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What Makes The Best SEO Companies In Chicago Unique
Chicago is a global city in every sense of the word. It is Illinois’ cultural, financial and economic treasure.
As the gateway to the Midwest and home to the world’s second-busiest airport, O’Hare International airport, Chicago is the third metro area with the highest economic output in the US.
Generating a GDP of $689 billion in 2018, Chicago boasts a diverse economy spanning various sectors such as finance, engineering, publishing, food processing, telecommunications and more.
This means that Chicago SEO companies are well-resourced to provide top SEO services for businesses across industries.
Moreover, the city’s strong economic position has attracted many leading brands, including those in the Fortune 1000 - 20 of which are based in Chicago:
- Boeing
- McDonald’s
- Archer Daniels Midland
- United Airlines Holdings
- Exelon
- Kraft Heinz
- AbbVie
- And more
These high-profile companies expose local SEO agencies to the competitive market and set the bar when it comes to high-quality services.
What Do Chicago SEO Experts Specialize In?
Unlike their US-based colleagues, Chicago SEO experts tend to be more equipped in serving clients that operate in the locally dominant industries.
Living and operating in the same area, these specialists have had the opportunity to develop a deep knowledge of the local market. They know the market trends, competitors, industry keywords as well as the opportunities and challenges that these sectors may face.
For this reason, Chicago’s top SEO companies are likely to hold the unmatched potential to generate successful results for clients within the area’s leading industries.
Equivalent to their US counterparts, Chicago SEO firms specialize in optimizing websites to help brands increase their search rankings and online visibility.
These specialized firms usually provide the following services:
1. On-page optimization
These are on-page tactics aimed to improve website visibility in search engines.
This means that Chicago SEO companies conduct extensive keyword research to fully optimize every element on a webpage including URLs, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags and images.
2. Off-page optimization
These involve activities taking place outside of your website that can boost your position in Google’s rankings.
The main goal of these techniques is to acquire relevant and quality backlinks that can help you increase domain authority and gain brand recognition.
Building website credibility is one of the most important factors in ranking higher on SERPs and hence, off-page optimization stands as an essential component of your SEO strategy.
3. Technical optimization
These are several techniques targeted to improve your website’s overall performance and usability.
SEO experts engage in a few backend activities to optimize your site for crawlers, improve its speed and architecture as well as ensure its mobile-friendliness.
4. Tracking and measuring results
SEO specialists also measure the performance of their campaigns and constantly analyze the impact of their efforts to drive the best results.
As such, they track various key metrics such as organic traffic, keyword rankings, CTR, bounce rate and more.
Some SEO companies in Chicago, IL also provide additional services such as content development, pay-per-click advertising, web design and web development and more.
How Much Do SEO Services In Chicago Cost?
Charging per hour is the most common billing model among SEO firms in Chicago. Hourly rates vary between $100 and $149 on average.
You can also find companies that offer premium SEO services which may cost between $150 and $199 per hour.
The difference in rates depends on:
- The company’s reputation and size
- Your project scope and complexity
- Your project timeframe
Another alternative is to charge per project. In this case, a local agency can bill you between $10,000 to $50,000. Lower packages are also available and may start at around $5,000.
In addition, some professional companies might also provide a result-based pricing structure which means you will only pay for what the company was able to deliver.
These results may include:
- Increased organic traffic
- Higher rankings on Google
- More conversions
Why Should You Hire A Chicago SEO Firm?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Chicago metro area has the fifth largest population of marketing specialists in the country.
The combination of their specialized skills and broad local market knowledge makes SEO agencies in Chicago, IL a suitable option for local clients and businesses that seek high-value services.
Take a look at the main reasons why you should consider outsourcing SEO services in Chicago:
1. Access to a high-end talent pool
As the mighty urban center of the Midwest with one of the healthiest economies in the nation, Chicago attracts top-notch talent from across the U.S.
The city also offers higher learning opportunities through its reputable schools namely: the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology and more.
