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BIG BRAINS in a bite sized boutique

4.9
9 reviews

We call ourselves a Creative Consultancy. Why? Because we don’t come in touting ads or digital or social or whatever. In each initial meeting, we simply listen.

We ask about your business objectives, buyers, budgets, and brand. In this way, our strategic and creative solutions are right for your needs, not ours. The tactics are customized, and may even be different from what you first considered.

That breadth of ability, and the right insight behind it, is made possible via Bandwidth’s big brain talent and big brand backgrounds, all housed in a nimble boutique. Your very own SWAT team.

With B to B, B to C, and the ABC’s of client work from AT&T to BP to COKE, this executive crew has experience that’s both broad and deep. So now we’ll quickly talk about who we are. But know that we’d rather talk about what you do. And how our team can help make the doing easier.

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$25,000+
 
Undisclosed
 
2 - 9
 Founded
2005
Show all +
Chicago, IL
headquarters
  • 600 W. Van Buren St. Suite 210
    Chicago, IL 60607
    United States
    312.772.6584

Portfolio

Key clients: 
  • VillageMD,
  • Guaranteed Rate,
  • Abbvie,
  • WRS,
  • Incingo,
  • Illinois Technology Association,
  • Grubhub
Gore Image

Gore

BRAND CAMPAIGN INCLUDING TRADE SHOW DISPLAY, TRADE PRINT, DIRECT MAIL

Built on awareness and innovation of GORE-TEX parent company to brand a new division in PharmBio manufacturing filters, membranes, and other plastic parts. Successfully grouped a number of unlike offerings, in relation to the buyers, by stressing mutual imagination, that increased sales leads 2x, and doubled revenue, all in 12 short months.

Ticketsnow Image

Ticketsnow

INTEREST BUILDING EVENT TO INCREASE BRAND AWARENESS AND BUILD CUSTOMER DATABASE

We gained buzz and brand presence in a key market, by promotionally leveraging the US Open ticketing relationship.  By reaping the benfits of trained actors, we were able to drive home the brand message and benefits while collecting nearly 10,000 high-value email address on-site.  Winning consumers’ names were put on US open video boards,

…
adding that celebrity spin that comes with front row.
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ServSafe Image

ServSafe

BRAND CAMPAIGN INCLUDING TRADE PRINT & SLICKS, DIRECT MAIL, COLLATERAL

Built a new look for the oldest restaurant server training programs in U.S. that helped to gain presence and generate pride, externally and internally. Full-blown integrated campaign offered iconographic look, with flexibility, in what clients deemed the ‘greatest marketing solve {they’d} ever had.’

GrubHub #GrubLove Image

GrubHub #GrubLove

TRADE & CONSUMER CAMPAIGN INCLUDING IN-STORE & ONLINE PROMOTION

Delivered super-simple social media/in-store promotion to grow GrubHub business efforts by developing a restaurant network partner program. #grublove got consumers to shoot their fave food through our hearts, to post socially for a future deal, while restaurants get great recognition.

Veteran Beer Company Image

Veteran Beer Company

BRAND CAMPAIGN INCLUDING PRINT ADS, ON & OFF PREMISE SIGNAGE/SUPPORT

Leveraged non-profit, ‘all-Veteran-owned’ brand using respect, humor, and a tip of the bottle cap to Vets hard-fought efforts to shift from serving our country to serving a great product. Now that’s how to stand tall in the crowded craft beer market, private!

Guaranteed Rate Field "Sweet Home Chicago" Image

Guaranteed Rate Field "Sweet Home Chicago"

SPONSORSHIP CAMPAIGN INCLUDING PRINT ADS, STADIUM SIGNAGE, ACTIVATION PROMOTIONS

Made a ‘home’ for Guaranteed Rate’s arrow logo, hyping the launch of field naming rights with the White Sox.  Proved a perfect pitch for two great locals, reminding us all that there’s no place like…Chicago.

