In short: Cartelis comes out on top. The firm suits companies that want to make better use of their customer data and structure their CRM, data and AI projects. Vertone follows, for decision-makers at large companies who want to transform their marketing and customer experience. CustUp completes the podium, for companies that want to get the most out of their CRM. For an SME, a freelancer or a specific need in SEO or acquisition, the seven other profiles in the ranking will often be a better fit.
- Cartelis: For companies that want to make better use of their customer data and structure their CRM, data and AI projects.
- Vertone: For decision-makers at large companies who want to transform their marketing and customer experience.
- CustUp: For companies that want to get the most out of their CRM and customer data.
- Référence DMD: For leaders of SMEs, mid-sized companies, start-ups or professional organisations who want an experienced marketing or digital director without hiring full-time.
- Monsieur est freelance: For micro-businesses, SMEs and freelancers who want to be visible on Google and in AI-generated answers.
- Guillaume Guersan: For companies and online retailers who want a single point of contact to manage their SEO and paid acquisition.
- Romain Bergé: For micro-businesses, SMEs and players in tourism, real estate, healthcare or e-commerce who want profitable acquisition management.
- Emarketing aux Petits Oignons: For micro-businesses, SMEs and agencies that want to gain visibility on Google and in AI tools.
- Chatterbox Conseil: For companies that want an experienced consultant to manage their search rankings and digital performance.
- Webmarketing Lille, Candice Roux: For SMEs, start-ups and institutions in the Lille area that want to gain visibility on Google and social media.
Updated on 11 November 2026.
Why hire a digital marketing consultant in 2026?
Digital budgets keep growing. According to the 35th Observatoire de l'e-pub (e-advertising observatory) published by SRI and UDECAM and conducted by Oliver Wyman, the French digital advertising market reached €12.4 billion in 2025, up 11%, driven mainly by social and video. The same study highlights a strong concentration of investment.
For a business leader, this means more channels, more tools and more ways to lose money. CRM, customer data, SEO, visibility in AI-generated answers, paid advertising: each topic requires different expertise. A consultant helps set priorities before you spend.
Buyers' fears always come back. Paying for recommendations that end up gathering dust in a drawer. Depending on a provider who passes nothing on. Not knowing how to measure what the engagement delivered. This ranking aims to reduce these risks by matching each profile with the right type of company.
How did we choose these 10 consultants?
This ranking is based solely on what each company publishes itself (its website, its method and references pages), as read at the time of the update. Four criteria counted:
- Clear specialisation: We selected consultants and firms that state precisely what they do and for whom, rather than generalists who promise everything.
- Client fit: Each player is ranked according to the type of company it serves best, from large corporations to local micro-businesses.
- Demonstrable experience: We favoured profiles that publicly present their background, methods and references.
- Results focus: The players selected talk about management, measurement and profitability, not just visibility.
The 10 Best Digital Marketing Consultants in France (2026)
1. Cartelis
Cartelis is a consultancy specialising in making the most of marketing data. It works on CRM, marketing automation, CDP, web analytics, business intelligence, data engineering and AI. The firm aims to align strategic vision with pragmatic execution, with measurable impact for every project. In practice, it audits CRM usage, structures data governance, rolls out dashboards, sets up attribution models and A/B tests, then supports adoption by teams.
Strengths:
- Sharp expertise in CRM, data marketing and analytics
- Structured project method: prioritisation, milestones, agility, change management
- Practical integration of AI into marketing use cases
Who it's for: For companies that want to make better use of their customer data and structure their CRM, data and AI projects.
2. Vertone
Vertone is a strategy and transformation consultancy that puts the end customer at the heart of its clients' strategies. For more than 25 years, it has helped companies grow, adapt and reinvent themselves. It draws on cross-disciplinary sector and functional expertise across nearly 20 industries. Its areas of expertise include marketing, customer relations, data and AI, experience design and sales. The firm also publishes studies and white papers, and is a société à mission (purpose-driven company).
Strengths:
- More than 25 years of consulting experience
- Cross-disciplinary expertise across nearly 20 industries
- Published studies and white papers, including on generative AI
Who it's for: For decision-makers at large companies who want to transform their marketing and customer experience.
