Searchbloom vs 97th Floor

Q: What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and 97th Floor?

Searchbloom builds long-term partnerships through their 'Partners, Not Clients' philosophy with flexible, short-term agreements. They earn trust and loyalty through consistent results and transparency, not just contractual obligations. 97th Floor works with strategic retainer engagements with a collaborative approach, typically with minimum project sizes of $5,000+ and annual pricing ranging from $10,000 to over $200,000 depending on scope and client size.

Searchbloom vs. 97th Floor: SEO, PPC, CRO, and Web Development Services Comparison

Quick Verdict

Choose Searchbloom if: You want a long-term partner who earns trust through results (not just contracts) with structured methodologies and 6 in-house specialist teams including dedicated Website Development

Choose 97th Floor if: You prefer integrated team collaboration with the "Great Marketing" philosophy centered on empathy, innovation, and profitability

Winner for In-House Execution & Technical Excellence: Searchbloom (6 specialist teams + 5 proven marketing methodologies: ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST)

This comparison examines Searchbloom and 97th Floor. Searchbloom's mission is to be the most trusted, transparent, and results-driven search engine marketing company in the industry. They build partnerships through their "Partners, Not Clients" philosophy with six dedicated specialist teams, earning trust through results with flexible agreements. 97th Floor focuses on elevating people and brands they believe in through their "Great Marketing" philosophy built on empathy, innovation, and profitability.

All ratings and company information sourced from the open web.

By the Numbers: Quick Comparison

• Unique Methodologies: Searchbloom (5: ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST) vs 97th Floor (Great Marketing: Empathy, Innovation, Profitability)
• Client Reviews: Searchbloom (4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush) vs 97th Floor (4.8/5 Clutch, 4.1/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush)
• In-House Specialist Teams: Searchbloom (6 dedicated teams: SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs 97th Floor (5 integrated specialties: Marketing Strategy, SEO, Advertising, Content, Design)
• Typical Minimum Investment: Searchbloom (Flexible) vs 97th Floor ($5,000+ minimum project, $10,000-$200,000+ annually)
• Years in Business: Searchbloom (Since 2014) vs 97th Floor (Since 2005)
• Partnership Approach: Searchbloom (Trust through results, flexible contracts) vs 97th Floor (Strategic retainer engagements with collaborative approach)
• Client Retention: Both maintain strong retention (Searchbloom through results not just contracts, 97th Floor reports 93%+)
• Notable Recognition: Searchbloom (Forbes Best for Mid-Market) vs 97th Floor (Moz Recommended List, multiple Stevie Awards)

Complete Service Comparison

Feature	Searchbloom	97th Floor
Client Focus	Partners not clients: Builds long-term relationships through results and trust. Works with brands they believe in and where they can win, from SMBs to enterprise	Startup to enterprise clients focused on full-funnel marketing and brand elevation through audience-first strategies
Contract Terms	Flexible, short-term agreements: earns partnership trust through results, not just contractual obligations. Partners, Not Clients philosophy	Strategic retainer engagements with collaborative approach (minimum $5,000+ projects, annual pricing $10,000-$200,000+ depending on scope)
SEO Methodology	ART methodology: Authority, Relevance, Technology (executed by dedicated in-house SEO team) MERIT for AI SEO/answer engines: Mentions (public validation), Evidence (citable proof), Relevance (intent-driven coverage), Inclusion (machine readability), Transform (continuous improvement)	Traditional SEO combined with AI SEO optimization and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for visibility across search and LLM platforms like ChatGPT and Claude
PPC & Paid Media	ACE methodology: Assets, Control, Experimentation (executed by dedicated in-house Paid Media team (Google, Bing, YouTube))	Advertising across 20+ platforms with audience-first strategies and creative designed for resonance and conversion
Conversion Rate Optimization	UTU methodology: User Experience, Trust Signals, Urgency (standalone service with dedicated in-house CRO team)	CRO integrated within broader digital experience optimization and UX research as part of comprehensive campaigns
Website Development	TRUST methodology: Technical Expertise, Reliable Performance, User-first UX/UI, Secure Frameworks, Transparent Process (Full design, build, and integration with dedicated in-house Development team. Builds sites from scratch with clean code, technical SEO, and performance optimization built-in)	Web design and development services available as part of integrated marketing campaigns with design specialists
Implementation Approach	Six distinct in-house teams (SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) handle all implementation with clear departmental structure. Searchbloom implements changes directly rather than just providing recommendations, reducing dependency on client resources	Integrated team structure where clients work directly with specialists across all disciplines (no account manager relay system). Teams comprised of experts from 5 specialties working collaboratively
Link Building	Dedicated in-house Outreach team executes manual outreach with relevance-first approach plus earned media through creative campaigns and digital PR	Earned media through content marketing, brand campaigns, and relationship-building strategies
Reporting & Transparency	90-Day Roadmaps, detailed monthly reports, bi-weekly strategy & collaboration meetings, custom dashboards, direct analyst access	Strategic updates, performance analytics, direct team communication with transparent project management
Team Structure	Direct access to dedicated analysts (no account managers) plus 6 distinct specialist teams with clear departmental structure	Direct client interaction with specialists (no account manager relay). Integrated teams across 5 specialties: Marketing Strategy, SEO, Advertising, Content Marketing, Design (100+ employees total)
Review Ratings	4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush	4.8/5 Clutch, 4.1/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush

