Digital Third Coast was founded in 2007 in Chicago. We specialize in SEO (search engine optimization) and paid media (including paid search and paid social). We blend data journalism with digital PR to produce award-winning campaigns for our clients.
Our clients rely on us for both our technical and creative expertise to promote their products and services to their target audience across a variety of channels. From data-driven, mass-appeal content to compelling ad copy, our services are customized based on each client’s unique needs and goals.
Our mission is to make a measurable difference by helping organizations clarify, measure, and achieve their digital marketing goals.
We are committed to achieving excellent results for our clients while enjoying a collaborative and fun team environment. We do this through open communication, and by following our core values: guide the way, be curious, be resilient, be collaborative, and sweep the floors.
Our Recent Awards:
-Inc. Regional Fastest Growing Companies in the Midwest 2024
- Best & Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation 2023
- US Search Awards, 2023 Best Small Integrated Search Agency Finalist
- US Search Awards, 2023 Best Integrated Campaign Finalist
- Communicator Awards, 2023 Award of Distinction for Marketing Effectiveness
Min project size
$5,000+
Hourly rate
$150 - $199 / hr
Employees
10 - 49
Locations
Chicago, IL
Year founded
Founded 2007
1 Locations
Chicago , IL
No have been added yet...
Pricing Snapshot
Min. project size
$5,000+
Avg. hourly rate
$150 - $199
/hr
Rating for cost
4.5
/5
What Clients Have Said
Digital Third Coast offers competitive pricing, with monthly costs ranging from $925 to $9,000, depending on services. Clients value their cost-effectiveness and consistent ROI, often noting successful PPC campaigns and SEO improvements, indicating strong value for the investment.
The agency has successfully executed campaigns that have garnered significant media coverage. Their work has been featured in major publications, contributing to clients' brand visibility and credibility.
High Client Satisfaction and Long-Term Partnerships
Many clients express high satisfaction with Digital Third Coast's services, leading to long-term partnerships. Their reliable performance and consistent delivery of results have fostered trust and ongoing collaboration.
Areas for Improvement in Team Consistency
Some clients mentioned turnover in the Digital Third Coast team, which occasionally led to project lag. However, the agency's ability to manage transitions smoothly has mitigated potential disruptions.
Effective Use of Analytics and Reporting
The agency excels in using analytics and reporting tools to measure the success of their campaigns. Clients value the insights provided through regular reports, which help in making informed decisions and optimizing strategies.
Educational and Collaborative
Digital Third Coast takes an educational approach, helping clients understand the intricacies of digital marketing. Their collaborative efforts ensure that clients are well-informed and actively involved in the process.
Exceptional Customer Service
Clients frequently highlight the exceptional customer service provided by Digital Third Coast. The team's dedication to client satisfaction and their friendly, approachable demeanor have been key factors in successful collaborations.
Digital Third Coast took on advertising after the previous company failed to deliver results. They optimized accounts and currently focus on PPC and some SEO and content creation.
DTC is more cost efficient than the previous company while achieving better results. Organic traffic has increased, and content is well-researched. While not all projects are successful, but DTC consistently delivers quality results.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the e-commerce lead for a company that manufactures radiant floor heating in Illinois.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We wanted to optimize our SEO, pay-per-click [PPC], and e-commerce advertising. We were starting to see a drop in our ad revenue, so we decided it was time to change partners.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
After we hired Digital Third Coast [DTC], they looked at what we had previously done and optimized the inefficiencies in our AdWords accounts. They removed the ineffective strategies and implemented stronger targeting for our primary buyers, which made our advertising much better.
