How to Choose an Enterprise SEO Agency: Questions Checklist, Red Flags, and Best Agencies

A solid enterprise SEO agency can skyrocket your online presence.

The keyword here is “solid.”

So, here’s how to choose an enterprise SEO agency that is truly worth it. 

We discuss factors like services offered, prices, and tools. We’ll also give you our insider tips and case studies along the way.

Also, we share the industry red flags of SEO companies to steer clear of.

Let’s begin.

TL;DR:

• Services Offered: Ensure the agency provides comprehensive enterprise-level SEO services, including keyword strategy, content marketing, technical SEO, ecommerce optimization, and link-building.
• Cost Considerations: Understand the various pricing models, like hourly rates and retainers. Assess the potential ROI and look for transparent pricing without hidden fees.
• Essential Tools: Check for advanced SEO tools usage such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, Ahrefs, and technical SEO tools like Screaming Frog. Ensure these tools are integrated seamlessly into the agency's processes.
• Industry Experience: Choose an agency with specific expertise in your industry. Review their case studies and client reviews to gauge their success and strategies.
• Client Portfolio: Investigate the agency's notable clients and detailed case studies. This helps assess their capability to handle complex SEO demands and improve search rankings and traffic.
• Red Flags to Avoid: Watch out for lack of transparency, one-size-fits-all strategies, guaranteed rankings, poor communication, and outdated techniques. Demand detailed proposals and proof of success to ensure the agency's reliability and effectiveness.

What Is An Enterprise SEO Agency

An enterprise SEO agency specializes in optimizing large-scale websites to enhance their visibility in search engine results. These agencies manage complex site structures, extensive content, and competitive keywords, ensuring that large organizations maintain a strong online presence. For instance, enterprise SEO strategies involve scaling content and ongoing technical SEO management.

The demand for such specialized services is evident, with the SEO industry projected to reach $146.96 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%.

This growth underscores that large enterprises are increasingly recognizing the importance of SEO.

Moreover, 75% of large enterprises currently outsource their SEO tasks, highlighting the reliance on external expertise to navigate the complexities of enterprise-level SEO.

Why You Need an Enterprise SEO Agency

Here’s what issues an enterprise SEO agency can solve:

1. You Need More Qualified Traffic

Enterprise SEO agencies possess specialized knowledge and utilize advanced tools to effectively manage and optimize large websites. Their expertise ensures that complex site structures are efficiently handled, leading to improved search engine rankings. For instance, the top three organic search results receive more than two-thirds (68.7%) of all clicks on the Google Search page.

2. You Want Better Brand Visibility and Reputation

A well-executed enterprise SEO strategy does more than improve search rankings—it establishes your brand as a trusted authority in your industry. 70% of consumers prefer learning about a company through organic content rather than ads, meaning strong SEO not only increases visibility but also builds credibility.

Higher search rankings lead to greater trust among customers, which is essential for enterprises competing in saturated markets. In fact, 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results, making it crucial for large-scale businesses to secure top positions.

Moreover, organic search drives 53% of all website traffic, highlighting the importance of sustained enterprise SEO efforts. The more visible and authoritative your brand appears in organic search, the stronger your reputation—and the higher your long-term business growth potential.

3. You Lack In-House Resources to Get the Benefits Above

Managing SEO for large enterprises requires substantial resources that many in-house teams may lack. Building an internal SEO department involves significant investment in hiring, training, and tools. 

For instance, assembling a comprehensive team—including an SEO director, outreach specialists, content writers, editors, and digital PR experts—can cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000 annually in salaries alone.

Additionally, 44% of companies currently utilize SEO strategies, highlighting the competitive advantage that well-resourced SEO efforts can provide.

Given these demands, partnering with an enterprise SEO agency can offer the necessary expertise and resources to effectively scale your SEO initiatives.

Questions to Ask an Enterprise SEO Agency Before Hiring

Hiring the right enterprise SEO agency can make or break your search visibility, brand reputation, and revenue growth. But with so many agencies claiming expertise, how do you separate the best from the rest? Asking the right questions ensures you partner with an agency that aligns with your business goals, has the right expertise, and delivers measurable results.

1. Experience & Industry Knowledge

 Have you worked with enterprise-level businesses in my industry before?

• Enterprise SEO varies by industry—ecommerce SEO differs from SaaS SEO, which differs from media SEO. Ensure the agency has relevant experience.

 Can you share case studies or references from previous enterprise clients?

