AQOMI STUDIOS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of an ecommerce company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Marketing and Advertising.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Aqomi to accomplish?

• Branding design

SOLUTION

How did you find Aqomi?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Aqomi over others?

Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Aqomi were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Great work by Aqomi and Team. The key deliverables for the branding project are as follows: 

• Brand Strategy Document: This included our brand essence statement, brand pillars, brand promise, and target audience profiling.
• Visual Identity Package: This package consisted of a new finalized logo design, color palette, typography choices, and brand imagery. 
• Brand Messaging Guide: A document that outlined the brand's story, key messaging points, and taglines for various marketing materials. 
• Brand Guidelines Manual: A comprehensive manual detailing how to use the brand elements consistently across all media platforms. 
• Brand Collateral Designs: Designs for various brand collateral, such as business cards, letterheads, envelopes, and other stationery items. 
• Website Branding: Branding elements for the website, including header design, icons, and visual components. 
• Social Media Branding: Brand assets tailored for social media profiles and consistent with the overall brand identity. 
• The project timeline was outlined in a separate schedule document, including key milestones and deliverable due dates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Everything looked awesome, and we would use them again!

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Via Zoom we mostly communicated and it was all smooth.

What was your primary form of communication with Aqomi?

Virtual Meeting

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

The ease of use. We had some initial revisions needed but we completed the deadline.

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

Aqomi and his team could take constructive criticism a little better. I think they didn't like my feedback at first but understood the customer is always right so they made my vision come to life, is what a good marketing and branding expert will do.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and President of Deltaform Technology, a strategic IT consulting firm that provides cloud focused business IT solutions that save companies time and money. Deltaform Technology is based in Calgary, Alberta and serves small to medium businesses across Western Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aqomi?

As a relatively new startup, we needed to define and market our brand aggressively. IT is a relatively saturated market and we knew when we founded the company that we were different and unique, and we needed a brand and strategy that would ensure that we stuck out from the crowd.

What were your goals for this project?

We had no established brand to leverage for marketing purposes and we were crafting a new and unique identity in our market. We wanted Aqomi to listen to who we were at our core and be able to develop an inclusive strategy for effectively developing and marketing our brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had connected with Tomek Jablonski on LinkedIn and we had open and candid conversations about our businesses. We were not in the market for a branding agency to do any sort of work for us, but through open and honest discussion he helped us realize how Aqomi would be an important aspect of getting our company off the ground.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Tomek and I spoke in great detail about the identity of Deltaform Technology, and he provided constructive feedback and thinking points around how to further develop this identity. Once he had disseminated that information he and his team developed and leveraged digital and physical mediums to convey the brand in messaging, appearance, color palette, etc. These materials could then be used by Deltaform moving forward with the creation of more specific and unique applications.

What was the team composition?

I work directly with Tomek, who interfaced with his team directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since working with Tomek and Aqomi, there has been a unified appreciated for who Deltaform is by both clients and partners. We have strived to create an identify and uphold certain values internally, and we have received feedback from our clients that echos these values. People want to do business with us because of who we are and what we stand for, and the brand developed by Tomek and Aqomi has been a quintessential facet of this.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Absolutely seamless. It felt as though Aqomi was an extension of our own internal team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The authenticity and transparency delivered throughout the process were impressive. From initial genuine conversations that didn't at all resemble a sales talk, throughout the project until the final delivery, Aqomi felt as though they were members of our team, and people we would want on our own payroll.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a peer-to-peer (P2P) web sharing service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

We wanted an agency to market our service.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We expected digital marketing and branding services from them but didn’t get past the initial quotation process.

I first filled out an online contact form, and they replied with a phone call and email saying that they were interested in taking us on. From there, it was about two weeks of back-and-forth to figure out if our project would be the best fit.

Before giving us any information or even meeting with us, they wanted us to agree on a price point and enter a retainer with them. We had to pay them half of the total cost upfront, the reason being that, if we met with them to discuss a potential direction for the project, we could choose not to pay them and walk away with their ideas. 