They create content on our behalf and submit it to publishers so we can gain domain rank for the articles they publish and that are linked back to us. Up until this point, there hasn't been much on-site SEO work because we’ve focused a lot on PPC.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
We selected DTC because our owner knew about them from previous endeavors.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started in February of last year, and the work is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
For the past four years, we've been dropping in revenue about 15% per year, and our advertising costs have been going up at the same time. After changing to DTC, we've seen our organic traffic increase by at least 50%, and that’s purely from the off-site content development. Plus, our advertising costs have decreased; we’re spending about 25% less than before.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
They're professional. We have weekly meetings for about an hour to review the new initiatives, strategy changes, etc. Their PPC side is a little more engaged, simply because we manage that on a weekly basis. The content development is in much longer cycles, so we don't have as much feedback until they've done the research. Normally, we brainstorm an idea and then there are a few months of waiting to develop the idea and post it to our blog.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The communication is good for the PPC team. If they notice a problem, we get contacted. if Google has some new service in beta, DTC will reach out to us quickly and we’ll have a meeting about it. They’re proactive in their work. We've done a couple of surveys for SEO, and they’re well-researched. They’re not just fluff pieces; DTC creates data-based content.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There was one SEO piece that wasn’t successful, but they took more risk than they should have. It was for a niche market that didn't pan out, and we only got a few links out of it. There were several months of little return on spend, but everything else has been good.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
I would highly recommend the project managers we worked with; he’s in charge of the PPC departments. We got the best, but the experience may be different with someone else. All the people at DTC are good.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
SEO & PPC For Data Solutions Company
Pay Per ClickSearch Engine Optimization
$50,000 to $199,999
Nov. 2016 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
“They bring their acumen and technical expertise to us in ways we haven’t seen from any other digital team.”
Jan 9, 2018
VP Global Marketing, Utopia Global
Marty Gilbert
Verified
Other industries
Mundelein, Illinois
201-500 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Through extensive site and keyword analysis, Digital Third Coast helped implement formal SEO and PPC campaigns to generate leads and higher conversion rates for a data solutions company.
After their intervention, more than a dozen keywords or phrases rank within the top ten results in organic searches, and high domain authorities are backlinking to the site. Digital Third Coast brought a unique combination of analytics and communication to the project.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Utopia Global Inc. is a data solutions company, founded about 15 years ago. We are an adjunct to SAP for large companies, along with a portfolio of professional data services.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
I wanted to implement formal programs for SEO, and PPC campaigns, and to augment our initiatives on social media to generate leads, create more awareness, and get higher conversion rates on our website.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
They did an extensive analysis of our website and our keywords. They worked with us to raise our organic rankings in search engines where we were underperforming. They helped put together a backlink plan, and did a complete overhaul of our key business phrases. They presented different ideas, and did primary research to drive our own proprietary findings on specific topics that would be of interest to high domain authority websites.
On the pay-per-click side, they were responsible for management and analytics. They leveraged keyword analysis, and did all the bidding for us. We evaluate their progress monthly and commission them for their work.
What is the team composition?
They have about five people on their side who touch our account. One individual works on the PPC side, and the others work on our SEO or our account management.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
We canvassed a number of Chicago area digital marketing firms, and ultimately decided to go with them. I’m glad we did.
How much have you invested with them?
We spend about $120,000 annually.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in November 2016, and continue working together.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
When we started, our rankings were low. We now have about 14 keywords or key phrases that rank within the top 10, and a few that rank first. That’s a measurable improvement.
We’re impressed with all the backlinking, and the results are tremendous. Multiple high-ranking sites with very high domain authorities backlinked to us, which we could have never accomplished on our own.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
They do an outstanding job, and keep me well-informed. They make themselves available when we need to talk.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their maturity level is high. They’re not just a bunch of young people who don’t know how to communicate. They have plenty of business experience, and they understand more than just analytics. They can talk about business issues and how to approach technology in a way that makes an impact. They bring their acumen and technical expertise to us in ways we haven’t seen from any other digital team.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Not really. They’re upfront and open, and are an extension of our marketing team. We have accountability and trust between us that’s necessary to make a third-party relationship successful.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Ryan Garrison [SEO Account Team Lead, Digital Third Coast] has been a real champion for us. He is a great sounding board for us, and has a depth and breadth of knowledge that’s invaluable. He’s a trusted advisor, and I’m always interested in his perspective. They all have many years of experience. That’s the credibility I want when I’m asking for opinions.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"The things they’ve implemented have had a measurable, positive change on our business."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"There haven’t been prolonged delays, for any reason, in anything we’ve done."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"We researched a lot of digital marketing firms in the Chicago area. They are very competitive."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"I’d recommend them, no question.
