HQ SEO

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of a SaaS tool startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

We knew that we needed to drive specific traffic to our site in a competitive niche. PPC was going to be very expensive and likely to be less effective from our research. We worked with HQ SEO to come up with a more cost-effective strategy.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to drive regular traffic to the site that would offer a more cost-effective marketing strategy over the long term than alternatives.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had received a verbal recommendation from another SaaS startup. After reviewing the content within HQ SEO, we could see they were extremely knowledgeable. After talking through our requirements, we were confident to progress this.

Describe the project in detail.

HQ SEO explained the process for launching this style of product based on their previous experience of supporting similar projects. They helped us to understand what the steps were and the reasons for them. They managed our expectations on the pace of impact, and presented a few options on what direction we could go. Once agreed, we had catch-ups to discuss progress, but we didn't need to provide further guidance as they understood what was needed and now continue to execute, with limited input from us.

What was the team composition?

We dealt with one primary contact, with some additional support and contact from other members in the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to generate significant traffic to our site within three months, generating leads that converted at a more cost-effective rate than our calculations on PPC. We've been able to use that traffic to improve our on page optimization, and generate a higher than expected revenue as a result.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

We have regular contact and monthly feedback. They’re always available when needed.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

I’m impressed with their communication and execution. They deliver profitable results.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re happy with the progress and are continuing with work as a result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the head of product development at a skincare brand that sells primarily on Amazon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

We needed help to launch new products, optimize our listings, build higher conversions from Amazon listings, and improve our search rankings for specific terms.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to increase from $15,000/month in revenue to around $50,000 within 12 months.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them on Google, searching for an Amazon SEO service. The content and videos on their site were very useful and clearly explained what they were doing and why.

Describe the project in detail.

We initially started explaining our specifications and requirements through email. While some companies promise a lot and deliver little, HQ SEO promised a specific solution and delivered on it exactly. We answered a number of questions and set up their team in the backend of Amazon Seller Central. After that, we did very little ourselves, beyond analyzing the reports and deliverables regarding keyword research, selection, and rankings.

What was the team composition?

We had communication directly with Tom (Owner, HQ SEO), but our primary point of contact was Jake (Head of Amazon, HQ SEO).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The primary KPIs were sales, but, as their team explained, sales are more of a lag indicator than a lead indicator. Instead, they monitored keyword rankings very closely, tracking dozens for each product in most cases. As these increased, sales aligned very closely. As mentioned, our revenue goal was to go from $15k to around $50k in revenue on Amazon within 12 months. Now, six months in, we’re at $32k per month and are happy with the results so far. We’re also excited for the future, seeing as we haven’t even launched any new products, though they’re coming soon.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was smooth, and there wasn't much they needed or communicated once onboarding was complete. Since then, I've spoken to Tom multiple times, both over email and on the phone.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

The results, for the most part. They've been very clear and granular from the start. More than once, we've been surprised by how fast everything has happened. Another positive is how little they’ve actually needed us to do.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Potentially, an area of improvement (or at least note), would be some people or customers might be uncomfortable with their own lack of involvement in a campaign. It suits our business model perfectly, but more corporate companies might want more frequent communication or reporting.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a small to medium-sized taxi company based on the south coast of the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

We engaged HQ SEO to improve our search visibility online. Our website had ranked very highly in the past, but it started to decline as other competitors entered the field.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our organic traffic and rank for tax-related keywords, such as airport transfers. We also wanted to lift the number of jobs we received.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was referred to HQ SEO by a friend who had gotten excellent results with the agency.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After the initial phone call, we had already mapped out our long-term plan. HQ SEO’s team then researched keywords; we selected 90% of their recommendations as our focuses. They then implemented SEO strategies in our site with minimal oversight. They started with on-page SEO and then moved onto link-building. We receive regular updates on their progress.

What was the team composition?

We’ve interacted with three team members throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

90% of our target keywords rank first in results; the remaining 10% occupy the top 2–5 positions. Our traffic has massively increased; we now receive three times more phone calls per month and double the amount of account work and clients. As a result, we’ve built out our lead generation sites to maintain control of the top two positions for some of our keywords.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

HQ SEO performs well under minimal oversight, which we greatly appreciate. The team responds promptly any time an issue arises. For example, when our website went down because our previous hosting agreement ran out, they walked us through the problem and resolved it for us. They provide regular updates of their work, but there is otherwise little interaction between our teams.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

HQ SEO has met every promise they’ve made to us and delivered it in their given timeframe.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have appreciated knowing about the lead generating sites earlier on the process. However, it was unlikely that we would have committed to them until we saw HQ SEO’s results on our main site.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of a high-end health supplement e-commerce store based in the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

Not knowing much about the technical side of e-commerce when I started, I hired Tom (Founder, HQ SEO) and his team for SEO services.

What were your goals for this project?

