An SEO agency is an agency that helps businesses build a strong online presence by implementing strategies to optimize their website, improve search engine rankings, and deliver measurable results, such as increasing site traffic and generating qualified leads. 

According to studies, only 0.44% of Google searchers click through to the second page of results, while just 9% scroll all the way to the bottom of the first page. Experts also found that 59% of shoppers use Google to research a product before purchasing it either in-store or online. 

With thousands of similar businesses competing for online visibility, it can be challenging to stand out and attract your target audience. A reliable SEO agency can help ensure your website ranks well and captures attention in a crowded digital marketplace. 

SEO agencies work to improve your website’s search engine visibility by helping you rank higher for keywords that your target customers use to find similar products or services. Namely, thanks to SEO, people can find you more easily when they start searching for information related to your business. An SEO company implements strategies to attract site traffic and convert these visitors into customers, eventually boosting your revenue. 

As SEO strategies can vary based on the unique needs of different industries, it's important to work with an agency that specializes in your niche or sector. Here are the core services offered by SEO agencies: 

• SEO Audits
  Reviewing a website to identify areas for improvement, such as broken links, duplicate content, slow-loading pages, or issues affecting user experience  
• Keyword research  
  Identifying the most relevant and high-traffic search terms your target audience uses and strategically including them in your website’s content to increase visibility and relevance in search results 
• Competitor analysis  
  Evaluating a competitors’ SEO strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and performance to identify opportunities and maintain a competitive advantage 
• On-page optimization  
  Optimizing individual web pages, including content, HTML tags, images, and internal links, to improve search engine rankings and enhance user experience   
• Off-page optimization  
  Improving a website’s authority and rankings through external strategies like building high-quality backlinks, managing online reputation, and leveraging social signals   
• Content marketing  
  Crafting search-optimized blog posts, articles, videos, and infographics to drive traffic, foster engagement, and build authority and trust with audiences  
• Technical SEO  
  Optimizing the backend of a website to meet technical requirements for search engines, such as site speed, mobile-friendliness, security (HTTPS), and indexing and crawlability 
• Local SEO 
  Optimizing a business’s online presence for local search results, including managing Google My Business profiles, building citations, and targeting location-specific keywords 
• Mobile SEO 
  Optimizing websites for mobile devices, addressing elements like responsive design, loading speed, and usability on smaller screens. 
• Reporting and Analytics 
  Tracking and analyzing website performance using tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEO tools to report on KPIs and adjust strategies 

SEO agencies typically charge between $1,000 and $5,000 per month for their services, with national campaigns costing from $2,000 to over $10,000. 

Available pricing structures based on project scope and your business's specific needs include:  

• Hourly rate: $100-$250
• Project-based rate: from $500 to $1,000 for simple projects and more than $1,000 for more complex tasks requiring more resources 
• Custom or a la carte services: Depending on the brand's needs (e.g., site speed optimization or SEO audits) 

The top 50 SEO agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $106 per hour. 18.5% of these service providers accept small-scale projects with a minimum budget of $1,000. Meanwhile, 0.8% cater to larger, more substantial projects with a minimum investment of $50,000. This allows them to provide advanced SEO solutions and premium support that boost search rankings and drive long-term digital visibility. 

You should hire an SEO company because it has the expertise and resources to help your business grow traffic, rankings, and revenue from organic results.  

While your team may understand SEO best practices, the industry is constantly evolving with new trends and algorithm updates. Adjusting or scaling your efforts can be difficult without in-depth knowledge of complex SEO strategies. 

