Searchbloom vs Cardinal Digital Marketing

Q: What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and Cardinal Digital Marketing?

Searchbloom builds long-term partnerships through their 'Partners, Not Clients' philosophy with flexible, short-term agreements typically lasting 3-6 months. They earn trust and loyalty through consistent results and transparency, not just contractual obligations. Cardinal Digital Marketing uses monthly retainer contracts with a minimum investment of $5,000+ per month, preferring long-term partnerships with healthcare providers to deliver sustained patient acquisition results.

Searchbloom vs. Cardinal Digital Marketing: 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 Cardinal Digital Marketing if: You prefer an agency that works exclusively within the healthcare vertical with 15+ years of healthcare-only experience

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 Cardinal Digital Marketing. 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. Cardinal Digital Marketing was founded in 2009 as a healthcare-focused performance marketing agency with exclusive specialization in connecting patients with care through digital strategies.

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 Cardinal Digital Marketing (Healthcare-focused patient acquisition approach)
• Client Reviews: Searchbloom (4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (4.8/5 Clutch, 4.2/5 Glassdoor)
• In-House Specialist Teams: Searchbloom (6 dedicated teams: SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (Integrated specialists with account managers)
• Typical Minimum Investment: Searchbloom (Flexible) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing ($5,000+ per month)
• Years in Business: Searchbloom (Since 2014) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (Since 2009)
• Partnership Approach: Searchbloom (Trust through results, flexible contracts) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (Monthly retainers focused on long-term healthcare partnerships)
• Team Size: Searchbloom (6 specialist teams) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (50-200 employees)
• Notable Recognition: Searchbloom (Forbes Best for Mid-Market) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (Inc. 5000 six years, Google Premier Partner)

Complete Service Comparison

Feature	Searchbloom	Cardinal Digital Marketing
Client Focus	Partners not clients with focus on building long-term relationships through results and trust. Works with brands they believe in and where they can win, from SMBs to enterprise	Multi-location healthcare providers, dental groups, medical practices, and other healthcare organizations seeking patient acquisition solutions
Contract Terms	Flexible, short-term agreements (typically 3-6 months) with trust earned through results, not just contractual obligations (Partners, Not Clients philosophy)	Monthly retainer contracts with minimum of $5,000+ per month, preference for long-term healthcare marketing partnerships
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)	Healthcare-focused SEO strategies tailored for medical markets with local and national optimization for patient acquisition
PPC & Paid Media	ACE methodology: Assets, Control, Experimentation with dedicated in-house Paid Media team (Google, Bing, YouTube)	PPC management for healthcare with Google Ads, programmatic display, and social media advertising aimed at patient acquisition and volume growth
Conversion Rate Optimization	UTU methodology: User Experience, Trust Signals, Urgency with dedicated in-house CRO team as standalone service	Landing page and funnel optimization focused on appointment bookings and patient conversion within comprehensive campaigns
Website Development	TRUST methodology: Technical Expertise, Reliable Performance, User-first UX/UI, Secure Frameworks, Transparent Process 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 healthcare marketing campaigns
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	Account managers coordinate with in-house SEO specialists, PPC specialists, and content experts in integrated structure. Campaign assets and site changes typically implemented by agency partners or internal client teams
Link Building	Dedicated in-house Outreach team executes manual outreach with relevance-first approach plus earned media through creative campaigns and digital PR	Local citations, digital PR, and content-based link acquisition integrated with healthcare content marketing strategies
Reporting & Transparency	90-Day Roadmaps, detailed monthly reports, bi-weekly strategy & collaboration meetings, custom dashboards, direct analyst access	Monthly performance reports with KPI tracking, transparent data access, and campaign metrics for healthcare clients
Team Structure	Direct access to dedicated analysts (no account managers) plus 6 distinct specialist teams with clear departmental structure	Account managers provide coordination with access to specialized teams including SEO specialists, PPC specialists, and content experts (50-200 employees total)
Review Ratings	4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush	4.8/5 Clutch, 4.2/5 Glassdoor, 4.5/5 Indeed

Searchbloom's Unique Advantages

Partners Philosophy: Earns trust through results (not just contracts) with flexible agreements and 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
Industry Agnostic: Works across multiple industries from SMBs to enterprise, not limited to single vertical

Cardinal Digital Marketing's Unique Advantages

Exclusive Healthcare Focus: Works only within healthcare vertical with deep specialization in patient acquisition and medical practice growth
Google Premier Partner: Recognized status demonstrating paid media expertise
Inc. 5000 Recognition (6 Years): Named to Inc. 5000 list six times demonstrating consistent growth since founding
Established Since 2009: Over 15 years of market presence focused exclusively on healthcare marketing
Large Team: 50-200 employees providing depth of resources for healthcare campaigns
Best Places to Work: Multiple years recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Atlanta
Healthcare Vertical Expertise: 100% client focus on healthcare providers brings concentrated industry knowledge
Patient-Centric Approach: Strategies specifically designed for multi-location healthcare providers with focus on patient volume growth