PPC for Intervention Services
Pay Per Click
$200,000 to $999,999
Jan. 2013 - Jan. 2017
5.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
5.0
Cost
3.5
Willing to Refer
5.0
“They participated more actively than any other company we’ve been involved with.”
Dec 15, 2017
Marketing Manager, Intervention Services
Matt Jancosek
Verified
Other industries
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast created and maintained PPC campaigns for Google and Bing to increase lead volume and reduce overall costs. They also provided keyword generation.
Website traffic and on-site visitors have both increased due to Digital Third World’s campaigns. Proactive project management, regular guidance, and unwavering support set them apart from past vendors. They could only benefit further from expanding their knowledge surrounding negative keywords.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the Internet marketing manager of Intervention Services, Inc. We help place people with addictions into a treatment facility.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast Internet Marketing?
We used Digital Third Coast to help maintain our PPC [pay-per-click] campaigns. They assisted in increasing our lead volume through PPC, as well as reducing costs.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
They created PPC ads and keywords, including negative ones. They didn’t provide any natural SEO services. They mostly employed PPC services for Google and Bing. We’re considering doing some SEO work with them.
What is the team composition?
I worked with Nathan [Director of Paid Search, Digital Third Coast Internet Marketing] quite a lot.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast Internet Marketing?
My company was working with them before I started.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $240,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with them from 2013–2017.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our traffic has increased. They were only responsible for PPC campaigns. We saw an increase in visitors coming to our site due to PPC ads, so we attributed that success to Digital Third Coast. Everyone is happy with their work.
How did Digital Third Coast Internet Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?
We had conversations with them every month. We discussed results, costs, and different ways we could employ A/B testing for different campaigns. Nathan was very proactive, and I liked working with him.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They participated more actively than any other company we’ve been involved with. A lot of companies just do what we want, send reports, and take our money. Other companies also don’t come back and offer suggestions or ideas.
Nathan would come back with content suggestions quite often, but most of his guidance revolved around PPC.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They could’ve been more proactive in negative keyword implementation. They were doing some of it on their end, but we ended up having to do most of it. I don’t blame them, though, because they didn’t understand the negative keywords particular to our field.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure to keep communication very open. Digital Third Coast is available almost any time. Nathan was always there for us. They offer a lot, but their downside is that they are a bit expensive.
RATINGS
5.0
"They're one of the better companies I've ever worked with, and I've been in this business for 15 years."
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
"There were times where we needed ads up or certain things done which weren’t delivered as expected."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"There were cases where some aspects weren’t accurately delivered, but when we held meetings, they remained proactive."
Cost
3.5
Value / within estimates
"They can get expensive towards the end of a project."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
SEO & PPC For Forensic Consulting Company
Pay Per ClickSearch Engine Optimization
$200,000 to $999,999
Jan. 2010 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
“They didn't just view us as another company; they really got to know what we do.”
Dec 14, 2017
VP of Marketing, Envista Forensics
Jennifer Gaster
Verified
Legal
Chicago, Illinois
201-500 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast manages SEO and PPC advertising for a forensic consulting firm, prioritizing return on investment. Additional services include content marketing and social media advice.
Certain keyword combinations and ad groups now regularly appear on the first page of search results, and high-value leads bring in 1000 times more in revenue than the cost per click. The team’s understanding of the business is crucial to the success of the partnership.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the vice president of marketing for a forensic consulting firm. We provide engineering and disaster recovery services to clients after property damage claims.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We wanted to enhance our presence in search engine rankings. Even though it’s a niche industry, there is competition and it’s important for us to be confident that we're being found by prospective clients. In addition, managing Google AdWords in-house was becoming burdensome. We’re a very small marketing department, so having talented outside vendors is essential.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We began working with Digital Third Coast [DTC] shortly after completing a major website overhaul. They first performed a site audit in order to maximize the efficiency of the copy on our website, as well as implementing best practices for organic search engine optimization [SEO]. Later, they also created pay-per-click [PPC] campaigns, developed new website content, and produced infographics.
DTC provides ongoing management of SEO and PPC campaigns. While we manage social media in-house, DTC provides suggestions for new avenues to explore that would complement our efforts.
What is the team composition?