They invoiced us for $7,500 CAD (approximately $5,500 USD) and gave us a transit number with a legitimate bank. Once we wired the money, we agreed to meet on site. However, it was just a residential building, and there was no meeting. The CEO did not show up.

What is the team composition? 

The CEO apologized for not meeting with us and said he would make it up. However, he’s stopped talking to us ever since and has ignored our requests for a refund.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

We found that Clutch had listed Aqomi as one of the top 10 companies in Canada for advertising and marketing.

How much have you invested with them?

We paid $7,500 CAD (approximately $5,500 USD).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The banks are working to get our money back. 

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated through phone calls with the CEO, and we texted outside of that. But after he ghosted us, I’ve tried to contact their accounting department and other potential leads, but no one responded.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s not much to improve. Even though the CEO has said he’d repay us, I don’t think he had any intention of doing so. We've been trying to get in touch with him, too, and he hasn’t called back, which makes me wonder if the company is currently defunct.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Managing Director of Teko, a leading web and branding agency built for today's connected world. We help businesses adapt to the digital age.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aqomi?

Being a leading digital agency in Sydney, we have a lot of demand. Our larger corporate clients needed help with their branding needs.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to deliver above and beyond our clients expectations and create brands that stand out amongst the crowd.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team and I researched for months trying to find the right fit for out agency. We stumbled across Aqomi and saw their diverse experience across the board and decided to hire them instantly. Their work is amazing and is a true representation of what Aqomi is about - quality service.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We held multiple strategy sessions and calls to strategise our clients current positions and where they want to be by undertaking new branding services. Based on the information shared, we were then presented with examples/mock-ups to send to our clients for review.

What was the team composition?

Overall, we worked directly with senior executives and project managers. It was great that higher tier team members were working with us directly - it gave us confidence that the projects would always run smooth.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since working with Aqomi, our clientele base and client demands have increased dramatically. Everyone within our company loves working with Aqomi purely because they are experts in their fields.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We held regular meetings to ensure projects were running smooth. Skype was a great tool that allowed us to connect with Aqomi's team across multiple timezones.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

As I said above, Aqomi are experts in their field. They go above and beyond expectations and the quality of their work portfolio is second to none. One of the best branding agencies we have come across. I have been in the digital industry for just over 8 years and Aqomi by far are the best to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Improvement is key to business success. To be honest, there aren't really any areas for improvement. Working with Aqomi has always been seamless and will only get better over time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an electrical contracting company. We specialized in emergency service and repair.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

I was trying to get my name out there and grow my business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They put together a Google Ad strategy. In terms of the Google Ad campaign, we chose a paid advertising route, and they managed it. 

Before fully launching the campaign, they looked at my website. They noticed that it could be better optimized for SEO. I didn’t have some of the content worded or linked properly. They suggested ways to update that content to optimize it. Their team even helped with the content creation and the build of a new logo in the process. 

I had to discontinue the campaign last year because I was getting large volumes of service calls, while I want to do more emergency service. We’re happy with the results and are thinking about starting the campaign back up in January 2020.  

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I’d posted about my needs on Facebook, and someone who saw the post reached out to me with a recommendation for Aqomi. From there, I reached out and hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $40,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted between 2016–2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were able to deliver the exact results that I wanted. While I discontinued the Google Ads campaign, the commercial clients their services earned for me are loyal, returning customers. These clients represent over half of my business, so Aqomi’s services had a huge impact. My website still shows on the first page of search results, too. That’s really positive because there are over 200 contractors here. Aqomi got me to a position where I don’t have to pay monthly anymore to benefit from their work. 

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very organized and delivered everything on time. There weren’t any miscommunications between us. We communicated mostly over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to provide us the services we needed at a reasonable price. They’re willing to charge a flat rate as opposed to monthly payment plans that would’ve cost us more over time. With that plan, I got assistance specific to my needs. For instance, the keyword adjustments and linking on my website were improved by them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their service is great. I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you know what you want out of the partnership before meeting with them. I wanted to get more business in troubleshooting, emergency after-hours work. They worked with that and helped grow my business because they knew what was required of them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of ThreeFifty, I built this company from scratch.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

Aqomi became my go-to partner for marketing support, so we’ve worked on many projects together.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked on one unique project together a few years ago—we were filming a commercial for a high-end fashion company. I managed the project as the art director, but they handled everything from storyboarding to ideation, making sure that everything was high-quality, engaging, and grabbed people’s attention. With that in mind, they created a detailed proposal that included how each section of the video would look and sound.

