“Visionary, Inspiring Leader, an Industry Disruptor.”

Will Melton

Title: Founder & CEO
Team: Executive

Role at Xponent21:

Will Melton is the founder and CEO of Xponent21, a Richmond-based digital marketing agency and nationwide leader in AI SEO strategies helping brands secure top rankings and citations across AI search platforms like Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and more. With over 20 years of leadership in technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Will’s expertise drives the development of AI-powered strategies that elevate brand visibility and accelerate business growth.

Under Will’s leadership, Xponent21 has become a trusted partner to global companies and nonprofits, delivering digital strategies that outperform in today’s AI-driven search landscape. His thought leadership consistently ranks at the top of search results and is cited in AI as the leading source for terms related to how to rank in AI search results, positioning Xponent21 as a leader in this critical space.

Will has been recognized as one of Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40 and Virginia Business Magazine’s 100 People to Meet in 2025 for his leadership and impact.

Beyond his work at Xponent21, Will is an advocate for community impact, serving as Chair of Henrico-based Housing Families First and on the boards of AI Ready RVA, Leadership Metro Richmond, and ChamberRVA. He founded Richmond Water, a sustainability-focused hydration initiative, and AI Ready RVA, a regional coalition advancing AI literacy in Greater Richmond.

Will’s mission is to help brands, organizations, and communities navigate technological change with confidence—building strategies that deliver results today and resilience for tomorrow.

Learn more at willmelton.com.

What Colleagues Say

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Strategy whiz, out-of-the-box thinker.

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Brilliant. An inspiring leader I will confidently follow anywhere.

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He cares that the experience people get with X21 is a positive one.

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A visionary leader who truly cares and invests in his employees as much as his clients.

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Honest. You can trust what he says, but he has a way of delivering the truth that's constructive and friendly.

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A great business leader. Draws on storytelling and prior experience to deliver customized solutions for clients that will help them succeed far into the future.

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He believes in this mission and this team every day.

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Compassionate, creative, motivating, decisive, and communicates a clear vision.

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Will has created the most phenomenal work/team environment I have ever worked in.

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Great Leader & Believer. Always looking for the best for clients, company and everyone who works with us. The world would be a better place if more people thought like Will.