Ready Steady Go SEO

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the company director of an engraving company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ready Steady Go SEO?

We wanted to increase our sales through organic listings on Google.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did a full review of our website and backlinks. They also looked at local SEO. They found ways to structure the website to improve our outcomes. They didn’t make a lot of structural changes because we use Shopify, so it’s somewhat limiting. 

When we first engaged them, we were still in contract with another SEO company that was managing keywords. However, after a few months that engagement ended and we brought on Ready Steady Go SEO to take care of all our SEO needs. 

They also assisted us with ad campaigns, Google Shopping, and our presence online outside of our actual website. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Guy (SEO Consultant & Business Owner) directly. 

How did you come to work with Ready Steady Go SEO?

Our blog writer recommended Guy to us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $5,000–$6,000 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and they took over the entirety of our SEO work in February 2020. The work is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Despite the effects of COVID-19 on the economy, we’ve still had decent sales. Our website traffic is up by about a third. We’re also getting better clickthrough rates. They’ve changed where we advertise based on where our customers are. 

How did Ready Steady Go SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive. I can contact them anytime, and they get back to me within an hour or so. It’s easier just working with Guy rather than a large team. I feel that he’s really dedicated to the work. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The one-on-one service is impressive. They’re straightforward and knowledgeable. Guy is a great person to work with. He’s made it easy to manage the project, and he guides us through it seamlessly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the strategic development manager at a data management company. We work with field service technicians to digitize their data records.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Ready Steady Go SEO?

We weren’t getting much traction on the Google Play or App Store with our mobile app. We approached Ready Steady Go SEO to help with marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They pointed out a lot of common-sense changes that we could make to improve our app store listings. Guy (SEO Consultant & Owner) helped us figure out how to better set up our app store pages with pictures and videos. 

They also helped us with the SEO strategy for our new website. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Guy primarily. 

How did you come to work with Ready Steady Go SEO?

We found them through a recommendation from our copywriting and marketing vendor. 

How much have you invested in them? 

We invested less than $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2019. They’ve fulfilled their obligations in regard to the app store, but we’re still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too soon to report any statistics. However, the quality of their work is excellent. The advice given goes above and beyond what we asked. They pointed out a lot of things we hadn’t thought of. Their ideas were really innovative as well. 

How did Ready Steady Go SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

They had good project management. I never really gave strict deadlines, but they always got back to me in a timely fashion. Their communication was clear and easy to understand. We primarily communicate via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The way in which they go beyond the scope of the project is impressive. They’re informative and come up with thought-provoking ideas. Guy has helped us see the bigger picture. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything was fine. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Expect more than you bargained for, and be willing to engage in detailed conversations. It’s an eye-opening experience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director at Knowledge Oral Healthcare. We provide oral care training to the healthcare sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ready Steady Go SEO?

We were the first national oral care training group, so I wanted to ensure our ranking was high on Google.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Guy (Business Owner) helped me find ways to generate good results for Google through creating campaigns. He also helped with creating ideas for social media projects.

What is the team composition?

I only worked with Guy.

How did you come to work with Ready Steady Go SEO?

They were recommended to me by a dental professional that used them in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ready Steady Go SEO goes above and beyond. Guy is skilled in different areas and remains professional. He’s also very concise with his work. He always had project examples and statistics for us to go through. Everything he says is of value and beneficial. His suggestions and ideas are very to the point.

How did Ready Steady Go SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

His communication is clear and concise. He’d go through analytics and asked me to work through it. I was able to have input into the project.

If Guy says he is calling at a certain time, he does. He also set up a quick discussion that allows us to go along with our days. He’s right to the point.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I enjoyed seeing the rankings increase. Guy put something in place, and then we would talk in two weeks, and he would show me the ratings. It was something that I looked forward to.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing really comes to mind. He’s extremely professional and punctual. I definitely recommend him.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Write down all the information you want to ask Guy in advance. It’s nice to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager for Integrity Facilities Management Ltd. We provide everything from reactive repairs to plan and preventative maintenance to predominantly commercial properties across the U.K. We help support businesses with all hard services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ready Steady Go SEO?

Our company wasn’t coming up on any online searches, so we needed a partner to help push our brand and generate more business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Guy (Owner, Reay Steady Go SEO) took time to get to know us, our business, and what we offer. Facilities management is a fairly generic term, so Guy helped identify our strengths and where we should channel our energy to target potential new clients.

He also works on our website and informs us on what content we should be uploading. He stays on top of what’s new to the market, what we can use to attract clients, and what we can offer to existing clients. He advises on what we should blog and uses Buffer to distribute the content across all the social media platforms we use, like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

What is the team composition?

Guy is the only person.

How did you come to work with Ready Steady Go SEO?

