make it work

Shannon-based digital marketing agency Core Optimization hits €4 million in sales, quadrupling revenue last year.

Core Optimization, a Midwest-based digital marketing agency, achieved 400% revenue growth last year, reaching €4 million in sales.

Caroline Dunlea, founder and chief executive of the Enterprise Ireland-backed company, said the company’s growth was “amazing”.

“We continue to exceed all our targets,” she said.

Core Optimization currently employs 43 people in its Shannon office and hopes to raise revenues to €5.5 million next year with even more ambitious growth targets.

According to Dunlea, this expansion is primarily due to two factors. It’s the pandemic-inspired shift to online sales and a diversified portfolio of services.

“We started Core in 2015 and started in the hospitality industry. But since then we have diversified into many other sectors and are now in retail, finance, professional services and software as a service. Very strong.”

Today Core’s clients include Fáilte Ireland, Press Up Entertainment Group, Kilkenny Shop, Expert Electrical, Louis Copeland, Golden Discs and Riverdance.

We provide digital transformation strategies such as search engine optimization, paid search, paid social and conversion optimization.

“We are competing hard with Dublin agencies to get business from Irish Indigenous brands,” said Dunlea. “We stand out as Ireland’s leading distributor in a very busy and competitive industry. It has always been an important goal for us.”

Having grown its business without external investment, Core prides itself on the bespoke service it provides.

“It’s very customized, and that’s very important to us,” says Dunlea. “We care about two things: people and results. We have specialists in different areas, such as paid search, SEO, and social media, so we have very specific areas of expertise. ”

During the pandemic, many businesses have realized how important it is to develop a coherent and functional digital marketing strategy in development that has proven beneficial to their core.

“The pandemic has brought about so much change. It has made everyone realize the importance of digital marketing. But that has changed, and in the process our reputation for relationship management and the results we get for our clients has been solidified.”

Fueled by increased sales, Core is now targeting expansion in the UK and Europe and recently launched a business development team in its previous markets.

“We have always been in the UK.

Despite its overseas ambitions, Core remains firmly attached to its Shannon base, says Danley. He will move into a new office in September, based on projected growth and a true commitment to the Shannon region. ”

This Making it Work article is produced in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.