Search Engine People

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Vice President and Co-Owner of Canadian Mortgage Services, a boutique mortgage brokerage and mortgage investment firm in the Greater Toronto Area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We originally hired SEP for SEO projects to start, which led to site development, PPC management and is further heading towards social media marketing as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We contacted at least a few different companies during the process. SEP assessed our goals and budget. They didn't try to sell on us things we didn't need... nor did they try to sell us at all. It was just genuine interest and conversation.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

• SEO - Build, deliver and maintenance
• PPC - Research, design, launch and maintain
• Site Development - Copywrite, design, functionality and responsiveness

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

• Michael - Account Manager
• Vamsee - PPC Specialist
• Craig - Director

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SEP effectively increased our rankings to page 1 of Google with many targeted keywords. There are continuous efforts to improve rankings on related keywords, bounce rates, conversions, etc.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Timelines are specific and realistic. Communication is on point with effective use of available resources.

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

The culture of the company is great. Everyone seems to emulate the same common interest of the client, which makes each individual valuable and each team powerful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director, Marketing. Custom mobile application development organization, selling to IT and LOB (Field Service) in Manufacturing, Energy, and Healthcare.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

SEP is our provider of SEO and PPC across Google and Linkedin Ad Campaigns. We outsource SEO and PPC to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of digital marketing, in order to stay competitive.

SOLUTION

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We evaluated several demand gen/digital marketing vendors but have sticked with SEP as they are transparent, professional, and focus on customer relationships.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

SEO manages our PPC accounts on google ads, and Linkedin Campaign Manager. We also have a minor ongoing SEO engagement/retainer.

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

We've worked with several members of the SEP team over the years but our primary contact is with our account manager(s) who coordinate tasks amongst their internal domain experts in ad management and seo.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Difficult to provide concrete data as this has been a multi-year engagement across many projects but we're highly satisfied with our engagement and have been able to retain our market position in a highly competitive landscape.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Collaborative, weekly meetings on ongoing tasks, monthly larger scale executive discussions and quarterly business/strategic reviews.

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

I'd say Search Engine People's competitive advantage is customer service - we've had a few account managers and points of contact over the years and across the board they've all been results oriented and professional.

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

Continue the pace - be more proactive and prescriptive with budget management and areas of improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Digital Marketing Team Lead for an insurance brokerage.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We wanted to grow our online presence and knew we needed the help of an agency. We wanted to start/optimize a strong PPC campaign. We were also looking to build our organic content.

SOLUTION

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We vetted several agencies and found SEP to be highly knowledgeable and have a proven track record.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

We started with a discovery phase where the SEP team dived into our business, our values and objectives. We explored market research, reviewed analytics and came up with a solid keyword strategy for our Google Ads campaign. The SEP team setup the campaigns and continue to monitor closely. We are provided with detailed, transparent reporting which we discuss bi-weekly.

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

We work directly with one account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since implementing our campaigns we have increased our visibility on Google which has resulted in an increase of traffic to our website.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Our account manager is very responsive. We communicate mainly through email and our bi-weekly meetings.

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

I appreciate the honesty and transparency the SEP team displays. We receive detailed reporting with explanations and recommendations. The SEP team is very knowledgeable and have built strong relationships with Google and Facebook which benefits us as clients.

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

This isn't a bad quality however I find them to be modest. They don't try and oversell themselves or push their services on you. While we don't want services pushed on us it would be nice to have services recommended and not have to ask about them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Donek Snowboards manufactures custom snowboards and I am the marketing and branding manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We hired them to help us gain ground in SEO and to help with our PPC. We were looking to build brand awareness and produce more online conversions

SOLUTION

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

I wanted to work with a local company that was close to me we could easily meet in person when needed. I work remotely from the head office in Denver. The deciding factors were cost, reputation, and location.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

Our relationship started with setting goals of increasing brand awareness and online conversions. SEP laid out what they were able to manage for us and adapted it to our budget. They were able to educate us in many areas and to work with us in building our presence and more conversions.

