Kill the Ball Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a broker associate at RE/MAX Advantage 1, and we help facilitate the sale of residential and commercial buildings. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kill the Ball Media?

We needed help in web development. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kill the Ball Media is designing and developing our new website from scratch. I gave them complete independence in working on this project.

Through the site, folks can search a local Massachusetts multiple listing system (MLS) and find homes and other real estate properties that match their criteria. My email and phone contact details are listed on the site, and users can contact me to help set up appointments. 

Kill the Ball Media is currently maintaining the website. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Joe (Owner). 

How did you come to work with Kill the Ball Media?

Kill the Ball Media had done work for an organization I was involved in. 

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent over $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve started working together in December 2021, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site has received excellent feedback from users — it’s easy to use and understandable. I’m 100% satisfied with Kill the Ball Media’s work, and they’ve exceeded my expectations. 

How did Kill the Ball Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Kill the Ball Media’s project management is perfect. We communicate through email and phone calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Kill the Ball Media’s creativity and communicative approach is impressive. They’ve been upfront and forthcoming, and they have great ideas. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Reach out to Joe, and allow his creative abilities to work for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Radio Worcester Network and the host of our flagship program called The Talk of the Commonwealth, which is a morning show heard on local radio stations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kill the Ball Media?

We’re heard on AM stations, but such stations are a lot different in 2022 from that they were a few years ago. We talk about the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also bring in local elements. For instance, we bring in the city manager or mayor of Worcester. In other words, we talk about national issues, but we focus on what’s happening locally. 

For us to move toward where our audience is, we’ve hired Kill the Ball to help us. The goal is for our program to be downloadable as a podcast. That way, our audience doesn’t need to listen to us for hours; instead, our listeners can get information within 10–12 minutes. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the engagement by creating a website that could provide up-to-date information to our clients. It should also reflect the professional organization and services that our customers could get from Radio Worcester Network. 

When I talked to Joe (Founder & Creative Director), I told them that I wanted the site to look cutting-edge. Joe sat down with us and determined our main challenges. He then came up with a number of ideas, asking us where we wanted to go from there. After our first meeting, we had a real game plan. He told us his thoughts and what we wanted to try, such as ways to engage more listeners via social media.  

Technically, Kill the Ball didn’t create the website from scratch. We had a website, but I frankly didn’t want people to go there at that time. Joe then created the new website based on it, evolving it into what it looks like right now. While I provided the content, he came up with a brand structure and showed me how to tailor my content based on it. 

For instance, he advised me to write more descriptions for our interviews to have more impact on the listeners. Joe then checked if we needed to change anything and helped me understand what I needed to provide to people if I wanted more clicks, downloads, and hits.

At present, our engagement has evolved. We use Kill the Ball for everything else that we do. For example, if we want to do a marketing campaign, we call Joe to help us. 

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Joe. 

How did you come to work with Kill the Ball Media?

I knew Joe even before this project. He and I worked together in the past; he booked with the morning show that I was doing at another station. We also put together an advertising program for a health club that he was marketing. 

Then, when I reached out to him for this project, he grasped exactly what I wanted to do. I asked him if he was willing to put together a website, and it turned out he was getting more into web development over the last few years. His unbridled enthusiasm and excitement for what we were doing convinced me. We didn’t get that from other people, who would simply give us the script of what they could and couldn’t do. 

By contrast, Joe had ideas flying around the room. On top of that, he truly understood the essence of our project. As a result, I immediately felt that they were a true partner for us and that we could use them to move forward. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $15,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the relationship in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The number of people seeing our program on social media has gone up tremendously. Meanwhile, the website doesn’t just look more professional; it also has a great look that reflects our community. It tells people the feel of who we want to be at Radio Worcester Network. 

For comparison, I’ve previously spent most of my time calling people to come to the show. Now, I spend my time answering people’s emails asking if they can come to the show. 

How did Kill the Ball Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Kill the Ball has been truly hands-on. I deal directly with Joe, but I don’t need to see him that much in person. We have almost daily communication over emails, where I send him content to post on social media and the website. Overall, he’s been great and responsive; we use no project management tools because we have a unique workflow between us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have a personal connection with Kill the Ball. Joe understands our needs, and that’s essential to the engagement. I suppose I can tell what I want to somebody else and they’ll execute it, but it won’t be exactly what I need. By contrast, Joe knows our goals so he does things in the way that I’d do them if I had the technical know-how. In fact, his outputs are better than what I envision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. I’ve had complete and total satisfaction with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open-minded. You’re going to sit down, and Joe will listen. We’ve benefited from the engagement because we’ve been open-minded enough to ask Kill the Ball questions and tell them when we don’t understand things. I listen as Joe explains. There’s an open dialogue between us as opposed to me just telling them what to do.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Worcester Fitness is the premier health club in Worcester servicing families in fitness, wellness, swim lessons, and children's programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kill the Ball Media, and what were your goals?