A colleague recommended him. We emailed on a few occasions and had a couple of conversations over the phone. He came in to meet with us, and he'd already done some research on our company and how we were performing with SEO. He proposed some ways he could help, and we were impressed that he took the time to investigate our company so much, so we hired him.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £6,000 (USD $8,295).

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our search rank has increased quite significantly. When you search for “West Midlands” (the region where we’re located) and “facilities management,” we come up on the first or second page. We used to be on the sixth or seventh. My personal LinkedIn profile has also seen a lot more invites as the company becomes better known, but I’m not sure if that’s a result of Guy’s work.

Our Facebook and Twitter pages also have more followers, and we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the amount of traffic coming through our site. Visitors are filling out our contact form, many being suppliers who want to be part of our supply chain. That enables us to become more competitive and offer more professional services, which makes our business that much better.

We haven’t made back what Guy charges, but it’s only a matter of time before we see a good ROI. Guy has saved us time when it comes to publishing onto our social media platforms, and he’s helped modernize our company in regard to digital marketing and SEO.

How did Ready Steady Go SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

Guy is excellent. He’s communicative during the week, and even if it’s the weekend or a time when he’s not scheduled to work, he’ll answer our calls or emails quickly. He’s much more than an SEO consultant; he’s part of our Integrity team. He constantly is trying to find ways to generate more work and money for us and always delivers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We took on an apprentice recently, and Guy’s been super supportive in nurturing and helping him out. He’ll give the apprentice advice on what he should put on our social media platforms and site, and he instructs him on different ways to promote our business. Guy goes above and beyond what he was initially hired to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not at all.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

If you’re not sure how Ready Steady Go SEO can help, just talk to Guy. He clearly explains what SEO involves and how he can help your company.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the managing partner of Hunters Estate Agents in Hereford, selling residential property in the city and surrounding counties.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ready Steady Go SEO?

Our previous SEO partner wasn’t achieving our targets nor was cost-effective as we were ranking low on Google and weren't being given any help, advice, nor assistance to promote our business online.

What were your goals for this project?

We rebranded our business so we wanted to ensure that we were doing everything we could to maximize exposure and move our business up the Google listings.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had a telephone conversation with Guy (Founder, Ready Steady Go SEO) and he was easy to speak to. He didn't confuse me with computer jargon and was helpful and attentive from the outset, quickly establishing objectives and conducting a concise appraisal prior to our first meeting where he explained everything about SEO in easy to understand language without being patronizing.

He also explained the importance of various actions online which had never been brought to our attention before by the previous company. He set us at ease from day one and we knew he was working with us rather than simply taking our money.

What was the team composition?

Guy has a very hands-on approach and is proactive with suggestions and ideas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

Guy has helped us improve our ranking on Google. He also assists with setting clear objectives on social media, which have resulted in increased activity and reviews.

How did the Ready Steady Go SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

Guy comes to our office every month or every six weeks and spends a day with us going over new ideas, suggestions, solving problems, and analyzing the results of previous endeavors. He’s always a phone call away and his support has been second to none.

What impresses you about the Ready Steady Go SEO?

Guy is a true professional. Not only does he know what he’s talking about, but he is able to explain everything in layman’s terms. He took the time to get to know us and our business in order to set clear objectives and goals for maximum exposure and promotion wherever possible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have no criticisms whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Service Pump Limited rents large diesel pumps to construction sewage and waterworks companies. I’m the Finance Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ready Steady Go?

We needed help with SEO strategy services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Guy worked on SEO, website design, direct marketing, marketing campaigns, email campaigns, and Google AdWords. He also helped us organize reviews on different websites, improve our page ranking for our website, and assisted with pay-per-click services.

Guy assisted us with the selection of key words and helped us make sure we were using our budget carefully. His expertise is priceless. He helped us design the website and think through it in the first place.

Guy is directly integrated in all of our marketing efforts now. He trained our people who had never used Twitter or LinkedIn before. He does refresher courses with everyone every quarter. He’s set up all of our social media campaigns. We’re active on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and we may add some more. We wouldn’t have known how to operate some of these platforms without Guy’s help.

What is the team dynamic?

I’ve only dealt with Guy [Owner, Ready Steady Go SEO].

How did you come to work with Ready Steady?

When we were a new startup company, I called Guy because I’d worked with him in the past more than once. I’ve known him over the course of 20 years. He was the first and only phone call we made.

How much have you invested with them?

Less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2016 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s nice to see our page ranking move up as we put more time and resources into it. We’re happy with the way it’s moving. We’re on the map and when we started, we were not.

How did Ready Steady perform from a project management standpoint?

He’s better managing some of these projects than we are. We will not make a move without him. When we’re getting other people to do other things in marketing, we still have him involved. He’s extremely integrated into the whole organization.