• Look for detailed before-and-after performance metrics that prove their ability to drive real results.

 How do you approach SEO for large-scale websites with thousands (or millions) of pages?

• Enterprise sites require scalable solutions like automation, programmatic SEO, and technical optimizations.

 What experience do you have in international SEO?

• If you operate in multiple markets, ensure they can handle hreflang tags, local SERPs, and multilingual content optimization.

2. SEO Strategy & Execution

 What specific enterprise SEO strategies do you implement?

• Listen for insights into content scaling, automation, structured data, technical SEO, and high-authority link-building.

 How do you conduct keyword research for enterprise businesses?

• Ensure they use advanced tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or BrightEdge and focus on long-tail, branded, and programmatic keywords.

 How do you handle technical SEO for large websites?

• Ask how they manage crawl budgets, duplicate content, page speed, Core Web Vitals, and JavaScript SEO.

 What’s your approach to content optimization at scale?

• Enterprise SEO requires more than blog posts. Ask if they handle automated content generation, content pruning, and AI-driven optimization.

 How do you integrate SEO with other marketing channels?

• Enterprise SEO should work alongside PPC, social media, and email marketing for a cohesive strategy.

3. Tools, Reporting & Metrics

 What enterprise SEO tools do you use for tracking performance?

• Agencies should leverage Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, Botify, Deepcrawl, and proprietary tools for insights.

 What KPIs do you track to measure SEO success?

• Expect detailed tracking of organic traffic, keyword rankings, domain authority, bounce rates, and conversion rates.

 How often do you provide reports, and what do they include?

• Reports should be data-driven, transparent, and aligned with your business goals. Ask if they offer custom dashboards.

 How do you measure the ROI of SEO efforts?

• SEO should drive measurable results. Look for a focus on lead generation, revenue impact, and cost-per-acquisition (CPA).

4. Link Building & Reputation Management

 What is your link-building strategy?

• Avoid agencies that promise quick results or bulk backlinks—these can harm rankings. Look for high-authority, editorial links.

 How do you manage brand reputation in search results?

• Enterprise brands need proactive reputation management, brand SERP optimization, and crisis handling.

5. Compliance & Future-Proofing

 How do you ensure compliance with Google’s guidelines?

• Ensure they follow white-hat SEO practices and avoid penalties.

 How do you stay updated on search engine algorithm changes?

• SEO is constantly evolving. Look for agencies that monitor updates, conduct ongoing testing, and adjust strategies proactively.

 How do you handle Google core updates and ranking fluctuations?

• They should have strategies for recovery, adaptability, and long-term ranking stability.

6. Pricing & Collaboration

 What’s your pricing structure for enterprise SEO services?

• Understand whether they charge a flat fee, hourly rate, or performance-based model.

 How will your team collaborate with our in-house marketing team?

• SEO requires close collaboration with internal teams, developers, and content creators.

 What does the first 90 days of working with you look like?

• A solid agency should outline a structured roadmap for technical audits, strategy development, and initial optimizations.

How to Choose an Enterprise SEO Agency

To pick the right SEO partner, consider the following:

1. Enterprise SEO Services Offered

The first step in choosing your future SEO agency is to make sure they have the right enterprise-level SEO services.

Not using the right services is like trying to cure a broken arm with eye medication. 

In this case, your goal is to enhance your business's online presence. But the issue is why your search engine rankings are low or why you’re losing organic keywords.

From that perspective, you may need different services.

• Keyword strategy development: Developing successful SEO strategies tailored to enterprise-level businesses involves deep industry experience. A comprehensive keyword strategy should also align your SEO efforts with your other digital marketing strategies and your overall business goals.some text
  • Insider tip: A top-level SEO agency understands that enterprises need to rank for non-branded and branded keywords. Also, they should go after competitive seed keywords as well, not just low-hanging long-tail search terms.

That’s what we did for influencer marketing agency Tiddle.io. We helped them outrank several huge online dictionaries for their brand name, “tiddle.”

And we did that by building lots of links to their homepage.

