URBA Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Taj Kabob Afghan Street Food, an Afghan restaurant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

We wanted to improve our advertising efforts, so we hired URBA Media to run some of our digital marketing campaigns.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

URBA Media has provided a range of services. They redesigned our menu and created a digital one, so customers could see it online. The team has also done a lot of photography, organizing a shoot with restaurant customer models. They’ve posted ads on Google, Instagram, and Facebook, and have also invited food bloggers to dine in our restaurant and spread the word even further. 

What is the team composition?

I work primarily with two people, Mateo (Founder & Director) and Allen (Co-Founder & Director). I’ve also interfaced with some photographers along the way.

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

I found URBA Media after doing an online search. We considered a few other companies as well, but they stood out as being more professional than the rest.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $15,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with URBA Media in May 2019 and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the last eight months, our restaurant has seen a definite increase in customers—we’re busy all the time. We attribute our success to their team, because we haven’t changed anything else, and we don’t do any other advertising. They’ve done a phenomenal job marketing, boosting ads, and driving traffic here. The success we have right now is because we have URBA Media as our marketing partner.

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Allen and Mateo have been great partners. They’ve guided us through different strategies, giving feedback on our ideas regarding whether they think it will take us down the right path or not.

What did you find most impressive about them?

URBA Media is always there for us. If we have a question, an idea, or want to meet with them, they’re incredibly responsive and available. The team also has excellent follow-through. If they say they’ll do something, they do it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve had a great experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to talk with them and explain what your goal is. URBA Media has a lot of experience and will be able to consult with you on the best way to achieve what you want to achieve. They’re a great company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a national pizza chain.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

We wanted to drive some of our social media following. We also wanted to create a more localized page for the Alberta market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They do photoshoots of our product and provide insight into what’s happening in the market through social media. They partner with influencers for our brand, and they build our Instagram and Facebook following.

What is the team composition?

We work with four people from their team.

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

We looked at multiple companies but we really liked what URBA brought to the table. When we got on the phone with them, they sounded like everything we wanted. We did a trial run with them to see if they were going to be a fit, and we ended up extending that for a year.

How much have you invested with them?    

We’ve invested $25,000 – $50,000.           

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2019, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve definitely seen increases in sales that come from promotions they’ve posted on social media. We’ve switched to more influencer-based marketing and we’ve seen 400 followers in just the last 2 weeks.

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very good. We use WhatsApp chat to communicate, and they’re very nimble and accommodating to our requests. If there are any issues at all, they correct them. They’re always very good at communication and following deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team stands out because they provide a full-service fee, which includes their photography. They help our vision and always act in our best interest. They definitely stand their ground when things should be a certain way. Overall, they’ve been fantastic.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re incredibly satisfied with what they’re doing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be open, honest, and direct with what you’re looking for. As long as you keep an open line of communication, everything should work out well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former brand lead at a bar and restaurant focused on craft and import beer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

Our business didn’t have a strong online presence. We wanted assistance in improving our digital visibility. So, we were looking for a vendor that could manage social media and take professional photos of our establishment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did a branding exercise prior to onboarding URBA to understand who we are and how our customers and staff feel. We came up with a mission and personality for the brand that we shared with URBA. They took that information to introduce a strong brand identity to our Instagram and Facebook pages. 

Their team takes regular photos of our bar to use in social media postings. They focus on capturing what we have on the menu as well as some shots of patrons and employees. In addition, they’ve helped us with some digital advertising by helping us select which posts and photos to promote. 

What is the team composition?

I worked mostly with Mateo and Matt. There are several photographers from URBA that I’ve interacted with as well. 

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

A friend of mine was using them for one of the brands he works for. I saw some of the posts they had curated on their social media channels and website, and I was impressed. I got in touch with him, and he introduced me to Mateo and Matt. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a couple of thousand dollars each month, so we’ve invested between $10,000-$50,000 in total so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the beginning of 2019. I no longer work there, but the business itself is still working with URBA. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw increased engagement based on Instagram and Facebook analytics. It was far better than what we were experiencing before, and we’re happy with the direction they were going with us. 

