Need help ranking first on local search results? Browse our list of top SEO companies in Chicago to gain search engine expertise, improve location-based marketing, and geo-target customers. More importantly, connect with agencies to strengthen your competitive position in the Chicago market. Use our comprehensive tool to filter listings based on their average rates, client reviews, portfolio, industry expertise, team size, and more.
Our list of top Chicago SEO companies was selected from 160+ agency providers based on their range of services, portfolio, industry reputation, pricing, and client reviews. Read this list to find the right agency to improve your local SEO positioning in Chicago.
The Number 1 Chicago SEO Company as Selected by DesignRush Is...
Comrade Digital Marketing
- Best for: Overall
- Average hourly rate: $100
- Minimum budget: $10,000 - $25,000
- Founded: 2008
- Notable clients: Hitachi, Europa Eyewear, American Optical, Kitchen Cabinet Guys
Specializing in web development, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and search engine optimization (SEO) for over 20 years, Comrade Digital Marketing has helped 300+ businesses rank on Google’s first page.
The agency provides services in PPC management, SEO auditing and consulting, local SEO, social media and email marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), and conversion rate optimization (CRO). It also develops websites on platforms like WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.
On average, Comrade Digital has helped its clients increase:
- SEO traffic by 2.5x
- Qualified sales leads by 70%
- PPC revenue by 120%
- Conversion rate by 35%
Moreover, it has helped businesses generate a 900% return on ad spend (ROAS) and over $50 million in revenue.
The Kitchen Cabinet Guys sought Comrade Digital Marketing’s expertise to strengthen its online presence and boost website leads by 50%. The Chicago SEO company revamped the Kitchen Cabinet Guys’s website, improved keyword relevance, and performed A/B tests.
Due to its efforts, it secured the Kitchen Cabinet Guys in the top 3 SERP positions in Chicago. Plus, it increased:
- Organic traffic by 142%
- Qualified leads by 55%
- PPC leads by 60%
Check Comrade Digital Marketing Agency Profile
3Q/DEPT
- Best for: Multi-channel digital marketing
- Average hourly rate: Inquire
- Minimum budget: $50,000 & Up
- Founded: 1996
- Notable clients: Netflix, Patagonia, Reddit, Rituals, Uniqlo
3Q/DEPT maintains its boutique agency experience by providing full-funnel marketing. It does this by using its patented Qontrol™ and Growth Labs approaches:
- Qontrol™: An automated intelligence platform that stores all client online accounts. This allows the Chicago SEO agency to efficiently manage platforms, automate tasks, identify optimization opportunities, and forecast performance.
- Growth Labs: A dedicated market research team that uses the latest industry tools and partnerships to innovate new marketing methodologies. Some of the technologies it uses are Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bing, and The Trade Desk.
A testament to the success of these approaches, 3Q/DEPT reports a $3 billion managed spend. Moreover, it has won hundreds of awards, including being named a 2022 Finalist for Lead Generation at the Google Premier Partner Awards.
Before partnering with 3Q/DEPT, Rituals had individual websites for every location. This made it difficult for Google to crawl and index its pages, leading to low searchability and poor online presence. Additionally, it confused customers who spoke the same language but lived in different areas, making Rituals lose conversions.
As a solution, 3Q/DEPT created one website for all locations with an indexable page per language, country, and currency. This improved domain authority, maximized crawl budget, and enhanced user experience. Most of all, it increased Rituals’ revenue by 186% before peak season.
Digital Third Coast
- Best for: Bing and Google SEO
- Average hourly rate: $150
- Minimum budget: Inquire
- Founded: 2007
- Notable clients: Intelligentsia, Bedside Manor Ltd., IPX 1031, Dealnews
Digital Third Coast is a Chicago SEO agency with a 15-year track record of dominating search engines. It has helped clients achieve 270+ campaign placements, increase organic traffic by 351%, and boost revenue by 653%. It also boasts a 95% client retention rate.
Digital Third Coast's services include paid media, paid socials, SEO, and digital PR. Its list of tech and tools includes Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and BrightLocal. It is also certified by Google Analytics, SEMrush Academy, and BrightEdge Certified Professionals.
Leading investment and property exchange brand IPX1031 partnered with Digital Third Coast to enhance its online presence. The Chicago SEO company eliminated duplicate content on IPX1031’s website, improved site tagging, built better site navigation, and claimed 45 previously unclaimed Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) listings. Additionally, it created a PPC campaign to geo-target audiences.
