Best AI SEO (AEO/GEO) Companies + Services in the US 2026

Comparison of Top U.S. AI SEO Agencies

Updated January 27, 2026

Before we dive deeper, the table below compares the top 10 AI SEO agencies on their AI search expertise, key services, pricing transparency, and ideal client type. All of these firms are credible SEO partners; the “best” fit will depend on your industry, goals, and resources. Scroll down to read more about each agency on this list.

Table: A high-level comparison of leading SEO agencies excelling in AI search optimization. “AI Search Expertise” highlights each firm’s approach to generative AI; “Key Services” are their core offerings; “Pricing” indicates whether they publish costs or work on custom quotes; “Ideal Clients” suggests the types of businesses that most benefit from their approach.

What Happened to Online Search?

In 2024 and 2025, online search underwent a seismic shift, and the ground is still moving beneath us. Search engine optimization is no longer just about getting blue links on Google’s first page. It’s about earning citations in AI-powered answers and brand recommendations in the summaries that appear before users ever see traditional results.

Modern generative search platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s AI Mode, and Perplexity AI use generative AI to answer user queries directly. This means marketing leaders face a new urgency: ensuring their content is surfaced and cited by AI when prospects ask questions during their buying journey. If your company’s insights aren’t being picked up by these AI “answer engines,” you risk invisibility in the very channels where decision-makers are seeking information.

The numbers tell the story. An estimated 60% of Google searches now result in zero clicks off the results page because users get what they need from rich snippets and AI answers. By mid-2025, more than 50% of search result pages featured an AI-generated overview. The takeaway: if your content isn’t optimized to be one of those cited sources, your organic visibility will plummet.

This creates both unprecedented opportunity and significant risk. Early movers in AI search optimization are capturing visibility while competitors remain focused on traditional rankings. But the window for first-mover advantage is closing fast.

How I Ranked These Agencies

I evaluated agencies using seven criteria that I believe correlate most strongly with both traditional SEO success and AI search visibility:

Client Retention Rate: High retention signals trust, results, and strong partnerships. Agencies that keep clients year after year are delivering measurable value.

Case Study ROI: I looked for actual traffic growth, lead increases, and revenue shifts from real campaigns. Agencies that can document specific results stand out.

Certifications: Google Premier Partner status, Microsoft Ads certifications, and platform certifications demonstrate technical skill and ongoing investment in expertise.

Third-Party Ratings: Clutch, GoodFirms, DesignRush, and UpCity scores provide independent validation. Review volume matters as much as the rating itself.

Media Mentions and Awards: Coverage in Forbes, USA Today, Search Engine Land, and industry awards like Search Engine Land Awards and Inc. 5000 recognition signal market leadership.

Breadth of Services: Adjacent capabilities in paid media, content, CRO, analytics, and development indicate whether an agency can execute holistic strategies.

Team Strength and Culture: Team size, specialties, employee tenure, and testimonials mentioning communication and execution reveal operational excellence.

This wasn’t a beauty contest. I relied on evidence: publicly available data, client feedback, and direct performance signals. The result is a comparison that breaks down where each agency shines, where they might lag, and why they made the cut.

Beyond these core criteria, I also considered how well each agency is positioned for where search is headed. With AI Overviews reshaping how users interact with Google and LLMs like ChatGPT and Perplexity becoming legitimate traffic sources, agencies need to think beyond traditional rankings. I’ve written extensively about this shift in our MERIT Framework whitepaper, and if you’re specifically looking for agencies that specialize in AI search optimization, I’ve put together a separate analysis of the best AI SEO agencies worth reviewing.

1. Searchbloom

Who We Are

Searchbloom is a Utah-based SEO and PPC agency that I founded with a simple mission: deliver measurable results without locking clients into long-term contracts. We call this our “Partners” philosophy. We believe agencies should earn trust through results, not enforce it through contract terms.

Over the years, we’ve built a team of specialists across six core disciplines: technical SEO, local SEO, national SEO, ecommerce SEO, PPC management, and conversion rate optimization. Every team member brings deep expertise in their specialty, and our average employee tenure of 4.7 years means clients work with experienced professionals who understand the nuances of their campaigns.

