10 Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores in 2026

Having a Shopify store means you have work to do. Getting customers to come to your store organically can be a challenge. That’s where an SEO agency can help.

With their help you can get better rankings, fix tricky issues with Shopify, get more conversions, and ultimately get more customers to your store.

With so many agencies, it’s tough to know who to trust. This guide will help you narrow it down to the best agencies. It compares their prices, specialties, and track record to help you choose the right agency for you.

What is SEO Agencies?

An SEO agency is a type of marketing agency that deals specifically with search engines and driving organic traffic to websites. An SEO agency will optimize a website so that search engines like Google and Bing will list the pages on an online store.

SEO for a Shopify store includes optimizing collection pages, product pages, and the technical structure and speed of a website. Most SEO agencies perform a lot of the same services which include, but aren’t limited to, keyword research, on-page SEO, audits and assessments for technical SEO, building links to pages, and creating content.

Ecommerce brands usually hire an outside SEO agency instead of doing SEO in house because it is much easier to hire an agency with proven tools and strategies that will impact sales. Hiring an SEO agency also frees time and provides more advanced strategies for accomplishing goals.

How We Evaluated These Agencies

Got it — looks like you want a ranking criteria table used to evaluate these 10 Shopify SEO agencies (including OuterBox, making the list of 10 complete: Coalition Technologies, WebFX, Victorious SEO, SmartSites, Thrive Internet Marketing, Sure Oak, SEO Brand, Straight North, Directive Consulting, and OuterBox).

Here’s a standard evaluation criteria table you can use to justify the rankings:

Criteria	What It Means	Weight (%)
Shopify/E-commerce Expertise	Proven track record specifically with Shopify stores (not just general SEO), including platform-specific technical know-how (collection pages, app conflicts, theme speed, etc.)	25%
Proven Results & Case Studies	Verifiable traffic, ranking, and revenue growth from past clients, backed by data, testimonials, or published case studies	20%
Service Range & Customization	Breadth of services offered (technical SEO, content, link building, CRO) and ability to tailor strategy to store size/niche	15%
Client Reviews & Reputation	Ratings and feedback on platforms like Clutch, G2, and Google, reflecting client satisfaction and retention	15%
Pricing & Value	Transparency of pricing structure and whether cost aligns with the value/ROI delivered	10%
Team Expertise & Certifications	Experience level of SEO strategists, agency size, and any relevant certifications (Google Partner, Shopify Partner, etc.)	10%
Communication & Reporting	Quality of client communication, reporting frequency, and transparency around strategy and performance metrics	5%

Quick Comparison Table

Agency	Founded	HQ	Team Size	Specialty	Starting Price
OuterBox	2004	Ohio, USA	250+	In-house team specializing in SEO, PPC, web design, and eCommerce, named a top eCommerce SEO provider and Google Premier Partner Clutch	~$2,250/month, up to $60,000+ for comprehensive projects Clutch
Coalition Technologies	2009	Los Angeles, CA	250–260	Data-driven SEO and digital marketing agency with strong focus on AI SEO (GEO) and ecommerce SEO, Clutch works closely with Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WordPress SEO Agencies Austin	$1,500 to over $50,000 Clutch
WebFX	1996 (as WebpageFX)	Harrisburg, PA	500–600+	Full SEO stack — technical SEO, on-page optimization, content marketing, link building, local SEO, and eCommerce SEO Marketing LTB — via proprietary MarketingCloudFX platform	$2,500–$3,000/month Click Metrica
Victorious SEO	2012	San Francisco, CA	—	Pure-play SEO agency — search engine optimization is the entire business, Blackthorn Vision known for methodical, process-driven strategy	Custom (project-based)
SmartSites	2011	Paramus, NJ	200+	Technical SEO, on-page optimization, content marketing, link building, local SEO, eCommerce SEO, and web design Marketing LTB — unique in-house dev + SEO integration	$1,000+, $100–$149/hr Getpassionfruit
Thrive Internet Marketing	2005	Arlington, TX	150–250	Full-service SEO, GEO-targeted SEO, PPC, SEM, content marketing, web design, social media, Thrive Agency strong local/SMB focus	Custom (project/retainer)
Sure Oak	2017	New York, NY	11–50	SEO, local SEO, link building, content marketing, SEO consulting, keyword research Thrive Agency — startups/small business focus with proprietary “SEO Game Plan”	Custom
SEO Brand	2004–2008 (sources vary)	Boca Raton, FL	40+	SEO, PPC, content marketing, web design, eCommerce SEO, reputation management, Getpassionfruit now also GEO/AEO (AI search)	$1,000+/project Getpassionfruit
Straight North	1997	Downers Grove, IL	—	National SEO, local SEO, eCommerce SEO, enterprise SEO, PPC, web design, Thrive Agency in-house U.S.-based team	Custom
Directive Consulting	2014	Irvine, CA	—	B2B SEO, content marketing, paid media, CRO, revenue-focused Getpassionfruit with “Customer Generation” methodology — SaaS/B2B tech focus	Custo

