AGCS

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the manager of Digital acquisition for Newsday, a Long Island, NY daily newspaper. I am also responding for the manager of print acquisition.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

Our goal was to create an email marketing strategy to grow digital subscriptions while maintaining our core print circulation. Our in-house team is too small to manage the workload we required. AGCS has filled that gap 10-fold.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We interviewed and set up test campaigns for several companies before deciding on AGCS. Their work was refreshing and with a slight European twist to it, we knew right away there was something special about AGCS. Their work fit in very well with our aesthetic with enough differences to move the growth needle.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Over the last, almost, 2 years now we've developed a smooth working routine. We'll tell them what we're looking for, i.e. a holiday campaign, something seasonal, flash sales or special offers, etc. and they'll come back with several ideas and versions. From there we'll hone in on what we hope will perform the best. Their designer/s, copy writers, programmers, etc will then get to work and create a fantastic email. All of this will be capably managed by our account manager, who'll keep everything on track.

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

On a regular basis, we work directly with our account manager. Indirectly, we work with the designer, copy writer and programmer.

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

Our process has become seamless, whereas before we worked with AGCS, everything was very last minute causing undo stress and not the best quality work. That has completely gone away. We've been able to expand our original intent of just using AGCS for email, into social marketing and marketing our opt-in products. We've seen a 33% growth in digital sales since starting with AGCS.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have a standing meeting every Wednesday. And an on-going email exchange almost every other day of the week. Response time to any queries is immediate. And when we see an example of something we may want to try, which is quite often, straight away it's put into our shared deck for the next weeks discussion.

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

Their resume is impressive but what most attracted me to AGCS was their people. They genuinely care about our company. This is no cookie cutter shop.

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

Can't think of a thing.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Account Director and a creative and digital marketing agency, overseeing client relationships, projects and satisfaction.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

We work with AGCS in the following ways: (i) to support us in the robust development of motion display banners. (ii) Technical support on best practice for developing and serving display banners. (iii) Support with dynamic testing of banner content.

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor after reviewing their work and discussing the services they provide and way that they like to collaborate.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We provide designs and motion concepts to AGCS with details on the required specs and associated ad servers. AGCS then support us in building the banners, providing previews, testing, strategic recommendations, setup of dynamic testing mechanisms for content, and project management.

What was the team composition?

I've worked with both the founders of the firm, banner developers, and project managers. Everyone chips in when required.

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

Since we've begun working with AGCS, we've been able to provide a much better customer service to our clients, better quality and timing of deliverables, and better recommendations and marketing services.

All of this has led the amount of projects we work with AGCS increasing significantly, and while there is no figure I can use to prove success, I can say with certainty their partnership has strongly contributed to us winning more projects and work from our clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Overall, our working processes are very good. Where we have run into challenges - largely down to our own clients - AGCS have suggested solutions and helped us to develop new processes that address those challenges quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am impressed with their excellent client service and communication. They are clear experts in their field. Always deliver quality work to the deadlines that are agreed. Generally lovely to work with.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

Anything that might have been improved in the past was quickly addressed, and there is nothing of significance that comes to mind now.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Venrup. Venrup is a design and software development agency focused on providing user-centric app development. We are experts in web and mobile application design and development.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS, and what were your goals?

We worked with AGCS to increase lead generation, drive our branding and develop digital marketing strategies.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found AGCS profile on Clutch and we reviewed their website and project portfolio before making the final call.

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

They did an excellent job in driving lead generation and developing digital marketing strategies. We have seen measurable growth in our business since we started working with them. They are professional and maintain seamless communication. Projects updates were provided regularly and they kept is in the loop with the progress being made. I would highly recommend them!

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

We were using 2 resources. One of them was the head of their marketing and the other one was a business development associate.

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

Our lead generation increased by 40% and our social media presence grew by 90%. We were really happy with their working style, constant communication and ownership of our project.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a really good workflow. We used Slack for communication and had weekly syncs to keep track on progress.

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

AGCS is a great company to work with. Their working style is very professional and personable. They take full ownership of the project and are very result driven. Communication with them was very streamlined. I can only highly recommend them.

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

We didn't find any significant areas of improvement. I was very happy with the work they did.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Strategy and Design Production Studio working with tech and FMCG firms. Client Director and CRO

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS, and what were your goals?

We received a challenging brief from one of our biggest clients, asking to create an interactive ad for the new Facebook Playable Ads platform. We were in charge of the concept and the design development but needed the help of a development agency to code it and make it work.

How did you select AGCS and what were the deciding factors?

We had already worked with AGCS in the past for different projects (mainly animated banners) and had only had good experiences.

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

We handled the design until it was approved, then we prepared the files and send them to AGCS to start coding. During the process, they created several demos that both ourselves and the final client could access to in order to give feedback.

