The Number

Online research firm Clutch has compiled a list of the top 475 advertising and marketing agencies, and in the category of digital strategy firms, Scorpion ranked No. 1 in the world. The Valencia marketing firm’s clients gave Clutch positive reviews – the key to ranking high in the study. Clutch, based in Washington, D.C. used client feedback on agencies in a number of specialties such as social media, traditional media, graphic design, public relations and email marketing. Four companies in the Valley region made the lists. Bruce Clay Inc. in Simi Valley ranked fourth among search engine optimization agencies. TLK Fusion in Toluca Lake, which connects brands with celebrity influencers, ranked 13th in digital strategy. Marketing Maven in Camarillo ranked 13th among public relations firms. And Scorpion topped the list for digital strategy. “Scorpion referred individual clients who were able to provide verified, interview-based case studies of past projects, and their feedback was very positive,” said Michelle Delgado, a content developer at Clutch. While the methodology emphasizes client reviews, Clutch also looks at a firm’s client roster, industry awards and its social media presence. Clutch focuses on B2B buying, and its research shows that purchasing officials at companies increasingly look to online reviews to assess potential vendors. Delgado pointed to Bruce Clay as a company that, in addition to positive reviews, has developed its own award-winning tools and has exercised thought leadership to drive innovations in search engine optimization. Clutch created the list to reward companies that produce great work, but also to provide a resource for buyers. “We weigh client feedback most heavily, and CEOs should take that to heart,” she said. “Buyers increasingly value online reviews as much as a friend’s referral.” – Joel Russell