Searchbloom vs. OuterBox

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

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. OuterBox typically operates with 6-12 month agreements for SEO campaigns, though some clients note that flexible exit options are available.

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

Quick Verdict

Choose Searchbloom if: You want structured methodologies (ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST), flexible contracts, and direct analyst access with 6 in-house specialist teams including dedicated Website Development and ecommerce expertise across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom platforms

Choose OuterBox if: You prefer working with a large team (250+ employees) across a U.S.-based agency structure and don't mind typical 6-12 month SEO contract terms with account manager coordination

Winner for In-House Execution & Technical Excellence: Searchbloom (6 specialist teams + 5 proven marketing methodologies with flexible agreements vs. OuterBox's integrated structure with longer contract commitments)

This comparison examines Searchbloom and OuterBox. 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. OuterBox is a digital marketing agency founded in 2004, specializing in ecommerce SEO and website development with a 250+ person U.S.-based team.

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 OuterBox (Ecommerce-focused SEO, GEO)
• Client Reviews: Searchbloom (4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush) vs OuterBox (4.7/5 Clutch, 3.4/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush)
• In-House Specialist Teams: Searchbloom (6 dedicated teams: SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs OuterBox (Integrated specialists with account manager coordination)
• Typical Minimum Investment: Searchbloom (Flexible) vs OuterBox ($2,250+/month, projects from $1,000+)
• Years in Business: Searchbloom (Since 2014) vs OuterBox (Since 2004)
• Partnership Approach: Searchbloom (Trust through results, flexible contracts) vs OuterBox (Typically 6-12 month agreements for SEO campaigns)
• Client Retention: Searchbloom (Strong retention through results, not just contracts) vs OuterBox (96% reported)
• Notable Recognition: Searchbloom (Forbes Best for Mid-Market) vs OuterBox (Inc. 5000 multiple years)

Complete Service Comparison

Feature	Searchbloom	OuterBox
Client Focus	Partners not clients with flexible agreements. Works with brands they believe in and where they can win, from SMBs to enterprise. Strong ecommerce expertise across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom platforms	Ecommerce brands and B2B companies seeking SEO and web development, particularly national ecommerce retailers and large-scale businesses
Contract Terms	Flexible, short-term agreements. Earns partnership trust through results, not just contractual obligations (Partners, Not Clients philosophy)	Typically 6-12 month agreements for SEO campaigns. Some clients note flexible exit options available
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)	Ecommerce-focused SEO strategy with keyword targeting, site optimization, technical SEO, and content. Offers Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for AI-powered search visibility
PPC & Paid Media	ACE methodology: Assets, Control, Experimentation. Executed by dedicated in-house Paid Media team (Google, Bing, YouTube)	PPC management including Google Ads, Bing Ads, Amazon advertising, and Google Shopping (typically 7-12% of ad spend for management)
Conversion Rate Optimization	UTU methodology: User Experience, Trust Signals, Urgency. Standalone service with dedicated in-house CRO team, including ecommerce conversion optimization	CRO services via UX enhancements and ecommerce design optimization integrated with website development
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 ecommerce sites from scratch on Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom platforms with clean code, technical SEO, and performance optimization built-in	Custom ecommerce website design and development on Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and nopCommerce platforms. Web design services integrated with marketing campaigns
Ecommerce Expertise	Comprehensive ecommerce capabilities across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom enterprise solutions. UTU methodology specifically optimizes ecommerce conversions. TRUST methodology for ecommerce development	Specializes in ecommerce SEO and website development. Works with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and nopCommerce platforms
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	In-house team of 250+ U.S.-based specialists. Account managers coordinate with SEO specialists, PPC specialists, content experts, and developers. When handling website development, implementation managed by in-house development and design teams
Link Building	Dedicated in-house Outreach team executes manual outreach with relevance-first approach plus earned media through creative campaigns and digital PR	Editorial outreach, backlinks, and digital PR-style linking integrated with content marketing strategies
Reporting & Transparency	90-Day Roadmaps, detailed monthly reports, bi-weekly strategy & collaboration meetings, custom dashboards, direct analyst access	Detailed monthly reports with transparent data access, project management tools like ActiveCollab and ClickUp
Team Structure	Direct access to dedicated analysts (no account managers) plus 6 distinct specialist teams with clear departmental structure	Account managers coordinate with SEO specialists, PPC specialists, content experts, and developers across 250+ U.S.-based team
Review Ratings	4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush	4.7/5 Clutch, 3.4/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush

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
Higher Review Ratings: Leads across all platforms (4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush) vs OuterBox (4.7/5 Clutch, 3.4/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush)
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
Comprehensive Ecommerce Capabilities: Expertise across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom enterprise solutions with structured UTU and TRUST methodologies

