SearchMax

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the marketing coordinator for our company that offers medical care experienced GPs at clinics in Ascot Vale, Bayswater, and Hobson’s Bay (Spotswood).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SearchMax?

We have 3 GP clinics in Melbourne, Victoria and we operate appointment bookings via our website. We wanted the help of a digital marketing agency to drive appointment bookings to all 3 clinics using Google Ads, SEO, and Facebook. We ran some campaigns internally but wanted to partner up with an agency to take it a notch higher and increase new patient bookings. By doing this, we hoped we would be able to fill the slots so that our GPs will be fully booked.

SOLUTION

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

We were looking for an agency who understands healthcare digital marketing. We requested proposals from 3 other agencies and found SearchMax to be the right fit. SearchMax’s strategy was insightful and eye-opening. We loved how much attention they paid to our website performance, especially how deep they went in terms of getting a holistic audit done. This helped us understand what was missing and how they could help. Their experience in healthcare digital marketing, attention to detail, reasonable pricing and Google Premier Partner status were the main deciding factors.

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

We started off with an initial discovery call, then they presented the PPC and SEO audit. The digital strategy covered their approach for Google Ads, Facebook and SEO. After the kick off, before launching campaigns, they helped us with conversion tracking so we could set KPI targets at the outset and measure performance. After we approved the campaign structure and ad copy SearchMax launched our ads. They do regular tweaks and improvements to our campaigns and keep us updated regularly. The weekly reports and monthly reports help us understand the impact from ads.

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

We work with an account lead, a team lead, a strategy director and a performance director. We love the fact that we get to talk to the technical team who actually looks after the account.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A. Our SEO results have shown a 400% year-on-year growth. B. Our PPC ads bring cost-effective new patient bookings and keep our GPs fully booked. Our ads have a higher CTR thanks to regular split testing done by the SearchMax team. We are currently operating Covid vaccinations and SearchMax has helped us get more visibility.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have a Slack channel which we use to communicate with each other as well as email. Whenever I have a question or I need a quick update, I reach out to the account lead or team lead via Slack and this has helped us streamline communication. We also get on a Zoom call once a fortnight to discuss campaign feedback and enhancements.

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

They are quite attentive to our needs and give regular updates so that we are all on the same page. I believe this is largely due to their company values.

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

We've been really happy with SearchMax's performance and would give them a 5-star review. My only feedback for improvement is to do more ongoing competitive research to keep abreast of what our competitors are up to.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Kings Barber Shoppe in Keilor Downs VIC. We offer a high level of Men's Barbering & grooming services in our local community

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SearchMax?

We wanted a stronger digital presence in our local market. We wanted to build our brand and increase awareness in the local community. We wanted people to remember us for all their barbering and grooming needs. Promoting a barbershop I would say is not easy in the competitive market, you do not think about your barber until you need a haircut or shave. We wanted to make the difference and make the barbershop social presence a bilt cooler. We wanted the engagement and quickness brought in without compromising the quality of our service.

SOLUTION

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

SearchMax was referred to us by another business owner.

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

We engaged SearchMax to improve our social media presence. They work on our social media campaigns, creative and execution of our promotions. They first started with a social media plan, then they work on our social media creative (kind of like a library of images)and then moved to a paid ads and organic growth. They also introduce promotions and giveaways to boost engagement.

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

Altogether we have dealt with 2 technical members and an account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes, It has already increased our page likes. In the beginning, we were at less than 500 likes and now we are over 1,000 page likes

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team is pretty good with their promises. We feel campaign work is properly coordinated and they made our life much easier. We get regular updates on campaign performance. We love the fact that we do not have to micro-manage them.

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

I was impressed with the creativity and quick thinking. They managed to create some really catchy designs while also being able to manage our social media accounts flawlessly.

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

I am pleased to say that the team has done a great job so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing Communications Manager at SRC Health International. Our medical compression garments have been designed to provide continuous support and relief of pain during pregnancy, faster recovery after delivery, post-surgery, and after exercise, by facilitating muscle healing. Our products are endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

We now operate in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. While our products are sold via major pharmacies, physiotherapists, and major Health centers in Australia, our online sales are a big part of our revenue.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SearchMax, and what were your goals?

We were not fully convinced that we were getting the best return on our ad spend and wanted to find out if there was any way to increase ROAS without spending more. Our brief to SearchMAx was to increase our ROAS while increasing the number of transactions.

SOLUTION

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

We found SearchMax via Clutch and gave them a shot. They came back with an amazing digital marketing audit as well as some great insights which have helped us grow. I also found a number of other providers via LinkedIn but their brief answer was nowhere near the quality of SearchMax.