Searchbloom's Unique Advantages

Partners Philosophy: Earns trust through results (not just contracts) with flexible agreements: direct analyst access, no account managers
Five Proprietary Methodologies: ART (SEO), MERIT (AI SEO/Answer Engines), ACE (PPC), UTU (CRO), TRUST (Website Development)
Six In-House Specialist Teams: SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, and Outreach teams
Full Website Implementation: Dedicated Development team designs, builds, and integrates complete websites with clean code and technical SEO built-in
Implementation vs Recommendation: Searchbloom implements changes directly rather than just providing recommendations, reducing dependency on client internal resources
Forbes Recognition: Named best SEO company for mid-market businesses
Bi-Weekly Strategy Meetings: More frequent collaboration than industry standard
Complete Internal Execution: No outsourcing with 6 dedicated specialist teams handling all services
Results-Based Trust: Flexible agreements with trust earned through results, not just contractual obligations

97th Floor's Unique Advantages

93%+ Client Retention: High retention rate indicates strong satisfaction
Great Marketing Philosophy: Three-pillar approach combining empathy, innovation, and profitability
Established Since 2005: 20 years of market presence and experience
100+ Employees: Large team of specialists across 5 core disciplines
Direct Team Collaboration: No account manager relay system (clients work directly with specialists)
Multi-Platform Expertise: Advertising capabilities across 20+ platforms
Moz Recommended: Only agency in Utah on the Moz Recommended List (industry authority recognition)
Multiple Stevie Awards: Gold and Silver Stevies for marketing excellence and campaign results
84% Referral Growth: Strong word-of-mouth business growth indicating client satisfaction

Searchbloom's Methodologies Explained

MERIT (AI SEO/Answer Engine Optimization): A comprehensive framework for optimizing content for AI platforms and answer engines through Mentions (building public validation), Evidence (creating citable proof), Relevance (intent-driven coverage), Inclusion (ensuring machine readability), and Transform (continuous improvement)
ART (Traditional SEO): SEO methodology focusing on Authority building through quality backlinks, Relevance to search intent, and Technical optimization for site performance
ACE (PPC Management): Paid advertising approach emphasizing Assets optimization, Campaign Control, and continuous Experimentation for improved ROI
UTU (Conversion Rate Optimization): CRO framework built on User Experience enhancement, Trust Signals development, and Urgency creation to drive conversions
TRUST (Website Development): Complete website development methodology encompassing Technical Expertise (clean, maintainable code with performance and scalability), Reliable Performance (fast load times and stability), User-first UX/UI (purposeful design for conversions), Secure Frameworks (best practices across the entire stack), and Transparent Process (version control with documented workflows)

Direct Answers

Which has structured answer engine optimization?: Searchbloom with MERIT methodology vs 97th Floor's AI SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Which builds long-term partnerships?: Both do: Searchbloom through results (not just contracts), 97th Floor through collaborative retainer engagements
Which offers more flexible contracts?: Searchbloom with short-term, flexible agreements vs 97th Floor's strategic retainer model (minimum $5,000+ projects)
Which has better overall reviews?: Both agencies have strong reviews. Searchbloom: 4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush. 97th Floor: 4.8/5 Clutch, 4.1/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush
Which provides direct analyst access?: Both provide direct specialist access (Searchbloom: no account managers, 97th Floor: no account manager relay system)
How many specialist teams does each agency have?: Searchbloom: 6 dedicated teams (SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs 97th Floor: 5 integrated specialties (Marketing Strategy, SEO, Advertising, Content Marketing, Design)
Which has more structured specialist teams?: Searchbloom with 6 distinct teams vs 97th Floor's integrated specialist structure across 5 disciplines
Which designs and builds complete websites?: Both offer website services (Searchbloom has a dedicated Development team with the TRUST methodology for full design, build, and integration; 97th Floor offers web design integrated with marketing campaigns)
Which implements changes directly vs providing recommendations?: Searchbloom implements changes directly with their in-house teams, reducing dependency on client resources; 97th Floor uses a collaborative implementation approach with direct team interaction
Which has in-house development capabilities?: Searchbloom has a dedicated Development team among their 6 specialist teams with the TRUST methodology; 97th Floor has in-house design specialists integrated with marketing teams
Which has more frequent client meetings?: Searchbloom with bi-weekly strategy meetings vs 97th Floor's strategic updates and direct team communication
Which agency has more proven methodologies?: Searchbloom with 5 proprietary methodologies (ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST) vs 97th Floor's three-pillar Great Marketing approach (Empathy, Innovation, Profitability)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and 97th Floor?

