22 Content Marketing Agency Success Stories [2024]
Content is the currency of the digital world. Today, more and more businesses need to work with writers and content marketers. If you want to get into these kinds of jobs, you should start a writers' or content marketing agency.
Worldwide content marketing industry revenue was estimated at roughly $66B in 2021. The source projected that it would increase to $76B in 2022 and that it would continue growing over the further years to reach $137B in 2026.
Content marketing will continue to grow in significance with the increased use of digital channels. Therefore, the demand for content marketers is projected to grow by 27% over the next few years.
In this list, you'll find real-world content marketing agency success stories and very profitable examples of starting a content marketing agency that makes money.
1. Impression ($7.8M/year)
Aaron and his university friend, Tom, founded Impression as a side project while working in-house for a renewable energy business. They couldn't find an agency partner that met their expectations, so they decided to create one themselves. Starting with services like paid media, SEO, and digital PR campaigns, they evolved Impression into a strategic agency partner, reaching milestones like employing 100 staff and aiming for a revenue target of £10m.
How much money it makes: $7.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 103
Impression - a digital marketing agency started by two friends who were able to grow the business from scratch by profit-funding and recently reached the milestone of employing 100 staff, serving as a strategic agency partner to clients, and set to hit its next revenue target of £10m.
2. SevenAtoms Marketing Inc ($3.3M/year)
Andy Beohar left his tech job in 2014 to start SevenAtoms Marketing with just his savings, aiming to transform small businesses through ROI-focused advertising. Today, SevenAtoms generates $275K monthly recurring revenue and boasts a 90% client retention rate.
How much money it makes: $3.3M/year
How many people on the team: 0
This case study article dives into the journey of SevenAtoms Marketing, a bootstrapped startup that has grown into a successful business generating a recurring monthly revenue of $275K, specializing in ROI-focused paid search advertising and content marketing for SaaS, e-commerce, and Technology sectors.
3. Article-Writing Co ($1.5M/year)
David Tile, the founder of Article-Writing.co, originally tried to start a penny auction website after college but failed. He then turned to freelance writing to make some cash, which eventually led to him building a successful content writing service. With $40k - $50k in monthly revenue from clients like Answers.com, Tile's business has grown without any outside funding, emphasizing the importance of taking action and adapting to market forces.
How much money it makes: $1.5M/year
How many people on the team: 25
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
4. Brotherdale ($1.2M/year)
Hunter Franklin and Marcus Taylor founded Brotherdale when they realized they could monetize their passion for creating content while traveling. Starting in April 2021, their Nashville-based agency now generates six-figure monthly revenues by focusing on ROI-driven videos and photos for marketing.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 6
Brotherdale, a creative agency based in Nashville, currently generates impressive 6-figure monthly revenue by creating videos and photos with an end goal of increasing conversions, leads, clicks, and social media followers for their clients, attracting and retaining customers through word of mouth and social media presence.
5. Scalenut ($1.2M/year)
Mayank Jain, along with his co-founders Gaurav Goyal and Saurabh Wadhawan, came up with the idea for Scalenut after spending a decade each in the digital startup industry. They noticed the challenges that brands face in scaling their content marketing efforts and saw an opportunity to create a platform that helps businesses drive organic traffic and scale their content production. With their MVP product launched in September 2021, Scalenut has experienced rapid growth, with over 100k users and $100,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 30
Scalenut is an AI-powered SEO and content marketing platform that aims to help businesses scale their efforts to nail the entire content life cycle, from planning to creation, which has led to the company turning over $100,000 in MRR within 6 months of launching.
6. Content Refined ($996K/year)
Narcis became the CEO and Manager of Content Refined after the business was already established. However, he was able to optimize procedures and increase clientele, leading to significant revenue growth of 76% over 3 years. With a focus on delivering high-quality content and helping site owners rank for target keywords organically, Content Refined has become a fully managed content writing service that attracts and retains customers through word of mouth and referrals.
How much money it makes: $996K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Content Refined's CEO Narcis shares how they grew their fully-managed content writing service to double their revenue, with 76% growth, and expand their clientele while keeping profit margins healthy - all within the past 3 years - by remaining focused on delivering quality and performance, leveraging referrals, and implementing AI procedures.
7. Content Allies ($900K/year)
Jake Jorgovan, founder of Content Allies, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that his own podcast had directly contributed to over 68% of the revenue for his previous business, Lead Cookie. Recognizing the power of podcasting as a marketing channel, he decided to start a business focused on helping B2B companies launch revenue-generating podcasts, and Content Allies was born. They now have a monthly recurring revenue of approximately $75k, produce 20+ podcasts, and have released over 500 episodes for their clients.
How much money it makes: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 3
Content Allies helps B2B companies launch revenue-generating podcasts, serving businesses doing over $1 million per year in revenue, with the company now doing ~$75k MRR and having released over 500+ episodes for clients.
8. Content-Whale Private Limited ($750K/year)
Vaibhav Kishnani, an engineer turned writer, came up with the idea for Content-Whale after noticing the unprofessional conduct in the Indian content market. With just Rs. 2,500 ($35) in capital, he started the content agency which now generates a revenue turnover of Rs. 4 crores ($514,000) and serves clients like Quikr and The Boston Consulting Group.
