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If you’re trying to grow online this year, partnering with the right seo company in chicago can make a huge difference. Search engines are still where customers start when they’re ready to buy. Whether you run a local shop, an e-commerce store, or a fast-growing B2B brand, the right team can help you get found, earn trust, and turn traffic into real revenue.

Chicago is a busy, competitive market. There are plenty of agencies promising results, shiny reports, and “secret” tactics. The challenge is figuring out which partner truly fits your goals, your industry, and your budget. In this guide, we’ll walk through what to look for, what to avoid, and how a strong partnership leads to steady growth in 2025.

Why SEO still matters in 2025 (and what it does for you)

SEO isn’t just about ranking for keywords. It’s about meeting customers at the moment they’re searching and guiding them to the next step. A smart strategy helps you:

• Increase visibility: Show up where your customers are searching.
• Attract qualified traffic: Reach people who already need what you sell.
• Build credibility: Earn trust with helpful content and great user experience.
• Improve conversions: Turn visitors into leads, calls, and sales.
• Create long-term value: Compound gains over time instead of quick spikes that fade.

These benefits come from a well-rounded plan: technical fixes, on-page updates, quality content, and trusted links, supported by clear reporting and constant improvement. The right seo company in Chicago can tie all of this together for you

What a Great SEO Partner Actually Does (And Why It Matters for Your Business in 2025)

If you’re a business owner, director of marketing, or even a startup founder, you’ve probably heard that SEO is important. But when it’s time to hire help, it can get confusing fast. What does an SEO partner really do? And how do you know if they’re the right fit?

Let’s break it down in a clear, simple way. A great SEO company in Chicago won’t just chase Google rankings, they’ll focus on outcomes that move your business forward, like more calls, leads, sales, or booked appointments. They’ll build a strategy that makes sense for your business and back it up with data, communication, and results you can actually see.

So, what exactly should a great SEO partner be doing for you?

1. Discovery and Goal Setting: Understanding Your Business First

Before jumping into tactics, a great SEO partner starts by asking questions. They want to understand:

• What do you sell?
• Who are your customers?
• How do people currently find you online (or do they at all)?
• What’s your biggest goal right now, calls, sales, foot traffic, form submissions?
• Who are your biggest competitors in your space?

This first phase, called discovery, is where they learn about your business model, your market, and your definition of success. Whether that’s booking more demo calls, getting e-commerce orders, or filling up your calendar with service requests, they need to know what you care about before they can build a plan.

Why this matters: If your SEO partner doesn’t understand your business or ask about your goals, they’re flying blind, and so are you. Strategy without direction won’t deliver results.

2. Technical Audit: Making Sure Your Website Can Perform

Think of your website like a car. Even if it looks nice, it won’t win races if the engine’s broken. A good SEO partner will start by “popping the hood” and running a technical audit to fix anything holding you back.

They’ll check for issues like:

• Slow loading speeds
• Broken links or pages that don’t load
• Missing mobile-friendly design
• Confusing or messy URLs
• Indexing issues (which means Google can’t find your pages)

They may also look at things like site security (SSL), image optimization, duplicate content, and how well your site works across different devices.

Why this matters: You can have the best content in the world, but if Google can’t crawl your site or users bounce because it loads too slowly, you’ll never get the traffic or sales you’re aiming for.

3. Keyword Research and Intent Mapping: Connecting You With the Right Searches

Not all searches are created equal. Someone looking up “best family cars” is at a different stage than someone searching “buy Honda CR-V Chicago.” A great SEO partner knows the difference, and builds your content strategy around search intent.

This is where keyword and intent mapping comes in. Your SEO team will:

• Research the phrases your ideal customers are typing into search engines
• Figure out what those people are actually trying to do (learn, compare, buy, etc.)
• Match your website pages to the most relevant keywords and intent

For example:

• A blog post might target someone early in their search, like “how to choose the right car dealership.”
• A service page would target someone ready to act, like “car dealerships near me with financing.”

Why this matters: If you rank for the wrong keywords, you’ll get traffic that doesn’t convert. Or worse, you won’t get found at all.

4. Content Strategy: Creating Useful, Action-Driven Content

This is where things start to come alive. Your SEO partner will help create original, helpful content that speaks directly to your customers, and guides them toward taking action.

That content can include:

• Blog posts that answer common questions (like this one!)
• Product or service pages that show value and build trust
• Location pages for local SEO
• Guides, how-tos, and comparison pages
• FAQs and support content

But here’s the key: it’s not about stuffing keywords. It’s about creating content that helps people and naturally connects with the way they search. A smart SEO agency will also make sure the content is easy to read, well-organized, and optimized for both users and search engines.