I primarily work with their Director of Paid Search.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
I found them on Google. It was really important that an SEO vendor be easy to find online. I met with them and they were very down to earth. Through the process of vetting other vendors, they stood out because they possessed the consultative approach that we were looking for. They didn't just view us as another company; they really got to know what we do.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent probably $300,000-$400,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together for 7 years.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We definitely have moved up in the search rankings. Now we’re consistently on the first page of results for certain keyword combinations and ad groups, which was not the case before working with DTC.
In terms of PPC, it is not uncommon in our industry for there to be a very high cost per conversion. The PPC team has worked really hard, constantly tweaking the ad copy, in order to bring the cost per conversion way down. We're not getting hundreds of leads from PPC in a given day or week, but the ones we have gotten are extremely high-value (e.g. revenue as much as 1000 times what it cost to get that lead).
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
They do a great job managing our account, following up when necessary, and reporting back when they when they say they're going to.
We have monthly meetings. Typically they send us updates in advance so that we can review the numbers and have context for the discussion. They’re always on time and cognizant of our busy schedules.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I most appreciate how well they understand our business. Many vendors don't invest the time to learn about what we do. In many ways, the team at DTC knows just as much about what we're doing as people in our full-time marketing department. Another big strength is how much they value building a relationship with the client.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They've had quite a bit of turnover on the PPC side, but they've always done a great job at seamlessly transitioning the account.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure to start with clear objectives and expectations, as well as a mechanism in place to measure results. Understand that you won’t see immediate results and that you're going to have work on your end to fulfill internal requirements.
There's also a responsibility to train your vendors; help them to understand your market and your customers. They're going to have a lot of good ideas and do a great job for you, but you're going to have to do your homework as well.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"They do a really great job of fulfilling on all aspects of the project."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"They are fair; I feel like I get a good value for our money."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"I have recommended them to other companies.
PPC For T-Shirt Company
Pay Per ClickSearch Engine Optimization
$10,000 to $49,999
Jan. 2014 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Without a doubt, they care about their customers very much."
Dec 12, 2017
Manager, T-Shirt Company
Anonymous
Verified
Retail
Chicago, Illinois
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
DTC increased local awareness of our store through the use of ad words, a digital marketing campaign, assistance with landing pages and by providing additional feedback.
Online outreach brought more customers to the store, increasing connections in the local area that led to qualified leads and sales. DTC's staff is knowledge, thorough and highly professional. They were even helpful through the end of their contract when we decided to transition the services in-house.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m one of the owners of a brick and mortar custom t-shirt company that’s been around for 35 years.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We wanted to drive more customers to visit and connect with the store through increased online awareness in the local area.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
DTC implemented and executed Google and Bing ad words and a digital marketing campaign, helped us create landing pages, and gave advice and feedback. They also provided helpful guidance on SEO that we’ve implemented.
How did you come to work with DTC?
They were highly recommended by Table XI, a company I like a lot.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested about $40,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them over 3 years ago, but it’s not ongoing. To cut back on expenses, we’ve brought these responsibilities in-house.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We roughly received 100 of what I call “connections” through email, phone calls, or in-store visitors. At its peak, we had about 150 connections. Although difficult to quantify, we believe these connections resulted in an increase of qualified leads and sales.
How did DTC perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re on it! Their staff was very professional and helpful, even during the transition when we ended our contract together.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Without a doubt, they care about their customers very much.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I looked to them for expertise, so it would have been helpful to have more direction on growing our traffic organically.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Tell them everything you know so they can be the best advocate for your business.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"They were very thorough and cared about what they were doing."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
SEO and AdWords for Children's Health Organization
Search Engine Optimization
$10,000 to $49,999
Feb. - June 2017
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They were excellent and fully immersed themselves in our mission."
Aug 24, 2017
President, Camp One Step
Jeff Infusino
Verified
Other industries
Chicago, Illinois
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast provided digital marketing services on a grant basis, focusing on SEO, AdWords, and analytics. They gave valuable guidance beyond the scope and showed genuine interest in the project.
