DesignRush is a B2B marketplace that connects businesses with professionals categorized according to the type of work. Pulse 2.0 interviewed DesignRush General Manager Gianluca Ferruggia to learn more about the company.
Gianluca Ferruggia’s Background
What is Gianluca Ferruggia’s background? Ferruggia said:
“I’ve been immersed in the digital marketing and consulting space for over 10 years, specializing in areas like SEO, digital strategy, and project management. My journey has taken me through various leadership roles where I developed my commercial skills, team management, and strategic partnerships.”
“Since joining DesignRush in 2017, I’ve had the opportunity to lead the platform’s growth, transforming it into a global network of over 42,000 listed agencies. Under my leadership, DesignRush surpassed 1 million monthly users, with our site value surpassing $3 million on Ahrefs.”
Primary Responsibilities
What are your primary responsibilities at DesignRush? Ferruggia noted:
“As General Manager, I oversee daily operations and strategic growth of DesignRush.”
“My responsibilities include managing our global network of agencies, optimizing our platform for better user experience, and ensuring we deliver value to both brands and agencies. I also lead partnerships and growth strategies that have significantly contributed to our success. One of the main focuses is ensuring that businesses using DesignRush can find the right agencies to help them grow, while agencies on our platform gain exposure and new clients.”
Formation Of DesignRush
How did the idea for DesignRush come together? Ferruggia shared:
“The idea for DesignRush was born out of a clear gap in the market.”
“Many businesses, particularly small and mid-sized ones, struggle to find the right agency to complete their digital project. As part of my day-to-day work, I saw firsthand how time-consuming and difficult it can be for business owners to find specialized digital partners, whether they need a web designer, a software developer, or an AI expert.”
“This is where the lightbulb moment happened – I realized there needed to be a platform that made the process of finding trusted and vetted agencies much easier and faster. DesignRush became that solution, helping businesses connect with digital agencies that fit their needs.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory while working for DesignRush? Ferruggia reflected:
“DesignRush operates in a remote work format and has been even before the global pandemic. For years, my interactions with the team were limited to video calls, which made me wonder if the relationships we built online were as strong as they seemed.”
“After three years of remote work, I finally had the chance to meet my team in person. The experience was both surprising and memorable. I’m not a small person by any means, but when I realized our Director of Sales was a full foot taller than me, it was mind-blowing!”
“At first, it felt a bit strange to share the same space after being accustomed to a virtual environment. But after a few hours, we settled in and started talking. It was then that I realized how well we already knew each other. We connected on so many levels—professionally, personally, and in our life choices.”
“The bond we formed in person was even more powerful than I expected, and it was a unique experience that I’ll always cherish.”
Core Products
DesignRush has grown significantly. What are some of the platform’s core products and features? Ferruggia explained:
“DesignRush offers 4 key services:
— Agency Directory: Agencies worldwide are ranked based on their expertise, location, clients, and various other factors.
— B2B Marketplace: Verified agencies can send proposals to businesses after they post their projects.
— Design Awards: Top agencies showcase their best web designs, logos, videos, and more on DesignRush.
— Spotlight: Top agencies and brands highlight their achievements and grow their online presence using DesignRush’s media platform Spotlight.”
Evolution Of DesignRush’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? Ferruggia noted:
“So, we can talk about the new features we’ve introduced over the years, as our platform is a tech wonder by itself which we’re improving daily through focused SEO and development work.”
“Since its 2018 launch with the introduction of our B2B Marketplace, DesignRush has steadily evolved to enhance agency and brand interactions. By 2020, we introduced the Monthly Performance Stats Newsletter, giving agencies insights into their profile performance.”
“In 2023, we launched key features like the Claim Your Agency Profile tool, and Top Services functionality (areas of expertise, industries, client sizes), and improved ranking score calculation, improving both usability and data tracking for all agencies. We also launched the Top Services feature and introduced the Design Awards section by year-end to boost agency visibility.”
“In Q4 2024, we’re preparing some major changes that both brands and agencies have been expecting for a long time.”
Significant Milestones
What are some of the company’s most significant milestones? Ferruggia cited:
“In addition to growing to over 40,000 listed agencies, another major milestone was tripling the value of our organic traffic over the past year to nearly $3 million (per Ahrefs).”
“These milestones represent the increasing trust that brands and agencies place on our platform. On a broader scale, our global reach has expanded, and we’ve become a go-to resource for decision-makers across various industries.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Ferruggia about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“One of our sponsors, a leading agency in web design and branding, achieved significant milestones during their partnership with us. Through their sponsorship with DesignRush, they successfully landed deals with major clients like NASA and Toyota. These opportunities reflect the potential reach and credibility that small to medium-sized agencies can achieve by being part of our network.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges recently, particularly in the B2B sector, and how did you overcome them? Ferruggia acknowledged:
“One of the main challenges in the B2B sector is keeping pace with the rapid SEO changes from Google as well as the rapid AI developments replacing repetitive tasks. Overcoming this requires a constant focus on learning, adaptation, and listening to our clients’ evolving needs.”
“We’ve also embraced data-driven strategies to stay ahead of the curve. For example, our latest research revealed a 23% surge in weekend traffic from high-level decision-makers like CEOs and VPs. This insight helped us advise brands to adjust their digital strategies and focus on weekend engagement, capitalizing on a growing trend that many hadn’t considered before.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates DesignRush from its competition? Ferruggia affirmed:
“DesignRush is the only platform that can offer leads, recognition and brand exposure as a one-stop shop for all businesses – both brands and agencies. We enable decision makers to generate brand awareness through continuous exposure on Spotlight, secure recognition by becoming an awarded agency, and obtain more leads through our Agency Directory and Marketplace so they can scale their business. Picking the best strategy for the above is challenging, and DesignRush offers guidance to companies so they can overcome those challenges.”
Trends In B2B Digital Marketing
Can you discuss the latest trends in B2B digital marketing, particularly related to your weekend traffic findings? Ferruggia pointed out:
“One of the most significant trends we’ve observed recently is the rise in weekend traffic from B2B decision-makers. Our data shows a 23% increase in weekend visits from CEOs, CFOs, and VPs, who are using Saturdays and Sundays to engage with content and make business decisions. This is a shift from the traditional Monday-to-Friday model and suggests that B2B marketers need to rethink their strategies, extending campaigns into the weekend. It’s an opportunity for businesses to capture high-value leads when their competitors might be offline.”
Additional Thoughts
Is there anything else you’d like to add? Ferruggia concluded:
“The best way businesses can stay on top of the market in 2025 is to remain open to adapting and changing their strategies quickly, especially if we’re talking about SMBs. Whether it’s adjusting to new technologies or shifting strategies to align with changing consumer behaviors, flexibility and a data-driven approach will be key to staying competitive.”
