Linear

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Marketing Officer of Williams Entertainment Group which is the corporate umbrella for our suite of brick-and-mortar entertainment offerings. Our list of WEG brands includes Airborne Trampoline Park, Labyrinth Reality Games, Alcatraz Escape Games DFW, and Golden Axe Throwing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

We hired Linear Design to help us with our digital advertising. As Williams Entertainment Group began to rapidly scale (13 new parks and 2 new brands in a year) we quickly realized that the digital advertising and marketing, along with other growing pains, left our accounts an unscalable mess.

It was at this point we knew we had to stop slapping bandaids on problems and properly set for scaling. Linear helped us clean up the mess that was our accounts. They laid down a foundation that now allows us to scale our digital advertising as we scale our entertainment businesses.

What were your goals for this project?

We had a few main goals in hiring Linear.

• Goal 1: Get our digital advertising accounts set up to scale with our businesses.
• Goal 2: Keep our advertising consistent. For a long time, we would only run one-off campaigns. i.e. ads for events, holiday sales, new product launches, and flash sales. I don't think we ever ran constant brand awareness campaigns before Linear. Linear helped us create consistent campaigns that matched our brands while maximizing our budget.
• Goal 3: Free up my time. As a one-man-band, running marketing for 17 stores and 5 unique brands doesn't give me a lot of time to focus on the details of our ad accounts. I needed Linear to free up my time to focus on the other aspects of my job, but I also needed someone I could trust to do the work.
• Goal 4: Develop KPI's with actionable data. One of the issues we had run into while scaling is that not every system we set up is a one size fits all.

For example, we use 3 different points of sales, unique waiver systems that tie into the POS's, some locations have different prices, multiple websites, and beyond that, we have even more miscellaneous revenue streams (it's a lot! and it was a mess!) Aggregating all that mixed data into one place was a challenge that we needed Linears guided help to accomplish.

SOLUTION

How did you select Linear Design?

We selected Linear Design after we met Luke during the sale of one of our escape room brands. After working with him during the sale and transition of our escape room brand, I was able to see that he really knew what he was doing and that he was a trustworthy guy.

Once I knew what Luke could do, we approached him about taking us on as a client. He offered us a stellar deal that made the decision to hire Linear a no brainer.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After we decided to go with Linear my main goal was to get our accounts into a position that could be scaled. In order to do that Linear needed access to more accounts than I can remember. Immediately after we signed, Luke and I got together to get him set up on all of the relevant accounts and he began an audit that led to a restructuring of our accounts.

Linear was helpful in aggregating data into actionable reports and was able to set up specific tracking tags that gave us actionable data on customer behavior that we weren't able to see because one of our POS's is a closed system that does not API with any digital advertising platform.

My role in this project was overseeing the success of the advertisements by giving placement advice, determining budgets, delivering creative that we had done in house, as well as signing off on branding and copy.

Linear's main responsibilities were to rebuild our accounts into a scalable system and to use the new system to consistently buy and place ads while optimizing our budget to get the most out of our spending.

What was the team composition?

I've worked with two people at Linear. Luke, who at the beginning was needed to take on some of the more glaring and troublesome issues with our accounts. I also had an account manager, Clytie, who handled the day-to-day account management, ad-buying, and account optimization. Linear did offer a designer but because I already have a designer in-house I decided to do the creative side on our own.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since signing Linear all of our accounts are now consistently advertising and properly scaling. They have continually hit benchmarks and goals every month.

Although we had some tracking issues regarding conversions with our closed system POS, we have seen gross revenue increase by 15% across all of our parks. We believe that the revenue increase can be attributed to the consistent advertising and campaign structure of our digital advertising channels.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager I was assigned was highly effective and communicative. There was never a time where she wasn't checking in and proactively working on our accounts. We mostly used email to communicate and would schedule bi-monthly phone calls to discuss new ideas and implementations.

My project manager was very open to feedback but also stood her ground if she thought a decision I wanted to make was a bad one, and she'd explain her logic. It was a very healthy and helpful working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What I found most impressive about Linear was their consistent performance, their ability to undo the mess I had created without making me feel inept, and the constant communication with me even when I would frequently miss calls.

Many digital marketing agencies I've encountered often times will quickly build your ad accounts, set em and forget em, and then continue charging a fortune for what seems like zero maintenance of the account. Linear was not like this.

Linear constantly managed my ads, worked with me and my creative vision, and always showed their work optimizing our accounts. Linear proved to be an accountable agency because of its consistent communication, reporting, awesome customer service, and quality results.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Sometimes I felt like my opinions and the ad creative I was feeding to Linear were disregarded and/or unused. I personally don't get offended when my creativity doesn't get used, I just want to have the most effective ad.

