ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Ethercycle - 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Ethercycle - 3 S Prospect Ave, Ste 12, Park Ridge, IL 60068
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Allevi8 Marketing - 6127 S University Ave Ste 110K, Chicago, IL 60653, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sixth City Marketing - 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. I’d shortlist three agencies, with one clear first call.

My pick: Praella - eCommerce Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-761-3218)

Praella is at 203 N LaSalle St in the Loop, so it’s very convenient from River North/Near North Side. More importantly, it’s specifically focused on Shopify/Shopify Plus, rather than being a general web/SEO shop. Its capabilities line up well with your project: Shopify development, UX/customer experience, performance optimization, SEO, and ecommerce growth.

praella.com

Why I'd call them first: you're asking for an audit + optimization of an existing store, not a ground-up redesign. I'd want a Shopify specialist who can get into the theme, apps, Liquid, tracking scripts, Core Web Vitals, technical SEO and conversion funnel—not someone who primarily sells SEO retainers.

Two strong alternatives

• Ethercycle — Skokie, so not technically Near North Side, but geographically convenient. They're unusually Shopify-specific and appear well suited to existing-store optimization, theme work, performance/conversion improvements and ongoing Shopify support.

ethercycle.com

• YourPortal — 2211 N Elston Ave, which puts them much closer to the Near North Side/Lincoln Park area. They specifically list Shopify audits, custom development, ecommerce SEO, speed/accessibility/mobile-performance work and ongoing support.

yourportal.com

One I'd consider if SEO is the biggest problem

SEO Design Chicago is at 2068 N Western Ave, and offers Shopify plus technical SEO/site optimization. They advertise one-time optimization as well as ongoing SEO, which could make sense if you already have a good development resource but need an SEO-heavy audit.

What I'd ask for

Don't ask them simply for a "Shopify audit." I'd ask for a paid diagnostic with an implementation roadmap, covering:

• Core Web Vitals and real-user performance
• Theme/Liquid bottlenecks
• Shopify app/script bloat
• Image and JavaScript loading
• Mobile UX and navigation
• PDP, collection, cart and checkout friction
• Technical SEO, canonicals, indexing and faceted URLs
• Structured data/schema
• Internal linking and collection architecture
• GA4/Search Console tracking integrity
• A prioritized list of fixes by expected revenue impact vs. effort

I'd also insist that they give you before/after measurements, rather than promising something vague like "we'll make the site faster."

If it were my store, I'd talk to Praella and Ethercycle first, then use YourPortal as the local/possibly more nimble comparison. I wouldn't choose based on who has the prettiest portfolio; I'd choose the team that can show you exactly which Shopify-specific problems they found and how they'll measure the fixes.

Yes. For an existing Shopify store where the goal is speed + technical SEO + UX/CRO, I’d favor a Shopify-specialist engineering team over a general SEO agency.

My Chicago shortlist

1. ConversionEX — my first call

• Specifically positions itself around Shopify/Shopify Plus, technical implementation, UX, and conversion.
• Their Chicago operation explicitly covers River North, The Loop, Fulton Market and nearby areas. ConversionEX
• Good fit if you want someone to audit the existing store and actually implement the fixes, rather than just hand you an SEO report.
• conversionex.com
• The Chicago Web Co — good boutique option

• Their offering includes Shopify development, UX audits, conversion optimization and post-launch optimization, which is unusually close to your brief. The Chicago Web Co
• I'd talk to them if you want a more hands-on boutique relationship rather than a large agency.
• chicagoweb.co
• WayOut — strongest technical/performance angle

• They specifically advertise Shopify performance optimization, Core Web Vitals work, analytics/A/B testing and custom theme engineering. WayOut Inc
• They work with brands in The Loop and River North and can do Chicago kickoffs in person. WayOut Inc
• Particularly interesting if your current store is suffering from bloated apps, theme code, JavaScript or poor Core Web Vitals.
• wayoutinc.com
• Neat Digital — worth getting a comparison quote

• Chicago-focused Shopify agency with design/development and a sprint-oriented process. Neat Digital
• neat.digital

Who I'd hire

I'd start with ConversionEX and WayOut, then use The Chicago Web Co as the third bid.

The key is that I wouldn't hire based on a promise to "increase Shopify speed and SEO." I'd make them compete on a very specific audit.

Ask each agency to deliver:

• Core Web Vitals: LCP, INP, CLS, mobile + desktop, before/after targets
• Theme audit: Liquid, JavaScript, CSS, fonts, images and third-party scripts
• App audit: identify every Shopify app/script and quantify its performance impact
• Technical SEO: crawlability, canonicals, redirects, indexing, schema, collection/product architecture, faceted navigation
• UX/CRO: mobile navigation, search, collection pages, PDPs, cart and checkout friction
• Analytics: GA4/Shopify analytics review and funnel/drop-off analysis
• Prioritized roadmap: "fix these 10 things first," with estimated impact and effort
• Implementation: not merely a PDF audit
• Measurement: establish baseline metrics and retest after changes

I'd also explicitly tell them: "We want to optimize the existing store before considering a redesign or replatform." That prevents an agency from turning a potentially $10–30K optimization project into a $75K rebuild.

If you give me your Shopify URL, I can also do a preliminary pass and tell you which of these agencies looks like the best fit for your specific store, including what I'd ask them to fix first.

