Searchbloom vs Banktastic

Q: What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and Banktastic?

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. Banktastic works with financial institutions through customized engagement structures for branding and marketing programs, typically structured as ongoing partnerships focused on outcomes-based results for banks, credit unions, and fintechs.

Searchbloom vs. Banktastic: SEO, PPC, CRO, and Web Development Services Comparison

Quick Verdict

Choose Searchbloom if: You need comprehensive digital marketing with 6 in-house specialist teams, 5 proven methodologies (ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST), direct implementation capabilities, and flexible short-term contracts across any industry (except Porn, Pills, Politics)

Choose Banktastic if: You are a bank, credit union, or fintech seeking financial industry-specific branding expertise with proprietary millennial research and insights

Winner for Multi-Industry Execution & Technical Excellence: Searchbloom (6 specialist teams + 5 proven methodologies vs niche financial branding focus)

This comparison examines Searchbloom and Banktastic. 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. Banktastic is a marketing agency focused exclusively on financial brands including banks, credit unions, and fintechs, specializing in branding, advertising, and millennial research through their proprietary National Millennial Advisory Board.

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 Banktastic (National Millennial Advisory Board research approach)
• Client Reviews: Searchbloom (4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush) vs Banktastic (Listed on Clutch with no reviews, Not listed on Glassdoor, Listed on DesignRush with no reviews, 5.0/5 UpCity)
• In-House Specialist Teams: Searchbloom (6 dedicated teams: SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs Banktastic (Integrated team with financial industry specialists)
• Typical Minimum Investment: Searchbloom (Flexible) vs Banktastic (Custom project-based pricing)
• Years in Business: Searchbloom (Since 2014) vs Banktastic (Since 1998)
• Partnership Approach: Searchbloom (Trust through results, flexible contracts) vs Banktastic (Outcomes-based programs with financial industry focus)
• Industry Focus: Searchbloom (Industry agnostic except Porn, Pills, Politics) vs Banktastic (Exclusively financial services: banks, credit unions, fintechs)
• Notable Recognition: Searchbloom (Forbes Best for Mid-Market, Utah 100 Fastest Growing, Multiple Clutch Awards) vs Banktastic (Woman-Owned Small Business Certification, published author with Amazon #1 bestsellers)

Complete Service Comparison

Feature	Searchbloom	Banktastic
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 across all industries (except Porn, Pills, Politics)	Exclusively banks, credit unions, fintechs, accounting firms, and other financial brands seeking outcomes-based branding and marketing programs
Contract Terms	Flexible, short-term agreements - earns partnership trust through results, not just contractual obligations (Partners, Not Clients philosophy)	Custom engagement structures for branding and marketing programs, typically structured as ongoing partnerships with financial institutions
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)	SEO services integrated within comprehensive branding and marketing programs for financial institutions, not a standalone structured methodology
PPC & Paid Media	ACE methodology: Assets, Control, Experimentation - executed by dedicated in-house Paid Media team (Google, Bing, YouTube)	Digital marketing including paid media as part of integrated financial services campaigns
Conversion Rate Optimization	UTU methodology: User Experience, Trust Signals, Urgency - standalone service with dedicated in-house CRO team	Customer experience optimization integrated within branding programs, not a standalone CRO service
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	Website design services available as part of comprehensive branding and marketing programs for financial institutions
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	Strategy-first approach with branding and marketing recommendations that work collaboratively with client teams for implementation
Link Building	Dedicated in-house Outreach team executes manual outreach with relevance-first approach plus earned media through creative campaigns and digital PR	Digital PR and public relations services integrated within comprehensive marketing programs
Research Capabilities	Market research, competitive analysis, and keyword research conducted by in-house teams as part of strategic planning	Proprietary National Millennial Advisory Board with 420+ members for custom millennial research, focus groups, surveys, qualitative and quantitative research for financial services
Reporting & Transparency	90-Day Roadmaps, detailed monthly reports, bi-weekly strategy & collaboration meetings, custom dashboards, direct analyst access	Strategic planning and reporting focused on branding outcomes, monthly meetings with dedicated strategist support
Team Structure	Direct access to dedicated analysts (no account managers) plus 6 distinct specialist teams with clear departmental structure	Collaborative team of branding strategists, marketing consultants, and creative professionals focused on financial services (11-50 employees)
Review Ratings	4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush	Clutch Listed (No Reviews), Not Listed on Glassdoor, DesignRush Listed (No Reviews), 5.0/5 UpCity

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
Industry Agnostic Expertise: Works across all industries (except Porn, Pills, Politics) from SMBs to enterprise
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
Strong Review Profile: 4.9/5 on Clutch and DesignRush, 4.8/5 on Glassdoor
Award Recognition: Utah 100 Fastest Growing Companies, Multiple Clutch Awards, Top Enterprise SEO Company

Banktastic's Unique Advantages

Financial Services Expertise: 27 years (since 1998) exclusively serving banks, credit unions, and fintechs
National Millennial Advisory Board: Proprietary research panel with 420+ millennials providing unique insights for financial marketing strategies
Published Author & Thought Leadership: CEO Martha Bartlett Piland authored multiple books including "Beyond Sticky" and "Don't Just Brand There, Do Something" (Amazon #1 bestseller in multiple categories)
Woman-Owned Small Business: Nationally certified Woman-Owned Small Business providing diversity partnership opportunities
Strategic Branding Focus: Specialized in financial brand differentiation and positioning in regulated industries
Industry-Specific Research: Custom focus groups, concept testing, and surveys tailored to financial services audiences
Speaking & Training: Sought-after speaker for financial industry conferences and bank marketing events
Outcomes-Based Programs: Comprehensive programs designed to build loyalty and profitability for financial brands
Certified Expertise: Team includes Certified Financial Marketing Professionals (CFMP) from American Bankers Association