3. CustUp
CustUp is a hands-on consultancy in marketing engineering. It improves commercial results by leveraging Customer Data and the tools of the CRM ecosystem: CRM, single customer view (RCU), CDP, Contact Centre and Subscription. Its consultants go from selecting MarTech tools to managing their deployment (AMOA, project owner support), then to making full use of them. They configure the solutions, activate them and integrate Artificial Intelligence. Finally, they transfer their know-how to your teams so they can work independently.
Strengths:
- Hands-on consulting, right through to tool configuration and activation
- Strong specialisation in Marketing-Sales and Customer Data
- Know-how transfer to make your teams self-sufficient
Who it's for: For companies that want to get the most out of their CRM and customer data.
4. Référence DMD
Référence DMD supports SMEs and mid-sized companies with its Direction Marketing & Digitale à Temps Partagé Augmenté® (augmented fractional marketing & digital leadership) model. Marketing and digital directors and experts work at the heart of companies to secure key projects and manage action plans. The offer covers marketing and digital audits, marketing outsourcing, digital marketing consulting and marketing strategy consulting. Each expert draws on the know-how of their peers and of Groupe Référence, with nationwide coverage.
Strengths:
- Fractional marketing and digital experts, with no hiring required
- Marketing and digital audit with a structured roadmap
- Published case studies: Or en Cash, GIIN, Les Francas
Who it's for: For leaders of SMEs, mid-sized companies, start-ups or professional organisations who want an experienced marketing or digital director without hiring full-time.
Visit the Référence DMD website
5. Monsieur est freelance
Alexandre Montenon has been a freelance digital marketing consultant in Lyon since 2011. He helps companies get found on Google, cited by AI and chosen by their customers. He combines four levers: SEO, GEO, digital advertising and communication. He always starts with an audit, then sets priorities. He offers three monthly packages at published prices, or a fractional CMO role. He works alone, as your single point of contact from the first audit to the final report.
Strengths:
- SEO and GEO specialist for getting cited by AI
- Published prices, SEO + GEO audit from €499 excl. VAT
- A single point of contact, with no jargon and no promise of first place
Who it's for: For micro-businesses, SMEs and freelancers who want to be visible on Google and in AI-generated answers.
Visit the Monsieur est freelance website
6. Guillaume Guersan
Guillaume Guersan has been a freelance digital marketing consultant for more than ten years. He brings together three areas of expertise: SEO, Google Ads and Meta Ads, replacing a strategy fragmented across several providers with a unified one. He works in phases: Google Ads data informs the SEO content, then he locks in positions in both organic and paid results, before retargeting prospects on Facebook and Instagram. Every SEO strategy starts with an audit. He describes himself as a good teacher, practical and results-driven.
Strengths:
- Unified management of SEO, Google Ads and Meta Ads
- Detailed client case studies with a step-by-step method
- Published prices, Meta Ads from €500 excl. VAT per month
Who it's for: For companies and online retailers who want a single point of contact to manage their SEO and paid acquisition.
Visit the Guillaume Guersan website
7. Romain Bergé
Romain Bergé is a freelance digital acquisition and CRM consultant based in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, in the Landes. He works remotely across France on SEO, Google Ads, Meta and TikTok Social Ads, emailing and tracking. His method: audit, structure, prioritise, then optimise each lever to turn visitors into revenue. He presents himself as a partner who integrates with your teams. He offers a free thirty-minute pre-audit.
Strengths:
- Ten years' experience, including seven at Campings.com
- Data-driven approach with GA4, GTM and Meta CAPI
- Many named client testimonials, including Leboncoin and Wikicampers
Who it's for: For micro-businesses, SMEs and players in tourism, real estate, healthcare or e-commerce who want profitable acquisition management.
