Social Media 55

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Optique de la madeleine is one of Paris's leading optometrist retail stores. We offer premium prescription lenses and high-end frames. We have been servicing Paris for over a decade. My position at Optique de la Madelaine is President.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Social Media 55?

We hired Social Media 55 back in 2014 to assist us with our Facebook and Instagram Marketing. Since then, we have grown multiple accounts following and have increased our customer base year after year. Social Media 55 helped us with content creation, strategy, content scheduling, and graphic design. In addition, they have been running very sophisticated ad campaigns around holiday seasons for the past several years.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to elevate our branding, increase exposure, start to have a real presence on social media with a professional look, and to increase revenue. We wanted to look more aggressive than the competition on certain channels.

SOLUTION

How did you select Social Media 55?

We wanted a North American leading agency. We did not want to work with an agency in France due to language limitations here. Social Media 55 really stuck out to us because not only did they offer service in English but they are perfect in French as well.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Social media 55 created a strategy for us. Once we all agreed on that strategy, Social Media 55 began creating designs for us. Once we developed a fair amount of content, we began using them to post to our Social Media and to create our Ads campaign with their Ads team.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a few different departments on their team. We worked with a Social media manager, a graphic designer, an Ad specialist, and a web developer for our landing pages. For the most part, we are in direct contact with our Account Manager that is available 7 days a week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For starters, after years of running these campaigns, we are fortunate to have adopted well over 1000 new clients due to their initiatives. Our accounts look spectacular, professional, and have all the information you need. They helped us grow our Instagram following to over 5000 followers and put us in contact with specific celebrities, and public figures.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with Social Media 55 makes the entire process an absolute breeze. They are always available to us and bring so much value and ideas to the table.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Social Media 55 feels like they are an extension to our team. No matter what business we would get into next, they would be part of our team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I cannot think of anything, they have done a wonderful job so far! 6 years and counting!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of LVL Up Studio. Montreal’s premier Versaclimber studio. This is a cardio fitness class that provides you with maximum calorie burn over a short period of time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Social Media 55, and what were your goals?

Our goal was to have an industry leading website to facilitate online sales, and increase conversions. We hired Social Media 55 for branding and website design and development.

SOLUTION

How did you select Social Media 55 and what were the deciding factors?

We were speaking to approximately 4 different agencies and Social Media 55 were the only ones to standout and they seemed like the best fit based on their prior experiences. We were not wrong!

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

The first step was to created a logo which they nailed very quickly. The second step was to design a wireframe for the website. They delivered these different sketches for approval, before going into development phase. They had to integrate Mindbody and FitMetrix into this WordPress site, in order for this website to function. That was done seamlessly by social media 55.

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

I have worked with 3 different people. 1. Graphic Designer 2. Content Writer 3. Web Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Social Media 55 has delivered this website with a very quick turn around time. We have had feedback from people in this industry, saying that this the most beautiful and functional website they’ve seen in a while! We are very satisfied with what Social Media 55 were able to accomplish.

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

We had 1 point of contact, throughout the majority of this project. Benjamin, was able to coordinate between my team and his team and made the process feel seamless.

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

I felt like they were a part of my team. They acted as an extension to LVL Up Studio. They shared their input and knowledge to make this project happen.

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

To be honest, there isn’t much to say about this topic. We were overall very happy with their service and will continue working with them. We will refer Social Media 55 to other people.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Just Toys International is a toy company that licenses and manufactures toys, collectables and novelty items, including great toys for Minecraft, Kirby, Sonic, Dragon Ball Z and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Social Media 55?

Social Media 55 was hired for multiple purposes. They built us a new website, featuring an online company store. They also managed our social media marketing plan, with paid and organic posts, including design, content and management of posts.

What were your goals for this project?

New website, company store, greater social media presence, consistency in social media, and greater reach, interaction, and converted sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I researched multiple social media companies. I found Social Media 55 in the top 10 or top 20 in almost every article I read. I interviewed them, as well as other companies. They weren't the most expensive nor the cheapest, but they genuinely seemed excited and interested in our business.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

To design and create content for social media posts, both paid ads and organic posts. We wanted to stay true to our brand and our licenses. We wanted to gain more attention to our brand and products and educate our fans and genres about us, as well as increase sales and conversions.

We also wanted to completely rebuild our company website and include a company store online. Social Media 55 has done all of the above so far.

What was the team composition?