Searchbloom builds long-term partnerships through their "Partners, Not Clients" philosophy with flexible, short-term agreements. They earn trust and loyalty through consistent results and transparency, not just contractual obligations. 97th Floor works with strategic retainer engagements with a collaborative approach, typically with minimum project sizes of $5,000+ and annual pricing ranging from $10,000 to over $200,000 depending on scope and client size.

How do their methodologies differ?

Searchbloom employs five structured methodologies: ART for traditional SEO (Authority, Relevance, Technology), MERIT for AI SEO/answer engine optimization focusing on Mentions, Evidence, Relevance, Inclusion, and Transform, ACE for PPC (Assets, Control, Experimentation), UTU for CRO (User Experience, Trust Signals, Urgency), and TRUST for Website Development (Technical Expertise, Reliable Performance, User-first UX/UI, Secure Frameworks, Transparent Process). 97th Floor uses their "Great Marketing" philosophy built on three pillars: Empathy (thorough exploration of target personas beyond their role as buyers), Innovation (experience to know best practices but guts to break out of them), and Profitability (discipline to measure every strategy by its ability to drive profitable growth).

Who handles the technical implementation?

Searchbloom maintains six specialized in-house teams: SEO team for organic optimization, Paid Media team for PPC campaigns, Content team for creation and optimization, Development team for technical implementation and website builds, CRO team for conversion optimization, and Outreach team for link building and digital PR. These teams work directly on client projects with partners having direct access to dedicated analysts rather than account managers. Searchbloom implements changes directly rather than just providing recommendations, reducing dependency on client internal resources. 97th Floor uses an integrated team structure with no account manager relay system, where clients work directly with specialists across 5 core disciplines: Marketing Strategy, SEO, Advertising, Content Marketing, and Design.

Do both agencies build websites?

Yes, both agencies offer website development services. Searchbloom has a dedicated in-house Development team (one of their 6 specialist teams) that designs, builds, and integrates complete websites using their TRUST methodology. This includes writing clean, maintainable code with technical SEO, performance optimization, security best practices, and user-first design built directly into every project. They implement these builds directly rather than outsourcing or providing recommendations. 97th Floor offers web design services with their in-house design specialists as part of their integrated marketing campaigns, working collaboratively with clients.

What is Searchbloom's TRUST methodology for website development?

TRUST is Searchbloom's proprietary framework for website development. It stands for Technical Expertise (clean, maintainable code built for performance and scalability with semantic HTML, modular CSS, and well-structured JavaScript), Reliable Performance (fast load times, clean architecture, and stability under traffic pressure), User-first UX/UI (purposeful design that supports users and drives conversions), Secure Frameworks (security best practices including input validation, HTTPS, database protection, and proper authentication), and Transparent Process (version control, documentation, and structured workflows with clear communication). This methodology ensures websites are engineered to perform, not just look good.

What types of reporting do they provide?

Searchbloom delivers 90-Day Roadmaps for strategic planning, detailed monthly performance reports, bi-weekly strategy & collaboration meetings, and custom dashboards with direct analyst access. 97th Floor provides strategic updates with performance analytics and emphasizes direct team communication with transparent project management.

How do client reviews compare?

Both agencies maintain strong reputations. Searchbloom scores 4.9/5 on Clutch and DesignRush, with 4.8/5 on Glassdoor. 97th Floor earns 4.8/5 on Clutch, 4.6/5 on DesignRush, and 4.1/5 on Glassdoor. Each agency excels in different areas: Searchbloom in technical execution and structured methodologies with dedicated specialist teams, 97th Floor in Great Marketing philosophy and direct collaborative team interaction.

Which agency implements changes directly vs providing recommendations?

Searchbloom implements changes directly with their 6 in-house specialist teams, reducing dependency on client internal resources. Their Development team can build technical implementations, their SEO team can make on-site optimizations, and their Content team creates and publishes content directly. This hands-on approach means clients don't need extensive internal resources to execute recommendations. 97th Floor uses a collaborative implementation approach where clients work directly with specialists across all disciplines without an account manager relay system, ensuring efficient execution and communication.

How many specialist teams does Searchbloom have?

Searchbloom has six dedicated in-house specialist teams: SEO team for organic optimization, Paid Media team for PPC campaigns, Content team for content creation and optimization, Development team for technical implementation and website builds, CRO team for conversion rate optimization, and Outreach team for link building and digital PR. Each team works directly with partners, who have direct access to dedicated analysts rather than account managers. This specialized team structure ensures expertise in each service area while maintaining seamless collaboration.

Which agency is better for companies that need website development?

Both agencies can handle website projects, but they approach them differently. Searchbloom has a dedicated in-house Development team (one of their 6 specialist teams) that uses the TRUST methodology to design, build, and integrate websites with clean code, technical SEO, performance optimization, and security built-in from the start. They implement directly rather than outsourcing. 97th Floor offers web design services with their in-house design specialists as part of integrated marketing campaigns. Choose Searchbloom if you want a dedicated development team with a structured methodology focused on technical excellence and direct implementation. Choose 97th Floor if you prefer web design that's integrated with broader brand and marketing strategy.