Are you looking for the best Chicago SEO services?

With our unbiased list, you can find the best SEO company for your brand.

Using verifiable data, we’ve assessed the best Chicago SEO companies to give you a definitive list of SEO service providers in your area.

Scroll down to take a look at our detailed ranking criteria or read on to find out who’s come out on top.

1. Straight North, LLC USA

Billed as a full-service internet marketing company, search engine optimization is just one element of Straight North’s services. Ranking in the top spot, with 34 points, they’re the first port of call for many companies in Chicago that want to increase brand awareness, acquire new customers, and grow their business.

Now operating from eight locations, including LA and NY, the last 10 years have been a rapid rise to the top for Straight North. Having acquired several businesses, they’ve grown their services to ensure a wide range of specialisms, including SEO for small businesses, Google penalty recovery, and email marketing.

With a domain rating of 73 and a heap of do-follow links pointing to their site, it’s not surprising Straight North comes out on top. As well as offering a range of search engine optimization services, they also provide custom web design, PPC advertising, email marketing, display advertising, and graphic design, so they could be an excellent choice for businesses that want a comprehensive digital marketing campaign. Their goal? To Make Every Click Count®.

2. Digital Third Coast

Coming in at close second is Digital Third Coast, a self-titled digital marketing and search agency. Their focus is on search engine optimization, Paid Media, and Digital PR. One of their significant priorities is producing high-quality content and media to achieve organic searches and paid advertising results.

A fairly high DA and a decent number of do-follow links push Digital Third Coast (DTC) up our rankings when it comes to the best Chicago SEO companies. In terms of client feedback, it seems DTC sweeps the board. With over 95% of their clients choosing to continue working with them after a year, according to their website, it’s clear they must be doing something right!

As well as being a Google Premier Partner, Digital Third Coast have won a slew of awards, including the 2019 Clutch Award for Top Search Engine Marketing and Top Small Business SEO; 2019 Award of Distinction for Content Marketing at The Communicator Awards and are a top 3% global agency according to Google.

With glowing testimonials and widespread industry recognition, DTC continues to achieve impressive results on behalf of their clients.

3. Walker Sands

Walker Sands is a Chicago SEO company founded in 2001 and has grown substantially since then. As well as offering data-driven search engine optimization services, the agency also provides clients with a range of web services, creative services, demand generation, and branding.

Emphasizing filling the sales pipeline by increasing organic traffic, they provide exceptional campaign tracking, monthly reporting, and analytics. So if you want easily verifiable data to show how and why your SEO is working, Walker Sands may be the agency for you.

Working primarily with B2B clients, their high DA, and a ton of do-follow links highlight their prowess within the industry. In addition to commercial success and recognition, this Chicago SEO company continues to impress clients in the area.

4. Chicago Web Design SEO Company

Building on 12 years’ experience, Chicago Web Design SEO Company (CWDSC) is situated in S Riverside Drive but has locations in seven other cities and services over 70 towns. Working mainly with already up and running companies, CWDSC may not be the right fit if you’re a budding entrepreneur or a start-up. For established entities, however, CWDSC can offer a great range of services.

Founded by now-CEO Jack Lombardi II, the company claims to be the ‘most trusted web design and SEO company in the Midwest.’ They offer web design, reputation management, lead generation, search engine optimization, CWDSC services to a growing number of niche markets. Clients include contractors, dentists, eCommerce stores, plumbers, accountants, and attorneys, so there’s a significant range of needs to explore.

Brand building search engine optimization services start at $179 per month, rising to $500 for local SEO services and $750 a month for eCommerce SEO. With custom options to suit all businesses, CWDSC pride itself on working with a wide range of small and medium businesses.

5. Comrade Web Agency

Another full-service digital marketing firm, Comrade Web Agency is known for working across specific industries. Their clients include attorneys and law offices; senior living facilities; manufacturers; e-commerce providers and small businesses.

First and foremost, Comrade operates as a web design and development firm. Believing that your website is the ‘heart and soul’ of your company’s online presence, it offers tailor-made web solutions to make your site stand out.

Comrade’s approach aligns your long-term goals with action to deliver measurable results. A relatively high DA, combined with overwhelming positive client reviews and a respectable number of do-follow links sees Comrade Web Agency tipped as one of the best Chicago SEO services.

6. eBizUniverse, Inc.

Founded by Thomas Varghese, eBizUniverse now has an in-house team of 12 and offers a range of digital marketing services. Recognized by UpCity as a top Chicago SEO agency, the firm is known for its social media marketing services.

Search engine optimization is only one of the firm’s specialties. You’ll find web design, and development expertise, video creation, social media marketing, and much more is also available. Having increased one client’s leads by 320% in just two months, the mix of marketing tools certainly seems to deliver value-added results. For the Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center, eBizUniverse secured number one and two rankings on Google’s MAP Pack, increased reviews by 300%, and almost tripled leads in just one month.

Despite a moderate amount of do-follow links, eBizUniverse maintains a relatively high DA, which perhaps highlights just how popular they are. Receiving fantastic feedback from its clients, the firm continues to go from strength to strength.

7. Linchpin SEO

Also receiving 23 points in our unbiased rankings of the best search engine optimization companies in Chicago, Linchpin SEO has earned an impressive reputation. Offering web design, search engine optimization, and full digital marketing services, Linchpin SEO prides itself on getting its clients the recognition they deserve.