Through these combined efforts, IPX1031 experienced:
- 94% more meaningful conversions
- 300% increase in leads via calls
- 476% year-over-year increase in Google Business Profile actions
- 4x higher online visibility
- 18.1% spike in exchange orders
Check Digital Thirst Coast Agency Profile
OneIMS
- Best for: Inbound marketing
- Average hourly rate: Inquire
- Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
- Founded: 2006
- Notable clients: Hello Fresh, G2, Samsung, Salesforce, Florock
OneIMS provides expertise in SEO, paid digital media, PR, content marketing, social media marketing, white-label agency services, and video and audio production. The Chicago SEO agency helps businesses attain a consistent sales pipeline and continuous revenue growth through Integrated Marketing Solutions (IMS).
The unique IMS methodology focuses on creating awareness, capturing demand, and converting leads into customers in a continuous cycle. Using this, OneIMS grew its client base to 500+ with a 97% client retention rate.
Florock marketing approached OneIMS to improve its inbound marketing from its website. After partnering with the Chicago SEO agency, the client saw a continuous spike in inbound marketing and quality leads.
Linchpin SEO
- Best for: Local and enterprise SEO
- Average hourly rate: $120
- Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
- Founded: 2013
- Notable clients: Tumbleweed Travel Co., Budweiser, Nissan, HairClub
To rank its clients first on search engines, Linchpin SEO provides branding, web design, and content strategy services alongside its main SEO capabilities. In doing so, it ensures long-term returns on investment (ROI) for all its clients.
Its SEO services include website and technical SEO audits, keyword strategy, and competitive analysis. It also offers local SEO strategies, such as Google Business Profile management, local listings and competition audit, and local content creation.
With 120+ franchises across the US, HairClub needed Linchpin SEO’s help to grow its national online presence and simultaneously improve its local SEO. Linchpin SEO built a multifaceted approach, where it conducted national and local audits to develop its local SEO and regional landing page strategies. It also optimized HairClub’s Google Business Profiles to improve local rankings.
After Linchpin created the needed pages, HairClub increased its Google Maps listings by more than 32% and traffic to location pages by 110%.
Check Linchpin SEO Agency Profile
Straight North
- Best for: Full-service digital marketing
- Average hourly rate: Inquire
- Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
- Founded: 1997
- Notable clients: Bluepay, Boston Analytical, Chrysler, EZ Links, Virginia Spine Institute
Operating for over 25 years, Straight North is an established full-service digital marketing agency for B2C and B2B brands. It acquired an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has a client retention rate of 95%. Its services include SEO, web design and development, paid advertising, and brand development. It also offers traditional marketing services, such as brochures and brand collaterals.
Boston Analytical collaborated with Straight North to amplify its online presence and generate more leads. To do so, Straight North conducted keyword research, optimized backlinks, and mapped target pages on the client’s site. Since then, Boston Analytical has increased SEO leads by 664% and organic traffic by 37%.
Check Straight North Agency Profile
Marcel Digital
- Best for: Google Analytics
- Average hourly rate: $199
- Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
- Founded: 2003
- Notable clients: Herbalife Nutrition, John Hopkins Medicine, Kellog’s, RJO Futures
With over 23 years as a Chicago SEO company, Marcel Digital is an expert in web development, paid media, SEO, conversion rate optimization, and Google Analytics. Marcel Digital’s SEO-specific services include off-page improvements, penalty recovery, website migration, and local listings.
It has accomplished 150+ successful SEO migrations and optimized 10,000+ pieces of content, among other projects. Moreover, it has been a Google Analytics Certified Partner for over 20 years and is one of the few Umbraco Certified Gold Partners.
RJO Futures has been partnering with Marcel Digital for more than 10 years for its different marketing needs. This included building its website, which generated 1,500 new leads and increased organic traffic by 317%.
Recently, RJO Futures needed to update its website to maintain its SERP ranking. As such, Marcel Digital developed new content, optimized current content, updated the sitemap XML, and implemented the latest Google best practices.
This attracted 45,000 more users and increased organic traffic by 181.64%. Additionally, the Learning Center section of its website experienced a surge of 31,000 new users, resulting in a new user rate of 861%.
