Search Industry Well Represented On Annual List Of Fastest-Growing US Companies; SEO Cited As A Top ROI Tactic

Several search marketing-related companies are included on the Tech 200, a list of the fastest-growing tech companies in the U.S. It’s the second year that Lead411 has compiled the list (although last year’s list included 500 companies), which includes companies in several industries: software, hardware, internet, media, advertising, wireless, telecom, IT services, e-commerce and consulting.

The Tech 200 ranks companies not based on overall revenue, but on sales growth between 2008 and 2010. Congrats to the following search marketing-related companies that we’ve spotted on the Tech 200:

• Slingshot SEO
• HubSpot
• SEOmoz
• Increase Visibility
• Yodle
• MediaTrust
• Fathom
• Covario
• eZanga
• Wpromote
• Location 3 Media

To be considered for inclusion, companies must submit their data to Lead411; there’s no cost to apply for consideration on the annual list. (If we missed any, please let us know in the comments.)

SEO: One Of Highest ROI Tactics

As part of this year’s list, Lead411 surveyed the companies to find out how they’ve grown their businesses. Although the respondents collectively spend only 13% of their marketing budgets on SEO, it was listed as one of the highest ROI tactics behind email marketing and trade shows, and more than double traditional advertising.

SEO was also the second-most popular tactic in use by these companies, with 74% saying they have budget set aside for SEO efforts. Public relations came in first, with 82% saying they include that in their budgets.