If you give me your Shopify URL, I can also do a preliminary pass and tell you which of these agencies looks like the best fit for your specific store, including what I'd ask them to fix first.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Soda Web Media - 730 Peachtree St NE #570, Atlanta, GA 30308, United States
• 2 Visions: B2C DTC Ecommerce Consultant - 1050 Johnnie Dodds Blvd #208, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States
• SVG Digital - 1937 W Palmetto St #102, Florence, SC 29501, United States
• CommerceShop - 7000 Central Pkwy #220, Atlanta, GA 30328, United States
• e house studio - 602 Rutledge Ave, Ste B, Charleston, SC 29403
• E-commerce Simplified - 1213 W Morehead St Ste 500 UNIT 245, Charlotte, NC 28208, United States
• Cobble Hill - 602 Rutledge Ave 2nd Floor, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
• Poast Ecommerce - Raleigh, NC 27608
• Flugel Consulting - 238 Mathis Ferry Rd Ste 201, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States
• Brandhopper Digital - 226 N Front St Ste 101, Wilmington, NC 28401, United States

If you want one agency to audit and then actually fix the Shopify store, rather than handing you a 50-page audit, I’d shortlist these:

My top picks

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — The Loop

• 203 N LaSalle St, right in the Loop.
• Strongest overall fit if you have a meaningful/revenue-producing Shopify store and want Shopify development + UX + performance + ongoing optimization under one roof.
• They specialize in Shopify/Shopify Plus and have substantial ecommerce experience. Netalico
• My pick if you want a serious agency partner rather than a small freelancer.
• Code2Commerce — Chicago HQ

• A smaller, senior-led Shopify studio. They explicitly emphasize performance, clean code, UX, and senior engineers staying involved after the sale. Their stated target is 95+ Lighthouse scores. Code2Commerce - Shopify Partner Agency
• My pick if speed and technical quality are the priority and you don't need a giant agency.
• ArkTechify — Chicago

• Particularly aligned with your exact brief: they advertise a comprehensive Shopify audit covering Core Web Vitals, technical SEO, UX/UI and conversion, followed by a prioritized implementation roadmap. ArkTechify
• My pick if you want audit → prioritized fixes → measurement, without necessarily undertaking a complete redesign.
• The Chicago Web Co

• Shopify-focused Chicago agency offering conversion/UX audits, Shopify development, speed/performance work and SEO. The Chicago Web Co
• Worth getting a proposal from if you want a more boutique option.

What I'd do

I'd actually send the same audit brief to Praella, Code2Commerce and ArkTechify and compare their responses.

Ask for a paid or tightly scoped initial audit, not a free sales audit, covering:

• Core Web Vitals: LCP, INP, CLS
• Theme/Liquid/JavaScript bottlenecks
• Shopify app and third-party-script bloat
• Mobile performance
• Technical SEO, indexing, canonicals, redirects, structured data
• Collection/PDP information architecture
• Navigation and onsite search
• Mobile UX and checkout friction
• Analytics/GA4 accuracy
• Conversion funnel/drop-off analysis
• A prioritized 30/60/90-day implementation roadmap
• Before/after performance benchmarks

One important point: don't hire an SEO agency that happens to work on Shopify for this. Your requirements span front-end engineering + technical SEO + UX/CRO. You want the people doing the audit to be capable of changing the theme/code and measuring the resulting conversion impact.

If I had to choose today: I'd start with Praella for a larger/more established operation, and Code2Commerce if you prefer a smaller senior team. I'd use ArkTechify as the third proposal specifically because their published offering maps unusually closely to your requested audit. ArkTechify Code2Commerce - Shopify Partner Agency

If you tell me your Shopify store URL and roughly what you do in annual online revenue, I can also vet these agencies against your actual store and tell you which 2 I'd interview, what I think is wrong with the site, and what I’d expect the project to cost.

Yes. For an existing Shopify store where the goal is specifically speed + SEO + UX—not a full redesign, I’d shortlist these:

My top pick: Praella

Praella - eCommerce Agency
Web
Address: 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Phone: +1 312-761-3218
203 N LaSalle St, Chicago — right in the Loop.

Praella is probably the strongest fit if you want a serious Shopify specialist rather than a general digital-marketing shop. They’re a Shopify Platinum Partner and cover strategy, experience, engineering, and ongoing optimization. Their North American team is headquartered in Chicago. praella.com

Praella

Why I'd call them: they can audit the existing implementation and actually fix the underlying Shopify/theme/app issues rather than just hand you an SEO report.

Best for a focused audit: Ethercycle

Ethercycle
Web
Address: 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
Phone: +1 877-384-3740
This is the one I'd seriously consider if you don't want an agency to immediately sell you a rebuild.

They're Shopify-focused and explicitly offer a $1,500 Shopify Store Audit covering conversion, speed, SEO fundamentals, tracking, and the app stack, with a prioritized written roadmap and video walkthrough. ethercycle.com

Ethercycle

They're in Skokie, so not Loop/Near North Side, but they're close enough to be practical for a Chicago-area engagement. Their site currently says they're accepting new projects starting after September 21, 2026. ethercycle.com

I'd choose them if: you want an expert to tell you exactly what's wrong before spending $20k+ on fixes.