What sets us apart from other agencies is our commitment to developing proprietary methodologies based on what actually works, not what worked five years ago. When AI search emerged as a major force, we didn’t wait to see how it would shake out. We built frameworks, tested strategies, and documented what drives visibility in these new platforms.

What Makes Searchbloom the #1 AI SEO Agency

We developed the MERIT Framework specifically to address AI search optimization: Mentions, Evidence, Relevance, Inclusion, and Transform. This isn’t a marketing acronym. It’s a research-backed methodology that maps directly to how large language models evaluate and cite content.

Our approach combines the MERIT Framework with our established A.R.T. SEO Methodology (Authority, Relevance, Technology) to create strategies that perform across both traditional search and AI-driven platforms. We’re not just optimizing for Google’s blue links anymore. We’re engineering content that gets cited in ChatGPT, appears in AI Overviews, and earns recommendations in Perplexity responses.

The results speak for themselves. We’ve documented campaigns achieving 720%+ average ROI. Our client retention rate sits at 98%, which tells you everything you need to know about whether our strategies work. When clients stay year after year without being contractually obligated to do so, that’s the strongest validation possible.

How We Work

Every engagement starts with a comprehensive audit that assesses both traditional SEO health and AI search readiness. We analyze how your brand currently appears in LLM responses, identify gaps in content structure that limit AI citation potential, and map opportunities where competitors are winning visibility you should own.

From there, we build custom strategies that address technical foundations, content optimization, and AI-specific requirements simultaneously. Our team includes former Googlers, senior SEOs with 15+ years of experience, and CRO specialists certified in behavior analytics. We run sprint-based workflows with internal SOPs that ensure consistent execution and measurable progress.

We also provide custom reporting tailored for both in-house marketing teams and executives. You’ll always know exactly what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and what impact it’s having on your business metrics.

Who We Work With

We work with mid-market and enterprise brands that take their digital presence seriously. Our client base spans ecommerce, B2B services, multi-location businesses, healthcare, legal, and professional services. What our best clients share is a commitment to treating SEO and AI visibility as strategic investments, not checkbox activities.

If you’re looking for an agency that will tell you what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear, we’re probably not the right fit. We built our reputation on honest assessments and strategies that deliver real business outcomes.

Pricing at Searchbloom

We offer flexible pricing based on scope and business objectives. Our “Partners” philosophy means you’re never locked into long-term contracts. We earn your continued business through results, not legal obligations. This approach has contributed to our 98% client retention rate because clients stay when strategies actually work.

Why Searchbloom Is at the Top of This List

I’ll be direct: I’m writing this article, and I’ve put Searchbloom at #1. You should factor that into how you evaluate this list. But consider the evidence.

We have a 98% client retention rate. We have 4.9/5 stars on Clutch with 87+ reviews. We’re ranked #1 on DesignRush and #2 on GoodFirms. We’ve been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and recognized by Backlinko as a top technical SEO agency. Our employee turnover is 2.1%, which is nearly unheard of in the agency world.

We developed frameworks specifically for AI search optimization while many agencies are still figuring out what GEO means. We’ve invested in research, testing, and documentation that positions our clients for success in both current and emerging search environments.

These metrics weren’t manufactured. They’re the result of 17 years of commitment to results-driven work. If you want an agency that will partner with you on achieving real business outcomes in both traditional and AI search, I believe we’ve earned that position.

2. Single Grain

Who They Are: Single Grain is a growth marketing agency led by Eric Siu, known for data-driven strategies across SEO, paid media, and content marketing. With a domain rating of 79 and over 41,000 monthly organic visitors, they practice what they preach. Their Leveling Up Podcast and Marketing School Podcast have built significant audience trust in the marketing community.

AI Capabilities: Single Grain has published extensively on Generative Engine Optimization, positioning themselves as GEO thought leaders. Their content emphasizes that companies implementing GEO strategies achieve higher brand authority scores and improved pipeline quality. They’ve developed methodologies for optimizing across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, and emerging AI platforms, combining technical SEO expertise with content strategy and entity optimization.

Services and Industry Focus: Single Grain offers comprehensive growth marketing including SEO, GEO, content marketing, paid media, and conversion optimization. They focus primarily on growth-stage B2B companies in SaaS, fintech, and ecommerce sectors. Their integrated approach ensures AI visibility improvements translate directly into measurable business outcomes.