At the beginning of our relationship, I didn't see any of my creative being AB tested against any of the designs Linear had created in house. This was frustrating at first but once I began working with Clytie she heard my frustrations and worked closely with me to make sure the best creative was being tested and deployed.

I don't know if what I just said is much of a suggestion for "areas of improvement" but I do think it would be nice to have your designers, account managers, or whoever is interfacing with a client, provide an argument as to why certain creative decisions are being made, especially when going up against a client whos providing their own creative.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a certified and practicing Health and Wellness Center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Landing Page Design.

What were your goals for this project?

Increase new memberships and new patients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After reading many of Linear's blog posts they seemed to have the knowledge and expertise we were looking for.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They onboarding all of our online advertising account from Google Ads to Facebook Ads to Google Analytics. They restructured the accounts, implemented new bid strategies, and set up advanced retargeting.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a dedicated account manager and a designer as well as the CEO and director of PPC.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

About six months after hiring linear we expanded to a second location and have continued growing each month. Much of this success can be attributed to better results from our Google Ads and improved conversion rates. Our landing page is converting 250% higher than it was before working with Linear and our Google ads Cost/conv. has dropped by almost 40%.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great workflow and communication. We always knew what to expect right from the day we started with them. There was never any doubt that their team was working towards our goals.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Results. Out of the three different companies we worked with they are the first to really deliver on their promises. We've added $50k-$60k a month in new revenue thanks to the team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Alcatraz Escape Games is Utah's premier escape room destination. I'm the chief marketing officer and one of the partners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

Linear was hired to improve and expand our online advertising. Specifically our Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and YouTube Ads.

What were your goals for this project?

Drive more online sales and do so profitably.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We read several of the blogs and eventually reached out. They stood out because they really seemed to understand PPC on a deeper level than most agencies.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They consolidated some of our ad accounts into single accounts to allow for better data and tracking. I oversaw this process and made sure they had the access and assets they needed. After this initial consolidating they restructured our search campaigns, designed new facebook ad campaigns, and eventually expanded to YouTube Ads.

What was the team composition?

We worked with 5 people. The PPC Director, Account Manager, CRO Designer, CRO Director, and Content Writer. Primarily we worked with our account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We increased online sales by 200% while lowering our cost per acquisition by close to 50%.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was scheduled every other week and reporting was provided each week. They took our feedback really well and we have consistently been happy with the end results. However, they will push back when they feel like one of our ideas isn't a good one. We actually really appreciate this.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The speed of execution and depth of knowledge is unmatched. We've worked with several other agencies before Linear, but they will definitely be our last.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Reporting can be a bit extensive. We know the results are good, so a smaller less detailed report would be helpful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Realtor in Utah and part of Century 21 Everest. A real estate brokerage that ranks nationally and globally among all Century 21 offices. Within that Brokerage, I am part of a top 3 ranked team of all Century 21 globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

With being in such a competitive industry, I needed to stand out from my competition. I reached out to Linear to optimize my internet marketing. Ranging from my landing page to running ads on Google and Facebook.

What were your goals for this project?

Internet marketing is a vast part of today's success and I needed to optimize my lead source and the conversion rate of the leads that came entered into my CRM.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Linear presented me with a working CRO model that would best utilize my investment to get most out of my PPC marketing. The project included my landing page and how they were all going to tie into the direct marketing on the selected major platforms, such as Google and Facebook.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The first step was a clear understanding of my goals and visions for my business. Linear's model laid out the beginning process' and the cost associated with each. I wanted to start with the landing page first, so that every PPC would convert at the highest rate possible. They ensured I was satisfied with the landing page, then they lead into marketing campaigns.

I wanted to start on the main search engines first, so we went with Google and Facebook. Traffic is vastly different on these two sources and they took that into account when creating the campaigns. Once leads started coming through, we were able to collect the Conversion Rate Data. Updates are made constantly to combat the changing economy and market.

What was the team composition?

