Top 9 SEO & AI Search Agencies in the U.S. (November 2026)

Not every SEO agency is built for the same kind of business. Some specialize in technical SEO for large companies, while others focus on ecommerce, B2B lead generation, or getting brands recommended by AI search tools. And while plenty of agencies now advertise AI search optimization, what they actually offer can vary quite a bit.

So how do you figure out which agency is worth your money? Start by looking at the businesses they’ve worked with, the results they’ve achieved, and whether their services match what you need.

Below, we compare the nine best AI SEO agencies and GEO (AI Search) agencies, including what each does well, where it falls short, and who should consider hiring it.

At a Glance: Top SEO & AI Search Agencies in the U.S.

1. bgood media

We’re a digital marketing performance studio founded in 2022 in Fort Collins, Colorado, built around AI-native workflows and combining SEO, AI Search Visibility, conversion optimization, and website work.

Best for: Ecommerce brands doing roughly $2M to $20M annually in health and wellness, skincare, travel and tourism, and outdoor gear. We’re especially suited to brands new to SEO and AI search or looking for a more accountable partner after a disappointing agency experience.

What stands out: Our AI Search Visibility services include Personal Response Optimization (PRO), which focuses on the questions customers ask when deciding what to buy. We also create AI agent knowledge files to help AI tools find and understand important information about your business.

For Felt Right, a Shopify acoustic-panel store, our case study reports a 17x return on SEO investment and an increase in ChatGPT citations from 29 to 69. Our results hub also includes work for Sun-N-Fun and Athelo.

Packages start at $5,000 per month. We combine SEO, AI search, and website improvements to help ecommerce brands attract customers and turn more visitors into buyers.

Pros:

• SEO, AI search, and conversion optimization from the same team.
• Experience with ecommerce brands in health and wellness, skincare, travel, and outdoor gear.
• Senior SEO and AI specialists, with no junior staff assigned to client accounts.
• Published case studies with demonstrated results.
• 100+ clients with multi-year retention

Cons:

• Limited client availability because we only work with a handful of brands at a time.
• Not the best fit for businesses primarily seeking paid advertising or enterprise B2B marketing

Pass on bgood media if: You need a large enterprise team, a B2B SaaS specialist, or a monthly budget below $5,000.

2. iPullRank

Founded by Mike King, iPullRank combines technical SEO, content strategy, and AI search through its Relevance Engineering framework.

Best for: Enterprise and mid-market brands with complicated websites that need technical AI search engineering.

What stands out: iPullRank’s Relevance Engineering approach focuses on helping search engines and AI tools find, understand, and use your content. The agency also publishes The AI Search Manual and has developed tools such as Qforia, which helps businesses understand how AI search systems break down questions. Its published materials reference work with major brands, including SAP, American Express, and HSBC.

Pros:

• Strong technical SEO and AI search expertise.
• Publishes tools and guides that explain its approach.
• Experience working with major enterprise brands.

Cons:

• Your team may need developers and content writers to implement its recommendations.
• Its services may be more than a smaller website needs.

Pass on iPullRank if: You mainly need ongoing content creation or basic SEO help rather than complex technical work.

3. Siege Media

Founded by Ross Hudgens, Siege Media combines content, design, digital PR, and GEO for organic growth.

Best for: Mid-market and enterprise brands wanting content-led GEO and visibility on third-party sites.

What stands out: Siege Media’s GEO services focus on getting brands mentioned on websites that AI search tools use as sources. The agency shares results from clients including Zendesk, Mentimeter, and Grow Therapy, reporting nearly fourfold growth in AI search visibility for Grow Therapy. It tracks AI citations, referral traffic, and traditional SEO performance to measure results.

Pros:

• Content creation and digital PR from the same agency.
• Published case studies showing SEO and AI search results.
• Helps brands get visibility on their own websites and other relevant sites.

Cons:

• GEO services require at least a six-month commitment.
• Its content and digital PR services may be more than a smaller business needs.

Pass on Siege Media if: You only need a technical SEO fix or aren’t ready to commit to a longer-term program.

4. Seer Interactive

Founded by Wil Reynolds in 2002, Seer Interactive combines SEO, GEO, analytics, and paid media for enterprise brands.

