Brandfirm

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the VP of global sales and marketing at BLACOH Industries, a global manufacturer of fluid control projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brandfirm?

We were looking to outsource some of our marketing needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Brandfirm assists with our social media marketing. We have a two-way relationship. Our team identifies things we would like them to create content around and they create it from scratch. Part of the process right now involves them checking in with us to make sure what they’re posting is accurate since they're new to our industry. They currently run our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. 

They are also redesigning our website and helping us update our catalog of photography and videography assets. The website is still a work in progress and we are hoping to launch at the end of this year. Brandfirm works closely with our executive and sales teams to identify the look and feel we are going for.  We had a proprietary site developed for us in the past and Brandfirm is working to retain the backbone of that site while updating the aesthetic. 

Their team is conducting a photoshoot of our product line and our manufacturing facilities to create content for our website. Their videographer is creating tutorials on how to properly use our products and a marketing loop for tradeshows and exhibition booths. Brandfirm also created flyover footage of our company as well as recording our manufacturing process to share with customers.

What is the team composition?

We had three main points of contact at Brandfirm, including the CEO.

How did you come to work with Brandfirm?

I received a recommendation from a trusted friend who still uses Brandfirm’s services. We conducted an extensive interview process and their team came in and presented to our executive team. After narrowing it down to two marketing firms and showcasing their talents against one another, we decided to work with Brandfirm.

How much have you invested with them?

At this time, we have invested about $72,000. Although, the website redesign is beyond the scope of our original agreement, so that number will likely increase.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Brandfirm began in December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Brandfirm’s efforts have received positive feedback, both internally and externally. I don’t know any specific metrics, but we are very happy with their work. 

How did Brandfirm perform from a project management standpoint?

Their process is nice. Brandfirm sets realistic expectations and timeframes. They’ve been learning about our industry as we go and they’ve required surprisingly little handholding. 

Whenever we have a new project, we submit a proposal request through Mavenlink. Anytime someone puts an update on this software, everybody that is part of the project gets a notification. Our teams can both respond or add additional content as needed. We meet weekly at a minimum and if we have any questions we just give them a call. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The speed at which they adapted to an industry that they knew nothing about was impressive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There have been some issues with attention to detail but they’ve been minor spelling errors at most. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re pretty hands-on and don’t need a lot of handholding. Brandfirm typically self drives everything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO of Howard Industrial Sales, a small, family-run business. We’re a manufacturer’s representative.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brandfirm?

We were struggling to reach a younger generation, so we hired Brandfirm to help create our presence on social media.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Brandfirm handles our social media marketing campaigns. To begin, we had a deep-dive discussion about our business, objectives, and target audience. From there, we agreed how our brand should be communicated.

Now that they’ve developed our message, they continually create advertisements that appeal to a wide range of our customers. Their team puts together technical ads as well as more youthful versions. In addition, their team is also in the process of redesigning our website and our logo.  

What is the team composition?

Robert (CEO, Brandfirm) is our main contact during our engagement.

How did you come to work with Brandfirm?

We’d known Robert and worked with him in the past, so when he created Brandfirm, we decided to consider him for our needs. After watching him grow his company and produce quality work, we hired Brandfirm to help with our messaging needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent in the range of $10,000–$50,000 on their services. Our monthly payment doesn’t include the additional tasks of web and logo design.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with Brandfirm since July 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gained a great amount of business since beginning our work with Brandfirm. The messaging and social media advertising efforts they’ve managed have given us a better position within our field. New customers have found our products through the digital posts, so we know the content is reaching our targeted audience.

How did Brandfirm perform from a project management standpoint?

Every expectation that we’ve set for Brandfirm has been exceeded, which is great. Even when we give strict deadlines and requirements, their team delivers strong work. We communicate several times a week, and Robert is always available when we need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is always looking for best practices and presenting new, creative ideas for our efforts. They actively work to keep us up to date on what is happening in our industry. Additionally, whenever Robert presents a plan, he’s done his research ahead of time. We appreciate the time and effort he puts into his ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have truly beat all of our expectations so there’s nothing I’d suggest they improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set up a consultation with Brandfirm and see what they can offer. While you can find out information by searching online, meeting them in person is the best way to make the decision.