Celebrating 10 years of driving SMB success: The incredible journey of rankingCoach

What began as a dream in a small office in Germany, fueled by the ambition to transform digital marketing for SMBs, has now grown into a global presence in 32 countries and 14 languages. As we celebrate rankingCoach’s 10th anniversary, it’s time to reflect on a journey filled with innovation, growth, and a dedicated commitment to small and local businesses. 

Here’s how we’ve evolved to help small businesses like yours succeed online. 

1. Vision and mission: Empowering SMBs from the start

In 2014, three visionaries—Daniel Wette, Marius-Eugen Gerdan, and Thomas Meierkord—set out to change the game for small businesses. They launched rankingCoach with a bold mission: to make digital marketing accessible, effective, and affordable for small businesses everywhere.

From bakeries to hair salons, our goal has always been to level the playing field, providing SMBs with the best tools to compete with industry giants and thrive online.

The visionaries behind rankingCoach—Daniel Wette, Marius-Eugen Gerdan, and Thomas Meierkord 

2. From DIY SEO to AI-powered Digital Marketing: Tailored solutions for SMBs

Our story began with a simple DIY SEO tool, designed to be as user-friendly as a morning coffee run. Small business owners with no technical expertise could now easily navigate digital marketing. Then came automated local listings to boost your web reputation effortlessly. Soon, our mobile app and rankingCoach Ads made online advertising a breeze. But we didn’t stop there. 

The real game-changer was rankingCoach 360, our all-in-one digital marketing toolkit, and RADAR, offering real-time insights. In 2021, we launched rankingCoach FREE, providing essential marketing tools at no cost to support small businesses.

Today, we’ve evolved into a fully automated AI platform, acting as the virtual CMO for SMBs by delivering AI-driven tools like AI SEO Tasks, AI Text Optimizer, and AI-powered Web Reputation. These innovations provide better rankings, smarter ad campaigns, and a stronger online presence, once reserved for large enterprises. With continuous AI feature rollouts, we ensure SMBs stay ahead with the most advanced digital marketing tools available.

rankingCoach's AI innovations bring SMBs marketing precision and efficiency once reserved for big companies

3. Celebrating our award-winning success with SMBs

Our dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction hasn’t gone unnoticed. By empowering small and local businesses with innovative digital marketing solutions, we’ve earned 40 prestigious awards, including:

• Deloitte Technology Fast 50: Recognizing our rapid growth and technological prowess.
• Global Digital Excellence Awards (GDXA): Celebrating our outstanding achievements in digital marketing on a global scale.
• MarCom Awards: Reinforcing our credibility and excellence in the marketing sector.
• Titan Business Awards: Acknowledging our success across various business sectors.
• International Business Awards (Stevie Awards): Enhancing our international reputation for business innovation.
• AVA Digital Awards: Highlighting our commitment to digital creativity and marketing innovation.

4. Supporting local communities and embracing innovation-driven culture

Giving back is core to rankingCoach. Through our Kiva partnership and initiatives like the Local Heroes Challenge, we’ve empowered local businesses and supported economies during tough times. 

Our innovative, SMB-focused culture thrives through projects like "rankingCoach around the World" and team-building activities that foster creativity. Initiatives like our cookbook, "Vielfalt ist unsere Stärke" (Diversity is our Strength), highlight our diverse team. Continuous leadership seminars and workshops keep us ahead of industry trends, helping us deliver even better solutions for SMBs.

5. Vision for the future: Continuing to innovate for SMBs

As we celebrate our 10-year milestone, our gaze is firmly set on the future. rankingCoach is transforming into a fully automated AI platform, serving as the virtual CMO for SMBs, making digital marketing smarter and more accessible. We're constantly pushing the boundaries of AI with advanced algorithms for real-time data analysis, predictive insights, and personalized marketing recommendations.

Our focus remains on SMBs—enhancing AI solutions, supporting local businesses, and expanding educational resources. 

Want to be part of our next chapter? Join us in celebrating a decade of supporting SMBs and discover how rankingCoach can help your business succeed online.

Start now with rankingCoach 360