Check Marcel Digital Agency Profile
Dabaran
- Best for: Local SEO
- Average hourly rate: $149
- Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
- Founded: 2009
- Notable clients: Seltzer Nation, Cooking Steels, Avery Coonley School, IPaintMyMind
Dabaran delivers long-term results through its seven-stage SEO marketing strategy: discover, evaluate, ideate, implement, assess, report, and recalibrate.
Its expertise covers website audit, link-building, content marketing, and on-page optimization. That said, its specialty lies in local SEO. To date, the Chicago SEO company has served 1,300+ satisfied clients, completed 2,000+ projects, and targeted 350+ cities.
IPaintMyMind, a non-profit art organization based out of Chicago that helps artists find work, approached Dabaran to build its online reputation and improve visibility. Dabaran helped IPaintMyMind rank first for the target keyword “rent art online”. Plus, the client ranked in the top 10 for other keywords like “art leasing companies”, “nonprofit organizations in Chicago”, and “work murals”.
WebFX
- Best for: Digital marketing
- Average hourly rate: $150
- Minimum budget: $10,000 - $25,000
- Founded: 1995
- Notable clients: Verizon, Fujifilm, Subway, YMCA, Area Flooring & Tile, Inc.
Known for its data-driven revenue marketing, WebFX is an expert in SEO, lead generation, CRO, and UI/UX. It has generated over 7 million leads and over $6 billion in revenue for its clients. But what really differentiates it from other Chicago SEO agencies is its custom-built MarketingCloudFX software.
MarketingCloudFX is an all-in-one marketing platform that uses IBM Watson and Google Cloud Platform to centralize and harness data. With it, businesses can create personalized content per location and industry, optimize sales team efficiency, and leverage AI to maximize their ROI. On average, MarketingCloudFX increases a business’s ROI by 20%.
Wanting to propel its online traffic and local presence, Area Flooring & Tile, Inc. hired WebFX’s expertise. In doing so, it gained a more robust internal linking structure, targeted more relevant keywords, and attracted higher-quality leads. By the end of the project, its website sessions rose by 50% year-over-year (YoY), and new users increased by 51% YoY.
Brafton
- Best for: Content marketing
- Average hourly rate: $150
- Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
- Founded: 2008
- Notable clients: Stanford University, Rubbermaid Commercial, Canva, Crews Control
Brafton’s content marketing strategy combines creativity and data to ensure a maximum ROI for its clients. It does this through the Brafton Content Marketing Platform (CMP), a one-stop hub for all content marketing activities. This includes content planning, project management, and internal team communication. Brafton's CMP also integrates with tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush, so businesses have a centralized location for all of their data.
Brafton provides services in content marketing and sales enablement including eBooks, white papers, and newsletters. It also offers graphic design, web design, video production, and animation.
Crews Control approached Brafton to target local audiences while still maintaining its global positioning. Brafton wrote content for city-specific conversion landing pages, created PPC ads for priority pages, leveraged email drips, and used SEO targeted at informational queries. Within one year, Crews Control:
- Climbed to the #1 position on 16 target SERPs
- Gained 7,000 new organic and paid sessions
- Generated 101 additional qualified leads
How We Picked the Best Chicago SEO Companies
To select the top Chicago SEO companies in 2024, we reviewed their testimonials, case studies, industry reputation, team expertise, client roster, and executive management. Our team of agency experts developed a scoring system to measure their overall performance based on several important factors:
- Reviews: Quality of work, client satisfaction, and level of trustworthiness
- Portfolio: Tangible examples of an agency's track record
- Awards and press: Industry reputation and innovation
- Team bios: The agency’s qualifications and team dynamics
- Top services: Core competencies and areas of expertise
Visit the DesignRush Agency Ranking Methodology for more information on how we research agencies.
10 Most Popular Chicago SEO Companies
| Agency name | Hourly rate | Size | Best for |
| Comrade Digital Marketing | $100 | Under 49 | Overall |
| 3Q/DEPT | Inquire | 500 - 999 | Multi-channel digital marketing |
| Digital Third Coast | $150 | Under 49 | Bing and Google SEO |
| OneIMS | Inquire | 50 - 99 | Inbound marketing |
| Linchpin SEO | $120 | Under 49 | Local and enterprise SEO |
| Straight North | Inquire | 100 - 249 | Full-service digital marketing |
| Marcel Digital | $199 | Under 49 | Google Analytics |
| Dabaran | $149 | Under 49 | Local SEO |
| WebFX | $150 | 500 - 999 | Digital marketing |
| Brafton | $150 | 100 - 249 | Content marketing |
Best Chicago SEO Company Rankings
215 Companies - Rankings updated: April 03, 2026
We evaluate every agency on DesignRush according to expertise credentials and client satisfaction ratings. Some placements are sponsored.
