Strider: Crafting Digital Success Stories for Small Businesses Since 2008

Strider is a privately owned digital marketing agency that has made a significant mark in the industry by focusing on the needs of small and mid sized businesses. The company operates legally under the names Strider Inc Strider LLC Strider Media and Strider SEO. Its head office is based in Toronto Ontario with additional operations located in Wilmington Delaware. Strider is best known for its dedication to helping clients in niche markets including retail florists nonprofit organizations medical and legal practices and local startups. Since its incorporation the company has remained committed to delivering practical data driven marketing solutions that produce meaningful results for businesses with unique challenges.
The roots of Strider go back to the early 1990s when cofounders Ryan Freeman and Janis Freeman began working as freelance consultants. Their work focused on online marketing business consulting and technology support at a time when digital strategies were still developing. Over more than a decade they built a strong foundation of experience and learned to understand the specific needs of smaller businesses. On February 2 2008 they took the next step by formally incorporating their business under the name Strider. This move marked the official beginning of a journey that would see the company grow into a respected name in the marketing industry.
Ryan Freeman’s background played an important role in shaping the future of the company. As a fifth generation member of Martin’s The Flower People a family owned floral business Ryan had firsthand knowledge of the floral industry. He understood its seasonal nature its customer service demands and its operational challenges. This experience became a key influence in Strider’s early development and helped the company focus on offering specialized services to florists and similar retail operations. Instead of using a generic marketing approach Strider created targeted strategies that truly matched the needs of each client.
In the same year Strider was incorporated the company gained international attention by winning the Bruce Clay International SEO Contest. This achievement confirmed the company’s strong expertise in search engine optimization and gave it a competitive edge in the digital marketing world. Winning this contest helped establish Strider as a serious and skilled agency capable of delivering top tier results in a crowded and competitive space.
Building on this success Strider continued to deepen its involvement in the floral industry. In 2015 the company launched a new division called Strider Media. Through this division Strider acquired and published Canadian Florist Magazine from 2015 to 2018. The magazine became a trusted resource for florists across Canada offering industry news business insights and marketing tips. During this time Strider also organized the Canadian Florist Business Forum a yearly event that brought together professionals from across the floral community to share knowledge and build connections. These initiatives reflected Strider’s strong commitment to supporting the floral industry not only through marketing but also by creating platforms for collaboration and learning.
Strider’s contributions were recognized in 2018 when the company received an award from the Great Lakes Floral Association. The award honored Strider’s unselfish labor and achievement for the advancement of the floral industry. This recognition highlighted the company’s unique role as both a service provider and a partner that genuinely cares about the growth and success of its clients.
One of the most important tools that Strider developed to support florists is the Florist 2.0 platform. This all in one marketing solution was built specifically for the floral industry and includes ecommerce website development search engine optimization customer engagement tools and systems for managing the complexities of seasonal sales and local delivery. Florist 2.0 helps retail florists grow their business online while keeping their operations smooth and efficient. It is an example of how Strider creates real value by designing solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients.
Strider has also introduced other specialized products including PerfectFit Patient Finder and PerfectFit Ads. PerfectFit Patient Finder is designed to help healthcare professionals attract new patients through highly targeted local advertising. PerfectFit Ads is a complete system for small businesses that includes performance tracking and campaign optimization. These tools are based on Strider’s belief that good marketing should be effective measurable and designed around real business goals.
In 2023 Strider introduced a new set of artificial intelligence powered tools built to support retail florists in their day to day operations. These tools help automate customer communication appointment scheduling and marketing outreach. They are designed to reduce the workload on small business owners and give them more time to focus on customer service and core operations. With these tools Strider continues to help its clients adapt to modern digital demands without losing sight of the personal relationships that make small businesses successful.
Strider’s core services cover a wide range of digital marketing needs. The company offers search engine optimization both locally and nationally with a focus on building long term online visibility. It also manages digital advertising campaigns across platforms like Google Ads and major social media channels with a goal of maximizing return on investment. Website development is another key service with custom designs that are responsive fast and fully integrated with ecommerce and customer relationship systems. In addition Strider provides marketing automation solutions including email marketing lead generation and customer nurturing using certified platforms.
Reputation management and local awareness marketing are also important parts of Strider’s service offerings. For small and mid sized businesses online reviews and local search visibility are often essential to building trust with customers. Strider helps clients manage their online presence improve their local listings and grow their reputation through consistent messaging and smart outreach.
Over the years Strider has remained focused on serving businesses that may not always receive the attention of larger marketing agencies. Its commitment to practical solutions industry specific knowledge and ongoing innovation has helped it build strong relationships with clients across different sectors. The company continues to evolve but its mission remains the same helping businesses grow by providing honest effective and customized digital marketing support.
Strider’s work has been recognized with several important honors. In addition to the Bruce Clay SEO award and the floral industry recognition Strider is also a certified Google Partner Agency. This certification is awarded to agencies that meet high performance standards and demonstrate consistent client success. Strider also holds a Silver Certification as a Marketing Automation Partner a title that reflects its skill in delivering results through automation tools and platforms.
From its early days in freelance consulting to its position today as a respected digital marketing agency Strider has followed a path of steady growth built on trust knowledge and results. Led by Ryan Freeman the company has never lost sight of its original goal to help small and mid sized businesses succeed in the digital world. With a combination of personal industry experience technical expertise and a deep commitment to client success Strider continues to craft digital success stories for the businesses that need them most.