Why this matters: Quality content builds trust with both Google and your audience. It keeps people on your site longer and makes them more likely to contact you, buy from you, or come back later.

5. Authority Building: Earning Trust With Backlinks and Citations

If content is what you say about yourself, authority is what others say about you online. A great SEO partner helps your business earn mentions and links from credible websites, also known as backlinks.

They’ll focus on getting you:

• Mentions in local business directories
• Features on industry blogs or publications
• Links from trusted sources (not spammy or irrelevant sites)
• Reviews and accurate listings across platforms like Google, Yelp, and local directories

This builds your domain authority, which tells Google you’re a trustworthy source. It’s like earning online reputation points.

Why this matters: The more credible sites that link to you, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results, especially for competitive keywords.

6. Measurement and Ongoing Optimization: Using Data to Drive Results

Once everything’s in motion, the job isn’t done, it’s just getting started. The best SEO companies will track key performance indicators (KPIs) like:

• Organic traffic (how many people are finding you through search)
• Keyword rankings
• Bounce rates and time on page
• Conversions (calls, form submissions, purchases, etc.)
• Local visibility (like Google Business Profile impressions)

They’ll use that data to tweak and improve the strategy each month. Maybe a blog post needs a stronger call-to-action. Maybe your homepage loads a little too slowly. Maybe a keyword isn’t performing like they thought.

Whatever it is, they’ll find it, and fix it.

Why this matters: SEO is not a “set it and forget it” process. Algorithms change, competitors evolve, and your business needs shift. Ongoing analysis and optimization keep you moving forward.

What If an SEO Company Skips These Steps?

Here’s the deal: if a company skips any of the above or promises quick wins without a solid plan, that’s a red flag.

• They might say, “We’ll get you to #1 on Google in 30 days.”
• Or they’ll avoid explaining their process.
• Or they’ll show you flashy dashboards but no real results.

That’s not a strategy, it’s a shortcut. And shortcuts in SEO often lead to penalties or wasted money.

A true SEO partner is transparent, strategic, and focused on long-term growth. They’ll work alongside you, explain what they’re doing, and show how their work is helping your business.

Choosing an SEO Agency in Chicago: What to Look for (and How to Know You’ve Found the Right One)

If you’re on the hunt for an SEO agency in Chicago, you probably already know that SEO is one of the smartest ways to grow your online presence. But here’s the thing, not all SEO agencies are created equal.

Some focus only on rankings. Others only care about technical fixes. And some will hand you a cookie-cutter plan with no thought about your business goals, industry, or customers.

So how do you pick the right one?

The truth is, you’re not just hiring an SEO team, you’re choosing a long-term partner. One that should understand your business like you do, care about your goals, and guide you with a clear plan.

Here’s what to look for (and what questions to ask) when choosing an SEO agency in Chicago.

1. Clear Process and Timeline: What’s Going to Happen, and When?

When you talk to an agency, one of your first questions should be:
“What does the first 90 days look like?”

A reliable agency will walk you through a clear roadmap. This should include:

• A technical audit of your site
• Keyword research and competitor analysis
• On-page optimization (like fixing meta tags, updating page content, etc.)
• A content plan based on your goals
• Link-building or local SEO strategy
• Monthly reporting setup

They’ll also explain what you can expect in terms of deliverables, like how many blog posts they’ll write, how many pages they’ll optimize, or what improvements they’ll make behind the scenes.

Pro Tip: If they’re vague, overpromise results (“We’ll get you to #1 in 30 days!”), or don’t provide a timeline, that’s a red flag.

2. Relevant Case Studies: Have They Helped Businesses Like Yours?

Every business is different. A great SEO agency should show you real examples of results they’ve gotten for businesses like yours. That might mean:

• Local service businesses looking for more phone calls
• B2B companies needing more high-quality leads
• E-commerce stores trying to increase product sales
• New startups building a brand from scratch

Ask for case studies or success stories. They don’t need to give you private client details, but they should be able to show growth in rankings, traffic, or conversions, and explain how they did it.

Question to ask: “Can you show me results you’ve achieved for companies in my industry or with a similar business model?”

3. Transparent Reporting: Can You Track What’s Working?

You should never be left guessing if your SEO plan is working. A trustworthy SEO agency in Chicago will give you clear, consistent reports that break down:

• Website traffic (especially from organic search)
• Keyword rankings (how you’re showing up in Google)
• Leads, calls, or conversions
• Any changes made to your site
• Insights and recommendations

Even better, they’ll walk you through these reports in plain English, so you understand what’s going on.