Your Choice for Business Growth & Higher ROI
For businesses looking to maximize their online presence and ROI, there's only one choice - EBS Agency. With a certified team of professionals that have mastered the art of digital marketing excellence, they pride themselves on leveraging data-driven creativity backed by proven results for clients. Plus, you [... view EBS Agency profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $49/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
For A Focused, Tailored To Perfection Solutions For You, For Us It Is You Who Really Matter.
Sanai is a chicago based American web development, software development, Social Media Marketing and SEO consultancy company who provide focused and tailored made solutions especially designed for you. [... view Sanai profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Refine, Re-innovate, Rediscover with TekReboot
Delegate your business solution development to our trusted experts in the field of IT services, Software (full-stack) development, Web design, App design, and Digital marketing. [... view TekReboot profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $30/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
A 360° Creative & Marketing Agency.
Crux is a dynamic, woman-owned Creative and Marketing Agency, dedicated to sculpting brand identities and crafting engaging strategies. Specializing in interactive experiences, digital communications, and immersive environments, Crux ensures clients forge lasting connections with their target audiences. [... view Crux Creative profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $125/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
Transform your brand through empathy-driven marketing.
Transform your brand through empathy-driven marketing. Embrace Your Brand offers tailored content, web design, and strategy solutions to help you understand your audience deeply, cultivate meaningful connections and meet your marketing goals. [... view Embrace Your Brand profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $75/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Print your dreams
We can print and design everything but we are mostly specialized in vehicle wraps [... view J Print Center Chicago profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $50/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Find Yours
Path Creative is a Chicago-based digital marketing and content studio specializing in photography, videography, web design, and branded storytelling. We help businesses elevate their presence with visually powerful campaigns. [... view Path Creative profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $85/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Strategic Marketing, Global Impact
Silverfox is a global Marketing & Communications Consultancy offering digital and traditional marketing, corporate training, and new media consulting. [... view SilverFox Digital profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $100/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Envision Your Success With Digital Excellence
We're Envisionit, a full-service digital agency. Our team combines digital marketing expertise with creative design and cutting-edge technology to drive growth and maximize your ROI. Let us help you envision your success! [... view Envisionit profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $155/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
- Indigo image is a full service Chicago web design company . We have 19+ years experience in creating websites, graphic design and SEO (search engine optimization). We are your creative partner.Our affordable, professional solutions make us an easy choice for small to medium sized businesses, demanding top [... view Indigo Image profile ]
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $100/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Unlocking The Full Potential Of Amazon.
Cogent Solutions specializes in strategic Amazon solutions designed to drive growth and deliver lasting value to businesses. With a focus on leveraging the power of the Amazon platform, we offer tailored strategies and expert guidance to optimize performance and maximize success in the competitive e-commerce [... view Cogent Solutions profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $10/hr
Your Vision Our Version.
AMG Digital Solutions LLC is a leading digital marketing agency in Chicago, specializing in innovative strategies to enhance your online presence. We offer comprehensive services including SEO, PPC advertising, social media management, content marketing, and web design. Contact us today to elevate your [... view AMG Digital Solutions LLC profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $50/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
SiteNative offers affordable web design and marketing solutions.
SiteNative offers affordable web design and marketing solutions to help businesses and entrepreneurs to scale up with our expert team. [... view SiteNative profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $10/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Drive Demand. Drive Action. Drive Results.
GainShare Performance Marketing is a full-service performance agency dedicated to helping clients grow their market share. By leveraging expertise in messaging, creative, media, technology, and data, GainShare consistently delivers impactful results. [... view GainShare profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
Chicago SEO services that actually work.
Chicago SEO Company is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in driving business growth through top-tier search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. With over 4,700 keywords ranked on Google’s first page, this firm has a proven track record of delivering real, measurable results. [... view ChicagoSEO.Company profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Equipped For Every Good Work.
Ruteappz is an IT consulting and software development company dedicated to creating and transforming products, services, and enterprises. Our goal is to drive business growth both today and in the future by leveraging innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology. [... view Ruteappz profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $20/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
Local-First Insight. China-Wide Impact.
