Disruptive Advertising

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of sales and marketing for Lifestyles Unlimited. We’re an education and mentoring group for real estate investors, empowering people to buy and hold single/multi-family properties to create passive income. We believe that we have a strong message and methodology that makes retirement more accessible to people regardless of age.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We were looking to open additional marketing streams to increase our outreach. At the time, we had a strong radio presence but realized that we needed to expand into more online strategies. Disruptive Advertising was able to amplify our message and grow our digital footprint.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our initial goal was to set up our Google AdWords, refine our keywords list, and track our metrics more efficiently. We were also creating our first landing pages at the time and had Disruptive Advertising take over all of our AdWords purchasing. It was really a question of seeing what worked or didn’t work.

As we continued to expand as a business, we started to target new cities and markets and had to consider more of a national strategy. They established our social media platforms across multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Not only did they use those platforms to find new audiences, we’re now able to register people directly to our events through social media. Customers no longer have to learn about an event on one site and register on another.

At each phase of our growth, they’ve consistently implemented new strategies and campaigns to support our offline efforts. We’ve been able to launch a national radio program, and they’re working on deploying video content in the near future.

Currently, they continue to nurture our social media marketing while preparing to introduce SEO tactics. For the last few months, they’ve led the development and testing for our site redesign. We’re trying to figure out where the optimal placement for our messaging would be on the new WordPress site. In addition to managing our landing pages and looking at effective placements, they work closely with our Infusionsoft consultant to work out bugs and make routine site changes.

What is the team composition?

We originally had a single account manager who’s taken excellent care of us. As our companies mutually grew, they’ve assigned additional representatives for each service line we’ve added. We now work with a dedicated account manager for social media and another for site testing, but our first manager is still the overarching account lead.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

They actually reached out to us with a proposal. They were also a growing company at the time and have been gaining traction ever since. We consider ourselves lucky to be able to evolve with them as they developed their business.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work started in September 2014 and is ongoing. We launched our first set of landing pages in October 2014 and are currently working on a site redesign.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s just been a progression of growth and change. When we first started the engagement, we had about 1,000 likes on social media and now boast over 8,000. They’ve also helped us expand our market from an exclusive audience in Texas to a national stage. Our click-through and engagement rates have increased substantially, resulting in a higher conversion rate. Moreover, the cost-per-click has decreased. I appreciate that they’re conscientious of our budget and ensure that we get the most out of our investment.

In terms of our working relationship, we always consult their expertise whenever we need to add something new. They’re available to meet to talk things through and patiently teach us about different approaches. If we can dream it up, they’ll do it for us.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

Once every other year, we meet in person to discuss any changes to our strategy and plan for the future. Beyond that, they communicate fairly consistently, sending emails, updates, and even packages during milestones in the relationship. They also keep us up to speed with new opportunities that we might not have considered before.

Furthermore, they’ve cultivated several strong business habits that make us feel heard and understood. For example, they send notes after every meeting to summarize our key points and actions. If they don’t understand something, we’ll explain it to them, and they’ll repeat it to confirm. As for scheduling, they realize that we often have to focus on other initiatives, so they respect our time. However, they always make sure to follow up and remind of us our goals, which helps keep us accountable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Unlike other vendors who are more focused on metrics rather than understanding the client’s business, Disruptive Advertising took the time to learn about us. We felt like we could share anything with them, and they’re happy to review our work and give suggestions. Their service level is exceptional, and they respond quickly to our inquiries.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind regarding their performance. They’re actually working to improve the interface on their reporting tools to facilitate our tracking process. This way, even though we’re not physically tracking everything ourselves, we still have an idea of what’s going on. This has been particularly helpful so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It depends on the type of customer. The dynamics for a client with a lot of digital marketing experience who just needs a service provider will be different compared with a client who doesn’t know anything.

Either way, Disruptive Advertising can help people at any level of expertise, so don’t be intimidated. There’s a lot to learn, and you can ask as many questions as you need. They’re happy to slow down and explain their insights.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a van rental service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We needed an experienced marketing firm to run a PPC campaign for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Disruptive Advertising manages our PPC campaign using Google AdWords. They track our progress using Google Analytics and keep us up-to-date on the results as much as our schedule allows. We’re a seasonal business and just wrapped up some of our more hectic months of the year. Therefore, I haven’t been as engaged in their efforts as I should be other than occasionally checking the AdWords tool. We’re about to enter our slow season, so their real test will be generating business during the upcoming fiscal quarter. However, they’ve communicated to me a number of things they have in place to ensure that happens.

