The Rise of AI-Powered Search Engines: What It Means for SEO & Businesses

Deciding whether to build an in-house team or hire an external agency is one of the most important strategic choices a SaaS startup makes. The right decision affects speed, cost, scalability, and ultimately your return on investment (ROI). While many founders ask “Should we bring marketing, demand-gen, or growth in-house or go agency?” the clearer answer often lies in the numbers and business stage. In this guide, we’ll walk through the data and qualitative factors that SaaS startups should weigh when comparing agency vs in-house. We will cover cost comparisons, speed to results, expertise and scale. At the end you’ll have a framework to decide what may offer the strongest ROI for your current stage. Why ROI Matters in SaaS Early-Growth For SaaS startups, every dollar spent needs to show impact, and quickly. Investors, boards, and founders alike monitor metrics such as cost per acquisition (CPA), lifetime value (LTV), churn rate, and growth velocity. Marketing or growth spend that doesn’t deliver compounds the risk. A recurring finding: startups that outsource marketing or demand generation to a specialist agency often report higher ROI than those building from scratch in-house. For instance, one article cites that businesses outsourcing part of their marketing saw “43% higher ROI” than those handling everything in-house. Another study suggested agencies deliver faster time to market, access to specialised skills, and capability to scale up quickly.  Given this, it’s less about “agency good vs in-house good” and more about “which approach offers the best fit for your stage, budget, goals and risk appetite?” Comparing the Costs: Agency vs In-House 1. In-House Model: Building a full in-house growth or marketing team involves not just salaries. You must factor in recruitment cost, onboarding, training, tools & tech stack, employee benefits, time to productivity, and ongoing management overhead. A startup might hire a growth lead, content specialist, paid-media manager and data/analytics resource. The recruitment alone can take weeks or months. 2. Agency Model: Hiring an agency offers a different cost model: you typically engage a team with existing proven systems, tools and workflows. The incremental cost is often predictable monthly retainer or project fee without many of the fixed costs of full-time employees (benefits, infrastructure, long ramp-up). Many startups benefit from faster ramp and quicker access to specialist expertise. 3. Cost vs Value: The real question is not just “which costs less” but “which delivers more value for that spend”. One SaaS-oriented agency article mentions that an agency might cost $120k/year yet deliver $1m in revenue, a far better return than a single in-house hire with limited scope. For a SaaS startup, this means: if you hire an agency that can accelerate lead acquisition, refine funnel conversion and help scale trial-to-paid conversions, the ROI equation may favour agency in early or scaling phases. Speed, Expertise and Scale: Key ROI Levers 1. Speed to Market: Agencies often have established processes, tools and specialists on hand, meaning a quicker launch of campaigns or growth initiatives. In-house teams require hiring, alignment, ramp-up, and iteration. Delays cost money especially in SaaS where early traction matters. 2. Access to Expertise: In-house you may get strong alignment and integration with your product, but you risk skill-gaps (e.g., SEO, paid media, analytics, funnel optimisation). An agency often brings a full stack of skills, cross-industry experience and optimisation frameworks. 3. Scalability and Flexibility: As your SaaS startup grows, needs change quickly. Agencies enable you to scale up (or down) spend and resources more easily than hiring or firing staff. If you build in-house too early, you risk over-capacity or being locked into fixed overhead. 