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

The SearchMax team looks after all of our Google marketing campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. After the initial audit and keyword refinement, the team restructured some of the campaigns and rewrote some of the existing text ads. We then developed new videos and display ads for the Google Display Network. The key deliverables were to be able to scale whilst increasing ROAS and suffering from increased CPM and CPC.

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

SRC account gets looked after by a team of specialists at SearchMax. The team consists of a strategist, a senior digital marketing specialist, and a digital marketing specialist. We like the open line of communication with the technical team and the fact that requests are addressed quickly and efficiently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our primary measure of success is online revenue. In Australia, our e-commerce conversion rates have doubled and we are now testing the USA as a market. They take the time to understand our business and products. They understand our best sellers, stock levels, and marketing is tied to revenue.

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

The team at SearchMax are super organised. They never miss a deadline nor a meeting. They always check in with us and keep us in the loop. We hold regular zoom meetings and discuss current performance and future initiatives.

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

We were most impressed with their e-commerce knowledge and feed optimization skills.

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

So far SearchMax has managed to exceed our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Zion Fresh is a refrigerated transport service we created for the people of Victoria, specialising in temperate-controlled home deliveries from a range of businesses. We deliver not just to Melbourne CBD, but to regional areas in Victoria, providing people access to refrigerated goods especially during times when leaving the house isn’t possible.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SearchMax?

We approached SearchMax for assistance promoting our new service with an expert digital marketing strategy to generate leads and increase brand awareness during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria. W

What were your goals for this project?

e needed campaigns aimed at areas severely affected by the lockdown, focusing on existing businesses in Victoria that required refrigerated transport services with a limited budget to spend.

SOLUTION

How did you select SearchMax?

A referral from a colleague in the industry led to us working with SearchMax with my other brand Zion Group.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The SearchMax team looks after all of our digital marketing activities, including but not limited to, our Google and Facebook campaigns.

What was the team composition?

My team and I have direct contact with the Melbourne SearchMax team, they are always reachable for any questions we may have and are always keeping us up to date with everything that goes on behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The SearchMax team has covered all aspects of the digital marketing strategy that we needed. They helped us with everything from content marketing, ad hoc tasks, new lead generation, creating and optimising landing pages, and keeping our existing client base active.

There was a main focus on Google Ads and Facebook Ads, with SearchMax exceeding our expectations for our monthly leads target. When the restrictions in Melbourne started to ease and there was less demand for delivery services, we saw a short drop in leads.

However, SearchMax was able to quickly secure us more leads helping us to feel more stable and confident in the future of the business.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We were very impressed with how SearchMax organised things. We were assigned an account manager for the brand that was easy for my team and I to contact whenever we had any questions. We have monthly meetings and get monthly reports which allow us to stay informed on everything that is going on.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were most impressed with how quickly and efficiently everything was done. Our campaigns went live within a short period of time and we were able to generate 80% of our lead target within the first two weeks.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything we have seen from SearchMax so far has exceeded our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Marketing and Events Manager at Melbourne City Institute of Education. We are a recognised Australian RTO in the education space that delivers nationally accredited vocational education and training programs for a number of different industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SearchMax, and what were your goals?

Over time we were beginning to see the market was getting saturated with many competitors and we wanted to stand out from our competitors while generating quality leads.

We offer a range of courses that cater to different target markets so different advertisements needed to be created. Attracting the right audience for the right course was critical and we didn't have the in-house capabilities to get this done so we engaged SearchMax as our Digital Marketing agency.

SOLUTION

How did you select SearchMax and what were the deciding factors?

We found out about SearchMax through Linkedin and were impressed with their past performance and approach.

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

What was the scope of their involvement? SearchMax looks after our digital marketing activities and acts as our go to digital marketing agency. How much have you invested with them?

We have invested nearly $85,000. We’ve been working with SearchMax for nearly two years and they’ve become a fundamental part of our company and understand exactly what we want to achieve.

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

We have access to their local team in Melbourne as well as technical teams in Sri Lanka. Our projects are looked after by Google and Facebook certified experts. We find having the ability to directly talk to technical resources help uncover issues, opportunities, and improve results quickly.

The team consists of a technical account manager, team leader, strategy expert, and an executive who run the day-to-day operations. The team is well structured and everyone knows about current campaigns and outcomes. They come together as a team really well and we cannot even tell they operate across two countries as they communicate so well with one another.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We generally have a monthly leads target that should be achieved for each course that we promote through paid channels.