With tailored solutions for small businesses, growing companies aiming for local growth, and enterprises seeking national development, they offer digital marketing solutions for organizations of all sizes.

Founded by Bill Ross, the management team consists of specialists from across various industries, which enables them to serve numerous markets and sectors. A core team of five makes up the management team at Linchpin SEO, but multiple staff operates from the company’s five locations.

Already receiving a high number of traffic and benefiting from a super high number of do-follow links, it’s clear that Linchpin search engine optimization practices what they preach.

8. Northcutt

Focusing primarily on growing enterprise, cloud, and e-commerce revenue, Northcutt operates by implementing a four-stage approach; strategy; substance; relationships, and exposure. You know Northcutt can deliver what they offer because they’ve worked with numerous well-known multinational corporations.

While they don’t work with smaller businesses, they offer measurable results to companies ready to grow their enterprise. Using over 1,200 fact checks via their technical SEO system assessment, they use scientific approaches to fill pipelines.

Having grown with the industry, Northcutt offers a range of dedicated search engine optimization services, including keyword strategy, ADA compliance auditing, Google penalty recoveries, KOB analysis, and much, much more.

With an approach that’s designed to target every element of Google’s search engine optimization assessment criteria, they leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting results. Known for successfully targeting highly competitive keywords, they thrive on making big businesses bigger.

9. Thrive Internet Marketing Agency

Also receiving 23 points on our rankings, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency operates as a full-service solutions provider to brands who want to launch, grow, and succeed. From web design and development to SEO, PPC, and Amazon Storefront and Branding, they offer an exceptional range of services.

The firm’s HQ is situated in Texas but has many offices around the U.S. Working with local, national, and international businesses, the sizeable in-house team offers a wide variety of specialisms.

An Official Member of the 2020 Forbes Agency Council, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency also received the 2019 Agency of the Year award from AdWorldMasters. It was rated one of the Top SEO Companies in 2019 by Clutch.

Working with businesses across a range of industries, Thrive boasts impressive results and glowing client reviews. One client, a transport company, achieved a 32.44% increase in organic traffic and a 30% increase in conversions (year on year), which highlights just how effective good SEO can be.

10. Scott Keever SEO

Advertised as the #1 Ranked SEO Agency, Scott Keever SEO has ranked more than 100 websites on page one of Google. With a 97% client retention rate and double client visibility rates on average, the agency offers fantastic results.

Offering website design and digital marketing services, as well as search engine optimization, Scott Keever SEO operates a full-service digital marketing agency. There’s no limit on what they can accomplish for you because they’ve worked with businesses across all industries.

Monthly plans start at $1,000, and contracts aren’t required. As a result, you retain complete flexibility and, presumably, will only continue to partner with the agency if you continue to benefit from impressive results. The agency is confident, and it is an attractive proposition for smaller companies who don’t want to risk investing resources in long-term contracts.

A Google Partner, BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating, and a 2020 National Excellence Award Winner, Scott Keever SEO is based in N Franklin St and works with clients in Chicago and beyond.

Scoring Criteria

Finding the best Chicago SEO services isn’t easy. To ensure we bring you the most accurate and up-to-**** information, we undertake detailed research and analyze the results, so you don’t have to.

Remember – all the information we use to rank search engine optimization companies in Chicago is publicly available and verifiable. What’s more, our rankings are independent and unbiased, so you won’t find any paid promotions or advertising here.

We ranked SEO companies on a number of factors, including:

• Presence of an SSL certificate
• Page loading speeds
• Domain authority
• Number of Google reviews
• Average Google review score
• Number of do-follow links
• Total traffic
• Mobile-friendliness of site

Every assessment criterion was placed into a category, companies being given a score for each of these categories. As you can see, Straight North, LLC USA came out on top when every criterion was researched, collated, and used to calculate a score for each category.

Start sending inquiries today

Our rankings of the best Chicago SEO services gives you easy access to the top firms in your area. You can see which agencies come out on top and which SEO companies deliver your business’s proper range of services using objective criteria.

Not every firm on the list will necessarily be the right for your brand. However, it’s a great place to start looking for your next search engine optimization partner. Please take a look at each of the sites, examine their case studies, and decide whom you think is best placed to help you drive your business forward and meet your SEO objectives in 2021.

Still not sure? Here’s a couple of tips:

1. Ask if they guarantee results

No responsible SEO company can guarantee results, so be careful of those that overpromise (because they will underdeliver).

2. Ask how they acquire backlinks

If the company’s link building methods are shrouded in secrecy or “trade secrets,” then run for the hills.

3. Ask to see recent results

Some agencies use results from a decade ago to sell SEO contracts. Unfortunately, SEO changes way too fast, and you should only work with companies that have driven results recently.

4. Ask about their reporting procedures

SEO companies are notorious for providing horrific client service and experience. Most businesses have to guess what the SEO company is doing. This is wrong. All reporting should be consistent and reliable, so you’re always in the loop. For example, my agency created a dedicated Google folder with all of our work, and the client gets full access. That way, they know what’s going on at any given point.

Ask these four questions, and you should end up with a pretty solid SEO company. Good luck!