OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an award-winning platform providing actionable insight for the built environment - think fitbits for buildings. Our technology helps Building Owners and Property Managers cut their carbon emissions and energy bills and improve their building’s internal environment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing, and what were your goals?

We hired OggaDoon to assist with our PR and Marketing to amplify the voice of our company. The PropTech industry is still extremely new and as the UK makes strides towards achieving net zero, technology will play a huge role going forward. OggaDoon has helped us to convey this to building owners and change-makers across the country, whilst engaging with industry-specific press.

As a relatively new business, we were aiming to increase our visibility both online and in the traditional press. We also wanted to have more insight into our website and how users’ behaviour translated to potential partners

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

OggaDoon had and continues to have a glowing reputation in green technology and with our aforementioned goals, they were the ideal fit.

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

OggaDoon has acted as a fundamental part of our marketing and outreach strategy and we value their regular strategic advice. Over this period, they have helped us to create content for media publications, such as press releases, blogs and features. They also generate graphics and copy for social media to help grow impressions and engagement, etc Alongside coordinating with the press and spotting any opportunities that may arise, they have ensured that our networks are engaged.

They have also looked at backlink strategies, which include listing our company on relevant directories across the internet. In addition, an analytics document is created monthly to measure the performance across our website, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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

Caroline M., CEO of OggaDoon, has been our main contact over the partnership and helps with the strategic direction of projects, content and announcements. Simon S., Senior PR and Marketing Executive, is more hands-on with the creation of each form of content, including the releases and social copy, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through PR, OggaDoon has continually helped us gain coverage in the press. A recent example includes an announcement in June 2022, where the organisation received a significant investment, which saw six publications running the story. Across social media, engagement and visibility of the platform have increased. In particular, following the announcement earlier this year, LinkedIn saw an immediate rise in terms of impressions and engagement.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We meet virtually every two weeks to discuss any new developments and whether there is anything we can announce. Caroline and Simon find new angles for each piece of content to ensure that it is relevant and impactful to our intended audience. As we are based in South East England and they are in Bristol, most communications are conducted over video conferencing and email.

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

We have worked with them for several years now and so they naturally have become an extension of what we do. They understand our mission and goals and find new and unique ways to make us discoverable to audiences.

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

No, the Oggadoon team works very well with our team. Their flexibility patience is an added bonus. I am very happy with all their efforts to date!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m an Associate Advisor at Co-operatives Assistance Network, a workers’ co-operative. I, alongside OggaDoon, worked with the team at the Stokes Croft Land Trust, to help them achieve their recent community share offer campaign targets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing, and what were your goals?

We decided to hire OggaDoon due to their wealth of experience in social media, digital marketing and PR and we felt they would be the perfect fit to help us reach relevant members of the community and beyond to invest. Our goal was to raise a minimum target of £272,000 through community shares to purchase the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft HQ building in Bristol.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

OggaDoon came highly recommended by our crowdfunding partner. Once we had our initial conversation, it was clear that they had grasped the nature of our need quickly and the nuances therein.

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

OggaDoon created a strategic plan for announcements over the six-month campaign. This included creating and issuing social media, e-shots and press releases to reach new audiences and to keep investors engaged. Other resources such as announcement packs, where shareholders could access template posts and materials for sharing the news across all platforms, were crafted to spread the message. In addition, they created and implemented a paid marketing campaign over the Christmas period to inspire new investments.

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

We worked with Simon (Senior PR and Marketing Executive) and Caroline (CEO), meeting regularly to update them on the latest developments with the project and from there, they would discuss their plans for new content. Simon was our main contact for content creation, whereas Caroline was the overall strategic co-ordinator for the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The campaign surpassed its minimum target by over £50,000, achieving £325,880 in shares and 440 investors at the end of the six months. Across this period, the Stokes Croft Land Trust was featured in Bristol 24/7, Bristol Live, Business Leader, BBC Radio Bristol, Bristol Cable, Good Morning Britain (West Country news segment) and South West Business Insider and this led to around 614m views in total. Overall, we believe that OggaDoon played a key role in the success of the Land Trust’s first community share offer campaign.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had regular catch-ups with Simon and Caroline to discuss the latest news for the project and how it could be communicated through PR and marketing. This was completed over video calls and emails and they created a shared folder so there was a fast sign-off process for work.

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

They helped us maximize the campaign's reach and were quick to create communications based on the latest developments. Most of all, Simon and Caroline were supportive throughout and it was easy to depend on them in terms of both strategy and delivery.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m Simon Pyne, CEO and Co-Founder of Greener Energy Futures, a Bristol-based environmental consultancy helping businesses to understand their carbon risks & opportunities, as well as setting clear goals and identifying projects and funding.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing?