Best for: Enterprise teams wanting deep analysis of how AI engines perceive their brand and how search changes affect performance.

What stands out: Seer Interactive regularly publishes research on how AI search works, including how AI tools find information, choose sources, and represent brands. The agency also shares a case study showing a 34% year-over-year increase in organic conversions for Adaptive Insights. That’s a traditional SEO result rather than an AI search result, but it shows how Seer uses research and data to improve website performance. Seer is worth considering if you’re a larger company that needs help understanding how changes in search affect your marketing results.

Pros:

• Publishes research showing how it tests AI search strategies.
• Combines SEO, AI search, and analytics.
• Published case studies showing improvements in conversions.

Cons:

• Your team will need to provide data and work closely with the agency.
• Its services may be more extensive than a small business needs.

Pass on Seer Interactive if: You want basic SEO help without a lot of analytics or coordination with your internal team.

5. Optimist

Founded by Tyler Hakes, Optimist runs SEO and answer engine optimization for B2B SaaS and technology companies.

Best for: B2B teams connecting organic discovery to demos, signups, and qualified pipeline.

What stands out: Optimist specializes in SEO and AI search for B2B software and technology companies. Its services include content creation, technical SEO, and tracking how search traffic turns into leads and customers. The agency reports a fivefold increase in inbound sales opportunities for Stampli and a 43x increase in signups for Kubera over 15 months.

Optimist also publishes its pricing. Advisory services start at $3,000 per month, while full-service SEO starts at $4,000. You can also purchase a one-time strategy roadmap for $7,500. Retainers are month-to-month, and you can choose between getting strategic advice or having the agency handle the work.

Pros:

• Specializes in SEO and AI search for B2B technology companies.
• Published case studies showing increases in leads and signups.
• Clear pricing and month-to-month contracts.

Cons:

• Not a good fit for consumer ecommerce or local service businesses.
• Advisory packages don’t include implementation.

Pass on Optimist if: You run a consumer ecommerce business or need an agency to handle all the work rather than just provide guidance.

6. Kalicube

Founded by Jason Barnard, Kalicube specializes in Digital Brand Engineering: improving how search engines and AI systems understand and represent companies and people.

Best for: Brands, founders, and executives whose online identity is unclear, inconsistent, or poorly represented.

What stands out: Kalicube uses its Kalicube Pro platform to identify and improve how your brand appears online.

Kalicube is based in Aubais, France, but works with international clients. We’ve included it because its approach to brand visibility may be useful to U.S. businesses, even though it isn’t a U.S.-based agency.

Pros:

• Specializes in helping search engines and AI tools understand your brand.
• Works with both companies and personal brands.
• Has its own platform for managing brand information and visibility.

Cons:

• Based in France rather than the U.S.
• Doesn’t offer the same range of ecommerce SEO services as other agencies on this list.

Pass on Kalicube if: You mainly need ecommerce SEO, ongoing content creation, or an agency based in the U.S.

7. NoGood

NoGood delivers growth marketing through teams covering AEO, SEO, paid channels, creative, analytics, and conversion optimization.

Best for: Companies that want AI search within a broader customer acquisition and growth program.

What stands out: NoGood uses its Goodie AI platform to track brand visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. The agency has worked with major brands including Nike, TikTok, MongoDB, and L’Oréal.

NoGood reports an average monthly retainer above $20,000, so it’s better suited to businesses with larger marketing budgets. Before signing on, ask for examples of results from clients that used the services you’re considering and find out who would be managing your account.

Pros:

• Combines AI search with paid advertising, social media, and creative services.
• Uses its own tools to track AI search visibility.
• Experience working with major brands.

Cons:

• Average monthly retainers above $20,000 may be too expensive for smaller businesses.
• Its broader marketing services may be unnecessary if you only need SEO.

Pass on NoGood if: You have a smaller budget or only need SEO and AI search services rather than a full growth marketing team.

8. Go Fish Digital

Go Fish Digital combines SEO, GEO, and digital PR within a broader agency group that is part of Agital.

Best for: Larger brands needing technical search, content, and external authority work coordinated.