1. OuterBox

Established in 2004, OuterBox employs over 250 staff in the USA and has earned the distinction of Google Premier Partner Agency. OuterBox first became an authority for Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores after integrating all forms and approaches of SEO and digital marketing.

OuterBox conducts SEO beyond the usual keyword optimization and addresses Shopify theme issues, as well as collection architecture and app conflicts.

OuterBox claims that they have over 1,000 clients and over two million first-page results on Google. Monthly budgets for OuterBox clients are between $2,250 to $60,000+. Given the robust budget, OuterBox ranks best for enterprise-level Shopify clients.

Process:

• Free audit and consult to identify gaps in rankings, site issues, and missing content
• Custom SEO packages based on size and growth goals of the store
• Team does technical SEO on collections and works with Shopify on Speed and Liquid and Theme issues
• Development issues are fixed and so is the content and links as well as embedded structured data
• Monthly reports that track changes in revenues, rankings, and site traffic

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Ohio, USA
Team Size	250+ (in-house, USA-based)
Core Services	SEO, PPC, web design/development, CRO, paid media
Platform Expertise	Shopify, WordPress, Magento, BigCommerce
Notable Strength	2M+ page-one rankings, 1,000+ client partnerships
Certifications	Google Premier Partner

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Monthly SEO Retainer	$2,250 – $7,500/month
Comprehensive/Enterprise Projects	Up to $60,000+
Shopify Website Design	$10,000 – $20,000 (up to $100,000+ for extensive builds)
Pricing Model	Custom quote after free site audit

Pros:

• 20 years of ecommerce-centric SEO expertise across varied platforms
• Team is based is 100% in-house and in the USA
• Offers SEO, design, CRO, and paid media in one agency
• Great case studies for large and complex Shopify catalogs
• Google Premier Partner

Cons:

• Budgets needed are higher, not good for a very small store
• Need to request a quote as pricing is not listed
• Due to depth of the audit, the onboarding and diagnostic phases may take longer
• Larger, higher-budget projects needed to get best value
• May be too much for a small single-product store

2. Coalition Technologies

Joel Gross started Coalition Technologies in Los Angeles in 2009. It now employs about 250 to 260 people. Coalition focuses on integrating web design and data-driven SEO, and for that reason, it is consistently placed among the Best SEO Agencies for Shopify.

Coalition reports a 97% client retention ratio and has brought in $588 million in client businesses. Coalition employs specialists for technical audits, link building, AI SEO (GEO), and ecommerce SEO.

Coalition uses Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and also develops with headless CMS, React, and Next.js. Coalition has a range of $1,500 to well over $50,000. Pricing looks to be competitive.

