Big Web Media

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a freelance Social Media Manager, fashion journalist and website content manager. Langaro Lifestyle Centre, Camsp Bay, and then Langaro Accent Sea Point were my clients from Jan 2017 until the company closed in March 2020. The business was a spa and wellness centre which offered seven codes of service; Beauty (facials, makeup), Hair, Nails, Aesthetics (weightloss, anti-ageing), Wellness (massage), Fashion and Corporate hosting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Big Web Media?

Big Web Media was hired before I had signed Langaro as my client. Their services fell under my portfolio as part of my contract was to supply written content for the website, including blog articles and SEO copy.

What were your goals for this project?

Big Web Media offered a service on retainer for the duration of my time there. The ultimate goal was to get Langaro Lifestyle Centre onto page one of a google search for at least five of the seven service offerings.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The previous Social Media Manager at Langaro had found Big Web Media via a Google search, which is probably a testament to how good Charl Hoffman is.

Describe the project in detail.

As I mentioned earlier, Charl Hoffman had one task; to get Langaro onto page one of a Google search for beauty, hair, nails, massage and aesthetics. The company didn't feature fashion and corporate services as highly, so those were considered a second tier. His role was to advise me on content topics and writing style to maximise on SEO activity. And he made regular recommendations on what Langaro could do to up its digital profile.

What was the team composition?

Charl and I were each contracted to Langaro and liaised with each other directly. I only ever had to secure approval from my client for any major changes which required budget.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Langaro featured on page one of a google search for hair and nails in Camps Bay without PPC or Adwords. One doesn't get better than that.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between Langaro and Big Web Media was seamless. Charl availed himself effortlessly, his reports were consistent and timely, he shared his extensive knowledge openly and freely. He was a pleasure to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Knowledge! Charl Hoffman's in-depth knowledge of SEO is unrivaled. Paired with him being available at the drop of a hat to assist, makes him highly recommendable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think he needs to work on the design aspect of his services. He is capable of design but aesthetically, it's functional in favour of SEO but lacks visual appeal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Dr. Johns Systems & Solutions, a health-relation company offering coaching, hypnosis, mentoring, counseling, and regression.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Big Web Media?

I wanted to gain more exposure and have a total revamp of my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Big Web Media performed a total website revamp using WordPress and provided optimization suggestions. Currently, they also supplement content onto the blogs I create.

What is the team composition?

I interact with three people but mostly work with Charl (Digital Account Director).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m very satisfied with what they delivered. There were certain recommendations Charl made that I had to review myself and it all made sense. Listening to his advice and following through with it was the best decision for my business and website. He’s knowledgeable and what he suggested was what was best for me.

How did Big Web Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and WhatsApp and they’ve always responded quickly. Their team is very efficient and always ready to deliver. Whenever there’s a problem, they always help me right away.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re efficient and deliver on time. They’ve brought me up to speed with what’s out there in the market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re doing a great job. Everything looks great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner and director of a firm that facilitates and expedites visa issuances for clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Big Web Media?

We were seeking SEO and web design services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Big Web Media redesigned my entire website. After some initial discussions, we launched into an iterative design phase where they incorporated my input after every version. 

They’re now creating site content and managing our Google Ads. They’ve streamlined our website to be SEO-friendly and continue to provide maintenance. They provide progress reports of our digital performance, and we have frequent meetings to analyze our ROI.

What is the team composition?

We frequently interface with our main point of contact, Charl (Director & SEO Specialist, Big Web Media). I believe he has one or two others working under him.

How did you come to work with Big Web Media?

When I started my business, I was working with two other service providers but had failed to see substantial growth. My friend’s business, which utilized Big Web Media, was doing exceptionally well. I decided I’d engage them for three months to see if their services made a difference for my business.

How much have you invested in them?

We spend approximately $500 a month, so we’ve spent over $14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2017, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen great financial returns from Big Web Media’s work. Their cost-benefit analysis has revealed that we no longer need to spend money on certain services because they simply don’t make sense from a profit-margin perspective.

The team lead did a phenomenal job of guiding us through the best technologies to leverage. He helped us navigate our competitive market, showing a great understanding of our specific industry.

While they’re not the cheapest option, they’ve performed better than any other vendor I’ve worked with. The investment has been worth it.

How did Big Web Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great. Charl comes onsite to our office, and he’s very responsive. We’ll shoot him an email about any necessary changes, and he typically deals with it within a few hours. Our requests are taken care of practically instantly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re extremely efficient, on top of being exceptionally knowledgeable. I also appreciate that all of my employees can directly reach out to him via WhatsApp whenever they need anything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The team lead could do some further research about our competitors—sometimes, we have to provide him with information that he could acquire himself with a little homework. Having said that, he’s better than anyone we’ve ever used before.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend giving them six months to see how they perform and to see if the relationship works.