SearchMax always goes above and beyond to achieve these monthly leads targeted with a lower cost-per-lead than projected on both Google ads and Social media. Through proactive campaign management and effective strategies, they’ve always managed to achieve positive results month-on-month. I definitely would recommend working with SearchMax.

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

SearchMax exceeded all of our expectations. They have fortnightly meetings with us to touch base and answer any questions. They update us with weekly performance reports and monthly report presentations and keep us informed with everything.

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

They are a consistent and reliable digital marketing agency. Their attention to detail, quick turnaround times and domain knowledge has helped us achieve high quality leads.

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

We are happy with everything we have seen from SearchMax so far.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the global marketing director at ettitude. We’re a direct to consumer, sustainable lifestyle brand. We sell bamboo bedding, bath, and sleepwear.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SearchMax?

We hired them to support our search marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team managed our Google Ads, Google Shopping, and remarketing campaigns. When we started working with SearchMax, we were still a small business founded in Australia. We were looking to grow there, and then wanted to expand as a global company. We had several focused keywords and bidding strategies.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Hemi (Performance Director).

How did you come to work with SearchMax?

I wasn’t with the company when we brought them on. But I believe Hemi and our founder formed a relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SearchMax in February 2018, and our engagement ended in October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure success based on conversions. Over the years, we’ve grown significantly in the US market. We now do 70% of our business there. In 2020, we grew three times compared to the previous year.

Their work was very thorough. I would describe SearchMax as true partners. They truly invested in our growth. I’d recommend working with them.

How did SearchMax perform from a project management standpoint?

SearchMax is strong at project management. We had a regular cadence of communication and meetings. Everything was handled on time and to our expectations. Along with standing meetings, we communicated through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very personal in their approach. They’re a smaller team, so clients can get more senior support and hands-on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve moved on from the relationship because we’ve scaled significantly as a company. We needed a partner that could match our scale and had more experience in the US market.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring them on as business partners. Let them in on all of the insights and data you have. If you involve them in a broader strategy, they can be real thought partners.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and principal solicitor at HDH Legal, a legal firm specializing in property and business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SearchMax?

Our website had been done a couple of years ago when we started the business. Due to COVID-19, our business wasn’t what it used to be. We needed someone to develop our website and help with digital marketing in order to get a steady stream of clients to engage us. We contacted SearchMax to help us in order to get lead generation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a new landing page from scratch. We started some Facebook Ads and Google Ads. We’re also looking at getting started on SEO efforts but we haven’t started on that yet. Once the website is done being upgraded, they’ll start the SEO and Google Ads.

What is the team composition?

My two primary points of contact are Hemi (Performance Director) and Chamil (Director). There’s a third person we speak to once in a while and there have been some other employees, as well.

How did you come to work with SearchMax?

They were recommended to us a couple of years ago. Since then, we’ve done some work for them and they’ve done some work for us. We’ve worked together for a couple of years.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the last few months, we’ve spent $1,500–$2,000 per month. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The original website was built in 2017. After the website, we didn’t do much in the online marketing space but we picked our engagement up again in January 2020 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been happy with their performance or else we wouldn’t be continuing together. The landing page is yielding some good results that we’re happy with. With the Facebook campaign, we’ve started getting inquiries on it. We’re going to get started with the Google Ads and we’re waiting on the outcome of that.

How did SearchMax perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve been pleased with them. They’re responsive and quite knowledgeable. Sometimes they’ll work after hours for us. If I say I need something done today, they will get it done on that day.

If I have an idea that’s not possible, they’ll let me know it’s not worth the effort or money, which I appreciate. They’ve been good in guiding me towards efforts that yield more results rather than just investing in everything.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m more than satisfied with their team and I’m more than happy to refer clients to them, which I’ve done. I give them a perfect review. I’ve asked for assistance in specific areas and I’ve been happy with the turnaround that I’ve asked for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t had any issues so I don’t have any particular concerns.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your research first so that you know what you want to get into. That way, you’ll have a knowledge base in which to ask questions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online retail of consumer goods.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SearchMax to accomplish?

• Increase ROAS
• Increase sales
• Grow several brands

SOLUTION

How did you find SearchMax?

Online Search

Why did you select SearchMax over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

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

The scope was to manage the Advertising (PPC, Socials, Google, SEO) for several brands under one company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• ROAS Was increased for most of the brands
• Steady growth in Sales over the engagement

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

Communication was always clear and concise. The team was always happy to help us whenever we approached them. Deadlines were met.

What was your primary form of communication with SearchMax?

• Email
• Messaging App

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

Great communication and great results - exactly what we needed from the agency.