We hired OggaDoon for their expert services in social media, digital marketing and PR, as I wanted to propel the reach of our organisation. Our main goal was to increase our PR activity, so that we could reach new audiences and connect with more thought leaders.

However, we were also looking to boost our presence across social media and make improvements to our website too.

SOLUTION

How did you select oggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing and what were the deciding factors?

I already knew Caroline Macdonald, CEO and Founder of OggaDoon and was aware of her years of experience in the green space.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

OggaDoon provided support for digital marketing and PR. During analysis at the beginning of the project, they gave recommendations for our website and social media to help increase engagement, which was then implemented across the duration of our collaboration.

At the same time, OggaDoon placed the organisation on directories and networks and then moved on to coordinating press releases for journalists and populating the website with new content. This helped the organisation be seen by new audiences and potential clients.

How many resources from the OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I mainly worked with Simon Stone (PR and Marketing Executive), regularly meeting to update him on progress in terms of client work and to discuss plans for new content. Caroline was also involved, as the strategic coordinator of the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

OggaDoon delivered some great results for Greener Energy Futures. Our press releases were featured in Sustainability Magazine, Future Economy Network and Building Products, leading to around 3.78m estimated views. There was also a significant increase in website visits and page views during this time due to our improved website and the creation of new blogs and web releases.

Though OggaDoon only occasionally helped create social media posts, their recommendations to post more and focus on client announcements and industry news resulted in a visible rise in the reach and engagements of our social media. Also, after they listed the company on several directories and networks, it led to a direct lead.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I had regular weekly catch-ups with Simon, who provided ideas for strategic content pieces to grow our reach. Once a news story from a client was ready to be publicly announced, they did all they could to gain coverage from publications and keep conversations about the brand going.

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

They were quick to react to changes in the sector; they knew how to target content around the latest developments, including the release of the 2021 IPCC Report and the COP26 conference, to maximise the timeliness of deliverables.

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

On reflection, I’m confident that Oggadoon helped me establish a presence and sharpen up my online marketing. I was a startup when we first engaged and the cost of hiring external PR was not easy to swallow but it was timely, and I believe it has helped me drive new business leads not just directly through digital presence but also indirectly through credibility with potential partners.

A regular dialogue with Simon Stone helped us build a good working relationship. My advice would be to agree regular goals to make the best of Oggadoon’s excellent service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Head of Delivery, Innovation & Growth at CyNam, an independent Cheltenham-centric platform that enables networking, innovation and collaboration for the cyber technology industry.

I’m coordinating marketing activities, with a critical focus on our yearly events that tackle the most pressing cyber topics, providing a networking space for cyber organisations, industry professionals and students interested in a career in this field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing?

We started working with OggaDoon for our CyNam 21.2 event “Smart Cyber: Securing the IoT and the Cities of the Future”. We extended our collaboration with OggaDoon for our autumn event,”CyNam 21.3: Keeping the Lights on: Building Resilience into our Critical National Infrastructure”.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

OggaDoon approached us in 2020, offering their PR and digital marketing services. It was about at the right moment, because we were just thinking that we needed extra help to cover our growing marketing activities to support CyNam’s progress.

We knew OggaDoon and we were aware of their work within the cyber security sector, so our collaboration with them was the natural thing to do, as we wanted to get their expertise in reaching our goals.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

OggaDoon supported us with digital marketing and PR services. This included weekly social media calendars communicating the event, posting on LinkedIn groups, writing and sending out newsletters and press releases and suggesting strategic and actionable insights on improving our digital touchpoints.

What was the team composition?

We mostly worked with Elena (the Digital Marketing Manager) and Simon (The PR and Digital Executive) for our two events. The CEO of OggaDoon, Caroline was also involved, as the strategic coordinator of the team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes, OggaDoon’s involvement in our projects returned good results. For CyNam 21.2, we got record numbers of hits during the day of the event, with 1,100+ unique views to our broadcast portal. We also got 4 media coverage for our first event done in collaboration with OggaDoon, great engagement across social media and impressive response from the email marketing series.

For CyNam 21.3, the communication was a bit challenging, as this was a hybrid event. Still, with the support of OggaDoon we managed to articulate the communication across social, newsletters, eventbrite and PR, so that we would get both physical and virtual attendance. We also gained 4 media appearances from the press releases created by OggaDoon.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had regular catch ups and excellent communications with Simon and Elena. They’ve provided us with many interesting ideas and our meetings seemed like brainstorming sessions. So the workflow between our teams was quite energetic, things needed to happen fast, and they did. The team was responsive to our needs

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We appreciated the fast-paced rhythm of their work, but also the fact that they were bringing in some new angles to event management and marketing communications was helpful and impressive.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

They’re keeping up-to-date with everything digital. One can only wish for more PR coverage, but we were pleased with the results that we got, taking into consideration the fluctuating PR environment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m head of communications for Exeter City Futures. This is an organisation that brings together businesses, institutions and citizens from across the city to focus on how we can make Exeter carbon neutral by 2030.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing?