Pricing/Client Size: Single Grain operates at enterprise-level pricing with custom packages designed around specific business objectives. They’re best suited for medium to large companies with ambitious growth targets and the budget to invest in comprehensive digital transformation.

3. Ignite Visibility

Who They Are: Ignite Visibility is a San Diego-based full-service digital marketing agency founded by John Lincoln and Krish Coughran in 2012. They’ve made the Inc. 5000 list six times and serve over 150 clients across various industries. Lincoln has authored three books, produced “SEO: The Movie,” and spoken at global events including Web Summit and SMX.

AI Capabilities: Ignite Visibility was among the first agencies to launch dedicated Generative Engine Optimization services in 2024. Their AI SEO Framework includes brand sentiment analysis across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, competitor research for AI recommendations, generative engine sourcing research, and topic overview analysis. They combine their proprietary CertaintyTech platform with high-touch customer service to deliver customized AI SEO strategies.

Services and Industry Focus: Ignite Visibility offers SEO, GEO, paid media, social media, email marketing, PR, and creative services. They serve industries including automotive, hospitality, retail, and franchises. Their AI SEO approach includes LLM query analysis, competitor landscape review, and actionable recommendations for generative engine visibility.

Pricing/Client Size: As a full-service agency backed by Mountaingate Capital, Ignite Visibility serves enterprise brands and multi-location businesses. They provide custom proposals based on business needs, with clients including DoorDash, HBO, Tony Robbins, and Experian.

4. HigherVisibility

Who They Are: HigherVisibility is a Memphis-based digital marketing agency co-founded by Adam Heitzman, who brings two decades of experience from the financial services industry. The agency has built a reputation for data-driven SEO strategies that connect directly to revenue outcomes.

AI Capabilities: HigherVisibility takes a measured, practical approach to GEO. Adam Heitzman has published extensively in Search Engine Land on AI search, offering a reality check on what’s actually new versus what’s repackaged fundamentals. Their philosophy: “Good SEO is good GEO.” They focus on controlled experimentation rather than chasing hype, helping clients test AI visibility strategies with measurable business outcomes.

Services and Industry Focus: HigherVisibility offers SEO, GEO, PPC, web design, local SEO, and franchise SEO. They excel with mid-market companies and franchises seeking data-driven strategies that connect search visibility to actual revenue. Their team focuses on practical strategies rather than theoretical improvements.

Pricing/Client Size: HigherVisibility offers free technical audits and custom pricing based on scope. They’re particularly strong with franchise businesses and multi-location organizations. Adam Heitzman has been recognized by Forbes as a Top 15 SEO Guru and named among Search Engine Journal’s Top 25 Extraordinary SEOs.

5. Xponent21

Who They Are: Xponent21 is a Richmond, Virginia-based digital marketing agency that has positioned itself as a leading authority on AI SEO. Founded by Will Melton, the agency combines strategic marketing capabilities with psychology-informed content strategy, including an in-house neuroscientist who helps shape their approach to how AI and users process information.

AI Capabilities: Xponent21 has developed one of the most comprehensive GEO frameworks in the industry. Their proprietary 14-step AI SEO Content Accelerator system goes beyond typical optimization tactics, including insight-driven research, strategic brand calibration, topic cluster architecture, and prompt testing across AI platforms. They’re recognized as prolific publishers on AI SEO topics, with their content frequently cited in AI-generated answers.

Services and Industry Focus: Xponent21 offers AI SEO, content strategy, web development, PPC, and video marketing. They serve healthcare, education, franchise groups, SaaS, professional services, and manufacturing industries. Their approach emphasizes becoming the trusted recommendation when users ask AI platforms about your category.

Pricing/Client Size: Xponent21 operates on a project-plus-retainer model. Foundational project work typically starts at $20,000, with ongoing optimization retainers starting at $5,000 per month. They work with mid-size to enterprise brands with serious growth ambitions and the investment capacity to match.

6. Omniscient Digital

Who They Are: Omniscient Digital is a boutique SEO agency known for blending editorial content excellence with performance-driven strategy. Co-founded by seasoned SEO and analytics experts with roots in growth marketing at companies like HubSpot, the agency has quickly become a thought leader in Generative Engine Optimization. Their client roster includes major B2B SaaS brands like SAP, Loom, Jasper, Hotjar, Asana, and Adobe.

