Best Search Engine Marketing Companies

3 Companies - Rankings updated: April 02, 2026

DesignRush vets all agencies based on professional qualifications and verified customer feedback to help you choose confidently. Some featured agencies maintain paid sponsorships.

Sponsored
United States × Florida × Clearwater ×

  • Whales Marketing

    Help Good Companies to Become Great.

    Whales Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency that helps companies grow their online performance, get more clients and boost revenue.  [... see all Whales Marketing reviews ]
    Location
    Clearwater, Florida
    Number of Employees
    50 - 99
    Average Hourly Rate
    $50/hr
    Minimal Budget
    $1,000 - $10,000
    Portfolios Count
    8 Projects Listed

    Whales Marketing Services

    • Digital Marketing
    • SEO
    • Social Media Marketing
    • PPC
    • Content Marketing
    • Market Research
    • Email Marketing
    • Web Design
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts

    Clients and Projects

    View Full Portfolio
    • Viacoding
      Digital Marketing Project Viacoding
    • Powerful Email Campaign For a Creative Agency
      B2B Email Marketing Project for Design Company Powerful Email Campaign For a Creative Agency
    • Dynamic Sales Growth For A Software Company
      B2B Digital Marketing Project for Software & IT Services Company Dynamic Sales Growth For A Software Company
    • Email Campaign Drives Leads for A Cloud Platform
      B2B Email Marketing Project for Gaming Company Email Campaign Drives Leads for A Cloud Platform
    View Full Portfolio
    Comprehensive analysis done by DesignRush Agency Experts.

    Whales Marketing Reviews & Testimonials

    • Kate Boveen
      Kate Boveen COO at Viacoding
      5.0★
      Digital Services Review from Kate Boveen

      We have hired Whales Ventures to help us set up our online marketing strategy for the young software development company. The main purpose was to cooperate with someone who can guide us through SEO and PPC primarily. We thought of both a digital agency and freelancers and decided to select WV because of their dedication and experience. We're more than happy with the results and still working together.

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    • Daisy Skot
      Daisy Skot Client Manager at La Rusa
      5.0★
      Digital Marketing Review from Daisy Skot

      Whales Venture fully managed our digital marketing campaigns to boost organic traffic and create ongoing lead flow. Through the initial audit, they improved the overall site structure, create content, and handled social media strategy plus all advertisement campaigns.

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    • Олександр Романов
      Олександр Романов Review from Google
      5.0★

      Олександр Романов's Review Sourced from Google

      Whales Marketing has been an incredible partner for our business. They developed outstanding Sales Collateral Materials, including professional presentations and brochures, that have elevated our client communications. Their expertise in web analytics setup provided us with clear insights to refine our strategies, and their SEO work significantly improved our online visibility. The team is creative, professional, and always delivers on time. Highly recommend their services to any business looking for top-notch marketing solutions!

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    Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
    • Boosteroid
    • Citrix
    • Viacoding
    • Kitrum
    • Canyon
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
    View Profile
    4.5 4.5 (2)
    5.0 5.0 (3)

  • Baycoast Media

    Marketing With Love

    Baycoast Media is a website design & SEO agency proudly serving our Tampa & nationwide communities. We are passionate creatives! Operating from a place of love - not greed. OUR PROMISES: Never Outsourced. Love in every project. Simple Pricing. Passionate Team. Working with us, you get 100% done-for-you  [... view Baycoast Media profile ]
    Location
    Clearwater, Florida
    Number of Employees
    Under 49
    Average Hourly Rate
    $50/hr
    Minimal Budget
    $1,000 - $10,000

    Baycoast Media Services

    • SEO
    • Web Development
    • Web Design
    • Social Media Marketing
    • Logo Design
    • Digital Marketing
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts

    Baycoast Media Reviews & Testimonials

    • All Clear Junk Removal
      All Clear Junk Removal Review from Google
      5.0★

      All Clear Junk Removal's Review Sourced from Google

      My experience with Baycoast Media has been awesome and well above expectations! Their service has been very personable and professional. As a small business owner, one man show, all the marketing responsibilities fall on me. I’ve gotten to where I am so far but feels like I’ve hit the ceiling. I felt like it was time for me to get some help to get me to the next level. I reached out to Baycoast, we had an initial discovery call where they really took the time to understand my marketing needs and direction. We found a plan that perfectly fit my needs and what I’m looking for. Communication with Jonathan and Sara has been great! Keeping me updated on what they’re working on every step of the way. I’m very excited to start seeing the results and continuing an awesome partnership with Baycoast! Thank you guys, I feel like a huge burden is lifted off my back and I now have time to focus on other areas of my business!

