1st on the List Promotion

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former president of Huronia Insurance Group Ltd; we’re a Canada-based insurance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 1st on the List Promotion?

We wanted to do digital marketing for our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

1st on the List Promotion did SEO for our new website, updated our site’s security, and offered continued maintenance to the marketing efforts, which adapted accordingly to our competition.

To jumpstart the project, we provided initial data regarding the services we offered, the competition we had, and the direction we wanted to go.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around five members of their team, including Tony (Web Content Developer), Angela (Project Manager), and Chris (SEO Specialist).

How did you come to work with 1st on the List Promotion?

I found them online. We had other provider options, but we chose 1st on the List Promotion because they seemed honest, straightforward, and helpful.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $100,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2014–June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve noticed an increase in hits on our website, along with the number of people reaching out to us.

How did 1st on the List Promotion perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent; they were proactive and got in touch with me every week. They also provided monthly reports to see what’s working and what isn’t to make pertinent tweaks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took total ownership of the project to make me successful. They were also knowledgeable because they constantly updated themselves with the latest social media and Google information.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — they met our agreements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a clear picture of their objectives and what they want to achieve so 1st on the List Promotion can guide them to where their market is going.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Business Launch Solutions. I work with older entrepreneurs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 1st on the List Promotion?

I wanted to draw more attention to my book, The Definitive Guide to Starting a Business After the Age of 50, on my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chris (President & Founder) and I initially talked about how to accomplish my goals because there wasn’t a lot of content on my website. It’s also difficult to reach my target market and create content about older entrepreneurship. Chris and I worked to figure out how to increase my rankings on Google.

1st on the List took over my website and started to manage my SEO initiatives. One of their team members wrote three articles for the website.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Chris, Keiran (Client Success Consultant), and Belinda (Writer).

How did you come to work with 1st on the List Promotion?

I was involved in the WISE 50 over 50 Awards — a Canadian event and competition. I reached out to Chris who presented a gift to one of the winners. We had a conversation about his business, and I reached back out to him when I wrote my book asking if he would contribute. I interviewed him and the information he provided blew me away. I had full faith in his abilities and trusted him. 

How much have you invested in them?

I spent about $1,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together in December 2020. The project only ran for a month because we needed to understand what’s effective with this demographic. We may do more down the road.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

In the beginning, they told me digital marketing would take a while to make a difference. Throughout the engagement, there was a lot of back and forth. They asked for a lot of information and helped me realize that transcribing my podcasts and videos would be great content for my website. 1st on the List was a delightful team.

I’m satisfied with the three articles and the content 1st on the List wrote. It was absolutely fantastic. I went back on a couple of ideas and spoke with Belinda about them. She was a real delight. I can’t say enough good things about 1st on the List.

How did 1st on the List Promotion perform from a project management standpoint?

At first, Chris and I talked, and then Keiran took over the project. If I had any questions, I called them. Their team laid out the project well, so I didn’t need to manage much. 1st on the List had everything under control. They looked after everything.

What did you find most impressive about them?

1st on the List was available to answer all of my questions. Their customer service was beyond my expectations. Their customer service and knowledge were impressive. If I were to rate them on a scale of 1–10, 1st on the List would be a 10 plus. Their team was so helpful. Every time I talked to Chris, I was blown away and took copious notes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I highly recommend them to anyone.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Call them and talk to them because they’re open to having conversations with you. You have to decide whether it’s going to work for you or not.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an organizing and moving concierge company serving New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Minnesota.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 1st on the List Promotion?

We hired them to provide SEO support for our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team provides ongoing SEO efforts. They help with keyword research and optimization. 

What is the team composition?

Don (AdWords PPC, SEO, Digital Marketing Specialist, 1st on the List Promotion) is our main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with 1st on the List Promotion?

We found them online and felt they were highly competent to help with our needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our business has spent around $1,000 per month, totaling around $12,000 per year. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since 2018 and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve definitely seen success resulting from the work 1st on the List Promotion has done for us. Month over month, we review our Google Analytics and we see their impact. 