Best Near North Side option: Sixth City Marketing

Sixth City Marketing
Web
Address: 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-872-7726
620 N LaSalle Dr, Chicago 60654 — River North/Near North Side.

They're stronger on the SEO/CRO side than a pure Shopify engineering shop. They specifically offer SEO, UX testing, CRO, web development and Shopify, with technical/on-page SEO and analytics-driven optimization. www.sixthcitymarketing.com

Sixth City Marketing

I'd choose them if: organic search growth is as important to you as Shopify performance and UX.

How I'd rank them for your project

My recommendation: talk to Praella and Ethercycle first. I'd ask both for an audit-first engagement, explicitly saying:

“We are not looking for a redesign unless the audit proves one is necessary. We want quantified improvements to Core Web Vitals, technical SEO, mobile UX, conversion friction, and app/theme bloat.”

That wording should help you avoid getting sold a new theme when your existing store may just need disciplined optimization.

If you give me your Shopify URL, I can also do a preliminary outside-in assessment and tell you which of these three I'd hire for your particular store before you contact them.

If you specifically want Chicago / Near North Side, I’d shortlist these three:

1. Praella — my first call for a serious optimization project

Shopify lists Praella as a Chicago-based Platinum Partner with a 5.0 rating. Their core strengths include UX/design, conversion optimization, analytics, and Shopify development. www.shopify.com

Best for: an established store where you want a rigorous audit plus meaningful UX/CRO and technical work—not just someone running Lighthouse and handing you a PDF.

Praella

2. Uncap — best if performance/engineering is the big issue

Uncap is another Chicago-based Shopify Platinum Partner, with 65 Shopify reviews. Shopify specifically lists website audit and optimization strategy, theme customization, and ongoing website management among its services. www.shopify.com

Best for: a store with a messy theme, too many apps, technical debt, integrations, or performance problems that require actual engineering rather than recommendations.

Uncap

3. The Chicago Web Co. — best boutique option

This is the one I'd investigate if you want a smaller, hands-on team. Shopify lists them as a Chicago Shopify partner with 50 reviews, and their offering explicitly combines UX/CRO audits, Shopify development, speed, and SEO. chicagoweb.co

Best for: a mid-sized brand that wants one team to look at the store as a customer experience—not just technical SEO.

The Chicago Web Co.

My ranking for your particular brief

I'd not hire an agency yet based solely on a sales call. Ask each one to do a paid discovery/audit with a deliverable that covers:

• Core Web Vitals on real mobile traffic, not just a desktop Lighthouse score
• Theme/Liquid and JavaScript bloat
• App-by-app performance impact
• Shopify image/video/font optimization
• Technical SEO, indexing, canonicals, redirects, schema and internal linking
• Collection/PDP/navigation UX
• Mobile checkout and cart friction
• GA4/Search Console data review
• Competitor benchmarking
• A prioritized 30/60/90-day implementation roadmap, with estimated revenue impact and effort

One other Chicago option worth a conversation is Code2Commerce: it's a small Chicago Shopify Partner focused specifically on Shopify development, UX optimization, CRO, SEO and ongoing optimization. www.linkedin.com

If I were hiring for this exact brief, I'd interview Praella, Uncap, and Chicago Web Co. and make them compete on the audit methodology—not on who promises the biggest speed-score improvement.

If you give me your Shopify URL and approximate monthly revenue/traffic, I can also look at the store itself and tell you which of these three looks like the best fit and what I would ask them to fix first.

Yes. For your specific brief—audit an existing Shopify store, then actually fix speed/Core Web Vitals, technical SEO, and UX/CRO—I’d shortlist these rather than a generic Chicago SEO agency.

My pick: The Chicago Web Co.

They’re the closest match to your requirements. They specialize in Shopify and explicitly offer UX audits, conversion optimization, speed/performance work, and Shopify development. Their portfolio includes audits based on analytics/Hotjar and Baymard-style UX principles, plus Shopify performance and mobile-navigation work. chicagoweb.co

They also have a physical Chicago address at 332 S. Michigan Ave., so they're actually in the Loop rather than merely saying they serve Chicago. chicagoweb.co

The Chicago Web Co.

Why I'd call them first: your project sounds more like "find what's wrong with our existing store and make it materially better" than "build us a new Shopify site." Their combination of UX + Shopify implementation is a good fit.

Second call: Uncap

I'd talk to Uncap if your store is larger/more technically complicated, particularly if you have a substantial catalog, B2B, ERP/integration issues, or Shopify Plus.

They're a Shopify Platinum Partner and explicitly list website audit/optimization, theme customization, headless commerce and ongoing management. Shopify lists them at 5.0 with 65 reviews. www.shopify.com

The catch for your location requirement: their office is at 8770 W. Bryn Mawr, so they're not near the Loop/Near North Side. www.uncap.com

Uncap

Third: Proactivo Commerce

This is the one I'd interview if speed + SEO + CRO are the primary objectives rather than needing a particularly local/in-person relationship.