Kill the Ball Media has worked with us on our main website for years however we began a new project for our Swim Academy. We utilized their services to help us build, implement and execute a user friendly website, that helped to generate sales and build our program.

SOLUTION

How did you select Kill the Ball Media and what were the deciding factors?

I was familiar with Kill the Ball Media's work and knew they were who we wanted! Deciding factors were great communication, organization, and their ability to offer up to date and innovative features on our pages.

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

We have a start meeting to review the project, what our goals were, and worked together to share ideas. From there I created a mock up of how we needed the website organized, and then Kill the Ball created and designed. We worked together to get everything full functioning. With time he has continued to keep our pages up to date, and has added content and updated features along the way.

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

We worked directly with the owner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching our new website our Swim program has increased significantly even with the COVID-19 struggles this past year. We have fully regained our clientele within the year and I have Joe to thank in helping make this happen!

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We discussed a timeline prior to beginning the project. It was delivered on time. We communicated via email and phone.

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

They have created an impressive website that is user friendly, easy to follow, and it is always fun working with them!!

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a 30,000 square foot health club with fitness classes, aqua classes, racquetball, kids area, and cardio/strength equipment. We also have personal training, massage therapy, nutrition, kids programming and swim lessons. I am a co-owner and controller.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kill the Ball Media?

Kill the Ball Media is our advertising agency and they are responsible for all aspects of our brand's presentation and content distribution.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have a website that far surpassed anything done on the local level for fitness companies.

SOLUTION

How did you select Kill the Ball Media?

We've been working with Kill the Ball Media since 2013. prior to that, the principal owner of the agency served our parent company at the time, Fitness Management Systems as Vice President of Marketing.

Describe the project in detail.

Our website needed to provide a strong retail element designed to create interest in not only membership but also sales engagement in all of our ancillary revenue departments.

At the same time, we wanted the new website to be a virtual version of our club with workout videos, personally written blog posts, event promotion and an exclusive Member's Only portal with additional premium services.

What was the team composition?

The project was handled exclusively by Kill the Ball Media Creative Director Joe including copywriting, site design, UX. photography, content design, SEO strategy, web architecture and site maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have seen an increase in overall traffic since the launch of our new site. More people contacting us and mentioning their experience while navigating our website. It is very important in our industry to have a website that is designed to show potential members who we are.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. Joe seems to work at even the craziest hours. I know if I text him any time of day, he will respond in a matter of minutes.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The knowledge and creativity is exceptional. Joe is so dedicated to helping us become a more successful company, that is what is impressive and very comforting.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Every time I look at the site, I notice something that Joe has recently done to improve it. The little details, the SEO adjustments, new best practices rules, etc. It seems like he is working on our website nearly every day. Our rankings in nearly every category are outstanding. I can't think of anything that I would improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Realtor with RE/MAX Advantage I. I work to assist my home buying and selling clients achieve their real estate goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kill the Ball Media?

My website had a "pre-canned" feel to it and I felt many companies that provide designs for real estate website use similar content across multiple agents. I was looking for a new look and approach that would incorporate my overall branding.

What were your goals for this project?

I was looking for a completely fresh and innovative design with some interactive features to assist exiting clients and attract new clients. I also wanted to have some value add tools to help differentiate myself from other agents.

SOLUTION

How did you select Kill the Ball Media?

I had worked with Kill the Ball Media on some photography work, branding and online marketing. Their work was always exceptional so asking them to take on the new design of the website was a "no-brainer"

Describe the project in detail.

Once I spoke with Joe regarding the website design we had several planning sessions so he could get a good understanding of what I wanted versus what I didn't. He was terrific with feedback and recommendations regarding what makes sense in the online world versus what may not work as well.

What was the team composition?

I always communicated with Joe, he was responsive and always followed up on any question or request.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've had several past clients communicate that the information from my website was extremely helpful and several potential new clients who have found the guidebooks available to be very informative.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Joe is very easy to reach through text messaging and email. He's never to busy to respond for any question or concern and is always checking in to ensure that I'm happy with the progress.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Joe's level of creativity and expertise in marketing approaches through website and online mediums in mind-blowing. He clearly invests a lot of time in getting to know his clients business so he can help accurately portray them in the website and create thoughtful content.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I found no areas that I ever thought could be done better or more creatively.