How did 1st on the List Promotion perform from a project management standpoint?

They offer very timely communication, always responding to my inquiries quickly. We use email, text, and phone calls to communicate. We can trust they’ll stay on top of the work without needing a reminder.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very competent, knowledgable, and responsive. Their team is highly professional. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind for them to improve. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Freightera is B2B freight marketplace connecting shippers and carriers in Canada and the USA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 1st on the List Promotion?

We do most SEO work in-house and invited 1st on the List to review our site from the technical SEO point.

What were your goals for this project?

Site audit. Find outstanding technical issues and create a game plan for resolving them.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I've known Chris for many years through my professional network in Vancouver. We worked with his company in the past with good results and value for the money.

Describe the project in detail.

1st on the List ran site audit for us, suggested the improvements and helped with overseeing implementation.

What was the team composition?

We worked with 4 people on the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were able to improve our technical SEO ratings.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. 1st on the List team is very flexible and accomodative.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I liked their willingness to answer any questions and schedule additional meetings as necessary.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Can't think of any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the office manager at Keen on Green Disposal & Recycling. We are a local owner-operated junk removal company in Vancouver, BC. We pride ourselves in our desire to better the environment through our work and reduce the impact of waste. We work with organizations to ensure that as much waste is diverted from our landfills as possible, through recycling, repurposing and donation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 1st on the List Promotion ?

Our company website had problems. It was outdated, lacking in ability to convert leads, and we had frankly just outgrown it. With the growth of our organization, we wanted to improve our conversion rates and brand through the creation of a new website. We hired 1st on the List to not only work on our SEO, but to also help in the creation of a new high-conversion website that would be able to grow with us and showcase our services to our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our traffic, and increase conversions/bookings that originated on the site. We also wanted to have a website that was in-line with our company brand and that was able to highlight the best of our business. We believed that this new website would help us to continue to grow in a competitive market.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had already heard of 1st on the List before from other businesses in our network, and had heard good things about them. We first hired them solely to work on our SEO. Upon deciding to create a new website, we then decided to also see if they were open to joining our project team to help brainstorm and envision what a successful website would look like. It started from that.

Describe the project in detail.

1st on the List (particularly Neeraj) saw through the entire project. First we worked in a team to brainstorm a vision for the website, we designed an outline of what we wanted our new website to look like. We found a designer together. We did research, we organized a photoshoot and video to create custom content to be added to our site. We brainstormed taglines. Neeraj helped with SEO and content. From start to finish, 1st on the List was involved in every aspect of the website creation.

What was the team composition?

The team comprised of myself, our owner Wilson, our web designer and Neeraj from 1st on the List. This team was there through beginning to end of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our new website turned out GREAT! They have matched and exceeded our expectations. Although it is still too early to have the true impact of traffic and other metrics, we can already see that this website is much more effective than our last. It has received great feedback, and I know that this will result in even strong search rankings.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I believe that our team worked very well together and is part of the reason that we achieved such great results. Communication was strong. Neeraj at 1st on the List was always open to answering our calls, or responding to e-mails with questions or ideas. Follow up was always prompt and deadlines were always met. We used video chat, voice calling and e-mail to manage our communications, as well as written out project plans.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were very impressed by their wide array of knowledge and their willingness to go above and beyond to help us. They were able to refer us to quality vendors and professionals when needed, which was also very helpful. Their high level of customer service and expertise really distinguished them from other companies we have worked with in the past.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with the work and assistance that we received. Their service and willingness to go above and beyond was top-notch.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the manager of Urban Body Laser, a medi-spa.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 1st on the List Promotion?

We were unhappy with our previous web development services provider and were looking to make a change.

What were your goals for this project?

We were hoping a new website and more digital advertising would improve both conversions and sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A friend referred us to them.

Describe the project in detail.

