The Art of Business

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an interior design company.

What challenge were you trying to address with The Art of Business?

We hired The Art of Business for our digital marketing needs.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with Amanda (Owner) on social media marketing, specifically for our Instagram page. We did some work on my website as well where we uploaded new articles and blog posts that were written for me. Apart from the online distribution of those articles, Amanda also helped me with some wordsmithing. I was able to bounce ideas off of her, and she streamlined my content creation thought process and templates.

We didn’t do much work on Google, but Amanda set up all of the on-site analytics for me.

What is the team composition?

I only collaborated with Amanda.

How did you come to work with The Art of Business?

I had met Amanda a number of years ago when she was still working with another company. I’ve been in touch with her since then, and I enlisted her help for this project because I found her extremely easy to talk to. We’re quite effective as collaborators, which is why I kept coming back to her.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent close to $3,000 CAD (approximately $2,400 USD) at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together right around February 2018. We’re still working together.

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

Our views have increased since Amanda made the adjustments to my website and content. I’ve also gotten a lot of positive comments about my Instagram grid; people have said that it’s very clean and looks really great.

How did The Art of Business perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t necessarily manage the project, but we do work together in four-hour sessions. We go through the list of everything that needs to get done, and we carry out those tasks independently for a while. If I get stuck on something, we’ll book another session and do another batch of work. One could say we’re sort of on an on-call basis.

We communicate mainly through email, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. We’ve met in person before the pandemic.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The best part about working with The Art of Business is Amanda’s personality. She's really easy to talk to and can easily grasp what I need. We got a lot done that way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is a bit of a disconnect with their accounting department. At some point, they wanted the payment extra, extra early and sent out too many reminders for it. I have raised this with Amanda, and we’ve gotten it all sorted out, which is good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Send a list of items you want to get done ahead of time so that The Art of Business will know what your appointments will be about. The more organized you are with your tasks and questions, the better they’ll be able to prep for it. You’ll also be able to implement solutions quicker rather than spending time deciding on which tasks to do. It’s more cost-efficient this way.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and founder of an event planning company. We serve everyday people, corporate and nonprofit with our multi-service event planning services.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Art of Business?

I went through a major change in my business of buying out my business partner and I needed help for a full rebrand. I wanted to have clear messaging about everything we offer, as well as to showcase that we are a fun, trendy, but professional company to help attract the right clients and grow the business. From rebrand, website copy, CRM setup and implementation and social media The Art of Business guided us to help ensure that we achieved our goal.

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

I appreciated that they had an understanding for small business. They also were able to look after multiple services so I didn’t have to source elsewhere and hope it all worked together. The fact that it was a female owned company also gave me confidence that I would be heard and not pushed around. Also their team is well diverse and each of them are so skilled in their area of expertise that I knew they would be able to make my business come to life.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

From the rebrand, to the copy/content, to the social media marketing they worked with me to ensure that my brand, messaging and content was aligned. Their service package is very customizable, which was a great selling feature for me. I didn’t fit into a cookie cutter package and with The Art of Business I knew that I was paying for only what I needed and for what would help scale my business.

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

I worked directly with Amanda on my projects and she then would bring in her team of designers, web UX, strategists and copywriters to help - but Amanda was my main point of contact

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

Having my CRM setup has been game changer for me and my business. Keep client contact info and where they are in the inquiry or booking process has helped us close more bookings then ever before. Having the brand done has definitely hit more of our target market, and we see an increase of interest from people because we have the right content and messaging.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. Zoom calls to late night texts Amanda was always willing to answer me. Her team is quick and efficient and so even urgent needs we’re always prioritized.

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

They way they took my jumble of ideas, thoughts, dreams, goals and effectively came up with a plan to help bring it to life in a way that I could share it to the world. They are creative, talented and truly passionate about what they do and their clients.

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

There was a lot of changes to their processes in the beginning, with them needing to grow and hire more staff and ensuring everything still got done. But once they sorted through that it was great, and overall it never drastically impacted the service I received.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive director for a company that produces plastic containers. My role focuses on improving sales.
 

What challenge were you trying to address with The Art of Business?

We needed to maximize our digital marketing, especially our website, blogs, and email. These channels were taking up a lot of my time.  
 

What was the scope of their involvement?

When I first started working with The Art of Business, I sent them my website and told them what I had in mind. They brought some really great ideas to the table, and they also helped me bring some of my own ideas to life. 

We meet every month to share new marketing ideas and plans, and they also create content for me. The Art of Business writes two emails and two blogs for me each month. 

What is the team composition?

I work most closely with Amanda (Owner) and Lauren (Client Manager), but I also communicate directly with their writer on occasion. I have worked with a few other team members from The Art of Business but mostly those three.

How did you come to work with The Art of Business?

I first heard about The Art of Business through a friend. I met with Amanda and she delivered me a proposal the next day — I was impressed by the proposal, so I decided to hire them. 

How much have you invested with them?

