Methodology · Updated July 9, 2026
How We Review SEO Agencies
Every agency on SEOAgencyList is scored against the same six-part formula. Here's exactly how the weighting works, what we check, and how we keep the process honest.
01
Verified Client Results
30%
The heaviest-weighted factor — did the agency actually move the needle for the clients it claims to have worked with?
Case studies cross-checked against publicly verifiable data where possible
Direct outreach to a sample of referenced clients when contact details are available
Unverifiable or vague results claims are discounted, not taken at face value
02
Reviews & Testimonials
20%
What actual clients say, weighted by volume, recency, and how well a review holds up to a basic authenticity check.
Reviews are screened for incentivized or coordinated posting patterns
Recent reviews are weighted more heavily than older ones
A small number of glowing reviews scores lower than a broad, consistent pattern
03
Transparency & Reporting
15%
How clearly the agency explains what it does, what it charges for, and how it reports progress back to clients.
Published or disclosed pricing structure, rather than "contact us" opacity alone
Clear description of deliverables and reporting cadence
No use of black-hat tactics that would put a client's site at risk
04
Expertise & Longevity
15%
Track record, team credentials, and how long the agency has operated at a consistent standard.
Years in operation and business registration where publicly available
Team size and specialization relative to the services offered
Consistency of service quality across multiple reviewed engagements
05
Pricing Fairness
10%
Not "cheapest wins" — whether pricing is reasonable and proportionate to the scope and results promised.
Pricing benchmarked against comparable agencies in the same tier
Flags for long lock-in contracts or hidden fees
06
Communication & Support
10%
Responsiveness and clarity in the first stages of contact — often the clearest early signal of what working with them is actually like.
Response time and clarity during our own outreach as part of verification
Client feedback specifically about communication, pulled from reviews
Our verification process
Every listing — sponsored or organic — goes through the same four steps before it's scored.
01
Intake
Agency submits a profile, or our editorial team adds one from publicly available sources.
02
Verification
We check claimed results, credentials, and public registration details against available evidence.
03
Scoring
The six-part formula above is applied and a composite score is generated.
04
Re-review
Listings are periodically re-checked, and any agency can request a re-review if something has changed.
Sponsored listings never affect the score
Sponsored placements are clearly labeled and appear separately from organic rankings. Paying for visibility does not change a single point on the scoring formula above.