They were very knowledgeable and able to solve any new request from the client.

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

Laura was the project manager throughout the project. She was always available and ready to help.

Morne and Niels were the developers and did a very good job and implementing changes quickly and even explaining directly to my client how the technical part worked.

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

My client is very happy with the final result and so are we, both with the result as well as with the process. Still don't have data but we can share this with you once the campaign is launched and analysed.

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

Fast, knowledgeable and friendly. Laura is great to work with. We mainly used gmail and a couple of meet video calls.

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

They are fast and knowledgeable.

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

Not the cheapest!

Please describe your company and your position there.

Senior Graphic Designer at Upfield. Upfield is the largest plant-based consumer product company in the world, and is dedicated to creating “a Better Plant-Based Future"

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

We hired AGCS to help us in converting our videos and animations for our plant-based butter products into HTML5 banners.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to set up and optimise our product videos for the HTML5 banner format in an attractive and eye-catching way.

How did you select AGCS?

We found AGCS through a google search and took note of their great reputation. We decided that the team’s specialisation in digital advertising would be a good way to get our ads optimised for online viewing.

Describe the project in detail.

Our project was to promote Upfield’s plant-based butter. We provided the assets to AGCS, who then converted it to HTML5 banners that could be used on multiple media platforms. Their challenge was to translate these animations into HTML5 form, despite the different animation techniques and file size limitation.

What was the team composition?

designer, programmer, project manager

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

AGCS proved themselves to be extremely quick, efficient and reliable in their asset delivery. We were very pleasantly surprised by the quick turnaround time and the excellent results - we only needed one small revision on the banners!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We were very impressed by their smooth workflow. Despite the very quick turnaround, they delivered the assets within two days and maintained great communication all throughout. They were very responsive to the small tweaks needed and very quickly delivered the finished product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their efficiency, technical ability and practically perfect asset delivery, even the first time around. It is clear that they are committed to maintaining their good reputation.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not of note, we are very happy with the results!

Please describe your company and your position there.

180 Kingsday is an award-winning international creative agency based on the beautiful canals of Amsterdam. I am the Executive Producer of Digital, having worked on clients such as adidas, ASICS, HP and Sony PlayStation.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

We hired AGCS for the production of the FIFA Women’s World Cup digital campaign for our client Qatar Airways, specifically to produce HTML5 and rich media banners for different markets across the globe.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to promote Qatar Airways, official FIFA partner for the Women’s World Cup 2019. The campaign included the development of HTML5 and rich media banners, in several formats and 5 different languages.

How did you select this vendor?

180 Kingsday and AGCS have had a long standing partnership and we didn't think twice about working closely with them on this project based on our history of collaborating on challenging projects resulting in successful deliveries.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in Paris in 2019. In order to promote the World Cup and the destination itself, we produced different concepts and designs for HTML5 and rich media banners, targeting different audiences in several countries. AGCS supported us with the production of all creatives, providing clean animation, different rounds of reviews and fast turnaround. They also advised on the best animation solutions to fit within the given specs and still keep great image quality, which was essential for the success of the campaign.

What was the team composition?

We worked with an Account Manager, Project Manager, and 2 Front End Developers

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

Most of the media placements drove to the TVC, which currently clocks in at just shy of 11 million views, having been live for 10 months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was effective, We had good communication via email and phone. They understood our brief well. The project was finished on time for our campaign.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Aside from AGCS' tenacity, dedication and consistently high quality of work, they are incredibly pleasant to speak to and work with and that positive vibe goes a long way.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None to speak of. We're in the midst of another behemoth job, so you can ask me again in a few weeks ;)

Please describe your company and your position there.

Integrated Producer at advertising agency.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

Display banner development for a client who supplies online language courses.

What were your goals for this project?

Develop & deliver HTML5 banners (in a variety of standard formats) with clean & elegant animation, to the supplied publisher specs.

How did you select this vendor?

We have worked with AGCS previously and had a good experience. These banners required quick delivery and I trusted AGCS to achieve this. No other vendors were considered.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They consulted on creative and what was feasible animation wise. They also advised on adserving platform sizes and standard specifications, in the absence of client supplying any. They supplied design assistance in terms of roll out of other banner formats, based on a master banner design supplied by us. They developed various sets of creative (x4), in various formats (6-8 HTML5 formats, 3-4 social formats).

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with a project manager from AGCS who was fantastic. I also discussed animation directly with 2x of the developers which made it a very efficient and smooth process with no unforeseen challenges.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The project is not yet complete

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Communication was great, there was never any uncertainty around when something was going to be delivered. I was constantly kept informed. The team also dealt with surprises from the client very well, never showing signs of stress under the pressure of a tight deadline.

