What Search Engine People does

Search Engine People (SEP) is a privately held, full-service digital marketing agency founded in 2001 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with satellite offices in Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. The firm delivers SEO, SEM/PPC, social media marketing, content creation, web design and creative, video and programmatic, link building, and data analytics services, and has expanded into AI-era offerings including Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), LLM SEO, an AI Visibility Tool for ChatGPT and Google, and ChatGPT Ads Management. It also provides HubSpot implementation, A/B testing, conversion rate optimization, and fractional marketing services to a client base spanning small businesses, mid-market companies, and enterprise brands across Canada, the United States, and international markets.

The agency's technology backbone is a proprietary platform in which more than $2 million has been invested; it integrates client data with third-party data via warehousing and processing pipelines, supports predictive SEO forecasting, and underpins conversion tracking across Google, Bing, Facebook, and LinkedIn. SEP is described as Google's first Premier Partner in Canada and operates a fully in-house delivery model with no outsourcing, with team members across multiple Canadian provinces and remote locations in North America.

Commercially, SEP uses a custom-quote, discovery-led sales motion with no pre-packaged offerings or required long-term contracts. Pricing is structured as monthly retainers typically ranging from approximately $1,000 for entry-level SEO to $30,000 or more for enterprise engagements, supplemented by project-based fees for creative, web design, content, and HubSpot work. The agency reports average client retention of 3 years achieved without contractual lock-in and a longest-standing client relationship exceeding 14 years, serving more than 3,000 cumulative clients across its 24-year history.

Name

Search Engine People

Legal name

Search Engine People Inc.

Website

https://searchenginepeople.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Search Engine People is a privately held Toronto-based digital marketing agency founded in 2001 that delivers SEO, PPC, content, web design, and AI search optimization services to SMBs, mid-market firms, and enterprise brands across Canada, the U.S., and international markets via proprietary technology and in-house certified teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) / Paid Search (PPC) (BPAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) / Paid Search (PPC) Management (MPAAACAB)

Keywords

• Search engine optimization
• Digital marketing services
• Paid search advertising
• Content marketing services
• AI search optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

Pickering

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SEO Services: Ongoing SEO services including technical SEO, content optimization, link building, local SEO. Clients typically commit to 4, 6, or 12-month engagement periods for meaningful results. Monthly retainer model with pricing ranging from $1,000 to $30,000+/month based on scope.
2. SEM/PPC Services: Paid search and display advertising management including Google Ads, programmatic, and video advertising. Data-driven approach focused on ROAS rather than vanity metrics.
3. Web Design & Creative Services: Creative and web design services including landing pages, ad creative, brand identity work.
4. Content Services: In-house content creation services including copywriting, content strategy, and AI-ready content optimization.
5. HubSpot Implementation: HubSpot CRM and marketing platform implementation and optimization services.
6. Social Media Marketing: Social media advertising and management services across multiple platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Search Engine People is a full-service digital marketing agency delivering SEO, SEM/PPC, content, web design, social media, link building, video/programmatic advertising, and AI search optimization services. The firm serves SMBs and enterprise brands in Canada and internationally through monthly retainer engagements, supported by a proprietary data analytics platform with over $2M invested. Google's first Premier Partner in Canada, SEP performs all work in-house with certified specialists.