We have a unique company since every project is tailored to each client. We are working on going with them to continue to meet our goal of building up our small company.

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

We have worked with around 4 people from SEP and they were are account manager, Video creation team, and social media team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have seen our online conversions increase over the years and we have seen Donek creep up search engine's lists to be first offered. We have seen help from AD Words and PPC

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Project and account management has been great with monthly reports and they are always there when I need to communicate with them through email, phone, and in the past in person as well. They are great with keeping on task and staying within the timelines set.

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

The fact that they are adaptable to every budget, even a shoestring one like ours, being a very small company.

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

We are happy with how the relationship has grown and supported Donek Snowboards

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a leading labour and employment law firm in Toronto. I am an articling student at the firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People?

Our firm was anticipating a rebrand and had the underlying desire to be more searchable and appealing to those doing standard Google searches. As such, we hired Search Engine People to completely re-do our website, stay on top of our media appearances, and help us with our social media presence.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to see more traffic on the site, as well as have more avenues where the community can find us, whether that be through our media appearances or are recent cases. The team helped us integrate everything we would like to see on our website page.

SOLUTION

How did you select Search Engine People?

We had researched a few companies, but based on the wide range of services they provided, we ultimately chose them. We have an ongoing relationship that works for our firm, given our busy schedules and our desire to completely delegate this portion of our business to those who know best.

Describe the project in detail.

The Search Engine People assisted us with: searchability, social media presence, rebranding of our website, integration of our media presence and court appearances on the site, as well as open communication for anything that may come up.

What was the team composition?

Michael is the hands on guy for our project, as well as Amanda's assistance on social media and general media we would like to appear on the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a complete new website with higher searchability!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Michael is easy to communicate with, as well as helpful in explaining next steps. It is great to have someone who is knowledgeable and focused on the goal of our firm.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

How quick the turnaround is and the ongoing communication available to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Duliban Insurance Brokers is a family-owned brokerage that has won many insurance awards for leading the insurance industry in the tech sector. My job is to ensure all the internal and external platforms are used fully and all integrate with each other to create a seamless ecosystem.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We hired SEP to run our PPC campaigns to help generate leads for sales. Our goals change from month to month but we always surpass them thanks to our rep.

SOLUTION

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

SEP was already partnered with our team when I moved into the department.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

We broke down our campaigns into lines of business; home, auto, tractor etc. Created visual ads to help increase conversations that would lead to a prospect calling our company for a quote

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

We usually deal with one rep from SEP as our marketing team provides work for them to post and manage.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our ads are continually growing and bringing in leads on a monthly basis. Everything that is created is measurable and open for changes and discussion.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We meet with our rep on a bi-weekly basis where we review the campaigns, insights, deliverables, and takeaways to move forward with to help enhance our presence.

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

Their level of professionalism, knowledge, and expertise in the area of PPC and SEO. They lifted a lot of weight off our team's shoulders.

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

Nothing that comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital marketing specialist at PAR Technology Corporation, an integrated technology solutions provider for restaurants and retailers. We offer point-of-sale, digital ordering, loyalty, payments, and hardware solutions to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Search Engine People?

We hired Search Engine People to assist with our website's SEO and provide support with SEO strategy development and execution. Our previous SEO vendor's progress stagnated, and our metrics steadily declined over the last six months of our previous engagement. We needed to transform the negative trend into steady growth.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search Engine People has conducted a comprehensive SEO and technical audit of our website and provided a thorough list of recommendations for us to implement. Once completed, the team has assisted with page-by-page keyword research and leveraged that research to optimize the content on each page. Following the completion of the 'low-hanging fruit,' we've balanced priorities to include a greater focus on backlink building.

What is the team composition?

We work with 2–5 teammates from Search Engine People.

How did you come to work with Search Engine People?

