In an industry known for rapid churn, short-lived agencies, and relentless platform upheaval, longevity is rare. Wonderful Websites & SEO, a U.S.–based digital marketing agency founded by Chris Moreno, is entering its 17th year in business—a milestone that stands out in a sector where most firms never make it past year three.

The timing is notable. Artificial intelligence is once again rewriting the rules of digital marketing, from search and content to customer engagement and operations. For Moreno, the anniversary isn’t just a celebration of survival. It’s a marker of relevance—and a signal that small businesses need steady guidance more than ever.

Founded nearly two decades ago, Wonderful Websites & SEO has grown into a multi-location agency serving more than 300 small businesses across the United States and Canada. Its core offerings—custom WordPress websites, local SEO, social media management, and paid advertising on Google and Facebook—have remained largely unchanged. Moreno calls them “the core four,” and says that focus has been key to the company’s endurance.

Surviving Where Most Agencies Don’t

Digital marketing is notorious for high failure rates. Algorithm updates, shifting ad platforms, client churn, and commoditized services have pushed countless agencies out of business. Against that backdrop, 17 years is an outlier.

“We’re entering our 17th year in business,” Moreno said. “We’ve earned over 100 five-star Google reviews, and to this day nobody has ever left us a review under five stars. But more importantly, we’ve stayed consistent in what we do best—bringing customers to small businesses.”

That consistency has carried the firm through multiple waves of disruption: the rise of Google Ads, the dominance of Facebook advertising, mobile-first search, and now AI-driven marketing tools. Rather than chasing every trend, Moreno says the agency’s strategy has been to master fundamentals and adapt carefully.

It’s a philosophy that resonates with small businesses, many of which don’t have the margin for experimentation or costly missteps.

AI Becomes the Defining Question

If there is a single force reshaping the marketing landscape today, Moreno says, it’s artificial intelligence.

“The elephant in the room is artificial intelligence,” he said. “Everyone has a different opinion of it, but at the very least it’s changing the market for small business dramatically—and therefore it’s changing the environment for marketing agencies like us.”

Unlike previous technology shifts, AI’s impact extends far beyond marketing execution. Moreno sees it touching nearly every operational layer of a business—from emails and spreadsheets to calls, meetings, and administrative work.

“Businesses are going to be blown away by what AI can do to make their lives easier,” he said. “But AI also introduces a wave of tools and services that aren’t ready for prime time.”

That tension—between genuine productivity gains and unproven hype—is where Wonderful Websites & SEO sees its role evolving. Rather than selling AI as a silver bullet, the agency is positioning itself as a filter and advisor, helping clients decide what’s worth adopting and what should be avoided.

Trusted Advisor in a Time of Noise

Moreno says many of the agency’s long-term clients are already feeling pressure to “do something with AI,” often without clarity on what that means.

“We work with over 300 small businesses, and many have been with us for a decade or more,” he said. “We’ve become a trusted advisor. When AI hits their industry, we’re usually their first call.”

That trust didn’t emerge overnight. It was built through years of consistent delivery, transparent communication, and a business model that minimizes friction for clients.

The agency operates without long-term contracts—a rarity in digital marketing. Retention, Moreno says, is earned month by month.

“Our retention rate is ridiculous,” he said. “If you deliver results, you never need to worry about people leaving.”

In an AI-driven future, that trust may become even more valuable. As automation lowers the barrier to entry for marketing services, differentiation increasingly comes down to judgment, accountability, and human guidance.

A People-First Approach in a Tech-Heavy Industry

Despite operating in a technology-driven sector, Moreno attributes the company’s longevity less to tools and more to people.

“The team I’ve put together I would put against any agency in the country,” he said. “I was inspired years ago by the show The Profit and its focus on people, product, and process—with people being the most important. From that moment on, I only hired the very best.”

Wonderful Websites & SEO now employs 23 team members, and Moreno says hiring discipline has shaped both culture and client outcomes. That people-first philosophy extends beyond internal operations to client relationships.

Many businesses, he notes, come to the agency after negative experiences elsewhere—locked into rigid contracts, underserved, or disappointed by results.

“We relieve that pain,” Moreno said. “We return calls and emails promptly. We do what we say we’re going to do. And we produce results.”

In a market increasingly flooded with AI-generated promises and automated services, that emphasis on responsiveness and accountability stands out.

Marketing Through Economic Uncertainty

The agency’s milestone also comes amid broader economic uncertainty, as many small businesses reassess spending. Marketing budgets are often first on the chopping block—a move Moreno believes is short-sighted.

“Most marketers and business coaches will tell you that marketing and advertising is the last thing you should cut—even though it’s often the first,” he said.

For businesses relying on lead flow, visibility, and customer acquisition, effective marketing can become a lifeline rather than a cost center.

“When we’re generating leads, calls, and new customers, we become their lifeline for growth,” Moreno added.

That argument is becoming more pointed as AI reshapes competitive dynamics. Businesses that disappear from search results, paid ads, or social platforms risk being replaced by more visible, tech-savvy competitors.

What 17 Years Signals for the Future

Wonderful Websites & SEO’s anniversary is less about nostalgia and more about positioning. As AI accelerates change across marketing and commerce, small businesses are likely to face increasing complexity—not less.

Tools will become more powerful, but also more confusing. Automation will promise efficiency, but not always deliver clarity. In that environment, agencies that combine technical competence with restraint and judgment may hold an advantage.

For Moreno, the next chapter is about applying the same principles that carried the company through previous shifts: focus on fundamentals, invest in people, and act as a long-term partner rather than a short-term vendor.

Seventeen years in, that approach appears to be resonating—and may prove even more relevant as AI pushes marketing into its next era.

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