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Chris Kirksey is the CEO of Direction.com.

Chris Kirksey

Founder & CEO

Chris has done it all – from leading teams on three combat deployments to the Middle East, to mastering three foreign languages, working for the NSA and CIA, to CEO of Direction.com. Chris is an author, speaker, and pioneer in the SEO space, building innovative marketing formulas and strategies for brands worldwide.

Meet Chris

Chris Kirksey fuses military intelligence expertise with marketing innovation, tracing his entrepreneurial path from a nine-year-old eBay seller to the founder of a world-class SEO company serving healthcare organizations globally.

His career as a Cryptologic Linguist and Signals Intelligence Lead in the U.S. Army sharpened his abilities in pattern recognition, leadership, and strategic thinking. During three combat deployments, he learned three foreign languages while working alongside the NSA and CIA. This intelligence background forms the foundation of his marketing approach—campaigns built on deep analysis, clear strategy, and measurable results.

My Story

The art of language shapes my entire journey. As a half-Cuban child, Spanish was my first language until I needed to learn English for school. My bilingual experience planted seeds that would grow throughout my life, though I wouldn’t recognize their significance until much later.

Without a clear direction in my youth, I found myself drawn to linguistics, writing, and literature; passions that would later become central to my professional life.

Everything changed when I joined the Army in 2011. My natural gift for languages flourished as I mastered Farsi with remarkable speed, making military history as the first non-native enlisted soldier selected to study Dari, another language I perfected with the highest possible scores.

These accomplishments led me to roles at the NSA and ultimately my dream job with the CIA, deploying overseas and using my language skills to bridge critical cultural gaps. A turning point came during my 2015 Iraq deployment when I encountered a school filled with children orphaned by conflict. Witnessing their physical and emotional suffering ignited in me a powerful desire to help.

I left my career behind in 2016 to launch Direction, now driven by a mission in supporting exceptional healthcare providers. This mission became even more meaningful when I became a husband and father of three.

After founding the company, I immersed myself in marketing, consuming everything on copywriting, persuasive language, rhetoric, strategy, and business.

The deeper I understood the linguistic patterns in and nuances of persuasive language, the more successful my clients became. My language expertise translated into world-class marketing systems that create powerful patient acquisition channels, helping the best healthcare organizations dominate online.

Direction now operates with a clear mission: building an organization where our team and customers thrive, with the vision of becoming the undisputed leader in healthcare SEO.

For healthcare and medical practices creating a real impact and looking to grow, I would love to help your practice thrive. Together, we can expand your reach, bring care to more patients, and contribute to a healthier world – one practice, one patient, one life at a time. Schedule a free strategy session today.

Beyond Business

When I’m not developing breakthrough SEO strategies or exploring AI applications, I prioritize time with my wife and three children, often enjoying outdoor activities like hiking and water sports.

Indoors, you’ll find me reading—my bookshelf holds every James Bond novel alongside works by Dan Kennedy, Tim Ferris, Peter D. Andrei, and Napoleon Hill. I enjoy comedy shows and run Define Awesome , a side project supporting charity through humorous product stories. Because of my background, I also have a passion for helping veteran-owned businesses grow, and am a mentor for fellow US military veterans.

Chris Kirksey in the media

In the SEO industry, Chris has established himself as an influential voice. His expertise has earned him speaking opportunities at major conferences including SXSW, Pubcon, Entrepreneurs Organization, and CMSEO 2024. His work and insights have been recognized by Hubspot, Inc., Forbes, and Fox Business, further cementing his reputation in digital marketing.

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