• Content marketing and optimization: A strong content strategy drives organic traffic and improves low search rankings. After all, you’re responding to your target audience’s queries and search intent. some text
  • Insider tip: Depending on your minuses, a solid enterprise SEO agency should know how to do content creation to content optimization at scale. And they should ensure all your pages are fine-tuned for search engine algorithms.
• Technical SEO: Technical optimizations enhance user experience and make your website easy to understand and index by search engine crawlers. Key areas include site speed, mobile responsiveness, and structured data. Doing these technical optimizations keeps people on your website longer, and visit length is a huge ranking factor for Google.some text
  • Insider tip: Enterprise-level websites have lots of pages. It’s hard to keep track of pages that aren’t indexed properly or toxic links that trigger Google penalties. That’s why we conduct regular SEO audits for our clients.
• Ecommerce SEO: Specifically designed for online retailers, ecommerce SEO focuses on optimizing product pages, managing reputation, and enhancing conversion rates to boost sales process efficiency. some text
  • Insider tip: An enterprise-level ecommerce website has over 10,000 pages. You need an awesome website and URL structure for all that. Your future SEO agency should also tackle issues like page speed, duplicate content, schema markup, and hreflang tags.
• Link-building: Building inbound links from authoritative websites is great for ranking and indexing purposes. Enterprise websites have specific needs, though. You can’t simply do guest posts like smaller websites. You need a constant stream of linkable content assets and tools. Besides, you need solid digital PR strategies and relationship link-building.some text
  • Insider tip: Try to get editorial links by posting industry case studies, white papers, and statistics related to your niche.
• White-label SEO: You may already have an in-house SEO team. In that case, you need a third-party SEO agency to help you with specific issues. For example, your in-house SEOs can be great at creating niche content. However, enterprise websites need to promote that content heavily. some text
  • Insider tip: Our SEO team finds data-driven opportunities to promote this content by creating authoritative links to them or using social media.

Insider overall tip: Pick a data-driven SEO agency. You need your partners to constantly monitor their SEO efforts, zeroing in and doubling down on the best strategies.

2. Enterprise SEO Costs

The costs of enterprise SEO services can vary widely depending on your company size, the scope of the SEO services you need, and the specific needs of your enterprise organization. Here’s how to navigate the pricing landscape and ensure you select a fair price:

• Assess your SEO budget: Define your SEO and marketing budgets. This will help you understand what you can afford in terms of SEO. More importantly, it will align your investment with your overall digital marketing strategies.
  
  
• Understanding different service levels: SEO costs differ based on whether you're getting comprehensive keyword research, ongoing optimization, or a one-time SEO overhaul. Enterprise SEO firms offer packages or a la carte options. And each is priced according to the depth of the service.
  
  
• Hourly rate vs. retainer: Some enterprise SEO agencies charge an hourly rate, while others ask for a monthly retainer. Retainers are common for long-term projects and include a suite of services such as regular updates, technical optimizations, and content optimization.
  
  
• ROI expectations: Evaluate potential agencies not just by their cost but by their potential return on investment. A reputable agency should be able to project the potential uplift in organic search traffic and conversion rates, which can justify higher upfront costs.
  
  
• Transparent pricing models: Look for agencies that offer clear and detailed explanations of what each segment of their service costs. More importantly, make sure there are no hidden fees. Transparent pricing indicates you’re dealing with a reputable company.

3. Enterprise SEO Tools

Enterprise-level companies need enterprise-level SEO tools.

You can’t manage large-scale websites and complex SEO strategies with basic plans. 

So, here’s our rundown of different tools you should expect your next enterprise SEO agency to use:

• Google Analytics and Advanced Analytics: You need this for tracking website traffic, user behavior, and conversion metrics. These tools help the SEO agency make data-driven decisions and optimize its digital marketing efforts.
  
  
• SEO platforms like SEMrush or Ahrefs: These provide comprehensive functionalities, including keyword research, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, and SEO audits. We use them both together for developing robust keyword strategies and monitoring search rankings.some text
  • Insider tip: We long noticed that Ahrefs and SEMrush can give you different traffic data. That’s why you need to use multiple SEO tools together to get a bigger picture.
    
    
• Content Management Systems (CMS) with SEO capabilities: Platforms such as WordPress or Magento have SEO plugins. Using these platforms is great for content optimization and managing large-scale content.
  
  
• Technical SEO tools like Screaming Frog or DeepCrawl: These tools crawl your website like a search engine would. They identify technical issues that could impact your search engine optimization, such as broken links, poor mobile usability, or slow page speeds.
  
  
• Conversion optimization tools: Tools such as Optimizely or Unbounce let you A/B test different elements of your website. We like them because they’re really helpful when it comes to improving conversion rates.
  