AI Capabilities: Omniscient Digital pioneered strategies for increasing brand ubiquity across the web, which directly translates to AI visibility. Their signature “Surround Sound” SEO strategy focuses on getting brands mentioned on all top resources and third-party sites for key topics. This approach isn’t just about backlinks; it’s about earning citation-level mentions that train language models to associate your brand with certain topics.

Services and Industry Focus: Omniscient offers SEO strategy consulting, content marketing, digital PR, and analytics support. They focus exclusively on B2B and SaaS companies, particularly those looking to tie SEO efforts directly to revenue. Their research shows that agencies updating strategies monthly based on AI performance data deliver significantly better client results than those using static approaches.

Pricing/Client Size: As a boutique firm, Omniscient provides highly customized engagements on a consulting or retainer model. They’re a strong fit for venture-funded startups, mid-market B2B companies, or any brand willing to invest in premium content and long-term SEO strategy.

7. Seer Interactive

Who They Are: Seer Interactive is a Philadelphia-based B-Corp certified digital marketing agency founded by Wil Reynolds in 2002. With a team of approximately 200 professionals, they’ve built a reputation for questioning assumptions and approaching challenges with data-driven humility. Reynolds has been leading the conversation on AI, SEO, and GEO since the beginning of the AI search shift.

AI Capabilities: Seer runs enterprise-scale AI search experiments and turns them into proven strategies that deliver AI visibility and business impact. They’ve developed tools to track brand mentions in ChatGPT and other LLMs, analyze AI responses for deeper insights, and monitor brand performance against competitors across AI platforms. Their approach combines decades of thinking about how people get answers with live GEO experiments delivering measurable visibility.

Services and Industry Focus: Seer offers SEO, GEO, paid media, analytics, data strategy, creative services, and CRO. They partner with large and mid-market brands across finance, insurance, healthcare, and technology. Recent clients include American Family Insurance, Capital One, and Trex Company. They’re also launching an AI consulting practice and organic social practice.

Pricing/Client Size: Seer operates on custom enterprise pricing with a focus on ROI and long-term partnership. They serve large and mid-market brands that need integrated search, analytics, and AI visibility strategies. Their B-Corp certification reflects their commitment to doing business the right way.

8. Siege Media

Who They Are: Siege Media is a content-focused SEO agency headquartered in Austin with offices in San Diego and New York. They’ve built a reputation for creating high-quality, link-worthy content that drives organic traffic. With a domain rating of 79 and nearly 59,000 monthly organic visitors, they demonstrate content marketing excellence. Notable clients include Asana, Zillow, Shipt, and Casper.

AI Capabilities: Siege approaches AI search evolution from the content angle. They’ve trained their content creators to write in concise, question-and-answer formats that AI systems can easily parse and cite. Their strategy ensures brand names are prominent in content itself so that when AI pulls text for summaries, the brand gets mentioned. They also invest in graphic content that can appear in AI summary carousels.

Services and Industry Focus: Siege offers content marketing, SEO, and digital PR. They focus on SaaS, ecommerce, and professional services companies that need scalable, high-quality content production. Their model involves keyword research, content calendar development, content production (writing and design), and outreach for natural link building.

Pricing/Client Size: Siege works on retainer or content bundle basis, with budgets ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands per month depending on content volume and complexity. They’re best suited for companies that understand content is a long-term investment in brand authority and AI visibility.

9. iPullRank

Who They Are: iPullRank is a New York-based enterprise SEO and content strategy agency founded by Mike King. King was named 2025 AI Search Marketer of the Year by Search Engine Land, marking his second win and cementing his position as a leading innovator in modern SEO and AI-driven search strategy. The agency has generated over $4 billion in documented results for clients including SAP, American Express, Nordstrom, and HSBC.

AI Capabilities: iPullRank pioneers what they call “Relevance Engineering,” a discipline that positions SEO as a technical marketing discipline built on language modeling, query understanding, and information gain. They understand how AI Mode actually works: query fan-out, passage retrieval, embeddings, and synthesis. Their AI Search Manual provides comprehensive documentation on visibility in conversational and AI search environments. King’s AI Mode article following Google I/O became the definitive industry breakdown of generative search mechanics.

