Ah Um

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Head of Product for a digital conveyancing platform. We use AI, upfront data and collaboration tools to speed up property transactions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ah Um, and what were your goals?

Our product is complex and caters to distinct audiences: estate agents, solicitors and home movers. We needed a video that could explain our platform's features in an easy-to-understand way. Our goal was to make it clear to estate agents and solicitors how our process differs from the current, and how it benefits them. We also planned to post the video on our social media to drive signups.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We asked a few collaborators for references. We viewed some of the videos produced by each video production company that we shortlisted, and eventually picked Ah Um because of their original approach, their affordable price (they understood that we're an early-stage startup with a tight budget) and their bespoke approach in meeting our evolving needs.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We had an initial call to introduce one another and understand our needs and our product. A clear plan for the collaboration was laid out: script, storyboard, first animated draft, first voiceover, second animated draft, final voiceover, final animation. Each step was introduced by a meeting and followed by a feedback/review meeting.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with all members of the team: the director, the project manager and the animator. They shared their work through Google Drive and Vimeo, which allowed us to leave comments and work together on the product without having to resort to frequent meetings.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Investors and prospective clients complimented us on the video and said it helped them understand our service and gain an interest in us as a company.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The team was easy to communicate with and provided frequent and timely updates. We communicated via Google Docs comments, email and Google Meets calls.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their patience and willingness to work with us as we changed our mind/refined our vision during production. They truly wanted the best possible outcome for us.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Sometimes (in the interest of time, I assume) initiatives such as introducing a new animation or a new section of the storyboard were taken by the team without consulting us. We didn't like some of those choices and asked to have them rolled back or done differently. I think effort could have been saved if we had been asked in advance for an opinion.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am senior marketing manager at Saxo UK, a multi asset broker providing access to 60,000+ instruments, intuitive trading tools and market insights to help clients execute their trading strategies

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ah Um?

We hired Ah Um to provide copy support for a large above the line marketing campaign we were running. We sponsored premier league rugby team; Harlequins, and used the playing & coaching staff in a TV campaign on Bloomberg supported with assets across digital channels.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Ah Um came highly recommended by former colleagues.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Ah Um were brought into to first help brainstorm ideas and storyboard ad and were then provided with broad copy briefs they distilled into final copy for all assets. They were very flexible and extremely quick to turnaround copy, quickly incorporating feedback against tight timelines.

What was the team composition?

We discussed requirements Adrian who heads up the agency who assigned us two copywriters, Patrick & Lorna, who both worked on our assets and made sure there was always someone available to us. This ensured even with external help it was a seamless experience from our end and made our lives very easy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The predominant aim of the campaign is brand awareness so the true effects will take longer to measure. In the short term the UK creative for this campaign has differed from all other global regions and we have seen the highest engagement with the campaign then any other global region. Internally stakeholders have been extremely happy with the execution of the campaign.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The experience was seamless. We were afforded 2 copywriters and one was always available to us making our lives very easy and work was turned around extremely quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The flexibility and speed at which our edits could be turned around. We were working to very tight deadlines and Ah Um made sure that they were prepared last min changes and nimble to move with changing requirements and additional assets.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

Nothing springs to mind - they fulfilled all that was requested of them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and creative director of my sustainable luxury womenswear label called Laura Pitharas

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ah Um?

We hired Ah Um just after launching our brand to do competitor research, drive growth in communications, to develop a commercial and creative strategy to meet these needs.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected this vendor from recommendation of a friend.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After a kick of meeting, which involved in discussing the project expectation and deliverables Ah Um started on the work. We met regularly once a week where the team would present their work and we would discuss. They sent through final presentation packs with information and deliverables which could be used.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

They assigned us an account-manger, an SEO specialist and another team member.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The SEO expert really helped to change specific wording on our website to ensure we reach a more organic audience through google search. The information Ah Um provided regarding our target audience and competitions was super helpful and insightful.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between me and their team was very effective. The communication was always very clear and they always met deadlines.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I found the company to be very personal and approachable. It was easy to schedule meetings and to communicate across all the different team members.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

in my opinion no.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for a big four consulting firm, where I help organisations with transforming their front office functions across Marketing, Sales and Service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ah Um?

We worked with Ah Um on a project to create new, best-in-class sales enablement material for a large, multinational IT provider.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected the vendor based on our previous relationship with them, doing similar projects.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The project involved two two-month sprints, in which the Ah Um team worked collaboratively with a set of transformation consultants to create a series of 24 separate sales enablement outputs.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with four resources, two copywriters and two graphic designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was very happy with the materials that the joint team produced, but more detailed outcomes are confidential.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have worked with Ah Um in a number of different 'formations' and they are very good at trying different ways of working and feeding back on how best to achieve the right working cadence.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Ah Um's team is genuinely excellent at what they do. However, their real strength is in the nuanced way they understand an unusual brief, or new way of working. These are people to whom you can really talk to in a mature way about how the work will happen.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Of course, there's always room for micro-improvements here and there, but overall, I think Ah Um delivered very well on the brief.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm head of marketing for a Grant writing company who specialise in finding and winning funding for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ah Um, and what were your goals?

We were updating our brand design and paid advertising. They were hired to oversee our paid advertising through Facebook, Google and LinkedIn and give us a more cohesive message and brand on our ads and our website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were aware of the good work they had done through industry contacts and, after talking with them, felt they would be an excellent fit both in terms of the size of their agency and their expertise.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

They did an audit of all our ad platforms and all of our content. They then presented some new design ideas and messaging which we agreed to. They then proceeded to create a design palette for us and began drawing up a design for our new website around the successes we were having with the more popular ads.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with:

• account manager
• web developer
• paid ads specialist
• team of copywriters and others

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We loved the designs and it's shaped our company's brand. We now have set brand guidelines and assets we can use which makes building more content quick, easy and cohesive. Our landing pages saw a major decrease in bounce rates and we think our design accurately depicts how we want people to feel when they talk to us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly stand-ups and as many ad hoc conversations as we wanted. Work was promptly turned around and expectations were always well managed.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were keen to help no matter the issue, whether it meant extra paid work for them or not. They were extremely reasonable about the price of work when it was agreed and we never felt like they were upselling services to us just to make more money (which I've felt like with many other agencies in my career). They always made us feel included in the decisions that were happening and kept a very open-door policy.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

honestly, no not really!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Content and Communications

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Influencer marketing tech platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ah Um to accomplish?

• Create a report

SOLUTION

How did you find Ah Um?

Other

Why did you select Ah Um over others?

Pricing first our budget, Good value for cost

What was the size of Ah Um’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Production of 4,000+ word report, using existing data as a guide

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Client feedback
• New leads

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Very professional, detailed orientated, fast turnaround, good communication

What was your primary form of communication with Ah Um?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed with their personal touch and attention to detail.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ah Um could have done differently?

none