He’s the guy we go to after hours if something doesn’t work. He’s very responsive beyond the normal call of duty and we normally talk on the phone, use WhatsApp, SMS, email, or face to face.

What did you find most impressive about them?

He’s very practical in what is a very technical field. SEO and page rankings are full of technical terms and jargon, but he explains everything in practical terms. He tells us what we can do quickly, easily, what’s difficult, how long and how difficult things are going to be, what’s worth doing and what’s not worth doing. He also has experience in our specific industry of equipment sales and rentals, which is very useful for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I wish we could clone him. We’ll continue to grow and do more business with him as we grow.

Do you have any advice to potential customers of his?

Call him early. Ask big questions. Ask him the best way to do something, not “Can you do this for us?” Give him a very wide scope and he’ll make very good suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the chairman of a construction equipment rental company. We rent equipment such as diggers, cherry pickers, and a construction plant to all sorts of customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ready Steady Go SEO?

We've had search engine optimization [SEO] and website designers previously. They were very good at what they did, but fundamentally, they didn't understand our business. We would speak from our business experience and would receive a blank look.

We needed a partner with that understanding, so we tried Ready Set Go SEO, having spent a lot of money on a brand new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Guy [Owner, Ready Set Go SEO] has effectively become the de facto marketing manager of the company. He looks after all facets of our digital marketing: Facebook and Twitter, which we weren't previously doing. He is helping to improve our SEO, and is coordinating everything together.

He has come up with an online catalog and is refining our CRM [customer relationship management] system. We have a company that's specific for IT who he's working alongside, and it is working really well. We've undertaken PPC [pay-per-click] on Google AdWords recently, and it's starting to show some fruit.

What is the team dynamic?

Guy is the company; they are one and the same. Through his experience and contacts over a number of years, he has a number of people in specific areas that he can call on that he knows and trusts.

How did you come to work with Ready Steady Go SEO?

Guy approached us. I knew him from when he previously worked for a company in our industry and was their marketing and digital director.

He's got a great reputation, but we had lost our sales director to that company. I wasn't certain as to whether there was a relationship so I kept him at arm’s length. He subsequently left that company, so I spoke to him again. Now, we have him working for us exclusively, one day a week.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend £1,400 a month with him. [$1,850]

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since April 2017. [Was not mentioned on interview, analyst please confirm]

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen a sustainable increase in turnover: not massive, but more than enough to justify the work. That's why we made the commitment to having them on board. From that perspective, we're starting to see our ranking consistently stay where we need it to stay, and that's making a positive impact.

We looked to have an initial blip of investment, and then for it to then settle back down and to level off. We've made the conscious decision as a board that we're not going to make that change and we're going to make the investment relatively high for a company of our size.

How did Ready Steady Go SEO perform from a project management standpoint?

Absolutely magnificent; they have been an absolute godsend to us. We'd happily recommend them, as long as it's not to one of our competitors. They come to us once a week for a day in the office and sit in with the team. We now tweet on a daily basis, which we never used to do. They are mentoring one of our members of staff to undertake that facet.

They are making some very positive inroads because though they’re not here all the time, they’re available on the phone which is great. They’re very amenable and very approachable; very clever and highly intelligent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The project has been one of the best things I've achieved in the last 12 months. They take something to the uninitiated and stops it from being a black art. The previous people that did this work for us tried to blind us with facts, details, and figures, and it would be largely irrelevant because when it came to the crunch, we were on top of a ranking on a search term that is never searched for. It was great to be top of a ranking, but what's the point when the search term is never searched for?

They have taken away that myth and put it into simple terms. They helped to break down our slight distrust of the SEO industry and rebuild our faith in it. They are not patronizing the uninitiated: they have a brilliant skill in being able to bring it down and play to different audiences.

They say it as it is and are very driven and very focused. They are a definite asset. We have spoken about whether Guy would consider coming in and working full-time for us, but that's not an option as he has his business. That's how highly we think of them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think so. They fit perfectly with us, and we're lucky to have found them. Unfortunately, when running a business, you can't always commit the time that you might want to, so they’re only in one day a week. Everything is condensed in that time, but my focus has to be on the day-to-day of running the business and making sure everything is going as it should. That's the only issue that we might have. They’re very incredibly driven, but because of the time constraints, can be quite demanding.

Advice for potential customers?

Once you meet Guy [Owner], he can come across as being a little strange. He doesn't always look at you, which can be somewhat disconcerting. But if you get past that, you'll find that he is very personable, intelligent, and talented. He's an invaluable asset to any business.

I can't recommend them enough. If they were to ever leave us and not want to work with us, I would make a point of going out and employing somebody directly off his ilk and having them on our payroll.