Disruptive Advertising

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.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and owner of a boutique bankruptcy law firm in Southern Indiana.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our engagement with Disruptive Advertising focused on Google PPC advertising and SEO services. A previous vendor we’d hired in November 2017 had only generated two leads in four months, one of which resulted in a sale. We needed to attract more potential customers and secure new business. 

What were your goals for this project?

Our primary objective was to create a more efficient set of campaigns. Ultimately, our work aimed to increase our overall conversion rate.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After an unsuccessful past partnership, we began contacting SEO firms found through Google In February 2018. After interviewing several teams, we hired Disruptive in March 2018. The main point that sold us on Disruptive was their cautious optimism. They were willing to concede that it was impossible to guarantee a certain number of leads or sales.

Describe the project in detail.

We held numerous conference calls to pinpoint the requirements for this project. Throughout the first three months, we spoke on a regular basis to further hone my campaigns. The team was very forthright while describing all the factors and contingencies that determine a successful SEO and PPC strategy.

What was the team composition?

Disruptive Advertising assigned me a team that usually consisted of a lead strategist and a resource I called my "digital tactician."

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since our partnership with Disruptive Advertising, we’ve been consistently showing up in the second or third rank within Google’s paid search results. I genuinely believe they’re doing everything in their collective power to increase my sales through our digital advertising campaigns.  I'm extremely satisfied with Disruptive Advertising and would recommend them to anyone. In fact, I already have.

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

My two points of contact have been very responsive. When I email them with questions, I typically hear back within 24 hours. Their standard response includes either a definitive answer OR a road map of how to obtain one for me along with a concrete timeline.

What impresses you about the Disruptive Advertising?

The team is very knowledgeable about the SEO and PPC space.  They never seemed to have an air of superiority or a supposed guild to protect. Disruptive Advertising is respectful and receptive to constructive criticism. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only way they could improve at this point would be to become experts in my firm’s industry. They’ve even assured me they already plan on studying the basic tenants of my field in their spare time. All this effort outside the scope of our engagement aims to serve my SEO needs even better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

WANDRD manufactures and sells travel and photography gear like luggage, backpacks, and duffle bags. I’m the co-founder, and I’m in charge of marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We needed a partner to take over our social media and AdWords campaign strategy. We wanted to outsource it completely while bringing in additional PPC revenue.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handle our Instagram, Facebook, and AdWords strategies. They create audiences, acquire new customers, and retarget visitors to our website. They’ve implemented some retargeting campaigns as well, building out the creative for those ads and managing those campaigns.

They also do website testing and conversion rate optimization (CRO) testing. They run A/B campaigns on our website to increase its conversion rates. We give them our assets and they take over the creative side of the advertising. It’s a collaborative effort.

What is the team composition?

We work with about five people consistently. I communicate directly with all of them.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

We considered other agencies as well. I found out about them by driving past their offices and seeing their sign. I looked them up online and saw they were working with other reputable companies.

How much have you invested with them?

Since February, we’ve spent a total of $40,000 a month. We spend $30,000 a month in ad spend and $10,000 a month in management fees and website testing.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They consistently return above four times our ad spend. They quickly scaled what we were doing previously to increase our revenue and help us reach a bigger audience. Disruptive Advertising has increased our audience size, increased our as spend return, and done everything more cost-effectively than the agency we used before.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

We meet in person, talk on the phone, and use email. They’re better than anybody else we’ve worked with. Their communication is on point. I get weekly updates from each team member. When I need anything, they have a really quick turnaround time. I’m pleased with their attention to detail and their level of communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we were vetting companies, we wanted to find someone who felt like a business partner. They’ve done a great job with that. Each team member is really excited about and interested in our brand. They show that they genuinely enjoy working on our projects. It’s important to us to know that they’re equally invested and interested in our business.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be really open with your situation. It really helped us. One of the things I liked about the process is we could be super open about our situation and our goals. They were really upfront about whether they would be a good fit. Go in with an open mind and allow them to gauge how successful they could be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Engagex, a marketing firm that focuses on phone-based customer outreach. We contact customers for various reasons on behalf of our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We were looking for someone to help drive new lines of business. We wanted to add online leads, so we needed a firm to help us test if that was a productive segment or not.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We established a budget with Disruptive and gave them some messaging to work with. They extracted the value points to build a landing page that would drive business. They have an analytical and scientific approach to creating the marketing material, and most of the work was for AdWords. They tested a variety of keywords and messaging options to see which most effectively engaged our customers. The A/B testing lasted until Disruptive identified the best way to drive traffic.

Although they were able to generate interest, we eventually decided to not move forward with the program because it didn’t fit well into our business model.

What is the team composition?

