Top 6 SEM Agencies in Ottawa
We recently started a small business, but for the first few months, things did not do quite well. Feeling desperate, we looked for some of the best SEM agencies in Ottawa to help us to market and strategize better.
But hiring experts in the business comes with a price. With that, let’s first discuss the costs involved.
How much do SEM agencies charge in Ottawa?
The cost of hiring SEM agencies depends on several factors. Among these include the size of your business, the ad spend budget, the advertising strategy, and the campaign’s scale.
On average, companies spend between $9,000 and $10,000 per month. This already includes ad spend and management costs.
But to give you a better idea, below is a table showing some of the services offered by SEM agencies and how much they cost on average.
How We Picked the Top SEM Agencies in Ottawa
To get the best ones in the business, we used the following criteria to narrow down our choices during the selection process:
1. WebMarketers
| Criteria | Rating |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
We like WebMarketers for several reasons. One of these is its dynamic team of digital marketing specialists with diverse skill sets and educational backgrounds.
Combining the unique skills of its team members, it provides clients with comprehensive marketing packages. With these options, customers can get everything they need at cheaper costs.
WebMarketers offers a wide array of services that extend from Google Ads and social media marketing to conversion optimization and web development.
Over the years, it had over 750 clients — a testament to its vast experience in the marketing field. It has worked with companies like Canadian Blood Services, Habico Construction, and ALX Legal.
Apart from the free SEO analysis tool on its website, we also appreciate its portfolio, which shows some of its previous work for customers’ reference.
But above all, we love how its people are customer-focused and goal-oriented. They take the time to explain everything and answer questions in the simplest way possible.
Unfortunately, WebMarketers has had miscommunication issues with some of its customers in the past. It is also closed on weekends, so you might want to remember that if you plan to visit.
Nonetheless, with years of experience and great people, WebMarketers is a nice option for SEM marketing needs.
Pros
- Various services offered
- A team with diverse backgrounds
- Marketing packages
- Free SEO analysis tool
Cons
- Communication can be improved
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
A 10/ 10 experience
“Working with WebMarketers has been outstanding. From start to finish their attention to detail and care for their customer has been a 10/ 10 experience. One of our favourite parts about working with WebMarketers is that the process hasn’t felt like work. It has been enjoyable and their team goes above and beyond to ensure we ( the customer) is happy. We have seen incredible results and look forward to growing our future with WebMarketers!” — Jogi’s Import, Google Reviews
An outstanding job
“Highly recommended! The team at WebMarketers did an outstanding job designing and marketing my business website. Having originally contacted them with little knowledge of web design and marketing, they made the design decisions simple, broke down online marketing concepts to be approachable, and exceeded my expectations in terms of final product and traffic. WebMarketers offers prompt communication, approachability, and results that speak for themselves. Thanks again.” — Josh Butler, Google Reviews
2. Excentric Agency
| Criteria | Rating |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Performance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
We like Excentric because of its expertise and experience in handling marketing jobs. Having won relevant awards like the Best Rated Advertising Agency and the Web Creativity Award Winner proves that.
Among the services it offers include advertising, web designing, and social media management. The best part is that customers are given three payment options — project-based, managed marketing, or pay-as-you-go.
While the last one might be ideal for those that have varying monthly marketing needs, its hourly rate fluctuates.
We appreciate that Excentric ensures that all marketing campaigns are monitored, evaluated, and revised based on performance. It’s also great to know that the management proactively asks for feedback to ensure customer satisfaction.
The portfolio of its previous work, which is a great reference for potential customers, is also worth mentioning.
But on top of everything, we love how its people listen and provide support to its clients. No wonder it has become popular among organizations like the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and the University of Ottawa.
It’s just sad, though, that it is unavailable on weekends. So if you’re planning to get in touch with its team soon, you might want to bear that in mind.
Overall, we believe that Excentric truly cares about its customers, and this is enough for us to trust it when it comes to marketing needs.
