Raleigh, NC · Serving clients worldwide

We build websites that grow your brand.

City of Oaks Marketing is a Raleigh, NC, digital agency that designs and develops custom WordPress websites engineered for three things at once: speed, usability, and visibility — including search visibility in AI answers. No page-builder bloat, no compromise between looking good and performing well.

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What We Do

Everything your brand needs to win online.

One senior team handling strategy, design, development and marketing — no handoffs, no page builders, no templates. Just clean code and measurable results.

WordPress Development

Hand-coded, high-performing websites built for speed, security and scale. No bloated page builders — just clean, custom code that lasts.

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SEO & AI Optimization

Technical and organic SEO plus AI search optimization — the work that gets you found by both search engines and the new generation of AI answers.

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Marketing & Analytics

Data-driven campaigns and clear reporting that sharpen every decision and compound your growth over time — the speed of a startup with enterprise rigor.

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Web Design & Branding

Brand identities and interfaces with a strong visual voice — making the right promise to the right people, at the right moment, every time.

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AI Ready Website Architecture

Fast, scalable, and built to rank by design.

Most websites are good at one of these and weak on the rest. A site can look beautiful but load slowly. It can rank but frustrate the people who land on it. We treat all three as non-negotiable, because a site only drives business when it does all three together.

The Fastest Sites

We hand-code custom WordPress themes — no Elementor, no builder bloat — so your site loads in under a second and earns green Core Web Vitals scores. Speed isn’t a nice-to-have: it’s a ranking factor, a conversion factor, and the reason AI systems can read your content at all.

See how we optimize page speed →

Easy to use (and edit)

Clean navigation, readable typography, and accessible markup mean more of the people who arrive actually convert. Every build is mobile-first and cleanly structured, so your team can easily make edits and additions without friction.

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Built to rank

Semantic HTML, technical SEO, structured data, and answer-first content are baked into every site from the first line of code — not bolted on afterward. That’s what gets you found in Google and cited in AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

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Selected work

Sites built to perform.

View all projects

AI Optimization Custom Development Design Strategy WordPress

HOPPR

From Template to Custom: How We Rebuilt Hoppr.ai from the Ground Up When Hoppr came to us, they had a Squarespace site that worked — but just barely. It looked...

95%faster load time

2xCWV performance score

30%SEO boost

Visit https://www.hoppr.ai/

How we work

A clear path from idea to impact.

No mystery, no guesswork. Every engagement follows the same proven track — and you always know exactly where things stand.

Strategy

We learn your business, audience and goals, then map the plan that gets you there.

Design

Wireframes, brand, and UX, all shaped around how your users behave.

Build

Clean, hand-coded development that loads fast and works flawlessly on every device.

Optimize

We don’t disappear at launch. We measure, refine, and grow as real traffic rolls in.

Let’s shape your brand.

We build strategies so you can reach your goals.

Schedule a Consultation

or call 919-200-0201

About Us

Why companies choose City of Oaks Marketing

We’re a small, senior Raleigh team, building websites since 1995. We have rebuilt sites for names like Fidelity Bank, Verdesian Life Science, Doxy.me, and Hoppr.ai. Clients stay with us because we deliver the rare combination of fast, usable, and high-ranking, and because we explain our decisions instead of hiding them.

We provide our clients with strategic marketing services, focused on driving measurable results for our clients. We work with both start-ups as well as large brands, developing brand architecture, top-of-the-line user experiences, and strategies to hit your goals.

Custom code, not page builders — leaner, faster, and fully yours, with no builder lock-in.
AI-ready from the start — structured data, llms.txt, and answer-first content so you’re visible in AI search, not just Google.
Performance you can measure — green Core Web Vitals and sub-second load times as a baseline, not a bonus.
Senior team, direct communication — you work with the people doing the work.

Our expert team builds fast, secure, compliant websites while implementing comprehensive SEO strategies, including technical optimization, content marketing, and link building. We deliver measurable results through data-driven web development and strategic digital marketing.

Learn more about our team →

FAQs

Questions, answered.

What sets City of Oaks Marketing apart from other marketing agencies?

City of Oaks Marketing stands out for its personalized approach, data-driven strategies, and proven track record of success. Our team’s expertise, transparent communication, and commitment to delivering results make us a trusted partner for businesses looking to achieve their marketing objectives.

What industries does City of Oaks Marketing work with?

We have experience working with businesses across a wide range of industries, including but not limited to banking, law, e-commerce, technology, healthcare, finance, and hospitality. Our adaptable approach allows us to create tailored strategies for any industry.

How long have you been in business?

City of Oaks Marketing was founded in 2019 by design and development veteran, Alison Iddings with 30+ years of experience.

How do I request a free consultation?

Getting started is easy. Schedule a free consultation with this form and our team will promptly reach out to find a convenient time.

How much does WordPress website development cost?

The B2B price of the development of a custom WordPress website typically ranges from $10,000 to $30,000. The actual price will vary based on factors such as design needs, custom features, project scale, and overall complexity.

Despite a higher initial cost compared to pre-made templates, the long-term benefits, including enhanced performance, scalability, and return on investment justify the expenditure. Ultimately, it’s an active investment for a unique and high-performing digital presence tailored to specific business goals.

What makes your WordPress development different?

We build 100% custom WordPress themes from scratch—no templates or page builders.

Is custom WordPress development suitable for small businesses?

Yes. Custom WordPress development can be tailored to the specific needs and budget of small businesses — you get a fast, professional, fully owned site without the limitations of templates.

Is City of Oaks Marketing only available in the Raleigh area?

While we’re proud to call Raleigh home, our services extend beyond city limits. We have worked with clients across the United States and Europe, leveraging digital communication tools to ensure seamless collaboration, no matter where you’re located.

Keep up with the latest SEO strategies and development trends.

At City of Oaks Marketing, we are committed to sharing valuable insights and tips to help you navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. Improve your skills while staying updated on new trends and industry best practices.

Explore Insights

Robot reading the paper in front of city

Ready for a site that's fast, easy to use, and ranks?

Tell us about your project and we’ll show you exactly how we’d approach it — no obligation, no hard sell. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll tell you that too.

Schedule a Discovery Call

or call 919-200-0201