  
• Reputation management software: This type of software is great for large-scale websites that get plenty of brand mentions. You need these to strategize around online reviews and feedback. That’ll help you manage your online reputation to avoid negative surprises and skyrocket your organic traffic.
  
  
• Custom enterprise solutions: Some enterprise organizations may require customized tools developed to meet specific needs, integrating various aspects of SEO, content management, and analytics into a seamless interface.
  
  

Now, here’s the million-dollar question: How can you ensure your SEO agency uses the right tools?

• Ask for demonstrations: During your selection process, ask potential enterprise SEO service providers to show you how they integrate these tools into their SEO process.
• Tool expertise: Check that the agency’s team has certified or highly experienced specialists who can leverage these tools to their full potential.
• Compatibility check: Check if the agency's tools are compatible with your internal systems. The main point here is to see if they can integrate smoothly without disrupting existing workflows.

4. Industry Experience

A versatile and adaptable enterprise SEO agency can cater to various industries. However, that’s not always best for your SEO efforts. 

Different niches present unique challenges and opportunities in SEO.  Besides, you need to truly understand an industry to grasp your audience’s search intent, which is arguably more important than backlinks or content.

And that’s why you need an agency with relevant industry experience. 

Here’s how to ensure your next SEO agency fits your industry:

• Identify specialization areas: Some enterprise SEO agencies specialize in specific sectors like real estate, ecommerce, or technology. Choose an agency with proven experience and success in your specific industry.
  
  
• Review case studies and client reviews: Look at case studies that detail the agency’s work with past clients, especially those in your industry. Client reviews can also provide insight into the agency's expertise.
  
  
• Evaluate industry-specific SEO strategies: Each industry requires a unique approach to SEO. For example, ecommerce SEO demands a strong focus on product optimization and user experience. Real estate SEO might emphasize local SEO strategies and content engineering.
  
  
• Discuss industry-specific goals and KPIs: During initial meetings, discuss your specific industry goals, such as increasing specific product line visibility or dominating local search results. See what digital strategies the agency plans to achieve these goals with.
  
  
• Assess their understanding of industry trends: An agency that keeps up with the latest trends and changes in your industry’s digital landscape will be more capable of adjusting strategies dynamically to maintain or improve your search engine rankings.

Insider tip: Look at the agency’s blog.

For example, we have lots of articles on different industries where we excel:

5. Notable Clients

You can check an enterprise SEO agency’s track record by looking at their notable clients, case studies, and reviews. These elements reveal the agency’s capacity to handle complex SEO campaigns and their impact on your business strategies. 

Let’s look at this three-pronged approach:

• Research client lists: Browse the agency’s website for a list of notable clients. Larger, well-known companies prove that the agency can handle enterprise-level demands and expectations.
  
  
• Examine case studies: Case studies are invaluable for understanding the agency’s SEO approach and their strategies' effectiveness. Look for detailed before-and-after metrics that demonstrate measurable improvement in search engine rankings, organic traffic, and conversion rates.
  
  
• Read client reviews: Client reviews and testimonials provide insights into the agency’s reliability, responsiveness, and customer service quality. Reviews might also touch on the agency's ability to integrate with an internal team or collaborate on SEO goals.

Another major issue is how do you interpret these case studies correctly? Many SEO agencies can embellish their successes if not outright lie.

• Check for Specifics: Reliable case studies should offer specific data and detail the SEO process, including challenges faced and strategies implemented.
• Look for Context: Understand the context in which results were achieved. For example, the agency should outline industry-specific hurdles or particular digital marketing challenges.
• Assess Objectivity: Be wary of case studies that only highlight successes. Look for mentions of setbacks or ongoing challenges, as these provide a more honest and realistic view of what the agency can accomplish.

And here’s how we advise you to learn from these case studies:

• Adjust your expectations: Client stories help you set realistic expectations for what the SEO agency can achieve. You’ll look at timelines, potential obstacles, and the tools they typically use.
• Strategic insights: Business owners and SEO chiefs can understand how the agency tailors its strategies for different sectors and problems. And that means you get a glimpse into their problem-solving capabilities.
• Outcome evaluation: Assess whether the agency’s results align with your own digital strategy and SEO goals.

Take, for example, our case study for executive resume service, Arielle.

We showcase our services, tools, and results from the get-go:

We tripled Arielle’s SQLs by building over 400 links in authoritative websites.

