Lean Partners

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Director of Digital Marketing of a software company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

B2B SaaS

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Improve MQL quality
• Create reports and distribute actionable insights
• Increase MQL volume

SOLUTION

How did you find LeanSEM?

Referral

Why did you select LeanSEM over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from LeanSEM were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Manage and optimize all PPC programs, including create complete advertising assets (display ads) to launch new campaigns. Also create, as spec'ed, detailed reporting to identify actionable insights for continued optimization

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Improved quantity and quality of leads for the business, as well as data to help continuously improve our programs.

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

like a true extension of our team, they are very quick with their responses and are always thorough in all that they do. very strategic mindset to help us deliver on the results we were looking for. each team member we worked with came with tons of experience and felt like we were working with very seasoned experts in their respective domain.

What was your primary form of communication with LeanSEM?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

their responsiveness to inquiries/messages/emails. their expertise in all things digital marketing, and their strategic recommendations for growth beyond the tactical PPC work.

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

none that i can think of

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Performance Marketing Manager of Outschool

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We spark kids' curiosity with interactive online classes, connecting them with passionate teachers in a world of learning that's both fun and educational.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Setup, optimize and scale our Google Ads account

SOLUTION

How did you find LeanSEM?

Online Search

Why did you select LeanSEM over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from LeanSEM were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Outschool collaborated with the agency LeanSEM, leveraging their expertise to set up, manage, and scale its Google Ads account effectively. The partnership was marked by full-fledged support from LeanSEM's team of friendly and like-minded professionals, including Gabriela, Irma, Nenad, and Stefan. 
This team played a crucial role in providing Outschool with continuous creative iterations, comprehensive campaign optimization, and detailed analytical insights. Their efforts were aimed at helping Outschool meet its CAC objectives, all while managing a significant monthly investment, ensuring the advertising strategy was both efficient and scalable.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes from the project between Outschool and LeanSEM that demonstrate progress or success could include: Reduction in CAC, Customer Acquisition Cost: A significant decrease in CAC would indicate that the campaigns were optimized effectively to attract more customers at a lower cost. 

• Increase in Conversion Rates: Higher conversion rates from the Google Ads campaigns would show that the targeted ads were reaching the right audience and effectively persuading them to take action. 
• Growth in Customer Base: An increase in the number of new customers acquired through the Google Ads campaigns would demonstrate the effectiveness of the advertising strategies and market reach. ROI Improvement: An improved return on investment (ROI) from the Google Ads campaigns would indicate that the financial resources invested in advertising were generating more revenue. 
• Enhanced Campaign Performance Metrics: Improved metrics such as click-through rate (CTR), quality score, and ad engagement would show that the ad content was relevant and appealing to the target audience. 
• Achievement of Predefined KPIs: Meeting or exceeding the key performance indicators (KPIs) set at the beginning of the project would be a clear sign of success and progress. 
• Market Expansion: If the campaign goals included market expansion, success in entering new markets or demographics as a result of the Google Ads campaigns would be a significant outcome. These outcomes, among others, would be quantifiable indicators of the success and progress of the collaboration between Outschool and LeanSEM in managing and optimizing their Google Ads account.

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

The following characteristics were evident in their project management: 

• Timely Delivery: The agency adhered to a structured timeline, delivering milestones and project components on or ahead of schedule, demonstrating efficient time management and reliability. 
• Responsiveness to Needs: LeanSEM showed a high level of responsiveness to Outschool's needs, adapting strategies and tactics based on feedback and changing objectives to ensure the project’s success. 
• Communication: Effective and regular communication was a key aspect of their project management, with clear updates, reports, and meetings to keep Outschool informed of progress and to discuss any adjustments needed. 
• Problem-Solving: They demonstrated strong problem-solving skills, quickly addressing any issues that arose during the project to minimize delays and impact on the overall goals. 
• Collaboration and Teamwork: The project was marked by strong collaboration and teamwork, with LeanSEM working closely with Outschool to understand their business goals and tailor their approach accordingly. These aspects underscored the successful project management approach that LeanSEM brought to the partnership with Outschool.

What was your primary form of communication with LeanSEM?

Virtual Meeting

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

What stands out as impressive or unique about LeanSEM in their collaboration with Outschool is their ability to provide full-scale support while fostering a team environment with friendly and like-minded individuals. Their approach to handling high monthly investments with meticulous attention to creative iteration, campaign optimization, and deep analysis to meet specific CAC goals indicates a high level of expertise and commitment. 
Their team, including professionals like Gabriela, Irma, Nenad, and Stefan, exemplifies a unique blend of technical skill and personal engagement, which likely contributed to the success of the project. The personalized and hands-on approach, combined with their ability to scale and optimize Google Ads campaigns effectively, set LeanSEM apart as a company that not only meets but potentially exceeds client expectations in digital advertising.

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

We had a great experience with LeanSEM, and nothing outstanding can be pointed out as areas for improvement. But given the recent acceleration in technology, it's suggested that the agency maintain a Technology Integration: Exploring and integrating new technologies (e,g., AI) and platforms for better campaign management and tracking could enhance efficiency and outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the creative marketing manager of PlushCare, a telehealth company. We offer online doctor visits for primary care, mental health, and therapy, providing personalized, high-quality healthcare remotely.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lean Partners?

We needed help with our search engine marketing (SEM) and conversion rate optimization (CRO).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lean Partners helped us with our SEM and CRO. The team was responsible for scaling and managing our highest budgeted and volume channels, watching trends, analyzing, and optimizing where the business needed. We worked in the healthcare space, so our work was complex, and Lean Partners stayed on top of our asks. The team also provided optimization plans, weekly reports, CRO ideas and implementation, keyword bidding, and a supply model.

