How We Evaluate, Verify & Spotlight the Best Agencies Worldwide
Finding a reliable agency shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.
At SelectedFirms, we combine verified data, real client insights, and transparent evaluation standards to spotlight agencies that consistently deliver quality results not just great sales pitches.
Our ranking framework is designed to reward real performance, proven expertise, and long-term trust.
The mission is simple:
Help businesses discover agencies they can rely on and give high-performing agencies the visibility they deserve.
How We Rank Agencies on SelectedFirms
Every agency listed on SelectedFirms is evaluated using a 100-point, data-backed scoring system powered by our proprietary
SARM™ (SelectedFirms Agency Ranking Methodology)
Our methodology blends:
Verified client reviews
Service relevance and specialization
Trust and verification signals
Sponsored agencies may receive premium placement, but every agency sponsored or not evaluated using the same foundational scoring logic.
No shortcuts. No hidden boosts.The Big Picture of SARM™ Methodology
A high-level view of our 100-point framework balancing performance, trust, and verified agency credibility.
Customer Satisfaction - 60%
Agencies ability to deliver client results and build lasting relationships.
60%
Trust, Verification & Capability Signals - 40%
Rigorous checks and data validation ensuring credibility and ethical practices.
40%
60%
Of total Score
1. Customer Satisfaction
If our ranking system had a heartbeat, this would be it.
Customer Satisfaction reflects how clients actually feel about working with an agency and whether that agency truly belongs in the category it’s ranked for.
Our ranking framework is designed to reward real performance, proven expertise, and long-term trust.
Customer Satisfaction is a blended score made up of:
1. Verified Client Reviews
Real feedback from confirmed project relationships
2. Service Expertise & Relevance
Demonstrated specialization and relevant capabilities
Internal Weighting (Inside Customer Satisfaction)
Within this 60% pillar, we apply a clear internal balance:
Verified Client Reviews
70%
Quality, recency, and volume of verified reviews from actual clients.
Service Expertise & Relevance
30%
Category focus, sub-service depth, and platform specialization.
Combined = 60 points maximum
SF Total Score
Verified Client Reviews - 70 % (Inside Customer Satisfaction)
Reviews are the clearest indicator of real-world performance, not what an agency claims it can do, but what it has actually delivered.
Reviews tell us:
- How the project really went
- Whether deadlines were respected (or creatively ignored)
- How communication felt (clear updates or radio silence chic)
- Whether the client would work with the agency again
How We Gather Reviews
We don’t scrape random data or accept drive-by star ratings.
Here’s how reviews make it onto SelectedFirms:
Direct client submissions
Real businesses share detailed experiences, the wins, the challenges, and the “we didn’t expect them to go that hard” moments.
Agency-submitted reviews
Agencies can submit client reviews, but every one still goes through verification. No self-awarded 5-star magic allowed.
Verified third-party feedback
If we find legitimate reviews on credible platforms, we verify them and include them. More context = more accuracy.
Every review is checked before it impacts rankings.
How We Verify Reviews
We take authenticity seriously. Here’s how we keep reviews human and trustworthy:
01
LinkedIn verification
We confirm the reviewer exists and was connected to the project. Bots, interns posing as CEOs, and “client12345” don’t make the cut.
02
Email or call confirmation (When needed)
If anything feels off, we double-check. Quick confirmations go a long way.
03
Project fact-checking
We may verify timelines, deliverables, or scope because details matter.
The Bayesian Review System
Okay, math people relax. No equations here.
If an agency has one 5-star review, we don’t let them dominate the rankings. That’s like calling a restaurant world-class because one person loved the garlic bread.
So we balance every agency’s rating against the average rating of their category.
Built-In Fairness Buffer:
Every agency starts with the equivalent of 25 neutral baseline reviews.
What this does:
Prevents new agencies from ranking unrealistically high
-
Treats low review counts cautiously
-
Gradually fades out as real reviews accumulate
Think of it like bowling bumpers:
Few reviews
Bumpers stay up
Few reviews
Bumpers slowly come down
Proven consistency
Your score becomes fully yours
A Simple Example
Without Normalization
Unfair
Agency A (1 reviews)
5.0
Agency B (25 reviews)
4.7
Agency A ranks higher despite minimal data
With Bayesian Method
Fair
Agency A (1 reviews)
4.3
Agency B (25+ reviews)
5.0
They’ve earned it.