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was well managed. They definitely did there part. We worked collaboratively, so there were some things that were our responsibility, and other things that they took the lead on. We mostly communicated via WhatsApp and over the phone. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I liked how frequently they were able to come into our establishment and take pictures. They update our pages frequently and managed our social media well. The team is also quick to respond. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice if they made sure to explain to the customer the reasoning behind their strategy. We’re not social media experts, so it would be helpful to get a deeper understanding of what exactly they’re doing and why. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just make sure the brand is aligned with their strategy and they understand what you’re about. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and business development center (BDC) manager of Mercedes-Benz Country Hills, a car dealership.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

Our business was two and a half years old, and we needed to get ourselves in front of as many eyes and ears as possible. We knew social media was the way to achieve it and decided to outsource those efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re a month-to-month business, so that’s how we do our planning with URBA Media. A typical month starts with my team and URBA Media meeting to go over our plan for our PPC, Google Ads, website happenings, and traditional media. Then, we formulate a plan of what videos and pictures we want to see for the next month or three. We sit down with Mateo (Founder/Director) and team to talk about how we can sponsor videos to get the word out quickly. they come up with verbiage, and we verify the ideas and facts, every week before it goes live. After that, we go from there. It’s a real collaborative process.

What is the team composition?

I work with Mateo, Allen (Co-Founder & Director), and a social media ambassador. 

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

We did an organic search at first and noticed that URBA Media owns several profiles throughout Canada. We liked the look and feel they were going for, so we went with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $3,000–$5,000 CAD (approximately $2,100–$3,500 USD) per month 

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership started in January 2019 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a 30%–35% uptick in engagement on each of our social media platforms — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even LinkedIn. We get reporting on a monthly basis; URBA Media always tells us the good news and the bad news. I appreciate that they’re honest when things don’t work.

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I work with them on a daily basis. We have a WhatsApp group and chat 2–3 times a day. Because we’re a month-to-month business, our deadlines are always tight, but URBA Media never misses them. Having streamlined communication through WhatsApp makes our collaboration even faster and more efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their videography and storytelling stand out. Allen and Mateo are great visionaries. I’ll tell them what to get done, and they translate my vision to our social media community. It works really well; when I think of an idea, my perspective is how to sell vehicles, and they’ll think instead of how the experience of the brand translates to a community

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our business throws a lot of events. While our social community and URBA Media are younger, the events draw an older crowd, who are our bread-and-butter customers. Understanding that changeover is big for us; we need to not forget those older customers. However, that’s teachable, and we’ve never had major issues. I’d just think URBA Media could be a little bit more aware.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a really solid plan that you both worked on. You both should understand where you’re going and how to get there. I also recommend constant communication. That way, you can share ideas and make each other think. That’s what makes us stand out from other Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the area.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a Greek restaurant that has been in operation for 18 years. I am the owner and general manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

They helped us to revitalize our social media campaigns in order to help us reach the younger demographics of our potential clientele in a way that we had previously not been able to.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project started with fixing some of the base level problems that we had in our online presence such as our listings on Google, Facebook, and different parts of the internet. From there, they helped us come up with strategy for the messaging we wanted to convey to our customers.

Their team took over our pages, especially Facebook, and produced and executed all of the advertisements for those platforms. They brought a photographer and models once a month to take pictures, film videos, and write content for the ads all themselves.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about 5–6 members of their team, but my main contact throughout the project was Mateo (Owner).

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

Mateo came to the restaurant to do a photo shoot for an item that we were buying for a local farm. He was running a campaign for the farm, and I talked to him and decided that we were interested in working with him as well.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost has been about $1,200 a month, so a little under $15,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in March 2019. We have paused our work at the moment because of the virus, but our plan is to continue the partnership with them eventually.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were able to double our numbers in terms of both comments and likes as well as click-through rates for our posts. Since we started working with them, we have seen an increase in in-store traffic and revenue as well, so we have been incredibly satisfied with the work they’ve done.