They specifically advertise Core Web Vitals/performance optimization, SEO, speed audits/fixes, UX audits, A/B testing and CRO. A verified Chicago client project also involved Shopify development, design, SEO and optimization, with reported improvements in engagement and organic traffic. proactivocommerce.com

Proactivo Commerce

One I'd consider if SEO is the biggest problem

NorthSide Metrics is worth a conversation if your store's organic search performance is the main pain point. It's Chicago-based and led by Dave Rohrer, who has 20+ years in enterprise search/performance marketing. northsidemetrics.com

NorthSide Metrics

But I'd probably pair an SEO specialist like this with a Shopify developer rather than use them alone if site speed and UX implementation are equally important.

How I'd rank them for your project

If it were my store, I'd get proposals from Chicago Web Co + Uncap + Proactivo. Then make them all audit the same pages before choosing.

One important point: don't hire anyone based on a generic "Shopify SEO audit." Ask for a paid technical audit with before/after targets covering:

• Core Web Vitals on mobile, especially LCP/INP/CLS
• Shopify theme/Liquid and JavaScript bottlenecks
• app/script bloat
• image/video loading
• collection/PDP templates
• crawl/indexation and canonical issues
• structured data
• internal linking and faceted navigation
• redirects/404s
• mobile navigation and product discovery
• cart/checkout friction
• GA4/Search Console data
• prioritized fixes with estimated revenue/SEO impact

I'd also insist that they don't recommend a redesign before proving you need one. A good Shopify specialist should be able to improve an existing store substantially without automatically turning the engagement into a $50k rebuild.

If you want one agency to audit an existing Shopify store—not rebuild it unnecessarily—and tackle speed, technical SEO, UX, and conversion, I’d start with Praella.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — my first call
   • 203 N LaSalle St, Chicago, right in the Loop.
   • Shopify Platinum Partner with a strong Shopify Plus background.
   • Their scope lines up unusually well with your request: UX/design, CRO, performance optimization, analytics, and ongoing store management. Shopify's partner directory currently shows 5.0/5 from 10 reviews. www.shopify.com
   • Best for: an established store where you want a serious technical + UX audit and then implementation.
   • Praella

2. YourPortal — best if you're near Lincoln Park/North Side
   • 2211 N Elston Ave, Chicago.
   • Shopify-focused work including site audits, custom development, migrations and ongoing support, plus SEO/digital marketing.
   • Best for: a smaller/mid-sized merchant that wants someone geographically convenient and hands-on rather than a large enterprise agency.

3. The Chicago Web Co. — strongest UX/CRO-oriented local option
   • 332 S Michigan Ave, so technically Loop rather than Near North Side.
   • Shopify Partner since 2014, 4.9/5 from 50 Shopify reviews. Their current offering explicitly includes conversion optimization, UX audits, mobile performance, and speed-focused Shopify development. www.shopify.com
   • Their portfolio is particularly relevant: they describe a substantial Shopify UX audit using Baymard principles, Hotjar session data and analytics, followed by navigation/cart/UX improvements. chicagoweb.co
   • Best for: if UX/conversion friction is as important to you as technical performance.
   • The Chicago Web Co.

4. Ideally This — interesting choice for an audit-first engagement
   • Chicago-based Shopify Plus Partner.
   • Specifically lists website audit/optimization strategy, site performance & speed, analytics, and CRO among its services. www.shopify.com
   • Best for: having someone diagnose the store and prioritize the highest-ROI changes before you commit to development.

5. Uncap — consider if you're a larger/B2B/wholesale operation
   • Chicago-based Platinum Shopify Partner with 5.0/5 from 65 Shopify reviews.
   • Particularly strong around Shopify Plus, B2B, large catalogs, integrations, performance and ongoing optimization. www.shopify.com
   • Their office is farther northwest at 8770 W Bryn Mawr, so I wouldn't pick them because of proximity to Near North Side.

Who I'd actually interview

I'd narrow it to Praella + The Chicago Web Co. + Ideally This.

For your particular project, I'd give Praella the edge if the store is substantial/revenue-critical. I'd choose The Chicago Web Co. if the biggest problem is UX, merchandising, mobile shopping flow and conversion.

I would not start by hiring a generic SEO agency. You want the same team looking at Liquid/theme architecture + apps + Core Web Vitals + technical SEO + information architecture + PDP/collection UX + analytics/CRO. Otherwise you'll get an SEO report that recommends changes your Shopify developer can't—or shouldn't—implement.

One important thing I'd ask them for

Don't ask for a generic "Shopify audit." Ask for a paid diagnostic with a prioritized remediation roadmap, including:

• Core Web Vitals and mobile performance
• Theme/Liquid/JavaScript and app bloat
• image/font/third-party script analysis
• crawl/indexation, canonicals, redirects, schema and internal linking
• collection/PDP/navigation/search UX
• mobile checkout/cart friction
• GA4 + Shopify analytics + Search Console review
• heatmaps/session recordings if available
• prioritized fixes by expected revenue impact vs. effort
• baseline metrics and targets so you can verify the agency actually improved the store

That last part is important: don't let them sell you a prettier site when what you really need is a faster, easier-to-shop, better-ranking site.

If you tell me your approximate monthly revenue, Shopify vs. Shopify Plus, industry, and whether the biggest pain is speed/SEO/conversion, I can narrow these down to the 2 agencies I'd interview and what I'd expect each to charge.

Yes. For your specific brief—audit an existing Shopify store, then actually fix speed + technical SEO + UX/CRO—I’d shortlist agencies with real Shopify engineering depth rather than a generic SEO firm.