How much money it makes: $750K/year
How much did it cost to start: $35
How many people on the team: 30
Content-Whale, a content curation agency, has achieved a Rs. 4 crore ($514k/year) turnover 4-5 years after being started with just Rs. 2500 ($35), and has a pool of more than 500 writers, aiming to become a market leader in the global content market.
9. Hubbub Labs ($720K/year)
George Chilton, the co-founder and Creative Director of Hubbub Labs, had a background in teaching and editing. He realized that startups and companies struggle with communications and decided to start a content marketing agency to help them express their ideas and brand clearly. With a mission to provide value through journalistic-quality content, Hubbub Labs has grown to a 10+ person team and is profitable, experiencing a 40% year-on-year growth rate.
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 8
Find out how a creative content marketing agency grew from a team of two with only €500 in the bank, to a 10+ person team generating €720k a year, by prioritizing a niche market, providing excellent service, word of mouth, and consistent quality work.
10. Lead Cookie ($660K/year)
Jake Jorgovan, a serial entrepreneur and business advisor, came up with the idea for Lead Cookie, a LinkedIn lead generation and appointment setting company, after brainstorming various business ideas and realizing the untapped potential in the market. Within the first two weeks of launching, Jorgovan closed $12k of monthly recurring revenue by selling to individuals within his existing network, providing rapid validation for his concept. Lead Cookie is now a thriving company, generating between $45k-$70k in monthly revenue and boasting a team of 20 full-time members.
How much money it makes: $660K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 24
Serial entrepreneur Jake Jorgovan explains how he started and grew his LinkedIn lead generation company, Lead Cookie, which now averages between $45k-70k every month with only 4-8 hours of his own time per week, and shares insights on building and scaling a successful business.
11. Three Girls Media, Inc. ($600K/year)
Erika Taylor Montgomery, founder of Three Girls Media, came up with the idea for her marketing and PR agency after leaving her career in broadcasting and politics. Recognizing the need for work-life balance and wanting more control over her schedule, she decided to launch her own business. With just a $3,000 loan, Erika started Three Girls Media, which has since grown to a team of 10 and grosses about $550,000 annually.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 10
A marketing and public relations agency founded by Erika Taylor Montgomery, Three Girls Media grosses about $550,000 annually and is a team of 11 who offer a range of services including social media management, digital marketing, email marketing, media relations, and website design and build.
12. Influence Podium ($480K/year)
Marti Sanchez, the CEO of Influence Podium, came up with the idea for his business after ghostwriting papers for B2B CEOs in college. He realized the power of personal branding and content, and eventually launched Influence Podium to help B2B CEOs grow their personal brands and create content at scale. Now in its 3rd year, Influence Podium has crossed $30k MRR and aims to hit seven figures by the end of the year.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 6
Influence Podium CEO Marti Sanchez started his content service for B2B CEOs three years ago, which now helps get CEOs of companies on podcasts and repurposes those episodes. They have crossed $30k MRR and their next goal is to hit seven figures by the end of the year, while completely self-funded.
13. Big Star Copywriting ($360K/year)
Derryck Strachan, the founder of Big Star Copywriting, started his business after realizing the rapidly growing demand for content for SEO. He initially set up a basic website and ran PPC campaigns to attract clients. Despite challenges during the 2008 financial crash, the business has since grown and is now approaching revenues of approximately $30,000 per month.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
How many people on the team: 5
Big Star Copywriting is a UK-based agency that, after a difficult year due to Covid, is now approaching revenues of approximately $30,000 per month and growing, working with clients such as Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, New Era, Lloyds, Handy.com, and Screwfix, among others, and focusing on customer service, value for money, and expertise.
14. With Content ($360K/year)
Daniel Tay, co-founder of With Content, initially discovered his passion for content marketing while studying political science. After gaining experience as a journalist and content marketer in the tech industry, he realized the need for high-quality content marketing in Singapore and Southeast Asia. With a strong network and growing demand, Daniel launched With Content, offering specialized content marketing services for B2B tech companies. Through strategic content creation, transparent pricing, and targeted marketing efforts, With Content quickly gained traction and became a go-to agency in the region, generating $1 million in revenue to date.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 8
A Singapore-based content marketing agency, With Content, co-founded by Daniel Tay, generates a monthly revenue of $30k and recently crossed the million-dollar mark in total revenue, thanks to its focus on narrow content marketing services, transparency in pricing, and expanding the marketing funnel through various content marketing channels.
15. The Content Direction Agency ($288K/year)
Lacy, the founder of The Content Direction Agency, came up with the idea for her business when she realized she could offer her expertise as a blogger and content strategist to other businesses. After starting out as a freelance writer, she transitioned into long-term retainers and built a team of writers to serve her clients. Today, her business generates over $300k annually and continues to grow through word-of-mouth referrals and joint venture partnerships.
