Media Bounty

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing manager for a distributor of alcoholic brands in the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Media Bounty?

The main challenge was positioning the Luxardo brand. We wanted to take the brand and make it relevant for the trade, and also start doing consumer-facing communications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came to them with the business challenge and are working with them as a strategic partner on the solution and the output. They’re responsible for the curation user-generated content. They also produce content for us, which is a mixture of videos, imagery, and social posts. Originally they posted content across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. After a strategic review of the work, we pulled back from Twitter because it wasn't the most relevant platform for our brands.

What is the team composition?

Our main contact is Abi (account director, Media Bounty).

How did you come to work with Media Bounty?

I knew Media Bounty from my time at a previous company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around £300,000 ($419,556 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2014 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The reach of the content way above target. We had over a million video views in 2016, which certainly exceeded our expectations. There's been a lot of comments internally about how good the quality of the content has been across the brands.

How did Media Bounty perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re a really strong team, very open and honest. They make it clear from day one what the deliverables and the timelines are going to be. There have been bumps along the way but they always communicate their plan to fix any issue. We communicate by email, phone, and in-person meetings; we've been really happy with them in that respect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're extremely honest and hardworking. We get exactly what they say they’ll deliver. From day one, the quality of the content has been incredible. The management from the team and the effort the team put in really stands out. They're the standard I use when I'm looking for agencies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think so. They've had a lot of personnel changes but they've dealt with that very well. We had a problem in the past with the consistency of their reporting, but they've since addressed that issue and it's very good at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the scope to do what they’re best at, which is strategic thinking on brands. Give them a brief that will allow them to come to the table with their ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a large, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business. I’m the senior brand manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Media Bounty?

We were trying to drive awareness of a new launch for one of our products that had already been on the market for about a year-and-a-half. We wanted to do a new campaign focused on NFL sponsorship to build it as a partnership.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our partnership with the NFL was an asset to achieve our goals. We shared with Media Bounty what we were trying to accomplish and how we wanted to drive awareness. We didn’t have a big campaign idea, but we did have specific prizes in place: game tickets and merchandise.

They came in with an upfront strategy piece around the big campaign. It was like an NFL playbook that showcased all the visual assets. They created a microsite that drove people to all of the social posts they created for Facebook and Instagram. People could enter the competition that was divided into four parts to mirror the four-quarter game, totalizing and increasing the prize.

They created a social strategy and all of the associated posts. We had over 20 social posts that went out across the campaign for which they made all the assets. They did all the photography and used stats they received from the NFL. They pulled everything together to create the tone of voice we wanted. They also created the terms and conditions for the competition and provided the fulfillment house with the prize winners’ details. They provided a key visual that we put out across the site and at the in-store point of sale, as well as on the food truck that provided product sampling at games.

We’re now going through planning stages to extend our campaigns from last year to see what new business can be found within the company.

What is the team composition?

The managing director did the original pitch. My daily contacts were the account manager and the senior account executive.

How did you come to work with Media Bounty?

My previous boss had worked with them, so we invited them to join the pitching process.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April 2017 until November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Engagement levels were really good and we got 37 million impressions, which was double what we had planned in terms of spending. The cost of our actual media assets came in at half the price. While the campaign was live, we saw six times uptick in the number of online product mentions. Our benchmark for competition entries was at 5,000, but 6,500 ended up coming in. This was significant considering that users couldn't just click to enter. They actually had to engage with the content and upload a recipe suggestion in order to participate.

How did Media Bounty perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fantastic. They set up weekly project calls and had action list documents that they ran through every week. The whole process was very transparent. We used phone and email. We also had weekly calls where they provided an Excel document with full project timelines. We had a couple of in-person meetings as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their quality of work was good. They pulled everything off well and within budget. I was massively impressed with their delivery and we didn’t experience any mishaps along the way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We asked them to help create our in-store assets, but that wasn’t their specialty, so we ended up having to get help from a different agency.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the freedom to come up with some great ideas. They’ve got the thinking power on their side, so don’t restrict them. Just give them an open-ended brief.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing manager of Bodyform, an Essity U.K. Ltd brand. Essity is a leading health and hygiene company that manufactures personal care and tissue products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Media Bounty?

The marketing and communications landscape changed a lot over the years we have worked with Media Bounty after the emergence of social media. Originally, we hired them to produce content for a variety of marketing activities, however, we eventually stopped all traditional advertising campaigns as our target audience—women aged 16–24—moved entirely online. With this change, Media Bounty really became an extension of my marketing department and took over all our social media and digital activities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Media Bounty manages all of Bodyform’s social media channels across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, while creating content for our digital campaigns. Given all that they do, they have become the key agency that drives our engagement with our consumers.

This role has evolved over the five years I have specifically worked with them on Bodyform. When they started, they did a large audit of our social media presence by examining what the brand and our competitors had been doing until that point. They then mapped out a strategy for what our brand’s role would be on social media, including our content pillars, tone, and response policy. After implementing the strategy they took over all our social media channels and daily community management. They also handle all the digital sampling activity we offer and manage our ratings and reviews.

What is the team composition?

I have worked with our account manager for the entire five years Media Bounty has handled the Bodyform brand. I also work closely with our social media manager and one other team member who handles anything unassociated with social media activity.

How did you come to work with Media Bounty?

I had previously worked with one of the company’s founding partners a number of years ago and followed him to Media Bounty when they started.

What is the status of this engagement?