4. Control, Brand & Culture: One real trade-off: in-house teams have deeper brand immersion, easier access to product teams and tighter alignment with company culture. If your SaaS product is highly complex, technical or requires deep domain knowledge, this may favour in-house. Data-Driven ROI Comparison (Hypothetical SaaS Scenario) Here’s a simplified example to illustrate the ROI dynamics for a SaaS startup in early scaling phase. ModelAnnual CostProjected Incremental RevenueROI MultipleAgency (retainer)US$150,000US$1,000,000~6.7×In-House TeamUS$250,000*US$800,000~3.2× *Includes salaries + benefits + tools + onboarding. In this scenario the agency model gives higher ROI multiple and faster value generation.Of course your actual numbers will vary – cost of living, your region, your market, complexity of product, sales cycle, etc. The key takeaway is to evaluate both models as investment vehicles, measuring cost versus incremental revenue, not just fixed cost. When In-House Makes More Sense for a SaaS Startup Agencies are strong in early-to-mid growth, but there are times when in-house may be the right long-term choice: You have a long product-roadmap requiring deep product-marketing alignment and continuous content tied to brand narrative. Your SaaS model is very niche, technical, or compliance-heavy, needing internal domain specialists and tight control of messaging. You have stable budget, strong leadership and need deep institutional knowledge built within the team. You’ve already hit maturity and want to shift from growth spurt to optimisation, owning the full marketing engine. A Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds Many SaaS startups adopt a hybrid model: core strategy, brand and product messaging stay in-house, while specialised execution (paid media, content scaling, growth experiments) sits with an agency. This allows you to benefit from speed and expertise whilst building internal capability and brand continuity. How to Evaluate for ROI: Checklist for SaaS Founders Use the following questions to evaluate whether they point you toward agency or in-house: What is our growth stage and urgency? Early traction vs steady growth. What specialist skills do we lack today? If many, agency may close gaps faster. How fast do we need results? The shorter the time to impact, the more agency makes sense. What is our budget and burn-rate tolerance? Can we absorb overhead of team? How brand- and product-specific is our messaging? The more unique, the more in-house may benefit. What is the cost per hire, training time, and ramp-up time of in-house? What results can we demand from an agency? Clear KPIs, incremental revenue, transparency. Why RightFirms Matters in This Decision As a SaaS founder searching for a trusted business listing platform, you’ll also want to evaluate agencies with credibility and transparency. At RightFirms we curate and review agencies so you can see past claims and find partners with proven results. Being able to benchmark agencies, see case studies and compare their performance helps ensure you’re investing for ROI, not just promise. Final Thoughts The question is less whether agencies are better than in-house, and more whether your startup’s stage, capability and budget make one model clearly superior in ROI terms. For many SaaS startups in early or scaling phases, an agency offers faster access to expertise, lower overhead, and quicker time to value. But that does not mean in-house is wrong, it simply means you must understand the full cost, ramp time and strategic implications. If you treat marketing or growth as an investment rather than a cost centre, you frame the decision in terms of returns. Hire the model that drives the highest incremental revenue for your startup right now, with the flexibility to evolve as you grow.

Finding the right tech partner in 2025 is not just about price or portfolio anymore. It is about finding the right fit. The kind of partner who understands your business goals, your market timing, and the reality of digital transformation. If you are a startup founder, product manager, or business leader looking for a reliable software development partner, this checklist is for you. Here is how to evaluate your options before making the final call. 1. Start with Reputation, Not Just Ratings Everyone checks reviews. In 2025, that is only the starting point. The real test is credibility that goes beyond simple star ratings. Visit online business directories such as RightFirms, Clutch, or GoodFirms and look for patterns: Are the reviews detailed and written by real clients? Do they mention collaboration, flexibility, and innovation? Are they listed under verified categories like “Top Web App Development Companies” or “Best Mobile App Developers”? A trusted presence on business listing platforms shows that the company is established and recognized by industry experts. Pro tip: Be cautious of perfect 5-star ratings. A few mixed reviews often signal genuine client experiences and transparency. 