What is the team composition?

Kevin (Marketing Consultant, Disruptive Advertising) is our primary point of content.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

We initially used the firm that designed our website to provide marketing services. Unfortunately, they weren’t delivering the results we wanted. I conducted a lot of online research to find reputable vendors and Disruptive Advertising had positive reviews from previous clients. As a result, they were at the top of my list for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

In addition to the AdWords themselves, we pay Disruptive Advertising $1,500 a month for their services. Our total advertising budget comes to about $3,500 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We hired them in January 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have meaningful metrics available because we started working with them at the time of year when our services are naturally in high demand. A large part of Kevin’s current participation with the project involves establishing reliable metrics and analytics. He’s implementing a tag manager to all the ads, so we can better track the amount of traffic their efforts are generating. Anecdotally, we’ve seen an increase in sales as a result of their work. The AdWords campaign is staying relevant alongside the efforts of our competitors.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

They offer enough contact and availability to serve us as a customer. In terms of communication, clients will get as much out of the engagement as they put in. We’re supposed to have a weekly call with them to go over results and brainstorm how further refine the campaign, but we’ve had to deprioritize that due to frequent business. They took control of the project during that time and haven’t let us down. Whenever I voice concerns, Kevin quickly responds and does everything within his power to resolve the issue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They proactively reach out to us and are straightforward communicators. The information they provide is top-notch and I only wish I had the time to work closely with them. I also appreciate their accessible pricing model. Other companies incentivize their clients to spend more by charging a percentage based on the number of ads purchased through Google. Disruptive Advertising charges a flat fee regardless of how much we spend on ads. I find this approach to be more honest. Overall, they’re doing the best they can to manage our campaign and find new ways for our ads to remain relevant.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Become familiar with AdWords before starting a project like this one. That way, you’ll know what to do with all the information they provide. Conversely, being able to speak their language while pitching ideas of your own will only improve the collaboration process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

As the strategic account manager, I ensure the efficacy and productivity of all client digital marketing campaigns 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Disruptive Advertising?

We hired them for PPC, Google, and Facebook advertising services. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to produce professional ads that mirrored our company branding and reached our target clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our firm spent a good deal of time interviewing and courting multiple PPC firms. Disruptive had both the technical knowledge and the customer service we wanted to manage our accounts.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We met immediately upon contracting to review the goals of the agency and of our individual accounts. They then developed an updated advertising campaign. 

What was the team composition?

We work directly with an account manager, but we also communicate regularly with the management and owners. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their remarketing campaign consistently produces results well above established goals. If they notice unfavorable trends in the accounts, they adjust and recover before the client even notices. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our workflow is flawless. We meet via conference call for weekly reports and the email communication is fast and efficient. Always eager to help with any internal training, Disruptive definitely employs an engaged team approach. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We measure success by results. Not only does Disruptive produce them, but they take great care throughout the process to make sure we feel important.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They quickly resolved the singular issue with email reporting.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the operations manager for a monthly underwear subscription company called BootayBag.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Disruptive Advertising?

We needed SEO assistance and help designing Google Ads.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal from the SEO assistance was to increase our sales and gain more awareness for our company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were a professional reference.

Describe the project in detail.

Disruptive Advertising helped us understanding and execute the SEO marketing strategy they devised for us. They also helped design the Google Ads and directed them to our target market.

What was the team composition?

Our team primarily worked with Disruptive Advertising’s marketing consultant and vice president of operations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

Since our engagement began, our subscriber count has significantly increased.

How did the Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

They are great at keeping us updated throughout the process. They explain their work in a way that we can understand and benefit from. They complete everything in a timely manner and are extremely professional.

What impresses you about the Disruptive Advertising?

Their amazing communication and the results we've seen make them stand out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’ve only had positive experiences with Disruptive Advertising.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of marketing and strategy for Techna Glass, an auto glass services provider that operates in 150 locations across 30 states.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We needed a partner to manage our Google Ads projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Disruptive Advertising takes care of Google Ads for most of our markets. They make sure that our daily budgets are correct, we stay on schedule, and we optimize keywords. They also provide feedback and data that we’re able to review, such as rankings, conversion percentages, and click costs.

