Working with the right technical SEO company will improve your website's search engine ranking, widen reach and engagement, and enhance your website's security and user-friendliness.
But how do you choose the right technical SEO agency for your business?
We have analyzed 60+ technical SEO companies and shortlisted the 10 that have had the greatest impact on the industry. We've also highlighted some of the pros of hiring a technical SEO company and factors you should consider when selecting a technical SEO partner.
Executive Summary
- Technical SEO focuses on a website’s backend, such as structure and coding, with the aim of improving performance and search engine rankings. It (technical SEO) requires specialized skills like editing code and using advanced analysis tools.
- Key components of technical SEO include page speed, mobile optimization, structured data markup, and site structure, which influence SEO metrics and are vital for search engine rankings and user experience.
- Hiring a technical SEO company offers strategic benefits, including resolving complex site issues and improving long-term organic traffic, without the need for website owners to master technical SEO themselves.
Understanding Technical SEO
The realm of SEO is vast, but often, it's the technical elements that make the most significant difference. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on content creation, keyword research, and link building, technical SEO focuses on a website's backend aspects, such as structure, coding, and metadata. Think of it as working under the hood of a car, fine-tuning everything so that the engine (or, in this case, your website) runs smoothly and efficiently.
However, technical SEO requires a specialized skill set, including the ability to read and edit code and utilize advanced website analysis tools. This is where Technical SEO Specialists come into play.
Key Components of Technical SEO
Having defined what technical SEO is, it's time to explore its fundamental components. These include;
- Website architecture
- Site speed and performance
- Mobile-friendliness
- Site Security
Website architecture refers to the overall structure of a website (how well or poorly your website is organized). To improve your website structure, technical SEO agencies organize your website's content into categories and subcategories, use an internal link structure that connects related pages, and an easy-to-understand URL structure. This also improves website performance and helps search engines rank your website better.
The other fundamental aspect of technical SEO is site speed. A study conducted by Google revealed that bounce rates increased by 32% when loading time exceeded 2 seconds. To help improve your website's loading speed, a technical SEO partner conducts advanced speed checks and implements counter strategies such as image optimization. This helps improve server response time.
Third on this list is mobile-friendliness. With the increased use of smartphones, ensuring an optimal experience on mobile phones is vital. It not only influences Google rankings but also aligns with mobile-first indexing. To improve their website's mobile performance, a business owner can use a responsive design that adjusts the website layout to the device's screen size.
P.S. Incorporation of structured data markup, technical search engine optimization, Google Search Console, and performing a technical SEO audit are other essential components of technical SEO.
Benefits of Hiring a Technical SEO Company
Engaging a technical SEO company is a strategic move because these specialized agencies not only conduct technical site audits but also identify issues with your site and then create strategies to resolve these issues.
Some of these strategies include;
- Getting rid of duplicate content and broken links
- Improving loading speed and website performance by optimizing images
- And adding meta tags and title tags to increase your site's visibility
And that's not all. A technical SEO consultant will also help improve the user experience on your website, get you higher rankings, and improve your content strategy.
How to Choose the Right Technical SEO Agency
Selecting an appropriate technical SEO agency might seem challenging. Here are some steps to help you make the right choice:
- Evaluate the agency’s expertise. It is safer to go for an agency with a proven track record.
- Look for agencies with niche experience.
- Assess the skills of their team.
- Examine testimonials and case studies.
- Understand the specific SEO techniques and strategies that the agency plans to implement.
- Ensure they align with best practices and your unique goals.
Also, communication is key when working with an SEO agency. Establish clear expectations for the frequency and detail of progress updates.
Lastly, research the agency’s pricing structures, which may include monthly retainers, project-based pricing, or hourly rates. This will help ensure they fit within your budget and service requirements.
The Top Technical SEO Agencies for 2024
We've analyzed 60+ technical SEO agencies and ranked them taking into consideration factors such as the years they've been in business, notable clients, leadership experience score, approach to digital marketing, and company size.
Here are the ten that stood out.
Onely
Topping the list is Onely, an advanced SEO agency renowned for offering cutting-edge solutions to all website problems. This agency is a frontrunner in AI integration and angular SEO, with a technical site audit service that analyzes eight crucial factors for AI-powered search readiness. Their reputation is further bolstered by their collaboration with major brands such as Ikea, LiveChat, and Realtor.com.
