffic typically take 6 to 12 months or more, especially for new websites.

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