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 Cardinal Digital Marketing's healthcare-focused SEO approach
Which builds long-term partnerships?: Both do. Searchbloom through results (not just contracts), Cardinal Digital Marketing through monthly retainer contracts for healthcare clients
Which offers more flexible contracts?: Searchbloom with short-term, flexible agreements (3-6 months) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing's monthly retainer model ($5,000+ per month)
Which has better overall reviews?: Both agencies have strong reviews. Searchbloom: 4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush. Cardinal Digital Marketing: 4.8/5 Clutch, 4.2/5 Glassdoor, 4.5/5 Indeed
Which provides direct analyst access?: Searchbloom (no account managers) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing (dedicated account managers coordinate with specialists)
How many specialist teams does each agency have?: Searchbloom: 6 dedicated teams (SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing: Integrated specialists with account managers coordinating across functions
Which has more structured specialist teams?: Searchbloom with 6 distinct teams vs Cardinal Digital Marketing's integrated specialist structure with account management layer
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 with direct implementation. Cardinal Digital Marketing offers web design integrated with healthcare marketing campaigns
Which implements changes directly vs providing recommendations?: Searchbloom implements changes directly with their in-house teams, reducing dependency on client resources. Cardinal Digital Marketing typically provides recommendations with implementation through agency partners or client internal teams
Which has in-house development capabilities?: Searchbloom has a dedicated Development team among their 6 specialist teams with the TRUST methodology. Cardinal Digital Marketing offers web design experts integrated with marketing teams
Which has more frequent client meetings?: Searchbloom with bi-weekly strategy meetings vs Cardinal Digital Marketing's monthly reports and account manager touchpoints
Which agency has more proven methodologies?: Searchbloom with 5 proprietary methodologies (ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST) vs Cardinal Digital Marketing's healthcare-focused patient acquisition approach
Which agency specializes in healthcare?: Cardinal Digital Marketing focuses exclusively on healthcare providers, while Searchbloom works across multiple industries including healthcare but is not healthcare-specific

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and Cardinal Digital Marketing?

Searchbloom builds long-term partnerships through their "Partners, Not Clients" philosophy with flexible, short-term agreements typically lasting 3-6 months. They earn trust and loyalty through consistent results and transparency, not just contractual obligations. Cardinal Digital Marketing uses monthly retainer contracts with a minimum investment of $5,000+ per month, preferring long-term partnerships with healthcare providers to deliver sustained patient acquisition results.

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). Cardinal Digital Marketing uses healthcare-focused patient acquisition strategies tailored specifically for medical markets with local and national SEO optimization and paid media campaigns designed to increase patient volume.

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. Cardinal Digital Marketing has account managers who coordinate with in-house SEO specialists, PPC specialists, and content experts. Campaign assets and site changes are typically implemented through agency partners or by client internal teams working with Cardinal's strategic guidance.

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. Cardinal Digital Marketing offers web design and development services integrated within their comprehensive healthcare marketing campaigns, working with clients and their teams to create healthcare-focused websites optimized for patient acquisition.

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 and collaboration meetings, and custom dashboards with direct analyst access. Cardinal Digital Marketing provides monthly performance reports with KPI tracking focused on healthcare metrics, transparent data access, and account manager coordination for campaign updates and strategy adjustments.

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. Cardinal Digital Marketing earns 4.8/5 on Clutch, 4.2/5 on Glassdoor, and 4.5/5 on Indeed. Each agency excels in different areas: Searchbloom in technical execution, structured methodologies, and cross-industry expertise; Cardinal Digital Marketing in healthcare specialization and patient acquisition strategies.

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. Cardinal Digital Marketing provides strategic recommendations and works with account managers to coordinate implementation, often requiring client internal teams or agency partners to execute technical changes.

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 healthcare companies?

Both agencies serve healthcare companies with full compliance capabilities. Cardinal Digital Marketing specializes exclusively in healthcare with 100% client focus on healthcare providers, bringing concentrated industry knowledge and patient acquisition expertise. Their entire team and approach is built around healthcare vertical expertise. Searchbloom works across multiple industries including healthcare and offers the advantage of 6 dedicated specialist teams with 5 proprietary methodologies, direct implementation capabilities, and flexible contract terms. Choose Cardinal Digital Marketing if you value exclusive healthcare vertical focus and want an agency that only works with healthcare providers. Choose Searchbloom if you want structured methodologies, dedicated specialist teams, direct implementation, and flexibility in contract terms while still receiving full healthcare marketing capabilities.

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. Cardinal Digital Marketing offers web design services integrated with their healthcare marketing campaigns. Choose Searchbloom if you want a dedicated development team with a structured methodology focused on technical excellence and direct implementation. Choose Cardinal Digital Marketing if you prefer web design that's integrated with healthcare-specific marketing strategy and patient acquisition goals.