I honestly didn't know what goals to have for this project because I was new to the world of SEO. When I spoke to Tom about the project and he told me that his goal for my company was to grow the investment I was paying him by tenfold, I didn't know if he was out of his mind or if he was an SEO wizard. It's turning out to be the latter.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I saw Tom's name mentioned in a Moz video, so I looked at his website and was blown away at the detail of his action plan, which was laid out for everyone to read.

Describe the project in detail.

The scope of the project was to increase my SEO spend to ten times more than the original investment within only 12 months. The plan of action includes both on-site and off-site SEO, link building, brand awareness campaigns, and more.

What was the team composition?

I speak directly and almost exclusively to Tom.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I only track sales and let his team handle the technical aspects. It obviously takes a while for SEO-based organic sales to improve, but since starting the work in May 2018, sales have gone up by a factor of six, and December and January is on track to be up fifteenfold. Our goal now is to increase our sales by fifty times by April, and it looks like we just may get there! It’s truly unbelievable.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything they do is clearly laid out in Google Docs and always available for me to view. Due dates are on every one of the hundreds of tasks they have, and all are done on time. We chat via Skype and email when we need to, which is often for me since I like to learn and pester the team.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

The increase we’ve had in sales and Tom’s confidence in being able to attain it is outstanding. There’s nothing left to worry about.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everyone has room for improvement. There have been a couple of mistakes made by his team in the seven months they've been on the job, but the results are well worth that hassle.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of a professional training company that specializes in delivering IT and project management courses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

We wanted to improve our online geographical footprint. We deliver training courses in multiple locations and wanted our online presence to reflect that.

What were your goals for this project?

Primarily, we wanted to rank for our top keywords in multiple locations and improve web traffic. This will help customers find content that’s more relevant to them.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose HQ SEO because of their team’s knowledge of and enthusiasm for the project. They clearly understood our objectives from the start. We considered two other companies before HQ SEO, but neither had the same understanding of our objectives. Our senior management team handled the decision.

Describe the project in detail.

The project began with a series of meetings for HQ SEO to understand our end goals. They built a timeline for us around these goals that outlined their recommendations. They also undertook a technical audit of our site to establish its current status. Once we agreed to a project plan, HQ SEO made several structural changes to the site. They’ve continued to work through our agreed project plan, implementing and improving particular areas on a daily basis.

What was the team composition?

I usually deal directly with the owner, though I do sometimes speak to other team members. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been friendly and available to share their knowledge.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Organic traffic has grown by 400% for competitive keywords. Monthly organic searches have risen from 170 to 620, and we expect it will grow even more by the end of the campaign.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

We primarily communicate via email, and they’re always very responsive. We hold quarterly face-to-face meetings at their office, where Tom (Owner, HQ SEO) and I go through future project plans and focus areas.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

I’ve been deeply impressed with HQ SEO's knowledge. I've heard the owner speak at a few different events and his industry knowledge is second to none. I also like their long-term approach to SEO compared to other companies that will offer you quick results but can’t deliver.

Are there any areas for improvement?

At the moment, I have no complaints. We’ll continue to use HQ SEO for the foreseeable future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of an outdoor gear online retailer. My role also involves driving online marketing for my company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

We hired HQ SEO to help us improve our SEO on Amazon. Our rankings were decent for our best keywords, but we needed professional assistance to break a plateau and reach the very top positions.

What were your goals for this project?

Our engagement focused on increasing our search engine rankings to drive more organic sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A friend of mine recommended HQ SEO.

Describe the project in detail.

In the beginning, we met in person to discuss the team’s general strategy outline. After HQ SEO got a feel for our company and what we hoped to accomplish, they planned an individually tailored strategy to meet our needs. Having a consistent open line of dialogue, whether on the weekday or weekend, made our communication quick and easy.  

Once we agreed on the project and the tasks it would include, we signed the contract, sent the payments, and were ready to go. I kept a very hands-off approach during the process, which I prefer. HQ SEO kept me updated on the process. They informed me when they made data-driven changes to the original plan based on the metrics we saw.  A few weeks later, we had achieved results.

What was the team composition?

I spoke directly with the founder. He was responsive and highly professional.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw a 30% increase in sales for the specific stock keeping unit (SKU) our engagement focused on. These results are due to the improved rankings HQ SEO helped us secure.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

HQ SEO is very pleasant and easy to connect with. They prioritize fast communication and make working together easy.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

HQ SEO was as invested in long-term results as they were in the immediate wins. They offered me a consultation on how to sustain a lasting impact on the rankings and how I could get the improvements to stick.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could work on making their reporting more detailed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of Alex Denholm Services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

I needed a way to increase traffic to my website.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to scale my business to take on more clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I investigated ways to optimize my website. I conducted a Google search for the phrase “SEO Agency Cardiff” and HQ SEO was one of the top results. I filled in a few other contact forms, but they responded before anyone else. From here, the communication was clear, and I was impressed by their knowledge and their customer service in general.

Describe the project in detail.