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We sat down once every two or three months, but they were incredibly good about communicating via text or email, so we never had any problems with that. At the beginning of this year, we laid out a more extensive plan for developing our overall brand image and targeting the customers we’re looking to bring in. That proactive approach has been incredibly helpful to us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to strategize and look holistically at your social media presence is really second to none. They don’t just improve your following or take good photographs; they put everything together in order to build your reputation and engagement as a business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I really don’t have anything negative to say about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know your goals as a company and where you want the project to take you because they will be able to target those and make them happen for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a franchise group that’s been around for 35 years since my father started a series of seafood restaurants. Around three years ago, we came up with another brand which is a quick-serve restaurant serving fast-casual tacos, fish and chips, and those kinds of foods. I am a regional manager for both brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

Their team helps out with the marketing operations for both of the restaurant chains that we run.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At this point, they run AdSense for us and I really just coordinate with them about what stores are open, what we want to do, and where. They put that all together, brainstorm with us, and once we’ve agreed on an idea, then they actually create the content. Their work on that front includes photo and video shoots and writing copy for the ads as well.

What is the team composition?

I work mainly with Mateo (Founder & Director), and he brings other people in whenever he needs help on his end.

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

They own a page called Downtown Chow that had quite a bit of following in the Calgary area, and I had reached out to them about influence. As the year went on, their team just got more and more involved, to the point where they are a substantial content creator for us.

How much have you invested with them?

Initially, we were paying him around $1,200 a month, and now we’re at closer to $1,500 a month because of the increase in the level of his services. We typically give them a budget and they deliver whatever they are able to for that price. In total, we’ve spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They officially started working with us in February 2019 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We try to put out ads that are on the edge a little bit in terms of the amount of other people who are doing it, and that has worked out very well for us as a strategy. We’ve increased sales almost 15% brand-wide, which is unbelievable for the restaurant business.

In terms of the brand awareness, we grew our Instagram following from 600 to 6,000 in less than a year, and things have just continued from there. Everything they’ve done has been really great for us, and we really appreciate their team’s work.

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication has been really open and consistent throughout our work with them. We usually just have a group chat running in WhatsApp where we discuss ad schedules, any new ideas that we have, and stuff that we have to tweak like various product availabilities and those types of things. It has proven to be a really effective way to manage the work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

At this point in the engagement, they are really able to serve in a strategic role for us, not just executing the ideas but helping us to come up with ideas and plan out shoots and other things. He always has input that we end up listening to because his expertise has proven to be really valuable for us.

Beyond that, I think the size of their company plays a significant role in the level of service that they are able to provide. If they were a bigger company, we’d probably be paying them tenfold for the same services. This way, it’s really easy to get in touch with them and get them on board with our ideas, and that level of flexibility is the most important thing for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I really couldn’t say there’s anything I wish was different about the relationship. There are occasional miscommunications, but those are on both sides and always get fixed pretty quickly, so it’s not something that’s caused us any problems.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just listen to what they have to say because their experience has given them a great perspective and they have a lot of great ideas to bring to the operation from a modern brand perspective.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a franchised restaurant - we own 2 units of the 28 in the chain. I am a partner / GM of both restaurants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire URBA Media?

We hired URBA media to manage our social media. They took pictures, made posts, set up online contests, etc.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to increase our social media presence.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

URBA Group came to us after seeing a flyer that we did in the area. They pitched to me what they could do for me and we went from there.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

URBA group was responsible to set up a monthly photoshoot to try and encompass all of our menu items. They then use the photos to post on our Instagram and Facebook accounts to ensure that we were staying relevant in the Social Medial scene. They also set up some online contests for our restaurant. URBA also sourced models for the photoshoot. They also posted our restaurants on their pages, Downtown Chow, URBA Group Calgary, etc.

What was the team composition?