Reviews

4.9
9 reviews
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Marketing Campaign Dev for Illinois Tech Organization

"The hands-on attention we received was great."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Mar. - June 2016
Project summary: 

Bandwith Marketing Group helped an Illinois tech organization create and launch a campaign. They handed over creative concepts and templates to flesh out through email, direct mail, and social media.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Julia Kanouse
SVP, Membership & Marketing, Illinois Technology Association
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Bandwith Marketing Group's work helped the client generate a substantial number of leads that resulted in ten new membership sales, which were significant. They had a good workflow developing creative concepts. The team went above and beyond to provide quality creative concepts.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

When I worked with Bandwidth, I was the SVP of Membership and Marketing at the Illinois Technology Association a member-based organization focused on growing the Illinois tech community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We were looking for a boutique creative agency that could work within our limited budget. We needed help with concepting. While we had a designer on staff that could execute on the campaign, we didn't have the big picture creative thinking to drive both the story and the visual elements.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a break-through marketing campaign to help drive membership sales. We wanted to think outside the box and do something that would draw attention, serving both to establish and reinforce our new brand and drive sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We talked to several different vendors in the Chicago area that had been recommended to us by our members. We shared our budget and talked about the goals of the campaign with each vendor. We found Bandwidth was the right fit for our project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After we selected Bandwidth, we had a series of discovery meetings where they were able to ask about our goals and understand the essence of what we were trying to convey with our brand. They came back and presented three concepts for our review. Once we landed on one that we thought worked, we continued to refine it with them. Because we were taking on execution of the campaign, they then handed over the creative concepts, templates, etc. so that we could flesh it out through email, direct mail and social.

What was the team composition?

I worked primarily with the owner / principal of the firm. He pulled his team in but most of my interactions with with him directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to generate a substantial number of leads from the campaign, resulting directly in 10 new membership sales. While it may sound small, those 10 additional sales were significant given the size of the organization.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Bandwidth developed the creative concepts and provided us all the assets so that we could flow them into our properties and systems directly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The hands-on attention we received was great. The concepts they presented all met our needs - it was very tough to choose. In my previous experience, agencies worked hard one concept they know you'll love and then they also present two "okay" ones. Bandwidth went above and beyond to provide three equally strong creative concepts for us to choose from.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of. It was a pleasure working them and I hope to have the chance to do so again in the future.

5.0
Overall Score Not only do they help me meet my goals, they are fun to work with!
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Always worked around my schedule
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They worked within our very limited budget
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Creative, efficient and easy to work with
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    Already have - many times!

Branding for Social Services Provider

"Their creative thinking and analytical framework for assessing different options impressed us."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Jan. 2016 - June 2017
Project summary: 

Bandwidth Marketing Group provided a marketing and branding strategy for a social services provider. After a comprehensive analysis of the market, the team created and implemented a strategy.

The Reviewer
 
501-1,000 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Scott Humphrey
CEO, One Hope United
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The engagement helped the client ensure that their company and products stand out in the market. Bandwidth Marketing Group establishes an effective workflow, consistently communicating with the client. The team is innovative, analytical, and hard-working.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

One Hope United is a diversified social services provider. At the time of Bandwidth's engagement, I was the President & CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We hired Bandwidth to help us think about a different brand and marketing strategy for our 'fee for service' early childhood education centers.

What were your goals for this project?

Determine the value and validity of a potential new brand for this line of business and assess the costs/benefits of maintaining an additional brand identity.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I knew Bandwidth's work with a couple of other clients and also through a historical relationship with one of the key leaders int the business.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They did a comprehensive analysis of the 'for profit' and non-profit early childhood education marketplace, including services offerings and varying degrees of brand strategy/alignment/identity.

What was the team composition?

The team was led by Rob Albertson and he has a couple of associates (whose names I don't recall) that did all of the work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They helped us develop a new brand identity 'sproutED' along with differentiated marketing strategies, measurables and associated analytics.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent workflow and communication between the companies.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creative thinking and analytical framework for assessing different options impressed us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

none

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Branding and Logo Redesign for a Nonprofit

"They over performed for us as a nonprofit on a limited budget. We were thrilled with the outcome."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
2014 - 2015
Project summary: 

As part of a rebranding, Bandwidth Marketing Group created a new logo and brand messaging, including a positioning statement and an elevator speech.