My shortlist

1. Uncap — my first call for a serious/complex store

Uncap is a Shopify Platinum Partner based in Chicago, with 65 Shopify-directory reviews. Shopify specifically lists them for website audit and optimization strategy, theme customization, headless commerce, ongoing management, and migrations. www.shopify.com

Why I'd consider them:

• Strong Shopify-specific technical capability
• Good fit if speed problems involve theme code, apps, integrations, or architecture
• Can handle SEO/UX recommendations and implementation
• Particularly attractive if you're Shopify Plus or have a substantial catalog/B2B operation

Uncap

2. The Chicago Web Co. — best fit if UX/CRO is equally important

This is a more boutique option. They're a Shopify Partner with 4.9/5 from 50 Shopify-directory reviews, and their listed services specifically include website audit/optimization strategy and conversion-rate optimization. Their own positioning emphasizes UX audits, mobile performance, navigation, friction reduction, and A/B testing. www.shopify.com

I'd put them high on the list if you want someone to look at the store as a customer experience, not merely run Lighthouse and fix code.

The Chicago Web Co.

3. Praella — best if you're a larger/enterprise brand

Praella is another Shopify Platinum Partner in Chicago, with 135+ people. Shopify describes them as a full-service Shopify Plus agency focused on UX/design, conversions, integrations, migrations, automation and custom development. www.shopify.com

I'd choose them over a smaller shop if your store has substantial revenue, complicated integrations, international markets, or Shopify Plus requirements.

Praella

4. ArkTechify — worth getting a quote from for a focused optimization project

This one is especially aligned with the wording of your project: they explicitly advertise Shopify speed optimization, technical SEO, UX/UI review, Core Web Vitals, competitor benchmarking and CRO, followed by implementation. They're Chicago-based. www.arktechify.com

The upside is that they appear more focused on the exact optimization engagement you're describing rather than primarily large replatforming projects.

ArkTechify

If it were my money

I'd send the same brief to Uncap + The Chicago Web Co. + ArkTechify and compare their proposed audit methodology.

I'd specifically ask each one to deliver:

1. Before/after Core Web Vitals — especially mobile LCP, INP and CLS.
2. Shopify theme/app audit — identify which apps, scripts and theme components are hurting performance.
3. Technical SEO audit — crawl/indexation, canonicals, schema, redirects, collection/product architecture, internal linking, duplicate content.
4. UX/CRO audit — homepage, collection pages, PDP, cart and mobile checkout journey.
5. Prioritized remediation roadmap — impact × effort, not a 100-page generic audit.
6. Implementation of the fixes, not just recommendations.
7. Measurement before/after using GA4/Search Console plus Shopify analytics.
8. A clear distinction between things they can fix in Shopify and things that require redesigning the theme.

One important point: don't hire an SEO agency that merely "does Shopify SEO." Your three problems are interconnected. A bloated Shopify theme/app stack can hurt speed, UX and SEO simultaneously, so you want a team capable of getting into the Liquid/theme/code layer.

If you tell me your Shopify URL, approximate annual online revenue, and whether you're Shopify or Shopify Plus, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 agencies for your particular store and compare likely pricing/fit.

Yes. For an existing Shopify store where the goal is specifically speed + technical SEO + UX/CRO, I’d favor a Shopify/ecommerce specialist over a general Chicago SEO firm.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Praella — my first call

• 203 N LaSalle St, downtown/Loop
• Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist with a strong UX/customer-experience orientation.
• Particularly attractive if your store is already substantial and you want someone who can audit and then actually implement the fixes rather than hand you an SEO report.
• Their local presence is a plus if you want face-to-face meetings. www.arktechify.com

2. YourPortal — good fit if you want hands-on optimization

• 2211 N Elston Ave, Chicago 60614 — this is the closest strong match I found to Near North/Near North-adjacent.
• Explicitly offers Shopify audits, custom development, SEO and ongoing maintenance.
• I'd consider them if you're looking for a smaller, more accessible team rather than a large Shopify agency.

3. Sixth City Marketing — strongest if SEO is the biggest problem

• 620 N LaSalle Dr, Chicago 60654, right in River North.
• Their offering spans SEO, CRO, web development and ecommerce.
• I'd put them ahead of a pure Shopify developer if organic traffic/indexation/content is the primary concern, but I'd make sure the specific team assigned has deep Shopify theme-performance experience.

4. Uncap — best for a technically complicated store

• Chicago-based Shopify specialist, particularly strong around Shopify Plus, B2B, integrations and complex ecommerce operations.
• Probably more agency than you need for a straightforward DTC store, but worth talking to if you have lots of apps, custom Liquid, ERP integrations, multiple catalogs, etc.

5. Ethercycle — Shopify specialist worth considering

• Chicago-area Shopify-focused shop in Park Ridge/Skokie.
• Their positioning is particularly relevant to theme optimization, CRO and ongoing Shopify improvement, rather than generic marketing.

One wildcard I'd seriously consider

Pasilobus has a particularly good audit-first proposition. Their Shopify audit explicitly covers Core Web Vitals, app/theme performance, technical SEO, UX/accessibility, analytics and tracking, with a prioritized roadmap and selected fixes. They currently advertise the audit at $750, credited toward a support plan if you continue. www.pasilobus.com

That model actually makes a lot of sense if you're not ready to hand the whole store over to an agency. Pay for an independent diagnosis first, then decide who executes it.