The project manager was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

Disruptive had a good reputation in the business community. Many people I respect have had great success with them, so they came highly recommended. I reached out to them and struck up a relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from March 2015–March 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a specific goal of generating 30 inbound leads per day, and Disruptive exceeded that. They quickly proved the value of what we were selling.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager was efficient, proactive, and always available. She regularly checked in and reported back to us, keeping the lines of communication open. She took real-time data on a daily basis and provided feedback on how the leads were performing and what adjustments needed to be made.

We mainly communicated via email and phone, but they just recently launched a dynamic portal.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took time to effectively understand our business and made sure we succeeded. When you hire someone to do your marketing, it can be hard for them to represent you accurately, but Disruptive’s work aligned perfectly with who we are as a company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I wouldn’t have changed anything about our experience.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Follow their process and trust that they know what they’re doing. Their methodology is well-tested, so you can let them take charge. Follow their lead, and you’ll have more success.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of Dana Ball Legal Services. We help small business owners avoid common legal mistakes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I needed resources to generate leads through Google AdWords.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to increase our visibility to target small business owners.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Another business owner who had previously worked with Disruptive Advertising referred them to me.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Initially, we had several phone calls to discuss our objectives, review our intended market, and answer any questions. Because my practice differs from typical law firms, they needed to test our keywords, search terms, and ads, identifying the ideal social media channels to promote my business. Using this information, they’ve led my social media campaign and AdWords to generate leads. Every month, they give me a report on all of our marketing efforts.

What was the team composition?

I work with two people who oversee my account.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re amazed to see the quality of leads we’re receiving. The team has a great system in place to accomplish our goals. They always informed me when we should halt unproductive outlets and shift our focus to more fruitful ones, which prevents me from wasting money.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They’ve been extremely helpful, delivering quality responses to my inquiries and concerns. They’re on top of their customer service and maintain open communication. I can easily reach my contact by phone or email. Currently, we have a monthly phone call to review the previous month’s report and discuss the next month’s strategy. They consistently follow up on tasks, and I always know what to expect.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team members are proactive; they strive to make sure that I understand the process and know what to expect.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of e-commerce for The Tool Nut, an online retailer for power tools and related accessories. I'm in charge of our online activities, including marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Disruptive Advertising?

We needed to replace our PPC advertiser.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The agency that we were using before was based in Israel, so the time difference and lack of communication led us to switching. We do a lot of PPC advertising, and our account wasn’t getting the resources it needed. When we partnered with Disruptive, there was a bit of a learning curve, but that was expected. After about three months, they understood our demographic and product mix. They do PPC advertising on Google, Bing, and Facebook.

They restructured parts of the account to make it easier to manage, and we even met with them and some Google representatives. Because they’re a premier partner, they have access to Google resources and personnel. They presented a few strategies, which we began implementing. We currently have plans to work with Disruptive on conversion rate optimization within the next month.

How did you come to work with Disruptive Advertising?

I did some research online to find the top PPC agencies in the U.S. We interviewed 5–6 of them and ultimately decided to hire Disruptive. They felt like a good fit and seemed like a knowledgeable and capable company. We were impressed by their eagerness and enthusiasm.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a 20%–25% increase in our ROI since working with Disruptive. They’ve done a great job growing that and helping it continue to grow. Even during the initial months of our partnership, their performance was better than our previous partner.

How did Disruptive Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly calls to discuss our project, and they’re always engaged and interested in what’s going on. They listen to our feedback and take direction, respecting our final decisions. They provide great insight and expertise on different methods or ideas we should implement.

Even though their fee is based on a percentage of our PPC spend, they’ve never been reluctant when we’ve cut back on ads. They look out for our best interest as well as their own.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re an enthusiastic and proactive group. They’re good people that we can trust. A lot of companies are willing to bend rules, but Disruptive does things honestly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They did some graphic design work that wasn’t homogenous with our site and brand.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Maintain clear communication and be in touch with them on a regular basis.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-owner of a company that manufactures and sells streaming media players.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired them to manage and improve our Facebook advertising campaigns. We had been doing it on our own with good results, but a professional team was needed to take it to the next level.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase conversions while lowering conversion costs.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I went to a digital marketing comparison site and contacted the top three vendors that work with companies of our size. Disruptive seemed to offer the best value.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Disruptive has complete control of our Facebook marketing campaign. Jared (Marketing Consultant, Disruptive Advertising) helped us identify audiences that were receptive to our product offerings. He then implemented a dynamic retargeting campaign that has been extremely profitable.

What was the team composition?

Jared is our main point of contact. He also manages our account.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Disruptive has executed solid campaigns that have produced great results. Jared has helped lower the costs of our retargeting campaigns.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It is wonderful. The communication between us and Disruptive has been solid.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are extremely professional and friendly. They really care about their customers.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of.