China Gravy guides global service-businesses into and through China with hands-on digital marketing, B2B partnership-building and on-the-ground execution tailored to local market dynamics. [... view China Gravy profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $99/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Empowering Innovation Driving Transformation
With 20+ years of experience, Atvantiq has been a trusted leader in delivering innovative solutions across mobile and web application development, UI/UX Design, full-stack systems, Telecom, AI/ML, Gen AI, blockchain and crypto platforms, as well as DevOps and security-focused architectures. [... view Atvantiq Networks Private Limted profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $22/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Related Services in Chicago
SEO Agencies Near Chicago
What can top Chicago SEO companies do for businesses?
Top Chicago SEO companies can help businesses amplify their organic traffic, visibility, and ranking across search engine result pages (SERPs). It aims to increase lead quality and brand discoverability across intended audiences through geo-targeted strategies and link-building activities.
More specifically, SEO companies in Chicago can deliver:
- Increased local visibility through local SEO tactics intended to connect businesses with nearby customers actively searching for their services
- Greater website authority and credibility by obtaining high-traffic backlinks from reliable sources
- Qualified leads by targeting high-intent keywords and optimizing conversion paths, thus ensuring visitors are primed for action
- Competitive edge across respective markets by analyzing competitor strategies and implementing tailored SEO tactics to outperform industry rivals
- Higher ROI on marketing spend by maximizing organic reach and reducing dependence on costly paid advertising campaigns
To better illustrate the kind of results a top Chicago SEO company can deliver to a business, our agency experts have selected the following case study:
- Challenge: A fashion supply chain software provider was experiencing lackluster reports from its internal SEO strategies. Seeking to improve its online visibility and search engine rankings, it partnered with 120/80.
- Solution: Upon auditing the client’s SEO, 120/80 noticed that most of its ranked keywords were branded, limiting the client’s visibility to prospects who weren’t aware of the company. To solve this, it conducted in-depth keyword research, focusing on industry trends, competitors, and customer pain points. Using insights from its research, the agency targeted high-value, non-branded keywords that aligned with customer search behavior.
- Results: In 11 months, the client achieved a 344% increase in Google rankings and had 56 keywords ranking in the top 10 positions. Overall, its keywords advanced 6,600 places on Google and 3,457 on Bing, driving more qualified traffic to its website.
What services do Chiago SEO companies typically provide?
Chicago SEO companies typically provide services like:
- SEO audit
Conducting a comprehensive website assessment to pinpoint areas that impede its ability to rank well, such as loading speed, keyword stuffing, and duplicate content - Market analysis
Studying industry trends, competitors, and customer search behavior to curate actionable SEO strategies - Keyword research
Identifying high-impact keywords that ideal customers use when searching for topics related to the brand and its services and targeting those that have the best potential to drive traffic and conversions - On-page optimization
Improving the search engine visibility of individual pages by optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and content - Technical SEO
Refining aspects pertaining to site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability to ensure search engines can effectively index the site - Content creation
Developing keyword-rich blogs, articles, graphics, and other content that engages audiences and increases traffic - Link building
Acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, publications, businesses, and influential personalities to boost domain authority - Local SEO
Strengthening a business’s online presence in a specific geographic area by ensuring consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) across directories, optimizing Google Business Profile, and implementing location-based keywords
Some other sought-after services by Chicago SEO companies include search engine marketing (SEM), web design and development, and email marketing.
How many SEO agencies are in Chicago?
Our DesignRush directory features over 13,300 SEO companies, 180+ of which are based or have offices in Chicago.
Here’s a breakdown of the profiled agencies based on company size:
| Company size | Number of agencies |
| Small (Under 49 employees) | 137 |
| Mid-sized (50-249 employees) | 34 |
| Large (250+ employees) | 11 |
| Enterprise (1000+ employees) | 2 |
The predominance of small SEO companies in Chicago may indicate a preference for boutique and specialized agencies that cater to local and small businesses. On the other hand, the presence of medium and large SEO agencies, although only a handful, may signify that there’s still a demand for bigger agencies that offer more comprehensive services and end-to-end marketing strategies.
How much do Chicago SEO companies charge for their services?
Chicago SEO companies charge an average hourly fee of $100-$300, with monthly retainer fees ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. The final price may vary depending on the project scope, current website ranking, market niche, and industry competition.