Outsourcing to SEO agencies is a better option because they: 

• Have a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and best practices 
• Are experts in optimizing websites to improve rankings on search engines 
• Can create high-quality content that will attract and engage site visitors 
• Have technical SEO expertise to enhance website structure, speed, and mobile friendliness 
• Use data analytics to identify opportunities, track performance, and make informed decisions 
• Use premium tools and software for in-depth analysis and strategy development 
• Adapt strategies to meet unique business needs and adjust them as necessary 
• Scale SEO efforts easily as the business grows or priorities change 

Success story 

The recent pandemic severely impacted many businesses, but the travel industry faced particularly harsh challenges. We have chosen this case study to demonstrate how SEO helped a struggling travel company adapt and thrive during difficult times: 

• Challenge: Thrifty Traveler, a small team of six, struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic. With PPC no longer profitable, the company decided to shift its focus entirely to SEO, hoping it would pay off once people were ready to travel again.  
• Solution: Thrifty Traveler partnered with Propellic to develop and execute a tailored SEO strategy. The SEO agency conducted a thorough SEO audit, revealing major issues that prompted a complete overhaul of more than 7,000 URLs. Additionally, Propellic implemented a content strategy to reoptimize the client’s extensive travel catalog. 
• Results: Over the next two years, Thrifty Traveler experienced remarkable improvements to its website: 
  • 1300% increase in organic traffic volume 
  • 700% increase in top 10 ranking keywords 
  • Ranking for top-tier, high demand keywords in their niche 

Consider these steps when choosing the best SEO agency for your business:  

1. Identify your targets 
   Identify your business’ SEO requirements and objectives, as well as the budget if you have a number in mind.  
2. Search for agencies 
   Research potential agency partners on credible online directories like DesignRush and search engines like Google. 
3. Check their services 
   Most SEO agencies offer a similar range of services, but if you have specific needs, like local SEO or eCommerce SEO, be sure to confirm that the agency has expertise in those areas. 
4. Assess their online visibility 
   Verify that the SEO agency has cultivated a strong online presence for its brand. Other than its website, check its social media posts, number of followers, how it engages with customers. 
5. Look for relevant certifications and recognitions 
   Check if the agency holds SEO and digital marketing certifications, which will help validate its knowledge and specializations. 
6. Evaluate their case studies 
   More than a portfolio, the SEO agency should have case studies that fully illustrate its past successes, especially in businesses similar to yours. 
7. Look for agency reviews  
   Search for reviews and testimonials from past clients from verified review platforms like DesignRush and Trustpilot. 
8. Ask for proposals
   Based on your initial assessments, shortlist top SEO companies. Send them detailed SEO requests for proposals (RFPs) and arrange interviews.  
9. Prepare a list of questions 
   During the interview, inquire about their SEO expertise, industry experience, tools, and practices. Prepare your questions in advance for a more fruitful discussion. 
10. Make a decision 
    Choose your SEO agency partner based on the candidates’ proposals, their performance during the meeting, their communication skills, and the transparency of payment schemes. 

Do you need help finding an SEO agency for your business? Visit our Marketplace, then tell us about your project and we will recommend five companies that perfectly match your needs — for free. 

Find the best SEO company on DesignRush that fits your budget by using our advanced filters to narrow down your options based on budget, ranging from $1,000 to over $50,000. 

You can also browse our agency directory to view agency profiles by location, area of expertise, client reviews, industries, team size, and hourly rates so you can thoroughly compare SEO agencies and choose the best fit for your project. 

Watch out for these red flags that could damage your brand's reputation and website ranking when hiring an SEO agency: 

• Not offering SEO audit 
  Avoid SEO agencies that won't conduct a thorough SEO audit of your site. All SEO projects should start by properly assessing gaps, opportunities, and optimization needs. 
• Guaranteeing results 
  Reject agencies that guarantee top rankings or immediate results because SEO is a long-term process, and rankings can't be guaranteed due to constant search engine algorithm changes. 
• Lack of transparency 
  Don't work with SEO companies that are vague or unwilling to share SEO tactics, because they might be using "black hat" or risky techniques that could get your site penalized. 
• Black-hat tactics 
  Be cautious of agencies that use black-hat techniques like keyword stuffing, cloaking, or buying links because that can lead to penalties from search engines and damage your website's reputation. 
• Outdated or low-quality content 
  Don't even consider agencies that don't update content regularly. SEO success depends heavily on high-quality and relevant content, and these agencies may not be keeping up with modern SEO practices. 
• Lack of case studies or testimonials 
  Avoid SEO companies that lack case studies or detailed testimonials. A reputable agency should be able to provide examples of past work that show measurable success with other clients. 
• Overemphasis on link building 
  Beware of agencies that focus solely on acquiring links without a comprehensive SEO strategy because they may be taking shortcuts, potentially leading to poor results or penalties. 
• No clear reporting or analytics 
  Don't choose agencies that don’t offer consistent and transparent reporting. A trustworthy SEO agency should provide regular reports with clear data on performance metrics. 