I wanted to scale my business. I made money but found that I had the capacity to take on more work. My options were limited, and I asked for HQ SEO a solution. They identified and explained link building. They found relevant resource pages and links to my business, which they told me would increase organic traffic. They also audited my page and identified areas of where I could improve conversions. For example, I did not have many call-to-actions on my pages.

What was the team composition?

I was in direct contact with the founder and his link building team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I received more inquiries from a series of businesses asking for content writing. Because of this, I brought on an employee to help with writing.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was great. The owner gave me a timeline of when jobs needed to be done and stuck to them. In terms of the employees, they were the right people for the job. The process was streamlined and everyone I spoke to was available to answer any queries. It was great because my knowledge of SEO was limited, to say the least.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

Their ability to easily explain SEO strategies impressed me. There are many buzzwords in the SEO space, but I found their guidance on terminology and actions easy to follow. They did not make themselves seem superior and took interest in where I wanted my business to go.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Any concerns I had were put to rest early on at the proposal stage.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of a value curation and distribution service for science, engineering, and technology companies. We leverage artificial intelligence, big data, and consumer psychology to give companies the ability to control the way their image communicates value to their audience. We also help them reach the appropriate decision maker in their target organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HQ SEO?

We hired them for on-page and off-page SEO, including link building for specific keywords.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to increase search engine traffic to our website for keywords that our target audience is likely to type.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We heard about HQ SEO through a friend, and we chose them after interviews with two other agencies. As a relatively new company, we needed a vendor with a trusted track record.

Describe the project in detail.

After our onboarding meeting, HQ SEO began ranking our website for a niche set of keywords.

What was the team composition?

We initially spoke with the director and then corresponded with his team once the project started.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently, we are well on our way to receiving 10 times the website traffic in 12 months. So far, their regular updates show growth per keyword for our website, with our specific keywords ranking well. We have also seen an increase in quality leads from our online sources.

How did the HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

They manage things excellently. We have no qualms about their work.

What impresses you about the HQ SEO?

We’re impressed with their ability to provide results without any hassle. We wish we’d found them sooner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm in the marketing department at Nortech, a manufacturer of access controls for people and vehicles. We manufacture in the U.K. but sell and export globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with HQ SEO?

We wanted to increase traffic to our website and get more sales inquiries through it. We decided to do this by focusing on keywords.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

HQ SEO began by assessing our website to determine what kind of help we needed. Tom (Founder, HQ SEO) provides help with keywords, writes blogs, and does link building. Any maintenance or updates to the site goes through HQ SEO.

While he doesn’t work on our social media, Tom’s more than willing to give us advice. He helps me create effective content that isn’t duplicated on different platforms.

What is the team composition?

I only deal with Tom.

How did you come to work with HQ SEO?

Our boss found him. We met with HQ SEO, figured out what we wanted, Tom put a package together that outlined our plan for the next 12–18 months, and we began our partnership.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £15,000 (USD $20,825) in the past year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been partners since September 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have about 51 keywords that have gone up in both the U.K. and America. Eight are in the top three, 24 are in the top ten, 39 are in the top twenty, and 58 are in the top hundred.

How did HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

He always delivers on time and on budget. I haven't had any problems, and things are going smoothly. He helps us out with more than just SEO; it’s an all-around approach to our business. We trust him—he even has own username and password for our site.

What did you find most impressive about them?

He actually delivers results. I'm used to people making all sorts of promises then justifying why they couldn’t deliver. Tom’s been honest from the beginning while still accomplishing a lot.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re happy with him.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Keep in contact with him to build the relationship. Work together to maximize the partnership because he’s good at that. Listen to his advice and don’t be afraid to negotiate and compromise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of a few standard e-commerce websites, most of which use the Shopify platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with HQ SEO?

We wanted to improve our organic rankings, so we could get more sales and customers from Google and other search engines.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Right after we hired them, HQ SEO performed a full-scale audit. They inspected the whole site and determine what the main concerns were. They improved product pages and content to help the website get bigger and grow to scale. They mainly focus on SEO; they don’t do AdWords or PPC. Typically, the process is that we create some content and then they massively improve it to help our site get higher on Google.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Tom Buckland (Founder, HQ SEO).

How did you come to work with HQ SEO?

They’re located near us, so when we did a Google search, they were the first to pop up. A few other colleagues recommended them, as well.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$100,000.

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 have got higher ranks and more traffic to our website, which means more purchases. The site also looks better and has better user functionality.

How did HQ SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

I haven’t had any problems at all. HQ SEO delivers on time, and I’ve seen improvements on the site. I trust Tom, and we have a good business relationship.

We typically communicate via email or messages. I like to meet occasionally in person just to keep the relationship strong and see how the work is going.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've tried other SEO agencies, and the main difference is that Tom actually delivers. Every time he says he’s going to do something, it happens. Other agencies don’t have that kind of follow-through. He’s friendly and does good work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not that I can think of.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Meet Tom in person, build a good relationship, and then hire HQ SEO. You’ll be putting your business in the hands of a company that truly knows what they’re doing.