Here’s a breakdown of the average service fees of Chicago SEO companies:
- Local SEO: $300-$2,500 per month
- Technical SEO: $1,000-$5,000 per project
- Content marketing: $1,000-$5,000 per month
- Link building: $100-$5,000 per link
The top 50 Chicago SEO companies on DesignRush charge an average hourly rate of $108. 12.4% of our listed companies accept projects under $1,000, providing cost-effective rates for small and simple projects. In contrast, 3.8% require a budget of $50,000 and up, offering comprehensive SEO services for large-scale initiatives.
To find a Chicago SEO company that matches your budget, explore our directory and filter your search by hourly rate, minimum budget, and team size.
How do I choose the best SEO agency in Chicago?
To choose the best SEO agency in Chicago, you must carefully weigh their capabilities against your business goals and requirements. Here are some steps to help you:
- Outline your project scope
Define your target audiences, timeline, budget, and desired outcome (e.g., improve traffic, lead generation, or higher rankings). - Identify potential partners
Look for Chicago SEO agencies across publications, marketplaces, and reliable directories like DesignRush. - Assess agencies’ experience
Select agencies with a proven track record in your industry by reviewing their list of clients, portfolios, and case studies. - Evaluate their reputation
Look into each agency’s client reviews and testimonials across Google, DesignRush, and other third-party sources to verify its credibility and reliability. - Send a request for proposal (RFP)
Send an RFP to 3-5 selected candidates to gather detailed quotes. Compare their proposals to find an option that provides the best value for money. - Meet the team
Schedule an introductory call with your shortlisted agencies to discuss your project details, potential strategies, and limitations and expectations. - Choose your agency
Select an agency that aligns with your culture and values, understands your goals, and shows enthusiasm for collaboration. - Negotiate and finalize the contract
Review and negotiate the terms of service, payment terms, and any clauses about the ownership of work. Ensure there are clauses that allow you to exit the partnership without severe penalties if it does not meet your expectations.
Struggling to find an SEO agency in Chicago that meets your needs? Visit our Marketplace and send us your project details. We'll connect you with five suitable agencies, free of charge.
What SEO processes do companies follow in Chicago?
Companies in Chicago follow a cyclical SEO process to ensure the websites rank high across SERPs. The process consists of the following stages:
- Website audit
Analyzing the SEO performance of existing websites for site errors, broken links, and keyword rankings - Research
Identifying industry trends, competitor strategies, audience search patterns, and high-intent keywords that align with the brand and its services - Strategy development
Devising an actionable roadmap comprising on-page, off-page, technical, and content marketing tactics to achieve the desired outcome - Implementation
Putting into motion the SEO adjustments, including optimizing meta descriptions, linking structures, XML sitemaps, and data markup, writing content, and conducting outreach campaigns - Performance monitoring
Using analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) like organic traffic, keyword rankings, user behavior, bounce rate, session duration, and conversion rate - Optimization
Adjusting strategies based on algorithm updates, market changes, and performance metrics to maintain and improve rankings
What industries do SEO agencies in Chicago usually serve?
SEO agencies in Chicago usually serve the following industries:
- Healthcare
The healthcare sector is a significant contributor to Chicago’s economy, with over 130 hospitals and 35 integrated delivery networks (IDN) in the city. SEO agencies help healthcare providers attract more patients and establish authority in their field through local SEO and content optimization. - Finance
Chicago is a major financial hub, with banks, insurance companies, and other institutions generating a regional annual output of $53 billion. To remain competitive in such a saturated market, these organizations partner with SEO agencies to build awareness around their brands and services, improve credibility, and generate qualified leads. - Manufacturing
Employing over 400,000 professionals, the manufacturing sector is one of the biggest industries in Chicago. Manufacturing companies work with SEO companies to enhance brand awareness, reach intended business-to-business (B2B) clients, and showcase their expertise and reliability through engaging product descriptions and case studies. - Real Estate
Real estate is one of the most competitive industries in the region, contributing over $100 billion to the local GDP in 2022. To stand out, real estate firms leverage local SEO to strengthen online visibility, connect with domestic property buyers, promote properties, and manage local listings. - Trade
The O’Hare airport is the third largest trading port in the US, positioning Chicago as a leader in the trade industry. Logistics, transportation, supply chain, and trading companies hire SEO agencies to enhance their lead generation efforts and increase visibility in international trade directories.
Beyond these five industries, Chicago SEO companies specialize in small business, eCommerce, and automotive. To find an agency with expertise in your industry, access our directory and filter your search by area of expertise, industry, and client type.