I've worked closely with a few specific people, but they've been very quick to respond and act, as well as be patient with our ever-changing business and opinions, as well as a fast learning curve to understand our brand and company in order to implement changes that suited our "feel" immediately.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Like I said, they've been very patient with our feedback, or lack thereof at times, as well as quick to respond and make changes on the fly when needed. We've relied on their expertise for social media, at the same time, they've listened to our input and feedback as well. It's been a good working relationship.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great. Easy to comprehend and very transparent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They ranked very high in reviews and lists of top social media companies, and I think it is because of their willingness to stand their ground with their expertise, but also a willingness to listen and respect their clients opinions and stances. Very accomodating, but not a pushover.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We did feel their initial designs were lacking in imagination or they just didn't quite understand our brand at first. But they learned quickly and made changes to accomodate quickly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a co-founder of a content production company. We produce corporate and strategic content for B2C and B2B companies and brands. Since we’re still in the early years, I wear lots of hats like producer, director, content strategist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

Every market, be it Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, or Chicago is going to be quite competitive nowadays. Understandably, video content is huge, and a lot of companies need it. We needed Social Media 55 to improve our SEO rankings, since that wasn’t something I prioritized when I was building the company initially. They’ve given us valuable advice regarding what sites to invest in and how to get reviews from customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re very much on top of the trends in the industry. They’ll tell us what components we have to add or how many reviews we need for people to be able to find us and stay competitive in the rankings.  We started by building up our reputation on different platforms and revamping our content and content titling. They’ve also helped us grow our brand value, reach, and lead generation efforts.

Initially, they started by learning as much as possible about our industry so that they could best position us. We had a few meetings where Joe (Founder, Social Media 55) invested the time to learn about our industry and the keywords we liked.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Joe and Ben (VP, Social Media 55), who’s an old friend of mine. I’ve watched Joe kind of bring him into the industry. They’re very responsive.

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

I've been producing content online since the late nineties, so I’ve been very plugged-in to what's happening online, who's pushing, and who's growing. Joe is out there with a brand that means ‘relentless effort.’ He’s transparent and he offers value. When I met him in-person after following his career for a few years, I saw that he actually cared about his clients.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's hard to find an exact day or date to pinpoint their influence, but what I can say is that we haven’t left them in our four years of working together. They’ve delivered consistently increased visibility for us. We actually just hit 1,000 followers on LinkedIn today. Joe’s business development advice and support have been great as well. He knows how to do the right stuff.

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

Goal setting is, is a very important thing for Joe. He’s not one to do the minimum. He wants to do the maximum for his clients and he wants to steer them. You want to give him the best advice possible and that does mean setting goals, the measurable, attainable or even ambitious goals. Once he achieves them, he sets new ones. That’s one of the strongest parts of his value.  

Additionally, he's really good over the phone and really diligent with his emails. If it’s really an emergency, he'll reach me over Facebook Messenger. He's active on LinkedIn, as well. Joe lives for his clients so he’s available seven days a week and puts his clients before himself all the time.

I've seen him grow and I’m proud of him. He doesn't shy away from the phone or email. He's equally dexterous across all communication platforms.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'll reiterate it: the sheer devotion he has to his customers and accounts. He earns every penny that he charges, and he’s very fair. You can hear in his voice how much pride he takes in over-delivering and seeing his clients grow. Because of this, he’s learned about our industry and not given us cookie-cutter advice. Rather, it’s been a very customized and hands-on experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I thought they had tons to improve on, then I wouldn't be taking this call. All I'd like to see them improve on is to grow. I want to see the company scale.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’ve seen a lot of scamming social media companies out there that pander for the same SEO dollars. Joe is the real deal and runs a company that will put your money to use.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of my company. We’re a shop that sells and repairs mobile phones, TVs, and computers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

I wanted to bring more people into the store but was busy repairing and managing the business. Since I’m not amazing with marketing, it was necessary to hire an agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Social Media 55 manages every aspect of my marketing and advertising strategies. First, their team directed our social media marketing strategy for platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. They also created my logo and helped develop my brand. As our engagement continued, Social Media 55 offered more services. Now, their team also manages all my graphic design needs. A large portion of their efforts involves Google, which has improved our online ratings.

What is the team composition?

Generally, I work with Joseph (CEO, Social Media 55). Sometimes I will deal with his partner or another gentleman too.

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

A colleague recommended Social Media 55.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our engagement in August 2014, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m extremely happy; they’ve done a great job. I’m not good at marketing so their team has taken a lot off my plate. Their services have definitely brought in more revenue than I’ve spent for them, which is why I continue to engage them. Their team helped improve our ratings on Google from 3.9 to about 4.9. Since working with Social Media 55, whenever I ask clients how they heard about the store they say Google. That used to never happen.

