Column Five is a visual communication and B2B marketing agency that specializes in brand and content marketing for SaaS and other complex industries. Founded in 2009 in Orange County, California by Ross Crooks, Josh Ritchie, and Jason Lankow, the firm initially made its name pioneering infographic and data-visualization work for Bay Area startups and major publishers before expanding into full-funnel content marketing, branding, and multimedia production. en.wikipedia.org
Today, Column Five positions itself as a premium B2B creative partner that “builds brands through content,” helping high-growth technology and fintech companies earn attention, build trust, and drive leads through SEO and AEO-led content programs. Their services span content strategy, brand identity, content creation, marketing AI solutions, and demand-generation support, including AEO & SEO consulting, Story Scan Program™, campaign and media planning, visual identity, brand messaging, video marketing, motion graphics, interactive web experiences, data visualization, long-form content, and sales enablement materials. columnfivemedia.com
The agency has been recognized in the industry for both rapid growth and creative impact: it ranked #291 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing media companies in 2013 and has won awards from organizations like the Content Marketing Institute and the Webby Awards. One of its most notable projects is the viral “Child of the 90s” video for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which amassed tens of millions of views and appeared on Adweek’s Top 10 Viral Ads list. The founders also authored the book "Infographics: The Power of Visual Storytelling" and have taught graduate-level courses on data visualization, reinforcing the firm’s thought leadership in visual storytelling. en.wikipedia.org
Headquartered in the Costa Mesa/Newport Beach area of Southern California with an additional office presence in Brooklyn, New York, Column Five operates with roughly 50–60 employees and serves a client base that spans mid-market and enterprise companies in technology, fintech, education, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors. Notable brands they have worked with include Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon, Netflix, Salesforce, Dropbox, J.P. Morgan Payments, Charles Schwab, Instacart, Zendesk, Teach For America, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, positioning the agency as a trusted partner for sophisticated B2B marketing teams that need both strategic guidance and high-end creative execution. columnfivemedia.com