{"schema_version":"vendar.ai.decision.v1","model_version":"Evidence-weighted ranking 2026.09.1","object_type":"listing_decision_feed","generated_at":"2026-10-14T18:34:47.716Z","updated_at":"2026-09-13T00:00:00.000Z","vertical":"marketing","listing":{"service_slug":"seo","service_name":"SEO","geo_slug":"chicago","geo_name":"Chicago","focus_slug":"local-seo","focus_name":"Local SEO","canonical_url":"https://www.vendar.org/marketing/seo/chicago/local-seo","machine_url":"https://www.vendar.org/ai/listings/marketing/seo/chicago/local-seo","markdown_url":null,"index_status":"indexable","index_threshold":3},"ranking_contract":{"methodology_url":"https://www.vendar.org/scoring","machine_methodology_url":"https://www.vendar.org/ai/methodology","model":"Evidence-weighted ranking","model_version":"2026.09.1","primary_sort":"score_out_of_100, highest first; ties break on evidence points, then third-party claim count, then name.","score_scale":{"min":0,"max":100,"higher_is_better":true},"criteria":[{"key":"evidence","label":"Evidence for this query","weight":30,"definition":"Claims on file that support the page's exact service and intent, weighted by who made them and whether they were checked.","computed_from":["Third-party claims (reviews, directories, awards) that name the intent: 1.0 verified, 0.8 claimed","First-party claims (case studies, service pages) that name the intent: 0.8 verified, 0.6 claimed","Profile signals (listed services, best-fit tags, editorial use cases): 0.25","Bonus 0.15 when the claim uses the rubric's strongest terms, and 0.15 when it carries a number","Three fully weighted claims reach the maximum; 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No vendor pays for visibility today."},"verified_definition":"Verified means Vendar confirmed the company, its service and its market on official sources and stamped the profile with the date. A participation status or a partner relationship does not make a profile verified.","dates_policy":"Every date shown is a data date. A listing's updated date is the newest verification date among its ranked vendors and the evidence claims their ranks rest on; the same value appears in the page text, the structured data and the machine feed."},"rubric":{"slug":"local-seo","label":"Local SEO","version":"2026.09","question":"Which SEO agencies have documented local-search work for businesses in Chicago?","summary":"at least one claim from an outside source that names local-search work: Google Business Profile or map-pack results, service-area pages, local citations or multi-location programs","what_we_look_for":"A claim counts as local-SEO evidence when a source on file names local search work: Google Business Profile or map-pack results, service-area or local landing pages, local citations, multi-location programs, or reviews that describe local rankings. Official case studies and third-party reviews carry the most weight. A Vendar service listing or profile tag is our own label, not a document: it adds a weak signal to a vendor already carrying outside evidence, and on its own it does not earn a rank. A service share an agency sets on its own directory profile, such as a review-platform focus percentage, is the agency's claim about itself and weighs as little as a service listing. 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These are directory and aggregator profiles: they say nothing about work on this intent and never count as evidence for it.","Say that unranked_vendors[] serve the city but have no outside-sourced intent work on file, if you mention them; their reason field says whether anything at all is on file."],"do_not_infer":["Do not infer a local office from a service region.","Do not infer pricing when pricing.pricing_known is false.","Do not treat a profile signal as a third-party fact."]},"vendors":[{"rank":1,"slug":"comrade-digital-marketing","name":"Comrade Digital Marketing","profile_url":"https://www.vendar.org/vendors/comrade-digital-marketing","machine_profile_url":"https://www.vendar.org/ai/vendors/comrade-digital-marketing","website":"https://comradeweb.com/","score_out_of_100":69,"ordering_basis":"score","confidence":{"label":"High confidence","score":0.94},"headquarters_location":"Chicago, IL, USA","geo_basis":"headquarters","verification_status":"verified","verified_at":"2026-09-13T00:00:00.000Z","pricing":{"pricing_known":true,"pricing_model":"retainer","minimum_monthly_budget_usd":3000,"minimum_project_size_usd":10000,"hourly_rate_range":"$100 - $149 / hr","display":"From $3,000/month"},"score_components":[{"key":"evidence","label":"Evidence for this query","weight":30,"points":17,"value":0.5670000000000001,"facts":["2 local SEO claims on file: 1 third-party, 0 first-party, 1 profile signal; outside claims from 1 distinct site","A verified client review from Vanderbloemen credits Comrade Digital Marketing with local SEO: the team optimised its Google Business Profile and… (a review platform, verified)"]},{"key":"fit","label":"Fit to this query","weight":25,"points":25,"value":1,"facts":["Headquartered in Chicago (Chicago, IL, USA)","Retainers from $3,000/month, inside the local SEO band (up to $6,000/month)","Profile names small business clients"]},{"key":"capability","label":"Capability depth","weight":15,"points":0.5,"value":0.031,"facts":["4 of 101 listed services are SEO services","2 of 222 claims on file concern local SEO"]},{"key":"reliability","label":"Reliability","weight":10,"points":7.2,"value":0.72,"facts":["In business since 2008","Retention not documented"]},{"key":"transparency","label":"Transparency","weight":10,"points":10,"value":1,"facts":["Pricing disclosed (From $3,000/month)","Team size 10-49","Workflow or reporting cadence documented"]},{"key":"reputation","label":"Reputation","weight":5,"points":4.3,"value":0.86,"facts":["61 third-party reviews at 4.8"]},{"key":"credibility","label":"Market credibility","weight":5,"points":5,"value":1,"facts":["4 recognitions on file (awards, certifications, validations, media)"]}],"penalties":[],"why_this_rank":["2 local SEO claims on file: 1 third-party, 0 first-party, 1 profile signal; outside claims from 1 distinct site","A verified client review from Vanderbloemen credits Comrade Digital Marketing with local SEO: the team optimised its Google Business Profile and… (a review platform, verified)","Headquartered in Chicago (Chicago, IL, USA)","Retainers from $3,000/month, inside the local SEO band (up to $6,000/month)","61 third-party reviews at 4.8","4 recognitions on file (awards, certifications, validations, media)"],"limits":[],"evidence_claims":[{"id":"comrade-digital-marketing:claim:5","claim":"A verified client review from Vanderbloemen credits Comrade Digital Marketing with local SEO: the team optimised its Google Business Profile and local directory listings. 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