SIGNAL / v4.26 / OPERATING

MARKETING INTELLIGENCE We trace the
signal in the noise.

Trace IQ is a marketing intelligence firm for operators. We audit your digital presence, surface what's actually moving the needle, and build the roadmap to get you from current state to category leadership.

LAT 37.33°N
CLIENTS 12+ ACTIVE
EST 2024
STATUS ● TAKING BRIEFS
01 / SERVICES

Two disciplines. One compounding advantage.

/ SVC·01

Digital Audits
& Analysis

A forensic read of your marketing stack, brand positioning, and digital presence. We surface the gaps between where you are and where the market is rewarding competitors.

BRAND AUDITSEO / SEMCOMPETITIVE INTELSCORECARDS
/ SVC·02

Growth Strategy
& Roadmaps

12-month strategic plans with quarterly milestones, channel priorities, and ROI projections. Built for founders who need a map, not another deck.

12-MO ROADMAPROI MODELINGCHANNEL STRATEGYGTM
02 / AI CONSULTANT

Talk to Trace. Get a read on your marketing in minutes.

SESSION · ENCRYPTED
● TRANSMITTING
TQ
Hey — I'm Trace, Trace IQ's AI consultant. I've been trained on our audit methodology and growth playbooks.

Tell me what's actually going on in your business — revenue stuck, CAC climbing, traffic without conversion, brand feels off, something else — and I'll tell you what we'd investigate first and what it would likely cost to fix.

Real talk: I'm honest about when you don't need us.
03 / APPROACH

How we operate.

/ 01 TRACE

Find the signal

We audit everything — site, SEO footprint, brand positioning, paid performance, content, reviews, competitive landscape. Nothing gets assumed.

/ 02 MAP

Architect the play

We translate findings into a prioritized roadmap with clear ROI projections, resource requirements, and quarterly milestones tied to business outcomes.

/ 03 EXECUTE

Ship with conviction

Optional fractional CMO engagement to execute against the roadmap — or hand-off to your internal team with full documentation and support.

04 / SELECTED WORK

Operators we've helped see clearly.

/ CASE·01
LinkIT Media Group
LinkIT Media Group
INDUSTRY · SOCIAL / LOCAL / DIGITAL
DELIVERABLE · BRAND & MARKETING AUDIT
/ CASE·02
Independent Facilities Resource
Independent Facilities Resource
INDUSTRY · COMMERCIAL RELOCATION
DELIVERABLE · DIGITAL SCORECARD + ROI MODEL
/ CASE·03
South Bay Design & Landscape
South Bay Design & Landscape
INDUSTRY · LANDSCAPE / CONSTRUCTION
DELIVERABLE · GROWTH STRATEGY + 12-MO ROADMAP
/ CASE·04
Case 04
[Client Name]
INDUSTRY · [SECTOR]
DELIVERABLE · [SCOPE]
05 / FOUNDERS

Built by operators, not agencies.

Ryan Waters
Ryan Waters
CO-FOUNDER · STRATEGY & PRODUCT

Marketing strategist and product builder working at the intersection of brand, growth, and technology. Ryan leads digital audits, ROI modeling, and the strategic roadmaps that anchor every Trace IQ engagement. Background spans fractional CMO work, multi-market operations, and independent product development.

Jesse Manchego
Jesse Manchego
CO-FOUNDER · GROWTH & PARTNERSHIPS

Growth operator focused on execution, channel architecture, and client success. Jesse drives business development and ensures every Trace IQ deliverable translates into measurable outcomes. Brings a deep network across SMB and mid-market operators in multiple verticals.

06 / INSIGHTS

Field notes from the operator trenches.

Insight 01
STRATEGY8 MIN

Why most marketing audits are noise, not signal

The industry has conflated "comprehensive" with "useful." Here's the framework we use to extract decisions from data.

READ →
Insight 02
GROWTH6 MIN

The 12-month roadmap that actually gets executed

Most strategic plans die in Q2. The difference between shelf-ware and shipped-work is architectural, not motivational.

READ →
Insight 03
OPERATIONS5 MIN

Fractional CMO vs agency: when to hire which

The decision framework we walk every client through before we take on an engagement. Hint: it's rarely about the budget.

READ →
07 / REQUEST AUDIT

Let's find your signal.

Tell us where you're stuck. We'll tell you what we'd trace first.

hello@traceiq.co
→ RESPONSE · within 24 hours
→ SERVING · national, remote-first
→ AVAILABILITY · Q2 · taking briefs
● SIGNAL RECEIVED.

Your brief has been transmitted. Expect a response from the Trace IQ team within 24 hours with next steps and a preliminary take on your audit scope.