Despite its recent launch, the website has already brought in volunteers and families signing up for events. Digital Third Coast’s support and belief in the company’s mission marked the whole process, delivering everything on time and working collectively as a team.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president of Camp One Step and we run programs for children that have been diagnosed with cancer. We’ve been doing this for 39 years and we have five people on staff that look after the 11 different programs that we have throughout the year. We serve children through ages 7–19 and families in some specific areas.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
As a nonprofit organization, there was a grant opportunity for someone to help us with our SEO [search engine optimization] and to help get our name out there. We need this in order to get the kids and families when they need us most and Digital Third Coast was an active part of the process.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
The scope of the project was to increase our opportunities through SEO and AdWords. This would allow us to get our message out there and bring in new campers and future volunteers. We’re a volunteer-driven organization, and have over 350 volunteers supporting us.
At the time Digital Third Coast came in, we weren’t doing anything from an AdWords perspective and didn’t have any analytics. We needed them to help us get that process started. It was opportunistic that we had them come in at the time because we were going through a rebranding process, upgrading our website as well. They were very helpful in looking at the global aspect of what we do rather than just the project itself without connecting it to everything else that was going on at the time. They made sure our AdWords implementation tied into our analytics.
I’ve been in different situations where people donate services through a grant and you can tell whether they are really committed to making a difference or if it’s something they’re doing for their philanthropic peace, and aren’t necessarily engaged in the organizational mission. Digital Third Coast was very supportive and engaged in what we were doing to support children and their families. They helped us not only with the structuring, but really looked at the process from a rebranding perspective, and really felt the importance of our work.
They gave us a lot of time to really look at and reflect on what our voice was and where we wanted to go. They were not only committed but instrumental in giving us guidance beyond the scope of the project. It helped us in our design and website communication, as well as tying that website information to our SEO project and looking at how we’re measuring.
They were great at allowing us to think out of the box too. We have only five people on staff; we’re wearing multiple hats and running at a very hectic pace. To have someone like Digital Third Coast come in, help us take a step back to reflect on the future, and define what more we can do and how we can communicate more effectively was priceless.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
One of our committee members saw this grant opportunity available through a grant portal online. As we were going through it, it showed which agencies were taking various segments of this grant. That’s how we found out about Digital Third Coast. So, we looked them up and saw what they were all about. We wrote the proposal based on the SEO piece of it.
How much have you invested with them?
The equivalent of the grant was $12,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in February 2017 and we finished the project in June 2017.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We worked on the project for three months and did a lot of testing. Since we just launched in June, it’s still in its early stages, however, we’ve already received some volunteers from those ads.
We also have a family camp that takes place in October and we’re seeing results—a couple of families have already applied thanks to the AdWords ads. If we can get communication flowing between volunteers and several of the camping families, then we’ll see a significant impact because it starts the process.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
They were excellent and fully immersed themselves in our mission. From the day we started talking to them, they were very good at listening to what we were doing and converting that into suggestions. They were always very passionate about our organization and what we do and wanted to learn more in order to make sure it was a successful project. If they had just been doing the work and not really cared about the mission, we wouldn’t have been as successful as we were.
One of our major programs is a summer camp; we have 200 kids that come each week that are either on treatment or are survivors. Four people from Digital Third Coast came to visit at that time after the project was over. This showed us that it wasn’t just a pure project-based effort. They actually wanted to know more about us and work with us as a team rather than as a contractor, and not only a contractor, but someone that we won a grant for.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We’ve been fortunate to work with them. I’ve been in the for-profit and nonprofit space, and I’ve seen teams that have very strong individuals doing the work but are disconnected from the rest of the group. Digital Third Coast is very connected, which you can easily see in each team member. They’re on the same page and are very team driven, up to the highest level of the organization. Everybody communicates in the same effective manner.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I was so impressed with not only how they immersed themselves in our organization, but also with how they worked collectively with us as a team. I didn’t see anything that they could improve; everything we did with them was great.
RATINGS
5.0
"From start to finish, their commitment to our mission and their ability to look beyond the scope of the project to give us advice made it feel like they were part of our team."
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"They were great at setting the tone, the scope, and the expectations of the project. They delivered all through the process."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"They never missed a meeting or a deadline. They came in ahead of schedule on a number of things."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"When you look at how engaged the team was, the value they provided, and what they produced, that expectation was met from the highest regard. The output of their work is still nurturing and moving. You’re getting more than what you’re paying for."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"I would highly recommend them. Their output, their ability to work with different things that you put in front of them, and their overall personality are all excellent.