Pros
- Has won relevant awards
- Various payment options
- Proactively asks for feedback
Cons
- Fluctuating hourly rate
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
An incredible experience
“Working with Excentric has been an incredible experience. Excentric is much more than just a flex marketing service provider and creative partner – they truly care about their customers, and it shows. For every project, the Excentric team has gone well above and beyond what was expected and continuously provide very high quality work. By pulling on many different skill sets, I can turn to Excentric for anything that I need. Moreover, there have been several occasions where circumstances led to major challenges and Excentric stepped up and saved us – even without being asked! I not only truly appreciate the way they have cared for us as a customer, but I can also can completely rely on them and trust them with anything that I need. I highly recommend Excentric and I’m happy to remain their partner for the years to come!” — Ryan Millar, Google Reviews
Highly recommended business partner
“When a service provider quickly grasps your objective for marketing and communications and then provides focus and excellent suggestions to enhance the project and your business, you know you are onto a winner! Greenlife has worked with Excentric for more than 10 years and Victoria and her team have always delighted us with every aspect of the creative process that they have managed. Highly recommended business partner.” — Sarah Johnston, Google Reviews
3. Ottawa Marketing Guys, Inc.
| Criteria | Rating |
| Experience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety of Services | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Performance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Ottawa Marketing Guys, Inc. specializes in SEO, web design, and Google Ads management, which uses programs like Google AdWords to get your business at the top of searches.
Despite being operational for only a few years, it has already bagged relevant awards like the Faces Favorite Marketing Agency Award in 2018.
Committed to helping its clients grow their businesses, it creates specially designed marketing campaigns to address companies’ needs. It even uses Geo-Fencing, which serves ads to customers based on the specific locations they have visited.
We like that it has a 24/7 group chat. Clients will have access to the directors of the company at all times, which is crucial for immediate concerns.
If you’re planning to start a business, it offers generic consultations to help you. It even has its own E-commerce Amazon and Shopify stores you could use if you’re having difficulties with those.
But on top of all these, we just love how its people make time for you. Aside from being open daily, weekly meetings are also provided when necessary to ensure that targets and goals are on track.
Although the services it offers are comparatively fewer, we still think that Ottawa Marketing Guys, Inc. has what it takes to help your business grow.
Pros
- Won relevant awards
- 24/7 group chat
- Offers weekly meetings
Cons
- Relatively new in the field
- Fewer services offered
Customer Reviews
Extensive amount of dedication and passion
“I had my co-op placement there, and I was honestly astonished by the work ethic of these guys. Each project they took on was handled with an extensive amount of dedication and passion; they wholeheartedly invest themselves in their clients’ dreams bringing it into reality with profits and leads for each of their clients. I went into Ottawa Marketing Guys thinking that this is just an agency like any other that will assign me some tasks to relieve their load of work and that I would be just another body working in the agency. However, their mentorship taught me more than what the job required. They took their time to educate me about the intricacies of the digital marketing world. Through their profoundness, they helped me realized that everything a person is, everything a person consumes, and every thought a person thinks is through marketing. I highly recommend collaborating with this agency either for a work project or an internship.” — Maryam Mansour, Google Reviews
An exceptional first-class team
“Ottawa Marketing Guys has an exceptional first-class team. I find them extremely responsive, very knowledgeable and incredibly easy to work with.” — Paul Bourne., Google Reviews
4. Blueprinted
| Criteria | Rating |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Performance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Operational since 2008, Blueprinted offers services that extend from Google Ads and social media management to content writing and custom web design. The best part is that its team has decades of experience in various backgrounds.
Apart from having a pool of experts to do the job, we also like that it works with pre-tested industry-specific game plans. This massive database of lead acquisition funnels prepared by experts adds more confidence.
We appreciate that its dedicated experts will continue to monitor, tweak, and manage campaigns weekly for the whole duration of your plan. What’s more is that you’ll get online access to its 24/7 reports dashboard for real-time updates.
Unfortunately, due to the conditions imposed by most paid traffic platforms, some of its marketing campaigns come with a minimum engagement of 30 days. It’s great, though, that you can upgrade campaign levels and budget allocation at any given time.
Looking at its operating hours, it’s just sad that it only opens from Monday to Thursday, which can be an inconvenience for some potential customers. Further, taking 12 to 48 hours to respond to queries might not sit well with others.
Nonetheless, with its digital strategies crafted by experts from a wide range of industry sectors, Blueprinted is worth the shot.