I worked with the entire team regularly and you can tell they all bring different skills to the table. Evie was always a huge help and delivered everything on timely manner. I was most impressed with how hands the CEO was. Luke was involved from the very beginning and has showed a genuine interest in my business's success throughout the entire process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My lead source has increased drastically. I embarrassingly say that I did not expect such a quick increase and was not prepared for the fluctuation. Not having to worry about marketing everything myself has allowed me to make the adjustments to cover the surge.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The transition from their team to my business has been flawless. Whenever I had a question, they provided an answer. Even if they did not have an answer for me at that exact moment, they made sure to get one for me.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed by how they made my project feel like the highlight of their work. Like I said, they took a genuine interest in my success which made their team, my team. The entire collaboration has been effortless.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They are not a complacent company and are always looking to improve. I could not be happier with what they have done for me thus far and I will be using their service for the foreseeable future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder & CEO of an SEO agency based in Texas, with all marketing responsibilities under my direction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

As an organic search agency, we have always used our own expertise to help build our digital presence, but when we launch a new specialized service, it can take nearly a year for the page we create to reach the middle/top of Google search. When we launched our web page dedicated to eCommerce SEO services, we reached out to Linear for support with Google Ads.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals for this project were to generate highly pre-qualified leads for eCommerce SEO services at a target cost per acquisition of under $500 per lead. With an average lifetime value nearing $100,000, and a close rate of around 25% on these leads, being able to generate them consistently was to have a substantial impact on our ability to select the best clients and continue to grow steadily through 2020.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I've known the owner through my personal network for a while now and, when we ran into each other, I mentioned the goals and he walked me through (in detail), without asking for anything in return, the way Linear would handle the project and structure the campaign.

It was extremely clear that they were knowledgeable enough to get the job done. I was hesitant to get started because, in 2018, I had worked with another agency that appeared promising, but did not deliver, especially when it came to communication and strategy.

I had a few more conversations with Luke before deciding to move forward. What convinced me was his ability to explain the strategy, and the processes they have in place to ensure communication & reporting are never an after-thought.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Linear's plan included the strategic buildout of campaign concepts, implementation, and management. I was particularly impressed by their ongoing attention to strategy. They did not have a "set it and forget it" mentality, which I had experienced previously with the other agency I worked with.

The process was very "done-for-you" in that there was not a significant investment of time on my part to get the campaign launched, which, as a business owner wearing countless hats, was a relief. They've been managing the campaign on an ongoing basis and provide reports regularly. All I really look at is the cost per acquisition and keep tabs on the quality of the leads. They handle the rest.

What was the team composition?

I work with an account manager but regularly speak with the owner, Luke, since he's in my professional network. I'm not sure how often he's on calls with other clients, but the account manager is on top of everything.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've achieved a cost per acquisition of about $150 below our initial goal (mentioned above). Of course, anything coming in above expectations is a delight, so I was very happy to see that, after about a month, we were able to reach a $350(ish) CPA.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have ongoing calls, regular reports, and know that our account manager is just about always quick to respond to our messages.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I'm most impressed by the terms of their contract. Since I'm from the SEO industry, I'm used to 12 and 24-month contracts. Linear has a one-quarter commitment, and then month-to-month thereafter. That means that every month, they have to prove they are worth the retainer, which they do.

Are there any areas for improvement?

If there are ever little things that can be improved upon as it relates to explaining and processes, they are far underweighted by everything else Linear does to ensure our campaign's success.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a self-employed videographer. I make all kinds of videos for different companies for their own marketing uses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

We had a marketing project for a chiropractor creating new landing pages, video overviews of different services offered, client testimonials, and doctor testimonials.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal was to drive more traffic to the company and get new clients in the door. We wanted to see more traffic on their facebook page, website, and get more people calling in as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Linear was referred to me through another friend.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Linear has had other experiences with chiropractors in the past, so they created video prompts specifically for the doctors and patients to match their side. They also worked out a schedule with the doctors for us to follow during our days of filming.

They communicated with the doctors when we could go in early to set up our equipment and be ready the moment the patients arrived to give testimonials. The questionnaire's were brief, but we made sure to be thorough and get multiple takes if needed to ensure the best finished product would happen.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I was actually able to work with Luke the CEO throughout this entire project. He was open to texts, emails, and phone calls and we made sure our visions aligned so the projects would come out the way we planned. Once the projects were submitted, we communicated primarily through email and had a couple tweaks to make, then started rolling the videos online.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don't have the specific numbers on my end, but I've spoken with Linear and they let me know the client was seeing results immediately once the videos and marketing materials were live. The client was actually so happy, they referred 3 other associates to Linear within 2 months of working with them.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a very smooth workflow. We had a schedule prepared for the whole trip and knew specifically who we were working with each day and when we were working with people during the day. They even scheduled time for us to capture b-roll to make sure we got enough content as needed to create different types of videos and not be stuck with only interview footage.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Linear is very a very personable company. We've worked together a few times now, and I've heard all great things as I've met a few of their other clients. Linear really cares about their clients and legitimately wants to see them succeed. It's not just about numbers, they create good relationships and stick to them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Linear has been growing and has hired a few new employees. Obviously there are hiccups here and there during times of company growth, but it's nothing that won't be overcome within a short amount of time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of FactFinders, a background screening firm based in the state of Utah. We do pre-employment background checks for companies of all sizes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

We utilized Linear for digital marketing SEO and CRO services.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our ranking for key terms and show up in search results for the services that we offer. Our goal was to increase online referrals and develop more sales leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Linear is owned and managed by my son, Luke Heinecke. I have first hand knowledge of the work ethic that he and his staff have in getting their clients the very best results within the budget parameters that are in place.