Process:

• The Shopify store undergoes a technical/content audit and a strategy call to kick things off
• Data-inclusive, on-page and technical SEO and link building roadmaps drive the work
• SEO and design/dev issues on the Shopify Theme and UX are worked on in tandem
• AI SEO (GEO) coverage is extended and targeted keyword work is performed
• Work is reported on regularly and clients have direct access to their strategists

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2009
Headquarters	Los Angeles, CA
Team Size	250–260
Core Services	SEO, PPC, web design, AI SEO (GEO), ecommerce dev
Platform Expertise	Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WordPress, headless CMS
Notable Strength	97% client retention, $588M+ revenue generated for clients
Certifications	Google Premier Partner, Meta certified partner

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Entry-Level Projects	$1,500/month
Standard SEO Engagements	$1,500 – $5,000/month
Large/Enterprise Projects	Up to $50,000+
Pricing Model	Custom quote, minimum project size ~$1,000

Pros:

• 97% of clients stay onboard
• SEO and web design work are done in a highly integrated manner
• Proficiency in Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WordPress
• Approx. entry point from the $1,500/month range
• 250+ team with ecommerce specialists

Cons:

• Large client list leads to less personalized work at lower tiers
• Service quality can vary throughout different teams
• Projects can reach $50,000+ at the upper end
• Global team (India and the Philippines) creates time-zone communication issues
• Long-term contracts yield the best results

3. WebFX

WebFX started out in 1995 as WebpageFX. After rebranding in 2018, WebFX became one of Pennsylvania’s longest-standing, full-service digital marketing agencies. WebFX employs over 500 digital marketing experts.

WebFX is known for being one of the best SEO agencies for Shopify stores because of their MarketingCloudFX and RevenueCloudFX platforms. These proprietary tools give users a direct correlation of how SEO impacts revenue as well as an attribution dashboard.

WebFX supports a wide range of optimization tools and services including the Core Web Vitals, crawl architecture, content strategy, and digital PR link building. WebFX states that they manage more than 10 billion in client revenue. WebFX SEO services start at $2,500 and $3,000 per month and are targeted to mid-market to enterprise Shopify brands.

Process:

• Discovery session with MarketingCloudFX to establish current performance benchmarks
• Core Web Vitals technical SEO audit with crawl architecture
• Link-building campaign incorporating a content strategy and digital PR
• Revenue attribution and real-time dashboard report
• Live data performance for ongoing work and optimizations

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	1995 (as WebpageFX; rebranded 2018)
Headquarters	Harrisburg, PA
Team Size	500–600+
Core Services	SEO, PPC, content marketing, web design, CRO, email
Platform Expertise	Multi-platform, ecommerce and enterprise focus
Notable Strength	Proprietary MarketingCloudFX/RevenueCloudFX reporting platform
Certifications	50+ industry awards, 91%+ client retention

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
SEO Services	$2,500 – $3,000/month
Content Marketing	Starting at $1,800/month
Social Media Marketing	Starting at $1,850/month
Pricing Model	Custom, tiered by service and scale

Pros:

• Nearly 30 years in the industry making them one of the most experienced
• Reporting tech built in-house means visible ROI
• Team of 500+ to cover multichannel campaigns
• 91%+ client retention and strong reviews on Clutch
• Caters to small business and large enterprise clients

Cons:

• Cost of Full Service, $2,500-$3,000/month, is high for small businesses
• Overkill for small, narrow SEO needs
• In-house platform means clients are somewhat stuck
• Large agency means less direct communication with senior team members
• Custom pricing means less predictable costs

4. Victorious SEO

Founded in 2012 with HQ in San Francisco, Victorious positions itself as an agency dedicated to SEO. Unlike some agencies, search optimization is their only business. Their focus has helped them earn a position in the category of Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores.

This is especially true for the merchants looking for an agency solely dedicated to search and not supporting ads, social media, and design. Victorious has more than 180 awards and works with SaaS and leading retailers.

They start their projects with a targeted keyword search and search intent. After this, they design a plan where all the tasks align with an objective that is measurable. This is done in a transparent way with dashboards and strategy sessions that are held regularly.

