Case Study: SmartBug Media achieves 16.9X three-year revenue growth and 4X profitability with HubSpot

HubSpot Partner Agency SmartBug Media Brings Success and ROI to Its Clients

SmartBug Media, founded in 2007 by Ryan Malone in Irvine, CA, is a full-service inbound marketing agency. Before partnering with HubSpot in 2011 the firm relied on project-based work and multiple disparate systems, which made demonstrating ROI and maintaining predictable, scalable growth difficult.

By joining HubSpot’s Partner Program and adopting its all‑in‑one marketing platform, SmartBug centralized tracking and inbound workflows to drive predictable retainer revenue and measurable results. The agency achieved 16.9x three‑year revenue growth (1,691%), profitability three to four times above the industry average, 83% of revenue from long‑term contracts, 95%+ client retention, and strong client outcomes (e.g., 42x lead growth for Phase5 Group and a 60% lead increase for AnswerDash).

SmartBug Media

Ryan Malone

CEO and Founder, SmartBug Media