Table of contents
How we vet every listicle
Every agency featured on Web Tonic passes our 84-point editorial review before a single listicle goes live. This is how we vet each pick:
Verified client outcomes: We require real case studies with measurable KPIs — revenue, ROAS, CPA, retention — tied to the exact category being ranked. No cherry-picked wins, no unverifiable numbers.
Independent reputation: We cross-check Clutch, Google, G2, and Trustpilot ratings, and screen for review-bombing or suspicious patterns. Only operators with a consistent, verifiable track record make the cut.
Beyond that, every listing goes through a quarterly re-audit. We check 84 criteria across 6 pillars to make sure it still holds up — here are some of the checks we run:
An email marketing agency owns the channel end to end: it builds and cleans the list, sets the segments, writes and designs the campaigns, wires the automated flows that send themselves, protects deliverability so the mail reaches an inbox, then reports on the revenue those sends produced.
Every firm below was read on its own site rather than on a directory listing. Twelve external firms publish both email work and automotive or dealership work in their own words, and twelve of them publish a headquarters address across two countries.
What does an email marketing agency do for dealerships, auto groups and service departments?
List growth and hygiene, segmentation, campaign and flow production, the design and copy behind each send, deliverability and consent management, then reporting on revenue per send. Twelve external firms here publish automotive or dealership work on their own sites.
1. J&L Marketing
About: J&L Marketing is a direct and digital marketing agency founded in 1991 with roots serving automotive dealerships and auto groups across the nation. They specialize in leveraging customer data and targeted campaign strategies to help clients out-smart competition and drive sales results.
Key Services: Digital Marketing, Direct Marketing, Event Marketing, Email Marketing, Lead Generation
Industries Served: Automotive, Home Services, Political
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Louisville, KY
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: J&L Marketing
2. Web Tonic
About: Web Tonic runs the email programme, the demand that grows the list and the reporting on one team, so a flow that stops producing revenue is rebuilt the same week instead of the next quarter. Reporting is built on orders and bookings confirmed in the client's own systems, never on opens.
Key Services: Growth Marketing, Paid Social, PPC, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Amazon Ads, Reddit Ads, TikTok Ads, TikTok Shop, GEO-AEO, Webflow Design, Shopify Design, WordPress Design, UGC, Social Media Management, Pay Per Click Management, Marketing Analytics, Analytics Implementation & CDPs, Performance Branding, Performance 360° Audit, Programmatic Ads, OOH Ads, HR Marketing
Industries Served: eCommerce, SaaS, B2B, Construction Professionals, Home Services, SMEs, Health Spa & Wellness, Retail, Legal & Judicial Services, Food & Beverages, Pets, Fitness, Family & Children, Finance & Insurance, Travel, Non-Profits & Organizations, Furniture & Decoration
Notable Clients: WorldRemit, Jack & Jones, Ardene, L’Oréal, Sendwave, Nestlé, Airbnb. Serve Fortune 500 companies and smaller fast-paced startups.
Locations: HQ in San Francisco with notable offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and more. Offices on five continents.
Pricing: Starting at USD $3,000 per month. Flexible and scalable plans at any time according to your enterprise needs. Book a call to learn more.
Great For: Mid-market to enterprise-level businesses requiring ongoing, on-tap growth and performance marketing services.
Website: Web Tonic
3. SmartSites
About: SmartSites is a digital marketing agency that offers comprehensive email and SMS marketing strategies, alongside web design and search engine optimization, tailored for automotive businesses and dealerships. Their holistic approach covers list growth, automated email flows, custom templates, and advanced segmentation to drive customer engagement and repeat purchases.
Key Services: Email & SMS Marketing, Website Design & Development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay-Per-Click Marketing (PPC)
Industries Served: Automotive Dealerships, Auto Parts Distributors, Automotive Repair Shops
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Paramus, New Jersey
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: SmartSites
4. Click Here Digital
About: Click Here Digital is a full-service digital marketing and consulting agency with over three decades of experience providing strategic services tailored for automotive dealerships and other sectors. They offer targeted email marketing campaigns, custom design and content creation, workflow automation, and analytics optimization alongside broader digital advertising solutions.
Key Services: Email Marketing, Email Automation and Workflow Setup, Personalized Email Design and Content Creation, Analytics, Reporting, and Campaign Optimization, SEO, Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic Advertising, Creative Services
Industries Served: Automotive & RV, Legal, Medical, E-commerce, Small Businesses
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Click Here Digital
5. Melleka Marketing
About: Melleka Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency headquartered in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California. They offer email marketing, SMS marketing, and CRM management services tailored to industries including automotive businesses and car dealerships.