We found Search Engine People through an online search. We chose them over other options because their pricing fit our budget and offered good value for the cost.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Search Engine People in June 2024, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Following the algorithm change in June 2024, which significantly reduced our traffic, we identified measurable traffic growth within six months of starting the engagement and within four months of implementing Search Engine People's content and technical recommendations. Within 9–10 months, our traffic organically returned to the same levels prior to the algorithm change in June 2024. When comparing a given month year-over-year (YoY), we saw traffic growth as high as 67% YoY. Our trophy keyword rankings have also improved by 1–3 pages on Google's SERP.

How did Search Engine People perform from a project management standpoint?

Search Engine People delivers on time and is responsive. We primarily communicate through virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we ask for it, Search Engine People gives us the attention we need and is often proactive during busy times.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We've had to transition account managers twice since our engagement began. We feel that the outgoing account managers could've done a better job of preparing their incoming colleagues.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of business operations at Sunset Docks Muskoka, a leading provider of boat lifts in Muskoka, including hydraulic, cable, and platform options.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Search Engine People?

We needed to increase our website traffic and quality leads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search Engine People works on SEO and paid ads for us. The team also provides monthly personalized reports on the last month’s SEO and ads work.

What is the team composition?

We work with 2–5 teammates from Search Engine People.

How did you come to work with Search Engine People?

We found Search Engine People through an online search. We interviewed five firms after firing the one we had, and Search Engine People understood the assignment.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Search Engine People in March 2025, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Search Engine People has increased our organic website traffic by over 300% and lead generation, helping us increase our gross revenue by over 200%. We’ve also seen a 200% increase in phone calls year-over-year (YoY) and a 40% increase in our conversion rate.

How did Search Engine People perform from a project management standpoint?

Search Engine People always delivers on time. More often than not, the team is waiting on information from me to complete deliverables. We communicate through virtual meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Search Engine People’s responsiveness and concise answers allow for quick decision-making.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the senior search manager of a company that specializes in small group walking, cycling, and adventure tours around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Search Engine People to accomplish for your business?

We hired Search Engine People to drive high-quality traffic and leads via paid media channels.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search Engine People has created and delivered our paid search strategy covering search and display channels. This has involved building and managing campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads networks and regularly reporting back on performance. The team has built campaigns targeting niche travel audiences across PPC search, GDN display, Performance Max, Demand Gen, and video channels.

What is the team composition?

We work with two teammates from Search Engine People.

How did you come to work with Search Engine People?

We found Search Engine People through a referral. We chose them over other options because of their size, experience, and reputation.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Search Engine People in October 2015, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen an incremental increase in high-quality leads and revenue every year. Everything was good.

How did Search Engine People perform from a project management standpoint?

Search Engine People's project management is excellent, with a quick turnaround time when we request strategy changes. We communicate via email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm impressed by Search Engine People's in-depth knowledge of paid media and ad platforms. The team is always testing new strategies and account setups to maximize performance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

None come to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Content & SEO Manager of a software company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Integrated construction accounting software for mechanical and specialty contractors in Canada and the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Search Engine People to accomplish?

• Content Enhancements
• Improve our SEO
• Link Building

SOLUTION

How did you find Search Engine People?

Online Search

Why did you select Search Engine People over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Search Engine People were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Technical Audit & Monitoring
• Data Analysis
• Keyword Research
• Content enhancements for specific web pages
• Content writing
• Link Building
• Monthly reporting

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Improvement on page rankings for identified Trophy Keywords and Must-Win Keywords.

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

Yes, they shared a spreadsheet with deliverables and timelines and met their deadlines.

What was your primary form of communication with Search Engine People?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Our Account Managers were knowledgeable and collaborative. When there were structural changes on our team, which affected our ability to deliver work, they were open to pivoting on plans and timelines to adapt to our changes. I got the the sense that they really cared about the work we produced together, they're responsive and helpful, and we feel like they're true members of our team.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Search Engine People could have done differently?

No.