City Ranked Media
City Ranked Media is a Vancouver, WA-based, self-funded digital marketing agency serving service-area home services contractors and PE-backed multi-location operators with proprietary AI-powered marketing technology built in-house over 15 years.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersVancouver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What City Ranked Media does
City Ranked Media, Inc. is a Vancouver, Washington–based digital marketing agency founded in 2011 by Duane Baumgartner that delivers managed digital marketing services to service-area businesses, with a primary focus on home services contractors (pest control, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping) and a secondary enterprise motion serving PE firms, platform companies, and multi-location operators. The company employs 40+ US-based W2 full-time specialists across SEO, paid media, content, development, and account management, and has remained entirely self-funded with no outside investors or PE ownership across 15 years of operation. It has been recognized as an Inc 5000 honoree in both 2023 and 2024.
The company's core asset is the Ascent Toolkit, a suite of six proprietary AI-powered tools built in-house over 15 years: Skout (call intelligence and 24/7 lead capture), Skout IVR (first-ring inbound call classification into new prospect, existing customer, or vendor tracks), Agentic AI (five specialized Hub-and-Spoke agents for chat, SMS, DMs, and voice), GPS-SEO (hyper-local SEO at the neighborhood and zip-code level since 2012), Summit Reviews (AI-driven review generation and reputation management), and CR Suite (a proprietary WordPress plugin bundling schema, Geo-Block, and GPS-SEO functionality). A Voice Intelligence Layer (Skout IVR Phase 2) is in beta for Fall 2026 release. The toolkit integrates via API with major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, HighLevel) and field-service platforms (ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber, PestPac, FieldRoutes) for closed-loop lead-to-revenue attribution.
City Ranked operates on a sales-led, managed-services revenue model. The go-to-market begins with a no-commitment Revenue Recovery Audit (a 45-minute working session with a senior strategist) followed by a Digital Ramp engagement measured weekly against Marketing Qualified Leads delivered into the client's CRM. Pricing is positioned at roughly the cost of one in-house marketing manager and is not publicly disclosed. The agency services are organized through a proprietary 10-Levers operating model that combines four Waterfall levers (SEO, Local SEO, Website Design, Marketing Automation) with six Agile sprint levers (PPC, Email, SMS, Paid Social, Agentic AI, Limited-Time Offers), reviewed every Friday against weekly MQL pace. Enterprise clients are supported through a dedicated One-Team model spanning pre-purchase digital diligence, acquisition integration, and portfolio-level accountability.
City Ranked Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- City Ranked Media
- Legal name
- City Ranked Media, Inc.
- Website
- https://cityranked.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- City Ranked Media is a Vancouver, WA-based, self-funded digital marketing agency serving service-area home services contractors and PE-backed multi-location operators with proprietary AI-powered marketing technology built in-house over 15 years.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
City Ranked Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (541810), Media Buying Agencies (54183)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Planning, Buying & Optimization (BPAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Local & Location-Based Performance Advertising (Local Search/Maps, Geo-targeting) (BPAFACAL), Paid Social Advertising (BPAFACAB)
Keywords
Where City Ranked Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
City Ranked Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Managed Digital Marketing Services: Full-service managed digital marketing and advertising services delivered as a single accountable system. The engagement includes the Ascent Toolkit proprietary software, a dedicated team of US-based employees, weekly MQL reporting, and CRM-integrated closed-loop attribution. Clients receive a Revenue Recovery Audit as the initial entry point, followed by a full Digital Ramp engagement measured against agreed-upon KPIs. Revenue is generated through ongoing managed service fees, positioning the company as an outside advertising department for service-area businesses at roughly the cost of one in-house manager.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
City Ranked Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
City Ranked Media provides managed digital marketing and advertising services powered by its proprietary Ascent Toolkit of AI-driven software. The agency delivers a closed-loop revenue engine for service-area businesses — covering website design, SEO, local SEO, paid media/PPC, social media marketing, and AI-powered marketing automation — measured weekly against Marketing Qualified Leads delivered into the client's CRM. Service is delivered by 40+ US-based W2 full-time employees functioning as an outside advertising department.
Product overview
City Ranked Media is a technology-driven digital marketing agency that has built its own proprietary AI-powered marketing technology stack over 15 years. Its core offering is the Ascent Toolkit — a platform of six integrated in-house tools (GPS-SEO, Skout, Skout IVR, Agentic AI, Summit Reviews, CR Suite) that work as one connected revenue engine. This platform runs the agency's core marketing services (SEO, Local SEO, Website Development, Paid Media, Social Media, Marketing Automation) and powers the proprietary 10-Levers operating model and Digital Ramp methodology. The Ascent Toolkit is not available off the shelf; it is unique to City Ranked and runs the entire system for clients. CR Suite packages this functionality as a WordPress plugin. The company also offers Enterprise/PE services for multi-location operators. All services are measured weekly against one number: Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) delivered into the client's CRM.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ascent Toolkit (Proprietary AI Marketing Platform) Proprietary AI-powered marketing technology platform that captures, qualifies, and routes inbound leads into client CRMs, runs hyper-local SEO, trains Google and Meta algorithms on clean buyer signals, and powers the agency's managed marketing services. Used by City Ranked to deliver the closed-loop revenue engine for service-area business clients.
