Hughes Media

BACKGROUND

I am the Technical Director of Georgia Highway Contractors Association

The Georgia Highway Contractors Association represents the contractors and build and maintain roads, streets, and bridges in the state of Georgia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

• Geographically targeted digital advertisements to drive traffic to our jobs campaign website to increase awareness of good-paying jobs in our industry.
• Through the traffic being directed to our site, have potential job applicants fill out an interest survey/application that we could then send to our members in various parts of the state.
• Operate and maintain a social media presence for our jobs campaign with a goal of driving traffic to our jobs campaign website.

SOLUTION

Referral

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

2-5 Employees

Hughes has been responsible for geographically targeted pay-per-click advertising to drive traffic to our road jobs campaign website.  As a part of that service, they've also performed SEO work and ensured everything on the site was carried over to the new site when we updated the campaign about five years in.  The metric we've keyed into over the years is the number of interest applications people have filled out for jobs on our website, since the primary way people are coming to the site is through Hughes' advertisements.  Potential workers will indicate on the application where in the state they would be interested in working (this usually coincides with where in the state they live).  So we monitor not only the total number of unique applications we receive, but how many we forward on to contractors in each of the 7 regions in Georgia.  Hughes has kept us up-to-date on all of their own metrics, as well as incorporating our own.  We meet with them monthly to discuss the status of the campaign.  One of the things that we really look at is the cost (ad-buy dollars) per unique application we receive.  Hughes has learned our industry, our needs, and our geography so well that they've brought that number down by something like 70-80% over the years.  As we've changed our ad-buys over the years, even when we've cut our budget by over 50%, the number of applications has only dropped by something like 20-30%, which has shown us that they've become incredibly efficient and targeted with the work they do for us.  With a decreased budget, they've even managed to keep applications coming in from more rural regions of the state, which shows us how well they can target where they deploy their ads.

Hughes has also managed our social media accounts for our road jobs campaign, continuing to drive traffic to our website and interest applications.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

 The metric we've keyed into over the years is the number of interest applications people have filled out for jobs on our website, since the primary way people are coming to the site is through Hughes' advertisements.  We monitor not only the total number of unique applications we receive, but how many we forward on to contractors in each of the 7 regions in Georgia.  One of the things that we really look at is the cost (ad-buy dollars) per unique application we receive.  Hughes has brought that number down 70-80% over the years. 

As we've changed our ad-buys over the years, even when we've cut our budget by over 50%, the number of applications has only dropped by something like 20-30%, which has shown us that they've become incredibly efficient and targeted with the work they do for us.

They're incredibly professional.  We meet with them virtually once per month.  Their project manager has a presentation and talking points ready every time.  They don't waste our time.  They show us what's going on with our campaign, what their metrics are and how we're performing.  Near the end of the year they'll put together ideas for next year and discuss our budget.  We've gone with some of their ideas and haven't with others, and they've handled both acceptance and rejection with absolute professionalism and excellent customer service.  Since we're running a jobs campaign, when COVID hit in 2020 we met with them to adjust our ad buys down, and they turned our spend down on a dime.

Virtual Meeting

I've been genuinely impressed with Huhes for two main reasons:

1. The Quality of their Service.  They're targeted; they know what they're doing; they know where they're doing it; they're efficient; and they're effective.  We look at total job applications from our website, but we also look at them regionally.  While we get more applications from the Metro Atlanta region, other markets continue to yield strong numbers, which means that they are targeting the markets they buy ads in very well.
2. The Customer Service.  Every meeting, every month: they have smiles on their faces; they're enthuastic.  When I told them that I had to cut the budget considerably one year, they didn't complain or try to talk me out of it; they did the job with the budget I had for them, and they did a great job.

Hughes takes comments, criticism, etc... as it comes.  They've done a great job.  When they've make a mistake, they've owned it.  I don't think I can reasonably ask for more.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of Four Seasons Plumbing

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide residential plumbing to WNC

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hughes Media to accomplish?

• Grow online presence
• Increase brand awareness
• Drive website and booking traffic

SOLUTION

How did you find Hughes Media?

