Thrive Internet Marketing Agency

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of CP Networks. We build and manage computer networks for small and medium businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We weren’t happy with our website. I wanted to find somebody who was a professional at building websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an existing website before we started working with Thrive, but once we brought them on board, we trashed it. The team built the new one completely from scratch, implementing new content as well. The goal was to talk about and advertise our services. They built it on WordPress and optimized it for SEO. 

Currently, we’re getting started with SEO and PPC.

What is the team composition?

We’ve probably worked talked to eight or 10 different people. We mainly worked with Charissa (Web Project Manager).

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

I’ve known of Thrive for a few years. We’ve actually done a little bit of work for them as clients. I knew of them and liked their website, so I went straight to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking in May of 2020, and began development in around September. The website was launched in November, and we’re currently working on SEO and PPC.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new site looks great. Thrive did a good job of making it look really professional. The new content is a major improvement. 

We just launched the site, so I don’t have any metrics, but we’re really happy with how it turned out and had a great experience working with them. We got exactly what we wanted.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

I really enjoyed working with Charissa. She made the whole experience flow really easily, and had lots of good advice and good ideas. The communication was really amazing, and they did a great job of keeping us on task with deadlines. We mostly kept in touch over emails, but we had Zoom meetings once or twice a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive aspect of the project was working with Charissa. Her attitude and her communication were stellar; it made the whole experience. I expected to have a good website at the end, but working with her made it fun.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As far as the website build, everything went well. I can’t think of any areas for improvement. We’ve just started with PPC and SEO, so it’s hard to say, but it feels like maybe the communication hasn’t been quite what I got from the web build.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you need a website, I highly recommend Thrive. They build beautiful, one-of-a-kind sites. Also, if you’re going to make that investment, you have to be prepared to get a bunch of content ready, because it’s a lot of work and you don’t want to squander the opportunity.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an organization that focused on the occupational safety training and consulting needs of companies in all industries. Our goal is to assist companies with the development and growth of their safety programs. We have specialists with years of experience in this industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

They helped me get our business noticed online in our industry. There are tons of companies out there, and I wanted to decrease the time our team was taking to do sales work. I figured that we should let technology work for us to bring in sales and conversions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They work on SEO, content, and social media management for our team. We rely on them to maintain and improve our placement in Google search results rankings. While we’ve pulled away from social media efforts recently, they’re still responsible for sending newsletters to our customers. Additionally, they developed a backend data management and entry interface for our platform. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Matt (Founder) on the management of my account. We worked closely with a developer as well. 

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

I was recommended to them by a colleague that had used their services as well as those of my previous developer. The past developer was subpar, but my colleague had tremendous success with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency through digital marketing work. I felt that they would be a good fit, so we hired them.  

How much have you invested with them?

Over the years, we’ve spent about $100,000 on their work.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since around November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is strong, and they’re responsive to feedback. I’ve appreciated their willingness to make necessary adjustments to their work. 

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been spot on with project management. There were a few delays, some caused by our internal team and other caused by theirs. They had to do a decent bit of research to find the right solutions for us, so the delays weren’t a big deal. Overall, the project worked out great. They sent me updates, information, and reports to let us know how much time was being spent on certain tasks. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to overcome obstacles and challenges really stood out. They’re willing to take on new projects that they may not have tons of experience with in the past. It’s great to see companies that are willing to take on a challenge. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would love to have some more communication from them to make sure we’re always on the same page about their progress. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Stay involved with them and ask questions. Collaborations are best when you invest your time effectively detailing your ideas and mission.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Lifetime HOA Management. We manage homeowner associations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We hired Thrive Internet Marketing Agency to do our SEO. We obtain 98% of our clients through Google searches, so we needed help with that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thrive Internet Marketing Agency does our SEO work. When we redid our website, the team also helped to make sure that we didn’t lose our SEO progress, and they worked with our web designer. 

What is the team composition?

We have one point of contact who is our case manager.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We searched online and interviewed about four companies. I’m a novice in the SEO space and Thrive Internet Marketing Agency had a good sales presentation in terms of explaining the process. I felt taken care of.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $1,500 a month. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them about two years ago in Q4, and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thrive Internet Marketing Agency does a monthly report that provides us with keyword tracking and analytics. I’ve seen an increase in potential clients clicking on and asking for bids. 