Key Services: Email and SMS Marketing, CRM Management, SEO, Google Ads Management, Meta Ads Management, Social Media Management, AI Chatbots and Automation, Website Design
Industries Served: Automotive, Healthcare, Legal, Home Services, E-commerce, SaaS, Construction, Insurance, Hospitality, B2B
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Pricing: Starting at $1,499/month (Starter plan, verified on melleka.com/pricing)
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Melleka Marketing
6. Scalero
About: Scalero is a lifecycle marketing studio specializing in email marketing, campaign execution, and data engineering. Their services cover strategy, design, template coding, and integration with top customer data platforms and ESPs.
Key Services: Email Marketing, Lifecycle Marketing, CRM consulting and SI, Data Engineering, Email Design and Coding
Industries Served: E-commerce, Education, SaaS, Technology
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Oakland, California
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Scalero
7. Coalition Technologies
About: Coalition Technologies is a digital marketing agency offering services such as email and SMS campaigns for lead follow-up, service reminders, and customer retention tailored to automotive and vehicle dealerships. The agency leverages data-driven strategies across SEO, paid advertising, and web design to help drive showroom and online leads.
Key Services: Email Marketing, SMS Marketing, Digital Marketing, SEO, PPC, Web Design & Development, Conversion Rate Optimization
Industries Served: Automotive Dealerships and Auto Groups, Car Rental and Transportation, Automotive Parts and Accessories, Ecommerce, Lead Generation
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Los Angeles, CA
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Coalition Technologies
8. Digital Authority Partners
About: Digital Authority Partners is a digital marketing and content agency headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. They provide services including email marketing, SEO consulting, fractional CMO leadership, and marketing automation to businesses across various sectors.
Key Services: Digital Strategy, SEO Consulting, Content Marketing, Email Marketing, Marketing Automation, PPC Consulting, Fractional CMO
Industries Served: Education, Healthcare, B2B
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Chicago, Illinois
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Digital Authority Partners
9. 9 Birds Creative
About: 9 Birds Creative is a Los Angeles-based growth and creative agency specializing in paid media, email retention, web design, and brand strategy for DTC and B2B brands. While they list 'Automotive Dealerships' among the peripheral industries they serve, their primary focus centers on e-commerce, fashion, and hospitality digital growth systems.
Key Services: Brand Strategy, Paid Media, Social Media & Content, E-Commerce Marketing, Lead Generation, Web Design, Email & Retention
Industries Served: Fashion Brands, E-Commerce & DTC Brands, Hospitality & Hotels, Coffee Shops & Cafes, Luxury Culinary Spaces, Beauty & Wellness Brands, Art Galleries & Museums, Automotive Dealerships, Film & Entertainment, Financial Services, Luxury Real Estate, Tech Startups
Notable Clients: Maxfield, Second Layer, Pizzana, Gran Coramino, Convi, Coffee Machine Depot, Osadia, Subtle Bodies, Jurassic Magic Coffee, AUTEUR, Coût de la Liberté
Locations: Los Angeles
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: 9 Birds Creative
10. Mediaforce
About: Mediaforce is a digital marketing and web design agency founded in 1996 with Canadian offices including Ottawa and Toronto. They offer specialized automated email marketing, CRM integration, and AI-driven growth campaigns tailored for various business sectors including the automotive industry.
Key Services: Automated Email Marketing, CRM and AI Marketing Automation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO/AEO), Google Ads Management, Social Media Advertising, Website Design & CRO
Industries Served: Automotive, Healthcare Clinics, Construction Companies, Accounting Firms, Auto Repair Shops, Dental Clinics, E-Commerce and Retail, Fitness and Wellness Businesses, Home Service Businesses, Law Firms, Restaurants, Real Estate
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Ottawa
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Mediaforce
11. Momentum Digital
About: Momentum Digital is a digital marketing agency based in Philadelphia that offers comprehensive email marketing automation, CRM integration, and campaign management services. They build intelligent workflows and lead nurturing funnels to help businesses scale conversions and customer retention.
Key Services: Email Marketing, Email Marketing Automation, CRM Integration and Management, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Campaigns, Website Design & Development
Industries Served: Automotive, Small Businesses, Local Businesses
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Philadelphia, PA
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Momentum Digital
12. Heyday Marketing
About: Heyday Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency headquartered in Miami, Florida, with an additional office in Bogotá, Colombia. They provide comprehensive marketing automation and email marketing solutions, alongside industry expertise spanning automotive dealerships, retail, hospitality, and healthcare.
