Whiskey River Media

What Whiskey River Media does

Whiskey River Media is a Phoenix, Arizona-based fractional marketing partner founded in 2020 by Zach Schaefer, serving growth-stage companies doing $10M+ in annual revenue — particularly founders and CEOs positioning their businesses for exit. The firm positions itself against traditional marketing agencies by operating as an embedded senior pod (no junior staff, no subcontractors) under a dedicated project manager, with a stated objective of converting marketing from a cost center into a valuation asset. Customer segments span e-commerce brands, SaaS companies, B2B businesses and luxury real estate developers.

The company's service portfolio comprises four integrated lines: AI-powered SEO plus Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) targeting traditional search and LLM-based platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews); paid media management across Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest and Bing; performance-focused creative strategy, branding and messaging architecture; and project-based web and application development. Underlying these services is WhiskeyNeat.ai, a proprietary intelligence platform that consolidates paid and organic channel data into a unified dashboard tracking the firm's Marketing Efficiency Coefficient (MEC) framework — a methodology designed to replace vanity metrics with revenue-correlated reporting and build a documentary trail suitable for exit due diligence. SEO execution combines SearchAtlas-powered AI research with U.S.-based senior strategist oversight. The firm also operates WRM-NFT, a wholly-owned adjacent subsidiary running an NFT marketplace.

Revenue is generated through a tiered, primarily subscription-based model. SEO subscriptions range from $797/month (Essential) to $4,997/month (Enterprise). Full-Stack Partnership tiers run $5,500–$10,000/month plus 6–10% of client ad spend, with a $20,000 minimum monthly investment for full partnership. Ad spend is passed through to clients with no markup. All engagements start with a 90-day initial build phase followed by month-to-month terms and a 14-day out clause. Distribution is direct via an application-based sales process personally reviewed within 48 hours, supplemented by self-serve SEO-tier sign-up, content marketing (the WRM Journal blog), the firm's own SEO performance, and free discovery audits.

Name

Whiskey River Media

Legal name

Whiskey River Media

Website

https://whiskeyrivermedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Whiskey River Media is a Phoenix-based fractional marketing partner founded in 2020 that serves $10M+ revenue founders with AI-powered SEO, paid media, branding and web development, anchored by its proprietary WhiskeyNeat.ai intelligence platform and exit-focused MEC reporting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SEO Subscription Tiers: Recurring monthly subscriptions for AI-powered SEO services at four tiers (Essential $797/mo, Growth $1,497/mo, Authority $2,497/mo, Enterprise $4,997/mo). Each tier includes AI SEO dashboard, keyword tracking, on-page optimizations, blog posts, backlink building, and strategist calls. Month 1 is the setup month.
2. Full-Stack Partnership (Managed Services): Three partnership tiers (Tier I $5,500/mo + 10% ad spend, Tier II $7,500/mo + 8%, Tier III $10,000/mo + 6%) combining paid media, strategy, and SEO. Ad spend is billed directly to the client without markup. Management fees are separate from ad spend. This is the highest-revenue tier.
3. Standalone Paid Media Management: Managed paid media across Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Bing with a one-time setup fee of $1,500 and management fees of 10–15% of ad spend based on monthly spend tier. Ad spend billed directly to client with no markup.
4. À La Carte Services: Individual services scoped independently: SEO/GEO ($1,000–$2,500/mo), Google Ads only ($1,500/mo), META Ads only ($3,500/mo), Funnel Audit ($2,500 one-time), Attribution Audit (quoted), Campaign Strategy Intensive, CRO Engagement.
5. Branding, Design & Web Development: Custom-scoped project-based services including brand identity, visual design, messaging architecture, website development, landing pages, and app development. Billed per project or at $150 per deliverable for creative work outside packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Whiskey River Media operates as a fractional marketing partner that embeds as a senior team within growth-stage businesses to deliver AI-powered SEO, paid media management, brand strategy, and web/app development services. The company combines proprietary technology (WhiskeyNeat.ai) with human strategy to build marketing systems engineered to compound into enterprise value at exit. Engagement model is selective, accepting only clients doing $10M+ in annual revenue.