What questions should I ask a Chicago SEO company before hiring one?
Here are a few questions to ask a Chicago SEO company before hiring one:
Its Relevant Background
- What industries do you specialize in?
- Can you share case studies or references from Chicago-based businesses?
- Have you worked with businesses of my size before?
- How do you stay updated with Google algorithm changes and SEO trends?
Its Services and Processes
- What tools and software do you use for SEO research and tracking?
- What does your SEO strategy typically include, and how do you customize it for each client?
- How do you approach keyword research and selection for a local Chicago business?
- What specific on-page and off-page SEO techniques do you implement?
- How do you build high-quality backlinks while ensuring compliance with search engine guidelines?
- Can you explain your approach to technical SEO and how you handle site audits?
- How do you measure SEO success, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) do you track?
- Do you offer additional digital marketing services, such as PPC or content marketing, to complement SEO?
Related to Your Project
- What local SEO strategies do you suggest for my business?
- How often will you provide reports, and what kind of insights will they include?
- How will you align your efforts with my marketing strategies?
- Who will be on my team, and what are their credentials?
- How long will it take to see improvement in rankings and traffic?
- What involvement will be required from my team during the SEO process?
What are the top 10 best-rated SEO companies in Chicago?
The top 10 best-rated SEO companies in Chicago are:
- Probey Services
- 5.0 stars on DesignRush (92 reviews)
- 4.8 stars on Google (128 reviews)
- Top clients: Kellogg's, Sony, Xerox, Alt Co.
- SmartSites
- 5.0 stars on DesignRush (51 reviews)
- 4.9 stars on Google (714 reviews)
- Top clients: Rolls Royce, Rakuten, Audi, The New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Hungry Marketers
- 5.0 stars on DesignRush (37 reviews)
- Top clients: Cliffhangrrr, Star Mapping, Reasonable Kart, Eva
- Disruptive Advertising
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (42 reviews)
- 4.7 stars on Google (296 reviews)
- Top clients: USA Clean, Diesel Power Gear, PennyMac, Adobe
- Mojo Media Web Design
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (40 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (52 reviews)
- Top clients: Seeley's HVAC, CD Immigration, Mr. GreenClean, Cannabis XPRESS
- Digital Silk
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (38 reviews)
- 4.7 stars on Google (12 reviews)
- Top clients: IBM, AT&T, NASA, NFL
- TechAvidus
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (36 reviews)
- 4.8 stars on Google (61 reviews)
- Top clients: Pfizer, GateKeeper Press, Alliance Advisors, Realty Works
- LinkGraph
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (33 reviews)
- 3.3 stars on Google (14 reviews)
- Top clients: The Home Depot, eBay, Shutterfly
- 120/80
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (31 reviews)
- Top clients: SellerChamp, Amply, SR Advisors, Acquirent
- Intero Digital
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (25 reviews)
- 4.8 stars on Google (228 reviews)
- Top clients: Ace Hardware, Jaguar, Land Rover, University of Colorado
Why People Trust DesignRush
Rated 4.8 on Google and 4.7 on Trustpilot, DesignRush Agency Directory is a reliable resource for finding Chicago SEO companies. We owe this to our executive selection team, which follows a strict screening process when featuring agencies on the platform, assessing key performance indicators, like portfolio, client reviews, and industry reputation.
Learn more about DesignRush Agency Ranking Methodology.
Sources
DesignRush sustains a directory of over 30,000 agencies categorized by service category, location, expertise, and reviews. We build our database in two ways:
- Our dedicated team of agency experts actively searches the web for top-performing companies. We then pull information from their websites, online presence, and client testimonials to verify their status and qualifications prior to listing.
- The agencies listed get notified of their profiles on the website and they can choose to claim it or not, which suggests their availability for more collaborations.
Agencies can also reach out to DesignRush and must go through the verification process prior to being listed.
About The Author and Expert Reviewer
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.
Robin Fishley is a digital professional with over 20 years of experience in programming, website architecture, and data optimization. Twice honored as Most Innovative Employee at his previous agency, he excelled in leadership roles across SEO, research, analytics, and strategy. At Saatchi & Saatchi, where he was the Director of Search and Data, he developed a successful Big Data analysis tool and provided expert consulting for renowned clients like P&G, Toyota, and VISA. A valuable asset to DesignRush, he used his technical background to drive success for the company's digital initiatives.
