Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for small businesses wanting to drive more organic traffic to their website from search engines like Google. However, not all SEO companies are created equal. Choosing the right one for your specific business needs is vital.
In this article, we compare the top 9 best SEO companies for small business owners this year. Whether you need local SEO, ecommerce optimization, or content creation, this list has a great option for your small business website.
Key Factors in Choosing an SEO Company
When researching SEO agencies, keep these key factors in mind:
Proven Success for Small Businesses: Look for real case studies and examples from clients in your niche and size business. Many SEO companies focus solely on enterprise level clients.
Transparent Pricing & Packages: Steer clear of vague pricing. The best SEO firms clearly outline month-to-month plans to fit small marketing budgets.
Custom Strategies, Not Cookie Cutter: Each company should analyze your existing SEO and site performance to provide tailored recommendations, not just generic advice.
White Hat Ethics: Ensure any SEO agency only practices ethical, industry approved white hat techniques outlined in Google’s guidelines.
Responsiveness & Reporting: Communication is key. You want an SEO company that is responsive and provides detailed analytics on the impacts of campaigns.
Keeping these criteria in mind, below are the top 9 SEO agencies proven to deliver results specifically for small business owners this year:
1. Clearscope
Clearscope is an award winning boutique digital marketing agency with over 15 years experience specifically helping small businesses improve their SEO and paid search marketing campaigns.
They offer fully customized SEO solutions tailored to your niche and business type, whether you are a local brick and mortar company needing foot traffic or an ecommerce site needing more online sales.
Unlike many generic big agency SEO providers, Clearscope’s boutique level services ensure C-level support and attention for each of their clients no matter what monthly spend. Their SEO packages start as low as $1,500 per month.
Key Services:
- Local SEO Packages
- eCommerce SEO
- Enterprise SEO (for larger small business budgets $5K+)
- Google Ads Management
- Reputation Management
“Clearscope has been an invaluable partner this year in improving our organic search visibility. Our website traffic has doubled since last year!” - Rebecca Lee, Founder Local Cafe
2. Blue Fountain Media
Blue Fountain Media specializes in helping funded startups and small businesses with their SEO strategies to build organic search traffic.
They are a full service digital agency, so in addition to technical SEO implementations on-site and off-site, they can also help with web design enhancements, content strategy, email marketing, and paid social campaigns.
Their core SEO packages include competitor analysis, recommendations targeting your most profitable keywords, monthly analytics reporting, and dedicated account management. Pricing starts at $1,500 per month.
Key Services:
- Startup SEO Packages
- eCommerce SEO
- Content Creation & Strategy
- Link Building & Outreach
- Google Ads Management
“Blue Fountain Media worked closely with our in-house team to significantly improve organic rankings and sales within 6 months” - Jessica Wong, Director of Marketing, Indie Shopify Store.
3. SearchBlox
SearchBlox offers SEO specifically tailored towards small ecommerce websites, local service businesses, and B2B companies.
Founded by veterans in the SEO and digital analytics space, SearchBlox focuses on driving ROI through aggressive organic search performance. In addition to standard SEO offerings they also provide specialized conversion rate optimization (CRO) services to help turn more of your hard earned traffic into sales.
Packages start as low as $750 per month making them accessible for early stage and bootstrapped companies. They also offer flexible month-to-month agreements.
Key Services:
- eCommerce SEO
- Local SEO
- Lead Generation SEO
- Link Earning & Outreach
- CRO Audits
“I have worked with SearchBlox for over 5 years across multiple companies. Their technical expertise coupled with incredible client service makes them a valuable partner year over year.” - Chris Roth, Director of eCommerce, Magneto Store
4. Clear To Cloud
Clear To Cloud focuses specifically on SEO for highly competitive industries such as legal, healthcare, finance, and real estate.
These verticals require industry specific SEO expertise given their unique compliance needs and restrictions. Clear To Cloud offers custom crafted link building campaigns, localized on-page optimization, andGoogle Maps Optimization.
Their SEO packages start at $1,000 per month with the option of also adding Google Ads PPC, social media advertising, and web development.
Key Services:
- Vertical Industry SEO
- Law Firm SEO
- Medical SEO
- Financial Advisor SEO
- Google Maps SEO
“In one year they increased our rankings for 10 core long tail keywords resulting in a 2x increase in calls and consultations.” - Mae Cube, Founding Partner, Cube & Smith Attorneys LLP
5. Clement Digital
A full service digital agency based in Toronto, Clement Digital offers SEO focused on helping resolve the unique challenges that small businesses and startups face daily.
They start with a comprehensive technical and content audit identifying quick wins and longer term opportunities tailored to your business. Ongoing optimization and reporting ensures continued organic growth over the long run.
Given their full stack development team on staff, Clement Digital can also help fix underlying technical issues on a site that may be limiting rankings. Packages start at $2,000 per month.
Key Services:
- Startup SEO
- Small Business SEO
- Technical SEO Audits
- Content Creation
- Link Building & Outreach
- Conversion Optimization
“Clement Digital worked closely with our internal marketing team, providing the right external bandwidth to drive impressive organic results across competitive keywords.” - Sarah White, VP Marketing, ShopSmall
6. Straight North
Straight North is an SEO company focused primarily on lead generation for small to mid sized B2B, healthcare, financial services, and ecommerce companies.
They offer a complete inbound methodology to SEO that includes content strategy, technical optimization, effective backlinking, and campaign reporting. Packages start as low as $1,000 per month.
In addition to SEO, Straight North also provides web design, paid search marketing, and call tracking optimization making them a great full service digital agency.
Key Services:
- Lead Generation SEO
- Content Marketing Strategy
- Link Building & Outreach
- Call Tracking Optimization
- Google Analytics Setup
“The organic leads we now generate from search have resulted in $623,481 in new revenue this year.” - Chase Meridith, CEO, B2B Cloud Company
7. Disruptive Advertising
As their name suggests, Disruptive Advertising takes an aggressive and innovative approach to SEO for ecommerce brands and lead generation sites.
Disruptive starts with an in-depth technical review using their proprietary SEO auditing tool which benchmarks your site against competitors. Recommendations are focused on ROI targeting only tactics that will directly result in more business.
In additional to organic search, Disruptive also specializes in link building outreach, content marketing, and Google Ads management. They cater to mid-market and growing businesses with packages starting around $2,500 per month.
Key Services:
- eCommerce SEO
- Lead Gen SEO
- International SEO
- Link Building & Content Outreach
- Google Ads Management
“Insights from Disruptive’s technical audit and link opportunity analysis helped improve organic traffic and decrease cost per acquisition by over 20%.” - Amanda Roberts, CMO, ShopPopular.com
8. ClearVoice
In addition to offering SEO packages starting at $1,500 per month, ClearVoice has a specialty niche in content creation and optimization.
Their managed blogging services couple world-class writers with in-house SEO experts that optimize each piece of content for targeted buyer keywords.
This combination of compelling blogging and SEO best practices earns placements on high domain authority and industry relevant sites. Site traffic and conversions improve simultaneously.
Key Services:
- Content Creation & Optimization
- Guest Post Outreach
- Local SEO
- eCommerce SEO
- Link Building &
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