Process:

• Focused research of keywords and search intent is done before execution
• Each deliverable of the documented SEO strategy is tied to business goals.
• Execute technical, content, and link building based on this strategy
• Regular strategy calls, with audit-ready performance dashboards
• Continuous improvement from ranking and web traffic analysis

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2012
Headquarters	San Francisco, CA
Team Size	Mid-size (specific count not published)
Core Services	Pure-play SEO (technical, content, link building)
Platform Expertise	Content-heavy sites, SaaS, ecommerce
Notable Strength	180+ industry awards, audit-friendly reporting
Certifications	Recognized for SEO specialization and process transparency

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Standard SEO Retainer	Custom quote
Project-Based (audits, one-time work)	$3,000 – $30,000 (industry range)
Pricing Model	Fully custom, no published starting rate

Pros:

• Focus on SEO only
• 180+ awards and a solid reputation for consistent process and discipline
• Transparent and easy to audit reporting
• Content heavy and competitive industry SEO
• Recovery from SEO algorithm updates has been documented

Cons:

• No web design/development, so Shopify help needs to be sourced elsewhere.
• Slow when a faster method is needed
• Customized and project-based price listing is not available
• Stable sites on Shopify needed to start
• Limited offer compared to competitors

5. SmartSites

Founded in Paramus, New Jersey in 2011, SmartSites now employs over 200 people and was recognized as a Google Premier Partner and two-time Inc. 5000 honoree. SmartSites is among the Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores because the team who builds the Shopify Stores implements the SEO strategies and builds the code for the Shopify Stores.

SmartSites collaborates directly with their clients to develop the strategies, resulting in over $100 million in revenue, a 300 Clementan verified positive review and a near-perfect recommendation rate. Most small and mid-sized ecommerce stores can afford SmartSites, as they charge from $1000 and $100-$149 an hour.

Process:

• Shopify store front end SEO audit
• Same team for strategy and in-house implementation
• Local SEO, content marketing, and link building as needed
• Ongoing rank and activity for visibility with specific sets of keywords
• Page specific SEO for ecommerce

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2011
Headquarters	Paramus, NJ
Team Size	200+
Core Services	Technical SEO, on-page SEO, content, link building, web design
Platform Expertise	Ecommerce and local service businesses
Notable Strength	$100M+ client revenue generated, 300+ verified Clutch reviews
Certifications	Google Premier Partner, two-time Inc. 5000 honoree

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Starting SEO Retainer	$1,000+/month
Hourly Rate	$100 – $149/hour
Growth Plans	Around $2,000/month and up
Pricing Model	Tiered plans based on business size

Pros:

• SEO with content and development is done by the same team
• Over 300 Clutch reviews with nearly perfect recommendations
• Affordable (~$1,000+, $100-149/hr)
• Google Premier Partner and solid ecommerce and local SEO
• Two time Inc. 5000 honoree

Cons:

• 200+ Large team may not be as experienced for your SEO scope
• Best for developing local/small-to-mid ecommerce solutions not enterprise
• More budget friendly, but might mean less entry level customization.
• Less experience with large-scale enterprise Shopify projects than OuterBox/WebFX.
• High demand may result in slower onboarding.

6. Thrive Internet Marketing

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Arlington, Texas, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency employs between 150 to 250 specialists. Thrive has received considerable recognition in the marketing sector. Because Thrive creates customized strategies for clients, Thrive is one of the Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores.

Thrive starts with community shop local SEO and builds to more technical SEO. Thrive is unique in creating client specific SEO content to aid the growth of their clients’ eCommerce catalogs.

Thrive has unique tools for tracking client results like Thrive Score and Thrive Stats and is known for AI-driven, search optimizations. Thrive is known for a more hands free approach and flexible contracts with no long-term contract requirement.

Process:

• Initial consultation to determine which combination of services is needed.
• Custom built SEO strategy utilizing Thrive Stats and Thrive Score.
• Local, technical, and content SEO based on goals of the store.
• AISEO layered in for enhanced visibility in AI Overviews and chatbot responses.
• No long-term contracts and performance checks.

