{{Short description|American visual communication agency}} {{Infobox company | name = Column Five | logo = Column Five logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_padding = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | former_name = | type = Creative agency | industry = B2B tech, financial services, higher education, consumer goods and more | founded = {{start date|2009}} in Orange County, California | founder = Ross Crooks, Josh Ritchie, and Jason Lankow | hq_location = Costa Mesa, California | hq_location_city = | hq_location_country = | area_served = | key_people = | products = | brands = | services = *Brand strategy *Content strategy *Content creation *Content distribution | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | website = https://columnfive.com }}
'''Column Five Media''' (often referred to as Column Five) is a B2B marketing agency that specializes in brand and content marketing for SaaS companies, as well as content marketing, branding, strategy, data visualization, and multimedia production services. The company ranked #291 on the Inc. 500 2013 list of the fastest-growing media companies in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/profile/column-five |title=Column Five - Newport Beach, CA |publisher=Inc.com |date= |access-date=2014-06-01}}</ref> The agency has also earned various accolades for its work, including awards from the Content Marketing Institute<ref name="2019contentmarketing">“[https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/articles/cmi-press-release/2019-content-marketing-award-winners-top-finalists-revealed/ Content Marketing Institute announces winners in 2019 Content Marketing Awards]”. Content Marketing Institute. Retrieved 2025-03-06. </ref> and Webby Awards,<ref>[https://winners.webbyawards.com/2020/video/branded-entertainment/scripted-branded/121443/dialpad-uberconference "Dialpad UberConference]”. The Webby Awards. Retrieved 2025-02-25.</ref> and is notable for creating and producing the viral video "Child of the 90s" on behalf of Internet Explorer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkM6RJf15cg |title=Child of the 90s | Internet Explorer |publisher=YouTube |date=2013-01-23 |access-date=2014-06-01}}</ref> In 2023, Column Five also launched the ''Best Story Wins'' podcast, where they interview marketing industry leaders about how they build world-class brands.<ref>“[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-story-wins/id1677193546 Best Story Wins]”. Apple Podcasts. Retrieved from podcasts.apple.com</ref>
==History== Column Five was founded by Ross Crooks, Josh Ritchie, and Jason Lankow in 2009 in Orange County, California. The company gained early recognition as pioneers in the infographic marketing space, creating infographic and data visualization designs for Bay Area startups,<ref>{{cite web|last=Malmsten|first=Stefan|title=Column Five Finds Its Niche in Infographics Design|url=http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/designer-spotlight/column-five/|publisher=howdesign.com|access-date=14 April 2014}}</ref> including Mint.com (acquired by Intuit) and publications such as Forbes and Time,<ref>Max, Sarah. [https://business.time.com/2012/04/10/how-to-make-a-picture-worth-100000-clicks/#slide-1 "How to Make a Picture Worth 100,000 Clicks"]. Time. Retrieved 14 April 2014.</ref> before expanding its services into content marketing, branding, strategy, and multimedia production.
==Clients== Column Five has worked with a diverse range of clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, across various industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, and education. Notable clients include Instacart, Dropbox, Uber, Coinbase, JP Morgan Payments, SentinelOne, Netflix, Microsoft, Intuit, Metlife, and Roblox. Column Five has also worked with nonprofits such as Teach for America, International Rescue Committee, and Girls Who Code.
==Works== Column Five has received several industry accolades for excellence in design, storytelling, digital, and content marketing. One of Column Five's most notable projects is the "Child of the 90s" ad produced for Internet Explorer's "Browser You Loved to Hate" campaign.<ref>Kantrowitz, Alex. "[https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkantrowitz/2013/01/26/child-of-the-90s-internet-explorers-new-viral-ad-gets-mixed-reactions-on-social-media/ Child of the 90s: Internet Explorer's New Viral Ad Gets Mixed Reviews on Social Media]". Forbes. Retrieved 14 April 2014.</ref> The viral video amassed 50 million views, ranked #3 on ''AdWeek''{{'s}} Top 10 Viral Ads of 2013,<ref>Nudd, Tim (2013-12-11). "[https://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/10-most-watched-ads-youtube-2013-154423#intro The 10 Most Watched Ads on YouTube in 2013]". Adweek. Retrieved 2014-06-01.</ref> won a Gold award in the Best Film category for Ads of the World January 2013,<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20170930190832/http://adsoftheworld.com/blog/ads_of_the_world_january_2013_winners Ads of the World January 2013 Winners | Ads of the World™]". Adsoftheworld.com. 2013-03-08. Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2014-06-01.</ref> and received nominations for both the Webby Awards<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20140204061609/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/interactive-advertising-media/individual/viral-marketing/honorees Viral Marketing | 2013 | The Webby Awards Gallery + Archive]". Winners.webbyawards.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-06-01.</ref> and Mashie Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/mashies/ |title=Mashies 2014 - Mashies |publisher=Mashable.com |date=2013-10-14 |access-date=2014-06-01}}</ref> "Child of the 90s" also received significant media coverage in publications such as ''Time''.<ref>Rundle, Michael. "Rundle, Michael. "[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/23/microsofts-child-of-the-90s-advert_n_2540199.html Microsoft's 'Child Of The 90s' Internet Explorer Ad Is A Nostalgic Trip Back In Time]". HuffingtonPost.com. Retrieved 14 April 2014.</ref>
In 2019, Column Five's “Searching for Salai” podcast series for SAP won the Content Marketing Institute's Content Marketing Award for Best Podcast/Audio Series and Content Marketing Project of the Year.<ref name="2019contentmarketing" /> The project was selected from nearly 1,100 entries submitted to the 2019 Content Marketing Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Institute |first=Content Marketing |date=2019-07-24 |title=2019 Content Marketing Award Winners & Top Finalists Revealed |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/07/24/1887179/0/en/2019-Content-Marketing-Award-Winners-Top-Finalists-Revealed.html |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en-us}}</ref> Their work has also been featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, and The Atlantic.