The agency is recognized as the ‘nerdiest and friendliest technical SEO agency in the world,’ reflecting its unique brand in the market. While they dedicate only 15% of their focus to technical SEO services, this strategic allocation exemplifies their commitment to providing specialized and effective solutions.
ROAST
ROAST excels at bolstering web presence through technical SEO services. The agency offers services such as technical SEO audits, app store optimization, site migrations, SEO training, and keyword research. The agency also covers a lot of bases across on-page SEO optimization, reporting and insights, domain infrastructure management, as well as off-page SEO activity.
Their innovative performance marketing strategies and commitment to delivering measurable results in technical SEO have set them apart in the industry.
SmartSites
Founded by brothers Alex and Michael Melen, SmartSites is an award-winning marketing agency known to offer exceptional web design, organic SEO, and digital marketing services. The agency has an in-house team of technical SEO experts trained to utilize leading software to conduct a thorough technical website audit. With the results from these audits, the team can guide you on which technical aspects to fix or improve.
SEO Sherpa
SEO Sherpa provides an all-encompassing array of technical SEO services, which includes site audits, page speed optimization, and mobile responsiveness. They specialize in fixing complex crawl errors for large e-commerce sites, and their efforts have earned them the award for the best technical SEO campaign of 2023.
Impressively, SEO Sherpa has helped several local businesses increase their organic traffic by a whopping 153%. The agency's impeccable SEO efforts have also seen businesses record tremendous monthly revenue growth.
OppGen Marketing
With $41 million in total managed AD spend, a 508% average client ROI, and 150+ successful clients, OppGen Marketing is arguably the best technical SEO agency in the world. The agency provides a wide range of technical SEO services that concentrate on improving site crawlability and indexation to enhance search engine discoverability. The agency is also known for solving complex SEO problems such as fixing crawl errors and implementing structured data.
Their roadmap to success includes;
- Industry-based marketing programs that provide businesses with pre-built lead-generation strategies proven to exceed their goals
- A lead generation strategy tailored to your business's unique needs and goals
- Best-in-class marketing solutions and services such as Google Analytics, lead attribution, backlink analysis, usability testing, and AD pixel management.
Searchbloom
Extending a broad spectrum of technical SEO services, Searchbloom offers on-page optimization, crawl error resolution, and advanced indexation strategies. They utilize proprietary tools such as a custom site crawler and bespoke analytics platforms to identify technical barriers and optimize clients’ web presence.
In the rapidly evolving SEO landscape, Searchbloom stands out with its innovative solutions for tackling search engine algorithm changes. Their success in this area has earned them the top PPC agency and SEO consultant awards in 2024.
Sitelogic
Hailing from Chicago, Sitelogic is recognized for facilitating intelligent website optimization decisions. Their primary services focus on technical SEO optimizations, catering mainly to clients in the B2B Services and Consumer Goods segments.
Their commitment to handling serious, large-scale projects is reflected in their pricing, with services starting at a price point above $5,000.
SmartRanking
SmartRanking boasts a professional team of 18 SEO industry experts focused on serving the Health & Wellness sector as well as offering B2B Services.
The agency’s commitment to serious, large-scale projects is evident in its minimum project budget, which stands at $2,500.
Huckabuy
Providing an all-inclusive set of technical SEO services, Huckabuy offers site audits, on-page optimization, and backend enhancements. They have developed proprietary tools for crawling and indexing management to ensure a website’s visibility on search engines.
Their staff includes experienced developers who are well-versed in the latest web technologies, ensuring seamless implementation of technical SEO strategies. They have achieved significant growth in traffic for a major e-commerce site and increased mobile search rankings for multiple clients.
Digital Drew SEM
Finally, Digital Dre SEM, a NYC-based SEO agency that utilizes an ROI-focused approach to deliver outstanding results to both businesses and individuals. The agency's SEO process includes;
- Creating an SEO questionnaire which helps them gain a better understanding of your business goals and needs
- Identifying keywords consumers are using to search for products related to your website
- Performing a technical SEO audit and implementing the necessary changes
- Building high-quality backlinks
- Tracking and analyzing your website's performance
Case Studies: Success Stories from Technical SEO Agencies
Case studies serve as powerful testimonials of the effectiveness of technical SEO services. Here are some examples:
- Silvercar’s revenue surged by 222% due to enhancements to their organic search channel made by Huckabuy.
