Directive
Directive is a privately held, US-based B2B marketing agency operating three divisions (Performance, Commerce, Communications) that deliver enterprise search, paid media, content, PR, and revenue operations for technology, industrial, and professional-services firms via its Stratos AI platform and DiscoverabilityOS methodology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersIrvine, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Directive does
Directive is a privately held B2B marketing agency founded in 2013 and headquartered in Irvine, California, with additional delivery offices in Austin, New York City, Toronto, London, and Mexico City. The firm sells enterprise and mid-market B2B marketing services through three branded divisions — Directive Performance (content, paid media, performance creative, programmatic, revenue operations, startups), Directive Commerce (marketplace, lifecycle, shopping), and Directive Communications (PR, organic and paid social, influencer) — targeting technology, industrial/manufacturing, and professional-services buyers with complex, multi-stakeholder purchase cycles. Its commercial model is bespoke professional services sold on multi-year custom retainers, with go-to-market run through enterprise field sales and inside-sales motions aimed at pipeline-accountable CMOs; the company reports 65%+ of revenue from returning customers and a 4.9 CSAT score.
At the technical core, Directive operates the Stratos AI platform, an AI-powered customer generation system that unifies CRM, paid media, SEO, finance, and operations data to deliver predictive intelligence, MMM-based budgeting, ICP discovery, and automated reporting. The platform is built on native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Ads, Google Analytics, LinkedIn Ads, ZoomInfo, Gong, SEMrush, and Ahrefs, and is powered by $461M in proprietary channel intelligence accumulated across 420+ client engagements. Layered on top is DiscoverabilityOS, a five-stage proprietary methodology (Model, Define, Captivate, Convert, Scale) that aligns brand and demand activity to qualified pipeline; the firm reports its own brand holds the #1 LLM visibility share across tracked agency prompts. The company invests approximately $2.2M annually in marketing R&D, holds no disclosed external funding, and remains independent.
Directive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Directive
- Legal name
- Directive
- Website
- https://directiveconsulting.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Directive is a privately held, US-based B2B marketing agency operating three divisions (Performance, Commerce, Communications) that deliver enterprise search, paid media, content, PR, and revenue operations for technology, industrial, and professional-services firms via its Stratos AI platform and DiscoverabilityOS methodology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Directive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- B2B Marketing Agency Services
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (541830), Media Representatives (541840)
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B Demand Generation & Lead Nurture Agencies (BPAFAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Content Strategy & Planning (BPAFAIAG), Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH)
Keywords
Where Directive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irvine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Directive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- B2B Marketing Agency Services: Directive generates revenue through professional services engagements as a B2B marketing agency. Services span Performance (content, paid media, programmatic, RevOps), Commerce (marketplace, shopping, lifecycle), and Communications (PR, social, influencer) divisions. The company operates on retainer and project-based fee structures typical of enterprise marketing agencies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise B2B marketing services - custom engagement based on scope and requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels12 records
Directive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Directive is a B2B marketing agency that helps mid-market and enterprise companies scale pipeline and revenue through performance marketing, commerce, and communications services. The agency operates three divisions (Performance, Commerce, Communications) supported by its proprietary Stratos AI-powered customer generation platform and DiscoverabilityOS methodology. Engagements span content marketing, paid media, programmatic advertising, SEO, GEO, AEO, RevOps, PR, and influencer programs delivered on retainer or project basis.
Product overview
Directive is a B2B marketing agency operating as a platform-plus-services model with three main divisions (Performance, Commerce, Communications) supported by two proprietary products: Stratos (AI-powered customer generation platform) and DiscoverabilityOS (methodology framework). The Performance Division covers content marketing, paid media, performance creative, programmatic advertising, revenue operations, and startup programs. The Commerce Division manages marketplace presence, lifecycle marketing, and shopping campaigns for B2B ecommerce. The Communications Division handles PR, organic/paid social, and B2B influencer partnerships. All divisions and services are unified under the DiscoverabilityOS methodology, while Stratos serves as the AI intelligence layer powering the entire operation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Stratos: AI-powered intelligence platform that unifies CRM, paid media, SEO, and ops data for real-time decision-making and predictive analytics.