There were three team members. Dan, Mateo and Allan. Dan managed the initial interactions in pitching the service to us and then setting up meetings and discussing the scope of the job. Mateo and Allan were the masters behind the lens, setting up and taking incredible pictures as well as ensuring our posts were 100% flawless without any mistakes. I spoke frequently to all three members throughout the job and all were fantastic to deal with. The size of the team did no change during the job.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, working with the URBA Group helped us become more relevant in the Social Media scene. Our interactions, followers, posts and impressions were all increased significantly to what we had before. They presented all of the results in a nicely laid out presentation that showed everything before and after and how things improved.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was extremely effective. I enjoyed working with everyone on the team. Any time I had a question it was quickly answered.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We first stated working with them in late 2018. They were a group of 3 young guys, but they had their own roles figured out and they really seemed to have everything in order.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I cannot think of anything at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of a Chinese restaurant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with URBA Media?

We wanted to increase our user engagement on social media, so we were looking for a vendor to help us with digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They come to our restaurant once a month and take photos, which they later post on our Instagram and Facebook. They also share those photos on their own social media page.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact.

How did you come to work with URBA Media?

They seemed very professional, so we decided to choose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2018, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The number of our Instagram followers has increased from 1,000 to over 6,500. In the past, our customers were mostly Chinese, but now we get a much larger variety of customers.

How did URBA Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly use WeTrack to stay in touch, and they've been very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have excellent ideas for different promotions, which has helped us attract more customers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We'd like our photos to be a bit more energetic.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I definitely recommend them. They've done a great job for us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of operations for Last Rep. Training, a fitness center based in Toronto.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire URBA Media?

We were looking to build our social media identity. We engaged URBA Media to manage our social media account and to develop creative social content. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase brand awareness, reach influencers, and gain more followers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reached out to several media agencies. URBA Media best understood our goal and business needs and made an offer that fit our budget.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We had a series of phone calls and emails to discuss our project goals, company brand, and business drivers. URBA Media used these conversations to develop a plan. They then came into our space and shot photos and videos. They now manage our social media accounts—including Instagram—and create content to post.

What was the team composition?

We work with the agency’s manager, two creatives, and a person involved in reaching out to influencers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our Instagram page gained 800 followers in two months since we started working with URBA Media. We see more new followers every day. We also have found a few active influencers who bring more customers into our space.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We find it easy to communicate with them. URBA Media is highly responsive, professional and flexible. We receive frequent updates, and the team accommodated us while we were exceptionally busy building our business. We collaborate via WhatsApp, phone, and email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness blows me away. The team can deliver high-quality content within a tight budget as well. Compared to past experiences with other vendors, we’ve had an excellent collaboration with URBA Media.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’ve been satisfied with their work at every step.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a pet party supply company that helps people celebrate the special moments in their pet’s life with all their fur friends and human friends.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire URBA Media?

This was a completely new company, brand, and unique product that we were introducing to the public. We were starting completely from scratch and needed someone to capture the brand’s essence and highlight the lifestyle of the type of people who would be purchasing our product through a photoshoot.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to launch a new product, build an online following, and drive sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I follow a few other social media accounts that URBA Media manages and does photography for. I was impressed with their photography, copywriting, and ability to showcase and grow brands. I met them and discussed my vision for the brand and goals. I felt like they took the time to understand my company and immediately began discussing ideas for how we can grow it together. I really liked their approach and creativity and chose to go with them.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Once I knew that I wanted to work with them, I was introduced to the team that would be working on my account. We brainstormed ideas and they presented their recommendations. From there, we planned out timelines and requirements for each stage of the project.

URBA Media then began working on a photo shoot that captured the product and showcased the lifestyle of the people who would use it. This was done using multiple staging areas as well as pet and human models. Once we had the photos, URBA Media set up our social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) and began growing the online presence. They continue to manage those pages by posting and monitoring activity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

URBA Media has completed the lifestyle photo shoot and launched my social media channels, which continue to grow each day. All deliverables were turned in on time and within budget.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The owner is easy to talk to and always available. Their team is very hands-on and working with them was easy and streamlined. They want to understand that ins and outs of the business and are involved in each step of the project. Also, there’s always someone available for questions and assistance.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re very creative and get excited about the projects they are working on, which shows in their work. URBA really took the time to understand the brand and translate that visually through all the images and written content shown online.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I was very satisfied with the work I received.