- Pluralsight enjoyed a 29% increase in organic traffic after employing Huckabuy’s services.
- 360 Blue turned their organic search into the primary revenue-generating channel with the help of Huckabuy.
- Bolt, another client of Huckabuy, experienced a 20% uplift in organic search traffic by leveraging Huckabuy Dynamic Rendering within just three months.
- The Ocean Foundation saw a substantial increase in new donors and donations after enhancing its organic search reach with Huckabuy’s strategies.
- MyPerfectColor witnessed an 182% growth in organic search traffic over six months thanks to the implementation of Huckabuy Cloud.
These success stories demonstrate the collective impact of technical SEO agencies in driving business growth through the strategic optimization of an online presence. They also highlight the importance of:
- Addressing keyword cannibalization
- Crafting unique and well-optimized meta-descriptions
- Regular audits of the robots.txt file
- Resolving broken links to avoid crawl budget waste and enhance user experience.
Mistakes to Avoid When Working with a Technical SEO Company
Although partnering with a technical SEO company can yield significant benefits, it’s important to stay cognizant of potential pitfalls. One common issue to avoid is duplicate metadata, especially prevalent in large sites and e-commerce platforms, which can hinder technical SEO performance.
It’s crucial to evaluate a technical SEO agency’s effectiveness through their past results and case studies, and be wary of those that guarantee specific rankings. Be attentive to technical errors like 404 pages, as they indicate that a webpage does not exist and can negatively impact the user experience. Also, understand the impact of unnecessary redirects on user frustration and conversion rates, and how clearing cookies and evaluating third-party plugins can resolve these issues.
DIY Technical SEO vs. Hiring a Professional Agency
Choosing between DIY SEO and outsourcing to an agency isn’t a straightforward decision. On one hand, DIY SEO can be significantly less expensive, particularly because some tasks can be executed for free or with the use of low-cost tools. However, learning the basics of SEO can be achieved within a few hours, but the ongoing time commitment for effective implementation can be substantial.
On the other hand, outsourcing to an agency or specialist with technical SEO expertise has several advantages:
- It saves time, as professionals can efficiently resolve technical SEO issues.
- Agencies can provide monthly reports that track progress, making it easier to analyze data and measure success.
- Hiring a professional can be more cost-effective in the long run, especially for competitive keywords.
Ultimately, the decision should take into account the individual or business’s time, budget, and willingness to learn and apply SEO techniques.
Industry Trends: The Future of Technical SEO
Looking ahead, several emerging trends are influencing the future of technical SEO. One of them is generative AI, which is reshaping search behaviors by introducing AI-generated summaries directly in response to queries. This emerging AI capability minimizes the necessity for users to visit websites from search results, potentially impacting website traffic.
Another critical trend is the rise of AI copywriting tools, enabling more efficient content creation and increasing SEO competitiveness as businesses generate content with greater ease. Notably, the rise of AI copywriting tools has led to:
- More efficient content creation
- Increased SEO competitiveness
- A shift in SEO strategies to account for a wider range of search engines beyond Google, such as Microsoft Bing’s adoption of ChatGPT and its user growth.
Summary
In conclusion, technical SEO is a crucial aspect of digital marketing, responsible for optimizing a website’s backend elements to improve search engine rankings and overall performance. Whether you opt for DIY SEO or hire a professional agency, it’s essential to understand the key components of technical SEO, the benefits of professional services, and the common mistakes to avoid. As we look towards the future, be prepared for the rise of generative AI, AI copywriting tools, and the diversification of search engines that will continue to shape the SEO landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is technical SEO?
Technical SEO is the process of ensuring that a website meets the technical requirements of modern search engines to improve organic rankings by focusing on crawling, indexing, rendering, and website architecture.
What is technical SEO and why is it important?
Technical SEO focuses on optimizing the backend of a website to enhance its search engine rankings. It is crucial for online success, as it addresses technical elements that improve overall performance and search engine rankings.
What are the benefits of hiring a technical SEO company?
Hiring a technical SEO company can help improve website rankings, enhance user experience, increase organic traffic, and optimize for various search engines, leading to better online visibility and performance.
What are the emerging trends in technical SEO?
The emerging trends in technical SEO include the adoption of generative AI and AI copywriting tools, as well as the integration of ChatGPT by search engines, indicating a significant shift in SEO strategies. Exciting developments are on the horizon for those involved in technical SEO.
