Hibu

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a mining company. We create mining bags and buckets for kids, which has rocks and sand that kids can dig through to find crystals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hibu?

We hired them to provide SEO services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our plan was to set up Google Analytics, Google Ads, and SEO for our website. Hibu was also supposed to conduct social media marketing for us, specifically to put up and manage Facebook ads.

The sales representative personally came in to see us and spent an exorbitant amount of time giving us the rundown of what the costs would be. We were able to settle on a starting point and how we would move forward once that was successful. 

Everything went downhill almost immediately, though. We held a two-hour phone call to talk about our company and walked them through our terminology and verbiage. We even dove into our FAQs and how we interacted with our customers to direct their SEO keyword research. Hibu said that they would immediately get to work after that call, but it ended up as though we never even had the conversation in the first place. 

Hibu did sign us up for Google Analytics, but they never gave us access to it. The very first Facebook ad they put up was also grammatically incorrect and didn’t have the “shop here” option, which should’ve been the whole point of the ad. It took a couple of hours to take that ad down since we couldn’t get in touch with them. It felt like they brushed the matter off, as though it wasn’t a big deal. 

What is the team composition?

We interacted with two people from Hibu: a sales representative who personally met with us and his regional boss with whom we only ever spoke on the phone. 

How did you come to work with Hibu?

Hibu was recommended to us via a local Facebook group. 

How much have you invested with them?

We paid $3,000 a month, so it all amounted to around $9,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We hired them in April 2021, and we terminated the partnership in July 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a very specific request to not be called a “toy store”, but to this day, that is how we’re recognized on Facebook. The main keyword we wanted to rank for is “activities for kids”. We also pointed out that though our location is in Massachusetts, we’re a global company, but our website still reflects that we only cater to Massachusetts. It’s very inaccurate seeing as we generated $3 million in revenue last year and are very clearly not a small company. 

We had to spend a lot of time reversing all of the things that Hibu did incorrectly. I had to pay my own staff for overtime work and even pull some of them off of their current projects since this matter was time-sensitive.  Even our FAQs page, which they put up, was nowhere near what we had talked about. It’s like they made up their own words. 

We fought for the reimbursement of our $9,000 investment because everything we hired them to do, we essentially ended up having to do ourselves. 

How did Hibu perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated over the phone and via email only. There wasn’t any kind of project management structure or platform. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could definitely improve on their services and their bedside manner. I feel like they were being too comfortable with us and neglected to maintain any level of professionalism.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hibu traditionally helps brick and mortar companies, and I don’t think they’ve fully transitioned to catering to e-commerce businesses like ours. My advice is to hire an e-commerce expert and ask for references, specifically e-commerce brands that have used that expert’s services. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner/Operator of Move Chiropractic. I provide mobile chiropractic services and house calls

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RevLocal, and what were your goals?

I hired Rev Local to grow my local and organic search awareness.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Matt had reached out to me, seeing that I was a new business in the area. He was very personable and extremely knowledgeable in what he was explaining. The other deciding factor was that he was actually a local person from the area.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

A landing page was created for my business as well as optimizing my google my business page. They also search ads to be run. I was kept up to date on the performance of what we were doing through their analytics program and monthly calls with the strategist to discuss what was working well, and what we should look at changing. I was also given "homework" to focus on such as strategies and best practices to ask patients for google reviews and social media posting.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with Matt who my local rep, and Hanna, who was the strategist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Being a brand new business, the results were slow to start, but after a couple months, I began noticing more calls from people who found me through local google searches. Matt was also able to get the listings of chiropractors that were no longer in business in the area, removed from google maps, which was fantastic. The ad spend received on average 11,000-12,000 impressions.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The work flow was very convenient. I am a single member business, and having direct contact with both Matt and Hanna was fantastic. If I wanted any changes or had any questions, they were answered nearly immediately with a quick phone call or email.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The most impressive quality I felt, was that they seemed genuinely vested in the results I was getting. They were honest if something was not working, and offered ideas to change up the strategy. Also, the ease of direct communication with both Matt and Hanna was outstanding. There were no automated phone calls and no wait times if I needed to contact them about something. I was just a small start up, with a small budget, but I felt like I was treated as well as a large company investing thousands of dollars into their marketing. Matt is also tremendous with thinking of his clients and personally connecting them together if he felt it would be worth introducing them. He made me countless valuable connections in the community, and I can't say enough how grateful I am for that.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I honestly don't know enough about digital marketing to know what they could have done better/different. I just know that the personal interactions and feeling like Matt, Hanna, and their team genuinely cared, was more than I could have ever expected.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a custom PC company based in Raleigh NC that I started at the end of 2015. We believe that fostering and strengthening authentic personal relationships with our customers is the most important part of our business. Above all, we want to help you get exactly what you need to be successful.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RevLocal?

When I needed someone to help me out with more advanced topics, my relationship with Matt on LinkedIn was all I needed to know he was the right person to call. He and my strategist Taylor get my business in a way that few people do, and they truly have my best interest at heart.

What were your goals for this project?

To improve local search marketing, brand awareness, and recognition of what our business does (and does not).

SOLUTION

How did you select RevLocal?

I'd like to say I've become a decently proficient business owner when it comes to marketing. When I needed someone to help me out with more advanced topics, my relationship with Matt on LinkedIn was all I needed to know he was the right person to call.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Matt and my strategist Taylor get my business in a way that few people do, and they truly have my best interest at heart.

What was the team composition?

2 roles ever, Matt and Taylor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Consistent measured scalable results online that we can mostly source a cause from. Things are moving at rates that are either on par or better than expected by our strategist.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless, clear regular communication with open professional lines. Stellar.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Honestly, we appreciate how open and professional they are.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None right now.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an automotive software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hibu?