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2005
Headquarters	Arlington, TX
Team Size	150–250
Core Services	SEO, local SEO, PPC, web design, AI SEO, social media
Platform Expertise	Local businesses, franchises, growing ecommerce
Notable Strength	Proprietary Thrive Stats & Thrive Score tools
Certifications	No long-term contract required

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Standard SEO Retainer	Custom quote
Project-Based Work	Custom, varies by scope
Pricing Model	Flexible, month-to-month available

Pros:

• Flexible with no long-term contracts.
• 20 years of experience means excellent local and franchise SEO.
• AI-driven search visibility tracking tools.
• Excellent for small and mid-sized Shopify merchants.
• Full suite of services. (SEO, PPC, social, content)

Cons:

• Full suite of services means less focus and specialization. Compare with SEO-only agencies.
• Limited large-scale enterprise Shopify projects.
• Custom pricing with no starting price.
• Better for local and regional brands, not global eCommerce.
• Team size (150-250) smaller than some competitors.

7. Sure Oak

Sure Oak, which opened in 2017 in NYC, employs a small team and provides services for small businesses and startups that want to strengthen their digital presence. They help smaller, younger, Shopify merchants with a combination of technical audits, keyword research, and competitive analysis with their proprietary structured content strategy called an “SEO Game Plan”.

Sure Look’s clients see the greatest ROI on their strategies as the firm heavily prioritizes scalability, which means the growth of the firm’s customers’ businesses rather than a total overhaul of the project.

Sure Oak has also begun to tackle AISO or AI Search Optimization, which is how they help their customers’ brands remain visible and relevant amongst the AI tools and applications that are giving and providing answers in a manner like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews.

Process:

• Discovery call to determine goals and competitors
• Custom “SEO Game Plan” from a technical audit, keyword research, and content strategy
• Phased link building and on-page optimization
• AISO laid in for chatbot/AI visibility
• Active strategy with regular reporting

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2017
Headquarters	New York, NY
Team Size	11–50
Core Services	SEO consulting, keyword research, link building, content, AISO
Platform Expertise	Startups, small businesses, B2B/SaaS
Notable Strength	Proprietary “SEO Game Plan” methodology
Certifications	Early mover in AI Search Optimization (AISO)

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Standard Retainer	$5,000+/project (per some sources)
Hourly Rate	~$300/hour
Pricing Model	Custom quote, best for small-to-mid budgets

Pros:

• Ideal for small Shopify stores or teams
• Clear communication with direct strategists
• Designed to scale alongside clientele
• Leading the pack in AI Search Optimization (AISO)
• Smaller team means more tailored service

Cons:

• Smaller (11-50) workforce limits ability for large enterprise clientele
• Founded in 2017 so younger with shorter track record
• Custom pricing and no public starting price
• Less known compared to larger agencies like WebFX or Straight North
• May have to source another partner for larger web dev projects

8. SEO Brand

Depending on the source, SEO Brand’s establishment year falls between 2004 and 2008. This agency, located in Boca Raton, Florida, has a team of 40+ members. For budget-friendly merchants, SEO Brand is included in the Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores.

SEO Brand provides PPC, SEO, content marketing, web design, and eCommerce services, with a starting price of $1,000 per project. SEO Brand provides statistics on their work, claiming that they have ranked over 100,000 pages and generated over 250,000 leads.

SEO Brand works with other marketing firms, and has branched out into Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), which determines a brand’s marketing presence in AI-based search engine results. SEO Brand’s long-management and low staff turnover are noted as positive attributes by customers.

Process:

• Aims for an affordable quick win with initial audit
• Plans affordable goals for SEO, PPC, and content, with on-page, link building, and reputation management included
• Adds in a GEO/AEO for AI answer visibility with real time reporting based on leads/revenue and AI citations

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2004–2008 (reported inconsistently across sources)
Headquarters	Boca Raton, FL
Team Size	40+
Core Services	SEO, PPC, content marketing, web design, GEO/AEO
Platform Expertise	Startups, small-to-mid businesses, some Fortune 500
Notable Strength	100,000+ pages ranked, 250,000+ leads generated
Certifications	Early adopter of GEO and AEO strategies

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Starting Project Price	$1,000+/project
Enterprise Retainer	$5,000 – $25,000/month
One-Time Technical Audit	$3,000 – $15,000
Pricing Model	Affordable entry tier, custom for larger scope

Pros:

