Digital Eel
Digital Eel is a privately held, full-service web studio founded in 1999 in St. Pete Beach, Florida, providing custom web design, development, hosting, SEO, and Google Ads management to small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSt. Pete Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Digital Eel does
Digital Eel, Inc. is a privately held, full-service web studio founded in 1999 and headquartered in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The firm delivers custom web design, web development, web hosting, search engine optimization (SEO), and Google Ads management primarily to small and mid-sized businesses across Tampa Bay, the broader Florida market, and the United States. It has served over 1,000 businesses, municipalities, and non-profits since inception, with a portfolio spanning verticals that include legal services, construction, real estate, hospitality and lodging, restaurants, and municipal government.
The company's technical stack is built on commodity open-source CMS platforms — WordPress, Joomla, and WooCommerce — with custom responsive design implementations, ADA compliance remediation, and custom e-commerce cart development offered as service differentiators. Hosting is delivered from a remote facility with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, anti-virus/spam protection, and proprietary email services branded as DEI Email Plus. Digital Eel is a Google Partner Agency managing over $1,000,000 in annual Google advertising spend on behalf of clients, with marketing led by Steve Schwalb, one of Google's first Qualified Advertising Professionals.
Digital Eel operates a bootstrapped, founder-led business model with no external investment. Revenue is generated through three streams: one-time project fees for custom web design and SEO, recurring monthly hosting subscriptions, and managed-service fees (a one-time setup fee plus a premium on click costs) for Google Ads management. The company relies on consultative direct sales, free website evaluations, phone outreach, and referrals from local chambers of commerce, with no significant outbound marketing automation. Operational scale is modest — a single 2,400-square-foot waterfront office and an 11–50 employee headcount range — consistent with a stable, lifestyle-oriented SMB services business.
Digital Eel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Eel
- Legal name
- Digital Eel, Inc.
- Website
- https://digitaleel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Digital Eel is a privately held, full-service web studio founded in 1999 in St. Pete Beach, Florida, providing custom web design, development, hosting, SEO, and Google Ads management to small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Eel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Web Design and Digital Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)
Keywords
Where Digital Eel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Pete Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Eel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Web Design and Development: Custom website design, redesign, and development services. Projects are custom-built, not using templates. Includes new sites, responsive design, CMS implementation, and e-commerce functionality.
- Web Hosting Services: Monthly hosting services including webmail, spam filtering, antivirus protection, 99.9% uptime guarantee, and email hosting up to 25GB storage.
- Google Ads Management: Digital Eel manages over $1,000,000 annually in Google advertising for clients. Revenue generated through one-time setup fee plus premium on actual click costs. They are a Google Partner Agency.
- SEO Services: One-time fee for SEO services including site analysis, keyword research, competitive analysis, content optimization, and link development to directories. Results last for years after one-time optimization.
- Content Development: Marketing department creates fresh, catchy content for websites that speaks directly to visitors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time SEO fee model |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Google Ads management with setup fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Digital Eel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Eel is a full-service web studio that designs and builds custom websites for businesses, municipalities, and non-profits, with no cookie-cutter templates. Beyond design, it provides CMS and WooCommerce e-commerce implementation, web hosting, SEO, Google Ads/PPC management, content development, and ADA compliance remediation as an integrated end-to-end offering.
Product overview
Digital Eel is a full-service web studio offering a comprehensive suite of digital services. The core offering centers on custom web design and development (Website Design/Development, New Sites with Responsive Design, and Website Redesign), complemented by Content Management Systems (CMS) built on WordPress or Joomla platforms, and E-Commerce Solutions using WooCommerce. The company provides integrated digital marketing services including Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Pay-Per-Click Advertising, Google Shopping Campaigns, and Content Development. Additional services include ADA Compliance Auditing, Web Hosting with DEI Email Plus, and domain registration/management. The product portfolio is designed to provide end-to-end web solutions from design through hosting and ongoing marketing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Web Design and Development Full-service custom web design and development including creative design, web development, redesign, updates, and maintenance for businesses, municipalities, and non-profits.
- New Sites / Responsive Design Custom website creation for new businesses with responsive design that automatically adapts to desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
- Website Redesign Redesign and modernization of existing websites including responsive design, logo retouches, and updated aesthetics.
- Content Management Systems (CMS) Custom CMS design using WordPress or Joomla platforms, allowing site owners to update content without programming knowledge. Includes 24/7 access, in-house training, and phone/email support.
- E-Commerce Solutions Custom online shopping cart and e-commerce website development with WooCommerce integration, supporting B2B and B2C transactions with features like group pricing and custom auto-responders.
- ADA Compliance Services ADA compliance auditing and remediation for websites, identifying accessibility barriers and creating plans to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Organic SEO services with a one-time fee structure, including keyword research, competitive analysis, content optimization, and directory submissions.
- Google Pay-Per-Click Advertising Managed Google Ads and Bing Ads campaigns with keyword selection, copywriting, ad placement, bid management, and conversion tracking. Manages over $1,000,000 annually in Google advertising for clients.