2. Evaluate Communication Early Even the best developers cannot make a project successful if communication breaks down. Before signing any contract, pay attention to how they interact during the first few calls.Ask yourself: Do they explain technical points clearly? How fast do they respond to messages? Are they genuinely interested in your goals or just trying to sell services? The best development companies in 2025 act more like collaborators than vendors. They ask smart questions, highlight potential risks, and focus on your long-term success. 3. Verify Technical Depth, Not Just Fancy Claims Tech marketing in 2025 is crowded with buzzwords. Everyone says they use AI or blockchain. You need evidence, not slogans. When assessing a software development partner, check: Their technical specialization and core stack. Case studies with measurable outcomes. Their development methodology, such as Agile, Scrum, or hybrid models. The goal is to find a partner who can apply technology strategically to meet your business objectives. 4. Check Cultural Compatibility Culture fit matters just as much as technical skill. If your business moves quickly and your partner relies on heavy processes, frustration will build. Likewise, if you value structure and documentation but they move too informally, collaboration becomes messy. Ask questions like: How do they handle feedback and project delays? Do they operate in compatible time zones? Are they open to collaboration tools and regular updates? A top-rated professional tech partner adapts to your style and maintains alignment throughout the project. 5. Insist on Transparent Pricing and Contracts Budget talks can be uncomfortable, yet clarity here is essential. Ask for a detailed cost breakdown that includes maintenance, support, and testing. A trustworthy partner will not hide behind vague pricing. Pro tip: Look for affordable web and app development services that maintain quality standards. Avoid companies that are too cheap or overly expensive. The right balance gives you both value and reliability. 6. Ask About Post-Launch Support Some companies deliver projects and then disappear. You need one that stays. Before signing, confirm the following: Do they provide ongoing maintenance or support plans? How do they manage bug fixes or scaling? Can they work with your internal team after deployment? A reliable tech partner treats your product as an evolving system. They offer long-term support and continuous improvement. 7. Assess Their Problem-Solving Approach No tech project runs perfectly. APIs fail, requirements change, and users behave unexpectedly. A great partner stays calm under pressure. During your evaluation, notice how they handle hypothetical challenges: Do they offer structured solutions or general reassurances? Have they solved similar issues before? Can they provide proof or examples? The best companies are transparent about risks and ready with alternatives. That kind of mindset is worth every penny. 8. Prioritize Experience in Your Industry Experience within your domain saves time and reduces risk. If you are in healthcare, check whether they know compliance standards like HIPAA or GDPR.For retail, confirm their expertise in scalability and inventory systems.For SaaS or startups, explore how they handle user onboarding and integrations. When a company understands your industry, you avoid unnecessary explanations and gain faster results. 9. Review Their Proposal Carefully Proposals reveal how much a company truly understands your needs. A solid proposal should include project scope, timeline, team structure, and key milestones. If it feels generic, that is a red flag. A strong tech partner will personalize every detail to your business goals. Generic documents often signal a lack of genuine understanding or effort. Look for partners who invest time in preparing a meaningful proposal. 10. Look for Real Social Proof Do not stop at website testimonials. Check their LinkedIn activity, client mentions, and shared project stories. A company that consistently posts case studies and thought leadership content usually values transparency and community learning. These are the kinds of teams that grow with you. Final Thoughts Choosing a tech partner in 2025 is like choosing a long-term teammate. You are trusting them with your product, your deadlines, and your business reputation. Take your time to verify their reputation through directories like RightFirms, review their communication style, and assess their expertise thoroughly. The right partner will not just deliver your project. They will help shape your digital future.