- Website Development & Design Custom WordPress website design and development built on the CR Suite platform. Mobile-first, fast-loading, conversion-focused, and engineered for SEO with injected schema and GPS-SEO baked in. For service-area businesses that need a conversion-ready website tied to lead production.
- SEO Services Technical and on-page SEO plus local SEO (GPS-SEO) for long-term compounding organic visibility. Includes title tags, load speed optimization, localized content, structured data, Core Web Vitals monitoring, and advanced call tracking attributing phone calls to exact campaign, keyword, and channel. For service-area businesses seeking durable organic rankings.
- Local SEO Neighborhood-level local search targeting via GPS-SEO. Includes map-pack visibility, listings management across dozens of directories, review velocity optimization, and schema/geo-targeting for new market expansion. Targets customers in specific zip codes rather than broad regional traffic. For multi-location home service businesses.
- Paid Media & PPC (Search Engine Marketing) Paid search (Google, Bing, LSAs) and programmatic advertising managed to a real cost-per-acquisition, trained on clean buyer signals from Skout IVR. Includes real-time bid management, conversion-focused creative, keyword insights, attribution, and live CPA/spend dashboards. For service-area businesses needing immediate lead flow.
- Social Media Marketing Organic and paid social media across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. Includes on-brand content creation, paid social advertising, demographic targeting, and Agentic AI for 24/7 social engagement. Tied to broader revenue and lead-generation goals. For service-area businesses seeking brand and demand from social channels.
- AI-Powered Marketing Automation AI-powered automations built in-house that put repetitive marketing and sales tasks on auto-pilot — lead capture, qualification, review generation, CRM injection, re-engagement, seasonal upsells, limited-time offers, and Google signal training. Runs 24/7, integrated with the CRM, measured in MQLs. For service-area businesses looking to compound lead production without adding headcount.
- Revenue Recovery Audit A 45-60 minute no-commitment audit analyzing how many qualified leads the client's advertising produces, how many reach the CRM, and the revenue gap. Clients keep the written analysis regardless of whether they engage City Ranked. For prospective service-area business owners evaluating the agency.
- Enterprise / PE & M&A Services The One-Team model: one accountable team deploying the same proven Digital Ramp system across every brand in a PE-backed or multi-location portfolio. Includes pre-purchase digital diligence, tuck-in or transition integration strategy, and documented lead costs and MQL volume for exit valuation. For PE firms, platform companies, and multi-location operators acquiring or consolidating home service, food service, retail, or facilities management brands.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lead-to-MQL capture rate improves from 37% to 60%+ after Skout IVR deployment, a 23 percentage point lift measured 90 days post-deployment
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use City Ranked Media
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
City Ranked Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration24 records
AI capability9 records
Feature9 records
City Ranked Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GooglecoreCity Ranked is a Google Partner, managing client advertising across Google Search, Local Services Ads (LSAs), and programmatic. The Skout IVR fires MQL conversion events directly to Google Ads, training Google's Smart Bidding algorithm on clean buyer signals. Brand conversion events for existing customers are also routed to Google separately to keep prospect conversion data clean. The relationship includes co-marketing through Google's partner certification program.
- SalesforcecoreSalesforce is listed as a core CRM integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Skout presses complete MQL contact cards (name, phone, service address, confirmed need, purchase intent) directly into Salesforce via API. Salesforce is listed among the CRM & Sales Platforms that the Ascent Toolkit integrates with for closed-loop revenue tracking.
- HubSpotcoreHubSpot is listed as a core CRM integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Skout integrates via API to push MQL contact cards directly into HubSpot. HubSpot is listed among the CRM & Sales Platforms that the Ascent Toolkit integrates with for closed-loop revenue tracking.
- ServiceTitancoreServiceTitan is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit. The Skout IVR and Agentic AI agents integrate with ServiceTitan for lead routing and CRM injection. Listed among field service platforms that the Ascent Toolkit connects to for full-funnel attribution from lead to revenue.
- HighLevelcoreHighLevel is listed as a CRM & Sales Platform integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Listed among the platforms that Skout integrates with for lead capture and CRM injection as part of the closed-loop revenue tracking system.
- JobbercoreJobber is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit. The Skout IVR integrates with Jobber for lead routing and CRM injection, supporting the closed-loop revenue tracking from lead to closed invoice.
- Housecall ProcoreHousecall Pro is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit. The Skout IVR integrates with Housecall Pro for lead routing and CRM injection, supporting the closed-loop revenue tracking from lead to closed invoice.