We work with them on a daily basis. They are probably the most important agency in my roster because they have to keep in contact every day.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Last year, Bodyform was named as one of the top three most meaningful brands in the U.K. by a marketing magazine. Considering that all of our activity last year was focused on social and digital media, I really think that is an acknowledgment of the kind of work and status that Media Bounty helps us achieve.

How did Media Bounty perform from a project management standpoint?

Excellent, and I think that is probably one of the reasons we work so well together. My account manager is very organized and diligent in responding to deadlines. The team tracks all our campaigns on a weekly basis across a number of different key performance indicators (KPIs). We then have an all agency call each week where we discuss the KPIs, how the activity is performing against benchmarks, and if we need to make any changes.

Aside from the weekly calls, we communicate mostly by email—which is largely my preference. We will also meet in person as needed, and they always pick up the phone if there is a problem.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a marketing manager, it's always amazing when you find people who are as passionate about your brand as you are, which is the case at Media Bounty. We have been working together for so long we have developed a kind of open, informal style of communication. If something is wrong we can discuss it easily, learn from it, and move on. This is a result of the passion they show for our brand.

Moreover, nothing is ever too much trouble for them. Regardless of the time of day, evening, or even on weekends, if we need to get something done I know that somebody will always be there to do it. You need to know that you’ve got that kind of support behind you when you work on social media, because if something went wrong on a Friday night and I couldn’t contact them until Monday, who knows what kind of damage could be done to the brand. It is good to have the confidence that you’ve good such a strong team behind you.

Do you have any advice for a potential customer?

I would say to be really open about what you want. They respond best to honest conversations. Don't keep your guard up and think you have to keep certain things back from them. Just be really transparent and make sure that—if you're passionate about your brand—you find a way to immerse them in everything your brand is about.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an associate director at Grant Thornton, a professional services firm. I lead a service line that delivers growth support to small businesses in the United Kingdom.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Media Bounty?

We hired Media Bounty to run workshops for my service line’s small business clients. These events help clients develop brand and growth strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

By choosing to attend these programs, small business leaders expect to get relevant hands-on work, not just advice. To meet these expectations, we asked Media Bounty to compile a particular workshop that was practical in nature and different from others in the market.

We collaborated during development, using previously gathered client and market research. They designed the workshop to be a power session; clients would draft new brand plans in one day.

What is the team composition?

I interface with Jake, a managing director. He coordinates with his team behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Media Bounty?

One of my colleagues was previously aware of them. We spoke to Media Bounty and liked how they approached the market. They were different and understood how to work with our Strategic M&A advisory team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £5,000 ($7,074 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in August 2017 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results were phenomenal. Jake had great input and produced great content. Our client feedback survey included questions on a scale of 1–10 about their confidence brand plan writing. Prior to the workshop, the average individual preparedness rating was a three. After the workshop, those scores improved to eights and nines.

How did Media Bounty perform from a project management standpoint?

Jake always did what he promised when he promised. We communicated via phone and email in addition to in-person meetings. At every development stage, he was willing to meet in person and conduct a scoping session. He was timely during the delivery phase as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Media Bounty is fantastic. They have extensive brand development experience, but also excel at communicating those tools to a variety of audiences. Our clients benefited from their ability to apply theoretical tips in a practical manner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I can’t fault them. Jake is great to work with; he’s responsive and performs well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their suggestions. Their dynamic and forward-looking approach may scare some clients, but it exposes the client to different ways of thinking.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the sales director for a brand retailer in the U.K.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Media Bounty?

We are not looking to have mass distribution because we manage exclusive brands. Rather, we serve as the middleman between national brands and our label—specifically in areas with high consumer involvement such as health and beauty. We found that the standard media made available by our retail partners does not allow us to gain mass awareness and attract new shoppers, while traditional marketing materials are not getting customers into our retail stores. Therefore, our main challenge is growing brand awareness.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Media Bounty worked with us to develop a plan that would drive long-term growth by understanding our brands, customers, and business challenges. Aside from developing this broad strategy, they also created actual content for social and traditional media and held our hands through the creation and implementation process.

They really helped us to understand the challenges each of our brands' faces and how their customers interact with social media. We work on a variety of platforms but primarily focus on Instagram, where Media Bounty contacts, develops and manages key influencers for our brands.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is our account director and key strategic lead.

How did you come to work with Media Bounty?

I had worked with them several years ago at a previous company.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2017 and will continue heavily working with them through 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have run several ROI analyses, and the work done by Media Bounty drove the highest ROI out of all the activity we carried out in 2017.

How did Media Bounty perform from a project management standpoint?

They held our hands from the kickoff of the project and brainstorming sessions through implementation. At each step, they handle the project so that we can get on with our own work, while they regularly check in to touch base. We communicate through email on a daily basis as issues and questions arise, and we have a standard weekly call. They are also more than happy to meet with us in person if required. They ensure that we stay on track, and successfully manage and deliver the timeline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I found it impressive that they actually took the time to get real insight into our business and our brands in order to identify a strategy that delivers long-term growth. This was especially impressive because we had made no commitments past 2017, and yet you could tell that it was important for them that their deliverables were built to last.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could bring some resources in-house. The most expensive part of the work they did for us was outsourced, so it would be financially prudent to bring in some of the necessary special expertise to their team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Media Bounty will not necessarily be the cheapest on the market, but the ROI proves that they are the best value. However, as with any company, there are never any guarantees that taking them on as a partner will give you the best possible chance of success.