The Reviewer
 
Chicago, Illinois
Vice President of Partnerships, Nonprofit
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The new branding received positive feedback from key stakeholders. Bandwidth Marketing Group accepted constructive input well but also brought creative ideas of their own to the table at a reasonable value. Executives demonstrated a vested interest in long-term outcomes and customer needs.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I worked with Bandwidth Marketing Group when I was VP of partner engagement for a nonprofit organization that facilitates volunteer opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We were several months out from a large breakfast event that featured the mayor of Chicago and several hundred corporate leaders. The pressure was on to make the event a success. We needed help in order to have a really strong presence at this breakfast.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially thought we just needed help with the breakfast. However, as we started working together we realized that we had to address a bigger problem. As a typical nonprofit, the organization lacked fresh or modern branding. It also didn't have a unified message because it wanted to be all things to all people. So we expanded the scope of work with Bandwidth Marketing Group to help us modernize our brand image and positioning. They updated our brand messaging to be more crisp and unified. They also did a logo redesign. They worked on a positioning statement, a rallying cry, and an elevator speech.

They helped us launch the new brand in two important ways. One was the breakfast event, which focused on the importance of volunteerism. They also helped us launch our brand to the volunteer leaders who drive our engagement. The organization facilitates several hundred volunteer experiences every month. It was critical that the volunteer leaders not only understood the new brand positioning and messaging, but were able to represent the organization effectively out in the field.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was the managing director.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We issued an RFP and we interviewed several agencies. Bandwidth Marketing Group was recommended by someone that I worked with previously. They had the strongest presentation, pitch, and delivery.

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from 2014–2015. There were busy and slow periods within that year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The corporate breakfast was a big success, which was so important for the organization. It was kind of like a coming out party for the organization. Even though we’d been around for 20 years, the brand was tired and dusty. The breakfast generated a lot of philanthropic support for the organization. It also increased engagement with corporations who wanted us to design volunteer experiences for their employees. Volunteers at our projects were more satisfied with their experience because we had stronger, more engaged volunteer leaders.

How did Bandwidth Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The managing director was great. He was highly communicative and very direct. If ever there was a hiccup, we'd always have a conversation about it. They were able to finish on a budget because of that candor. They were very efficient. We used phone and email to communicate, but also had a lot of in-person meetings. I think those were critical because of the visual nature of brand work.

The scope increase actually happened organically. They always were good at listening to us. They certainly brought thoughts to the table, but they didn't just come in and say we think you also need to do X, Y, and Z. It was more a process of us working together, seeing what was possible, and deciding to expand our original scope. I was so pleased with the process. They overperformed for us as a nonprofit on a limited budget. We were thrilled with the outcome.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What I love about Bandwidth Marketing Group is that it's comprised of people who have experience at big agencies. They combine that credibility and those big ideas with small shop accessibility. Their most senior level people want to get their hands dirty and are highly engaged. I worked with the managing director more than anyone else at the firm. That's just something that you don't get in a big agency.

Any advice for potential customers?

Expect a highly-engaged team from the top down. Embrace that, and take advantage of all the benefits that come with that style.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Branding for Child Development Nonprofit

“The new name says it all and shows what good marketing can do.”

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
July 2017 - Mar. 2018
Project summary: 

Bandwidth Marketing Group helped branding and naming initiatives for a childhood learning center. They boosted the visual identity through research and customer insight focus groups.

The Reviewer
 
501-1000 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
SVP Marketing & Communications, Nonprofit
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Based upon audience perception research, the new name has a 66% positive response rate, well above the old name’s 18%. Bandwidth was a good partner, strong in project management and responsiveness. They were conscientious of budgetary constraints and delivered quickly.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a nonprofit that provides a wide range of programs that help children and families reach their full potential. We focus on child development and learning, family services, and placement and residential programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

An early childhood learning center of ours was moving, which gave us the opportunity to rebrand the program and make it more child-forward. We wanted to engage with a team to improve our branding strategies and visual identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us with the naming initiative and a new logo. We had a very limited budget and they were very considerate of our needs. They were upfront about scoping the project and did some research for us on customer insight around early learning. That included a focus group. Then, we had a brainstorming session for the name before they built our visual identity.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three different people there.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

They were recommended by a colleague. We met with them and liked their work and their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $15,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2017. We just finished in March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Based upon our audience perception research, the name they came up with is much better received than the old name. The old name had 4 positive responses out of 22, while the new name had 14 positive responses out of 21. According to the focus group, the new name says it all and shows what good marketing can do.

How did Bandwidth Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was a key strength for them and they always responded to our questions the same day. They accommodated our scheduling needs and delivered quickly. I never had to wait for them or set deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were a good partner, not just a vendor. They were really invested in the project and weren’t just trying to get money from us. They were really conscientious of our budget and helped us get the most out of their services. We wouldn’t have thought of the name they came up with and their involvement definitely led us to a better result.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. There were things outside of our budget that we would have liked their help on, but that’s not the same.

5.0
Overall Score Their staff is very warm and friendly. They’re fun to collaborate with and provide good strategies and positive end results.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They exceeded our expectations and were understanding when we had scheduling issues on our side.
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Their costs were higher than our normal vendors, but they worked within our budget.
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They provided high-quality options and were great collaborators.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Branding for Investment Boutique

"I had confidence when they said they’d get something done, it was going to get done.."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. - July 2017
Project summary: 

In support of a business launch, Bandwidth Marketing offered branding services to evolve a startup mindset into a client-friendly tone. The work involved naming, positioning statements, a website, and more. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
President, Financial Services Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The new brand is a great differentiator from large competitors, and it has received great feedback from within the industry. Bandwidth's team communicated well, and a great project launch led to very little need for extensive feedback. They also adapted easily to changing project elements. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a registered investment advisory firm registered in the state of Illinois. We’re a startup that began in May 2017.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth?

We contacted Bandwidth 6 weeks before our inception to get their input. When starting a business, there's a mindset of getting the business up and running as quickly as possible in order to survive, but that's not the image we wanted our clients to see. We needed an outside agency to help us translate our initial goals into something much more client-friendly and out of the fray of the "starting a business" mindset. We needed help with branding, mission, vision, values, website, and overall how we visually and emotionally try to represent the facts of what we’re doing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had discussions about naming. At the time, we had some name ideas, but wanted Bandwidth's input on other ideas. Then, they helped with our logo, iconography, and color scheme. All of that was tied in with their input into our mission, vision, values. The website was an eventual deliverable that we wanted to get done after we had a logo for business cards and stationary.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth?

I have known Rob [Founder, Bandwidth] for 20 years. On many occasions, I have reached out to him to ask for his input into various branding questions. I’ve always been impressed with his perspective and feedback. This was one of the first times we could pay him his services.

We considered a couple of other companies for parts of this project, but one of the things we liked about Bandwidth is that they had the flexibility to help us in a number of different areas. They led us through the process.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April 2017 until July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had very positive feedback about the name, the logo, and the website from our clients. Our peers in the industry say how on-point and professional it appears, how distinctive it is, and how different it is from some of our larger competitors, which is exactly what we were going for.

How did Bandwidth perform from a project management standpoint?

Their performance was terrific. We did everything either over conference calls or various conferencing calling platforms where we could screen share. The timing was efficient, and their follow through was also good. They seem to have a very tight team. When you talk to one person, the other people seem to know what’s going on immediately and can do the fulfillment. We were very pleased. We also had a couple of projects that popped up midway through the engagement. Bandwidth was good at adapting what we were working on to fill the additional needs that we had.

We had a pretty good launch for the project in terms of our being able to verbalize what we’re trying to accomplish and their understanding of it. Our back-and-forth on the design work was very efficient. We had some feedback on stuff and they came back with some new ideas. They were very receptive. We wanted someone who’s done it before, who can look at what we think with fresh eyes and give us feedback about how someone who’s seen your ideas for the first time will respond. We put a lot of faith in their feedback to develop something that was based on our input, but taking it to a higher level.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I felt as if we knew somebody who was taking care of us individually as opposed to two corporations working together. Our communication was very warm and informal. I had confidence when they said they’d get something done, it was going to get done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were terrific.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Their turnaround time was very quick.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They delivered an awful lot for not a lot of investment.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They delivered what we wanted within our budget, and probably actually a bit more than what we asked for.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would gladly recommend them to someone who asked. I’ve already recommended them to two other people who were starting similar businesses and asked what we did.

Website Development for Investment Management Firm

"They are used to dealing with startups and entrepreneurial people, and that was an incremental benefit that we enjoyed."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Mar. - June 2017
Project summary: 

Using WordPress, Bandwidth Marketing Group built a promotional website to build brand awareness. The team added password protection, provided visuals, and edited the provided website copy. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Thomas Cole
Co-Founder, Distillate Capital Management
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The website received positive feedback from first users, and there have been no issues with reliability. Bandwidth Marketing took ownership of the project timeline and kept all parties on track. Their suggestions and end-product created a foundation for communicating more broadly offline. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Distillate Capital Partners is a startup investment management company, and I am one of three co-founders. We've all had a legacy of being involved in the institutional money management business in Chicago. We intend to offer a new product set that is tilted towards quantitative investment solutions for people that might alternatively be buying passive index funds.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We wanted to start a website from scratch, none of us has that expertise. So we sought out Bandwidth because I knew of their marketing expertise. I wasn't sure that they would be willing to tackle a website. They were very much willing to do it and have done it in the past.

The website is meant to display some of the work that we've done and to build awareness of our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had some ideas of what we wanted. We didn't want it to be the typical website where people pictures were on the first page. We wanted to have a connection to Chicago. Bandwidth Marketing took some time to understand who we were and what the real foundation of our business was, which was about being back to basics and the soundness of architecture. So, we had some concept of what was important to us, but Bandwidth's team took our ideas and ran with them. They found us photos that we could make use of and came up with a layout of the website. They provided wireframes and designs, and then developed the website.

They made use of a catalog of available website templates that existed on WordPress. They showed us a number of alternatives that are out there. We picked one of those, and we started from there.

The only complex feature that we needed was to put a password protection on the website, so that people would need to contact us to have full access to the site.

We wrote most of the copy, and they did a nice job editing it for us. We were responsible for the content. It's fairly technical. So we wouldn't have expected them to be the creators of that.

What is the team dynamic?

principle took a personal interest in the work, and we had two other team members assigned to the work.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

I’ve known Rob Albertson for 14 years, and I knew of the work that Rob had done. I had talked him about our branding, as well. So when they said they could do this project, we didn't look for competitive offers.

How much have you invested with them?

It was just under $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted between March and June of this year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, feedback has been good. People are generally very interested in what we're doing. There's interest in our company and our reputation in the industry, and the website, to those people that we have opened it to, has certainly helped sparked an interest.

There have been no issues whatsoever in terms of the reliability or stability of the website.

How did Bandwidth Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. They actually pushed us to be more concise in the way we were communicating. Their choice of some stock photography actually provided us some incremental structure around the way we talk about what we do. It's very logical.

They also were very interested in pushing us at the margins to think about things, some of which we accepted and some which we thought were a little bit too far afield for the financial community. The fact that we went through some of those options that they provided was a really good exercise for us to consider the way we were presenting ourselves.

In terms of deadlines and communicating, they often actually kept us on track. They were largely responsible for us getting it done as quickly as we did. It would have taken longer had they not kept us on task.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rob is a very creative guy and he's a great listener. He took time to understand what we were doing, and he had enough of a background or perspective on the marketplace. He heard where we wanted to be different and made that happen. He created the website and helped us focus on the way we were presenting ourselves from the outside world in a more general way. So, it was a really good experience given their vantage point.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They are used to dealing with startups and entrepreneurial people, and that was an incremental benefit that we enjoyed. There was a tendency on our side to want to be a little too detail-oriented, and they did a very good job of balancing our desire to get involved as well as telling us where we should leave it to them.

5.0
Overall Score The scored in every kind of metric for us.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were responsible for us getting this done as quickly as it was done.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    When I was part of a larger organization, we spoke with a partner for similar work that would have cost 10 times the amount of money.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They delivered on time, and the quality and quantity exceeded our expectations.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    Bandwidth is one of the easiest references I would ever make.

Multiple Marketing Campaigns for Food Marketplace App

"Their creative conceptualizing process is by far, the most superior thing they offer."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
July 2013 - Sept. 2015
Project summary: 

Bandwidth Marketing provided creative campaigns to engage both sides of a two-sided platform. A noticeable campaign was customizable print collateral that drove customers to support the brand on social media. 

The Reviewer
 
501–1000 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Richard McClellan
Group Creative Director, GrubHub
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The social media campaign far exceeded expectations and was repeated, providing value to all stakeholders of the marketplace. Bandwidth Marketing’s creative work is incredible, and the team follows through with production. The team has experience in the industry with a consistent eye on innovation. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was head of creative at GrubHub, which is an online and mobile food-ordering company dedicated to connecting diners with local takeout restaurants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

Bandwidth has helped with multiple projects at GrubHub. The largest one was when we were trying to come up with a concept that would engage both diners and restaurants alike. GrubHub is a two-sided marketplace, and we want to keep both the customers and the restaurants happy. It’s a delicate balance, and we had never figured out a way of bringing both together in one promotional program.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bandwidth came up with several different concepts, one of which we liked immediately. It was a program called “Love My Grub”. Restaurants were able to customize a small brochure. The front cover was a photo frame shaped like a heart with #lovemygrub on it. Patrons of the restaurant were encouraged to take a photo of their food through the frame, which was imprinted with the restaurant’s name. Patrons were also encouraged to post their photos, and the restaurant with the most posts got their restaurant featured on a billboard and a marketing email.

We didn’t have any idea of what do to, and Bandwidth came up with the whole concept. We had them do all the design, writing, and collateral for this campaign. They handed over the production files to us, and we had it printed. The idea and execution were completely theirs.

The Love My Grub campaign was centered on social media, especially Facebook and Instagram. It helped build a substantial and strong Instagram presence, where GrubHub didn’t really have one in the past. They accomplished the goal of getting a lot of content up there quickly.

Bandwidth has worked on three or four campaigns for GrubHub. They helped a lot with ideation, and I think that’s their real strong point. We relied on them for conceptualizing, which consisted of taking a business goal and coming up with ideas against it. They developed an idea for a TV campaign and wrote the scripts for it as well. Another project was geared to restaurants in New York and included a lot of tactical executions.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

I had worked with their founder, Rob, when he was with another agency quite a few years ago. I knew he had opened his own agency and we reestablished contact. I brought them in for one project, and that worked so well that I brought them in for more.

How much have you invested with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

GrubHub invested probably between $50,000 and $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the summer of 2013, and the engagement ended in August or September of 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The Love My Grub campaign was incredibly well received. It performed better than we thought it would. We actually ran that campaign three different times because it was so successful. Initially, it was a six-to-eight-week promotion. It worked so well that more restaurants wanted to participate, so it got bigger each time. The end result was a large engagement, getting people interested and getting restaurants to pass out collateral branded with their name and GrubHub’s, so both benefited from the awareness. The Instagram presence went crazy.

The quality of their work is great. It’s always incredibly well thought through. Their creative conceptualizing process is by far, the most superior thing they offer. They follow through with design and creating mechanicals. Their production and copywriting were all solid as well.

How did Bandwidth Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a dedicated project manager and I was in daily contact with her. I wasn’t able to respond quickly enough with feedback at times, so I held them up. We added them to our Basecamp, and that’s how we all communicated.

What did you find most impressive about Bandwidth Marketing Group?

I think Rob himself is unique. Not only has he been in the industry for a while and has a lot of experience, but he’s also on the cusp of everything that’s new. That’s a great combination that I love to tap into. He’s up to date on new media that has smart sensibilities behind it and ways to leverage social with traditional aspects. He’s the kind of person everyone likes to be in a meeting with, and that helps a lot too.

Are there any areas Bandwidth Marketing Group could improve?

