Search + Gather

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior manager at HiMama. HiMama is a software service B2B company that makes software for childcare centers to use to manage the center and communicate with families. I’ve been at the company for around three years now and manage all of our inbound lead generation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Search & Gather?

We were looking to expand our paid advertising efforts. Our company was really just getting started with advertising on Google Adwords and Facebook, and we wanted to see whether or not we could scale that up to be a bigger part of our inbound lead generation strategy more generally.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search & Gather focus on scaling up a few of our paid channels; Google Adwords, Bing, and Facebook are the main focuses. They have also helped us get into some more experimental PPC channels, so over time, we’ve tested ads on LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and a few others as well. Essentially, we’re hoping to allow them to help us with our strategy and management of all our paid channels going forward.

What is the team composition?

We work with an analyst and another person who is an analyst but serves in a directorial role as well.

How did you come to work with Search & Gather?

They came pretty highly recommended to us from another marketing director in our industry.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Search & Gather in March 2018 and are continuing to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The best evidence to show from the project has really been our growth rate. Our ad spending over the course of our work with them has increased 7–10 times over. We have a target cost-per-lead that we aim for and we’ve been able to stay pretty close to that number throughout the year, which has been a really big deliverable for them.

We’re now a venture-backed startup as well, and as such are trying to go through a period of fairly rapid growth. A big part of that is being able to scale these channels while maintaining a positive return on our spending, and we’ve been able to do that successfully with Search & Gather.

How did Search & Gather perform from a project management standpoint?

We pretty quickly fell into a cadence of holding half-hour meetings once a week, and then longer planning sessions once a quarter that usually lasts a couple of hours. They come into our office and we’ll work together on what our priorities are for the next couple of months.

There’s quite a bit of communication via email, including weekly reports from them with all our metrics and campaign performance for the week. We also usually include some correspondence with our marketing operations team to ensure we’re linking everything up correctly between our sales team and our marketing software.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was really impressed in the first place that they were willing to scale with us over the course of the process. In the beginning, we didn’t have a lot of ad spending and there was a lot of discovery to be done in terms of how to position ourselves through these different paid channels. They’ve been really helpful in giving us the resources that we need to continue to scale.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think as a startup, creative talent was much harder for us to come by and we could have used a little bit more support on that side, but they’ve hired a lot more folks into their team to help with creative elements since then, so they’ve sort of tackled that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would tell other startups that it was really valuable for us to start working with them as an agency pretty early on in our existence because it saved us a lot of time on figuring out the basics of how to scale up our paid channels.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the co-founder of a financial services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Search & Gather?

We reached out to Search & Gather to manage paid advertising services for two different initiatives. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search & Gather manages our paid advertising campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, expanding our campaigns to different regions in the process. They've also helped create and optimize our landing pages. 

What is the team composition? 

We mostly work with Doug (Creative Director and Co-founder, Search & Gather) and Amanda (Digital Strategist, Search & Gather), but also had some initial conversations with Drew (Operations Director and Founder, Search & Gather).

How did you come to work with Search & Gather?

They were recommended to us by one of their previous clients and we were very impressed by their overall knowledge in the digital space. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested between $200,000–$1 million thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since around November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Search & Gather has exceeded all of our expectations thus far, significantly decreasing our cost per acquisition (CPA) while increasing referral and conversion rates. They've also optimized our landing pages, which has had a positive impact overall. 

How did Search & Gather perform from a project management standpoint?

Amanda has been great about managing campaigns. She's very proactive and responsive overall, staying in regular contact with us each week by phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall performance and ability to manage client relationships sets them apart. In addition to driving down our CPA and increasing conversions, they've also been very proactive about pursuing next steps, rather than waiting for us to reach out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd just definitely recommend working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at an education company. We provide high-stakes English language testing used for applying to higher education, professional certification, and migration.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Search + Gather to accomplish for your company?

We needed support with acquisition through online digital advertising.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search + Gather manages the day-to-day of our SEM and paid social media advertising. In addition, they provide critical feedback that helps guide our paid and integrated marketing strategy. Finally, their design team produces our ads based on the briefs we provide.They primarily work within the Google advertising environment and on Meta. They also support us when we trial and scale new channels. Examples of additional channels they've worked with us on include TikTok, Reddit, and native display ad networks.

What is the team composition?

We work with 2–5 teammates from Search + Gather.

How did you come to work with Search + Gather?

We found them through an online search. We chose them because they were close to our geographic location, their pricing fit our budget, they offered good value for the cost, and they had an impressive proposal.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen growth in our total volume, revenue, and market share. We’ve also launched three new product lines, and our total revenue has more than doubled over the course of the engagement.

How did Search + Gather perform from a project management standpoint?

Search + Gather has never missed a deadline. They're incredible at staying on target. We communicate via virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're highly collaborative and truly care about client outcomes. Several times, I've challenged them with an incredibly tight deadline, and they've always risen to the challenge. They're data-driven and focused on continual improvement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

On occasion, their creative work hasn't been to the standard I expect. When that has happened, my team and I have provided feedback, and they've done a superb job of integrating our feedback and have come back with something that stands out, feels fresh, and is a credit to our brand.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Digital Cloud Canada, a CRM and marketing agency. We design, implement, and optimize CRM and marketing solutions to streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, and drive business growth for organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Search + Gather to accomplish for your CRM and marketing agency?