How much money it makes: $288K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
How many people on the team: 1
Content strategist Lacy Boggs leveraged her love of blogging and desire for a more flexible schedule to grow her business from a solo "Ghost Blogger" to a full agency with four writers and a cabal of contractors that helps businesses create bespoke content strategies and consistent traffic, yielding over a ($300k) year in revenue.
16. Fame ($204K/year)
Tom Hunt, the founder of Fame, came up with the idea for his podcast growth service while working as the head of marketing at a B2B SaaS business. After experiencing success with their own podcast, Tom decided to launch Fame and offer the same growth process to other B2B brands. He validated the idea by converting his ex-employer into his first client and finding two more clients through a blog he had built on the side.
How much money it makes: $204K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 3
Fame's founder, Tom Hunt, shares how he started a $17k/month podcast growth service for B2B SaaS and service businesses, and provides insights on how he grew the business to $20k MRR and his plans to hit $50k MRR by the end of 2021 through prioritizing revenue and customer satisfaction.
17. Social Burro Inc. ($156K/year)
Frank Kecseti, the creator and data nerd behind Social Burro, came up with the idea for the business after being laid off and receiving negative feedback about his overthinking and non-traditional approach to marketing. He walked up and down Main Street sharing his ideas with business owners, and within 48 hours, he secured his first two clients. Since then, Social Burro has grown and helped 37 brands increase their revenue by 235.3%.
How much money it makes: $156K/year
How much did it cost to start: $125
How many people on the team: 2
Social Burro Inc, a social media agency founded during the pandemic, has increased its revenue by 235.3%, averaging $13,000 per month, and has helped 37 brands gain momentum, clarify their purposes, and rally their offline communities.
18. Audience Ops ($120K/year)
Inspired by Jesse Mecham’s talk at MicroConf Vegas, Brian, the founder of Audience Ops, conceptualized his company with the core belief that content marketing is about building assets, not tactics.
He identified that companies miss opportunities by focusing on superficial metrics such as word counts, keyword stuffing, and click-bait rather than deep customer research and email engagement.
Brian emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and using email to maintain connections, ultimately building a valuable audience and gaining a competitive edge.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
Audience Ops, founded by Brian Casel, generated over $3,000 in revenue within six weeks of launching a validated concept, ultimately leading to a high six-figure acquisition, proving the effectiveness of productized content marketing services and strategic networking.
19. Understanding eCommerce ($120K/year)
Mike Doherty, the founder of Understanding eCommerce, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing frustration with limited options and unreliable hosting services while building eCommerce sites for friends. He discovered the flexibility of WordPress, became an expert in WordPress-related issues, and realized the need for a reliable hosting service that specifically supports WordPress. Through his expertise and commitment to customer service, Understanding eCommerce has grown into a trusted provider for various digital marketing services.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 3
Understanding eCommerce is a business that offers worry-free hosting for WordPress sites, including maintenance, performance, and security, to help innovative companies build their brand awareness, grow their online reach, and convert visitors into customers.
20. Rise Visible ($96K/year)
Aunia Kahn, CEO of Rise Visible, started her digital marketing agency after receiving an old computer from a friend that had software like Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop. With no previous experience, she learned through trial and error and discovered her passion for digital marketing. Through solid work and referrals, Rise Visible has been able to attract and retain clients, leading to impressive revenue growth and recognition as a top-ranking woman-owned digital agency.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
Rise Visible, a full-service digital marketing agency, founded by Aunia Kahn, has achieved Top-Ranking Woman-Owned Digital Agency 2022 by Clutch and is rapidly approaching its first $100K year in revenue, solely through solid work, referrals, digital marketing through Google My Business, reviews, Facebook groups, social media and newsletters.
21. Koala Rank ($96K/year)
Arrigo, the founder of Koala Rank, stumbled upon the idea of starting his own business while working as a freelancer on Fiverr. After receiving an email about Fiverr's new Studios feature, he saw an opportunity to create his own thing and decided to click on the "Create a Studio" button. This marked the beginning of Koala Rank, an all-in-one content marketing service that now generates $8K in monthly recurring revenue.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $4K
How many people on the team: 1
Koala Rank, an all-in-one content marketing service for B2B firms founded by Arrigo, has grown to $8K in MRR since its launch in Jan 2020 with retention being good and March 2021 seeing a boom in subscriptions.
22. We Do It Remotely ($6K/year)
Joseph Solomon, the founder of We Do It Remotely, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing the freedom and fulfillment of a location-independent lifestyle as a freelancer. Through his own successes and challenges in the freelance world, he recognized a lack of powerful, actionable advice for freelancers and decided to create a resource to empower other freelancers. Starting as a content agency and evolving into a premium course and newsletter, We Do It Remotely aims to provide freelancers with valuable insights and strategies to grow their remote freelance businesses.
How much money it makes: $6K/year
How many people on the team: 0
We Do It Remotely founder Joseph Solomon began as a content agency, which then transformed into a 4-week training program earning $500-2500 per month and is now a paid newsletter focusing on offering actionable tips and insights to freelancers worldwide, most of whom are writers and marketers.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
