Leicestershire growth agency combining SEO, PPC, attribution tracking and Telephone AI
About Pod Digital
Pod Digital is a digital marketing agency based at Elizabethan House in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, with further addresses in London and Dubai. It was founded in 2016 by Mike McKinlay, who earlier built the web and SEO company Creare and sold it to private equity. Pod Digital is now part of McKinlay's AdVelocity.ai group, which focuses on AI attribution, call handling and automation. The team has 10 to 49 staff (some listings say 50).
The agency does not market itself to dentists and has no dental or healthcare page. Healthcare is only one of the sectors its SEO and PPC leads have worked in. What may interest practices is its mix of search work with lead capture. Telephone AI is a 24/7 receptionist that answers calls, qualifies them, writes them up and logs them in a CRM, then scores the conversation. A related Website Navigator tool handles visitor questions on site, and call tracking and its OneTruth attribution system link enquiries back to the channel that produced them.
Search services include technical, ecommerce and consultancy SEO, along with generative engine optimisation for AI Overviews and chat-based search, and tracking of brand mentions in large language models. Paid work covers Google Ads, ChatGPT Ads and paid social, supported by content, email, video, web design, branding and conversion rate optimisation. Charlie, a company director who joined in 2017, leads an in-house team of about ten paid media specialists. Maisie heads SEO and Jane leads AI and content.
New clients go through a five-step start: an audit of the website and current marketing, a free 30-minute video strategy meeting, a research presentation comparing current and potential performance, a proposed plan and then onboarding with a dedicated team. In 2025 its campaigns generated over 75,000 telephone leads and 40,000 email form enquiries for clients. Named clients include MPC Systems, Fairview Vehicle Hire, ESH Community, Bonsai2U, Didlaw and Layered Lounge, and GK Plumbing saw a 1,271% improvement in conversion rate.
Pod Digital holds Google Partner status and won Most Client-Focused Digital Marketing Company, East Midlands, at the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2023. Rates are $50 to $99 per hour with a $1,000 minimum. No contract terms are published. It suits private dental practices in the Midlands or London that lose new-patient calls at reception and want call handling, tracking and SEO from one supplier, accepting that it has no dental track record.
Pod Digital's Website
Pod Digital at a Glance
| Founded | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Team size | 10-49 employees |
| Headquarters | Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England, UK |
| Other offices | London; Dubai |
| Leadership | Mike McKinlay (Founder and Managing Director); Alison (Company Director); Charlie (Company Director, PPC and paid media); Issy (Sales Director); Mia (Creative Director); Jane (AI and Content Director); Maisie (Head of SEO) |
| Languages | English |
| Pricing | No published prices. $50-$99 per hour; $1,000+ minimum project. |
| Contracts & reporting | Onboarding starts with an audit, a free 30-minute strategy meeting, a research presentation and a proposed plan before a dedicated team is assigned. Contract length not published. |
| Tools & partnerships | Google Partner; Google Ads; Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; TikTok; WordPress; Shopify; WooCommerce; Klaviyo; Mailchimp; OneTruth attribution; Telephone AI |
Dental Marketing Services
- Technical and local SEO
- generative engine optimisation for AI search
- Google Ads and paid social
- content marketing
- web design
- conversion rate optimisation
- Telephone AI call answering and qualification
- call tracking and attribution
- website conversational AI
- CRM integration and lead follow-up
Dental Clients & Results
- GK Plumbing: 1,271% improvement in conversion rate
Why Dentists Choose Pod Digital
- Founded in 2016 by Creare founder Mike McKinlay
- Offers telephone AI for handling inbound calls
- Its research found up to 70% of sales calls mishandled
- Tracks brand visibility in AI large language models
- Rated 5.0 from 19 reviews on DesignRush
Key Strengths
- Takes a hands-on, plain-talking approach that keeps practices informed
- Produces video, including drone footage, with video SEO for practice content
- Runs email remarketing and template design to bring patients back
- Covers local SEO and mobile optimisation for practice websites
Awards & Recognition
- Midlands Enterprise Awards 2023: Most Client-Focused Digital Marketing Company, East Midlands
How the DSA Score Breaks Down
Points earned: 40.5 of 100 (profile 42 × 0.8 + client feedback 6.9). DSA Score: 88/100
What Clients Say About Pod Digital
- 4 on its website
Clients Most Often Praise
- Clear reporting & honesty 1
Sam Rusling describes a friendly professional team that delivers on promises efficiently (agency-curated testimonial on directory listing).
See it on directory.coventrytelegraph.netDavid Allcock praises a plain-talking, transparent operation that inspires confidence.
See it on directory.coventrytelegraph.netSimon Johnson notes Pod's hands-on approach.
See it on directory.coventrytelegraph.netShow 1 more client review
- Dean Greenwood: Short endorsement calling Pod a great web company. Agency website, 12 July 2019
Where Pod Digital Is Listed
Questions Dentists Ask About Pod Digital
Has Pod Digital worked with dental practices?
It has no named dental clients or dental pages. Healthcare is only a sector some of its SEO and PPC staff have worked in.
What is Pod Digital's Telephone AI?
It is a 24/7 receptionist that answers, qualifies and writes up calls, then logs them in a CRM. It also analyses and scores sales conversations.
Who runs Pod Digital?
Founder Mike McKinlay leads the business. He previously founded Creare, a UK web and SEO company that was sold to private equity, and also founded AdVelocity, the group Pod Digital belongs to.
How does onboarding work?
The agency audits the website and current marketing, holds a free 30-minute video strategy meeting and presents its research. It then proposes a plan and introduces a dedicated team.
Are there independent reviews of Pod Digital?
GoodFirms, The Manifest and Sortlist show no client reviews, though it won a Midlands Enterprise Award in 2023 for client focus.
Reviews of Pod Digital
No reviews on this site yet. Have you worked with Pod Digital? Your review helps other dentists choose.