What Be Found Online does

Be Found Online (BFO) is a Chicago-based boutique digital marketing agency founded in 2004 that delivers full-funnel search and performance marketing services to enterprise and mid-market clients across both B2B (financial services, software/SaaS, manufacturing) and B2C (consumer packaged goods, ecommerce, education, restaurants, retail, travel/hospitality, cannabis) verticals. Its service pillars span SEO Solutions (technical, off-page, local, content, website migration), Paid Media Solutions (paid search, paid social, programmatic, display, shopping, multi-location/franchise), Data & Analytics Solutions (Looker Studio dashboards, GA4 consulting, server-side tracking), Content Solutions, and an emerging AI Search Optimization practice anchored by its proprietary AIQ Score assessment tool.

BFO operates as a professional services agency with project-based fees, retainer agreements, and consulting engagements requiring a minimum 6-month commitment. Its go-to-market is high-touch and consultative, targeting enterprise and mid-market clients through direct sales via website contact form, phone (773.904.1342), email, and in-person visits at its Chicago headquarters. Differentiators include Google Premier Partner and Semrush Certified Agency Partner status, an average of 8 years of industry experience per team member, and proprietary tools such as the AIQ Score, server-side tracking implementations, and custom Looker Studio dashboards. Client outcomes cited include a 543% YoY revenue increase for Bai, 3,400% conversion growth, 410% traffic growth, and 117 hours per quarter saved for SHI.

The firm is privately held and founder-/management-owned with no disclosed institutional investors, subsidiaries, or parent company. It maintains membership in the Nostos Partners agency network for full-service delivery beyond its in-house capacity, and was previously featured in BuiltIn Chicago's '9 Chicago SEO & SEM Agencies to Know' (2025). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; headcount sits in the 51-100 range.

Name

Be Found Online

Legal name

BFO (Be Found Online)

Website

https://befoundonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Be Found Online is a Chicago-based boutique digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, data analytics, content, and AI search optimization services to enterprise and mid-market clients across B2B and B2C verticals, with a 51-100 person team and Google Premier Partner status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Marketing Services: Comprehensive digital marketing agency services including SEO, Paid Media, Content Solutions, and Data & Analytics. Revenue generated through project-based fees, retainer agreements, and consulting engagements. Services are sold with a minimum 6-month engagement commitment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Be Found Online is a Chicago-based digital marketing agency that delivers full-funnel digital marketing services across five pillars: SEO Solutions, Paid Media Solutions, Data & Analytics Solutions, AI Search Optimization, and Content Solutions. The firm sells project-based and retainer engagements to enterprise and mid-market clients across both B2B and B2C verticals, with a minimum 6-month commitment. Services include technical and local SEO, paid search/social/programmatic/display/shopping ads, GA4 implementation, server-side tracking, AI search readiness assessment via its proprietary AIQ Score, and end-to-end content production.

Product overview

Be Found Online (BFO) is a Chicago-based digital marketing agency offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected service pillars: SEO Solutions, Paid Media Solutions, Data & Analytics Solutions, AI Search Optimization, and Content Solutions. Their SEO Solutions encompass technical SEO, off-page SEO, local SEO, content services, and website migrations. Paid Media Solutions cover paid search, paid social, programmatic advertising, display, shopping ads, and multi-location/franchise management. Data & Analytics Solutions include website analytics, custom reporting, Google Analytics 4 consulting, and server-side tracking implementation. AI Search Optimization is their newest pillar, featuring the AI Visibility & Readiness (AIQ Score) tool for assessing brand visibility in AI search. Content Solutions provide end-to-end content marketing from research through optimization. The services are designed to work together, with data analytics informing SEO and paid media strategies, and AI optimization emerging as a cross-cutting capability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIQ: AI Visibility & Readiness tool that helps brands understand and improve their AI search visibility. Accessible via aiq.befoundonline.com.

Products and services

• SEO Solutions Comprehensive search engine optimization services for enterprise and mid-market clients covering technical SEO, off-page SEO, local SEO, content services for SEO, and website migration support. Sold as a core retainer service line at Be Found Online.
• Paid Media Solutions Full-service paid advertising agency offering across search, social, programmatic, display, shopping, and multi-location/franchise channels. Sold as a core retainer service line at Be Found Online.
• Data & Analytics Solutions Analytics consulting including website analytics, custom reporting dashboards, Google Analytics 4 implementation and migration, and server-side tracking for improved data accuracy and privacy compliance. Sold as a core retainer service line.
• AI Search Optimization Optimization services focused on brand visibility in AI-powered search experiences, anchored by the proprietary AIQ Score assessment tool that scores AI readiness and delivers an improvement roadmap. Sold as a core service line.
• Content Solutions End-to-end content marketing services covering research and audit, content creation and publishing, and performance reporting and optimization. Sold as a core retainer service line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 543% YoY revenue increase for clients (Bai case study)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Premier Partner status. BFO maintains certified partnership with Google, demonstrating expertise in Google Ads, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and other Google marketing platforms. This partnership enables BFO to access beta features and demonstrate validated expertise.
• SemrushcoreTechnology or IntegrationSemrush Certified Agency Partner. BFO holds certification in Semrush SEO tools, demonstrating proficiency in the platform for SEO analysis, keyword research, and competitive intelligence.
• Nostos PartnersstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFO is part of the NOSTOS partners network, described as the 'future of full-service marketing.' NOSTOS is a community of complementary marketing agencies that collaborate to provide comprehensive solutions.
• Digital Summit ChicagostrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerBFO is a sponsor and active participant in Digital Summit Chicago, hosting podcast interviews ('Big Questions With BFO') and engaging in industry discussions at the conference.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: Larger, established digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, and CRO at greater scale than BFO. Comparable services but materially larger headcount, technology stack, and revenue base.

Direct peers

• Straight North: Chicago-based mid-sized digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid search, and web design services to B2B and B2C clients. Closely comparable in size, geography, and service mix to Be Found Online.
• Walker Sands: Chicago B2B marketing agency offering integrated demand generation, PR, and digital services. Comparable on Chicago HQ, mid-market B2B focus, and full-funnel digital services.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, social media, and web design with multi-location capability. Comparable on full-funnel service mix and franchise/multi-location specialization.
• TopSpot Internet Marketing: B2B industrial marketing agency specializing in SEO, paid media, and website design for manufacturers and distributors. Comparable on B2B focus and full-service digital delivery.
• Rise Interactive: Chicago-based digital marketing agency focused on media, analytics, and customer experience. Comparable on paid media, analytics, and Chicago HQ, though slightly larger in scale.
• Ignite Visibility: Mid-sized performance digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, social media, and email. Comparable on multi-channel service breadth and mid-market enterprise client base.
• Digital Third Coast: Chicago-based boutique digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, paid media, and analytics. Comparable in size, Chicago footprint, and full-funnel service offering.
• Nebo Agency: Full-service digital agency offering SEO, paid media, content, and analytics. Comparable on service breadth and mid-market positioning, though Atlanta-headquartered rather than Chicago.
• Wiideman Consulting Group: Multi-location SEO and digital marketing agency with deep franchise expertise. Directly comparable on the multi-location/franchise specialization that BFO highlights as a differentiator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/befoundonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/BeFoundOnline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/befoundonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Be Found Online