Pros
- Operational since 2008
- Pre-tested, industry-specific strategies
- 24/7 online access to reports
Cons
- Relatively longer inquiry response time
- Closed from Friday to Sunday
Customer Reviews
Much better results
“Blueprinted Marketing has helped me completely change my approach to marketing… I have much better results, with much less work on my part. Gustavo has been so creative and collaborative in helping me with digital marketing and then a new website. So many clients and colleagues comment on the visual appeal and how it portrays our business in such a positive light. So glad I made the decision to work with them!” — Michelle Sorensen, Google Reviews
Seen growth and definite success
“The team at Blueprinted provided a clear roadmap as to how we could better position ourselves online, creating different plans based on our potential budget. We’ve already seen growth and definite success thanks to their efforts. Both Michelle and Gustavo are responsive to all questions and concerns (with quick turnarounds) and are helpful at describing what is necessary and what we can do to help with the process. I’ve been completely satisfied working with both Michelle and Gustavo and recommend them wholeheartedly!” — Jonathan Richardson, Google Reviews
5. GCOM Designs
| SERVICES | Web Design Search Engine Optimization Google Ads Management (PPC) Local SEO |
| WEBSITE | https://gcomdesigns.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 3735 St Joseph Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1C 1T1 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 1-866-949-4777 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Friday 8 AM – 6 PM |
| Criteria | Rating |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Our experience with GCOM Designs was outstanding. They provided efficient and effective SEM services that significantly boosted our online visibility and traffic. From keyword research to ad optimization, their team demonstrated expertise and dedication to achieving our goals.
The quality of GCOM Designs’ SEM services was evident in the results we achieved. Our campaigns generated increased leads and conversions, thanks to their strategic approach and attention to detail. We appreciated their focus on delivering measurable results that positively impacted our business.
Efficiency was a key factor in our satisfaction with GCOM Designs. They managed our SEM campaigns with precision and timeliness, ensuring that our ads were always running optimally. Their proactive communication and swift action in addressing any issues contributed to a smooth and streamlined experience.
When it comes to cost, GCOM Designs offers competitive pricing for their SEM services. We found their rates to be reasonable considering the level of expertise and results they delivered. Their transparent pricing structure allowed us to budget effectively and achieve a strong return on investment.
Overall, we highly recommend GCOM Designs for anyone seeking SEM services. Their combination of efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness makes them a valuable partner for businesses looking to enhance their online presence. Our experience with their team was positive, and we are confident in their ability to deliver exceptional results for future clients.
Pros
- Reasonable pricing
- Pre-tested, industry-specific strategies
- 24/7 online access to reports
Cons
- No promos at the present
6. Sidi.io
| Criteria | Rating |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of Services | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
For SEM needs, we believe that Sidi.io is one of the best options for the job. It offers services that include SEM, SEO, social media management, and email marketing.
It also specializes in demand generation strategy and execution for B2B technology, arts and entertainment, and healthcare industries.
The best part, however, is that it puts everything to the test. To ensure that things go according to plan, it has crafted and tested over 1000 marketing funnels to boost tangible leads.
This is backed up by more than 200 variations of ad creative, different types of landing pages, and tested email marketing campaigns.
We also like that its team of specialists is responsive, resourceful, and results-oriented. If that’s not enough, Sidi.io is transparent about results and reports, which provides customers with more confidence.
But above all, we just love how it gets personal with its clients. It values working together with its customers, sets up a needs assessment meeting, and aligns marketing strategies with clients’ goals.
It’s just too bad, though, that it had encountered miscommunication issues in the past. It is also closed on weekends, which can be an inconvenience for some.
Nevertheless, with its great people and superb customer service, Sidi.io remains a good choice when looking for SEM needs.
Pros
- Specializes in demand generation strategy
- Over 1000 marketing funnels
- Transparency with results
Cons
- Some miscommunication issues
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Terrific to work with
“The whole team at sidi.io has been terrific to work with. They have help us gain top of mind awareness through social media advertising. They have also help generate a steady flow of leads that have directly impacted our sales figures. I would highly recommend them..” — Dave Robertson, Google Reviews
Every penny is worth it
“What a difference one company can make when you pick the right one! That is all I need to say about Sidi.io. They are professional and they know what they are doing. They don’t tell you what you need to do, they take the bull by the horns and take care of business. Their team is responsive and extremely knowledgeable about what they do, and they bring A+ quality and results. They target your direct audience and they spend the time to find that audience and bring results. Every penny we spend with Sidi.io is worth it. I have already recommended them to many of our customers and partners, who needed digital marketing.” — Hesam Mahdavi, Google Reviews
FAQs about SEM Agencies
That brings us to the end of our list of the top SEM agencies in Ottawa! We hope that you find the one that would best serve your business goals!
Since you’re on this page, you might also find this article on the top advertising agency services in Ottawa interesting. For beginners, this article on advertising tips for small businesses can go a long way for you.