Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions Ottawa business owners ask us most. Don't see yours? Ask us directly.

About ForceFive Media

Where is ForceFive Media located, and what areas do you serve?

ForceFive Media is a full-service digital marketing agency in Ottawa, Ontario. Our office is at 430 Hazeldean Rd in Kanata. We work with local businesses across Ottawa, Kanata, Stittsville, Carp, Almonte, Arnprior, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orleans, Manotick and West Carleton, and we also take on clients across Canada and internationally.

How long has ForceFive Media been in business?

ForceFive Media was founded in Ottawa in 1998. The agency is owned and run by Ryan and Leah, so clients work directly with the people who own the business.

What services does ForceFive Media offer?

We offer search engine optimization (SEO) and AI search visibility, Google Ads and paid social campaign management, website design and development, Shopify and e-commerce builds, marketing automation, social media marketing, logo and brand development, and custom design. Most clients combine several of these in a monthly package. See all of our services.

Who is ForceFive Media best suited for?

We work best with two kinds of business: local businesses that rely on a steady flow of leads, such as home services, trades, clinics, local retail and restaurants, and growing companies with roughly $1M to $10M in annual revenue that need multi-channel marketing support or an outsourced marketing department.

How is ForceFive Media different from other Ottawa marketing agencies?

ForceFive has been owner-run since 1998, does the work with its own team instead of outsourcing it, and does not ask clients to sign long-term contracts. SEO, paid ads, websites and marketing automation are handled by one team, and we report on leads (calls, form fills and cost per lead), not only on clicks and impressions.

What results has ForceFive Media achieved for clients?

For one Ottawa automotive client, a high-intent "near me" search improved by 93 positions and reached #7 on desktop. A client in the accessibility industry holds top-three positions in Ottawa across a cluster of commercial searches, and our tracking recorded it at #1 in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for a commercially focused Ottawa service prompt. Results are as of October 1, 2026, and vary by market, query, platform and time. Read the full case studies.

How much does digital marketing cost with ForceFive Media?

Our monthly packages start at $1,500 per month, and the price within each range depends on scope. The Local Growth Accelerator is $1,500 to $2,500 per month, the Growth Engine Retainer is $3,500 to $5,000 per month, and the Marketing Department Subscription is $7,500 to $12,000 per month. The Customer Experience & Profit Optimization System is $2,000 to $6,000 for setup plus $300 to $2,000 per month. Ad spend on platforms like Google or Meta is separate from our management fee. One-time projects such as website builds are quoted individually.

Does ForceFive Media outsource its work?

No. Strategy, execution and optimization are all handled by our own team, so there is no hand-off to subcontractors and one team is accountable for your results.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract with ForceFive Media?

No. ForceFive Media does not make clients sign long-term contracts. Our monthly packages are not locked into a fixed term, so clients stay because the work is paying off, not because they are tied in.

How do I get started with ForceFive Media?

Contact us through forcefive.ca/pages/contact, call (613) 601-3527, or email info@forcefive.ca. We are available Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern. The first step is usually a Search Audit so we can see where your business stands before recommending anything.

Common marketing questions from Ottawa businesses

What is a Search Audit?

A Search Audit is a review of how your business shows up online. It shows where you rank for the searches that matter to your business, what your top competitors are doing that you are not, and where your marketing budget is being wasted. You get plain numbers, not jargon.

How long does SEO take to show results?

For most local businesses, SEO starts showing measurable movement in three to six months. Competitive industries can take longer. Technical fixes and Google Business Profile improvements often show results sooner, while content and backlinks build value over time.

How long does it take Google Ads to start generating leads?

Google Ads can bring clicks within days of launch. Getting to a steady, predictable cost per lead usually takes four to eight weeks of optimization. Conversion tracking needs to be set up before launch, and we run Search campaigns first to build conversion data before adding Performance Max.

Should my business invest in SEO or Google Ads?

Most businesses benefit from both. Google Ads delivers leads quickly and lets you test which services and keywords convert. SEO takes longer but keeps producing traffic without paying per click. A common approach is to use ads for immediate results while SEO builds up.

How can my business get recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini or Google AI Overviews?

AI tools recommend businesses they can find described consistently across the web. That means being listed on trusted directories, collecting reviews on Google and industry sites, using the same business name and details everywhere, and publishing clear answers to the questions your customers ask, like this FAQ page.

Does ForceFive Media offer AI search optimization?

Yes. AI search visibility is part of our SEO program. We research the questions customers ask AI tools, build content and structured information around them, and track whether your brand is mentioned in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude, starting from a baseline. No agency can guarantee that an AI platform will recommend a specific business.

Which platforms does ForceFive Media build on and use?

We build websites on WordPress and Shopify, including WooCommerce for WordPress stores, and our own site runs on Shopify. We set up and manage marketing automation on HighLevel, and run paid campaigns on Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram.

How do I know if my marketing is actually working?

You should be able to say which ad, search or post brought in each new customer. That requires call tracking, form tracking and conversion tracking connected to your ads and website. If you are spending money on marketing and cannot see cost per lead, that is the first thing to fix.

Is my WordPress website secure?

Warning signs of a hacked WordPress site include security or backup plugins that were switched off without your knowledge, plugins or admin users you do not recognize, pages in Google you never wrote, and hidden links to gambling or pharmaceutical sites in your code. If you notice any of these, have the site checked right away.