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    • HERO DEEP
      HERO DEEP Review from Google
      5.0★

      HERO DEEP's Review Sourced from Google

      Working with Sara and the Baycoast Media team has been an amazing experience. They not only created a beautiful, professional website that truly represents our deep cleaning services, but they also guided us with a smart marketing strategy to help grow our business. As a minority, women-owned company, it’s important for us to connect with the community, and Baycoast Media helped us do just that. Their dedication and expertise have made a real difference for Hero Deep Clean.Andrea Carolina Rojas | Operational DirectorDavid Hernandez | Client Director

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    • Andrea Rojas
      Andrea Rojas Review from Google
      5.0★

      Andrea Rojas's Review Sourced from Google

      Working with Sara and the Baycoast Media team has been an amazing experience. They not only created a beautiful, professional website that truly represents our deep cleaning services, but they also guided us with a smart marketing strategy to help grow our business. As a minority, women-owned company, it’s important for us to connect with the community, and Baycoast Media helped us do just that. Their dedication and expertise have made a real difference for Hero Deep Clean.Andrea Carolina Rojas | Operational DirectorDavid Hernandez | Client Director

      Show more
    Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
    • 901 Innovation
    • Disney
    • Rizzo Roofing
    • Doug Oliver Development
    • Florida Dewatering
    • Pure Polymer Solutions
    • Jax Plumbing & Septic
    • Cockerell Consulting
    • Southern Exhibits
    • Q Renovation Services
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
    View Profile
    5.0 5.0 (5)

  • Frontage Marketing Group

    Make Your Small Business Look BIG!

    Frontage Marketing Group is a comprehensive marketing agency specializing in community association service providers. Utilizing strategies akin to those employed by larger corporations, we empower small businesses to establish a prominent digital presence, leaving a lasting impact in their respective  [... view Frontage Marketing Group profile ]
    Location
    Clearwater, Florida
    Number of Employees
    Under 49
    Average Hourly Rate
    $160/hr
    Minimal Budget
    $1,000 - $10,000

    Frontage Marketing Group Services

    • Digital Marketing
    • Branding
    • Content Marketing
    • SEO
    • Reputation Management
    • Logo Design
    • Web Design
    • Graphic Design
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts

    Frontage Marketing Group Reviews & Testimonials

    • Bonnie Bray
      Bonnie Bray Review from Google
      5.0★

      Bonnie Bray's Review Sourced from Google

      We are overwhelmed by the fabulous new website Frontage Marketing Group created for our non-profit organization. Not only did Andrea crystalize our loosely-articulated philosophy into a coherent whole, she did so by honoring the spirit of our mission and adding a huge dash of sophistication. Up Your Arts never looked better!

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    Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
    • SmartProperty
    • Axela Technologies
    • HOA Strategies
    • Pilera Software
    • Looshki Insurance
    Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
    View Profile
    5.0 5.0 (1)

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. 

AspectSEOSEM
Traffic sourceOrganic (unpaid)Paid (ads on search engines)
Cost modelNo cost-per-clickPay-per-click (PPC)
Result speedSlow, builds over timeFast, immediate visibility
PlacementOrganic search resultsTop and bottom ad placements
StrategyContent, technical setup, backlinksBidding, ad copy, targeting
Long-term valueHigh, compounding over timeStops when the budget stops
ControlLimited control over rankingsFull 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.

About The Author and Expert Reviewer

Content Specialist

natasa@designrush.com

Natasa Glikman is an experienced editor and content writer with over 10 years of experience in writing, editing, and translating articles across various topics, with a strong focus on marketing and advertising. At DesignRush, Natasa currently works as an editor, where she refines and enhances B2B content to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency across agency profiles and industry reports.

Marketing Director

mariana@designrush.com

Mariana Delgado is the Head of Marketing at DesignRush, with more than ten years of experience across digital marketing, sales management, search, and video advertising. Since joining DesignRush, she has delivered 3× site-traffic growth and 2× growth in monthly revenue by building scalable, performance-led programs that connect acquisition, content, and brand across channels. Her campaigns have achieved a 5:1 ROAS.

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