Advanced Marketers

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an indoor environmental consultant. My services include mold inspections and consulting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost Media?

I wanted my business to be at the top of Google listings when people search mold testing in the St. Louis area. I was also having trouble getting reviews, so I reached out for their assistance in the review process for Google and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The SEO services began in early 2018. They send me a monthly progress report about the status of my Google listing and other relevant information. The brand-new review service hasn’t been fully implemented yet.

What is the team composition?

I recently started working with Caitlin (Web Content Specialist, Instaboost Media) on the review component of the project.

How did you come to work with Instaboost Media?

After finding their company, I gave them a trial run to see if their service would improve my business.

How much have you invested with them?

I pay $200 a month for SEO services, and the review services will be the same price monthly.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Instaboost Media in January 2018, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve noticeably been getting more calls as a result of the SEO. Every single call I receive, I ask how they knew to call me. My business is primarily a referral type, but there’s been a pretty significant increase in people getting my name off Google. The service is worth it because it’s making a difference in my revenue.

How did Instaboost Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Instaboost Media provides excellent customer service. Their helpful team responds quickly and are accessible.

I don’t need to talk to someone every month, just communicating through email is best for me. Instaboost Media knows when to follow-up and provide me with the reports.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Instaboost Media delivers solid and concrete statistical data about the process. The monthly report shows me that the money I’m investing in them is working for my benefit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, this has been a smooth partnership.

Any advice for potential customers?

I should interact more in the process to get the most out of it. That would be my advice for any new person or business using their services. Stay engaged and participate to get the full benefits.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director at the Tampa Hypnosis Center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with InstaBoost Media?

I needed to find a vendor willing and able to fix my online reputation after another marketing firm had ruined it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

InstaBoost fixed the company's issues on Google My Business, reestablishing our presence on Google Maps. After resolving those issues, they've continued to manage the listing.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact on their team.

How did you come to work with InstaBoost Media?

I researched many different local marketing companies and spoke to about 20 vendors on the phone that were all Google partners. InstaBoost was the only company that offered to fix our issues with Google before we agreed to do business with them, and they did so successfully.

How much have you invested with them?

I've invested about $2,000 in their services thus far. We're definitely one of their smaller clients.

What is the status of this engagement?

I've been working with them since May or June 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

InstaBoost has helped us rank on Google's 3-pack listings for our top keywords, significantly boosting our organic search rankings in the process.

How did InstaBoost Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is very polite, attentive to our needs, and great at communicating. They do a good job of translating their work into layman's terms, so I can better understand what they're working on in the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to fix our issues before we even agreed to start doing business sets them apart.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Even though we're one of their smaller clients and likely cannot afford more of their services, they could do a better job of letting know about their full range of services. Regardless of our size and budget, however, they've treated us as an equally prioritized client.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a co-founder of Top Lock & Key.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with InstaBoost Media?

We were looking to increase sales through SEO and digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

InstaBoost Media provides ongoing SEO and digital marketing services, making edits to our website as needed and creating content.

What is the team composition?

I mostly work with Caitlin (Web Content Specialist, InstaBoost Media).

How did you come to work with InstaBoost Media?

I was very unhappy with the previous provider we'd worked with, and Caitlyn called our company directly just after I let them go. I was willing to try just about anything from any other provider, and I'm glad it was InstaBoost that called me at the right time.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $1,000–$1,200 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

InstaBoost Media has helped significantly increase the number of leads we're getting. Their program is effective and we're very pleased with their services overall.

How did InstaBoost Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Caitlin has been wonderful to work with; she's honest and very responsive to our needs. She knows what to do to continually enhance our program and is great about staying in touch with me, providing suggestions for ways we can improve our efforts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very accessible and responsive compared to other vendors. I've had a terribly hard time getting back in touch with most vendors that have reached out to us, which is a dealbreaker because responsible access to the program is critical.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not at the moment; they're doing an excellent job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Choose a vendor that's responsive and accessible, so the value for the investment is there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of BeeSmart Bee Removal. We remove honeybees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost?

I want my phone to ring and for my business to be found online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They've taken the domain name and phone number and plugged that into the Internet where they felt we needed to be. They've sent the information out to various search engines so that the business can hopefully be found. They're also setting us up in Google Maps so that when people type in keywords (e.g., bee removal, beekeeper), we will come up as a local company.

What is the team composition?

There’s a project manager that handles our account.

How did you come to work with Instaboost?

