Top 10 Best Marketing Cloud Partners (2024)

Specialists Over Generalists

When it comes to a Salesforce Marketing Cloud implementation, the choice between a specialist partner and a generalist partner can significantly impact the success of your project. While generalist partners may offer a broad array of services, opting for a specialist partner with a dedicated focus on Marketing Cloud brings forth a multitude of advantages.

In this context, specialization matters—a specialized partner possesses unique expertise, streamlined processes, and a deeper understanding of the intricacies associated with Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

• In depth knowledge specific to the platform: This leads to optimized solutions that are tailored to the unique features (and possibilities) that Marketing Cloud offers. It ensures a better utilization of its functionalities.
  
  
• Streamlined Implementation: Specialists are likely to have streamlined and efficient implementation processes due to their extensive experience with Marketing Cloud. This can result in quicker deployment and reduced time-to-value.
  
  
• Customization and Innovation: Marketing Cloud specialists can offer a higher level of customization, tailoring solutions to match your specific business needs. They are also more likely to stay abreast of the latest updates and innovations within the Marketing Cloud ecosystem.
  
  
• Dedicated Resources: Specialist partners allocate dedicated resources with expertise in Marketing Cloud, ensuring that your project receives the attention and proficiency it deserves. This contrasts with generalist partners who may have a broader focus and less specialized resources.
  
  
• Risk Mitigation: Marketing Cloud implementations come with inherent complexities. Specialists are simply better equipped to navigate potential challenges and mitigate risks.
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• Post-implementation support is critical. Specialists can provide more focused and effective support for Marketing Cloud-related issues, ensuring ongoing success and smooth operation of your marketing initiatives.
  

1. FoundHQ‍

FoundHQ is not your regular Marketing Cloud Partner.

At FoundHQ, we:

• Take the time to truly understand your very specific needs with Marketing Cloud.
• Match you to pre-vetted Marketing Cloud Consultants who'll be embedded to your team. Working for you, not FoundHQ.
• Make sure the Marketing Consultants we match you with have previous experience with a project of the similar size and scope.
• Help you build in blocks, with a controlled roadmap over which you have full ownership of.
• Can work on all types of projects: from Implementations, to Support, to Integrations, to Audits to AdHoc work, Managed Services.

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Think of FoundHQ more as a Hiring Partner with the most extensive Salesforce Consultant Network.

Our network was built relationship by relationship, and it’s the easiest way to tap into unbelievable talent. Our network includes Marketing Cloud Consultants that previously worked at Slalom, Dentsu, Deloitte, and dozens of other top Consulting Firms.
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✅ You decide how your engagement works (per hour, per project or FTEs).

✅ Tight budgets are no problem, you can tap into our Nearshore and Offshore contractors if you prefer.
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✅ No minimum commitments. Turn your engagement on and off as needed.

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Learn more about how FoundHQ can help you with your Marketing Cloud org by sharing your project needs in the bottom-right pop-up.
Or schedule a quick intro call here.

These are the largest Salesforce Consulting Services Partners for the North American market and should typically be reserved for projects in the $5m to $10m budget.

The way they operate is they deploy larger-scale, cross-disciplinary Delivery teams comprised of multiple Consultants, Developers, Administrators, Architects, and Email Automation Campaign Specialists.

An expected hourly bill rate for these Partners is in the $250/hour to $400/hour range, and you will encounter a Delivery team of 20+ individuals.

2. Slalom Consulting

While they are one of the largest Salesforce Implementation Partners, they do have an extremely well-established SFDC Marketing Cloud Practice. Unlike some of the more prominent firms that only focus on 'multi-Cloud' projects, Slalom does maintain a focus on standalone SFMC engagements, which provides a unique specialization at their scale.

Their team of Salesforce experts looks like this:

• ‍67 Certified Marketing Cloud Consultants
• 34 Certified Marketing Cloud Developers
• 202 Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialist
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3. Dentsu (formerly DEG Digital)

In 2018, DEG Digital (an established Salesforce Implementation Partner that had acquired numerous mid-sized Partners along the way) was acquired by Dentsu, a Japanese advertising giant. Prior to that acquisition, DEG Digital was the largest standalone Salesforce Marketing Cloud Partner in the United States. This has remained a core competency while also being integrated into a broader Marketing and Advertising agency. This is a Salesforce Consulting company with years of experience in Marketing Cloud.

Their team of Salesforce experts looks like this:

• ‍145 Certified Marketing Cloud Administrators
• 123 Certified Marketing Cloud Consultants
• 67 Certified Marketing Cloud Developers
• 412 Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialists
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4. Deloitte Digital

This is the Digital arm of Deloitte, one of the largest Management Consulting companies in the world. While Deloitte does a little bit of everything inside and outside of technology, Deloitte Digital is solely focused on digital transformation strategy, and they have an enormous focus on Salesforce customization.

While they start to creep into 'generalist Partner' territory, the scale of their Marketing Cloud capabilities and the number of Consultants (all with tons of certifications under their belt) across the Practice make them a strong option for any Enterprise engagements.
Their team of Salesforce experts looks like this:

• ‍338 Certified Marketing Cloud Administrators
• 303 Certified Marketing Cloud Consultants
• 151 Certified Marketing Cloud Developers
• 934 Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialists
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5. WPP

A multinational British communications and advertising agency, WPP is a relatively new entrant to the Salesforce ecosystem. Given their core focus on Marketing Automation & Advertising strategy, a logical expansion for them was moving into technology consulting and digital transformation. These efforts focused strictly on Marketing tools.