They oversaw everything, including staffing, selecting different directors and the film crew. They also ensured we had everything for a photoshoot.

What is the team composition?

Tomek (CEO, Aqomi) is my primary contact. We go way back and have built a withstanding relationship, so I really like working with him. However, his entire team is very welcoming and I’ve worked with designers, developers and account managers as well.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I met Tomeck about ten years ago at a social gathering. Our mutual friends introduced us, and we immediately hit it off.

How much have you invested with them?

Our projects usually range between $150,000–$250,000 and have not surpassed a million.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around 2009­, and have been partners ever since.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We usually track the success of the projects we work on, but one, in particular, stands out. They developed an e-commerce site for one of my clients that really appealed to customers. That particular site was included in a research study that used functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to compare how different websites appealed to buyers.

We were up against several big-name websites, but we blew them all out of the water. Parts of the brain associated with pleasure lit up like a Christmas tree when consumers viewed our platform. Aqomi really showed off their skill in that project, creating something that had an enormous impact on consumers.

I’m just glad to have found them and to have the pleasure of working with them. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you have a team you can trust. I think that’s the most important thing in business. They always are able to take problems off my plate. Not only do they satisfy my customers’ needs, they exceed them.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

I prefer to be pretty hands-off, but I trust them and they know that I have high expectations. I usually provide the project requirements, and then they handle the rest. If the project requires it, they know to get in touch with me by phone or Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re capable and always deliver fantastic results. They never settle for mediocrity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I honestly have no idea how they could improve more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re getting really busy, so contact them right away!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing contractor with a few ongoing clients. In my work, I outsource assistance for my clients as needed.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

I have a strong background in social media campaign planning, but some of my clients wanted branding solutions. Aqomi came on to fill that need.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

So far, they’ve done five branding books for different clients, also managing three campaigns for them on social media. One campaign was focused on LinkedIn and the other two were Facebook efforts. For those projects, their team handled paid ads and content creation. They made an e-book and were responsible for all visuals, ad copy, and overall campaign planning. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve been working directly with Paula (Chief Branding Officer, Aqomi) on the project, but have also had contact with James (General Marketing Manager, Aqomi), Tomek (CEO, Aqomi), and Pasang (General Business Manager, Aqomi).

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I heard of them through a friend who had done work with them previously. When I looked them up, I dove further into research on Clutch.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent between $50,000–$100,000 on their services at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late March 2019 and still collaborate on various projects for our clients.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, we’ve seen great results with them. In one of the most successful cases, we saw a 20% increase in sales compared to the client’s previous similar, less optimized campaign. They’ve also increase web traffic for other clients, growing traffic by an additional 600 monthly visitors for another client. We’re really happy with what we’ve been tracking.  

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always on time and easy to get in contact with when needed. They explain their processes clearly. For communication, we’ve been using Slack and Google Drive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m blown away by their customer service. Everyone’s been absolutely fantastic to work with. Their ability to do creative work at a high level in their strategic campaign management was very unique. I haven't found that with other agencies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re great at what they do and are oftentimes more experienced than me.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what makes your audience tick, fully understanding your buyer persona. That’ll speed up the process and give them a clearer idea of what you're trying to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an instructor at a yoga company. We don’t have a physical location but we do events, workshops, and retreats around the area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

I have found that the fitness world can be kind of saturated, so we were looking to stand out and get more traffic for particular events.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aqomi rebranded our company. They started with an in-person meeting so we could flush out a campaign strategy going forward. Their team created a logo, color scheme, and some wording so that our company would be more recognizable. They then tied that into all of our branding, including our web design, so that everything was the same across all of our platforms. Aqomi also does Google AdWords campaigns for us. 

What is the team composition?

I worked primarily with Paula (CBO, Aqomi). I know other members of their team worked on the project, but she was my direct line of contact for all interactions, including email.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I was referred to Aqomi by a friend. 