I invest around $2,000 per month with The Art of Business.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our collaboration started in April 2021, and we are still working together. 
 

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

I’ve already seen really good feedback around our new emails, even though we haven’t been running those campaigns long enough to see concrete traction. The blogs that they’ve written have also been impressive, and they’ve taken a different approach than I would have thought to use.

How did The Art of Business perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed well in project management. Lauren is really easy to communicate with — if I ever have any issues, their team gets right on it. The Art of Business has always met the deadlines I set, and they’re open to any changes that I request. We communicate primarily through email, and we also have a Zoom meeting once per month. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

What’s most impressive is their creativity. They always help me come up with innovative and novel ideas to promote my business online. They really think out of the box!

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’d be nice if our monthly meetings could be longer, considering how much we have to talk about. I meet with them for half an hour, but sometimes I wish that we could have the full hour. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come to the meetings prepared with ideas — a week or two before the call, start documenting any plans or requests on the documents that they create. The Art of Business is there to help maximize your marketing, so make sure to use them fully.
 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Paradis Valley Honey, a multi-generational apiary that produces raw Canadian honey.

What challenge were you trying to address with The Art of Business?

I was feeling overwhelmed by the number of digital tasks I was facing. I’ve been practicing self-taught media over the years but felt that my business had grown to the point where my own skillset no longer met my needs. The Art of Business helped us develop our digital media.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Art of Business completely redesigned our website. In addition to graphic design, they improved our social media content and entirely reconfigured our digital strategy. They improved our fundraising options to encourage and increase donations.

I share my creative thinking with them, and they bring my ideas to life. It’s never a cut-and-dry process because I’m a very fluid, creative thinker.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Amanda (Owner). They’ve grown since I started working with them, so their skillset has also expanded. Everyone on her team collaborates to deliver the final product, which is excellent.

How did you come to work with The Art of Business?

I found them through a Google search. It was important that I found a Canadian provider. I hopped on a discovery call with Amanda, and I felt that she was a great fit in the way that she communicated.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in March 2020, and we have an ongoing partnership.

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

They’ve executed work that would’ve taken me longer than a year, in just one month. We’ve seen substantive growth on our social media channels, which have seen increased engagement and interest in our business. We’re expecting to see big results from our fundraising launch in September, which we’re extremely excited about. Working with them has been a pleasure.

How did The Art of Business perform from a project management standpoint?

They really go above and beyond. Not only are they providing the services they promise, but I feel like they genuinely care about us, as people, in this business. Their communication is stellar, so I never have to follow up. Their response rates are amazing. In a world that demands flexibility and an ability to adapt, I truly appreciate how prompt they are.

Amanda uses Monday to collaborate. It keeps us organized, and I can always get a sense of where we are with different projects. It also keeps us all accountable and on track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d highlight their exceptional communication skills.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. I’d probably appreciate if we held more phone calls. I just feel that things are easier to clarify when you’re actually speaking to someone. That’s something I’d like to do more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having a clear budget is good, but try to be mindful of the work that needs to happen. I think people tend to underestimate the work that can be done, as well as the amount of time it can take to get things done.

I’d emphasize that they’re worth the investment because they provide high-quality work while maintaining an amazing standard of professionalism. I’d also make sure to select a provider who you communicate really well with.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a nutrition consulting company that provides intuitive eating coaching and support. 

What challenge were you trying to address with the Art of Business?

My business is relatively new, so I wanted to increase my online presence to make my company more known.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Art of Business provided marketing services including Facebook and Instagram ads, and email capture marketing. 

What is the team composition? 

I had one main point of contact, Amanda (owner). 

How did you come to work with the Art of Business?

I heard about them from another local business owner. She told me she saw success with her business. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $1,200 on the ads, emails, and SEO. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in November 2019, and the relationship is ongoing. We paused some services in December, but they recently provided SEO services through a site update.

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

The initial lead generation was pretty good. It was lower on the subscribed list though. I’ve been able to understand email marketing and PPC ads by working with them, so I can now manage the online marketing processes myself. 

As a result of their work, I now show up on the first page in search results when users are searching for local nutrition consultants. 

How did Better Quality Assurance perform from a project management standpoint?

We primarily used email and video calls to communicate. At the beginning of the project, Amanda shared a plan for how the services would be executed, which was helpful. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Amanda is passionate about her work and she wants her clients to succeed. Professionally, she is extremely knowledgeable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they could manage expectations a bit more at the beginning. We saw a lot of success with reaching people, but it was harder to convert leads into clients. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Discuss outcomes in your marketing contract so if the services are not delivering what you want, you can negotiate what to do.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the co-owners for Austen Jewellers, we have been in business for 33 years and own a Jewellery Store in Okotoks Alberta

For what projects/services did your company hire The Art of Business?

Marketing Strategy, Brand Development, SEO Services, Paid Advertising, Social Media, Strategy, Website Development, Email Marketing, Blogs, eCommerce, print materials etc....

How did you select this vendor?