They were always willing to lend their expertise in brainstorming solutions with us, rather than stand back until we had an answer. Deadlines were always met and the quality of assets delivered was high.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It was great to be able to connect our design and their developer directly. The team enabled a faster smoother process than if it was only a project manager talking to a producer, then both of these people relaying the information to the actual people doing the work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We've created a SaaS project management solution tailored for the creative industry.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

We hired AGCS to run our Search and Social Media campaigns in the German market. Setting up marketing and re-targeting activities on Google and Facebook as well as ongoing optimisation of the campaign.

What were your goals for this project?

Generate industry-specific German leads.

How did you select this vendor?

Our advertising agency Virtue (VICE) suggested working with AGCS.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

In the first stage, the project covered full implementation and tracking of campaign including delivery of reports and content assistance. After seeing the results, we decided on further optimisation of the Google Ads campaign and Social Media which included, regional, targeting and channel optimisation.

They also set out to produce HTML5 banners for re-targeting users and adjusting Social Media creative to increase conversion in the german markets.

What was the team composition?

We were in contact with the project manager and Google Ads specialists who were optimising our campaigns.

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

We've managed to achieve some quality leads in the German market.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was effective as the we had regular contact via email and they were always replying fast. We also arranged one physical meeting mid-way of the campaign and one end at the campaign meeting, discussing the results as well as improvement opportunities.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They had proper knowledge and were friendly in their communication. They were always willing to set that extra step.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not al all.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a business development manager at a mid-sized start-up. We develop mobile applications that are used world-wide.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

We hired AGCS to create banner ads - both animated and static - that we could run in our digital marketing campaigns.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase conversions (primarily downloads) through banner ads by making sure the designs were in line with the rest of our ads. We also wanted to test HTML5 ads.

How did you select this vendor?

We had calls with several agencies and decided on AGCS based on how well they understood our idea, their previous work and their reasonable pricing (which included revisions).

Describe the project in detail.

Two calls to discuss our aims and the general design direction. Next, we received a proposal for different designs. We sent some feedback and then received revised designs.

We picked our favourite colour schemes and then received animated and static mocks of the banners. We sent a second round of feedback based on the mocks and after a few days received our final banners.

What was the team composition?

I believe it was two project managers, two designers and a developer, but I was mainly in contact with the project managers.

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

As we just started testing, it is too early to tell, but we will run them for several weeks in our Google campaigns.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good. The communication was incredibly smooth from AGCS, and they were very understanding about our needs. Their proposal and mocks were very professionally presented.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Smooth communication and ability to clearly explain any technical issues. Ability to quickly understand what kind of design we wanted. Very skilled in creating neat, eye-catching designs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area for improvement might be understanding any updates to the banner requirements in different platforms. I think it would be great if, as a banner company, they could ensure the client that whichever banners they are creating will work for the client's end purpose.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an independent ad agency, based in Amsterdam. We develop branding and activation campaigns for a range of A-clients, with a broad reach and publicity across the Netherlands, and often globally as well. As a Digital Producer/Project Manager, my responsibility is to bring the creative work to live, together with production companies that best fit the job.

For what projects/services did your company hire AGCS?

We hired AGCS for several banner and landingpage projects. The project we did together where I want to elaborate on a bit is a banner project we have done for a local A-brand in breakfast cereals in the Netherlands.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal was to drive traffic to the breakfast checking tool we have created for a global cereal company. A tool where users could compare different kind of (self composed) breakfast in terms of nutritional values.

How did you select this vendor?

We have selected this vendor based on a recommendation from an acquaintance. After a first company-presentation at our office, we were convinced to do a project together.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Our company has developed a breakfast checker tool for our client. In this tool, users could compare different kind of (self composed) breakfast in terms of nutritional values. To drive traffic to the tool, we have created a TVC, several online video’s and online banners. AGCS developed the banners for this project. We developed a wide range of creative variations, completely in the look and feel of the tool and the campaign.

What was the team composition?

From Fitzroy side, the team was existing of a strategy consultant, art director, copywriter, graphic designer and a Digital Producer. The Digital Producer was the main point of contact for AGCS. From AGCS we were in contact with the Project Manager and Account Director.

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

We can’t share details of the results, but we have created a case on our website for this project: https://fitzroy.nl/project/quaker-breakfast-checker

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow has been very effective. From the moment we have briefed the team till the final delivery, everything went very smooth. Plus; the quality we have been aiming for was delivered, without a doubt. Just like any other project, challenges popped up along the way, but AGCS has been very flexible and agile in adapting to new circumstances.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive was for us the ‘spot-on’ first delivery. Where we usually need to push a production company a lot to stretch the limits of the technical (im)possibilities, the first delivery was really spot on and only minor tweaks were needed to come to the required result.

Are there any areas for improvement?

To be honest; this project went really smooth. On point deliveries, within budget, within planning. No areas for improvement at the moment.