They analyze our campaigns daily and tweak whatever needs to be changed to improve our advertising. They look at every single campaign and every single location to determine how to best allocate our resources.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with two people.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

We interviewed quite a number of providers and found that Disruptive Advertising was professional, forward thinking, and incredibly skilled. They understood exactly what we needed and took the time to figure out how to best interact with our customers. They’re also a local company, which we preferred.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $50,000 a year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clicks per month have increased from 5,000 to over 20,000, we’ve reduced our costs of conversion from over $20 to under $10 in most markets, the average cost per click has dropped from about $6 to under $3, and the number of monthly conversions has gone up from 1,200 to over 5,000.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a weekly phone call and quarterly in-person meeting to enhance our partnership and get the most value for our spend. A lot of our business is seasonal, so our spend fluctuates quite a bit, and they’ve been incredibly responsive to that and made sure things have all lined up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Other agencies tend to just plug you into a formula and let that do the work, but Disruptive Advertising isn’t like that. They invest a lot of time in reviewing our account on a daily basis to optimize every campaign every month.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d love to see them do more local market research. I want to see what our competitors in the market are doing and their average spend. However, overall, I’m quite pleased with Disruptive Advertising’s work.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

In the beginning, outline exactly what you hope to gain from working with Disruptive Advertising. They’re incredibly responsive and great at meeting expectations, but they need to know what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Wasatch Covers. We manufacture and install custom-fit window well covers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We wanted to increase volume and reduce costs of our PPC campaigns. We were struggling to get results with our previous firm, so we were looking for a new company to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We target mostly homeowners, which are our primary customers. Disruptive took charge of our PPC campaigns and helped us brainstorm new strategies, providing in-depth information upon request. They're very clear about their steps, so I never have to wonder what is going on.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact with whom I talk once a week.

How did you come to work with them?

They were referred to me. They had the expertise that we needed, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've paid $5,000 in management fees and about $20,000–in ad spend.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within 7–8 weeks of starting to work with Disruptive, our volume increased by about 30%, while our ad spend dropped in some areas as much as 50%. Their efforts helped generate record numbers of sales and leads.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They're responsive, prompt, and easy to work with. We usually talk via email or phone. Also, they're exceptionally organized and knowledgeable. We asked them for some unique data reporting, so they're doing custom work for us as well. They're great communicators and very thorough in their reporting.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They knew what they were doing from the beginning. They answered all of our questions and provided recommendations, staying on top of things throughout the onboarding and the sales process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They've done a great job on all levels.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They know what they're doing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the social media and communications specialist for a sustainable energy retailer called Kiwi Energy. We also run a sister brand called Spring Power & Gas. Our organization focuses on environmentally conscious products, supporting individuals, groups, and organizations that run eco-friendly projects through the Ecogold Environmental Fund.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Disruptive Advertising?

We needed resources to lead PPC campaigns for both of our brands.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase online and phone enrollments while also improving our call center call quality.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through research and discussions.

Describe the project in detail.

For over a year, they’ve run our PPC campaigns and worked with us to optimize our site for keywords. They’ve also supported us with other ad hoc projects such as building out and updating landing pages for various sign-up promotions.

What was the team composition?

We work with a dedicated account strategist who is very responsive to our needs and objectives.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

They’ve been excellent to work with. Knowledgeable and adaptable, the team is extremely responsive and has exceeded our management expectations.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

Every two weeks, we have a thorough phone conversation to analyze the campaign performance, discuss the next steps, and identify any updates we need to make.

What impresses you about Disruptive Advertising?

Our account manager has gone above and beyond to help us achieve our desired results. He's always responsive and quick to provide solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would be great if they had some additional tools to research competitors and their PPC strategies.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing program manager for GoReact. We sell video feedback software primarily to higher education institutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We were starting to look at paid advertising to open new avenues of lead generation as our company grew. We tried doing it ourselves, and we even did a direct partnership with Google to run some ads. However, we weren’t seeing a lot of success. We didn't feel like we even had a good grasp of where things went wrong.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handle all of our PPC strategy, primarily Facebook Ads. They work with us to continually improve the targeting of the ads to drive the best results.

What is the team composition?