I found them on Google and looked them up on Facebook. They were very professional and I felt that they could help us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent probably $100.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When I do an online search, everything comes up much more clear than it was before. I think it's just a matter of time until my phone starts ringing. Bee season just started, so those results will be coming soon.

How did Instaboost perform from a project management standpoint?

Caitlin (project manager, Instaboost) is very professional and I’m very impressed with her. We mostly communicate by text and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very sharp. They seem to really know what they’re doing, and they react quickly when I have a question.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a paving restoration company called Paver Rescue. We clean, sand, and seal driveways and pool decks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost?

We wanted to gain more popularity on Google, appearing within the first pages of results. This was our first time working with an agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed our website, worked on our SEO, and provided social media marketing, primarily on Facebook. We send them new job photos for them to edit and post on a weekly basis. They’ve proposed other services, but we’re happy with our results so far.

We showed them examples of other websites in our industry and also provided our own content. Instaboost put all of this together to produce our posts.

What is the team composition?

I’ve communicated with their COO and their SEO specialist.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $20,000 per year on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I didn’t have a very clear idea of how I wanted the site to look, but I’m happy with what they built. I get a lot of feedback from customers, saying that they like it.

How did Instaboost perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a more engaged process in the beginning, and it took some time to achieve our results, but we’re happy with the outcome. Most of the communication is done through phone and text. We’ve never met in person. The team was always accessible, and we haven’t had any holdups.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have very good prices. I’m overall pleased with all their services.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The beginning was a bit of a struggle. Getting to the first page of Google was challenging, but I was willing to invest in it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the general manager for a heating and air conditioning residential and commercial contractor in Los Angeles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost Media?

As with any startup company, it’s been a slow process. We had a boost last year and felt it was time to jump into the market, but we needed help with social media, review branding, digital branding content, and website content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began with basic SEO. Chris (Owner, Instaboost Media) assured me that the map section would be a good place to start—with our budget in mind—to get us the exposure and legitimacy we were seeking.

From there, we moved on to a digital branding campaign and some review management.  The digital branding campaign is keyword-optimized and based on everyone’s individual needs (e.g., searches for heating or repair specialists, social media conversations). Instaboost keeps everything very transparent on the backend for the investor. We’ve collaborated on the keyword list.

Chris and Sheryl (Web Content Writer, Instaboost) are both very hands-on and good at keeping me informed. We go through keyword and hashtags to figure out what people were searching for versus what we want to show up for. The amount of time they’ve spent editing those keywords and sending us pages to edit have culminated to a sturdy keyword list. We feel this was a sound investment.

Chris has also made stylistic changes to our logo to make it stand out. Our quoting feature wasn’t working, so he helped get that feature plugged in properly so that clients could request quotes and receive an email, enabling us to contact them and schedule an estimate. It failed three or four times as he was working on it, but it’s functioning properly now due to his diligence in taking the time to figure it out.

What is the team composition?

Chris handles any details that we need changed. He’s provided us with his personal cell number so we can reach out to him. Sheryl handles the customer service—touching base with the customers to make sure they’ve had a good experience, walking them through installations, and optimizing emails and accounts. She also handles the backend.

How did you come to work with Instaboost Media?

We liked their transparency. They take time for their customers instead of letting a customer service representative handle it, which is what most other companies do. Chris’ approach won me over.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend between $15,000–$20,000 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Things have been fantastic. We went from four reviews to 17 reviews on Google very quickly thanks to their review platform. Last month, we moved up 10 spots in Google due to their SEO efforts targeted at heating installation in Los Angeles. This month, we’ve jumped up another five spots.

They send us a monthly report with detailed keyword data: which ones have jumped in rank, which have dropped, and the differences between mobile and computer searches. They also provide a report laying out keyword content, what industry-specific keywords have changed since the previous month, and a summary ranking by position. Instaboost is transparent about when keywords go up or down in rank.

We’ve gotten really good results from the SEO campaign, landing 148 new clients. These results have given us confidence in their abilities. They’re a very honest and driven marketing company. Most marketing companies I’ve dealt with over the years wouldn’t disclose their fees. Chris’—and Instaboost’s as a whole—honest approach to pricing has made us feel secure. We know that they’re handling our budget and investment well.

