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Top 10 Northern Virginia SEO & Digital Marketing Firms

From time to time we’ve taken account of the digital marketing and SEO landscape around us, here in Northern Virginia. Things change quickly on the Internet, and in the DMV digital business area - particularly for online marketing businesses competing for business, keeping up with Google, and educating local clients about all things digital.  Our research summary here is a mix of current data, and our long-time understanding of the expertise available in our industry here in NOVA.  While our summary may obviously appear subjective - we’re happy to point out the stronger players - while bypassing others - in this area.  Some are friends, some we’ve known, some are newcomers, but the digital marketing industry in Northern Virginia is quite healthy, with a very capable and professional shortlist of providers for the wealth of small and mid-sized businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and startups who need help getting to #1 in Google search results.

We did the research, so you don’t have to. 

If you’re an organization seeking visibility online to Northern Virginia customers, partners, future employees or new members - this is the Top 9 List of Northern Virginia SEO and Digital Marketing Firms to consider first.  It’s accurate, right now.

What would you look for, seeking this kind of help?  First, evidence of success - i.e. the company itself and its partners are easy to find on the Internet.  Second, the company leadership and its team are experienced, qualified, easy to find online as local, hands-on professionals - present and active in the local business and technology communities.  Staying power and testimonials are great evidence of capability - the top resources have been in business at least 7-8 years, with plenty of great recommendations across the boards.  Diversity of clients is another indicator of knowledge and agility, dealing with many forms and types of digital marketing. As is diversity and range of services - “digital marketing” truly is an integrated mix of online/offline marketing, technology, creative design, data analytics/science, social channel management and actual business process engineering.  It’s not just web design, not just PR, video tech or Facebook Ads. We’ll also point out that an agency with its roots in business data, marketing technology and Internet services is the right combo to find, vs. those that approach digital marketing first from the social or design angle - that’s not how revenue is produced.

If you simply search the Internet, using terms like “Northern Virginia SEO” - you’ll find many “local” providers - some with seemingly amazing online presence and quals.  Many of these actually aren’t in business, are out of the area (please don’t ever hire an overseas, “virtual” or out-of-state firm - it simply doesn’t work!), are just a single web designer, are really new and green behind the ears, etc. We know; we’ve done the research, we fight it all the time, fighting the “fake SEO news”. Some are actually too big and expensive, for the majority of small and mid-sized businesses in this area. It’s hard to dig through and find - using the criteria we’ve outlined above - the truly helpful, experienced northern Virginia digital marketing team that can and will deliver returns-on-investment you need.

So here are our summary results - the most interesting one concerns “online visibility”. Without taking into account how well each firm actually promotes itself, much of the list order is quite different, mainly the expert “little guys” outshining the larger guys - who may actually get most business via referrals, partnerships and direct sales. This SEO prowess, however, is one of the few true “business results” metrics we can observe in public - without being able to see the actual marketing, web traffic and business results of our competitors’ clients. (Well, we can’t see ALL of it, but some is findable).  So we include it - and the list as a whole is still the same list - the best, top 9 Northern Virginia SEO and Digital Marketing agencies for small and mid-sized businesses to consider now in 2018, heading into 2019.  If your provider, or one you’re considering, isn’t on this list - take another look. They’re probably not all they seem, or likely not up to the task. If you’re not on this list - examine your future clients and competition more closely, and keep on truckin’.

Top 10
  1. KME.digital - that’s our team and HQ offices in Fairfax City, with evidence of capability and expertise in every category, extremely reasonable costs and terms, plus we’re among the oldest kids on the block (previously “KME Internet Marketing”). Major, active presence among the local business and academic communities, plus really unique skills*. ‘Nuff said, just give us a call if you’d like more information, or just want to connect!
  2. Go Fish Digital - a significant presence in the area and beyond, a larger company that’s been around as long as we have.
  3. Silverback Strategies - in Alexandria, large Paid Media focus and background.
  4. Conversion Pipeline - a couple of local, engaged community experts - with Reston Chamber awards to prove it - plus good resources to help.
  5. Rapidan Inbound - a very focused “inbound marketing” talent with Hubspot certs, friends of ours from the NVTC.
  6. 99 Media Lab - a small group offering expertise that works, growing from their Fredericksburg web design roots.
  7. Bleevit - an experienced group of folks local to the Reston community who have been delivering much success to area clients, a solid online presence. 
  8. Rawson Internet Marketing - SEO expertise from a talented, local individual and his small team.
  9. Gallop Web Services - some of our Loudoun friends in Purcellville, creating and delivering great product for local clients.
  10. SocialMarketWay - an earnest, backlink-driven effort to capture the online SEO market around here, by a motivated newcomer.
  11. BONUS - Foster Web Marketing is also a reputable firm in the area, focusing nearly exclusively on law firms and medical offices.
*KME.digital's unique startup by certified IT Systems Engineers, Solution Architects and Program Managers provides world-class, enterprise IT knowledge and capabilities to smaller and mid-sized companies, at a fraction of the cost of a large IT firm or agency.  As well, we've been appointed Commissioners to local Economic Development agencies and leaders at local Chambers of Commerce, the NVTC.org, local STEM programs and local BNIs - all with a finger on the pulse of Northern Virginia's business and technology community. We can help or manage delivery of difficult or complex challenges, including custom IT development and integration, technical research and discovery, large program planning, digital design help in areas concerning cloud, cybersecurity and AI/ML, plus very long-lasting and successful relationships with world-class multi-media production studios and custom/mobile engineering shops.  Most of our smaller businesses won't really need any of this, but the indirect expertise, consultation and experience helps mitigate risks and ensure ROI of even the simplest engagement. Our larger clients and government agencies most certainly need these skills, offered by KME.digital at significant discounts to typical commercial rates and schedules.  No other firm on this "Top 10" list can demonstrate these unique credentials.

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