• Good starting price (~$1,000+/project)
• Good lead gen with 250k+ leads and a long history of low staff turnover
• Early adopter of GEO and AEO
• Good match for small businesses and startups

Cons:

• May have insufficient bandwidth with team size (40+) for large, complex catalogs
• Staff founding year and agency start date are not consistent making the agency history harder to verify
• Less documentation of enterprise scale case studies compared to larger agencies
• SEO comes before design/development more so than competitors like OuterBox
• Custom pricing beyond entry tier is not quoted

9. Straight North

Founded in 1997 and based in Downers Grove, Illinois, Straight North has nearly three decades of SEO experience. One of the Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores that needs a data-driven, in-house team from the U.S., Straight North offers a full range of national SEO, local SEO, eCommerce SEO, enterprise SEO, PPC, and web design services.

One feature that sets Straight North apart is its in-house GoNorth reporting! Clients can easily check how well the campaign is doing and how much the rankings are progressing.

Merchants on Shopify who need consistent, no-frills SEO that documents each step, rather than an SEO service that has a lot of branding, will appreciate the long history and proven methods of Straight North.

Process:

• Thorough audit through GoNorth! reporting platform
• Specialized data-driven strategy targeting national, local, and enterprise SEO
• U.S. based team does the technical SEO and content work
• SEO goals supported by PPC and web design
• GoNorth! dashboard provides ongoing reporting

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	1997
Headquarters	Downers Grove, IL
Team Size	Mid-size (specific count not published)
Core Services	National SEO, local SEO, enterprise SEO, PPC, web design
Platform Expertise	Enterprise and multi-location businesses
Notable Strength	Proprietary GoNorth! reporting platform
Certifications	Nearly 3 decades of in-house, U.S.-based operations

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Standard Retainer	Custom quote
Minimum Engagement	Around $1,000+/month (industry estimate)
Pricing Model	Custom, data/reporting-driven packages

Pros:

• Established in 1997 so almost 30 years of experience
• Entire team is U.S. based and works in-house
• Reporting platform tracks performance easily and is proprietary
• Reputation of strategies with substance and a data focus
• Great for enterprises and multi-locations

Cons:

• Less bold branding and marketing compared to newer agencies
• Custom pricing, starting rate not published
• Less Shopify focus in marketing than Coalition or OuterBox
• May be perceived as less agile to small, fast, startups
• May have longer processes than newer boutique agencies due to legacy

10. Directive Consulting

Founded in 2014, Directive Consulting is based in Irvine, California. They’ve established themselves as a performance marketing agency for B2B SaaS and tech firms. B2B and not ecommerce is their main focus.

Still, they’re included in the Best SEO Agencies for Shopify Stores because they help tech firms that have complex business models. This is likely due to their incorporation of SEO directly to a client’s revenue pipeline instead of generic SEO metrics, which is known as their “Customer Generation” methodology.

Their services cover B2B SEO, content marketing, paid media, conversion rate optimization, and revenue operations. Directive Consulting provides a custom quote and no set pricing because they focus on large and complex client projects instead of creating lots of small packages for small businesses.

Process:

• Discovery goes beyond just traffic and centers on revenue pipeline and business goals
• SEO mapped to pipeline stage via “Customer Generation” methodology
• Content, technical SEO, and paid media done simultaneously with marketing
• CRO helps convert organic traffic to leads
• Reporting done for revenue ops instead of vanity metrics

Feature Snapshot & Pricing

Feature	Details
Founded	2014
Headquarters	Irvine, CA
Team Size	Mid-size (specific count not published)
Core Services	B2B SEO, content marketing, paid media, CRO, revenue ops
Platform Expertise	B2B SaaS and tech companies
Notable Strength	“Customer Generation” methodology tied to revenue pipelines
Certifications	Recognized for B2B SEO and revenue-focused reporting

Plan Type	Estimated Cost
Standard Retainer	Custom quote
Best For	Larger, complex B2B/SaaS engagements
Pricing Model	Fully custom, quote-based only

Pros:

• Highly measurable due to revenue centric methodology (“Customer Generation”)
• Specialization in B2B SaaS and tech is beneficial as Shopify takes B2B tech
• High focus on CRO with SEO
• Established in 2014 and has great performance marketing experience
• Great for businesses that are tech focused and have a complex sales cycle

Cons:

• Not a traditional D2C ecommerce approach, meaning less focus on Shopify given B2B/SaaS focus
• Pricing on a custom quote basis, no listed starting costs
• Perhaps not worth the limited budget for basic Shopify stores
• Not likely to compete on high-volume product catalog SEO with OuterBox/Coalition
• Better set up to target larger clients rather than smaller businesses for short profitable campaigns.

