Up The Brand is a digital marketing agency based in Bel Air, Maryland, led by Gary Thorn, who brings over 20 years of industry experience to his clients. The agency focuses on serving small businesses throughout Maryland, with a specific geographic service footprint that includes Bel Air, Baltimore, Towson, Harford County, and Columbia. The agency operates on a direct-service model, ensuring that clients work directly with the founder rather than being passed off to junior staff or account managers. The core service offering centers on a dual-approach strategy combining SEO and Google Ads to generate immediate leads while building long-term search visibility. Their SEO services include local keyword strategy, monthly content optimization, and a mix of on-page and off-page efforts designed to capture existing market demand. The agency's Google Ads management includes competitor analysis, budget strategy, and active campaign optimization for up to two search campaigns plus branded search. A distinct feature of their business model is an incentivized contract structure where clients who commit to a six-month marketing agreement receive a custom website redesign at no additional charge. These web design services encompass up to 10 pages, local search and conversion-focused structures, copy development, and integration of forms for quote requests and scheduling. Beyond standard small business marketing, the agency provides specialized services for e-commerce, offering custom-scoped projects to support online stores. The operational methodology is transparent and structured, moving clients through a defined process of intake questionnaires, research, and collaborative strategy development. By capping the total client count at approximately 10 at a time, the agency maintains a high-touch, personalized service approach that emphasizes ROI and clear communication over high-volume activity reporting.
I had the pleasure of working alongside Gary and the marketing industry needs more people like him. He's someone you can count on to have your company's best interests at heart and deliver quality work every time. Whether your company is starting from scratch or is more established, Gary knows what it takes to generate and convert traffic into customers for local businesses. Truly, a great professional and person.
I can’t say enough good things about Up the Brand! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ They’ve been a huge help with both my search engine optimization and Google Ads. Since working with them, I’ve seen noticeable improvements in my online visibility and overall performance. They really know their stuff and take the time to explain what they’re doing and why it works. If you’re looking for a team that’s knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in your success, I highly recommend Up the Brand. Great experience all around! Gary really cares about his customers !
Gary is a great human being that cares about people and the work that he does. I engaged with Up The Brand to help turn my brand vision into reality and that is just what he did. His process requires the client to provide valuable input so that Up The Brand can deliver on their promise. Originally, that seemed like a daunting task but Gary took extra time to walk me through the discovery process, step by step. I highly recommend Up The Brand to any business owner who is looking for help with Brand Identity and integrated marketing communication.
Gary was extremely helpful! He built a website for our local government campaign that helped us increase our visibility to constituents online.
Working with Gary at Up The Brand has been an excellent experience. His clear explanation of my website’s traffic challenges—and the opportunities to improve—has been incredibly valuable. The updates he’s already implemented have made my site far more engaging, and I’m excited to see the continued progress as we move forward. This is a skill set I don’t possess, and having an expert like Gary guiding the process has made all the difference. I highly recommend his services.