PPC For Personal Protective Equipment Manufacturer
Pay Per Click
$50,000 to $199,999
Jan. 2013 - Ongoing
4.5
Quality
4.0
Schedule
4.5
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
4.5
"They are responsive, honest, and upfront about everything."
Jul 27, 2017
e-Commerce Director, Personal Protective Equipment Manufacturer
Anonymous
Verified
Manufacturing
Romeoville, Illinois
201-500 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast oversees all PPC advertising across Google and Bing, maintaining responsibility for copy and budget management as well as the industrial product feed to expand brand awareness.
Thanks to Digital Third Coast’s involvement, the average cost per click dropped by 20%, allowing more ad purchases. The team’s transparency, attention to detail, deadline-focused workflow, and reliable output continue to drive results.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the director of e-commerce for an industrial manufacturer and distributor of industrial personal protective equipment (PPE).
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We were looking to expand our pay-per-click (PPC) campaign. We had a spend ratio that we were aiming for in which we could spend as much as we wanted, as long as we hit the specific ratio. Digital Third Coast did that, and we increased the spend.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Digital Third Coast was our Agency of Record (AOR) for all our PPC advertising. They did our Google shopping, Google PPC ads, and Bing PPC ads. They managed the feed for the products, as well as the AdWords and Bing accounts. Digital Third Coast was also responsible for all copy and budget management.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
We interviewed Digital Third Coast in 2010 and discussed our PPC and SEO. At that time, we regretfully went with another company. I always liked the Digital Third Coast team. Our previous agency was in charge of our SEO and PPC. When the opportunity came to work with someone new, I approached Digital Third Coast first, and we started working with them. We’ve recently hired another firm to handle our SEO work and started PPC with Digital Third Coast.
How much have you invested in them?
We’ve spent approximately $140,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Digital Third Coast 4 years ago, and we are still involved with them.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Digital Third Coast cut our cost per click by about 20%. Due to this improved campaign efficiency, we’re able to buy more ads.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
They performed well. They are good at setting timelines and hitting them. We have monthly meetings with the team, and they always let us know what's happening.
What did you find the most impressive about them?
I appreciate their candor. They are responsive, honest, and upfront about everything.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I think they are on top of things.
RATINGS
4.5
Quality
4.0
Service & Deliverables
"Digital Third Coast has done a great job, but there is always room for improvement."
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
"I don’t remember many missed timelines."
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
"As a client, I think we can always do a little bit better when it comes to cost, but their price is reasonable."
Willing to Refer
4.5
NPS
SEO For Pizza Restaurant
Search Engine Optimization
Less than $10,000
May 2016 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
4.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
“They’re fun to work with, always productive, and they consistently do a good job.”
Jul 27, 2017
Digital Manager, Home Run Inn Pizza
Renee Storie
Verified
Other industries
Woodridge, Illinois
1,001-5,000 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast augments SEO for a website through link building, copywriting, and meta tag creation. Their infographics, digital ads, and articles have put traffic and online ordering at an all time high.
Digital Third Coast maximizes productivity by remaining communicative, personable, and proactive. Their creativity continuously yields positive results and enhances an already solid partnership.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m Renee Storie, the digital and social manager of Home Run Inn Pizza. We are a family owned company who has nine restaurants in the Chicago area, and we distribute frozen pizza in over 35 states.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We had just created a new website, but wanted to optimize SEO. People would search “Chicago pizza,” and we wouldn’t show up, which was our biggest issue. Our frozen pizza was doing better than our restaurants because of this. We wanted to boost our in-store visitors, but we needed help with local listings and increasing website traffic.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Digital Third Coast is helping us with all SEO, as well as link building and digital ads. They did meta tags and helped us with copy, as well. At first, our sites were loaded down with too much copy, but now they’re helping us make the history page, and four other pages, more concise. This includes the addition of key phrases such as “Chicago’s best pizza,” or, “Best frozen pizza,” to help increase SEO. They’ve also managed all of our paid search, display, and Google Ads.
What is the team dynamic?