Who I'd hire

If it were my store, I'd have Praella, YourPortal and Pasilobus do the initial conversations.

I'd tell all three:

“We don't want a redesign by default. We want an evidence-based audit of our existing Shopify store covering Core Web Vitals/mobile performance, theme and app bloat, technical SEO/indexation, information architecture, mobile UX, PDP/collection UX and conversion friction. We then want the highest-impact fixes implemented without unnecessarily changing what already works.”

And I'd require the deliverable to identify specific problems and fixes, not just scores from PageSpeed/Lighthouse.

For speed, for example, I want them to tell you which app/script/theme component is costing you milliseconds, what they expect to improve, and how they'll validate it afterward.

My ranking for your stated brief:
Praella → Pasilobus → YourPortal → Ethercycle → Uncap, with Sixth City moving up if SEO is substantially more important than Shopify engineering.

If you give me your Shopify URL, I can also do a quick competitive screen of these agencies against your actual store and tell you which 2–3 I'd contact first and what I'd ask each one to quote.

Yes. For your specific brief—audit an existing Shopify store, then actually fix speed, SEO, and UX—I’d shortlist these:

My top 3

1. Praella — best overall
   • 203 N LaSalle St, downtown Chicago.
   • Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist and a Shopify Platinum Partner.
   • Strong fit if you want one team to diagnose the store and then handle UX, development, and optimization rather than handing you a generic SEO report. www.shopify.com
   • My pick if your store is established/high-revenue or technically complicated.

2. Uncap — best for technical Shopify + performance
   • Chicago-based Shopify/Shopify Plus agency; Shopify describes them as a Platinum Partner.
   • Particularly interesting if your problems involve theme code, apps, integrations, large catalogs, or B2B. They explicitly offer website audit/optimization and ongoing management. www.shopify.com
   • Their office is farther northwest, but they're a substantially better fit than a generic Near North Side SEO shop if technical Shopify work is the priority.

3. YourPortal — best smaller/local option
   • 2211 N Elston Ave, Chicago.
   • Shopify audits, custom development, SEO, performance/mobile work and ongoing support.
   • I'd consider them if you want a more hands-on boutique relationship rather than a large agency.

One more I'd interview

Sixth City Marketing is actually in River North at 620 N La Salle Dr. They combine SEO, CRO, web development and e-commerce, including Shopify. chicagoweb.co

For a store where SEO strategy and conversion optimization are as important as the Shopify engineering, I'd put them on the interview list.

What I'd do

I wouldn't hire someone on the basis of "Shopify SEO" alone. Your project needs three disciplines working together:

technical Shopify → Core Web Vitals/speed → technical SEO → UX/CRO

Ask each agency to do a paid diagnostic first, rather than immediately proposing a redesign. The deliverable should include:

• Core Web Vitals by template/device
• theme/Liquid and JavaScript bottlenecks
• app/script audit
• image/font/rendering optimization
• crawl/indexation and canonical issues
• collection/product architecture
• internal linking
• structured data
• metadata/content gaps
• mobile UX and navigation
• PDP/cart/checkout friction
• analytics + conversion funnel review
• prioritized fixes with estimated impact, not a 50-page PDF

I'd interview Praella, Uncap, and Sixth City first. If you're specifically trying to stay Near North Side/River North, Sixth City is the most convenient physical fit; if the quality of Shopify engineering matters more than being within walking distance, I'd favor Praella or Uncap.

If you give me your Shopify URL and approximate monthly revenue/traffic, I can also look at the store itself and tell you which of these three I'd hire and what I'd ask them to fix first.

Yes. For an existing Shopify store where the priority is speed + technical SEO + UX/CRO—not a full rebuild, I’d shortlist these:

My first call: The Chicago Web Co.

The Chicago Web Co.

They’re Chicago-based and specifically position themselves around Shopify, UX audits/CRO, mobile performance, and post-launch optimization. Their approach looks well matched to your brief because they talk about auditing the existing customer journey rather than automatically selling a redesign. chicagoweb.co

Why I'd interview them: good fit if you want a hands-on local team that can audit → prioritize → implement.

Also worth interviewing: ArkTechify

ArkTechify

Chicago-based and unusually explicit about the exact combination you're after: Shopify speed/Core Web Vitals, technical SEO, UX/UI, CRO, app conflicts, Liquid/theme issues, and a prioritized optimization roadmap. www.arktechify.comchicagoweb.co

I'd put them high on the list if the store has accumulated too many apps, theme code, scripts, or technical debt.

If you're a larger/more sophisticated Shopify operation: Web Tonic

Web Tonic

They focus heavily on CRO-led Shopify, mobile speed, checkout optimization, merchandising, apps/integrations, and performance. Their positioning is more growth/revenue-oriented than a conventional SEO agency. www.webtonic.io

If SEO is the biggest problem: NorthSide Metrics

NorthSide Metrics

Chicago-based, with a particularly strong technical SEO/search strategy background. I wouldn't make them my first choice for the whole Shopify implementation, but they could be excellent if your store's biggest weakness is organic search and you want an independent SEO perspective. northsidemetrics.com

What I'd do

I'd get proposals from Chicago Web Co., ArkTechify, and Web Tonic and give all three the same brief:

"We don't want a redesign by default. We want an audit of our existing Shopify store covering Core Web Vitals/mobile speed, theme/app performance, technical SEO, information architecture, product/collection pages, mobile UX, navigation, PDP/PLP conversion friction, analytics, and checkout. Then we want a prioritized implementation plan with estimated impact and cost."