We wanted to raise awareness of Exeter City Futures at a national level to share our work and unique approach to developing Exeter as a smart city, as well as engaging with leaders and citizens across the city to see how we could come together to help Exeter hit its carbon neutral target. We also wanted to raise the profile of our then Managing Director, Dr. Liz O’Driscoll.

What were your goals for this project?

Our strategy included: - Increasing traffic to the website - Increasing social engagement - Increasing brand momentum - Raising brand awareness - Raising Managing Director Dr Liz O’Driscoll’s profile - Securing national press coverage - Widening the Exeter City Futures fan base

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The Exeter City Futures Communications Lead and Exeter City Futures Programme Director assessed applications using three criteria as described below. These aspects were assessed using a score system out five for each criterion with each criterion having an equal weight. - Knowledge of Smart Cities sector - Evidence of national press contacts - Price Based on the score the Exeter City Futures Programme Director selected Oggadoon to be brought on to assist with our PR and comms.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We chose OggaDoon from a pitch session, and their knowledge and work with other smart city programmes really stood out for us. Exeter City Futures is entering a new phase so our partnership with OggaDoon is currently finished and will be reviewed at a later date.

What was the team composition?

We worked with Emily, associate director, and now with Claire.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

OggaDoon supplies us with regular updates from activity such as a press tracker, so we know the results from their work. We also have weekly catch-ups.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team has a good project management system in place so that they can manage and respond to work quickly, delivering on time, and able to pick things up quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They can action work quickly and get results. They have created some great opportunities for us, and Liz O’Driscoll has been featured in places including the BBC Victoria Derbyshire Show and on Yahoo News.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They’re a good team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at a technology company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing?

We wanted to increase awareness of what we do in a crowded industry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They are our PR agency since we don’t have anyone in-house. They manage all PR and communications services for us. They write press releases about every month and do outreach to the press. 

They’ve also provided our team with media training so we know how to interview professionally. Occasionally, they provide blog posts and infographics that showcase our work. 

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Emily (Associate Director), but she's leaving the company, so now our main contact is Claire (Account Director). We’ve also worked with Anna (PR and Content Executive) and Caroline (CEO). 

How did you come to work with OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing?

Bristol has a prominent technology incubator, and OggaDoon has worked with a number of companies from the incubator. Although my company was already working with them when I started, I was very pleased to be working with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We typically spend around $1,500 per month, and we’ve probably invested between $40,000-$60,000 in total. 

What is the status of this engagement?

My company began our ongoing relationship with them in 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Each week I get a list of metrics, and they provide a formal report monthly. We also track the number of press releases they write and the number of pitches they do to other publications. They’ve been successful in getting us coverage in media outlets. 

This includes industry publications and national press organizations. I think we get quite good coverage with the level of stories we give them to take out to market, which is typically Tier 2. 

How did OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very good in regards to project management. The team is organized and tracks their progress against our budget. We use an open-source tool for tracking projects, which is very helpful. We meet in-person every other week and regularly talk over the phone. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like the way they collaborate. They’re also very cost-effective and transparent about pricing so as to not overcharge us. Their team can easily translate my thoughts and ideas into formal press releases extremely quickly. I’ve explained a concept to them over the phone, and they’ve taken it and turned it into usable content. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since they’re a smaller local company, they don’t always have connections with larger global publications. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Be very clear with them about the type of coverage you want and the kinds of publications you’re hoping to be featured in. It’s also important to manage your expectations, especially if you’re a smaller business. A local company with only a few employees will not get the kind of coverage that an enterprise-level corporation gets. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of Splento, a company that has photographers and videographers available 24/7.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OggaDoon PR and Digital Marketing?

PR & Communications

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to increase Splento’s brand awareness to drive reach and impact, as well as to raise my profile.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Personal recommendation

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

OggaDoon was our PR agency and they were responsible for our comms and PR. They produced press releases, arranged interviews with podcasts, created ideas for campaigns and really helped us get noticed in mainstream media.

What was the team composition?

We worked with Caroline, the founder, and Emily, associate director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? I get regular updates with who they have approached and any feedback from outlets. I get a monthly report that shows what they have achieved for us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They are good project managers and met the deadlines set to make sure content when out at the right times, and against a challenge.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are open and transparent every step of the way. I knew what was happening and could pick up a phone any time to talk to them. They achieved brilliant results for me and are genuinely lovely people to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing immediately comes to mind.