The whole team is great. Ryan [Senior account Manager, Digital Third Coast] is very proactive. Logan [Paid Search Analyst, Digital Third Coast], Kerri [PPC Account Manager, Digital Third Coast], and Nathan [Director of Paid Search, Digital Third Coast] are all amazing as well.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
Orbit Media, the agency who designed our website, recommended Digital Third Coast because they had worked with them previously. We told them how SEO was a major goal for us, and we wanted to split the work between companies who were experts in their specialized fields rather than having one agency do everything.
How much have you invested with them?
We spend around $1,500 monthly.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in May 2016, and the work is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our online traffic and interactions have increased, and online ordering rates are the highest we’ve ever seen. We do link building articles with Digital Third Coast because they make beautiful infographics, which have been helping greatly with PR.
We had opened a restaurant in the Lakeview area of Chicago, and at first, getting the word out was very difficult. Then, Digital Third Coast helped us write an article about the Cubs winning the World Series. Wrigley Field is right down the street, and after the article was shown on the news and picked up by other sites, it became our biggest success.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
They keep us up to date on everything going on in Google AdWords, and come up with new ideas when things get stale. We only have calls once a month, but the rest of the time, they work independently and remain extremely productive. Ryan [Senior Account Manager, Digital Third Coast] is updating all of our different sites to make sure everything is consistent. The whole team is great and easy to work with.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re very personable, and we really look forward to calls with them because they’re hilarious. They’re fun to work with, always productive, and they consistently do a good job, which is why we love them so much.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The local listings are something we’re constantly struggling with. Timing would be the only issue, and touching base more often than once a month might be beneficial. They are pretty good at keeping touching via email, however.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"The Cubs article was amazing, and the infographics are as well."
Schedule
4.0
On time / deadlines
"We’ve had to reschedule a couple calls, which was a little more frustrating than usual, but everything else is on time."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"For sure. We got way more out of the Cubs article than we ever thought we could have."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"We love working with them because they’re fun and come up with great, creative ideas. Definitely a 5.
SEO for Cybersecurity Company
Search Engine Optimization
$50,000 to $199,999
Mar. 2016 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Everyone on the team is always available to talk with me."
Jul 26, 2017
Marketing Director, Cybersecurity Company
Anonymous
Verified
Other industries
Montgomery, Alabama
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast provides SEO and search-result placement services for a cloud-based remote monitoring platform, creating visual and blog content to improve brand visibility and grow traffic.
Compared to last year, organic search traffic has grown steadily month by month, and overall keyword rankings have dramatically improved. Digital Third Coast’s attention to detail, accessibility, and valuable price point continue to impress.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of marketing and sales for a cloud-based remote monitoring and control platform for municipal customers, primarily in the water and wastewater industry. We offer smart home technology for water and wastewater utilities.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We needed help in SEO and our search result placement in general. Digital Third Coast also does work beyond that scope. We want to be more visible and establish ourselves as the authoritative figure in our industry.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
They do SEO consultancy and help me with on-page optimization opportunities. They also create visual content for us and do outreach to get that republished in other places that link back to our domain. That provides us with some authoritative links back to our site. Digital Third Coast recently started to do some blog writing as well. They’ve only done 2 posts, but what I’ve seen so far has been good. They have a good understanding of what we do and the type of voice we want to have.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
I had worked with them in the past at a former company. They were referred to my former company by another vendor that rebuilt our website.
How much have you invested with Digital Third Coast?
We’ve spent over $50,000. We’re on a retainer basis and allocate monthly hours to a certain activity to Digital Third Coast.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them 16 months ago.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?
Our organic search traffic is higher now than it was a year ago. Typically, we see an uplift from month to month, so that’s been a steady increase. Our inbound calls from organic search have grown in the time that we’ve used them. We now have external links to our domain that we didn’t have before, which are very valuable. We’ve been ranking better for related keywords.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
I get a note from our account manager every month reporting where they’ve allocated their time. We also have monthly calls. If we need things in between those times, I’m able to access them based on my needs. Everyone on the team is always available to talk with me.
What did you find most impressive about Digital Third Coast?