Referral

Why did you select Hughes Media over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Hughes Media were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Over the years, Hughes has been able to provide us with everythign we would need from a Digital Media company. They provided constant website updates, PPC campaign management, email management and any small projects we threw their way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website traffic and phone bookings had a massive increase. Also, our competitive PPC campaigns were successful and helped grow brand and business awareness in our marketplace. 

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

They were always easy to work with, quick to communicate and listened. They worked with us like a great teamate. 

What was your primary form of communication with Hughes Media?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The personal touches that we created over the years. The team really understood our business and the direction we wanted to move. They were always fast to respond and we never felt like "just another client"

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

There are some newer technologies that I believe Hughes is falling behind on, and the marketplace is changing at an incredible speed righ tnow.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of advancement and communications for Cumberland Academy of Georgia. We provide a supportive educational environment for children with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and learning differences, focusing on academic, social, and life skills development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hughes Media to accomplish for your business?

We needed help with marketing, including graphics, a new website, printed materials, and a marketing strategy for SEO and PPC.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hughes Media has helped us with admission brochures, signage, and business cards. They’ve also built two websites for us. We’ve been using them for 20 years. They just did an entire website overhaul last year.

What is the team composition?

We work with 2–5 teammates from Hughes Media.

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

They were a personal reference. We chose them over other options because they had high ratings, their pricing fit our budget, they were a great culture fit, they offered good value for the cost, and their company values aligned with ours.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent an undisclosed amount.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a 47.7% increase in leads year-over-year (YoY) after the new site was built. Hughes Media has given us tips on when and where to put our money for the most impact. They’ve taken feedback regarding the types and quality of leads we’re looking for, then they make the changes, and we immediately see results.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Monica (Account Manager) always responds quickly and makes any changes in less than 24 hours. We communicate via virtual meetings and e-mail.

What did you find most impressive or unique about them?

The personal details and relationships we’ve built with their team are impressive. They truly want us to succeed within the budget we’re working with and help us do so in the best way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Piedmont M&A Advisors, an investment banking firm. We help people turn illiquid assets, normally businesses, into cash or liquid assets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hughes Media?

We wanted to update our website to strengthen our ability to reach out to potential clients. It needed a fresh look, with the perspective of someone who understands SEO.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took a close look at what we were doing, listened, and evaluated both us and our competitors. We also pointed out to them what we like and don’t like, then they developed our website and did our SEO. They host the site and provide maintenance and updates for it.

What is the team composition?

I interface with Deedra (Digital Marketing Innovator, Hughes Media) the most. Valentina (Vice President, Hughes Media) is also an integral player and I have some contact with Angela (Graphic Designer, Hughes Media).

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

I had known Deedra for several years from being in the same group in a global business organization. I saw her work for other clients, and felt that she was quick, pleasant to work with, and had the courage to tell me if we agree to disagree. She was very willing to learn more about what we do for our clients.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We surveyed clients and prospects to find out how we were doing with our image, delivery, and how we compared to our competitors, which has helped us measure the impact. I got positive feedback about the website. Users say it’s fresh, looks up to date, and has a modern look and feel. I’m very positive that within the next 3–4 months, I’ll be talking with Deedra about what to tweak.

They think about marketing and sales—they know we didn’t want to have a website just to have a website. We wanted it to generate interest from clients. In fact, I’ve had two or three prospects that have come to us after finding us on the web.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive, executed on a timely basis, and kept to the budget. They’re very cost conscious, and I don’t feel overcharged.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to reach and approachable, never avoiding our phone calls. If they don’t understand what we’re asking for, they do their best to understand better, which helps us on both sides. They bring a fresh perspective to our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They did a good job of getting up to speed quickly and I don’t have to worry about what they were doing. My only hang up that I would like more feedback on what they may see behind the scenes. I’d like an analytical assessment of what has changed since we updated the website.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a thorough orientation about what it is you do, how you differentiate yourself in the marketplace, and how you communicate with clients. Be sure that they understand your business very well and be very open about your strengths and weaknesses.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at Formetco, a digital manufacturing company. We mainly focus on our LED product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hughes Media?

