SmartSites

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Account Director at a branding and marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We partner with SmartSites to develop and implement an SEO strategy (B2B & B2C). Our goal was to increase traffic to the site and leads generated on site.

SOLUTION

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

We selected several companies and followed up with references. Cost and customer service/satisfaction were driving factors.

Stephanie was highly recommended and we specifically stated we wanted to work with her. She is as good as her reputation was and is excellent to work with.

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

Stepanie at SmartSites was tasked with developing an SEO strategy and helping us implement - everything from technical to content advisement.

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

• Stephanie - Account Manager
• Ashley - Account Supervisor

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SmartSites has increased traffic to our website as well as converting customers. We are now reaching more of the consumers we want and we are now getting more leads, calls, etc.

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

Stephanie is extremely well organized with tasks and uses Google Sheets to maintain communication and provide transparency.

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

Stephanie is very knowledgeable and thorough. They bring forward well-thought-out SEO recommendations specific to our KPIs to achieve great results! Her communication with her clients and her understanding of their needs, business goals, and business landscape is fantastic.

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

Sometimes the SmartSites team's resources are strained causing deliverables to run behind. It would be ideal if more team members and resources could be hired for programs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-creator of a product line that developed calming agents for dogs and cats using patented technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are a new company and needed someone to manage our online presence, digital marketing, google analytics, etc. Our main goal was to bring awareness to our brand and drive traffic.

SOLUTION

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

There were several companies that we looked into. We interviewed several and found that we really connected with how Smartsites works and how they presented themselves.

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

Initially we had our discovery phase to learn our product, the demographics and psychographics of our target, personality, values, lifestyle, etc. Then a study into our competition -direct and indirect, followed by a deep dive into the PPC (pay per click process).

Our key contact created a plan to get the best our of our PPC budget. She came up with bidding strategies, landing pages and banners, etc. To be honest, we handed over the reigns and let her drive the program as we are not the experts in this area.

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

Stephanie is our point of contact and our PCP Analyst. She has a team behind her that addresses any topics outside of her sphere.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are new so the initial drive was a learning curve as to what works and what doesn't. We have monthly meetings but can reach our contact at anytime needed. She is accessible and supplies us reports with deep dive details.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As stated above, workflow has been great for our team and hers.

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

We are a small company, new to this world yet are treated like we are very important to Smartsites. We know we will grow and be able to get more programs out of Smartsite. We are impressed with their PPC analysts' knowledge and insights.

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

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I had a great experience with Deniz at Smart Sites. It was a bumpy start, but Deniz got us on the right track. Our main project together was reorganizing my site map for Google to read more effectively. We rolled it out recently.

There were some hiccups, as is to be expected. But Deniz handled every single one of them flawlessly. I'm hopeful we'll start to see results in conversions soon as we have already noticed an uptick in inquiries.

Furthermore, his email and communication style is everything you want from a Project Manager. He leaves *nothing* out of his meeting notes. All in all, an impressive PM. Thanks Deniz!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

SEO optimization for more conversions.

SOLUTION

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

We reorganized the site map for Google to read more effectively and for better UX.

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

Sitewide Project Steps:

• Weekly meetings post audit to determine and implement a smooth Nav update.

Key Deliverables:

• Reconfigured Nav.
• Repair of rollout glitches.

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

Deniz at Smart Sites has a team of developers in Nepal who did all the hard coding. I don't know how large that team is, however. Despite the time difference there was no lag in deliverables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have to bake in the changes. It will take about 90 days for Google to see everything. However, I have notices an uptick in inquiries.

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

They are very hands-on and showed a great communication style. Very thorough meeting notes.

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

After a bumpy start, I was transferred to Deniz who did incredible damage control and handled my project thoroughly.

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

We're all human. Nobody is perfect. Having said that, within the bounds of human frailty I find that this company manages well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for the company Mantion US Inc as Webmarketing Manager. Mantion US Inc is a manufacturer of sliding door hardware. We sell our own products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired SmartSites to help us with our PPC campaigns. The goal was to create new campaigns with great results to help us gain visibility and

SOLUTION

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

I had a few meeting with different companies to expose our issues and wanted to hear about what they could do for us. The deciding factors were the vendor ideas to improve our brand visibility, the technical skills and the budget.

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

Smart Sites created new PPC campaigns for us (Google Search and Google Shopping).

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

3 people: Adam (Account Manager), Anthony (Project Manager), Christine (Office Manager).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since working with SmartSites, about 4 months, our number of visits has been multiplied by 2 and our conversion rate improved. Our ROAS on PPC campaings have also been improving significantly.

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

Anthony, our project manager, is always available for a quick call to discuss about different topics. We also receive a monthly report.

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

The communication. At SmartSites, they are very transparent and always available to explain things or discuss new ideas with you.

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

So far, no.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a real estate company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SmartSites?

We wanted to create a site for my business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SmartSites developed our website from scratch using WordPress. They designed and built the platform, edited the content, and delivered a product based on our references — we were aiming for a website presence where people could reach out to us, and they did that for us.

What is the team composition?

We only worked with Stephanie (Project Manager) from their team; she was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with SmartSites?

We chose them based on their cost and overall professionalism.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September–December 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They went the extra mile to ensure that we were satisfied with the end product.

How did SmartSites perform from a project management standpoint?

They were good. They provided follow-up and were flexible to my requirements to make changes — I was happy with that. In terms of communication, we used email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They were knowledgeable and experienced in their design area. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their communication.  

Any advice for potential customers?

Be thorough with what you want and ensure that you have your vision in mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide the most accurate and trusted information on the firms and people essential to the financial services and insurance industries. I am a digital marketing specialist responsible for social media creation and management, PPC management, and collateral management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed SS to help grow our amount of quality leads and help optimize our account.