We are very satisfied with the progress of the campaign. Within four months, we were on the first page of Google, in about the top five positions. We then aggressively went to the top three positions.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They managed the project well and set their own deadlines. The team is very proactive in their approach, which I like as a small company. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like Thrive Internet Marketing Agency because of their overall experience. The market is saturated with a lot of people who say they can do SEO, but they don’t come with the knowledge, resources, and manpower to get you the resources.

We had someone who promised us the world, and we didn’t see any return. With Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, we saw a huge return within the first three months. They’re a great partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Value Thrive Internet Marketing Agency’s time and efforts by making sure that you keep up with them. It seems like a large investment in the beginning, but you will see results within a certain time period. It’s a long-term gain, not a short-term one.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing coordinator for ZCS Engineering and Architecture. We’re a civil and structural engineering firm with an architecture department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

When we brought architecture into the firm, we decided to redesign our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thrive helped us to redesign our entire WordPress website. Later, their team redesigned a few pages too. After they created the initial designs, we had a day or two for revisions.

What is the team composition?

I directly worked with two different people from Thrive. My initial point of contact, Mike (Sales Team Director), was a sales representative. I also collaborated with Jack (Web Team Director) who guided the web development process.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We initially hired them before my time at the company, so I’m not sure how we originally found them. However, we liked their work. That’s why we went back to them for help.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $3,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

I originally contacted them in July, and they finished the project in August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As we previously worked with Thrive, we knew their team created high-quality products. They did exactly what we asked of them. The pages looked great and exceeded our expectations.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Thrive regularly contacted us by phone and email. They outlined the project, and communication was seamless. They made sure that everyone on their team was in the loop. Their team accomplished their goals exactly on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

My initial meeting with their team was held via Skype. We had a face to face conversation, which is always easier when trying to explain one's goals. It was nice to go back and forth with them.

I had questions about the project because I had no previous experience with design projects. Their team did a great job answering my questions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They created the initial designs and then allowed a day or two for revisions. I realized that wasn’t enough time for my whole team to review them and provide comments. While we felt rushed, their team was flexible and worked with me on deadlines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask questions because they’re available to answer them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a boutique investment bank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

Another group managed our website but didn’t attract the expected amount of activity. We needed another provider to set up a new website. Also, we wanted to improve our SEO initiatives to support the platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thrive built a new website on WordPress beginning the process with a template. Essentially, we had the content ready to go. Their team now hosts the platform.

They continue to provide SEO services to increase the site’s visibility. Their team tries to rank for certain keywords. They set up content to be more easily read, but they’re not creating it.

What is the team composition?

In total, we’ve interacted with six different people from Thrive. I have a day to day contact who focuses on our SEO efforts.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

I previously used their services when I had a different firm. As I knew Thrive and had decent success with them, I pulled the project over to their team.

How much have you invested with them?

The website cost about $9,500, and we spend about $1,000 a month on their SEO services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking around April 2020, and it took about a month and a half to complete the website. Thrive continues to manage SEO initiatives for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Compared to our previous vendor, Thrive has already gotten better results. Their team’s knowledgeable. When I give suggestions, they present the pros and cons. This allows me to make informed decisions.

The website’s young at this point, and the market’s awful at the moment. Frankly, it’s hard to expect much right now.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via phone, email, and Zoom. Thrive managed the website development well. The person who directs our SEO initiatives also performs well. Their team’s organized.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s easy to work with Thrive. Their team delivers what was promised when promised; that’s a unique characteristic. I’m pleased. When talking to other web agencies, I felt that their teams were creative but flaky. Unlike them, Thrive’s professional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In terms of improvement, it’s too early to tell. They market themselves well. I’m hoping that knowledge translates to my business.

Once the website was developed, we had a quick training on how to manipulate WordPress. Their team then provided a bunch of videos. Not all of us love watching videos. They could better distinguish the difference between clients who want videos and those who prefer hands-on training.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with anything, you’ll get out of a partnership what you put into it. If you want them to be timely, you need to provide their team with the necessary materials in a timely manner. Thrive will deliver, but you need to do your part.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO for Petersen Games. We’re a board game publisher in a niche market. Our founder is also a renowned designer for video games. Now we so board games with the same motifs and themes as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

When I started, we didn’t have much of a marketing program. Bringing Thrive Internet Marketing Agency was part of my initiative to organize and grow our marketing initiatives.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired them for their social media expertise. So we have a representative that manages our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We provide content and graphics, and they set up the campaigns. They try to get our fans to engage, or they direct them to our website to make a sale. They plan all of that, implement the strategy, and then we discuss the performance after the fact to continue to drive sales.