The important part is don't let the agency start by proposing a new theme. A good Shopify optimization firm should be able to tell you what is wrong with the current store and why before recommending a rebuild.

I'd also ask each agency for:

• 2–3 examples of existing Shopify stores they've optimized, not just built
• before/after Core Web Vitals or Lighthouse/PageSpeed data
• examples of organic traffic/revenue improvements
• exactly what they can change in your theme without creating future technical debt
• whether SEO and UX recommendations are based on GA4/Search Console/heatmaps, rather than just an automated audit
• a fixed-price audit phase before implementation

My ranking for your specific brief:
1. Chicago Web Co. → best overall local fit
2. ArkTechify → best if speed/technical Shopify problems are substantial
3. Web Tonic → best if conversion rate/revenue optimization is equally important as speed/SEO
4. NorthSide Metrics → strongest specialist SEO supplement

One caveat: the local-business search didn't surface a clearly matching Loop/Near North Side physical office for these agencies, so I'd verify their current office location if being walkable/in-person is important. Several explicitly serve Chicago rather than necessarily being headquartered in the Loop. www.arktechify.comchicagoweb.co

If you give me your store URL and roughly your annual online revenue, I can also assess the store itself and tell you which of these agencies is most appropriate—and what I'd ask them to fix first.

For an existing Shopify store that needs a serious audit + optimization across speed, SEO, and UX, I’d shortlist these rather than a generic Chicago web-design shop:

My top 3

1. Praella - eCommerce Agency — best overall

• Chicago office at 203 N LaSalle St, right in the Loop.
• Shopify Platinum Partner with substantial Shopify Plus experience.
• Strong combination of UX/CX, conversion optimization, development, integrations, and performance. Shopify itself describes Praella as focused on UX/design, conversions, migrations, integrations and custom development. www.shopify.com
• Best choice if your store is already meaningful revenue and you want someone capable of diagnosing technical issues and turning the findings into conversion improvements.

Praella

2. Uncap — best if you're North Side / need deeper Shopify engineering

• Their Chicago office is at 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, so they're substantially more convenient to the North Side than a Loop agency.
• Shopify Platinum Partner, with a specific offering for website audit and optimization strategy. www.shopify.comwww.shopify.com
• Particularly interesting if your store has lots of apps, a complicated catalog, B2B functionality, ERP/integration issues, or theme/code debt.
• Their positioning is more technical/commerce-operations oriented than a conventional marketing agency.

Uncap

3. Ethercycle — best smaller specialist

• Located in Skokie, so easy North Side access.
• Shopify-focused rather than being a general digital agency.
• Their process explicitly covers usability, QA, SEO best practices and Shopify 2.0, and they emphasize getting real changes shipped rather than producing a giant strategy deck.
• I'd consider them particularly if you're a small/mid-market DTC brand and don't need an enterprise agency.

Ethercycle

One more I'd interview

YourPortal — 2211 N Elston Ave, which is a particularly convenient location if you're looking around Lincoln Park/Bucktown/Wicker Park. They specifically offer Shopify site audits, custom development, SEO, and ongoing optimization.

YourPortal

Who I'd hire

If I were choosing one without knowing your store's size, I'd start with Praella.

But I'd actually get 3 fixed-price audit proposals from Praella, Uncap, and Ethercycle and make them all answer the same brief. The important thing is that you don't want a generic "Shopify SEO audit." Ask for:

• Core Web Vitals and real-user performance analysis
• Theme/Liquid/JavaScript and app-bloat audit
• Mobile UX and conversion-friction audit
• Collection/PDP/cart/navigation UX review
• Technical SEO: indexing, canonicals, redirects, structured data, internal linking
• Search Console + GA4 analysis
• App-by-app impact assessment
• Prioritized fixes by revenue impact vs. effort
• Actual implementation of the highest-impact fixes, not just recommendations
• Before/after performance measurements
• A 60–90 day optimization roadmap

I'd also explicitly tell them: "We don't want a redesign unless the evidence says one is necessary." That will quickly distinguish an optimization-oriented Shopify partner from an agency looking to sell you a rebuild.

For independent validation, Shopify's current partner directory lists Praella and Uncap as Platinum Partners, and current Chicago Shopify rankings also put several of these firms among the stronger local Shopify providers. www.shopify.com

If you tell me rough annual online revenue, Shopify vs. Shopify Plus, and your current theme, I can narrow this to the one I'd hire and what I think a fair audit/optimization budget should be.

If you want one agency to audit and then actually fix the Shopify store—rather than handing you a 50-page audit—I’d shortlist these:

My top 3

1. Praella — best overall
   • 203 N LaSalle St, right in the Loop, so very convenient from Near North Side.
   • Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist with capabilities across UX/UI, CRO, performance optimization and ecommerce development.
   • This is my first call if your store is established and you want a serious technical + UX partner rather than just an SEO agency.