How to Choose: A 10-Point Checklist

Experience with Shopify or Ecommerce Agencies

General SEO practices are not enough for Shopify’s unique needs. Hire agencies that optimize collections, templates, and handle app conflicts. Request case studies that include similar niche businesses to yours, and include Shopify ecommerce optimization.

What do they measure and track

The right agency tracks keyword rankings and revenue. Beware agencies that only report “optimizations.” Claiming pages are optimized is a vanity metric. Inquire about the agency’s reporting system and how often they update you. WebFX and Straight North are good examples of agencies that report in a client-friendly way.

Tech SEO

Almost all issues that prevent a Shopify store from selling (and ranking) are due to SEO tech issues. These include structured data, modal dialogs, and variant duplication. These issues will also close most SEO opportunities so ensure the agency can solve them.

Content Strategy and Link Building

Spam link networks and keyword dense content are considered SEO content hacks, and are too risky for SEO. Ask how they plan to write copy for collections or guides and how they plan to get links and placement through digital PR, guest posts, or other outreach.

Pricing Transparency & Fit for Your Budget

Compare flat monthly retainers, hourly, and project-based pricing. Choose based on the size of your store and your growth stage. An enterprise package costing $10,000/month isn’t logical for a small store. On the contrary, a $500/month package for a large catalog is inadequate. Get a scope of work in writing before proceeding.

Team Structure & Communication

Know who you will work with — is it an in-house strategist? an account manager who rotates? an outsourced team from another country? Find out how often you will communicate (once a week, once every two weeks, once a month). Ask who will have long-term ownership of your account, as frequent turnover causes disruption to the strategy.

Client Reviews & Independent Verification

Look outside of the agency’s website for reviews to avoid the bias in posted testimonials. Check Clutch, G2, and Google Reviews. In the reviews, look for mentions of exceptional communication and results. Turnover and deadlines not being met are bad omens.

Contract Flexibility

Prefer shorter contracts without long-term commitments. While SEO is a long game, a year should not be spent on a contract with no result and poor communication. Look for an agency with reasonable commitment and good communication.

AI Search & GEO Readiness

As searches progress to more AI-centric methods like AI Overviews and ChatGPT, does the agency have a Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) or Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) strategy beyond traditional SEO? Agencies that only optimize for conventional blue-link search results are likely to lag behind your needs as searches evolve to be more AI-centric.

Alignment with Business Goals, Not Just Rankings

Top agencies connect SEO to business results (e.g., leads, sales, and revenue) rather than solely focusing on ranking metrics. In your first conversation, ask how they measure success and if they support revenue or conversion goals as KPIs, rather than focusing only on ranking goals.

What SEO Actually Costs in 2026

By 2026, there’s a wide range for SEO costs based on different aspects like how competitive the industry is, the size of the business, and the scope of the work involved. Monthly retainers on offer from most agencies fall in the range of $1,500 to over $10,000.

For hourly work, the range is usually $100 to $250. Audits and technical SEO projects done on a one-time basis are more costly, falling in the range of $3,000 to $30,000, depending on the complexity of the site. Shopify sites and other ecommerce sites are more costly than simple sites like WordPress based on the technical work that comes with app integrations and product variants.

For projects that include an entire combination of technical SEO, link building, and content for an enterprise-level client, costs can reach over $50,000.

SEO costs can be viewed as a long-term investment because clients can expect to see results anywhere in the range of 4-8 months from the SEO work, with compounding returns after the ninth month and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions