A.wordsmith

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of VersAccounts. We produce business software for 1.5 million globally-focused small companies. We help our rapidly growing client base build modern companies on our flagship platform, which allows even the smallest business to easily and rapidly achieve their full potential in a connected, changing world.

For what projects/services did your company hire A.wordsmith?

We hired them for PR.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to establish ourselves as a thought leader in the business systems market while reaching out to our target customer base.

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through word of mouth, interviews, and reference checks. They weren't familiar with our space, but we were impressed with the research and preparation they put into the interviews. They put us at ease.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They handle press and analyst relations, media placement, and speaking opportunities. They also apply for awards on our behalf, create our content, and execute our social media strategy.

What was the team composition?

Their principals and senior team members work on our projects.

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

Leading analysts and publications have produced meaty coverage of our company, products, and customers. We've won multiple awards, substantially improved our social media presence, and boosted lead generation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It's excellent. We hold meetings every two weeks to share progress updates and finalize plans. They send us an agenda and background material ahead of each meeting.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They're a highly experienced team that can execute without guidance. They've leveraged their experience and enthusiasm to help us become experts in our market and understand our influencers and messaging.

I've spent more than 30 years bringing products to market and targeting a broad range of customers from individuals. A.wordsmith is one of the best companies I have ever worked with. If you need a team that works fast and delivers high-quality work at a reasonable price, then you really can have it all. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of any.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Haatzama Marketing, an agency that provides demand gen and revenue services.

What challenge were you trying to address with A.wordsmith?

We didn’t have an in-house communication or media team, and we wanted to get more local and regional press attention.

What was the scope of their involvement?

A.wordsmith gave us a questionnaire to fill out about our company, and then we had a kickoff meeting to discuss the answers. We talked about our brand and what we wanted to achieve with the partnership.

After the initial questionnaire, A.wordsmith wrote a few articles and edited some written by our in-house team. They’ve also helped craft and brainstorm numerous speaking abstracts.

What is the team composition?

We have two primary points of contact.

How did you come to work with A.wordsmith?

We met them through a technology association. They shared some of our core values and were willing to co-create with us, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $3,000 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2017, and the work is ongoing.

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

We have quarterly metrics, such as how many speaking pitches we want to submit, how many media mentions we want to secure, etc. A.wordsmith hits the goals every quarter.

How did A.wordsmith perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re communicative and document everything. After meetings, they send follow-up notes that capture the actions and next steps we talked about. We mainly use Google Docs to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re responsive both in how quickly they answer questions and also how eager and willing they are to work on projects. They always have a positive attitude whenever I ask them to do something, and they’re willing to adapt to the needs and processes of their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and president of With Love, a nonprofit that serves children in foster care from ages 0–6 in the greater Portland area. We deliver gear, toys, and clothing, all free of charge to their front-door step.

For what projects/services did your company hire A.wordsmith?

We needed help with updating our website and making it more user-friendly.

What were your goals for this project?

We basically wanted to make our content more concise and the UX easy, as well as promote what we do to for donors and volunteers.

How did you select this vendor?

A.wordsmith came highly recommended. We had an initial meeting with their team and knew right away that they understood our mission and needs.

Describe the project in detail.

Together, we looked over the current website to find problem points and create cleaner content that would create more of a connection to our audience. They then moved on to create a visually-compelling website.

What was the team composition?

They assigned four people to help create content. Three members of our team were also involved.

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

We just launched the website, so there isn't much we can tell yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was so easy. They guided us and we were quick to reply, so it was seamless. They were a joy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team’s quality, kindness, and talent are outstanding.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a customer success manager at an online marketing company.

For what projects/services did your company hire A.wordsmith?

We engaged A.wordsmith to help us provide improved ongoing digital communication plans for many of our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to identify opportunities for clients to showcase their thought leadership and industry expertise.

How did you select this vendor?

Our team researched a variety of potential vendors to partner with through online searches and professional recommendations.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The A.wordsmith team offers us a general intake process to learn about a client's unique needs, expertise, and goals. Once that's established, they begin researching potential opportunities.

What was the team composition?

We have dedicated account managers, as well as a lead supervisor, to oversee all accounts.

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

We've worked with the A.wordsmith team for years now and are very happy with our relationship. They can bring new ideas to help expand a client's perspective and opportunities.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have established a productive workflow to help us manage ongoing campaigns from start to finish.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team’s resourcefulness, responsiveness, and flexibility have been tremendous assets over the years.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we've been working together successfully for years. We hope to continue to do so and help refine our working relationship for even more success.