What stands out: Go Fish Digital uses its Barracuda technology to analyze content and track AI search visibility. Its SimpleTexting case study reports a 500% year-over-year increase in qualified leads from organic search after the agency improved the website’s structure and targeted searches from people closer to making a purchase. That’s a traditional SEO result rather than an AI search result, but it gives prospective clients a concrete example of the agency’s work.

Pros:

• Offers technical SEO, AI search optimization, and digital PR.
• Published case study showing an increase in qualified leads.
• Uses its own technology to analyze content and AI search visibility.

Cons:

• May not be the best fit if you prefer working with a small, independent agency.
• Its services may be more extensive than a smaller website needs.

Pass on Go Fish Digital if: You want a small boutique agency or only need basic SEO help on a limited budget.

9. First Page Sage

Founded by Evan Bailyn, First Page Sage combines SEO, thought leadership, and GEO with an emphasis on lead generation.

Best for: B2B companies selling complex products or services that need expert content to support buyer evaluation.

What stands out: First Page Sage lists clients including Logitech, Verisign, and US Bank. Its approach involves interviewing subject matter experts, creating content based on their knowledge, and helping turn website visitors into leads. Before hiring the agency, ask how its writers will work with your internal experts and how it measures the quality of leads generated.

Pros:

• Specializes in thought leadership and generating leads for B2B companies.
• Experience working with major brands.
• Offers content creation, conversion optimization, and AI search services.

Cons:

• Your team will need to provide expertise and review content.
• Not the best fit for ecommerce product optimization or basic technical SEO.

Pass on First Page Sage if: You mainly need help optimizing ecommerce product pages or fixing technical SEO issues.

How to Vet an SEO & AI Search Agency

Ask for case studies you can verify

A chart going up is a starting point. Ask whose chart it is, which dates it covers, and what changed for the business. Useful case studies name the client and connect the work to qualified traffic, leads, sales, or measurable AI visibility.

Separate the metrics, too. More citations in ChatGPT don’t automatically mean more revenue. Our Felt Right case study reports organic performance and AI citation growth separately so you can evaluate both. Ask every agency to make that distinction.

Meet the people who will work on your account

The person who gives a great pitch might never open your analytics again. Ask who handles strategy, content, and technical work, and how involved senior leadership stays after onboarding.

Look up those people on LinkedIn. Check their experience, including whether they’ve worked in-house or with businesses like yours. Ask how much time they’ll spend on your account and whether you’ll be able to speak with them directly.

Check their experience in your industry

Ecommerce SEO involves product pages, categories, inventory, and helping shoppers find what they need. B2B software companies have longer sales cycles and need to turn website visitors into qualified leads. Local service businesses have different priorities altogether.

Ask agencies for examples of work they’ve done for businesses similar to yours. If you’re in a regulated industry like healthcare or finance, ask how they check content for accuracy. An agency doesn’t necessarily need experience in your exact niche, but it should be able to explain how it would approach your business.

Make them demonstrate their AI search practice

Just because an agency uses AI doesn’t mean it knows how to get your business recommended by ChatGPT or other AI search tools. Ask which platforms it tracks, which customer questions it monitors, and how it measures results, including brand mentions, citations, website traffic, and conversions.

Then ask what the agency actually did for a client. Did it improve website content, fix technical problems, or help the business get mentioned on other websites? It should be able to explain what changed and how it measured the results. One screenshot isn’t enough, since AI-generated answers can vary depending on the question, platform, and date.

Find out where their links come from

Ask agencies how they get backlinks, which websites they’ll try to get links from, and whether they pay for placements. They should be able to explain why those websites are relevant to your business.

Be wary of agencies selling hundreds of cheap backlinks or using private blog networks (PBNs). These tactics can do more harm than good. Our guide to bad backlinks explains why a cheap shortcut can create a cleanup project later.

Clarify reporting and ownership

Ask what you’ll see in your monthly reports. Rankings and traffic matter, but you should also know whether the work is bringing in leads, sales, or other results that matter to your business. If you’re paying for AI search optimization, ask how those results will be tracked separately.

Also, make sure you own your website, content, analytics accounts, and other assets the agency works on. Find out what happens to everything if you decide to leave. You shouldn’t have to fight to get access to your own accounts.