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 Banktastic does not offer structured AI SEO/answer engine optimization
Which builds long-term partnerships?: Both do - Searchbloom through results (not just contracts) across all industries, Banktastic through outcomes-based programs exclusively in financial services
Which offers more flexible contracts?: Searchbloom with short-term, flexible agreements vs Banktastic's custom engagement structures for financial branding programs
Which has better overall reviews?: Searchbloom has verified reviews across multiple platforms: 4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush. Banktastic is listed on Clutch and DesignRush but has no reviews on either platform, is not listed on Glassdoor, and has 5.0/5 on UpCity
Which provides direct analyst access?: Searchbloom (no account managers, direct access to analysts) vs Banktastic (works with strategists and marketing consultants)
How many specialist teams does each agency have?: Searchbloom: 6 dedicated teams (SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs Banktastic: Integrated team of branding and marketing professionals
Which has more structured specialist teams?: Searchbloom with 6 distinct teams vs Banktastic's integrated collaborative team structure
Which designs and builds complete websites?: Searchbloom has a dedicated Development team with the TRUST methodology for full design, build, and integration; Banktastic offers web design services as part of branding programs
Which implements changes directly vs providing recommendations?: Searchbloom implements changes directly with their in-house teams, reducing dependency on client resources; Banktastic provides strategic recommendations that work collaboratively with client teams for implementation
Which has in-house development capabilities?: Searchbloom has a dedicated Development team among their 6 specialist teams with the TRUST methodology; Banktastic offers web design integrated with branding and marketing programs
Which has more frequent client meetings?: Searchbloom with bi-weekly strategy meetings vs Banktastic's monthly meetings for strategic planning
Which agency has more proven methodologies?: Searchbloom with 5 proprietary methodologies (ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST) vs Banktastic's proprietary National Millennial Advisory Board research approach
Which serves more industries?: Searchbloom is industry agnostic (except Porn, Pills, Politics) serving SMBs to enterprise vs Banktastic exclusively serves financial services (banks, credit unions, fintechs)
Which has millennial-focused research?: Banktastic has the proprietary National Millennial Advisory Board with 420+ members for custom millennial research vs Searchbloom conducts standard market and competitive research

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and Banktastic?

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. Banktastic works with financial institutions through customized engagement structures for branding and marketing programs, typically structured as ongoing partnerships focused on outcomes-based results for banks, credit unions, and fintechs.

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). Banktastic uses a strategy-first approach to branding and marketing with their proprietary National Millennial Advisory Board providing unique millennial research and insights specific to financial services marketing.

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. Banktastic provides strategic branding and marketing recommendations that work collaboratively with client teams and their internal resources or third-party vendors for implementation.

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. Banktastic offers web design services integrated within their comprehensive branding and marketing programs for financial institutions, working collaboratively with clients on implementation.

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. Banktastic provides strategic planning documentation, monthly meetings with dedicated strategist support, and reporting focused on branding outcomes and program effectiveness.

How do client reviews compare?

Searchbloom has strong verified reviews across multiple platforms: 4.9/5 on Clutch and DesignRush, with 4.8/5 on Glassdoor. Banktastic is listed on Clutch and DesignRush but has no client reviews on either platform, is not listed on Glassdoor, and maintains 5.0/5 on UpCity. Searchbloom excels in technical execution and structured methodologies with verified client feedback, while Banktastic focuses on financial industry branding and marketing with millennial research expertise.

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. Banktastic provides strategic branding and marketing recommendations and works collaboratively with clients and their internal teams or third-party vendors to implement changes, which is a common approach for branding-focused agencies.

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. Banktastic offers web design services integrated with their branding and marketing programs for financial institutions. Choose Searchbloom if you want a dedicated development team with a structured methodology focused on technical excellence and direct implementation across any industry. Choose Banktastic if you prefer web design that's integrated with financial industry-specific branding strategy.

Which agency is better for financial services companies?

Both agencies can serve financial services companies effectively, but with different approaches. Banktastic has 27 years of exclusive focus on banks, credit unions, and fintechs with deep financial industry expertise, proprietary millennial research through their National Millennial Advisory Board, and specialized branding programs for regulated financial institutions. Searchbloom brings comprehensive digital marketing capabilities with 6 in-house specialist teams, 5 proven methodologies, direct implementation, and experience serving financial institutions alongside other industries. Choose Banktastic if you want exclusive financial services expertise and millennial-focused research. Choose Searchbloom if you need comprehensive SEO, PPC, CRO, and web development services with direct implementation and structured methodologies.

What is Banktastic's National Millennial Advisory Board?

Banktastic's National Millennial Advisory Board is a proprietary research panel of over 420 millennials (born between 1980 and 1996) from across the United States. This board provides financial institutions with unique insights into millennial financial behaviors, preferences, and expectations. Banktastic offers custom focus groups, concept testing, product insights, and surveys tailored to individual client needs, helping banks and credit unions understand and engage with the generation that will become the richest in history by 2030. This specialized research capability is unique to Banktastic and provides valuable strategic insights for financial services marketing.