7strategy

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO for a real estate firm in Kansas called AC360 Realty. We focus on a niche market, selling probate properties. I have a background in trust administration as well as the legal side of settling estates, which I leverage to make sales.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7strategy?

As a small business owner in a niche market, I have a clear idea of how to curate my marketing/website content to bolster my network because there wasn’t any similar content written with my audience in mind. Although I had previously worked with another marketing firm, they weren’t giving me the services I wanted. As a result, I needed resources to develop a website, advise me on content creation, and make digital and print marketing materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we discussed a high-level overview of my website and branding/marketing materials before they presented me with three site options. Once I approved the design, they built the site in WordPress and collaborated with us to determine how to write our content as well as the overall page designs and color schemes. They also linked my previous Facebook ad campaigns and click-through pages to the new platform to drive our traffic. While we tried a few banner ads and SEO strategies, we ultimately decided to focus on Facebook ads.

As far as presentation materials, they provided graphic design for numerous assets such as our logo, our business cards, and the overall look and feel. In particular, they developed a two-page leave-behind on high-gloss paper, which was an all-encompassing print-out of my business. I wrote the content, and they edited it to include catchy phrases. I gave prospective clients the page after meetings and at vendor trade booths.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with a lead project manager and local connection in Overland Park. He had a team who worked in the background, but I didn’t deal with them directly.

How did you come to work with 7strategy?

I was involved with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce where a colleague had worked with 7strategy and recommended them to me. Considering my previous experience with a local vendor, I knew I needed a new agency. So I interviewed them and went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from August 2015–March 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They track numerous metrics for our site and Facebook ventures, including the incoming traffic, the click-through rate, and our search rankings. In terms of their marketing collateral, they really made us stand out from the competition. People often complimented the site’s aesthetics and our business card’s logo and background. 7strategy had a great handle on the graphic design side and provided high-class materials.

How did 7strategy perform from a project management standpoint?

We met about five times in person to review their work and discuss changes. Beyond that, we communicated back and forth through email to coordinate changes to the site or materials. We wanted to ensure that potential clients would see our best side when they searched for us online. Their team consistently involved us in the conversation and accommodated our input. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aside from their beautiful designs, they were proactive in helping us gain prospective leads. At the time, I needed to go through a lot of cold-calls on a daily basis but lacked the bandwidth to do so. 7strategy understood my challenge and connected me to two call centers to compile a list of leads. This was a tremendous help and demonstrated their commitment to helping us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. I was very impressed with their services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I always tell people that you get what you pay for. Some business owners don’t allocate enough money toward web design and marketing campaigns yet expect huge results. They need to understand the importance of marketing and set aside the appropriate budget.

Furthermore, customers should trust 7strategy’s process and expertise. For us, we gave them the necessary information and let them take the lead. As a result, they came back with options that would blow us away.