What is the team composition?

We work with one project manager.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

Our fan worked for Thrive Internet Marketing Agency and he reached out to us. I was already moving in that direction anyway, so we decided to work with them.

In the past, I’ve worked with various social media groups. I liked that by bringing in Thrive Internet Marketing, I don’t have to worry about anything. I don’t have to babysit them and I’m confident they’re always doing what I need to do.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $2,000 per month (approximately $50,000 in total).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in May 2018 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I just printed a report from early on in our engagement, and our most recent report. Looking at the difference, impression has increased from 179,000 to 499,000. So we’ve seen a big boost in reach. The links clicks went from 936 to over 6,000.

When we started working with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, we were making about $5,000 in website sales, and now we’re making between $20,000–$30,000. Clearly, we’ve seen a big increase in sales, which I attribute to the consistent attention we receive from them and their ability to grow our followers on social media.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always on time. If our project manager ever has a conflict, is sick, or is on vacation, he always lets us know and we can reschedule. We have a personal rapport. When our team was in his area, we were able to meet up for lunch or dinner. It’s been a great working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our project manager is also very professional. He gets everything done when he says he will and reports on it. Sometimes he offers new ideas for us to try and think about. He wants to do his job well and is dedicated to helping us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re always looking for ways to grow with them. We recently launched a YouTube service and that’s actually a different service. So he said he could bring more people in, but it’s outside the terms of our contract so it would cost more. That has just been a matter of us not having the budget to bring on more services.

This also isn’t his fault, but he isn’t as familiar with our product as an in-house team member would have. So we have to provide the information that he needs to support the post.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You get what you put into the project. So you’ll get a better result  if you remain engaged with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I oversee marketing and finance for a hospitality management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We needed an expert to improve our SEO initiatives. When we brought on Thrive, we weren’t positioned well online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thrive began by tackling our on-site SEO challenges. They addressed any technical issues and rewrote copy, optimizing for keywords. Their team identified new keywords to target and created a blog, which they continue to oversee. Thrive tracks the campaigns as we go.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact’s Caroline (SEO Manager), who’s fantastic.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We found them on Clutch. They specialized in SEO and had many reviews with high ratings.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $1,200 a month on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the partnership around November 2018, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I track the campaigns' results using SEMrush. Since the start of the partnership, we’ve dramatically improved our rankings.  After 7–8 months, we began to rank first in our market for target keywords. Out of all of our competitors, we rank in the top three results for most of our keywords. Our sales have definitely improved too.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic. We meet twice a month on Zoom to discuss projects and address any questions. We review the latest results and create plans for the next two weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The effectiveness of their SEO campaigns certainly stands out. Their customer service is also notable. Their communication with our project manager’s excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could better follow up on new projects. We discussed additional e-commerce projects and after one meeting, their team didn’t follow up. Their competitors, however, wanted to tailor a solution to us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Try to have a baseline understanding of your project. Learn about SEO and what you want. You need to understand the practices to communicate with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a plant-based cooking school in Los Angeles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

A majority of people search and find cooking classes through Google and Yelp. In the past, I hired a couple of SEO freelancers who built my rankings but not in my area.

My business involved people attending in-person cooking classes. I wanted to work with a larger team that could provide local SEO services and eventually help to rebuild my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thrive focuses on building my website rankings in local searches. Their team’s rebuilding my website too.

My website started as a blog, featuring about 300 articles and recipes. Now, Thrive helps with my content marketing efforts. Their team creates a monthly list of content topics based on what’s trending. As my business is strong in my voice, I then create the content. 

What is the team composition?

I work with a couple of people from Thrive’s team.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

I found them on Clutch. I reviewed profiles and narrowed my list to 5–6 companies based on their work experiences with small businesses. I talked to each of the companies but Thrive gave the best price and appeared to be the best fit.

They specialized in SEO and clearly knew more than I did on the topic. With the other companies, it was clear that SEO wasn’t one of their main service lines.  Thrive was also honest about what would benefit my business, unlike other agencies that tried to sell me on additional services.

How much have you invested with them?

I have them on a retainer for $1,000 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

I hired them around January 2019, and the engagement’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My website climbed local search results tremendously. Before COVID-19, I received a significant amount of traffic and calls.