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate at least once a week. While Joseph likes to connect through e-mail, I prefer the phone. Despite their preference, Social Media 55 has accommodated my preference. One thing about Social Media 55 is that they’re always on time. If their team tells me to expect a product on the 14th, it will be ready on the 14th or the 13th.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The owner of the company is there for me. I’ve never seen an owner so involved in the day to day activities of their business. He’s available to help with anything I need. He calls to check that I’m happy, which makes me feel good. I’ve worked with companies in the past that felt more like a call center of employees who would pitch me different ideas. Unlike competitors, Social Media 55 is hands-on.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m very happy with their service. If I could save money and receive the same service, I’d be even happier. They could improve on their prices, but you get what you pay for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give their strategies as much time as possible to create returns. Hold on and stick with Social Media 55 because results don’t happen overnight.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director for a mobile gaming studio that makes titles for iOS and Android.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

We approached Social Media 55 to help us home in on our target demographic for one of our puzzle games. By leveraging their market research, we hoped to gain more installs for our games.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Social Media 55 has optimized our social ad campaigns to increase our organic reach and the number of game installs. Joe (COO, Social Media 55) oversees our Facebook and Instagram ads, aiming to boost visibility, followers, and page likes. In addition, he performs A/B testing on our creatives to see which assets are more effective. We then use that information to design better content.

What is the team composition?

I coordinate exclusively with Joe who does all of the work himself. He has always wanted to learn more about mobile gaming, and I appreciate how invested he is in our project. Every once in a while, he’ll even stop by the office to work with me on some of my challenges.

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

I found them on Google. They were the top rated agency, and all of their reviews were positive. Joe also interviewed well, so I felt comfortable moving forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work started in December 2016 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our number of installs has gone up while our cost per install has decreased. It normally costs about $3–4 to convert a lead from Facebook, but Social Media 55 brought it down to under $2. Not to mention, Joe targeted users who were willing to spend more money once installing our game, so the quality of our traffic has increased remarkably. They’ve raised the average user spend to about $11 compared to the typical $7–8, resulting in a better bottom line.

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

We speak 2–3 times a week over the phone, and Joe always responds no matter the time. In terms of budget, he usually provides conservative estimates and sometimes tries to be under budget to be safe. This helps us avoid hidden fees or surprise expenses.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Social Media 55’s scope of knowledge when it comes to social media campaigns. Even though I’m certified through Facebook, Joe has still taught me little tips and tricks that I value tremendously. That’s why he’s still helping us with current projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve nothing to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a B2B company. We develop software for the film and TV production industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

Since we work in a B2B market, developing brand awareness and exospore is a reoccurring problem. We’re doing well in our regional sphere of influence, but we needed an experienced social media marketing firm to help us reach more customers. Our users don’t use Google to find a firm like us. Instead, they’re sitting on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram all day. Considering that brand equity is paramount to our success, we had to exist on those platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Social Media 55 helped develop our social media marketing strategy. That process involved evaluating which platforms to utilize, and advising us on which types of ads we should create. Since we don’t have any internal data to reference, we have to leverage their expertise and past experiences. They work to improve our presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Their primary responsibilities include analyzing and consulting on how we create content. They don’t produce materials for us, but they do provide insight into what works and what doesn’t. So not only do they advise the scheduling of our content posts, but they also conceptualize new ideas by pitching efficient ways to relay information.

What is the team composition?

Their COO is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

I found Social Media 55 by searching online. After speaking with some of their previous clients, I decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $50,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We certainly see more traffic coming to the website, but the project is still in its early stages. We expect to see more results in the coming months.

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

They implement a hands-on approach. As a result, they’re attentive and available whenever we need them. Their team provides adequate support whenever we reach out to them with questions. We communicate via phone, email, and text.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Marketing and advertising involve a lot of iteration to see what works within a given industry. While modern analytics lower the chances of a failed marketing push, it’s still more of an art than a science. Considering every marketing firms says they’ll get us more exposure and traction, Social Media 55’s service and support make them stand out. If we decide to adjust our current approach, we know they’ll help us do that to the best of their ability.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I’m satisfied with how they’ve performed thus far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them as much business-relevant information as possible. Break down the project’s long-term goals into a day-by-day plan. Creating a detailed roadmap facilitates a productive experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and CEO of a consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

We needed help with branding and digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created the wireframes for the website, developed the front- and backend, and oversaw the creative side. They also managed SEO for our website. Then, they developed a marketing strategy, handled content creation and newsletters, and helped us build a brand. They oversaw all the advertising work and created collateral materials, presentations for our investors, business cards, and letter templates.

In addition, they helped us with social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and set up MailChimp campaigns for us.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with their owner.

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

I found them through an online search.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $30,000 in total. We paid $25,00 for the website and all the collateral materials and $5,000 for the actual marketing strategy.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between April–July 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were getting 5–10 leads per week from the strategy they put together, while our brand and the website got very favorable feedback. Everyone was impressed with how professional and clear the website was. We received about $400,000 in revenue between July (when they completed the project) and the end of that year. I attribute a lot of those leads and success to the work Social Media 55 has done for us.