Key Services: Email marketing, Marketing automation, Lead generation, Digital advertising, SEO, Social media management, Web design, Branding, Public relations
Industries Served: Automotive dealerships, Restaurants, Hotels, Healthcare, Retail, Real Estate, Entertainment, Nonprofits
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Miami, Florida
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: Heyday Marketing
13. 1Digital Agency
About: 1Digital Agency is a full-service eCommerce digital agency providing custom email marketing solutions, SEO, PPC, and web development for online brands. While they handle automotive parts and merchant advertising, their core focus is on eCommerce platforms rather than automotive dealerships or auto groups.
Key Services: Email Marketing, PPC, SEO, Web Design & Development, Platform Migrations
Industries Served: Automotive (Auto Parts / eCommerce Merchants), Fashion, FMCG, Industrial
Notable Clients: No client publicly named on the firm's own site
Locations: Philadelphia, PA
Pricing: Quote-based
Great For: Not publicly stated
Website: 1Digital Agency
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | Key Specialty | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. J&L Marketing | Digital Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 2. Web Tonic | Full-Service Performance Marketing | USD $3,000/mo | Mid-market to Enterprise |
| 3. SmartSites | Email & SMS Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 4. Click Here Digital | Email Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 5. Melleka Marketing | Email and SMS Marketing | Starting at $1,499/month (Starter plan, verified on melleka.com/pricing) | Not publicly stated |
| 6. Scalero | Email Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 7. Coalition Technologies | Email Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 8. Digital Authority Partners | Digital Strategy | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 9. 9 Birds Creative | Brand Strategy | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 10. Mediaforce | Automated Email Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 11. Momentum Digital | Email Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 12. Heyday Marketing | Email marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
| 13. 1Digital Agency | Email Marketing | Quote-based | Not publicly stated |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does email do for a dealership that the CRM does not already do?
It works the database between purchases instead of only chasing fresh leads. Service reminders, lease and finance maturity timing, recall notices, trade-in equity offers and declined-service follow-ups all sit on dates already in the dealer system, and almost none of them get sent well. Ask which dealer CRM or DMS a firm has pulled from, what it triggered off, and how service and sales messages were kept apart.
How should a dealer group handle manufacturer and co-op rules?
By agreeing the boundary before the first send. Brand programmes dictate logo use, imagery, offer wording and sometimes the platform, and co-op reimbursement depends on proof of compliance, so an agency that has never filed a co-op claim will cost you money twice. Ask which brands a firm has worked under, who approves creative, and how it documents sends for reimbursement.
What does an email marketing engagement usually cost?
Fees split into a setup phase and a monthly retainer, and the sending platform licence sits on top of both. Setup covers audit, migration, templates and the first flows; the retainer covers the campaign calendar, new flows and reporting. On this page not one external firm here prints a fee figure. Ask what happens to the flows and templates if you end the retainer after six months, and whose account they live in.
Which of these firms name a client I can verify?
One of the twelve. 9 Birds Creative names Maxfield and Second Layer. The rest credit nobody on the pages we read, which is normal when a brand forbids logo use or the work sits under a parent agency. Ask instead for two accounts the firm runs now, the sending platform on each, and a call with the marketing lead who approved the invoice. A firm that cannot arrange that call may be describing work it no longer holds.
Does a platform partner badge mean the team is good?
It means the firm joined a vendor programme and usually sold some licences, which is a floor rather than a recommendation. Badges track referred revenue more than craft, so a smaller firm with three finished programmes in your sector may serve you better than a higher tier with none. Judge the last three builds instead: what was migrated, what broke, and who answers when deliverability slips.
Choosing an Email Marketing Partner for Automotive Dealerships
All twelve external firms listed publish email work alongside automotive or dealership work on their own sites, which is a lower bar than a finished programme in your sector. Treat this as a shortlist to interrogate, not a ranking of outcomes.
One credit a client you can check, and not one external firm here prints a fee figure. Compare what each firm will actually own: the list, the segments, the flows, the creative, and the reporting that says whether revenue moved.
Ask for the last three email programmes the named team delivered, and what broke. A firm answering with data sources, flow triggers and a go-live date is describing its own work; a firm answering with a vendor badge is describing a programme it belongs to.
Whoever wins the brief, keep the sending account, the lists and the templates in your own name, because a channel you cannot administer is a supplier you cannot leave. If you would rather have the reporting layer and the demand that fills the list run by one accountable team, read our latest analysis or see how we run growth programmes.