SOLUTION

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

After seeing what SmartSites could provide, we thought that they would be a great fit to help achieve our goals.

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

PPC Management:

• Keyword Analysis
• Ongoing Negative Cleanup
• Optimization of Account
• New Ad Copy
• Bid Strategy

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

Two - Michael and Joel. They managed our account together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have seen our quality leads increase in Salesforce and we've been seeing our CPL decrease.

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

Michael and Joel were always willing to jump on a call for us and/or shoot us emails explaining what we needed to know.

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

Their PPC knowledge is fascinating! They've taught me so much.

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

None come to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an e-commerce website. We are selling apparel and video and animation for education, entertainment, and art genre exhibits.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SmartSites?

We needed help in web development and design. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we sent PowerPoint rough drafts to SmartSites of our ideas about the site. They then developed our e-commerce website using Magento. They’ve integrated Stripe for payment processing and ShipEngine to allow our users to get shipping rates. 

The development is ongoing, but it’s mostly because I haven’t been in a hurry to have the site up and running. 

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Ashley (CRO & Operations Manager) and another teammate. 

How did you come to work with SmartSites?

I searched for web development agencies online. As I looked at various websites, SmartSites kept showing up. I made a shortlist and included them since they had multiple reviews — I knew they weren’t fake. 

I spoke to all the shortlisted companies, and I chose SmartSites because of their reputation online and responsiveness. More importantly, when I spoke with them, I felt they really cared about our vision and mission, so much so that they wanted to partner with us. It was a no-brainer to choose SmartSites. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent over $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2020, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m delighted with SmartSites’ work. They’ve transformed our ideas into reality even though we’ve only sent them rough drafts.

How did SmartSites perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager has been phenomenal. She’s very patient and responsive, and she jumps on calls whenever I ask her to. She’s always punctual, and she follows up with me on emails that I send her about corrections and updates to the site. She ensures that things are to my liking. 

We communicate through email, Google Meet, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

SmartSites’ level of service is impressive. I can feel that they’re really caring as a company. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could have improved on. However, I would’ve liked to meet the people who are helping us behind the scenes. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Look for someone who’s invested in helping you see your vision and cares about you being successful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of enrollment at NFC Academy, a private Christian school that offers online homeschool programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SmartSites?

We needed their marketing expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SmartSites handles our digital marketing efforts to optimize our online presence. They manage our SEO and PPC pipelines by conducting link building and content writing to boost our traffic. Additionally, they regularly monitor our site analytics and identify any vulnerabilities to focus on in our future campaigns.

Their team has previously managed our Facebook ad campaigns, but we’ve decided to pause those efforts since we haven’t been seeing enough traction to push through. SmartSites has then focused on handling our ads on Google and Bing.

What is the team composition?

We work with about 2–3 resources from SmartSites.

How did you come to work with SmartSites?

We found their team on Google while looking for potential candidates to onboard for this project. SmartSites impressed us with a strong presentation, so we chose them among their competitors.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend between $6,000–$12,000 a month, depending on their deliverables.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing collaboration with SmartSites commenced in April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have a lot of quantitative metrics to share at this point, but I can confirm that SmartSites’ team has professionally and consistently handled our requirements. We’ve been getting more organic and high-quality leads because of their customer-oriented marketing approach.

They incorporate our goals into each deliverable they produce and reward us with advertising materials that promote our school’s vision across our target audience — as a small company with dedicated offerings, that’s a big deal to us. 

How did SmartSites perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via email and Zoom. SmartSites is a responsive and accommodating team — we’re not marketing experts, but they take their time in helping us understand every step of the process and simplifying complex marketing terms. Their level of commitment helps assure us where our money is going.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re most impressed with their communication skills — it gives us enough confidence to put our trust in their team’s work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything that they haven’t addressed already. They put a lot of effort into ensuring that the results they deliver meet our expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The information you give their team is integral in making your project work — be sure to be thorough in relaying your scope and needs. SmartSites will listen attentively and take it from there.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a digital marketing specialist that is working for a furniture company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were aiming to grow our online presence and plan out a solid digital marketing strategy. They focused on social media advertising and retail channels. By that, we expected to reach a greater audience and grow our online sales.

SOLUTION

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

We searched clutch.co and shortlisted a few companies based on their success in digital marketing and CPC rates. After the interviews, we have decided to move forward with Smart Sites based on their thorough analysis.

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

We went through a discovery phase for them to have a better understanding of our brand. Then moved forward with what we can do better to take our brand a bit further in terms of digital marketing.

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

We worked with PPC operations manager and google account managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In general, campaigns had a successful outcome.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had bi-weekly meetings to discuss the updates from both ends.

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

They are very responsive and enthusiastic which helped us grow our audience.

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

They were willing to improve in any areas that we requested.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We build mobile apps, and I run everything.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SmartSites?

We were trying to get leads at an affordable level, due to the high competition of mobile dev ads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them on Clutch.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

SmartSites did all digital marketing from scratch.

What was the team composition?

They had a few different departments working with us on this.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested over $6,000, including ad spend.

What is the status of this engagement?

The contract has been completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

It started out rough, but after we ended the contract SmartSites delivered what we felt was above and beyond their requirements to determine this was a successful investment for our company.

How did SmartSites address the challenges that arose?

They iterated and adjusted accordingly. 

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

Not much impact, as we only ran the ads for 2 months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We were in constant contact with the ads person and ads manager.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They resolved issues quickly and in a fashion we felt was above what was expected.

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

Research on ad categories prior to working with a client.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

Make sure they are certain they can deliver for the type of market you are in.