For this reason, they are unique in the fact that they are a huge company overall with a relatively modest Salesforce Practice, but the entirety of that Practice is focused on Marketing Cloud.

Their team of Salesforce experts looks like this:

• ‍35  Certified Marketing Cloud Administrators
• 70 Certified Marketing Cloud Consultants
• 33 Certified Marketing Cloud Developers
• 271 Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialists
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6. Pierry (now Wunderman Thompson)

In 2017, Pierry was acquired by Wunderman Thompson, which is another global Marketing Communications agency with 20,000+ employees that had no presence in the Salesforce ecosystem until acquiring their way into it.

At the time of acquisition, Pierry was a top 10 Global Salesforce Partner with one of the most established, strongest Marketing Cloud Practices. This brilliant integration of Marketing Cloud expertise into an existing behemoth in the Marketing landscape.

Their team of Salesforce experts looks like this:

• ‍33 Certified Marketing Cloud Administrators
• 25 Certified Marketing Cloud Developers
• 60 Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialists

These are the Partners best suited for mid-market projects with a budget anywhere in the $450,000 to $2m range.

A typical Delivery team may still consist of Consultants, Developers, Administrators, and Architects, but, likely, you are only working with 1-2 of each, so the Delivery team will often be under ten people. Contrary to popular belief, it’s easier to stay on top of your roadmap if you’re coordinating a smaller group of experts.

You will still encounter a hefty $175/hour to $250/hour bill rate, though! So consider yourself warned.

7. Magna Technology

Founded in 2017, Magna Technolgy is one of the fastest growing Salesforce Partner by Peyton Smith Jr. and Adam Blake. Since launching, Magna has quickly developed a reputation as a best-in-class technology consultancy and has rapidly grown its team of Salesforce & Digital Transformation experts. They specilize in implementations, advisory, & managed services associated with Salesforces'​ Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Datorama, Tableau, Pardot, & Marketing Cloud applications.

Their reviews on the Appexchange rate them with a 4.94 out of 5.0.
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8. Torrent Consulting

Founded in 2010, Torrent Consulting is what we would consider a smaller, “boutique” Salesforce Consulting Firm (even though it has an international presence). Their core practice focused on Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, with a smaller operation dedicated to Marketing Cloud. The industries they specialize in are Healthcare and Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and High Tech.

Their reviews on the Appexchange rate them with a 5.0 out of 5.0.
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9. Sercante

Sercante was founded in 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Today, it’s the third-largest woman-owned Salesforce SI partner and its offerings range from Sales and Marketing Startegies, Implementations, Account Audits, Marketing and Data Analytics, and Integrations. With around 80 collaborators, Sercante is a well-established, boutique Marketing Cloud Partner.

They have an AppExchange rating of 4.85 out of 5.0

10. MarCloud

MarCloud is a smaller firm with extensive experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud. As a Salesforce Partner, MarCloud has a team of certified experts who have successfully delivered numerous Marketing Cloud projects. Founded in 2017 and based out of the UK, MarCloud serves the EMEA region as the go-to Marketing Cloud Partner of the area.

They have an AppExchange rating of 4.85 out of 5.0

If you are looking to implement a small Marketing Cloud instance, deploy new modules to your Salesforce CRM (email studio, interaction studio, social studio etc.), add a new Salesforce integration to your existing instance, or find help with building and deploying email and automation campaigns, you should absolutely look for a Salesforce Freelancer.

If you’re unsure about needing a Consulting Firm or an Independent Consultant, check out this post that highlights the pros and cons of choosing either one.

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FoundHQ

We designed a model that makes it more cost-effective for startups to partner with experienced Salesforce Consultants. It’s the simplest way to connect with a network of 500+ pre-qualified, Independent Marketing Cloud Consultants, including:

• 150+ Certified Marketing Cloud Administrators
• 150+ Certified Marketing Cloud Consultants
• 100 Certified Marketing Cloud Architects
• 125+ Certified Marketing Cloud Developers
• 200+ Marketing Cloud Email Specialists

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100% focused on the Salesforce technology ecosystem, FoundHQ is the simplest, most cost-effective way to work with the best Salesforce Experts available.Since these are Freelancers (as opposed to vendors with overhead to manage), the Marketing Cloud Consultant hourly rate is often $100/hour to $145/hour for the same experience that a Partner charges 2x.

How can a freelancer help me?
✅ Audit Current Setup
✅ Tactical Admin Work / Support
✅ End-to-End Implementations
✅  Integrations
✅ Recommendations, Fixes, and Optimizations

‍For this reason alone, if you are looking to implement a small Marketing Cloud instance, deploy new modules to your Salesforce CRM (email studio, interaction studio, social studio etc.), add a new Salesforce integration to your existing instance, or find help with building and deploying email and automation campaigns, you should absolutely look for a Salesforce Freelancer through FoundHQ.

If you’re unsure about needing a Consulting Firm or an Independent Consultant, check out this post that highlights the pros and cons of choosing either one.

Selecting Your Marketing Cloud Partner

In conclusion, selecting the ideal Marketing Cloud Partner is a nuanced decision that hinges on various factors. Remember, there's no universal Salesforce Implementation Partner that fits every scenario. Your choice should align with the unique characteristics of your company, the existing Salesforce infrastructure, and the scale of your digital transformation aspirations.

For projects encompassing diverse Salesforce Clouds, larger Partners may offer the comprehensive support needed. However, when concentrating solely on Marketing Cloud or other specific Cloud projects, opting for a smaller, more nimble, and expertly specialized Partner in that domain becomes a strategic choice. Tailoring your selection to the specific demands of your project ensures a synergistic partnership that paves the way for success in your Salesforce journey.