Moreover, we've used Lean Partners for many opportunities, including Google, Bing, YouTube ads, and social media.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 2–5 teammates from Lean Partners.

How did you come to work with Lean Partners?

Lean Partners was already a chosen partner for us. We stuck with them because they were hardworking, reliable, and a great extension of our team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and our engagement ended in March 2026.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw revenue from Google and Bing scaled over the six years we were working together. We increased our spend and scaled our search account by over 1,000%. Although the competition was strict, we were able to keep our KPIs fairly flat for scaling so quickly.

How did Lean Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

Lean Partners always delivered on time and was very organized. We communicated via virtual meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Lean Partners truly felt like an extension of our team. When we needed them, they were there. We didn't feel like we were working with a traditional agency, and they cared about our business doing well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

After working together for so many years and going through two acquisitions, our leadership team wanted to see change. Moreover, being on the same time zone would have been helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the SVP of marketing and growth for REELZ+, a linear cable channel and streaming service that provides live policing, true crime, and celebrity documentaries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lean Partners?

We needed help overseeing the strategy and execution of our paid acquisition media buying.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lean Partners provides social paid marketing campaign strategy and buying optimizations to help drive efficient REELZ+ subscription growth. The team also helps develop creative assets and landing page designs that we test in our campaigns. Lean Partners has created promo ads for many of our portfolio shows and episodes. Additionally, the team has created hero acquisition landing pages to try to drive better conversion rates.

What is the team composition?

We work with 2–5 teammates from Lean Partners.

How did you come to work with Lean Partners?

Lean Partners was referred to me. I chose them because they offered good value for the cost.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2025, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure success based on the number of subscriptions driven and the cost they come in at. Originally, our costs were over $100 to acquire a subscriber. Lean Partners has gotten that down to $40. We even have certain campaigns and creatives running around $20 in customer acquisition costs. Overall, we’ve grown from 12,000 subscribers to 37,000.

How did Lean Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve been happy with the pace Lean Partners moves at and the urgency they put behind things. We communicate via virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been most impressed with the quality of creative assets and how well they’ve performed. We partnered with Lean Partners for their media buying capabilities, but the speed and volume of creative assets was an unexpected surprise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only area I wish Lean Partners had more capabilities is their relationships with channels and their ability to troubleshoot issues quicker via those relationships.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of demand generation at QuotaPath, a tech startup. We provide commission tracking and sales compensation management software that automates calculations and help with compensation strategy for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lean Partners to accomplish for QuotaPath?

Our marketing team has just two people, and paid media channels like Google SEM and LinkedIn would be one of our full-time jobs without Lean Partners' help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lean Partners handles all of our paid media campaigns. They manage an annual budget of more than $250,000. The team independently develops ads, landing page ideas, and manages the day-to-day bidding and budgeting of our PPC portfolio. Lean Partners focuses on Google Ads, LinkedIn, Bing, Meta, and Capterra.

What is the team composition?

We work with one teammate from Lean Partners.

How did you come to work with Lean Partners?

We found them through a referral. We chose them because their pricing fit our budget, they had 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 used them as our primary SEM driver for numerous years (even before I worked here) and continue to do so, as well as having them manage a ton of our marketing budget each quarter, so we've invested quite a bit!

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2024, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Lean Partners' expertise and the ease of working with them allow us to confidently offload the lion's share of work in paid media and fully trust that they'll take ownership and optimize our campaigns for maximum effectiveness. We've had ambitious pipeline goals for each year Lean Partners has partnered with us, and they've helped us hit those goals nearly 100% of the time, even as we scaled our program (and our goals for it) to more than double year-over-year. We've generated over 40 opportunities per month and an estimated $600,000 in quarterly pipeline consistently over the course of the program.

How did Lean Partners perform from a project management standpoint?

Lean Partners is incredibly proactive and has never missed a deadline in my time working with them. We communicate through virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Lean Partners is available online at nearly all hours, is super easy to work with, and proactively makes suggestions and changes to our program to ensure we're hitting goals. They're without question the best agency I've worked with.Ivana (Account Manager) has been an incredible partner. She's knowledgeable, fun to work with, and dedicated to our team's success. I've come to think of her as a member of QuotaPath's own team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren't any. Lean Partners is dope.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founding Partner of Sales Talent Agency

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sales and Go-to-Market Recruitment from c-level to front line

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lean Partners to accomplish?

• Help us better understand our lead flow
• Optimize our search parameters to avoid low-value leads
• Explore the potential of our spend ability

SOLUTION

How did you find Lean Partners?

Referral

Why did you select Lean Partners over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Lean Partners were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

The Lean team, headed for our project by Ivana, reviewed our SEM strategy along with website hot spots to help optimize our marketing spend

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Biggest outcome was understanding our spend limitations on Google paid search

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

Ivana was always on top of the project and proactively looking for improvements

What was your primary form of communication with Lean Partners?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their commitment to our company goals was impressive, even if it meant a shorter-term engagement

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the manager of Ergeon

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Tech-enabled exterior home construction

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Run our Facebook Ads Campaigns
• Run our Google Ads Campaigns

SOLUTION

How did you find LeanSEM?

Referral

Why did you select LeanSEM over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from LeanSEM were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

LeanSEM helped us set up and successfully run several Facebook Ad Campaigns as well as our Google Adwords Campaigns.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Campaign performance (CTR, CPC, CPM, etc), leads, conversion rate

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

Yes they did deliver all items on time and went above and beyond to address our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with LeanSEM?

Virtual Meeting

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

They are very knowledgeable, reliable, and a great team all around.

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

No