SEO has never been static. Every year, the rules shift, sometimes in small tweaks that only professionals notice, other times in seismic changes that make businesses rethink their entire marketing strategy. Right now, we’re in one of those big shifts. The rise of large language models (LLMs), think ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity, has completely changed how people find and consume information. And in 2025, this trend is only going to accelerate. Google is experimenting with its Search Generative Experience (SGE), serving AI-written summaries right at the top of the results page. Bing and Perplexity are turning search into something closer to a conversation than a list of links. The internet no longer works on simple keyword matching; it’s becoming a system of understanding intent and context. So, the big question: how do you still rank when the way people “search” is shifting under your feet? Why SEO Still Matters It’s tempting to say SEO is dying, but that’s not true. What’s dying are shortcuts. Publishing thin 500-word blogs stuffed with keywords? Dead. Buying low-quality backlinks by the dozen? Not going to help. What’s surviving is the core principle that’s always been true: visibility belongs to businesses that produce useful, credible, trustworthy content. The difference is that in an LLM-driven world, the definition of “useful and trustworthy” is much stricter. LLMs thrive on depth. They’re trained to pull from comprehensive, nuanced sources, not surface-level posts. Trust is no longer optional. Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is basically the minimum bar now. Multi-channel visibility is essential. People aren’t just searching on Google anymore they’re asking AI tools, using voice assistants, or discovering brands through online business directories. If you don’t adapt, your content may never show up in AI answers, or worse, your competitors’ insights will, leaving you invisible. How Ranking Is Changing in 2025 Here’s what’s different in the SEO landscape right now: Topical authority beats volume – It’s better to own one subject thoroughly than scatter across dozens. A cluster of detailed, interlinked content on SEO services, for example, will outperform 20 disconnected blogs. Search feels conversational – People type (or speak) queries in natural language, and AI tools answer in the same style. Your content needs to anticipate those conversational queries, not just stiff “keywords.” Structured data has a bigger role – Schema, FAQs, and well-marked metadata give LLMs the context they need. Skipping this is like showing up to a job interview with half a résumé. User experience is part of SEO – Site speed, design, readability, and accessibility all impact rankings. Thanks to no-code and low-code development platforms, even small businesses can now build fast, polished websites without a full engineering team. What Businesses Should Do Now If you’re planning for SEO in 2025, here are a few practical steps that will actually make a difference: Build authority in one area Instead of chasing every keyword under the sun, focus. A digital marketing firm could build an entire library around “SEO services for small businesses” case studies, tutorials, comparison guides, even video transcripts. When search engines (and AI assistants) look for credible answers, they’ll know exactly who to trust. Write for humans, not for bots Yes, machines will read your content, but if it doesn’t connect with people, it won’t perform. Avoid jargon-heavy fluff. Instead, write the way an industry expert would explain something to a colleague clear, useful, maybe even a little opinionated. Don’t ignore site performance Google’s Core Web Vitals update made one thing clear: a clunky, slow website hurts visibility. The good news? With modern no-code and low-code tools, you don’t need months of development work to fix this. You can spin up clean, fast, mobile-friendly pages quickly and at scale. Treat content as an asset Think of every blog, guide, or landing page as a long-term investment. Good content doesn’t expire overnight. When you produce something truly valuable, it keeps earning trust signals backlinks, shares, mentions that AI systems notice. The Overlooked Connection: SEO and No-Code/Low-Code Development One of the most interesting changes happening quietly is how no-code and low-code development tools are shaping SEO strategy. A decade ago, launching a new optimized landing page might require weeks of coordination between developers, designers, and marketers. Today, a marketer with minimal technical skills can build a sleek, schema-ready, SEO-friendly page in hours. That shift levels the playing field. Small businesses can now compete with larger companies because the infrastructure barrier is lower. Pairing professional SEO services with these modern development platforms is becoming a winning formula: you get fast deployment and professional-grade optimization in one go. What Modern SEO Services Look Like Agencies and consultants offering SEO in 2025 aren’t just “doing keyword research” or “building backlinks.” Their role is more strategic and more technical: Designing content strategies for AI-driven search, ensuring your insights surface in conversational queries. Implementing technical SEO at scale structured data, automated site health monitoring, API integrations. Building visibility beyond Google: online directories, niche marketplaces, AI search platforms. Integrating SEO with broader digital ecosystems CRM, analytics, automation so insights feed into actual growth. In short, SEO services now sit at the intersection of marketing, development, and brand building. Looking Ahead Nobody can predict exactly how search will look five years from now. But one thing is obvious: the old hacks are finished, and the businesses that thrive will be the ones that invest in substance. High-quality content. Fast, reliable websites (whether built traditionally or through no-code low-code development). A focus on trust and authority that AI systems can recognize. And smart partnerships with SEO services that don’t just chase rankings, but understand where search is heading. In the age of LLMs, ranking isn’t about tricking algorithms anymore. It’s about proving day after day that your business is the most credible answer in the room.