- DirectivePerformance
- DirectiveCommerce
- DirectiveCommunications
- DiscoverabilityOS
Products and services
- Stratos AI Platform
- DirectivePerformance Division
- DirectiveCommerce Division
- DirectiveCommunications Division
- Content Marketing Agency
- Paid Media / PPC Agency
- Performance Creative
- Programmatic Advertising
- Revenue Operations
- Startup Package
- Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Agency
- Generative Engine Optimization Agency
- Marketplace Agency
- PR Agency
- DiscoverabilityOS Methodology
Quantifiable outcome
- 109% increase in Closed/Won Revenue QoQ (Arctic Wolf case study)
- +11 more outcomes
Companies that use Directive
Customer profileNamed customers34 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Directive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability7 records
Feature10 records
Directive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Google AdscoreZero-lift integration with Google Ads platform through Stratos AI platform, enabling real-time campaign management and performance data unification.
- Google AnalyticscoreDirect integration with Google Analytics for web traffic and conversion data feeding into Stratos unified reporting dashboard.
- LinkedIn AdscoreIntegration for B2B paid social advertising data, enabling targeting insights and campaign performance tracking within Stratos.
- SalesforcecoreCRM integration connecting sales pipeline data with marketing performance for revenue attribution modeling.
- HubSpotcoreMarketing automation and CRM integration for lead tracking, email marketing, and revenue operations workflows.
- ZoomInfocoreB2B contact and company data enrichment for ICP targeting, account identification, and lead quality enhancement.
- GongcoreSales conversation intelligence integration for revenue attribution and pipeline impact analysis.
- SEMrushcoreSEO and competitive intelligence data integration providing keyword research, site auditing, and backlink analysis within Stratos.
- AhrefscoreSEO tool integration providing backlink analysis, keyword research, and site performance monitoring for content strategy.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Directive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Demandbase: ABM platform that also offers agency/professional services. Competes with Directive's ABM services and overlaps in technology integrations (CRM, intent data, AI agents).
Direct peers
- Ironpaper: B2B marketing agency focused on demand generation, content, and ABM for industrial and technology clients. Comparable vertical mix (industrial + tech) to Directive's served segments.
- iPullRank: Technical SEO and content marketing agency focused on enterprise B2B clients. Comparable to Directive's Content and SEO agency offerings, with similar ICP and technical depth.
- WebFX: Full-service digital marketing agency serving mid-market and enterprise B2B clients across SEO, paid media, content, and conversion optimization. Closely matches Directive's service mix and customer profile.
- Single Grain: B2B SaaS-focused digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, content, and paid media; explicitly named alongside Directive in industry rankings. Direct comparable on services, ICP, and tech/SaaS vertical focus.
- Section Partners: Fractional CMO and B2B marketing advisory firm serving mid-market and enterprise SaaS clients with demand-gen, ABM, and content focus. Overlap with Directive's pipeline-accountable go-to-market.
- Jellyfish: Global B2B digital marketing agency offering media, creative, and analytics services across enterprise clients. Highly comparable to Directive's full-funnel, multi-division structure with similar mid-market and enterprise customer focus.
Broad incumbents
- WPP: Largest advertising holding company with Ogilvy, GroupM, and VMLY&R delivering media, creative, and digital services. Represents scale incumbents Directive competes against for enterprise B2B marketing budgets.
- Omnicom Group: Global holding company whose agencies (e.g., BBDO, DDB, FleishmanHillard) provide marketing, advertising, and PR services. Represents the consolidated incumbent competitive threat to independent agencies like Directive.
- Publicis Groupe: Global communications and marketing group (Leo Burnett, Saatchi, Starcom) offering integrated media and digital services. Incumbent competitor for enterprise marketing mandates, particularly with similar data/AI capabilities through Epsilon.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Directive social profiles
Digital presenceDirective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Directive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Directive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Directive M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Directive
What does Directive do?
Directive is a B2B marketing agency that helps mid-market and enterprise companies scale pipeline and revenue through performance marketing, commerce, and communications services. The agency operates three divisions (Performance, Commerce, Communications) supported by its proprietary Stratos AI-powered customer generation platform and DiscoverabilityOS methodology. Engagements span content marketing, paid media, programmatic advertising, SEO, GEO, AEO, RevOps, PR, and influencer programs delivered on retainer or project basis.
Is Directive a public or private company?
Directive is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Directive founded?
Directive was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Directive based?
Directive is headquartered in Irvine, United States, in the North America region.
How does Directive make money?
One revenue line is on record: B2B Marketing Agency Services.
Who are Directive's main competitors?
Demandbase is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Ironpaper, iPullRank, WebFX, Single Grain, Section Partners and Jellyfish. Broad incumbents are WPP, Omnicom Group and Publicis Groupe.
Does Directive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Directive.
What industry is Directive in?
Directive's product category is B2B Marketing Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAKAA, B2B Demand Generation & Lead Nurture Agencies, with a secondary code of BPAFAIAG, Content Strategy & Planning. Its NAICS code is 541830 and its SIC code is 8741.