Consistency wins | Not luck | Not gaming the system | Just solid, repeated performance.
Service Expertise & Relevance - 30 % (Inside Customer Satisfaction)
Great reviews are powerful - but only when they match the right service.
The Service Expertise score ensures agencies rank where they actually deliver results.
We measure:
1. Category Focus
How much of the agency’s work is dedicated to the selected service?
2. Service Expertise & Relevance
We analyze expertise in tools and platforms within the category.
Platform & Tool Expertise
We track expertise in specific platforms and tools. This helps match businesses with agencies that know their exact tech stack.
Shopify
Magento
BigCommerce
Headless Commerce
Ecommerce Consulting
This prevents:
Generalists outranking specialists
-
Irrelevant agencies from appearing in the wrong categories
40%
Of total Score
2. Trust, Verification & Capability Signals
The remaining 40% of the SF Score evaluates how transparent, verified, and proven an agency really is.
Verified Badge
15%
Verified agencies meet legitimacy standards through our verification process.
This signal confirms:
- Legitimate business verified
- Core details validated
- Baseline trust passed
- Higher buyer confidence
Profile Claimed & Authenticated
10%
Claimed profiles demonstrate accountability, accuracy, and ongoing platform engagement.
We reward agencies that:
- Profile actively managed
- Information regularly updated
- Transparent client engagement
- Signals long-term intent
Expertise & Capability
10%
Real project experience determines credibility more than marketing promises.
We look at:
- Clear project descriptions
- Defined scope deliverables
- Demonstrated measurable outcomes
- Relevant ranked service
Team Bios & Transparency
5%
Visible teams build trust and support informed long-term partnership decisions.
we access:
- Team members visibility
- Clear role definitions
- Proven professional experience
- Public facing profiles
In Simple Terms, This 40% portion of the ranking answers one question:
Can this agency be trusted?
Verified status, claimed profiles, real projects, and visible teams all work together to ensure buyers see agencies that are not only good but also real, proven, and accountable.
Sponsorship Program & Spotlight Benefits
Enhanced Visibility. Elevated Trust. Deeper Verification.
Enhanced Visibility. Elevated Trust. Deeper Verification.
The SelectedFirms Sponsorship Program gives agencies the strategic advantage of increased visibility and premium placement across the platform after they pass our Expanded Verification Process.
Benefits:
- Featured placement in category rankings
- Prime spots in location & service lists
- Premium verification badges
- Spotlight visibility
- Priority profile reviews & updates
- Access to curated expert lists
- Extra category/service exposure
- Fast-track support
Verification Required
Sponsorship is not just a fee, it’s a higher standard.
To qualify, agencies must complete:
- Enhanced company verification
- Additional project proof
- Team & leadership authenticity checks
- Spotlight visibility
- Full profile completion
Only fully verified agencies earn Spotlight status, creating stronger buyer trust and higher-quality visibility.
Claim Your Verified BadgeHow Rankings Are Updated
How Rankings Are Updated
- Automatic recalculations every 30 days
- Instant updates for new reviews, proof, or badges
- Manual audits every quarter
- Continuous badge verification
- Priority updates for sponsored agencies
How Agencies Can Improve Their Ranking
To strengthen your position on SelectedFirms:
- Collect verified, recent client reviews
- Publish detailed case studies with real outcomes
- Keep team bios and certifications updated
- Focus on service specialization
- Maintain a strong digital footprint
- Ensure all earned badges are integrated and verified
Agencies that prioritize transparency, relevance, and consistency tend to perform best.
Want to Rank Higher on SelectedFirms?
Update services, portfolio, reviews, and verification status.
Improve My Agency Ranking
Why Businesses Trust SelectedFirms
How Rankings Are Updated
- How Rankings Are Updated
- Smoothed, honest review logic
- Strict verification
- Service-specific relevance
- Spotlight placements backed by deeper validation
We’re building a ranking environment designed for real buyer confidence.
Questions or Want to Join the Sponsorship Program?
info@selectedfirms.co
Whether you want to improve your ranking, update your profile, or explore sponsorship opportunities, our team is ready to help.