Services and Industry Focus: iPullRank offers technical SEO, content strategy, GEO, and Relevance Engineering services. They partner with Fortune 500 and high-growth companies across finance, ecommerce, and technology sectors. Their April 2025 launch of SEO Week conference in New York City brought together 40+ top industry thinkers for highly technical, forward-looking presentations.

Pricing/Client Size: iPullRank operates on custom enterprise pricing with premium rates reflecting their specialized expertise. They’re the agency that other agencies call for complex technical challenges. Best suited for enterprise companies facing sophisticated SEO challenges who want to engineer visibility rather than just optimize for it.

10. Amsive

Who They Are: Amsive is a New York-based performance marketing agency with nearly two decades of SEO experience. Lily Ray serves as VP of SEO Strategy and Research, overseeing a team of 35+ SEO professionals. Ray is recognized as a leading authority on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) and has published 25+ research papers on search quality and AI trustworthiness signals.

AI Capabilities: Amsive launched dedicated Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) services in 2025, partnering with Profound, a leading AI Visibility platform. Their approach integrates traditional SEO with LLM optimization, including content structuring for AI citation, multimodal content strategy, share of voice tracking across AI platforms, and citation monitoring. Ray’s research on Google’s AI Mode and quality guidelines provides actionable insights for maintaining visibility as AI systems become more sophisticated.

Services and Industry Focus: Amsive offers SEO, AEO/GEO, paid media, analytics, creative, and direct marketing services. They serve healthcare, financial services, ecommerce, and B2B sectors. Recognition includes The Drum Awards, US Search Awards, and Search Engine Land Awards. They’re a Google Premier Partner and Crain’s New York Best Places to Work honoree.

Pricing/Client Size: Amsive operates on custom pricing with full-service performance marketing capabilities. They’re suited for established brands seeking data-led marketing strategies that integrate traditional and AI-driven search visibility.

Why Trust Us

At Searchbloom, we’re not just observing the shift to AI search. We’re actively shaping how brands compete in it. Our MERIT Framework and A.R.T. SEO Methodology are tested across hundreds of campaigns spanning ecommerce, B2B, healthcare, legal, and professional services.

We’ve documented 720%+ average ROI across campaigns. Our 98% client retention rate speaks to results that keep companies coming back without contractual obligation. Our 4.9/5 Clutch rating with 87+ reviews provides independent validation of our work.

The agencies featured in this analysis represent the leading edge of SEO in the AI era. We’ve applied the same standards of evidence and performance we use in our own practice to evaluate them. While I’ve been transparent that Searchbloom is ranked first, the other nine agencies on this list have genuinely earned their positions through demonstrated expertise, thought leadership, and client results.

This analysis exists because marketing leaders need honest guidance in a landscape flooded with hype. The difference between agencies that understand AI search and those that don’t will determine competitive positioning for years to come.

Conclusion: Succeeding in AI Search Requires the Right Partner

The rise of generative AI in search is changing the game at a pace I’ve never seen in 17 years in this industry. What used to be a straightforward question of “How do I rank #1 for this keyword?” has evolved into something far more complex: How do I become the trusted source that AI systems cite when answering questions my prospects are asking?

The ten agencies profiled here are at the forefront of solving that puzzle. Each brings unique strengths, whether it’s technical SEO expertise, content powerhouse capabilities, PR-driven authority building, or cutting-edge AI analytics. But they all share a common trait: the ability to adapt and innovate in the face of search’s rapid evolution.

For marketing leaders across B2B, ecommerce, healthcare, professional services, and beyond, the urgency is clear. Your prospective clients are experimenting with ChatGPT for research, relying on AI Overviews for quick information, and using voice assistants to make decisions on the fly. If your content isn’t optimized and structured for these platforms, you may be invisible when and where it matters most.

The agencies listed here are not only keeping up with these changes. They’re helping lead them. Whichever partner you choose, ensure they demonstrate a culture of testing and learning. Ask them how they stay updated on AI developments. Have them show examples of how they’ve gotten content into AI-generated responses. And most importantly, look for alignment with your business goals.

The world of AI search is generative, and so should be your strategy. The brands that establish authority in AI platforms today will lead their industries tomorrow.