The growth happened quickly. I already had a web presence, but Thrive took that presence and focused it locally. Their efforts were effective.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team’s attentive and nice, which is a big deal. It’s pleasant talking with them. They’re able to take technical topics and translate them into layman’s terms. When ideas become too technical, they explain them in a way that I understand.

Thrive’s also patient. I’m usually the bottleneck. While I may feel guilty, their team ensures that I take my time. They want to get the website right.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Thrive’s good at what they do. They have a lot of expertise, which makes them effective. I’m busy because I’m a small business owner. It’s nice to have an agency to take care of the projects that I don’t have the time to manage. While my previous experiences with vendors helped, Thrive’s a full-service agency that has built my rankings.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve been pleased with everything so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This is general advice: be clear about what you want and what you need. Through trial and error with other vendors, I learned what I did and didn’t want. When I interviewed other companies, I could understand from their presentations whether or not it would be a good fit. Understand your needs and goals to mitigate miscommunication.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations for a fitness company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We have an online fitness club, which we hired Thrive to help market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thrive manages social media advertising for the challenges that we run every month. We write the content that their team promotes.

Their team initially ran a 10-day ad challenge. We started with a low-cost basis to make sure that we all gelled.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact’s Alyssa (Social Media Manager) who fits well with our team.

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

I found them on Clutch. In all of their reviews, I read that they delivered and attended to details. We also wanted an agency that had experience working with small businesses. We needed a partner that was willing to start at an affordable rate.

How much have you invested with them?

We contracted them at $1,000 a month, and then we pay for Facebook Ads on top of that.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our partnership in the beginning of April 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we run a campaign, we review our club memberships. We also assess the Facebook pixel, which Thrive attached to the back of the ads to measure the ROI. Those metrics have increased every month. They fine-tuned their efforts, so we’re getting a better return every single month.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a weekly conference call over Zoom with our project manager who we like. We review the numbers and talk about future campaigns.

When it comes to spending our dollar, Thrive’s conservative. They don’t spend on advertising without seeing a return. When their team sees an ad performing well, they let us know. Then, we decide if we want to increase our ad spend.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Thrive listens to your needs. Even though we’re a small business, they feel like an extension of us. Their team understands our goals and our company philosophy, which enables them to reach our target demographic. During the first week, they honed their efforts to engage our target audience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve been happy so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be organized with your ads and have a plan of action. You have to bring them content and a message. Once you have a direction and goal, then the marketer can run with it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for a hospital media company. We provide continuous channels to hospitals as an alternative to broadcast and television. Our channels include nature and calming music to help with the noise and help patients with stress and anxiety.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

We were working with another Google Ad firm, but they weren’t performing well, nor were they contacting us regularly. They had a lot of errors in their work, so we wanted to find a more strategic,  hands-on partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re working with us on PPC. Our product is very niche, so I had to explain our product, but they’ll run with anything. They’ve looked into keywords for our new VR product and created a huge list based on the conversations we’ve had. We’ve recently decided to shift our strategy from branded keywords to product-based keywords.

What is the team composition?

I work with Nick (PPC Project Manager) and Lauren (PPC Specialist).

How did you come to work with Thrive Internet Marketing Agency?

I found them on Google and searched best PPC companies , specifically in healthcare. I really liked their mission and how they showed their process on their website.

How much have you invested with them?

We pay them $625 per month (approximately $9,375), plus ad spend.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2019 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

 We almost tripled our inbound leads from our Google Ads. The amount of work they’ve done to optimize the new focus on keywords has been very helpful. They continue to keep an eye on how the ads are performing, and I expect a better outcome.

How did Thrive Internet Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform extremely well. They have never missed a meeting. Their approach was much more hands-on than our previous partners. They're also very, very organized, which we love. They constantly stay in contact with us whether that's our ongoing monthly meeting to review or mid-month updates of how our Google Ads are performing. Whenever we want to try something, they’ve been very adaptable while providing a lot of expertise.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re nice and approachable. They’re very easy to work with and it has been a great experience. I really appreciate our partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Originally, we were working with another account manager who wasn’t quite what we were looking for, but Thrive Internet Marketing Agency handled it really well and brought Nick on board. I work really closely with Lauren, and she’s very organized and smart. They made us feel really comfortable for a difficult situation. We had a meeting to make sure the transition went well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Understand what you’re looking for from your partnership with them. If we had been more open and clearer about our goals, the beginning of our engagement would have been better.