Case Study: CEP Communications builds a thriving digital marketing agency with Upwork

CEP Communications builds a six-person agency on Upwork over 10 years

CEP Communications, a digital marketing agency founded by Tess Trotter, began as a solo freelancer seeking to build a flexible and autonomous career outside the traditional office environment. The initial challenge was finding a reliable source of quality clients and a platform that could provide more than just freelance gigs, but a foundation for sustainable business growth. Tess turned to Upwork to access its marketplace and tools for connecting with clients.

Using Upwork's platform for lead generation, client vetting, and hiring, Tess scaled her solo operation into a six-person, all-women agency. The solution provided a transparent system for building her reputation and a steady pipeline of new business, including consultations that consistently converted into long-term clients. As a result, CEP Communications built a roster of Fortune 500 clients like Indeed and Ralph Lauren Fragrances. Upwork enabled the agency to achieve significant growth, with two team members sourced through the platform staying for over five years, and provided the founder with the freedom and cost-efficiency to reinvest in her business and team.

CEP Communications