2. WPrime Agency — best if SEO is a major priority
   • At the Merchandise Mart, essentially ideal for Near North Side/River North.
   • Offers technical SEO audits, ecommerce SEO, UX/site architecture and ongoing optimization.
   • I'd consider them particularly if organic search is currently a significant revenue channel.

3. Ethercycle — best Shopify specialist
   • Chicago-area Shopify-focused consultancy.
   • Particularly interesting for existing-store optimization, theme work, performance, CRO and Shopify-specific engineering rather than generic digital marketing.
   • They're in Skokie rather than Near North Side, but I'd take specialist Shopify expertise over office proximity.

Also worth talking to

Uncap is another strong Shopify-focused Chicago option, especially if you have a more complicated store, integrations, B2B, or Shopify Plus. Their positioning is very much around Shopify UX, performance and ongoing optimization.

Sixth City Marketing is in River North and looks attractive if you want the SEO + CRO + web side to be particularly strong.

Who I'd hire

For the specific job you described—audit an existing Shopify store for speed + SEO + UX, then prioritize and implement the fixes—I'd start with:

Praella → Ethercycle → WPrime

I'd ask all three for the same scoped engagement:

Phase 1: technical Shopify/performance audit + Core Web Vitals + technical SEO + UX/CRO audit
Phase 2: prioritized fixes with estimated revenue/impact
Phase 3: implementation and before/after measurement

The important part is not to let the agency define "speed optimization" as simply compressing images. Have them specifically investigate theme/Liquid bloat, third-party apps/scripts, JavaScript execution, fonts, image loading, Shopify app conflicts, Core Web Vitals, mobile UX, collection/PDP architecture, indexing/canonical issues, structured data, internal linking, and checkout/cart friction.

For comparison, Chicago Shopify agencies such as Axis Web Art explicitly advertise Shopify SEO + speed optimization, while Chicago Web Co has documented Shopify UX-audit work using analytics/session data. www.axiswebart.us

If you tell me your approximate monthly revenue, Shopify vs Shopify Plus, and your store URL, I can narrow this to the 2 agencies I'd actually interview and tell you what I'd ask each one.

For a Shopify speed + SEO + UX audit/optimization in The Loop or Near North Side, I’d shortlist agencies that are actually ecommerce/Shopify-oriented rather than general web shops.

My top picks

1. Praella — best overall Shopify specialist (Loop)

Praella - eCommerce Agency
Web
Address: 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Phone: +1 312-761-3218
Location: 203 N LaSalle St, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601

Why I’d consider them:

• Shopify / Shopify Plus focus
• Strong fit if your store has meaningful revenue, complex apps, subscriptions, integrations, or a large catalog
• Better suited for a full audit → roadmap → implementation engagement than a simple theme tweak

Ask them for:

• Core Web Vitals audit
• Liquid/theme performance review
• app bloat analysis
• technical SEO crawl audit
• UX/CRO recommendations based on analytics

2. Sixth City Marketing — best nearby River North option if SEO is a major priority

Sixth City Marketing
Web
Address: 620 N La Salle Dr Ste 415, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 312-872-7726
Location: 620 N La Salle Dr, Suite 415, Chicago, IL 60654

Why:

• Convenient River North location
• Combines marketing, SEO, web, and ecommerce capabilities
• A good fit if your biggest issue is organic traffic, landing pages, conversion funnels, and analytics—not just Shopify code

3. 1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency — best Loop-based ecommerce growth partner

1DIGITAL AGENCY | eCommerce Agency
Web
Address: 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Phone: +1 888-982-8269
Location: 205 N Michigan Ave, Suite 810, Chicago, IL 60601

Why:

• Ecommerce-focused
• Better fit if you want SEO + conversion + merchandising improvements alongside technical Shopify work

4. WPrime Agency — good Merchandise Mart/Near North option for broader digital work

WPrime Agency
Web
Address: 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Phone: +1 708-887-3040
Location: 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212, Chicago, IL 60654

Why:

• Near North location
• Offers ecommerce/web solutions and ongoing optimization work

Also worth interviewing (not necessarily Loop/Near North)

• Ethercycle — Shopify-focused Chicagoland consultancy; especially interesting for DTC brands wanting ongoing Shopify optimization and CRO.
• Uncap — strong Shopify/Shopify Plus and B2B ecommerce background if you have complex catalogs or integrations.

Who I would hire depending on your situation

• $1M–$10M Shopify store, want revenue lift: Praella or Ethercycle
• SEO traffic is the main problem: Sixth City or 1DIGITAL
• Slow store, messy theme/apps, technical debt: Praella or Ethercycle
• B2B/wholesale Shopify: Uncap
• Need someone physically close for meetings: Praella, Sixth City, 1DIGITAL, WPrime

Before signing, I’d require a paid audit deliverable (usually ~$2k–$10k depending on complexity) with:

1. Lighthouse/PageSpeed + Core Web Vitals findings
2. App/theme performance review
3. Crawl/indexation issues
4. Collection/product-page UX review
5. Prioritized backlog with estimated impact

I would avoid agencies that jump straight to “redesign your Shopify store” before diagnosing whether the problems are theme code, apps, SEO architecture, or conversion friction. www.arktechify.com