These are the key success metrics when launching an SEO campaign: 

1. Organic traffic 
   The total number of website visitors from search engine results pages (SERPs), reflecting the overall reach of the SEO efforts 
2. Keyword rankings  
   Tracks the positions of target keywords on the SERPs, which indicate visibility for specific search terms 
3. Click-through rate (CTR) 
   The percentage of users who click on the website link in search results, which shows how well the meta titles and descriptions attract clicks 
4. Referring domains 
   The number and quality of websites that link back to yours; they signal that you have valuable and relevant content 
5. Pages per session 
   The average number of pages a visitor views per session, revealing how engaging and easy to navigate the site is 
6. Average session duration 
   The average time visitors spend on the site, which helps measure content engagement and user experience 
7. Time on page 
   The average amount of time visitors spend on a specific page, which generally indicates if the content is relevant and engaging 
8. Bounce rate 
   The percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page, again assessing content relevance and user engagement 
9. Exit rate 
   The number of times visitors leave a website from a particular page, helping identify customer journeys and where they drop off 
10. Core web vitals 
    SEO metrics related to website speed and user experience; measures performance, interactivity, and visual stability, which impact search engine rankings 
11. Indexed pages 
    The number of website pages that search engines have discovered and included in their index, which potentially increases site visibility and traffic 
12. Organic traffic conversions 
    The percentage of website visitors who perform a desired action (e.g., making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a form) after arriving on the website through organic search results 

You should ask the following questions to a potential SEO agency partner: 

Its Relevant Background  

1. Do you have experience working in our industry?    
2. Do you have any relevant case studies from similar clients? 
3. Does your team have SEO certifications or accreditations?  
4. How do you measure SEO success? 
5. What is your pricing structure and payment terms?

Its Services and Processes   

1. What SEO services do you offer, and do you provide related services like PPC or performance marketing?    
2. How do you conduct keyword research and develop an SEO strategy? 
3. What is your approach to link building, and how do you ensure quality?
4. How often do you generate reports? What information will be included in the reporting?    
5. Which tools, platforms, and other resources do you use? Can we have access to them?   
6. How do you stay informed with search engine updates and industry changes?     

Relevant to Your Project   

1. How will you develop SEO strategies based on our business needs?
2. What do you think will be the most effective SEO tactics for our brand and why?    
3. How long can we expect to see results?    
4. Who will be assigned to our account, and what are their levels of expertise?    
5. How often will we receive task updates, and which communication channels? 
6. How often do you generate reports? What information will be included in the reporting? 
7. What can we do on our end to make our SEO successful? 

These are the best SEO agencies in the US: 

1. Effeect 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (80 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (7 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Projectum, Perumious, Labelonia, 101 Event 
2. Incrementors Web Solutions 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (60 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (28 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Canva, Verizon, Rawforestfoods, Fonts 
3. SmartSites 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (60 reviews) 
   • 4.9 stars on Google (677 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Rolls-Royce, Poker Stars, Rakuten, Classic Audi 
4. Searchbloom 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (48 reviews) 
   • 4.9 stars on Google (65 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Nordstrom, Idera, Inc., Bill.com, 1800 contacts 
5. Fahrenheit Marketing 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (35 reviews) 
   • 4.7 stars on Google (25 reviews) 
   • Top clients: RJ Reynolds, TransCore, Thinkery, Citgo 

We have also chosen the best SEO agencies after carefully assessing over 12,000 companies based on industry experience, success stories, portfolios, and other key criteria. Read their profiles to learn more about their specialties and find the right team for your business.