Red flag: If they only talk about impressions and rankings but don’t tie results back to actual business outcomes (like calls or sales), they’re missing the point.

4. Custom Strategies: You’re Not a Template, Your Plan Shouldn’t Be Either

Your business has unique challenges, goals, and customers. A good SEO agency won’t hand you a one-size-fits-all package. Instead, they’ll build a strategy that’s tailored to:

• Your target audience
• Your competition
• Your product or service offerings
• Your current marketing efforts
• Your budget and timeline

For example, a local law office will need a very different SEO plan than an online clothing store. The keywords, content, and goals are completely different, and your agency should know that.

Look for an agency that asks about your business before quoting a price or pushing a package. If they don’t ask questions, they can’t build a smart plan.

5. White-Hat Practices: They Play by the Rules (and Keep You Safe)

SEO isn’t magic. And if an agency says they have “secret” tricks or guaranteed shortcuts, run the other way.

The best SEO agency in Chicago will use white-hat practices, meaning, they follow Google’s guidelines and focus on long-term, safe growth.

That includes:

• Creating quality, helpful content
• Building real backlinks (not spammy link farms)
• Optimizing your site for user experience
• Fixing technical SEO issues the right way
• Avoiding shady tactics like keyword stuffing or cloaking

Why it matters: Bad SEO can hurt your site more than help. Google penalizes sites that try to cheat the system, and recovery can be expensive and slow.

In Short: You Want an SEO Partner, Not Just an SEO Provider

A good SEO agency won’t just talk to you about keywords and rankings. They’ll talk about:

• Your customers
• Your sales goals
• Your profit margins
• Your challenges
• Your ideal outcomes

They’ll treat your business like it’s their own, and they’ll work with you, not just for you.

How SEO Needs Change Based on Business Type

Another sign of a great agency? They don’t use the same approach for every client. A smart SEO agency in Chicago will adjust your strategy based on your business type and your buyer’s journey.

Here’s what that can look like:

Local Service Businesses (like dealerships, clinics, home services)

Your goal: Be the go-to choice in your area.

What your SEO should include:

• Google Business Profile optimization
• Local keywords (e.g., “Chicago plumber” or “car dealership near Wicker Park”)
• NAP (name, address, phone number) consistency across directories
• Customer reviews and reputation management
• Local landing pages targeting specific neighborhoods or suburbs

Why this matters: When someone in your area searches “dentist near me,” you want to show up first, with solid reviews and an easy-to-navigate website.

Working with experienced local SEO experts can help ensure your business shows up consistently across all local search channels and directories.

B2B Companies

Your goal: Attract decision-makers and generate qualified leads.

What your SEO should include:

• Thought-leadership content like blog posts, white papers, and case studies
• SEO-optimized landing pages for services or product demos
• Long-tail keywords based on buyer pain points (e.g., “CRM software for real estate teams”)
• Lead magnets and gated content
• Technical SEO for complex websites

Why this matters: B2B buyers take longer to make decisions. You need to earn trust, answer detailed questions, and offer value before they reach out.

A comprehensive approach that combines SEO with other B2B digital marketing strategies for 2025 can help you reach decision-makers at every stage of their buying journey.

E-Commerce Stores

Your goal: Increase product visibility, sales, and average order value (AOV).

What your SEO should include:

• Keyword-rich product and category pages
• Technical SEO for site speed, mobile use, and crawling
• Helpful content like buying guides or comparisons
• Product schema and structured data
• Reviews and customer Q&A content

Why this matters: People do a lot of research before they buy. SEO helps your products show up during that journey, and your content can answer questions that help drive conversions.

Startups and New Brands

Your goal: Build awareness, trust, and early traction.

What your SEO should include:

• Technical setup and indexing support
• Brand messaging and positioning help
• Foundational content (what you do, who you serve, why it matters)
• Blog strategy to build authority
• Local SEO (if serving a specific region)

Why this matters: You’re starting from scratch, so you need a solid base that helps people find and trust you online.

Red flags that should make you pause

Before you sign anything, watch for these warning signs:

• “Guaranteed #1 rankings.” No one controls search results, and guarantees are a red flag.
• Vague reporting. If they can’t explain how they track leads and sales, you’ll struggle to prove ROI.
• Cheap, fast link schemes. Low-quality links can do long-term damage.
• No access to your data. You should own your analytics, search console, and ad accounts.
• No talk of content quality. SEO and content go hand in hand.