I primarily interface with Derek (marketing consultant, Disruptive Advertising) and we’ve recently started working with a second marketing consultant.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

They're located just down the street from us so we'd heard their name. We thought it was worth taking a look at them so we reached out to them through a cold call. They came to our offices for a meeting and we really liked what they had to say.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $75,000 in a combination of ad spend and their management fee.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2017 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results weren't exactly what we were looking for when we started, but we knew there was going to be a learning curve. They were getting us a lot of leads but they weren't necessarily the right leads. As we worked on refining the ads, they became more effective.  Now we’re to the point where we’re getting qualified leads that are turning into business for us, which is awesome. Facebook has been a successful channel for driving more leads to our company.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

Derek and I have a standing biweekly call but we interface at least once a week. We mostly communicate by phone or email, and we do some face-to-face meetings. They’re super responsive and always willing to take on anything we ask. Any slowdown in terms of the process has all been on our end. We’re not always great at making sure we're getting back to them quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're really good at staying on top of us even when we’re prone to having balls dropped on our end. They don't just let it drop. They will stay on top of us. Some other contractors are content to sit back and collect their fee, but Disruptive Advertising is really good about being proactive. They push the initiatives forward and don’t just let them sit still. They've been exactly what we'd been looking for.

Any advice for potential customers?

Lean on their expertise. We came in with a lot of preconceived notions that probably slowed down our success at the beginning. Our results have definitely gotten better since we let them take the lead.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the COO at Crossover Symmetry. We’re a manufacturer and retailer of exercise equipment designed to rehab, develop and maintain optimum shoulder health. Our clients include professional athletes, physical therapy clinics, and active weekend warriors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Disruptive Advertising?

We needed an outside firm to manage our presence on Facebook and Instagram. We also needed to optimize our website for the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking to create and implement profitable Facebook advertising campaigns for a number of different verticals and geographic regions. We were also looking to achieve increased conversion rates through split testing of multiple factors on our site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered several firms and had multiple meetings about processes, pricing, and what they felt they could achieved. Disruptive Advertising stood out from the others in multiple aspects.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Disruptive Advertising started with an audit of our messaging, customer lists, Facebook audiences, and product catalog. They used their understanding to develop engagement, traffic, and conversion campaigns accordingly. They work within our budget and return on advertising spend (ROAS) goals. As for website optimization, they provided some recommendations for immediate improvements along with a plan for testing and optimizing each step of the conversion process.

What was the team composition?

Our initial meetings were with several VPs, but the kickoff and ongoing work involves working with project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have been able to continually grow ad spend and explore new markets profitably. Our optimization has continued to improve conversion. Most importantly, we have been able to take this responsibility off our plate with the knowledge that we can rely on the Disruptive Advertising team. They have continually suggested new ideas and put those tests into motion. It’s been very helpful to see the results via reporting and meetings while not having to be intimately involved with the day to day processes.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication is the key to a successful engagement. We always know what they are working on, and we know what they’re waiting on from us. They provide results in real time, and we know they’re available at any time to discuss any questions or issues. Disruptive Advertising does not miss deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We have worked with other digital advertising companies in the past. Nearly all put in a great deal of effort in the first month or two of the relationship, nut once things are established, most have seemed to slow their process down to increase costs. Disruptive Advertising has not done that. They are continually coming to the table with new ideas and tests to try each month. It’s been very refreshing, and we are extremely pleased.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It’s outside the scope of what we are working on, but I'd love if Disruptive Advertising had copywriting messaging experts on their team. That would allow us to test those components as well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of Marketing for Brimm Boutique, so I oversee any and all marketing efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Disruptive Advertising?

We hired DA (Disruptive Advertising) to do our digital marketing ads for Facebook and Instagram.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a minimum return of four times our investment. We also wanted a team with good communication – one who would have time to speak with us and make us feel valuable and important to their business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We talked with many different digital marketing companies, but after speaking with DA a few times, as well as to a client of theirs, we felt comfortable that they were the right fit for us.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

DA does all the work for us including strategizing, creative, and reporting. It's nice to have a company you trust to help build your own company.

What was the team composition?

My main point of contact is my account manager. He’s been great to work with and is also very personable. I also have monthly calls with a senior marketing consultant to make sure things are going well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DA has been able to give me an average of return of four times my spend in only a month and a half. On the high-end, they’ve been able to give us campaigns with over 7x returns.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with our account manager has been great. I really feel like he cares about the success of our company. He has good insight and is willing to listen when I have questions or concerns. They're great about giving me reports and feedback on how things are going.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

At the end of the day, the results are what matters to us, and we’ve been satisfied with what DA has been able to do. We have high expectations and we know DA will get us there. We'll continue our business with them as long as they keep producing the same results.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are none that I can think of. They're a pretty great company.