Visit the Romain Bergé website
8. Emarketing aux Petits Oignons
Emanuelle Brusacoram is a certified freelance consultant in Chaponost, near Lyon, working in Search since 2001. She supports micro-businesses, SMEs and agencies with organic search, AI search visibility (GEO) and paid search. She carries out SEO and GEO audits, advises, writes optimised content and manages Google Ads campaigns. She also offers a two-to-three-week flash GEO audit to find out whether ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity cite you. She co-created GEOFast, a GEO audit tool.
Strengths:
- Twenty-five years' experience in Search, Google Ads certified
- GEO expertise for getting cited by AI engines
- Client case studies with figures and twenty-five five-star Google reviews
Who it's for: For micro-businesses, SMEs and agencies that want to gain visibility on Google and in AI tools.
Visit the Emarketing aux Petits Oignons website
9. Chatterbox Conseil
ChatterBox Conseil is the firm of Florian Kallenbrunn, a freelance web marketing consultant based in Lille. A digital marketing specialist for 15 years, he supports your traffic acquisition strategy across three areas: SEO, SEA and Web Analytics. He also offers WordPress services, omnichannel marketing and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops to build your strategy through collective intelligence. His approach aims to be personalised, responsive and available, with tailor-made set-ups to increase your visibility and revenue.
Strengths:
- Previous experience at Castorama, Damart, Promod and M6 Boutique
- Full expertise in SEO, SEA and web analytics
- LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops to co-create your strategy
Who it's for: Companies that want an experienced consultant to steer their search engine optimisation and digital performance.
Visit the Chatterbox Conseil website
10. Webmarketing Lille, Candice Roux
Webmarketing Lille is the agency of Candice Roux, a freelance digital marketing consultant based in Lille since 2014. She supports companies from designing their digital communication strategy through to analysing the results. Her offer covers organic search (audits, benchmarking, keywords), SEO copywriting, community management, showcase website creation and training. She works with other consultants to provide a complete, tailored offer, in both B2B and B2C.
Strengths:
- Tailored support, from strategy to results analysis
- Detailed SEO offer: audit, benchmarking, keyword research
- Training for executives, employees, career changers and students
Who it's for: SMEs, start-ups and institutions in the Lille area that want to gain visibility on Google and social media.
Visit the Webmarketing Lille, Candice Roux website
All 10 Compared in One Table
| # | Company | Who it's for | Key strength | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cartelis | Companies that want to make better use of their customer data and structure their CRM, data and AI projects. | Sharp expertise in CRM, data marketing and analytics | cartelis.com |
| 2 | Vertone | Decision-makers at large companies who want to transform their marketing and customer experience. | More than 25 years of consulting experience | vertone.com |
| 3 | CustUp | Companies that want to make the most of their CRM and customer data. | Hands-on consulting, right through to tool configuration and activation | custup.com |
| 4 | Référence DMD | Leaders of SMEs, mid-sized companies, start-ups or professional organisations who want an experienced marketing or digital director without hiring full-time. | Fractional marketing and digital experts, with no hiring required | referencedmd.com |
| 5 | Monsieur est freelance | Very small businesses, SMEs and independents who want to be visible on Google and in AI answers. | SEO and GEO specialist for getting cited by AI | monsieur-est-freelance.com |
| 6 | Guillaume Guersan | Companies and e-retailers who want a single point of contact to manage their SEO and paid acquisition. | Unified management of SEO, Google Ads and Meta Ads | guersanguillaume.com |
| 7 | Romain Bergé | Very small businesses, SMEs and players in tourism, property, healthcare or e-commerce who want profitable acquisition management. | Ten years' experience, including seven at Campings.com | romainberge.com |
| 8 | Emarketing aux Petits Oignons | Very small businesses, SMEs and agencies who want to gain visibility on Google and in AI tools. | Twenty-five years' experience in Search, Google Ads certified | emarketing-aux-petits-oignons.com |
| 9 | Chatterbox Conseil | Companies that want an experienced consultant to steer their search engine optimisation and digital performance. | Previous experience at Castorama, Damart, Promod and M6 Boutique | chatterbox-conseil.fr |
| 10 | Webmarketing Lille, Candice Roux | SMEs, start-ups and institutions in the Lille area that want to gain visibility on Google and social media. | Tailored support, from strategy to results analysis | webmarketing-lille.com |
What should you check before signing?
