The Story of Upward Bound Media
From the trades to protecting contractors from predatory marketing
Meet Mark Cantrell
"I spent 15 years watching great contractors struggle with terrible marketing. I built Upward Bound Media to protect honest tradespeople from the snake oil salesmen who nearly destroyed my own business."
- Mark Cantrell, Founder
From Tradesman to Business Owner
The story of Upward Bound Media is the story of its founder, Mark Cantrell, and the transition from being a skilled tradesman to a business owner focused on building freedom for others.
Mark Cantrell spent 15 years in the HVAC industry, working hands-on in the residential field, often managing service calls, and understanding the rhythm of a contractor's life - the panic of slow seasons, the chaos of peak seasons, and the relentless administration required.
Through this experience, Mark realized that most quality trade businesses don't fail because of bad service; they fail because they are invisible and lack systems.
The Problem: Snake Oil Salesmen
Contractors are constantly being preyed upon by generic marketing agencies that sell two things:
Expensive, "Pretty" Websites
Sites built for looks (vanity), not for local ranking. These websites may look beautiful, but they don't bring customers.
Outdated, Chaotic SEO Tactics
Strategies (like blogging) that only served national clients, leading to wasted thousands for the local owner.
This experience gave birth to the company's core mission: To protect honest, hardworking contractors from the "snake oil" and chaos that almost destroyed his own time and finances.
The Blueprint for Sanity
Upward Bound Media was founded to solve the problems Mark lived through. The USP became: Marketing built by a trades veteran, for the trades.
The focus is not on products, but on results and stability. We don't sell tools. We build systems that guarantee predictable revenue.
Our Core Differentiators
Trades-First Focus
Our strategies prioritize the needs of a mobile, service-based business. We focus on getting the phone to ring now, not ranking a blog post in six months.
We built our Local SEO Pro system specifically for home service businesses because we understand the unique challenges of seasonal work, emergency calls, and local competition.
Systems Over Chaos
We replace marketing chaos with predictable, automated systems that free up your time. From review velocity systems that automatically generate 5-star reviews to lead automation that ensures no opportunity is ever missed.
Every system is designed to let you focus on your craft while we handle your growth.
Future-Proofing Your Business
We focus on ranking your Google Business Profile, which is the ultimate source of truth for AI search platforms like ChatGPT and Apple Maps.
While other agencies chase algorithm updates, we build authority that secures your visibility for years to come.
How We Build Your Authority
The GBP Blueprint
Every client starts with a custom-built SEO website engineered directly off their verified Google Business Profile. This isn't a template. This is your ranking engine.
We ensure 100% NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone), implement LocalBusiness Schema, and structure content with high-value keywords relevant to local customer intent. Zero-upfront cost makes professional SEO accessible to all trade professionals.
The Authority System
Our full Local SEO Pro system controls every digital asset that influences Google's ranking decisions:
- GBP Optimization: Full optimization leveraging Q&A sections and categories for maximum topical relevance
- Review Velocity: Continuous stream of fresh, authentic 5-star reviews (the most powerful ranking factor)
- Lead Automation: Zero-leakage pipeline with SMS automations and reactivation campaigns
- Citation Building: NAP consistency across 70+ authoritative directories
Local in Oklahoma, Nationwide via Zoom
Based in Cushing, Oklahoma, we serve local Oklahoma businesses with in-person consultations throughout the region, with deep expertise in Stillwater and Perry. We also work with home service businesses nationwide through Zoom strategy sessions.
Whether you're local to Oklahoma or anywhere across the United States, we understand what it takes to dominate your specific market. Every market is different, which is why we provide custom strategies based on your local competition.
Learn more about our service areas and how we help businesses achieve market supremacy.
Not Just Marketing
We don't just market your business. We build the systems that transform you from an overworked technician into a successful business owner with predictable revenue.
Explore Our Services →Transparent & Honest
Monthly reporting on rankings, traffic, conversions, and ROI. You'll always know exactly what you're getting and how your investment is performing.
Get In Touch →The Victory
The ultimate goal is not wealth, but to help the contractor achieve sanity, sustainability, and the freedom to breathe.
The true victory is the personal growth required to evolve from an overworked technician into a successful, systemic business owner.