Using information from our current website, List Promotion built a new website focused on conversions rather than simply displaying information. They also implemented Google Analytics. Now, they provide monthly SEO reports.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a web developer and an SEO/conversions specialist. There was also another resource that oversaw the entire project. Our team stayed constant throughout the development, and they consulted us on every change.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

The website looks wonderful and converts visitors at a much higher rate than our old website did. Sales have increased MoM more than we expected.

How did the 1st on the List Promotion perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been amazing to work with, always responding to us promptly and offering friendly and engaging service. Most refreshing has been their genuine excitement for our success. Communication wise, we speak through phone calls and emails.

What impresses you about the 1st on the List Promotion?

Their results, experience, and professionalism all stood out to me, but their customer service is particularly noteworthy. Unlike other companies we’ve worked with, they provide monthly reports on their progress and include us in every decision they make. Nothing on our site changes until we both agree to it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area I can name is development speed. It took a little longer than we had anticipated.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a medium-sized company focusing on private home care services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 1st on the List Promotion?

We needed to build a new website in a way that would be sustainable from an SEO perspective, as well as set up our content team to understand and write for SEO. In addition to this, we needed over 100 pieces of content and site pages QA'd and optimized for launch. We also needed technical audits throughout the web development process, consultancy on SEO strategy, and a partner who would be there when we needed them given the tight deadlines on our project. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

1st on the List Promotion delivered on all fronts. After the launch, we decided to keep working with them to continue to improve our technical SEO through interfacing with our web developers and working with our content team on keyword research, QA, and optimization. They were flexible, depending on our needs.

How did you come to work with 1st on the List Promotion?

I found them through a Google search and decided to work with them because they seemed to know their business well. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

In terms of results, we saw a month-to-month improvement in organic search traffic, with several pieces of content ranking on the first page of Google. We were able to extend our brand awareness. Overall, we were targeting awareness in the local area more than sales, and that was successful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are Mirage Screen Systems Inc.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with 1st on the List Promotion?

Our Web traffic flattened out and that affects our sales. We wanted to grow Web traffic.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

Organic SEO [search engine optimization] is the main service provided. We’re planning to do more types of digital marketing activities with them. Every six months, we meet in person and review everything they are doing and strategize for the next period.

What was your process for selecting 1st on the List Promotion with which to work?

I asked around to my network and four different businesses suggested 1st on the List.

Can you give a sense of the size of the initiative in dollar terms or a personnel work-hour figure?

It was about $10,000 to $50,000.

When was the work completed?

We started the engagement slightly more than a year ago. It’s ongoing work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

Our traffic results have gone up 20 percent year to year. We’ve seen an increase in sales also.

Are you satisfied with their performance?

Yes, we are happy.  

Is there anything unique or special about 1st on the List Promotion that really makes them stand out compared to other business partners?

They’re not snake oil sales guys. They are honest and deliver. They’re very reasonably priced.

What advice would you give to future clients of theirs?

Just know what you want to accomplish and know how much money you’re prepared to spend. Be consistent and don’t change course all the time. Don’t spend a bunch of money and then let your plan drop off. Organic SEO requires a large time investment to be successful.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

Not really.

BACKGROUND

I am the president of a company that distributes hardware.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Our goal for the work with 1st on the List Promotion was to improve the search engine search results for our website.

SOLUTION

1st on the List primarily worked on organic SEO [search engine optimization]. I selected them after working with two other agencies that failed to deliver. Those firms produced minimal results and so that lead me to 1st on the List Promotion.

I selected them because they seemed to be more organized and have a better process than competitors. They have very sound strategies and produce real results. I have worked with 1st on the List for about four years and have no plans to stop the engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

We are very satisfied with their work. Their strategies are well thought out and they provide quality customer service. We have seen strong growth in website traffic and I can tell their employees are industry experts that keep me ahead of changes in Google's algorithms.

They have a top-notch team and I have no complaints. My advice to their future clients is to have your goals well-defined going into the project.