We needed help with digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked them to create a digital marketing campaign to boost sales and bring in more leads. Within two months of working with them, they just took the money out of our bank account with literally no results whatsoever. Nothing was delivered.

What is the team composition?

They have thousands of employees, but I was only speaking with the sales representative and a marketing specialist.

How did you come to work with Hibu?

I found them on Google. I chose them because of the way they represent themselves. In our conversation, they were so nice and promised to do everything so I decided to take a chance and see if they can do what we needed. They promised that it would work 100%.

How much have you invested in them?

I spent at least $7,000. They were charging $2,500 a month with no results.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them in 2016 for about two months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

In terms of doing what they were supposed to do, I would give them a zero. On the website, I could see the actual leads and where they were coming from. If the leads are coming from Google, I can see that a lead has been driven directly from a Google search. With them, within two months and spending money, there were literally no leads. We had the exact same amount of leads as we did before working with them.

I spent $7,000 and literally had no return. When I told them that I didn’t want to work with them any longer, they told me the contract was at least three months. We didn’t finish the contract with them because it was a waste of money, so it did affect the business a lot. 

How was project management handled?

In terms of scheduling and conversations, it was pretty easy, and I would rate them a four out of five in that area. In terms of performance, which is the most important thing, it was absolutely zero.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

No, I can’t think of anything.

In what specific areas can they improve?

Everything should be improved. They have to hire someone who really knows what they are doing. Everything is about knowledge. It isn’t about how you represent the services; it’s about how you can make it happen. If you promise people that you can bring them leads, it is supposed to happen. If you are spending $7,000 and get nothing in return, it’s a scam.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

My advice is to never deal with them. They promise a lot of things but don’t perform any of them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of i10 Building Materials

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Masonry Supplier

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hibu to accomplish?

• Increase Digital Presence
• Increase Customer Base
• Increase Revenue

SOLUTION

How did you find Hibu?

Referral

Why did you select Hibu over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Hibu were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Hibu 1

SEO

SEM

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Increased website traffic, increased customer requests, increase measurable phone volume

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Hibu delivered on time, was experienced in the management and development of tasks, and responded quickly to needs

What was your primary form of communication with Hibu?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Hibu and Lisa have the professional experience in digital marketing platforms that most smaller companies require to be found and chosen online. By bundling options, i10Building Materials is able to compete on a larger stage, thus increasing market share.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hibu could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Efficient Iron Works Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ornamental metal works

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hibu to accomplish?

• Acquire more clients
• Strengthen online presence

SOLUTION

How did you find Hibu?

Other

Why did you select Hibu over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Other

How many teammates from Hibu were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Discuss project details with clients, provide quotes, 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

About 50% increase of number of leads. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They've consistently helped out on any issues

What was your primary form of communication with Hibu?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The quality of service and results has been remarkable. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hibu could have done differently?

As of now, they're isn't any areas of improvement or something Hibu could've done differently

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CMO of Intuitivo Marketing and Advertising Agency

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Hispanic Marketing Agency

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hibu to accomplish?

• LOCAL SEO FOR MI CHANTE MEXICAN CUISINE #1
• LOCAL SEO FOR MI CHANTE MEXICAN CUISINE #2
• Local seo for GIMME TACO #1 AND #2

SOLUTION

How did you find Hibu?

Local Rep

Why did you select Hibu over others?

Good value for cost

How many teammates from Hibu were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of work for the Mi Chante Mexican Cuisine launch included: * Google Business Profile setup and optimization * Local SEO strategy and implementation * PPC campaign development and management * Website development and location-page optimization * Online reputation and review management * Performance tracking, reporting, and ongoing strategic support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Before hibu we had 97% online errors after hibu we our number drop to 4%.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Follow up and follow thru is quick. I can trust our strategy conversations that there will be follow up and follow thru to optimize what we are doing to increase results.

What was your primary form of communication with Hibu?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Hibu's value, tools, and knowledgeable team are impressive.  Brian has been especially helpful, providing strategic guidance, consistent follow-up, reliable implementation, and excellent customer service. I highly recommend Brian and the Hibu team.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hibu could have done differently?

More training tools for platform. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Office Manager of Global Granite Corp

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Granite and Stone Fabrication

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hibu to accomplish?

• Sell new jobs

SOLUTION

How did you find Hibu?

Other

Why did you select Hibu over others?

Close to my geographic location

How many teammates from Hibu were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Website Seo PPC social

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

increased leads

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Hibu's local representative comes right away.

What was your primary form of communication with Hibu?

In-Person Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

local

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hibu could have done differently?

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner/Operation's Manager of New Braunfels Heating & Cooling

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Service, Sales, Installation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hibu to accomplish?

• Bring in more leads
• Create a website
• Increase visibility

SOLUTION

How did you find Hibu?

Referral

Why did you select Hibu over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Hibu were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Website & SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Multiplied our leads by at least 2 to 3 times.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Everything was on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Hibu?

In-Person Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They genuinely care, and it shows in the work they do.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hibu could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Angel's Stairlifts, LLC.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Stairlifts, Home Modifications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hibu to accomplish?

• Creating Website
• Leads

SOLUTION

How did you find Hibu?

Referral

Why did you select Hibu over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Hibu were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

HIBU beautifully redesigned our website.  Its clean, modern and easy to navigate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Project was completed in a timely manner with good support from their team.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Communication was effective and helpful.

What was your primary form of communication with Hibu?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Working with Ellie (our support person) has been wonderful.  She is professional and reliable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Hibu could have done differently?

I can't think of anything HIBU could have improved with our experience with them.