I’ve never had an issue with late work, or work not up to par. However, I always have the question in the back of my head of how much I can give them before they hit their capacity. So, scaling the business may be a focus area for them.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    There were times they needed to move a meeting, but I don’t have anything that stands out.
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re not the cheapest, nor the most expensive.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    I base that on how well the Love My Grub program went.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’ve referred them already.

Creative Services for Financial Services Company

"If you’re running a digital campaign, you’re getting more clicks and more calls with the ideas that Bandwidth runs."

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4.5

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Aug. 2015 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Bandwidth Marketing offered creative services for print ads and TV commercials. The team also worked with sales teams on how to message the product.  and provided website content and print assets. 

The Reviewer
 
1001-5000 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
VP of Marketing, Guaranteed Rate
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Three ads brought forward by Bandwidth Marketing was run for 6-8 months. Their creative work was able to condense a 45-minute conversation into a compelling 30-second commercial. Though they could expand in digital capabilities, their imagery, copy, and designs were each above average. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Guaranteed Rate is a mortgage originator for residential loans. They were the first organization to launch a digital mortgage platform, making the process of getting a loan easier and faster. I was VP of marketing when I was employed with them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We reached out to Bandwidth for creative solutions to attract customers to our company. We had our own creative team and could produce our own work, but Bandwidth Marketing's team was a younger, creative group that could do amazing designs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did a print ad campaign to attract new customers and get them to refinance through us. In addition, we did a round of TV commercials with our spokesperson. We gave them the specs for the commercial and they came up with creative ideas on how to do it. They were great at helping us internally as well helping our sales people with ways to push digital mortgage. A lot of the loan originators are old-school guys who are used to paper and face-to-face contact. Bandwidth was able to show them how the new process can make their lives better. They helped us sell the free resource we have for real estate agents and gave us ideas for events. Bandwidth also assisted us with the content of our website and the print assets we needed.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

One of our employees had worked with Bandwidth Marketing's principal at a previous company. She knew the quality of their work and that they could scale up or down depending on our needs. We brought them in for a meeting, and they understood immediately what we wanted. The team had great ideas and didn’t try to work with us on areas we already had covered ourselves.

How much have you invested with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We spent between $50,000 and $200,000 over the course of the relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in August 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our previous agency of record but they were fired because none of their direct response ads had a positive ROI. When we brought Bandwidth Marketing on board, we ran four of their ideas. Three of those ideas were in rotation for 6–8 months, which is a long time for a direct response ad.

The ideas Bandwidth gave us were exactly the quality we wanted. They were creative about turning a 45-minute conversation on why a digital mortgage is better into a 30-second commercial. Other agencies we worked with wouldn’t give us the idea to produce ourselves, but Bandwidth allowed us to do that.

How did Bandwidth Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We spoke with them weekly. They were always on time with the deliverables.

What did you find most impressive about Bandwidth Marketing Group?

The quality of their ideas is what sets them apart. That includes imagery, copy, and campaign ideas. They always come up with something brilliant and creative. If you’re running a digital campaign, you’re getting more clicks and more calls with the ideas that Bandwidth runs.

Are there any areas Bandwidth Marketing Group could improve?

I wish they had a little more digital capability themselves because I would love to hand it all over to them. That’s a small thing, and it’s normal for creative agencies to not have that capability.

4.5
Overall Score They’ve been great. The price and quality of the work you get far offset the fact that they’re a small agency.
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were good at getting things done on time. Their turnaround time was amazing even when we needed something quickly.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    The quality of the thinking is from a big, expensive agency because of Rob’s past history, but you’re getting a bargain on the price.
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    It’s hard to say that anyone is perfect. The quality of the ideas was second to none.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’ve already referred them. They do great work.

Branding and Marketing for Medical Device Company

"Bandwidth Marketing Group made us look much larger and more professional than other companies of our size."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
June 2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Bandwidth Marketing provides branding strategy to help grow a national market presence. Their services also include web development and design and a lead generation campaign. They are a key marketing partner. 