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an outstanding job. They were organized and fine-tuned the whole process. I worked with many other companies in the past and I found that many of them were overpromising and underdelivering, but Social Media 55 gave us everything they said they would. They met our deadlines (if we didn't hit a deadline, that was because of the delay on our part).

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their level of organization. They gave us clear and concise instructions on what we should give them in order for them to meet our goals. We had a lot of requests, but they made every effort to accommodate them and complete the project on time. They're the most organized marketing firm I've worked with in the past eight years.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They did a phenomenal job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as transparent as possible about your expectations. Let them know your hard deadlines and make sure you can commit to the work that they provide for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of Your Maui Escape. We’re a family-owned business that rents nine property units on Maui under general managers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

We wanted higher visibility on social media and more bookings. Those results would benefit our business relationships with brokers. After a partnership with another vendor ended, I hired Social Media 55 to update our brand and improve our online and offline presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, the project focused on branding social media management for Facebook and Instagram. Services included logo design and social media content posting and scheduling. We then expanded the scope to web development, SEO, and strategy for organic growth. Currently, Social Media 55 is completing improvements on our recently-rebuilt site.

What is the team composition?

We work with Joseph (Brand Strategist, Social Media 55).

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

I reached out to several agencies when my previous vendor suggested they would drop their social media clients. Out of everyone I contacted, Joseph had the quickest response. He was happy to hear about our business needs. The relationship evolved from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $20,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2018 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Social Media 55 grew one of my accounts from 3,000 to 17,000 followers in two months. According to Google Analytics, daily site traffic went from 200 visitors to approximately 14,000. Web-driven inquiries also jumped 400–500%. We now have around 50,000 Instagram followers and similarly impressive figures for Facebook. Consequently, brokers find our business’ growth potential exciting.

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is creative and proactive with communication. Their service and skill sets have exceeded my expectations. Joseph manages our social media strategy and our overall digital performance. Always professional and informative, Joseph reviews findings in clear and accessible language. I’m learning a lot about social media, including how scheduled posts can maximize results.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We expanded the scope because Social Media 55 excelled at branding and social media management. We got impressive results faster than we expected. Our site’s engagement levels have already exceeded our growth in social media followers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, because everything has exceeded my expectations. I’ve never been unhappy with them.

Any advice for potential customers?

Take a chance and work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Easy Breakdance. Our company offers online tutorials for breakdancing. We also travel around the world teaching classes. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Social Media 55?

Since our company is made up of professional dancers, we engaged Social Media 55 to help with our branding, strategy, and content creation. We also hired them to upgrade our camp website and manage our social media.  By the end of the engagement, we wanted to have an attractive looking site, and a robust online presence, particularly on social media.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Social Media revamped our company’s image and branding. They enhanced every aspect of our site, from the smallest detail to critical, large-scale components. After selecting a theme, they modified all our content for a consistent aesthetic. The entire website is structured to clearly articulate the exact nature of our services.

We often have to interface with business professionals about concert bookings. Since that’s not our area of expertise, Social Media 55 helps us secure these contracts. They built out a new series and funnel for the camps we host.

Social Media 55 provides copywriting, professional photography, and video production to create fresh content for us to use. Regarding social media, they took full ownership of our Facebook and Instagram accounts. The team creates, schedules, and posts content, designs advertisements, and manages events. 

What is the team composition? 

Joseph (CMO, Social Media 55) is our main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Social Media 55?

I found Social Media 55 on Google when I searched for "top 10 social media agencies." 

How much have you invested with them?

Our group of professionals spends about $5,000 each month on Social Media 55's services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for at least six months now and have an ongoing partnership. They will help us with several of the upcoming tasks in our pipeline.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Social Media 55 has made a substantial impact on our company. Thanks to the improvements they’ve made to our Instagram, we’ve booked multiple events. We've been getting phone calls and messages from new leads at least once a day. Compared to before our partnership, many more people who are interested in our services contact us on a regular basis. 

How did Social Media 55 perform from a project management standpoint?

Social Media 55 is excellent in project management. They keep everything running smoothly and on time. We speak on the phone exclusively, and our communication is perfect. I never felt like I was being kept in the dark. My partners equally valued their honesty and openness. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Social Media 55 is incredibly passionate about the work they do. We work with quite a few companies, and they stand apart.  They seem genuinely invested in our projects, and I admire their dedication and work ethic. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wish they would open a branch of their company in my town. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Social Media 55 is a trustworthy company. They'll conduct the necessary research to find out exactly what you need.