As a result, Chicago is home to a well-educated and skilled workforce that can provide quality across various sectors, including the SEO industry.
2. Internationally competitive services
Chicago is the third metropolitan area in the US by economic output. Being one of the richest cities that contributes immensely to the country’s GDP, Chicago infuses competitiveness in the market to drive economic growth.
As such, SEO agencies in Chicago operate in a cutthroat environment that stimulates them to calibrate their skills and knowledge to deliver internationally competitive services.
In addition, some of these local experts may have served world-renowned brands like McDonald’s or Boeing so they are bound to use premium tools and stay abreast of the latest industry trends to be able to rise to these clients’ highest standards of quality.
3. Unique insights into the local market
Chicago SEO companies have a leg up on their competitors, thanks to their strong knowledge of the local ecosystem. Knowing the market challenges, competitors and trends, they can offer valuable insights into the local scene that could help you gain a competitive edge.
In addition, working for local brands has allowed these companies to better understand the locals’ culture, pain points, expectations and desires.
Therefore, they are well-positioned to help you reach local audiences easily and expand your local customer base.
How To Select The Best SEO Agency In Chicago
To ensure you’re choosing the right SEO firm in Chicago for your business, follow these few steps:
Step #1: Determine Your Goals And Budget
Before seeking any agency partners, you need to outline your business goals and pinpoint the results you want to achieve first.
This will help you select a Chicago SEO company that has relevant experience and expertise that can live up to your standards and expectations.
Determining your budget will also help because you can easily filter companies that can execute strategies within your range.
Step #2: Explore Their Past Work
Go through an agency’s previous projects to gain insights into their quality of work, industry experience and overall performance.
See if your prospective agencies have managed to rank their clients’ websites on Google’s first page.
This will help you better understand whether Chicago SEO companies have the resources and capabilities to deliver successful results and help you meet your objectives.
Step #3: See What Tools They Use
SEO tools are instrumental for conducting accurate keyword research, identifying competitors, defining your niche audience, building links and more.
You need to see if an agency has access to premium tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs or Moz, among others, to create their strategies.
These tools can greatly move the needle for your website and give you an advantage over your competition.
Step #4: Check Their Client Reviews
Make sure to read the client reviews as they will offer valuable information on the agency’s reliability, flexibility and management style.
In addition, their client feedback will provide insight into their transparency regarding pricing, planning and ability to meet deadlines.
Step #5: Ensure They Use White Hat Practices
Even though the best SEO companies in Chicago most likely never rely on manipulative practices to generate results, it’s good practice to investigate what type of tactics potential SEO specialists use.
Any unethical strategies such as keyword stuffing, duplicate content or link buying can have a devastating impact on your search rankings for years to come.
So, be aware of companies that guarantee quick results in a short amount of time and ensure the partner you choose applies SEO best practices in every aspect.
10 Questions To Ask SEO Firms In Chicago
To make sure you’re making the best choice for your business, we advise you to ask every potential Chicago SEO company the following questions:
- Have you worked on projects within our niche?
- Can you walk us through some of your projects and explain how you achieved successful results?
- How long will it take until our website ranks on Google?
- What SEO best practices will you apply to our website?
- What resources and tools do you use for research and execution?
- Do you provide auxiliary services such as digital marketing or web design?
- How do you keep track of the latest Google updates?
- What are your pricing structures and how much will our project cost?
- How qualified are the SEO specialists who will take charge of our project?
- Will you send daily and monthly analytic reports on your progress?
Takeaways On Chicago SEO Companies
Most brands choose Chicago SEO companies to handle their projects because they:
- Provide internationally competitive services
- Employ top-notch SEO experts
- Have experience in the area’s predominant industries
Their services range between $100 and $149 per hour.
To select the right Chicago SEO company for your business goals, consider taking these steps:
- Outline your needs and budget
- Go over their previous projects
- Figure out what tools they use
- Read their client feedback
- Make sure they apply white hat practices
Best of luck!