We wanted to implement a digital marketing strategy to better understand the market and generate leads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search + Gather conducted market research, designed content, and implemented and managed Google Ads and LinkedIn campaigns. The team handled everything, including creating ad copy, setting budgets, and reporting results.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 2–5 teammates from Search + Gather.

How did you come to work with Search + Gather?

We found them through an online search. We chose them over other options because they had high ratings, their pricing fit our budget, they were a great culture fit, and their company values aligned with ours.

How much have you invested with them?

--

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2025 to November 2025.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Search + Gather's work resulted in engagement with the ads and conversions.

How did Search + Gather perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered on time and had great project management. We primarily communicated through virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive or unique about them?

They managed the entire process end-to-end from market research to developing ad copy, creative design, and full implementation. Our role was limited to QA and ensuring the messaging stayed aligned with our brand. Their communication was exceptional, with frequent updates supported by clear metrics and dashboards. They proactively monitored performance and made informed decisions to pause or reallocate budget based on what was working and what wasn’t. Overall, the experience was smooth, transparent, and results-driven.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren't any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing at ShipHero, a company that provides warehouse management software. We have a sister company that offers outsourced fulfillment services. Together, we help e-commerce brands and third-party logistics companies automate, manage, and scale direct-to-consumer shipping through integrated technology and a network of US warehouses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Search + Gather?

We needed to make our spending more efficient and increase our top-of-funnel and brand awareness.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Search + Gather handles our landing page creative, including all A/B testing for the campaigns. They own the keyword research, bidding, and reporting. Additionally, they provide insight and guidance on strategy for paid media in general.

What is the team composition?

We work with three teammates from Search + Gather.

How did you come to work with Search + Gather?

Search + Gather’s relationship predates my time in this role at ShipHero. I didn’t choose them, but I continued to work with them because I was impressed with their approach and level of detail.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our relationship with Search + Gather started around January 2023, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been able to reduce our spending by more than 50% while maintaining the same amount of marketing-qualified leads, which is extremely impressive.

How did Search + Gather perform from a project management standpoint?

Search + Gather is very responsive and delivers high-quality work in a timely manner. We communicate via Slack, email, and biweekly Google Meet calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Search + Gather truly feels like a part of our internal team. They own the reporting, the wins, and the mistakes together with us as a team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Digital Marketing Advisor of Medavie Blue Cross

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sell Health and Wellness Insurance products to consumers and businesses. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Search + Gather to accomplish?

• Increase Sales
• Increase Leads
• Efficient digital marketing spend

SOLUTION

How did you find Search + Gather?

Referral

Why did you select Search + Gather over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Search + Gather were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

1. Paid Media Buying, Strategy and Execution (Paid Search, Social and Programmatic)
2. Marketing STrategy and Channel Allocation
3. Reporting
4. Tracking and Analysis

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

1. Increase in lead generation at an efficient cost
2. Increase in sales

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

They are one of the most responsive agencies I have ever worked with. Communication is on point and deliverables are always on time. 

What was your primary form of communication with Search + Gather?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The members of the company are all a perfect mix of professional and personal. Search + Gather's team is passionate about their work and are all experts in their roles.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Search + Gather could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Manager, Enterprise Demand Generation of Shutterstock

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Shutterstock helps creative professionals from all backgrounds and businesses of all sizes produce their best work with incredible content and innovative tools, all on one platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Search & Gather to accomplish?

• Conversion Optimization
• Lead Generation
• Campaign Management and Optimization

SOLUTION

How did you find Search & Gather?

Referral

Why did you select Search & Gather over others?

• High ratings
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Search & Gather were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Optimize Shutterstock's enterprise demand generation campaigns across paid search, paid social, and display channels. 
• Develop a full-funnel approach for evergreen campaigns that build audiences to prospect and remarket each of Shutterstock's enterprise product lines. 
• Leverage historical learnings and optimization structures to maximize tried & true converting platforms. 
• Provide weekly reporting on KPIs for ad channels and pipeline attribution from Shutterstock's CRM. 
• Refresh the ad creative designs regularly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Reduced the CPL by 76% in Google Adwords, GDN, and Meta. Increased click-to-lead rate as a result of campaign targeting and ad creative improvements. Increased lead volume. Improved visibility into performance data and insights.

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

Search & Gather provided excellent project management. The team consistently tracked tasks, clearly communicated deliverables, and delivered on time. Project management is one of their strengths.

What was your primary form of communication with Search & Gather?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The team was very knowledgeable and experienced in all digital ad channels. Their ability to translate insights and provide recommendations to improve campaign performance was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Search & Gather could have done differently?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Brand strategy lead for growth general merchandise category at a large Canadian retailer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Search & Gather, and what were your goals?

Increase overall brand awareness and drive online sales.

SOLUTION

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

We engaged in a request for proposal process.  

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We engaged Search + Gather in the opportunity to help develop, create and manage digital marketing campaigns to grow awareness, revenue and maintain a healthy ROAS.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We were assigned an Account Manager and two channel experts to help develop strategy, manage campaigns, and provide performance insights.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the partnership with Search & Gather and launching digital marketing support, we’ve seen significant success in conversion and increased awareness to the category.  At the start of the new calendar year, a business decision was made to manage all digital campaigns internally.

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

The team was responsive, nimble, and knowledgeable. They were great at providing insights into current digital marketing trends.

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

The weekly reporting and campaign postmortems provided great analysis and actionable learnings for future campaign planning.

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

The team understood the overall brand requirements and was able to provide multiple versions of creative for digital campaigns, although additional guidance was needed for creative direction.