Socialfly

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a marketing director at Hawthorne Gardening Company. We provide tools for growing vegetables and greens and distribute them through major retail stores and global online platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Socialfly?

We wanted to use our social media connections to spread the word about our business and our brand. We had never done influencer marketing before, so we were looking for a company to help us with that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They answered all of our questions about influencer marketing and how it worked. Then, they started building a marketing program for us, focusing primarily on Facebook and Instagram. They helped us narrow down the pool of our influencers and then contacted them to make sure they had a good experience with the product. We were also doing paid advertising, and Socialfly helped us generate content for that.

What is the team composition?

Based on where we were in the process, we had several points of contact–for influencer marketing, paid advertising, and strategy development.

How did you come to work with them?

They were recommended to us. I met with them and was impressed with their pitch, their approach, and their ability to educate and walk us through the process, so I decided to give them a chance.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between November 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw a substantial increase in responses and comments. People were asking where they could buy our products and we were getting on holiday shopping lists as a result of the work Socialfly had done for us. On the paid advertising front, they helped us discover certain subsegments of core demographics that were interested in our product, so now we can better target our consumers.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They were extremely quick and responsive. They were patient and understanding and able to educate us and guide us through the process. We usually stayed in touch via email or phone and had in-person meetings. They were always well-prepared for our calls, so we didn't have any communication issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're passionate about what they do, which was clear from our first conversation with them. They enjoy doing quality work for their clients and we appreciate them for that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Initially, I had some concerns about the level of detail that would go into our discussions with the influencers. But Socialfly addressed my concerns, making sure I was comfortable with the content they were posting.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're going to prioritize the work they do for you and become a true partner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a beauty company that manufactures nail products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Socialfly?

Being in beauty, it was essential to have a voice on social media, and we wanted to hire a professional organization that would provide that for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our major platforms are Facebook and Instagram, but we also use Pinterest and YouTube a bit. They helped form a strategy around what each social media platform does, what user types buy from different places and other topics in this space.

Socialfly is in charge of posting, creative work, and photo shoots. We wanted a more contemporary look that also conveyed the ease of use of our product in getting a salon-quality manicure at home. Socialfly was able to capture both the beauty and efficacy of our product.

They also manage any questions or concerns from our customers, which was an important feature we wanted. They set up an FAQ sheet, an 800 number, and an email address for constant client communication. Technical questions are answered immediately, while order information and any other comments regarding colors are directed to us.

Our next project is for Socialfly to improve and update our website.

What is the team composition?

Both the CEO and co-founder are always available to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Socialfly in April 2016, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our business is extremely healthy, even though the nail products market is down. Socialfly’s work—which is a part of our 360-degree marketing mix—is working well. I can’t provide any metrics, but they’ve given our brand a nice, fresh look.

How did Socialfly perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly phone calls and quarterly in-person meetings to plan photoshoots and upcoming work. They send follow-up emails and agendas for our phone meetings. Socialfly is also available for in-between conversations if we need them. I haven’t had any issues with their management style or quality of resources.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand analytics well and provide excellent insights on how best to advertise our brand. We’ve worked with different agencies in the past, but we know we’re in a good place with Socialfly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’d like to do more video work, but that’s more of a budget consideration on our side.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Make sure Socialfly engages with your product. It will make the posts more authentic, and consumers will be able to relate to them more. It’s important to be on the same page from the very start of the collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director of brand marketing at a direct response company that runs commercials on TV and rolls them out into retail.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Socialfly?

We were looking for a company that could create social media campaigns around our products once they hit retail.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we decide to take them on for a social media campaign, they handle all aspects of the project including customer service and content creation for our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages. We essentially set a budget for the campaign and they use their judgment on execution. They also find social media influencers best suited for the specific campaign and handle all outreach/communication with them as well.

What is the team composition?

We work with a few different people, but Becky (Associate Director of Client Services & Operations, Socialfly) has served as our main contact. I’m in touch with their co-CEOs as well.

How did you come to work with Socialfly?

We were looking for a new social media firm to work with and did extensive research on our own. When we found Socialfly, I went to meet with them at their offices in Manhattan and we hit off. We’ve worked with them on a variety of projects since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000-$200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them for over a year, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While it’s hard to quantify the impact that social media campaigns have had on our retail sales, I can say that all our social media pages have gotten very high engagement on influencer posts. Our follower counts on all pages have increased dramatically as well.

How did Socialfly perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed very well; we’ve had no issues on that department. They’re great with getting us what we need in a timely manner. My company works at a very fast pace, and they’re very accommodating in making sure that we have everything we need. They’re also very receptive to feedback and work hard to meet all your requirements. We have weekly reports with the team to review the status of open projects and any influencers that need approval, and we communicate regularly via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a comprehensive knowledge of the newest social media strategies and best practices. They’re always up to date on the latest changes to the various platforms, and they make sure to leverage them to our advantage. I can always trust them to be on top of the latest trends.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. We’d always like to spend less, but I understand that it’s a very competitive market.

Advice for potential customers?

Have a very clear idea of what you’re looking for upfront and communicate your goals clearly. You can get everything you need from Socialfly if you lay out a plan before engaging with them.