How did Instaboost Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re top-notch. Sheryl immediately sends confirmation that she’s received my emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re transparent, prompt, and have good prices. Their active approach is unlike anything I’ve seen in 12 years.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We could always get more leads, but I’m not sure how they could improve on that. The results we’ve gotten as a result of their work is incredible. We had 60 inbound calls within 48 hours of launching the campaign, which is unheard of in this industry during the slow season. They’re doing a fantastic job, so I have no suggestions for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Any company looking to invest in a marketing firm wants to know where their bottom line is. Most firms won’t reveal their fees, but Chris provides me with the receipt from Google to pay along with a management fee to run it. You’ll realize when you talk to Chris and Sheryl that they’re not just trying to lecture or sell their services. Their honesty is contagious.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of GreenMouse Recycling. We provide recycling services (e.g., picking up e-waste, cleaning out facilities, and paper shreds) to businesses and residential customers primarily in Silicon Valley. We also repurpose and resell electronics, which allows us to teach at-risk young adults about the recycling and refurbishing industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost?

We were dealing with an individual who’d created a handful of bad reviews on Google. It was clearly an attempt at sabotage. It was very upsetting because I've never had anything like that happen before and I didn't know how to deal with it. I wanted to resolve the issue but didn't even know if it was possible to make bad reviews like that go away.

The other goal I was trying to achieve was to increase our ranking on Google. We've been in business for 14 years and our ranking had always been organically at the top. As others started using Google ads and keyword searches it caused us to disappear from Google so we decided to pay to have our ranking boosted.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First they helped us get those negative reviews resolved with Google. It was clear that it was intentional so they were able to make them go away. They also went out and spoke to some of our customers to help generate positive reviews. It was totally optional based on if the customer wanted to participate in sharing their review of the services that we provide.

In terms of search rankings, they created keywords and an ad. They have a suite of analytics that they look at and report back to me on a weekly basis on how we're doing. We haven't done any website work yet but it's a work in progress. I'm not going to create a big campaign until I see results. If we have to do more, we will.

What is the team composition?

We work with multiple people at Instaboost.

How did you come to work with Instaboost?

I actually don't recall how we connected with them. I didn't go looking for them so I think that they organically appeared on my Facebook page.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working with us in December 2017 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

That they were able to make the negative Google reviews disappear is obviously the biggest result. They have a lot of analytics in terms of how they know the search ranking campaign is working but I measure success in a different way. It’s anecdotal but all I know is if the phone rings or if we get a bad review or if somebody says they found us on a Google. Their results are more statistical but frankly I don't understand their metrics. When they tell me about clicks and impressions, I don't have any reference to be able to say if that's really good or not. However, there are some measurements that they’ve provided that show increased numbers.

How did Instaboost perform from a project management standpoint?

There’s several people working on the project and they're all approachable. They answer the phone when I call and respond quickly when I send an email. They’re very customer-service focused and I know that somebody is going to be there to answer my questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's obvious that they know what they're doing and they're very energized to provide that knowledge to us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s not that they haven't explained their metrics to me but they could do better. Not everyone comes in with the same experience or understanding of what makes the engine of Google run. The information I get from Google is very anecdotal and they have a different way of measuring results. Meeting in the middle would help me understand what they're doing in terms of the metrics.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sole practitioner and attorney of the Law Office of Sharlene Ramsey, based in Strongsville, Ohio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost Media?

I wanted to generate more calls and business coming into my office. I’ve worked with another vendor before, but had no results.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lauren [Manager, Instaboost Media] did some ad development for three cities where I practiced, which made the initial campaign more seamless. I picked a particular county because I was a prosecutor there for a very long time. Lauren told me this campaign would boost my exposure, give me a more professional internet presence, and drive more people to my ads with keywords.

We collaborated on a keyword list. I used to be a juvenile prosecutor for one of the three counties, so we tailored our list accordingly. A week later, she informed me that those keywords weren’t yielding results, so she gave me other keyword ideas for feedback. She’s honest, and she didn’t make me wait six months to get results. The ad is very professional, and it drives people to my website.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Lauren.

How did you come to work with Instaboost Media?

I came into contact with a Google employee who implemented a marketing strategy that tripled my profit in the first six weeks. He told me I was going to be in three areas, and that it would take time to populate into all of them. He then referred me to Lauren, and when I called her, she had an amazing, technical strategy.

She was very kind, concerned, and self-motivated. It was a lot more money than I intended to spend, but I trusted her. I was nervous because this was another $500–$600 a month. I told her I couldn't waste this much money, and she reassured me that I was going to see results. It’s rare to be able to trust someone to do what they promise.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $1,300–$1,500 with them so far. I didn’t have the ad in October, so I only spent $300, but I’ve had it in both November and December.

What is the status of this engagement?