OuterBox's Unique Advantages

Established Since 2004: Longer market presence with 20+ years experience
Large U.S.-Based Team: 250+ employees across multiple U.S. offices
Inc. 5000 Recognition: Listed multiple years
Google Premier Partner: Official Google partnership status
High Client Retention: 96% retention rate reported

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 OuterBox's general AI SEO approach (GEO)
Which builds long-term partnerships?: Both do. Searchbloom through results (not just contracts) with flexible agreements, OuterBox through 6-12 month contract agreements
Which offers more flexible contracts?: Searchbloom with flexible, short-term agreements vs OuterBox's typical 6-12 month contract model
Which has better overall reviews?: Searchbloom leads across all review platforms. Searchbloom: 4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush. OuterBox: 4.7/5 Clutch, 3.4/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush
Which provides direct analyst access?: Searchbloom (no account managers) vs OuterBox (dedicated account managers)
How many specialist teams does each agency have?: Searchbloom: 6 dedicated teams (SEO, Paid Media, Content, Development, CRO, Outreach) vs OuterBox: Integrated specialists across channels
Which has more structured specialist teams?: Searchbloom with 6 distinct teams vs OuterBox's integrated specialist structure
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. OuterBox offers custom ecommerce website 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. OuterBox implements through their in-house team when handling website development and optimization projects, coordinated through account managers
Which has in-house development capabilities?: Searchbloom has a dedicated Development team among their 6 specialist teams with the TRUST methodology. OuterBox has in-house web design and development experts integrated with their 250+ person team
Which has more frequent client meetings?: Searchbloom with bi-weekly strategy meetings vs OuterBox's monthly reports and regular account reviews
Which agency has more proven methodologies?: Searchbloom with 5 proprietary methodologies (ART, MERIT, ACE, UTU, TRUST) vs OuterBox's ecommerce-focused SEO approach and GEO

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the contract differences between Searchbloom and OuterBox?

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. OuterBox typically operates with 6-12 month agreements for SEO campaigns, though some clients note that flexible exit options are available.

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). OuterBox uses ecommerce-focused SEO strategies tied to keyword targeting, site optimization, technical SEO, and content, along with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for AI-powered search visibility.

Do both agencies have ecommerce expertise?

Yes, both agencies have strong ecommerce capabilities. Searchbloom has comprehensive ecommerce expertise across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom enterprise ecommerce solutions. Their UTU methodology specifically optimizes ecommerce conversions, and their TRUST methodology ensures ecommerce websites are built with clean code, technical SEO, and performance optimization from the ground up. OuterBox specializes in ecommerce SEO and website development, working with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and nopCommerce platforms.

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. OuterBox offers custom ecommerce website design and development on platforms including Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, WordPress, and nopCommerce.

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. OuterBox provides detailed monthly reports with transparent data access and uses project management platforms like ActiveCollab and ClickUp for tracking and communication.

How do client reviews compare?

Searchbloom leads across all review platforms. Searchbloom scores 4.9/5 on Clutch and DesignRush, with 4.8/5 on Glassdoor. OuterBox earns 4.7/5 on Clutch, 4.6/5 on DesignRush, and 3.4/5 on Glassdoor. Each agency excels in different areas: Searchbloom in technical execution, structured methodologies, and flexible partnerships; OuterBox in large-team coordination and ecommerce specialization.

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. OuterBox implements through their in-house team of 250+ specialists when handling website development and optimization projects, coordinated through account managers.

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 ecommerce companies?

Both agencies have strong ecommerce capabilities, but they approach them differently. Searchbloom has comprehensive ecommerce expertise across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom enterprise solutions, with structured methodologies specifically designed for ecommerce: UTU methodology for conversion optimization and TRUST methodology for website development. Searchbloom also offers flexible contracts, higher review ratings across all platforms (4.9/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor, 4.9/5 DesignRush vs 4.7/5 Clutch, 3.4/5 Glassdoor, 4.6/5 DesignRush), and direct analyst access with 6 specialist teams that implement changes directly. OuterBox specializes in ecommerce SEO and development with a large 250+ employee team and works across multiple ecommerce platforms. Choose Searchbloom if you want structured methodologies, flexible contracts, better ratings, and direct implementation. Choose OuterBox if you prefer working with a large team structure coordinated through account managers.

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, offer flexible contracts, and provide direct analyst access. Searchbloom also has strong ecommerce development expertise across Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce/WordPress, and custom platforms. OuterBox offers custom ecommerce website design and development integrated with their marketing campaigns, with a 250+ person team and account manager coordination. Choose Searchbloom if you want a dedicated development team with a structured methodology (TRUST), flexible contracts, higher review ratings (4.9/5 Clutch vs 4.7/5 Clutch, 4.8/5 Glassdoor vs 3.4/5 Glassdoor), and direct implementation focused on technical excellence. Choose OuterBox if you prefer web design that's coordinated with broader marketing strategy through a large team structure.

Searchbloom vs OuterBox