How much have you invested with them?

We are about to hit the $50,000 mark.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Aqomi began in February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our most recent retreats this summer sold out very quickly. We gained a lot of traffic from the design. The design work is beautiful and has helped us stand out and develop a strong brand for ourselves. It stands out to other people and to me. 

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

Aqomi is always punctual. Whenever they said something would be done tomorrow, it would be. After our initial in-person meeting, all of our communication was through email or the phone. I always knew what they were doing. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aqomi has the creativity to make us stand out in a saturated market. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. I’m really happy with their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

I’ve outsourced to Aqomi on a number of different projects. Usually, I work on video production and outsource to them for branding and website development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They can take a project from start to finish, clarify what we’re doing, create a strategy, and deliver. Recently, we worked on a project for a charity and we didn’t have any clear guidelines. Yet, they were ready with ideas, mockups, and different color schemes. We were able to present it to the client and it helped us land the job.

They’re able to create a story and message and tie it in with the website, my videos, and the brand itself. For this project, they produced a landing page that really caught the user’s attention. After watching my video, a user could go to the platform and clearly see how it tied in with the brand. It became a full experience.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Tomek (Ceo, Aqomi) and Paula (CBO, Aqomi), and they have a team of 4–5 really talented people.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

Early in my career, I worked on a project with Tomeck and I was really impressed. Since then, I always try to collaborate with them.

How much have you invested with them?

In 3-4 projects, my clients have spent about $50,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since 2013 and continue to collaborate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although I don’t have exact metrics, my clients are always ecstatic with the results. They always deliver high-quality work. Often, when they present rough drafts to clients, they’re blown away and can’t believe it isn’t the finished product. After rebranding, they usually see a huge spike in leads. They definitely get their ROI many times over.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve actually learned a lot from Tomeck because his leadership skills are top-notch. They lay out the project structure at the beginning and are very efficient. They make sure that everything is finished with plenty of time to make changes before deadlines. A project has never been late and the quality of their work is unparalleled. Additionally, their communication is great, I can reach them at any point during the day and they always pick up the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have endless amounts of bold creativity. They think outside the box and end up creating something, unlike anything I’ve seen before. For example, they were working on a project for a meat company that looked so good. And I’m a vegetarian!

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Email them and set up a phone call. Have fun, because your company is going to grow exponentially after working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the majority shareholder for an advertising company. We specialize in digital advertising for cabs and golf carts. Our ads integrate with POS credit card readers and screens, specifically in Mexico and the rest of Latin America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqomi?

We needed help with PDF presentations for our clients. We wanted a company that was fluent in Spanish to resonate better with our market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created templates for PowerPoints and produced videos for our phone app. They're currently in the process of revising our website. The site is a bit outdated, so they will refresh it in 2020. Most of their work focused on branding content and introductory videos to display in taxis. The videos, which are mainly live-action with sound, outline the safety features of the device. We provided them with logos and other material, and they polished the final products.

What is the team composition?

One contact did most of the PDFs and PowerPoints, and three other developers helped with the video content. Most of the video was from scratch, while the PDFs were based on the materials we provided.

How did you come to work with Aqomi?

I was impressed by the way they presented themselves on LinkedIn. I've known our main contact for quite some time, and I liked how quickly he worked. He had a good track record, and his team's fluency in Spanish was a major asset.

How much have you invested with them?

In all, we've spent about $250,000 CAD (approximately $189,000 USD) on the entire project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around September 2016, and we still engage them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're just about to launch, so we don't have any results yet. Based on the quality, we expect to do really well.

How did Aqomi perform from a project management standpoint?

They're easy to work with, and they expedite projects we send them. They're responsive, and they often finish work within about three days. They really raise the bar for speed and quality, and they capture our vision well. Most of our communication is through email and phone, and they were always on task and efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their Spanish background saved us a lot of time and money, and their ability to expedite is key to our collaboration.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should improve, though I'm waiting to see the end results of the website.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're worth contacting to work on websites, PDFs, upgrades, or videos. The faster you contact them, the quicker they will complete your project.