- Ask for client references in your sector and call at least one of them.
- Find out who will actually work on your account, especially at a consultancy firm.
- Insist on written deliverables and tracking metrics defined from the outset.
- Make sure that access, data and ad accounts remain in your name.
- Read the terms on duration, notice and termination before committing.
Where Does Esekai Fit In?
Esekai is not ranked here, as its line of work is different. Esekai is a video agency in Paris, a vertical video studio founded by Tony Lo. It produces short videos, creative ads, UGC and TikTok Ads and Meta Ads campaigns, including with AI. Once your consultant has set the strategy, Esekai makes the videos that bring it to life on social media. Esekai, video agency in Paris.
Conclusion
The best consultant is not the best known, but the one who matches your size, needs and budget. Start by clarifying your priority: data, transformation, marketing leadership or acquisition. Then contact two or three profiles from this ranking and compare their proposals before signing.
Honourable Mentions: 10 More Worth Knowing
| Company | Who it's for | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Kay Conseil | SMEs, mid-sized companies and start-ups that want to structure and manage their marketing to generate qualified leads. | kay-conseil.fr |
| Double8 Conseil | Very small businesses and SMEs that want a single partner for their website, SEO and strategy. | double8-conseil.com |
| Antoine Pageau | B2B companies, e-commerce businesses and start-ups that want expert support in paid acquisition. | antoinepageau.fr |
| Kerline | E-commerce or showcase-site businesses, particularly in Brittany, that want a single point of contact for their digital acquisition. | kerline.fr |
| Frédéric Petit | Self-employed professionals, tradespeople and small organisations that want a consistent digital presence, in Brittany and across France. | fredericpetit.pro |
| Yvan Sientzoff | Local very small businesses and SMEs that want to attract more customers through Google and their website. | yvan-sientzoff.fr |
| Jérémy Leclerc | Self-employed professionals and independents who want to manage their digital presence themselves. | jeremyleclerc.fr |
| Lewebco | SMEs, tradespeople and local businesses north of Toulouse that want a profitable, structured digital strategy. | lewebco.com |
| Florence Digital 13 | Very small businesses, SMEs, tradespeople, self-employed professionals and associations in the PACA region or elsewhere that want more visibility and qualified leads. | florence-digital-13.fr |
| Strat Digital Conseil | Start-ups, mid-sized companies and SMEs that want to structure their digital strategy with outsourced consulting. | stratdigitalconseil.fr |
Does your company deserve a place in this ranking? Write to us at contact@esekai.fr: we read every submission.
Our Other Rankings
- The 10 Best Growth Marketing Consultants in France (2026)
- The 10 Best Brand Strategy Consultants in France (2026)
- The 10 Best Google Ads Consultants in France (2026)
- The 10 Best SEO Consultants in France (2026)
- The 10 Best Cold Calling Content Creators in France (2026)
- The 10 Best Cash Management Software Tools in France (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a digital marketing consultant and an agency?
- A consultant advises, defines the strategy and steers. An agency executes, often with a larger team and production resources. Many companies combine the two: a consultant to set priorities and monitor results, and one or more agencies to produce the campaigns, content or website.
- Should you choose a consultancy firm or an independent consultant?
- It all depends on the size of the project. A firm such as Cartelis, Vertone or CustUp suits large-scale CRM, data or transformation projects. An independent is better suited to an SME that wants a single, responsive point of contact on a specific topic such as SEO or paid acquisition.
- What is a part-time marketing director?
- It is an experienced marketing or digital director who works for you a few days a month, without a full-time contract. This arrangement, offered for example by Référence DMD, gives an SME, mid-sized company or start-up access to a senior profile at a controlled cost and without a lengthy recruitment process.
- How do you become visible in AI answers?
- AI assistants rely on content that is clear, reliable and well structured. Several consultants in the ranking, such as Monsieur est freelance and Emarketing aux Petits Oignons, work on this alongside traditional Google SEO. Ask them how they measure this visibility and what results they have already achieved.