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Kevin Odle
Managing Partner, WR Specialists
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Bandwidth Marketing’s materials are a notch above the collateral of industry-leading competitors, and the branding work showcases the products’ differentiators. The team takes full responsibility for each project and provides excellent work even without extensive experience in an industry. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is WRS, Work Rehabilitation Specialists. We specialize in orthopedic patient healing, helping patients to heal more quickly and comfortably after undergoing orthopedic surgery. I’m one of the co-owners and the managing partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We were looking to scale the business from a regional to a national player. We decided we needed to improve our branding strategy, logo, and web presence. We wanted to ensure we could capitalize on the opportunities that were out there in social media and related areas as well. It was really a ‘soup to nuts’ branding opportunity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bandwidth Marketing Group first helped us develop a website. The site they developed made us look a lot bigger than we actually were at that time and made us look like a national provider, which was our aspiration. It reflected where we wanted to be versus where we were at that time. 

Bandwidth Marketing Group has worked on a number of campaigns with us. We outsource all our marketing to their team, so there are a number of promotional pieces. As we introduce new products, we outsource the corresponding sales and marketing brochures to them. Bandwidth Marketing Group has done an excellent job with branding and creating consistency throughout our products.

We’ve also had individual marketing campaigns, such as one that helps us set up pharmacies in surgeon’s offices. Bandwidth came up with a tagline for that campaign which was very identifiable and impactful. This has given us brand recognition, and it’s had some stickiness to it in terms of customer recognition.

Recently, Bandwidth Marketing Group has also done a lead generation campaign for us, utilizing social media outlets to help us contact and connect with surgeons who are interested in hearing more about our in-office pharmacy.

Bandwidth has also worked on projects for other companies in our group. We’re starting a new orthopedic billing company, and they’ve done the same type of work with all our different entities.

How did you come to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

Bandwidth Marketing Group was referred to us. We initially started with some logo and web work, and I was very pleased. As our business continued to grow, we got to the point where we could probably have brought our marketing in-house. However, due to their creativity and ability to grasp our business quickly, we felt we would be better served by continuing to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group.

How much have you invested with Bandwidth Marketing Group?

We’ve invested $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in June of 2014. Although that project is complete, we continue to work with Bandwidth Marketing Group for all our marketing and branding needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Marketing is often a hard thing to measure. The feedback from our sales team is that the marketing material created by Bandwidth is a notch above what industry-leading companies have. That's the greatest testament to their work. Bandwidth Marketing Group made us look much larger and more professional than other companies of our size.

The branding work they’ve done for us really showcases what differentiates our company. Every time we take an idea to Bandwidth Marketing Group, we’re constantly amazed. They have the ability to take one small idea and run with it. What they provide in return is always elevated when compared to what we initially expected. Bandwidth Marketing Group surpasses our expectations at every turn.

How did Bandwidth Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Bandwidth Marketing Group's project management is very impressive. In my experience, the client is generally the one pushing the deadline. Bandwidth works with deadlines, and they push us toward those deadlines. They make sure we get what we want when we need it. The discipline they have around the milestones needed to complete a project is something that sets them apart. The timeframe we agree to is somewhat gospel to them.

We’ve used Google Docs during the collaboration, as well as text messaging and phone calls. Bandwidth Marketing Group makes sure they’re connecting with us and getting the responses they need. We never wonder whose court the ball is in. They take responsibility for the project.

What did you find most impressive about Bandwidth Marketing Group?

Bandwidth Marketing Group didn’t have a lot of experience in our industry, but they were able to give us what we needed and made us look professional. That’s been impressive to us. We’ve worked with several members of the team at Bandwidth, and each person is as good as the last one. The consistency and high performance of their team make the working relationship good.

Are there any areas Bandwidth Marketing Group could improve?

No, everything has been great.

5.0
Overall Score We couldn’t be more pleased with the way the creativeness, timeliness, and fiscal aspects come together.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Bandwidth Marketing Group will not let things linger. They always get in touch with us and keep the project progressing.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Bandwidth Marketing Group is more cost-effective than hiring an internal team. I think they’re very competitively priced.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Bandwidth Marketing Group provides quality work, timeliness, creativity, and cost-effectiveness, which all come together in a finished form that is impressive.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I never hesitate to recommend Bandwidth Marketing Group to people in our industry.