- Google Shopping Campaigns Product-focused advertising campaigns for e-commerce sites integrated with the Google Shopping network.
- Content Development Professional content creation services for websites including marketing copy that is catchy, conversational, and aligned with brand objectives.
- Web Hosting and Email Affordable, reliable web hosting with 99.9% uptime guarantee, anti-virus/spam protection, servers housed in a remote facility with state-of-the-art security, and email hosting up to 25GB storage with 50MB attachment support.
- DEI Email Plus Enhanced email hosting service with secure POP/IMAP, daily backups with 14-day retention, webmail access, shared calendars, contacts, and mobile sync.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1,000,000 in new sales generated for a Google Ads client (AquaRest pool and spa)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Eel
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Digital Eel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Digital Eel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- GooglecoreDigital Eel is a Google Partner Agency specializing in Google Ads campaign management. Their Marketing Department is headed by Steve Schwalb, one of Google's first Qualified Advertising Professionals. They manage over $1,000,000 annually in Google advertising for their clients and display official Google Partner badges on their website.
- WordPresscoreDigital Eel uses WordPress as one of their primary CMS platforms, offering fully custom WordPress designs. WordPress logos are displayed on their website as part of their technology stack.
- WooCommercecoreDigital Eel specializes in WooCommerce e-commerce solutions for online shopping carts with custom design. WooCommerce logos are displayed on their website.
- JoomlasecondaryDigital Eel offers Joomla as an alternative CMS platform option alongside WordPress, providing custom Joomla designs for clients who prefer this platform.
- Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of CommerceminorMember of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. Digital Eel was recognized as Small Business of the Year 2011 and won Best of the Beaches Award for three straight years through this chamber.
- Treasure Island Chamber of CommerceminorMember of the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce, supporting local business community in the Tampa Bay area.
- U.S. Chamber of CommerceminorMember of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, indicating national-level business membership and credibility.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Digital Eel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lounge Lizard: Web design and digital marketing agency providing custom websites, branding, SEO, and PPC for SMB and mid-market clients. Same bespoke design philosophy and bundled marketing services as Digital Eel.
- SmartSites: Award-winning web design and digital marketing agency serving SMBs with custom websites, SEO, and Google Ads management. Closely comparable business model, customer profile, and service mix to Digital Eel.
- Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital agency offering web design, SEO, PPC, and social media for SMBs. Comparable service portfolio and SMB target customer, with broader geographic reach than Digital Eel.
- Absolute Web: E-commerce and digital marketing agency specializing in Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce development with SEO and PPC services. Comparable Tampa/Florida presence and overlapping SMB e-commerce capability.
- Bop Design: B2B-focused web design and inbound marketing agency with deep vertical expertise in industrial, legal, financial, and healthcare. Comparable custom design + content + SEO service model and similar size profile to Digital Eel.
- TheeDigital: Web design and digital marketing agency providing web development, SEO, PPC, and social media for SMBs. Comparable full-service model and customer profile to Digital Eel.
- WebFX: Full-service digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, PPC, and hosting for SMB and mid-market clients. Direct competitor to Digital Eel across the same core service bundle and customer segment, though at substantially larger scale.
- LYFE Marketing: Digital marketing agency specializing in social media, SEO, PPC, and web design for small businesses. Direct SMB-focused competitor with overlapping service offerings and price-driven positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Wpromote: Large, established digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, content, and web design for mid-market and enterprise. Larger and broader than Digital Eel but overlaps in core paid-search and SEO offerings for SMB clients.
Regional players
- Oyova: Florida-based (St. Petersburg) web design and digital marketing agency offering custom websites, hosting, SEO, and PPC. Direct regional competitor with same geographic footprint and target market as Digital Eel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Digital Eel social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Eel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Eel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Digital Eel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Eel 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 Digital Eel
What does Digital Eel do?
Digital Eel is a full-service web studio that designs and builds custom websites for businesses, municipalities, and non-profits, with no cookie-cutter templates. Beyond design, it provides CMS and WooCommerce e-commerce implementation, web hosting, SEO, Google Ads/PPC management, content development, and ADA compliance remediation as an integrated end-to-end offering.
Is Digital Eel a public or private company?
Digital Eel is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Digital Eel founded?
Digital Eel was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Digital Eel based?
Digital Eel is headquartered in St. Pete Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Eel make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Web Design and Development is the primary driver. The others are web Hosting Services, google Ads Management, SEO Services and content Development.
Who are Digital Eel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lounge Lizard, SmartSites, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, Absolute Web, Bop Design, TheeDigital, WebFX and LYFE Marketing. Wpromote is listed as a broad incumbent. Oyova is listed as a regional player.
Does Digital Eel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Eel.
What industry is Digital Eel in?
Digital Eel's product category is Web Design and Digital Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAD, Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX). Its NAICS code is 541430 and its SIC code is 7311.