South Made

What South Made does

South Made is a privately held, bootstrapped full-service digital marketing agency operating from Knoxville, TN and Marco Island, FL. Founded in 2004 as ZBolt Designs and rebranded to South Made Marketing in 2025, the firm has served more than 1,000 brands over 22+ years and works with clients across 45+ US states and five countries. Its portfolio spans hospitality and food-and-beverage, medical aesthetics, luxury travel, and select enterprise accounts (Hilton, Ryan Specialty Group, Polaris Controls), with a 94% year-over-year client retention rate on strategy engagements and 400+ five-star reviews across Google, Clutch, Facebook, Capterra, UpCity, and BrightLocal.

The agency delivers core services in branding, social media management, content creation (in-house photography, video, graphics, copywriting), marketing strategy and consulting, digital and graphic design, and web design and development on WordPress with the Breakdance page builder. Specialized modules include SEO, PPC, email marketing, reputation management, analytics, and an AI Marketing service line focused on Generative Engine Optimization, AI Overview Optimization, and E-E-A-T signal building. South Made Collabs, a sub-brand, operates an in-house network of 500+ creators, influencers, models, photographers, and local tastemakers used to power authentic campaigns. There is no proprietary technology platform; the technical stack centers on third-party tools (Rank Math Pro, Meta Business Suite, Canva, GA4, GTM, hosting/security plugins).

The business model is professional services on a custom-quote basis with month-to-month retainer engagements and no long-term contracts. The go-to-market motion combines direct outreach, inbound inquiries, referrals, and a 'No Contract. Just Results' positioning, supported by an in-house sales and creative team (no outsourcing or white-labeling) and a structured intern-to-full-time talent pipeline (90% conversion). Pricing is scope-driven, based on platforms used, content volume, photography inclusion, and client goals, with flexibility across single-service and full-service partnerships.

Name

South Made

Legal name

South Made

Website

https://southmade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Made is a privately held, bootstrapped full-service digital marketing agency based in Knoxville, TN and Marco Island, FL, serving SMB and enterprise clients across hospitality, medical aesthetics, and select enterprise verticals with in-house branding, social media, content, web design, and AI marketing services on a no-contract retainer basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Marketing Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paid Social Media Buying (BPAFABAD), Content & Creative Studio for Creators (Concepting/Production) (MPAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Digital marketing services
• Social media management
• Content creation services
• Brand identity design
• Web design development

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Digital Marketing Services: South Made generates revenue through comprehensive digital marketing service offerings including social media management, web design, branding, content creation, SEO, PPC, and marketing strategy consulting. Services are sold as custom engagements or monthly retainers with no long-term contracts required. Most clients stay for years based on performance results.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Made is a full-service digital marketing agency that delivers branding, social media management, original content creation (photography, video, graphics, copywriting), marketing strategy, web design and development, AI search optimization, and paid media services to business clients. Engagements are sold as monthly retainers or custom projects on a no-contract basis, with all production handled in-house by the agency's strategists, designers, photographers, videographers, and community managers. The agency also operates South Made Collabs, an influencer and content creator network used to support client campaigns.

Product overview

South Made is a full-service digital marketing agency offering a comprehensive suite of marketing services under one roof. The core offerings include Branding & Brand Identity, Social Media Management, Content Creation (photography, video, graphics, copywriting), Marketing Strategy & Consulting, Digital & Graphic Design, and Web Design & Development. Specialized services include AI Marketing for generative engine optimization and AI search visibility, Advanced Marketing (PR, influencer partnerships, OTT advertising), and various service modules including SEO, PPC Management, Email Marketing, Reputation Management, and Analytics. The agency also operates South Made Collabs, a proprietary influencer and content creator network. All services are delivered in-house by a dedicated team of strategists, photographers, videographers, designers, and community managers. The agency operates on a no-contract basis, working with clients across 45+ US states and 5 countries from headquarters in Knoxville, TN and Marco Island, FL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• South Made Collabs: Knoxville's Influencer & Content Creator Network — an exclusive network of content creators, influencers, models, photographers, food lovers, and socially connected locals who collaborate with brands for authentic marketing campaigns.

Products and services

• Branding & Brand Identity Services Strategic brand development including logo design, visual identity systems, brand voice and messaging, and comprehensive brand guidelines for businesses launching or repositioning in the market.
• Social Media Management Full social media strategy, content creation, community management, and paid social advertising across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and X platforms.
• Content Creation In-house production of original photography, video production, branded graphics, and copywriting for websites, social media, email newsletters, and marketing materials.
• Marketing Strategy & Consulting Custom marketing plans grounded in business goals, competitive analysis, channel strategy, content planning, and ongoing advisory services for execution support.
• Digital & Graphic Design Visual asset creation including social media graphics, print and billboard design, packaging design, vehicle wraps, and event promotional materials.
• Web Design & Development Custom website design and development on WordPress with the Breakdance page builder, including mobile-responsive development, SEO-ready architecture, e-commerce development, and website hosting integration.
• AI Marketing (Generative Engine Optimization) Optimization for AI search platforms including Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), AI Overview Optimization, E-E-A-T signal building, structured data and schema markup implementation, and AI-optimized content creation.
• Advanced Marketing PR, influencer partnerships, OTT and streaming advertising, integrated campaign strategy, and community partnerships for brands seeking market presence beyond foundational marketing.
• South Made Collabs Knoxville's influencer and content creator network connecting brands with 500+ authentic local creators for collaborative marketing campaigns, events, and brand activations.

Quantifiable outcome

• +340% Instagram Follower Growth for Stir Downtown Dining
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wpromote: Wpromote is a full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, content, and social services. It is comparable to South Made because both operate as full-service digital agencies serving mid-market and enterprise clients across multiple channels.
• WebFX: WebFX is a full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, web design, social media, content, and PPC. It is a direct peer to South Made as both provide similar multi-channel digital marketing services with custom proposal-based pricing.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Thrive is a full-service digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, social media, content, and PPC. Comparable to South Made in both service breadth and target customer profile (small-to-mid-market businesses).
• Ignite Visibility: Ignite Visibility is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, paid media, social media, and email. It is a direct peer to South Made, both offering integrated marketing strategies with a focus on measurable performance outcomes.
• LYFE Marketing: LYFE Marketing is a social media management and digital marketing agency serving small-to-mid-size businesses. Comparable to South Made in social media management focus and multi-channel service offering.
• SmartSites: SmartSites is a full-service digital agency offering web design, SEO, PPC, and social media. It is a direct peer to South Made as both target small-to-mid-market clients with custom marketing packages and no long-term contracts.
• Disruptive Advertising: Disruptive Advertising is a digital marketing agency focused on paid media, SEO, and lifecycle marketing. It is a direct peer to South Made as both emphasize data-driven strategy and integrated campaign execution for mid-market clients.
• KlientBoost: KlientBoost is a digital marketing agency specializing in PPC, CRO, and SEO. It is a direct peer to South Made in terms of performance-driven digital marketing services, though KlientBoost is more concentrated on paid acquisition.
• Titan Growth: Titan Growth is a full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, social media, and content marketing. It is a direct peer to South Made as both serve mid-market clients with integrated, multi-channel digital strategies.

Broad incumbents

• Tinuiti: Tinuiti is one of the largest independent performance marketing agencies in the US, offering paid media, SEO, social, and CRM. It is a broad incumbent peer to South Made, operating at much larger scale but in the same multi-channel digital marketing space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/southmademarketing
• Instagraminstagram.com/southmademarketing
• Xx.com/southmadellc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southmade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Made