I've been working with them since October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I got my first call within ten days, and they’ve gotten us on the first page. We see consistent results in both traffic and leads. I check my keywords all the time. I attribute all of this to Instaboost Media. Lauren informed me that reviews would help, and they did. The woman who called us yesterday told us that she read our five-star reviews. Getting reviews from customers who have had a positive experience has really paid off.

Lauren cares about making the business work, and she knows what she’s doing. I’ve paid $1,500 for her services, but I’ve made $4,000, so it’s paying off. I have no reason to think that it’s not going to keep working. I trusted them, and their delivered what they promised. They’re great.

The ad she developed is bringing calls in. I wasn’t getting my money’s worth with the previous vendor, and I didn’t get any calls in an entire year. When Lauren told me she was going to increase my exposure, she meant it. I got what I paid for, and I’m making more than I’m spending. I’m very pleased and happy with her.

I attribute my boosted exposure to the ads she creates. I have every reason to expect these results to continue.

How did Instaboost Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I give them the highest rating possible. I could’ve give them a higher one. We mostly communicate through phone, but also correspond through email. They initiated most of the calls.

Lauren has been amazing, and she always keeps in contact with me. She’s constantly working on strategies and checking progress to make sure I’m getting the most out of my money. I’ve never experienced this with any type of marketing.

She’s in charge of her ad department, and she has supervisory authority there. I was lucky to get her. She’s autonomous. She also informed me when she was going out of town and gave me her cell phone number so I could contact her if I had any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is the most impressive thing. They deliver what they promise, and they have the power to do it. I spent $4,000–$5,000 with a previous vendor, and never made any money. Instaboost called, said they were going to give me results, and they did. I can’t imagine not having them. If I stopped working with Instaboost, my business would stop. They’re my lifeline.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should have more people like Lauren, so there’s more of her to go around to other clients who want to succeed like I have.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own STOP Restoration, which performs property restoration services for water, fire, mold, and smoke damage.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost Media?

We wanted higher Google rankings for our website. To achieve that goal, we needed improved SEO, AdWords, and website functionality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They cleaned our website’s content, blog, and directories, which a previous firm had managed in an unprofessional and disorderly manner. The directories were scattered with mismatched URLs. The team fixed those links as well as our reviews section. Additional services included reputation management and adding photos to our blog.

The team did not build a new site. My franchise holds the corporate website and handles PPC [pay per click] work.

How did you come to work with Instaboost Media?

Their name appeared in a Google search for SEO companies that work on AdWords.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started August 2017 and is on-going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen increases in brand exposure, traffic, and sales conversions. Our internet marketing increased 70-80% as well. Additionally, we are ranking on the keywords we set in collaboration with the team.

How did Instaboost Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They were flawless. Their customer service is polite, respectful, and organized.

We communicate via phone calls and emails. The team is responsive and prompt in handling issues as they arise.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They produced results quickly while providing thorough customer service.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Explain set goals as thoroughly as possible and listen to their advice. An open line of communication benefits the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I head customer service and marketing at Seasons Heating & Cooling, an HVAC contractor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Instaboost?

We had engagement with a company that produced poor results. We had low Google review ratings and were difficult to find online. The company attempted to re-outfit the website, but their approach was unproductive to our set objectives. Consequently, we looked for a budget-friendly firm with higher skill sets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Engagement with Instaboost advanced incrementally. We were cautious not to repeat costly mistakes. The team created a land paging that achieved high conversion rates. They also increased our Google ratings; we now have 5 stars. These goals were high priorities for us and the positive results increased our confidence in Instaboost.

The also assisted our AdWords campaign and local SEO. The team discarded our previous SEO key terms and built new sets from scratch. These efforts boosted our digital presence, but also differentiated us from a telemarketing company with the same name. Our low Google rankings confused potential customers who complained to us about the telemarketers’ aggressive behavior.

Our engagement had multiple smaller moving components. For example, to complement our improved ratings, the team provided reputation management services.

What is the team dynamic?

I interfaced with Lauren and Chris [Developers] at Instaboost.

How did you come to work with Instaboost?

Lauren reach out to me and we had a lengthy phone call during which I asked her numerous questions. She had great responses and offered economical pricing. We hired them because the terms for engagement were low-risk.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started October 2016 and is on-going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our September Google business report indicates a 5 star rating, which our owner identified as the key success metric. Additionally, SEO put us at the top of Google rankings for local searches.

How did Instaboost perform from a project management standpoint?

They were amazing. The responded immediately via email and promptly produced reports on request.

The team taught me a lot of tricks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The prioritize transparency and accessibility. Itemized bills help us understand the process better.