Product overview

Search Engine People is a full-service digital marketing agency that offers a comprehensive portfolio of marketing services centered on search engine optimization, paid media, and performance-driven digital strategy. The core offerings include SEO, SEM/PPC, Web Design & Creative, Content, Social Media Marketing, Video & Programmatic, Data Services, and Link Building. The company has expanded into AI-specific services including AI SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and specialized optimization for AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. Supporting services include HubSpot Implementation, A/B Testing, conversion rate optimization, and various SEO packages. The agency utilizes proprietary technology for data warehousing and analytics. Founded in 2001, the company serves businesses of all sizes from small businesses to enterprise clients across Canada and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEO Services Search engine optimization services including technical SEO, content optimization, link building, and local SEO to increase organic search rankings and drive conversions. Clients typically commit to 4, 6, or 12-month engagement periods.
• SEM/PPC Services Search engine marketing and pay-per-click advertising management including Google Ads, programmatic, video advertising, Bing, Facebook, and LinkedIn ad management. Data-driven approach focused on ROAS rather than vanity metrics.
• Web Design & Creative Services Creative design services for landing pages, ad creative, brand identity, and web design combining data-driven strategy with creative execution.
• Content Services In-house content creation services including copywriting, content strategy, and AI-ready content optimization designed to affect ranking, quality scores, and conversion rates.
• Social Media Marketing Social media marketing and advertising services for building brand awareness with precise demographic and psychographic targeting across major social platforms.
• Video & Programmatic Video advertising and programmatic media buying services for reaching target audiences with precise, personalized ads across digital channels.
• Link Building Services Backlink acquisition services from trusted websites to boost search engine ranking and domain authority.
• Data Services Analytics and data services analyzing user behavior to optimize campaigns and boost ROI, supported by proprietary data warehousing and processing technology.
• AI Search Engine Optimization AI-specific search optimization services covering Google's AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Grok, including Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO).
• HubSpot Implementation Services HubSpot CRM and marketing platform implementation and optimization services as a certified HubSpot partner to help clients boost revenue through marketing automation.
• ChatGPT Ads Management Services Advertising management services for the ChatGPT ad platform, structured similarly to Google Ads with campaigns, ad groups, ads, products, conversion tracking, and bidding strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% increase in keyword performance for Speedy Cash
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle's FIRST Premier Partner in Canada - the highest level any SEO agency can attain. Premier Partner status provides exclusive research, insights, and beta features that help maximize campaign success for clients. SEO team is continually re-certified with latest learning in search engine optimization strategies.
• HubSpotcoreTechnology or IntegrationSEP offers HubSpot Implementation Services as a certified partner, helping clients leverage the HubSpot customer platform to boost revenue through efficient CRM and marketing automation.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationSEP offers specialized Shopify SEO services, helping e-commerce businesses optimize their Shopify stores for search visibility. Mentioned as integration partner for Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) implementation.
• WordPresscoreTechnology or IntegrationSEP offers specialized WordPress SEO services and publishes extensive WordPress-related content. Blog includes detailed guidance on WordPress CMS optimization, security plugins (Solid Security, WordFence), and best practices.
• TEC CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Jennifer Osborne is a member of TEC Canada, the largest executive and leadership development program in North America. TEC provides peer advisory groups, executive coaching, and global network access through Vistage Worldwide affiliation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wpromote: Large US-based digital marketing agency with a similar full-service SEO/PPC/content model and mid-market to enterprise client base. Directly comparable in service mix, retainer pricing, and emphasis on performance-driven search marketing.
• WebFX: US digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, web design, and content with proprietary marketing technology (MarketingCloudFX). Comparable to SEP in service breadth, in-house delivery model, and proprietary data platform investment.
• Ignite Visibility: US-based digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, PPC, social media, and email. Similar mid-market to enterprise positioning, performance-led value proposition, and Google Premier Partner status make it a strong direct comparable.
• Directive: B2B-focused digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, and content services with an enterprise client base. Comparable service model and retainer-based engagement approach, with a similar emphasis on revenue attribution.
• Disruptive Advertising: US digital marketing agency providing PPC, SEO, and social media management with a performance-driven, no-long-term-contract model similar to SEP. Comparable in service mix, client tier targeting, and outcome-based positioning.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, web design, and content with a similar SMB-to-enterprise client spectrum. Comparable service portfolio, retainer pricing, and emphasis on data-driven results.

Regional players

• seoplus+: Canadian digital marketing agency headquartered near Toronto offering SEO, PPC, content, and web design. Highly comparable as a Canadian-headquartered competitor with similar service mix and SMB/mid-market positioning.
• Major Tom: Canadian digital marketing agency with offices in Toronto and Vancouver offering strategy, SEO, PPC, and web design. Comparable as a Canadian-headquartered full-service agency with similar SMB-to-mid-market positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Jellyfish: Global digital marketing agency within the Brandtech Group offering media planning, paid search, SEO, and analytics at much larger scale. Comparable capability set but operates as a broader incumbent serving enterprise multinationals.
• Brainlabs: Global performance media agency with deep SEM/PPC expertise and proprietary technology. Overlaps with SEP's paid search and data-driven approach but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/senginepeople
• Facebookfacebook.com/SearchEnginePeople
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/search-engine-people

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Search Engine People