I met Amanda years ago and when my dad and I decided we wanted to hire a marketing agency Amanda and The Art of Business were our first choice.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We do monthly strategy meetings, they send us analytics and performance reporting every month, they create content and send it for approval and run ads for us on Google, Facebook and Instagram.

What was the team composition?

I work with Amanda mostly and then she has her designers and copywriters create the work.

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

In 2020 when covid started and our store capacity was reduced to 5% we STILL saw an increase in sales and revenue - we were blown away and so grateful for the help of The Art of Business in such a stressful time.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It has been great, I have no complaints - everything is on time and the communication is awesome, we always work a few months ahead which I love because that takes the stress away from me!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I love the ideas we come up with together in our strategy meetings. they are creative and out of the box and really helps us to stand out in a very competitive industry.

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

Sometimes the reporting takes longer than I want to come to me but when it arrives Im so happy with the results it doesn't really matter.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a home care business that has been in operation since 2001- we have a staff of 47 and service South Calgary and the Foothills Area. Our goal is to help seniors stay safe in their homes for as long as possible - we offer HCA services, homemaking, housekeeping, companionship and more.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Art of Business?

The Art of Business helps me with everything, they created my brand, all of my print materials, they consult with me when I have questions or other marketing opportunities come up that I'm unsure about. They do all of my social media, have built my website, SEO services which have been incredible as well as paid advertising and job postings.

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

I wanted someone who knew what they were doing. Amanda has proven to be incredibly good at what she does.

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

I have been working with The Art of Business for many years, I have seen the business grow and get better and better every year and am so happy to have them helping my business out.

Amanda and I have a good relationship - I am able to call her anytime and she is there to talk marketing - she truly cares about the success of my business. I let them do their thing and place 100% of my trust in them - they do all of my social and advertizing and I get to run my very busy business.

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

I have had Client Managers work with me in the past but Amanda the CEO is generally my go-to - she gets things done!

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

I am getting 3-4 new clients a week - the SEO work they are doing and have done on my website has given me incredible results and growth. People comment all the time that they have seen my social posts and they really enjoy them.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective, I trust them 100% so the approvals are quick and I am able to focus on my business and let them do what they are amazing at. Everything is on time and very well done.

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

I am most impressed wth the results - like I said before I am getting 3-4 new clients a week, this kind of growth is unheard of and I am so happy to be working with The Art of Business.

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

Nothing that I can think of off the top of my head?

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of an interior design firm, in High River, AB. I realized with the changing atmosphere if social media and business that I needed support.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Art of Business?

Expanding my social media presence from Facebook to Instagram was the main focus, and having a plan and cohesiveness to my media look and feel.

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

I had heard good things and knew that the company was new and current. This is what I needed to expand my marketing to a broader demographic.

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

We first took a look at my image and how I wanted my brand and marketing to be represented. Then we set up a scope of styles of tiles to post, focusing on six different areas. It was explained that once I became more comfortable with these I could then expand that number. The last step was setting up some scheduling for keeping them organized.

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

Primarily I worked with Amanda Nelson, who at the time was just starting to expand her company and the number of employees. She has a very hands-on approach, and she and her team now focus on really knowing the client and customizing the work for their needs.

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

When we started I had very little knowledge of how to have any uniformity to my advertising/posts and virtually no knowledge of any of the design/composition and planning tools that were available to me. Now I have increased my audience, this resulting in being busier. That was the result that I wanted.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had shared planning platforms that we both worked from, that way the communication stayed flowing and nothing ever got missed. Communication was excellent.

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

They are always keeping up with the trends in media, which are constantly changing, yet keeping stability in their representation of who and what they are.

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

Not really. They are continuing to evolve and improve as necessary.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Managing Partner with the company. We are an import business focusing on B2B with wholesale and B2C with our retail. Retail includes within brick and mortar stores as well as eCommerce. We pride ourselves on being an ethical company practicing fair trade and using sustainable products.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Art of Business?

We have had The Art of Busines helping us from our inception - they have helped us with brand development, marketing strategy, they designed and developed our website, helped us with sales strategy, print material design for our posters and flyers, email marketing, social media and paid advertising and whatever else we need when it comes to marketing.

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted to support a local business and had heard great things about The Art of Business - upon connecting with Amanda we knew it was going to be the perfect fit for what we were looking for - she has a team of amazing experts and we were impressed with her portfolio.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The Art of Business is very organized, we had an initial client meeting and from there a plan was put together for ongoing month-to-month services. Deadlines are laid out and we get to see and approve everything before it is final. We are in communication monthly at the minimum but the team is available whenever we have needed them. They are extremely efficient.

What was the team composition?

We meet with Amanda the CEO once a month and are in constant communication with our client manager who then leads the graphic and copywriting team.

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

We have grown immensely and would credit The Art of B for a good portion of that, with our business being all over North America we need to have our email marketing and advertising on point. Our sales grow every year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We haven't had any issues that I can recall.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of the work. We are constantly blown away by their creativity.

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

Not that I can recall off the top of my head.