Read reviews outside the agency’s website

Testimonials are selected highlights. Don’t just look at an agency’s self-published testimonials and don’t just look at their average rating. Read reviews on Google and Clutch, and look at the three- and four-star reviews, too. Those reviews can tell you more about what it’s actually like to work with the team, including how well they communicate, meet deadlines, and handle problems.

Look for patterns rather than getting hung up on one bad review. And pay attention to how the agency responds when a client isn’t happy.

Review the contract and the timeline

Before signing, find out how long the contract lasts, what’s included in the monthly fee, and what happens if you want to cancel. Ask about any additional costs, too. You don’t want to discover halfway through the project that something you thought was included costs extra.

Be skeptical of agencies that guarantee rankings or promise you’ll always appear in AI-generated answers. SEO and AI search improvements generally take time; the company should offer realistic marketing expectations around implementation, measurement, and progress over months.

Questions to ask an SEO agency on the sales call:

Before you hire an agency, ask these questions:

• Can you show me results you’ve achieved for a business similar to mine?
• Who will actually be working on my account?
• What would you focus on during the first 90 days?
• How do you measure SEO and AI search results?
• How do you earn backlinks and get clients mentioned on other websites?
• What will I receive in my monthly reports?
• What’s included in your fee, and what costs extra?
• What happens if I decide to cancel?

Also pay attention to how directly they answer. A good agency should be able to explain its process without turning every question into another sales pitch.

How This List Was Built

bgood media publishes this guide and ranks itself first. Our own placement reflects the clients we’re built to serve, and we’ve included reasons to choose another agency.

The shortlist draws on October 2, 2026 research into agencies named by Google AI Mode and another AI assistant. We then reviewed agency websites for SEO specialization, AI search methodology, verifiable case studies, leadership experience, business fit, and pricing where available. Those AI recommendations helped identify candidates; they aren’t independent proof of quality, and answers can change.

The remaining agencies appear in the order of the original shortlist, not because we believe one is necessarily better than another. Each specializes in different types of work, so the best choice depends on your business. We’ve identified which results come from the agencies themselves, and no one paid to be included.

FAQs

What does an SEO & AI search agency do?

An SEO and AI search agency helps businesses get found on Google and in AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT. Depending on the services you need, the agency might improve your website, create content, help your brand get mentioned on other websites, and track whether those efforts bring in more customers.

What is the difference between SEO and GEO?

SEO focuses on helping your website appear in Google search results. GEO, or generative engine optimization, focuses on getting your business mentioned or recommended in AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT. The two overlap, so ask agencies what they’ll do to improve your visibility in both and how they’ll measure the results.

How much does an SEO agency cost per month?

SEO pricing depends on the services you need. For example, Optimist offers advisory services starting at $3,000 per month and full-service SEO starting at $4,000, while bgood media packages start at $5,000. Larger marketing programs can cost considerably more, so make sure you understand what’s included before comparing prices.

How long does it take to see results from SEO and AI search work?

SEO and AI search optimization typically take several months to produce meaningful results. The timeline depends on your website, competition, and how quickly improvements are made. You may see some progress sooner, but an increase in AI search mentions or citations should be tracked over time to make sure the results last.

How do I know if an agency actually does AI search optimization?

Ask the agency which AI platforms it tracks, how it measures your visibility, and what changes it has made for other clients. It should be able to explain the difference between brand mentions and citations that link to your website. Simply using AI to write blog posts doesn’t mean an agency knows how to improve your visibility in AI search.

Should I hire a local agency or a national one?

Prioritize relevant experience, communication, and proof. Local knowledge can be useful for local search and in-person collaboration, but ecommerce and national B2B programs often work well remotely. If you’re comparing staffing options too, our in-house versus outsourced marketing guide can help.

Wrapping Up

The right agency depends on what you’re selling, how customers buy, and what your team needs help executing. Use the vetting questions to compare the proposal with your actual needs, then ask the shortlisted teams to show their work.

If you’re an ecommerce brand that wants SEO, AI search visibility, and a better buying experience working together, that’s where we fit. Explore our AI Search Visibility services and ecommerce SEO services to see whether bgood media belongs on your shortlist.