Product overview

Whiskey River Media operates as a fractional marketing partner offering a platform-plus-services model anchored by WhiskeyNeat.ai — their proprietary intelligence layer that provides real-time marketing performance visibility and MEC-based exit-ready reporting. The service portfolio comprises four core offerings: AI SEO + Answer Engine Optimization (combining SearchAtlas-powered AI research with human strategist oversight), Media Buying (paid acquisition across Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Bing), Creative Strategy & Messaging (brand identity, visual design, and positioning), and Web & App Development (conversion-optimized sites scoped per project). These services are also available through tiered Full-Stack Partnership structures for clients seeking integrated end-to-end revenue architecture. The WhiskeyNeat.ai platform exclusively connects to client accounts, consolidating data from Meta Ads, Google Ads, and CRM systems for unified performance tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WhiskeyNeat.ai: Proprietary marketing intelligence platform providing real-time dashboard, MEC (Marketing Efficiency Coefficient) tracking, and AI-generated insights for Whiskey River Media clients. Not a standalone SaaS product; exclusive to WRM clients.
• WRM-NFT

Products and services

• WhiskeyNeat.ai Proprietary marketing intelligence platform that consolidates data from Meta Ads, Google Ads, LinkedIn, and organic channels into a single dashboard with MEC (Marketing Efficiency Coefficient) tracking and AI-generated plain-English insights and strategic recommendations. White-labeled client portal with real-time KPI visibility. Exclusive to Whiskey River Media clients.
• AI SEO + Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Hybrid AI-plus-human SEO service combining SearchAtlas-powered keyword research and AI content production at scale with senior U.S.-based strategist oversight. Includes AI SEO dashboard, keyword tracking, on-page optimizations, AI+expert blog posts, backlink building, and LLM visibility optimization targeting ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. Available in four monthly subscription tiers.
• Media Buying Paid media management across Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Bing platforms with senior strategist-led campaign architecture, AI-powered creative, audience targeting, budget allocation, and ongoing optimization. Includes one-time $1,500 setup fee and management fees of 10-15% of ad spend. Ad spend billed directly to client with no markup.
• Creative Strategy & Messaging Performance-focused creative direction including brand identity, visual design, voice and tone, messaging architecture, ad creative strategy, and offer positioning. Engineered to convert and increase company worth at exit. Available as part of integrated packages or billed at $150 per deliverable for creative work outside packages.
• Web & App Development Custom-scoped project-based services including high-converting landing pages, website builds, and web application development. Covers CMS setup, funnel architecture, and conversion rate optimization, designed to function as intellectual property at exit.
• Full-Stack Partnership Tiers Tiered strategic growth partnerships combining paid media, SEO, and CRO into an integrated end-to-end revenue system. Tier I ($5,500/mo + 10% ad spend) focuses on paid media execution; Tier II ($7,500/mo + 8%) adds strategic direction and alignment; Tier III ($10,000/mo + 6%) provides full-funnel management with exit-ready documentation. Minimum monthly investment of $20,000. Ad spend billed directly to client without markup.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved page 1 ranking for highest-value keywords in 90 days for an industrial supply CEO client.
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SearchAtlascoreTechnology or IntegrationSearchAtlas is the AI-powered search technology platform that powers Whiskey River Media's SEO services. It maps full keyword universes — including gaps, opportunities, and competitor weaknesses — faster than manual processes. WRM uses SearchAtlas for AI-powered research and content production at scale. The relationship is a technology integration/partnership where SearchAtlas provides the underlying SEO infrastructure for WRM's managed services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ignite Visibility: San Diego-based performance marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, social, email, and Amazon services to mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable in service breadth, mid-to-upper-market client focus, and tiered pricing structure to WRM.
• WebFX: Full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, web design, and content with proprietary technology (MarketingCloudFX) for performance reporting. Similar agency-plus-platform model and mid-market positioning make WebFX a close comparable.
• Disruptive Advertising: Performance marketing agency specializing in paid media management (Meta, Google) and SEO for mid-market and enterprise clients. Directly comparable service mix and tier-based pricing, with a similar focus on accountability and outcome-based reporting.
• KlientBoost: Performance marketing agency offering paid media, SEO, CRO, and creative services with tiered pricing for SaaS and e-commerce clients. Directly comparable in service portfolio, pricing model, and mid-market client focus.
• Single Grain: Digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, content, and CRO services to SaaS and e-commerce brands with a results-driven positioning. Comparable in service mix, content-led marketing strategy, and focus on compounding organic growth.
• Neil Patel Digital: SEO and digital marketing agency founded by a recognized personal brand, offering SEO, paid media, and content services with proprietary tools. Comparable personal-brand-led agency model and emphasis on organic visibility and AI-driven strategy.
• Coalition Technologies: Full-service digital agency offering SEO, paid media, web design, and branding for e-commerce and mid-market brands. Similar service breadth and tier-based pricing for clients seeking integrated growth partners.
• SmartSites: Digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, web design, and email marketing for SMB and mid-market clients. Comparable service mix and tiered engagement structure, though typically serving smaller clients than WRM's $10M+ threshold.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, social media, web design, and CRO across multiple verticals. Directly comparable service portfolio and tiered pricing for mid-market clients.

Broad incumbents

• Power Digital Marketing: Larger, PE-backed performance marketing agency offering paid media, SEO, content, and creative services to mid-market and enterprise brands. Comparable service model but with materially greater scale, headcount, and capital backing than WRM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/digitalwhsky

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Whiskey River Media