Our company has multiple divisions, including digital billboards, sports, and LED video. All of our departments have different audiences and varying needs, so I wanted a company to help bring unity across our business. We hired Hughes Media to create a similar appearance for the platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hughes Media built five different websites from scratch. When creating our home page, we went through the wireframe process together, they incorporated our feedback and handled the rest of the development.

They created our printed marketing materials and launched several marketing campaigns. They handle our SEO and PR needs, as well as video and email marketing efforts. We have their services on a monthly retainer, so we work with them on additional projects, as well. For example, they are working with us to build a creative library. The product will offer free content for users to utilize for their billboards.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Valentina (Vice President, Hughes Media), Abbey (Digital Marketing Specialist, Hughes Media), and Jacqueline (Marketing Assistant, Hughes Media). To get a proposal for a new project, Deedra (President, Hughes Media) helps me directly.

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

After being unsatisfied with our previous vendor, I did research online and narrowed my search down to three companies. Hughes Media was the easiest to speak with, whereas other companies needed multiple surveys and forms filled out before even speaking with us. I chose this team because they are located close to us and have great SEO efforts in place for themselves.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internally, our team has been blown away by the materials produced. For example, one sales manager didn’t support the idea of an external vendor helping because of our past experiences, but they were thrilled with Hughes Media’s work. Their work has surpassed all of our expectations, so far. They’ve delivered stellar work for everything we’ve hired them for.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

One of my favorite aspects of working with Hughes Media is their project management approach. Typically, we email to approve items and have a back and forth throughout the day. They’re always on top of the workload. Whether it be through text, email, or calls, I can always reach them after hours and on weekends. Once a month, we have a phone call to go through our analytics. Their team is full of fantastic communicators.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Hughes Media is always available to help us. When we were short of an in-house graphic designer, they provided half-priced support while we looked for a replacement. They did their homework and learned about our industry and competitors quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our in-house team took on too many projects with limited resources so it could have been helpful if Hughes Media had told us to slow our pace down and handle projects one at a time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want a firm that feels more like an intimate, familial, supportive partner, they’re the right choice. Their team is highly positive and great at communicating, making them a great option to fulfill that need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Trimtab Consultants. We are a B2B consulting firm for businesses looking to upgrade their infrastructure with the NetSuite software product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hughes Media?

We wanted to generate more leads to our company through a refreshed website and digital marketing campaigns.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We relied on Hughes Media to rebuild our website, and in the context of doing so, we made the site more SEO-friendly with certain keywords. They also initiated Google Ads campaigns and later trained me to manage them myself. We leveraged a few other digital marketing methods, but Google proved to be the most effective.

What is the team composition?

I interact weekly with Deedra (President, Hughes Media), Valentina (Vice President, Hughes Media), and Christina (Graphic Designer, Hughes Media).

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

I was confident in the team’s experience in marketing and advertising. Deedra assembled a strong team that understood what I was trying to accomplish.

How much have you invested with them?

During our startup period, we spent around $10,000–$20,000 per year. For smaller engagements, we pay maybe $3,000–$5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in June 2011 and remains ongoing as necessary.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Probably over half of our clients come from their SEO and Google Ads efforts. Every client they’ve generated is an ideal match and is highly valuable.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very prompt in their email and phone call responses.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They bring creative ideas into the fold—they build on my ideas, and they offer ideas I didn’t think of. They also keep detailed logs of their time and hours so that I can see what I’m paying for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring your own ideas, but also be open to their ideas and strategies. Let their ideas complement yours so that you get the best of what you know and the best of what they know.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing & Media Manager of RH Events & Catering

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a corporate events company that plans and delivers company picnics, employee appreciation events and large-scale catering operations. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hughes Media to accomplish?

• Improve SEO
• Evaluate Google Ads
• Maintain Website

SOLUTION

How did you find Hughes Media?

Referral

Why did you select Hughes Media over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Hughes Media were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Hughes Media maintains our website and SEO. They provide quarterly reports of our SEO status and web visibility. They create monthly, updated content for our website and we consult with them on the health of our Google ads account. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our SEO has significantly improved and our online visibilty has increased. 

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

They are quick to respond to emails and deliver items in a timely manner. 

What was your primary form of communication with Hughes Media?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were easy to communicate with and produced great work. 

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

NA