Describe the project in detail.

We had several meetings to discuss our goals and to familiarize their staff with our business. They helped to revise key words and worked to set up and optimize our social media accounts. They implemented changes to our site to make it more SEO friendly.

What was the team composition?

We usually work with a project manage but also have direct contact with the owner. The staff is always very accessible and helpful.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our ranking has improved and we are getting more sales leads from traffic directed to our site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team is always very responsive to our needs and concerns. They respond quickly to any of our inquiries and make changes in a prompt and professional manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The results are outstanding. Their professionalism and knowledge stands out. They took the time to understand our industry and competitive landscape before executing a plan. The due diligence that they did beforehand and the follow-through after really made the difference.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of Unbound Media, an online media and content strategy service that also works with brands to publish their stories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

We worked with Linear design on the creation of landing pages and content to draw more new and unique visitors to our site and convert those visitors to clients.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our traffic to our site, reduce bounce rates, and increase conversion rates to double digits.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred to this vendor by another company in our industry who had used their services and highly recommended the organization.

Describe the project in detail.

We set up a few landing pages and then did some managed A/B testing with PPC ads on Google and some LinkedIn ads as well. Ongoing we will be creating more pages and ads, and experimenting with ways to increase conversion rates.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, but there were graphic designers and developers who worked on the project as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Conversion rates nearly doubled fairly quickly, and have been steadily climbing as we have made improvements to targeting and the landing pages themselves, including improvements to the call to action.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was easy, and updates were frequent and clear. Whenever we had questions, response times were phenomenal.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I love the responsiveness and skill of the team at Linear Design. Great team. Their creativity and willingness to think outside the box set them apart.

Are there any areas for improvement?

That's hard to say. quality was high, and while we all want to see instant results, the results we did receive came quickly and exceded expectations in the long run.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a personal training company. I manage client relations, client information, app management, and workouts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

We started out as a small unknown company, with little idea how to get our offered services and brands to our desired audience. We hired linear for their PPC and CRO services to help us correctly direct our ad spend to the right areas and market to the right audience.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our revenue by at least 80%.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was referred by a friend who uses their services, and after comparing linear with 3 other marketing agencies we finally chose linear. This was based on the promptness of the proposal, the obvious care and knowledge about the fitness industry, and their level of expertise in the digital marketing world.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After working with linear for the better part of 2019 we saw our revenue skyrocket even past our goal of 80%. They assigned a specific account manager to us and we get to work closely with them. Our marketing budget is being properly used in the right areas and continues to bring us better results every month.

What was the team composition?

We work closely with the account manager who is available and open to any changes we would like to see or questions we have.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our revenue has increased by a total of 100%

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The account manager we were assigned provides us with frequent updates helps us understand the process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was extremely impressed by their level of expertise in the marketing industry. They seem to know much more than even many of the other agencies out there. They are very professional but also very friendly and take great care in the success of my company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything can always be done faster but we were really happy with the design of the final product and overall very happy with linear.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder of KlientBoost, and we're a pay-per-click and conversion rate optimization agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linear Design?

When we have a client that isn’t a great fit for ourselves, we build client relationships with Linear Design. They have helped us serve companies by offering marketing services that we don’t provide. 

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were ensuring that our client was comfortable and excited. We wanted them to have the right team to deliver on the things they needed to improve their performance.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I've been in touch with Linear Design for a very long time and saw it as a no brainer to test a few client relationships together. It proved to be successful.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Since the clients had smaller ad budgets, we decided that our fee wouldn't make the most sense. Linear has more scalability potential regarding advertising compared to us, so we referred over clients who had goals for Google and Facebook Ads. Linear helped them set a game plan, expectations, and then executed upon them.

What was the team composition?

The direct point of contact was the account manager for the client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was happy, so we were happy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very smooth. They set up their project management according to how the client wanted it. The type of reporting, communication, and the frequency of collaboration all depended on the client’s preference. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have a “straight to work” mentality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Linear Design should keep doing what they are doing. If they could get results for companies with budgets that aren’t that high, they will do amazing things for the bigger fish too.