Column Five has been recognized by Built In as one of the top content marketing agencies to know, cited for its interdisciplinary approach spanning animation, white papers, and social media content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=26 Content Marketing Agencies You Should Know |url=https://builtin.com/articles/content-marketing-agency |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=Built In |language=en}}</ref>
===Educational Contributions=== In 2011, the co-founders were invited to teach the Visualization of Information graduate course on data design at Columbia University.<ref>"[http://ce.columbia.edu/information-and-knowledge-strategy/courses#IKNSK4335 Information and Knowledge Strategy | Courses | School of Continuing Education]". Ce.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2014-06-01.</ref> In 2012, Crooks, Ritchie, and Lankow published the book ''Infographics: The Power of Visual Storytelling'' (published by Wiley). In 2023, they launched the ''Best Story Wins'' podcast, where they interview marketing industry experts and thought leaders about how they win customers’ hearts, minds, and marketshare.<ref>[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-story-wins/id1677193546 Best Story Wins]”. Apple Podcasts. Retrieved from podcasts.apple.com</ref> The founders also continue to conduct workshops, keynote presentations, and webinars to share content marketing strategies on data visualization and storytelling.
{| class="wikitable" |+ Awards and Recognition |- ! Year !! Awarded By !! Client !! Category !! Ref. |- | 2024 || Anthem Awards || Mozilla || Bronze: Responsible Technology, Special Projects, and Awareness Categories || <ref>“[https://www.anthemawards.com/winners/list/entry/#!responsible-technology/special-projects/mieco-mozilla-internet-ecosystem/1972/-1/533457 MIECO: Mozilla Internet Ecosystem]”. Anthem Awards. Retrieved 2025-03-06.</ref> |- | 2024 || Collision Award || Mozilla || Gold: Marketing & Communications, Campaign Science & Technology; Silver: Marketing & Communications, Campaign Non-Profit || <ref>“[https://collisionawards.com/winners/2024/marketing-communications/campaign/non-profit/mozilla-internet-ecosystem-documentary-series/520331/ Mozilla Internet Ecosystem Documentary Series]”. Collision Awards. Retrieved 2025-03-06. </ref> |- | 2023 || Telly Awards || Thorfi || Bronze: Non-Broadcast Craft-3D Graphics/Animation (Non-Stereoscopic); Silver: Non-Broadcast Craft-Use of 3D Animation; Silver: Non-Broadcast Craft-Fully Animated piece || <ref>“[https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/?y=2023&m=branded-content&c=campaign-animation 2023 Winners]”. The Telly Awards. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2020 || Awwwards || VideoAmp || Honorable Mention || <ref>“[https://www.awwwards.com/sites/videoamp VideoAmp - Awwwards Honorable Mention]”. Awwwards. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2020 || Webby Awards || Dialpad || Branded Entertainment, Scripted Video Honoree || <ref>“[https://winners.webbyawards.com/2020/video/branded-entertainment/scripted-branded/121443/dialpad-uberconference Dialpad UberConference]”. The Webby Awards. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2019 || Content Marketing Institute || SAP || Best Podcast/Audio Series, Content Marketing Project of the Year || <ref name="2019contentmarketing" /> |- | 2018 || One Show || Column Five || Merit Award || <ref>“[https://www.oneclub.org/awards/theoneshow/-award/29819/temple-of-happiness/ The One Show]”. OneClub. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2018 || Applied Arts Magazine || Column Five || Artist/Design Firm Promotions - Series || <ref>“[https://www.appliedartsmag.com/winners/design/temple-of-happiness-w313/?year=2018 Temple of Happiness]”. Applied Arts. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2017 || Graphis || Column Five || Poster Annual — Silver Award (Promotion Category); Design Annual — Silver Award (Print Poster Categories) || <ref>“[https://graphis.com/entry/c7faf634-38c2-4cff-b0e2-8e8ecac503a7 Pay It Forward]”. Graphis. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2016 || One Show || Column Five || Merit Award || <ref>“[https://www.oneclub.org/awards/theoneshow/-award/23315/pay-it-forward/ The One Show]”. OneClub. Retrieved 2025-02-25. </ref> |- | 2014 || Awwwards || A24 Films || Honorable Mention || <ref>“[https://www.awwwards.com/sites/the-rover The Rover - Awwwards Honorable Mention]”. Awwwards. Retrieved 2025-07-30. </ref> |- | 2013 || Webby Awards || Microsoft || Advertising, Media, & PR Viral Marketing Honoree || "Online Commercials | <ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20131116000644/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/interactive-advertising-media/individual/online-commercials/child-of-the-90s Online Commercials | 2013 | The Webby Awards Gallery + Archive]". Winners.webbyawards.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2014-06-01.</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Companies based in Newport Beach, California Category:Mass media companies of the United States Category:2009 establishments in California