We have a niche business, so they spent a lot of time making sure they understood what I do, which people are coming to the site, and what my needs are before they started the work, which has been helpful. Since we have that mutual understanding, any new project takes less time to get started.
Are there any areas Digital Third Coast could improve?
I don’t think so. I like to dig into details, so sometimes I wonder what’s going on for those hours they’re allocating. But, I also understand that to explain items in that much detail is not always beneficial, especially if we’re paying them hourly. The relationship has been really smooth.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"I’ve seen the results of their work, and we typically reach our goals."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"They’ve always hit the deadlines they set for themselves."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"I feel like I’m getting good value for the money. It’s hard to know for sure because I haven’t worked with many other SEO agencies."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"I have recommended them already.
SEO Audit & PPC For Children's Hospital
Search Engine Optimization
$50,000 to $199,999
Jan. 2013 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
4.5
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They were very responsive and took initiative."
Jul 14, 2017
Digital Marketing Manager, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
Amelia Aiello
Verified
Other industries
Chicago, Illinois
1,001-5,000 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Digital Third Coast technically audited a redesigned health care website, proposing ideas for URL structure, keywords, and content. They now manage SEO, SEM, and organic search campaigns to drive traffic.
Through Digital Third Coast’s assistance, organic visits reached 1 million early this year, quickly surpassing the annual goal. The team’s reliable performance, exceptional price point, and business-generating approach continue to support valuable results.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your organization.
I was the manager of digital marketing and analytics at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, a pediatric specialty hospital.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What business challenge were you trying to address with Digital Third Coast?
We had just launched a new website and were working to get our site back up in the rankings. The new site didn’t have the best practices as far as SEO. Digital Third Coast did an audit of the site, found the holes, and explained what we needed to do to patch the errors. Our partnership expanded once we had some experience working with them.
SOLUTION
Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.
They handled elements of SEO, organic search, content, and the search engine marketing (SEM). For the website SEO, they performed a technical audit of the site, which involved analyzing the way that search engines viewed the website and how we could optimize the site for greater visibility. We also looked at some of our most trafficked pages to find ways to make them easier for people to find, and Digital Third Coast provided all kinds of recommendations for URL structure, H1s, keywords, and title tags.
After the main website was done, we transitioned to a general commitment with them where if we had questions, they’d help us. That went really well, and they started managing our listings on sites like Google Businesses or Yelp. They also took over our paid search marketing. We did a few pilot programs before doing yearlong programs.
Digital Third Coast also did content marketing. They develop infographics for some keywords that we need to boost rankings for, and they coordinate links back to us from relevant sites and different communities. They also used the Google display network tool.
How did you come to work with Digital Third Coast?
We did an RFP with a few different vendors. Digital Third Coast had been recommended to our director at the time. We liked their bid, and their services were reasonably priced.
Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?
For the SEO, organic search, and content, we spend about $42,000 a year. Paid search costs about $100,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in 2013 and have been partners since.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?
We’d set a goal of raising our organic visits to at least a million each year, and we met that early this year. That was a big achievement. We’ve also bumped up conversions, and a lot more of our pages were indexed organically in searches through Digital Third Coast’s work. On the paid side, we did see a lot of clicks.
How did Digital Third Coast perform from a project management standpoint?
I think they perform pretty well. There were a few times where I had to follow-up on tasks with them and send reminders. But, overall, they were very responsive and took initiative.
What distinguishes Digital Third Coast from other providers?
We had monthly reporting calls, which gave us a sense of how we were doing and where we were going. That’s not something that our other vendors really offered. Digital Third Coast was never trying to sell us anything additional. They only suggested strategies that they thought would work for us, instead of trying to bill us for another service.
Is there anything Digital Third Coast could have improved or done differently?
They could improve their project management for paid search. I’d appreciate more follow-up on tasks and individual reports on campaigns. But, other than that, I think they’re pretty good.
RATINGS
5.0
"We have a great partnership, and they really did a lot for the site."
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
"By and large, the work was done thoughtfully and meticulously. I caught a few errors every once in a while in some of the content pieces, but they were pretty good overall."
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
"Sometimes, I had to reach out and make sure that things were going as planned for paid search."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"They provide their services at a great value. I think they could probably charge more."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"They were the best vendor I worked with when I was in that position.
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