We also outline very specific challenges that Arielle faced before coming to us, such as niche keywords that senior professionals and decision-makers use when performing Google searches. The high industry competition was another massive challenge for them.

We then discuss the project execution in some depth. We even offer before-and-after screenshots of Arielle’s progress to prove our success.

Here’s Arielle’s organic traffic growth:

And here’s Arielle’s ranking number one for the niche keyword “executive resume:”

But more importantly, you can see Arielle got these results over the course of a 2-year collaboration.

Warning: An SEO agency that promises overnight results is a red flag. That brings us to the next point:

Red Flags in Choosing an Enterprise SEO Company

Selecting the right enterprise SEO company is key to reaching your digital marketing objectives and sustainable growth. 

Choosing the wrong enterprise SEO agency entails a serious setback.

Here are five red flags to watch out for when evaluating potential agencies from our own experience in the SEO playground:

• Lack of transparency: If an agency is not open about its strategies or does not provide clear, detailed reports on its digital marketing efforts, you could infer a lack of accountability. 
• One-size-fits-all approach: Enterprise SEO needs are highly specific and vary from one business to another. Be cautious of SEO service providers that offer generic, cookie-cutter strategies instead of personalized solutions tailored to meet your enterprise-level business strategies.
• Guaranteed rankings: Promising first-page rankings or fast results is a major red flag. SEO is an ongoing process that depends on numerous factors, including industry competitiveness and algorithm updates. Any company making such guarantees is likely not being honest about its capabilities.
• Poor communication: Effective communication is key to any successful partnership. If an enterprise SEO firm does not regularly engage with your marketing team or provide regular updates, it could signal potential problems in managing your project effectively.
• Outdated techniques: Older SEO techniques can do more harm than good, even leading to search engine penalties. Ensure the agency uses up-to-date, ethical SEO strategies that comply with current best practices.

How to avoid these red flags:

• Demand detailed proposals: Ask for detailed proposals that outline specific strategies, timelines, and expected outcomes. This will help ensure the agency’s approach aligns with your digital strategy.
• Seek proof of success: Request case studies or references from similar-sized companies in your industry. You need real-world evidence of the agency’s capability and industry experience.
• Evaluate their online reputation: Research the agency online. Look for client reviews, especially those related to their digital landscape strategies, to gauge their reputation and reliability.

5 Best Enterprise SEO Agencies in 2025

Now that we’ve seen factors to consider and red flags, let’s look at some of the best enterprise SEO agencies in 2025:

1. Blue Things

Blue Things is a full-service SEO agency specializing in revenue growth for agencies, SaaS, and B2B businesses. Their comprehensive services include advanced SEO solutions, content strategy, and local SEO, all tailored to drive customer acquisition and boost ROI. With a results-driven approach, Blue Things focuses on key metrics to ensure the success of your strategy.

2. WebFX

WebFX is a renowned enterprise SEO agency offering a wide range of digital marketing services. They have a proven track record of delivering results for large-scale businesses.

3. Victorious

Victorious specializes in enterprise SEO strategies, providing tailored solutions to enhance search visibility and drive organic growth for large organizations.

4. Directive

Directive is known for its expertise in content marketing, offering data-driven strategies to improve search rankings and increase organic traffic for large enterprises.

5. Big Leap

Big Leap provides comprehensive enterprise SEO services, focusing on sustainable growth and improved search engine performance for large-scale businesses.

So, if you want to partner with a solid enterprise SEO agency with proven results, let’s book a strategy call.

We’ll help you with personalized SEO strategies just like we did for Tiddle.io, Arielle, and our other clients.

FAQ

Why Do You Need an Enterprise SEO Agency?

Managing SEO for large organizations requires specialized expertise. Enterprise SEO agencies offer tailored strategies to enhance search visibility across vast websites. They address challenges like maintaining brand consistency across multiple locations or products and managing thousands of web pages.

Enterprise SEO vs. Traditional SEO: What’s the Difference?

Traditional SEO focuses on smaller websites with fewer pages, targeting local or niche audiences. In contrast, enterprise SEO manages large-scale websites, requiring more sophisticated tools and strategies to handle thousands of pages. It involves advanced tactics like automation and extensive data analysis to maintain and improve search rankings.

How Long Does Enterprise SEO Take to Show Results?

SEO is a long-term strategy. Typically, it takes between three to six months to start seeing results, with consistent improvements often appearing within a year. This timeline can vary based on factors like website size, industry competition, and the effectiveness of implemented strategies.