- PestPaccorePestPac is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit. The Skout IVR integrates with PestPac for lead routing and CRM injection, supporting the closed-loop revenue tracking from lead to closed invoice. PestPac is specifically cited as an integration tested in beta across a PCT Top 50 pest control client.
- PipedrivecorePipedrive is listed as a CRM & Sales Platform integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Listed among the platforms that Skout integrates with for lead capture and CRM injection as part of the closed-loop revenue tracking system.
- FieldRoutescoreFieldRoutes is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit. The Skout IVR integrates with FieldRoutes for lead routing and CRM injection, supporting the closed-loop revenue tracking from lead to closed invoice.
- Gorilla DeskcoreGorilla Desk is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit, appearing on both the marketing automation and Skout IVR pages. The Skout IVR integrates with Gorilla Desk for lead routing and CRM injection.
- BrioStackcoreBrioStack is listed as a field service software integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Listed among the field service platforms that Skout integrates with for lead capture and CRM injection as part of the closed-loop revenue tracking system.
- ClickPointcoreClickPoint is listed as a CRM & Sales Platform integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Listed among the platforms that Skout integrates with for lead capture and CRM injection as part of the closed-loop revenue tracking system.
- Sales CentercoreSales Center is listed as a CRM & Sales Platform integration for the Ascent Toolkit. Listed among the platforms that Skout integrates with for lead capture and CRM injection as part of the closed-loop revenue tracking system.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
City Ranked Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LSEO: SEO-focused agency with strong local SEO and home services client base. Comparable on hyper-local SEO positioning and proprietary local ranking frameworks, though smaller and less platform-centric.
- Disruptive Advertising: PPC and digital marketing agency with revenue-focused client reporting. Comparable on paid media management and conversion attribution, though less vertically specialized in home services.
- Scorpion: AI-driven marketing platform purpose-built for service-area businesses including home services, legal, and healthcare. Closest direct competitor given similar ICP, proprietary technology positioning, and revenue-focused managed-service model.
- Sterling Sky: Local SEO agency specializing in multi-location and enterprise local search. Comparable on GPS-SEO-like neighborhood targeting and enterprise multi-location expertise, with narrower service breadth.
- Surefire Local: Marketing platform for local businesses combining CRM, automation, and AI lead nurturing. Comparable on AI-driven local lead capture, though positioned more as a software platform than a managed services agency.
- Thrive Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, social media, and web design. Overlaps with City Ranked on managed service delivery and multi-channel marketing for SMB clients, though less vertically specialized.
- WebFX: Large full-service digital marketing agency delivering SEO, paid media, and web design to SMB and mid-market clients. Comparable on revenue-accountability messaging and multi-channel service stack, with broader vertical coverage.
Broad incumbents
- Vendasta: SaaS platform providing white-label marketing, CRM, and automation tools to agencies serving SMB and local businesses. Adjacent through overlapping CRM and local-marketing capabilities; broader and software-led rather than services-led.
- Angi (formerly HomeAdvisor): Lead generation and marketplace platform for home services. Overlaps in helping contractors capture leads, but operates a paid-lead marketplace model rather than an agency/managed service model.
- ServiceTitan: Dominant field-service software platform for home services contractors. Overlap is integration-driven rather than competitive; City Ranked's Ascent Toolkit plugs into ServiceTitan and competes against its own marketplace marketing solutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
City Ranked Media social profiles
Digital presenceCity Ranked Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
City Ranked Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
City Ranked Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
City Ranked Media 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 City Ranked Media
What does City Ranked Media do?
City Ranked Media provides managed digital marketing and advertising services powered by its proprietary Ascent Toolkit of AI-driven software. The agency delivers a closed-loop revenue engine for service-area businesses — covering website design, SEO, local SEO, paid media/PPC, social media marketing, and AI-powered marketing automation — measured weekly against Marketing Qualified Leads delivered into the client's CRM. Service is delivered by 40+ US-based W2 full-time employees functioning as an outside advertising department.
Is City Ranked Media a public or private company?
City Ranked Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was City Ranked Media founded?
City Ranked Media was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is City Ranked Media based?
City Ranked Media is headquartered in Vancouver, United States, in the North America region.
How does City Ranked Media make money?
One revenue line is on record: managed Digital Marketing Services.
Who are City Ranked Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LSEO, Disruptive Advertising, Scorpion, Sterling Sky, Surefire Local, Thrive Agency and WebFX. Broad incumbents are Vendasta, Angi (formerly HomeAdvisor) and ServiceTitan.
Does City Ranked Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for City Ranked Media.
What industry is City Ranked Media in?
City Ranked Media's product category is Digital Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAC, Media Planning, Buying & Optimization, with a secondary code of BPAFACAL, Local & Location-Based Performance Advertising (Local Search/Maps, Geo-targeting). Its NAICS code is 541810 and its SIC code is 7311.