Quality content should address specific industry needs and pain points. For example, learning about SEO for electricians and how to attract high-paying clients shows how targeted, industry-specific content can drive real business results.

The advantage of going local in Chicago

You don’t have to work with someone down the street, but a local partner offers benefits:

• Market understanding: They know Chicago search trends, neighborhoods, and competitors.
• Local SEO expertise: They’re used to optimizing Google Business Profiles, building local citations, and creating geo-targeted pages.
• Easy collaboration: In-person strategy sessions can help you move faster.
• Community network: Local relationships can lead to real partnership opportunities and relevant mentions.

For many brands, a local seo company in chicago becomes a long-term extension of the marketing team.

Key questions to ask before you hire

Use these questions to compare agencies and cut through the buzzwords:

1. How will you measure success for my business? Push for goals that tie to revenue, not just rankings.
2. What will you deliver in the first 30, 60, and 90 days? Look for a clear action plan.
3. What does your content review process look like? Quality control matters.
4. How do you approach link building? You want relevance and credibility, not volume.
5. What happens if results stall? Ask how they diagnose and adjust.
6. Who will be on my account? Meet your day-to-day team.
7. How often will we meet and report? Monthly is common, but weekly check-ins can help during onboarding.

Write down the answers and compare across agencies. The right fit will be clear and confident, not pushy.

How THAT Agency helps businesses grow

THAT Agency is a digital marketing and web design firm focused on real outcomes: more visibility, more qualified traffic, and more revenue. They combine strategy, design, content, advertising, and SEO to build a strong online presence for each client. Here’s how they typically support brands like yours:

• Custom strategy: No cookie-cutter packages, plans are shaped around your goals, sales cycle, and budget.
• Web design + SEO: Sites are built to look great and perform well in search, from structure and speed to conversion paths.
• Content that converts: Clear, helpful content that answers buyer questions and guides the next step.
• Full-funnel view: They connect SEO with paid media, email, and social, so your channels support each other.
• Straightforward reporting: You’ll see how your investment becomes leads, calls, and sales.

Whether you’re a dealership, a director of marketing, or a CEO, THAT Agency’s goal is the same: help you compete and win online.

A simple, proven process (what to expect)

1. Kickoff & goals: Align on targets and timelines (leads, sales, ROAS, CAC, LTV).
2. Audit & quick fixes: Address urgent technical issues and conversion blockers first.
3. Strategy & roadmap: Prioritize pages, topics, and link opportunities with the biggest upside.
4. Build & optimize: Publish new content, improve key pages, and refine internal links.
5. Measure & improve: Track results, learn, and iterate every month.

This steady, step-by-step approach keeps your plan focused and your team accountable.

Budget basics: what drives the price

Costs vary based on your competition, site size, and goals. Here’s what affects pricing:

• Scope of work: Technical cleanup, content production, digital PR, and local SEO all take time.
• Content volume: High-quality pages, product descriptions, and blog posts require research and editing.
• Link acquisition: Earning trusted mentions is work that compounds over time.
• Speed to results: Faster timelines usually need more resources.

A strong seo company in chicago will help you set a realistic investment and timeline, and tie both to expected outcomes.

How to compare proposals fairly

When proposals come in, line them up side by side:

• Deliverables: What exactly will you get each month?
• Ownership: Do you own content, accounts, and data?
• Reporting: What metrics and dashboards will you see?
• Team: Who is doing the work, and what are their roles?
• Flexibility: Can the plan shift when the data reveals new opportunities?

If you can’t explain a proposal in plain language to your own team, ask for a clearer version. Good partners make things easy to understand.

Your quick-start checklist

• Define your top three business goals for SEO in 2025.
• Gather baseline data: traffic, leads, sales, and current rankings.
• List your key products/services and top competitors.
• Decide who will approve content and how fast you can publish.
• Set a 90-day focus (for example: fix technical issues, improve service pages, publish 4 high-value articles, and optimize Google Business Profile).

Knocking out these steps will help any agency deliver results faster.

Ready to choose with confidence?

By now, you know what to look for, what to avoid, and how to compare your options. The right seo company in chicago won’t just chase keywords, they’ll learn your business, build a strategy around your buyers, and help you grow month after month. If you want a partner that brings web design, content, and SEO together under one roof, THAT Agency is here to help.

Want to see what this could look like for your brand? Contact THAT Agency to talk through your goals, get a clear plan, and start building steady growth in 2025 and beyond.

(P.S. If you already have a proposal in hand, we’re happy to review it with you and show how we’d approach the work.)