Black Propeller

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the administrator for PR and marketing at a secondary-only school district.

What challenge were you trying to address with Black Propeller?

We were trying to raise awareness about our new school and our district as a whole. Additionally, we wanted to increase our enrollment numbers.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Black Propeller helps us with PPC advertising. They primarily work on optimizing our Google Ads efforts. Additionally, the team writes ad copy and creates landing pages for us.

What is the team composition?

I've worked closely with John (CEO), Mary (Paid Search Manager), and Annie (Account Director).

How did you come to work with Black Propeller?

We did some research and came across them. We looked at multiple vendors, but we liked that Black Propeller had comprehensive services. Our team is small, so having an all-in-one solution was very helpful to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in July 2021, and it's ongoing.

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

We've been able to fill our new school very quickly. Although we did have some other advertising efforts, a significant number of leads came in through the team's PPC advertising efforts.

In terms of creativity, they do a great job of thinking outside the box. Their work is truly valuable to us.

How did Black Propeller perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is excellent. We typically communicate through phone calls. They always get back to us quickly whenever we have a question. 

In the beginning, we had weekly calls. Since our strategies are more established now, we only meet on a biweekly basis. Additionally, we have quarterly meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is fantastic. Everyone has been extremely helpful to us, from the CEO to the people we interact with every day. They're willing to work closely with us, and they've taken some of the load off our team. We've learned a lot from them in terms of advertising.

It's been a learning process for both of us since it's their first time working with an educational partner, and we don't have any experience with PPC advertising. That said, working with them has been a great experience. Black Propeller is very helpful — they make an effort to take a good look at our strategy and see how they can best support us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don't think there's anything they could do better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's been key to us understanding what they're doing.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as a Digital Marketing Manager in a manufacturing-based non-profit organization.

For what projects/services did your company hire Black Propeller?

We hired Black Propeller to assist us with setting up social, search, and display advertising to promote various products and services that our organization offers.

How did you select this vendor?

We vetted several vendors, and the presentation provided by Black Propeller was the most comprehensive and provided the most specific detail as it related to our organization.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Black Propeller initially began their work by auditing our existing ads and adjusting them to increase performance and reduce spend where necessary. On a bi-weekly basis we meet with Black Propeller to review existing ads and provide any new information on new campaigns that need to be built on. Black Propeller has done a great job on both fronts.

What was the team composition?

Black Propeller's team consists of various individuals that ensure our ads run smoothly - from graphic designers, to social media ad builders, to search and display ad builders, etc.

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

We have seen an increase in ad performance year over year which shows a clear success on the part of Black Propeller.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our bi-weekly meetings ensure constant communication between teams and has proven effective for both parties.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Despite being a small team, they have been able to handle our large scope of work and continue providing results.

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

I think a formal tool for input of campaign material would be beneficial.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Junk Rescue is a junk removal and dumpster rental company in South Jersey (NJ). My name is Nate and I am the VP of Sales & Marketing for Junk Rescue.

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

We were looking to hand off our Google and Bing PPC Advertising to a credible company, and after reviewing many during the process, Black Propeller had the best conversion rates and industry experience.

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

We searched for companies that had direct industry experience, knew that we weren't just looking for incoming calls but also form fills, assisted with graphic design, and all for a reasonable cost.

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

BP managed our PPC accounts and helped grow and maintain them throughout all of 2021.

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

We've had a multitude of resources help out on our account in different areas, ranging from Account Executives to Graphic Design Artists.

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

We've nearly doubled the number of leads that we were bringing in YOY while maintaining the same spend.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication is very efficient and effective. No complaints.

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

I am impressed how they're able to do such a nice job in both paid social and paid search for service based local and enterprise-level businesses.

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

At the moment, I have no complaints about the services that they provide.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing manager at Valet Living, a full-service family amenities provider.

What challenge were you trying to address with Black Propeller?

We needed their expertise in digital marketing.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially hired Black Propeller to take over our PPC marketing pipeline as our previous partner didn’t deliver our desired results. They quickly met our expectations, so we also decided to task them with handling our social media marketing efforts.

Black Propeller currently manages our Google campaigns and social media ads, specifically for Youtube and Facebook. As part of their support for our lead generation efforts, Black Propeller generates wide-ranging graphic ads and landing pages for our online platforms. Additionally, their team documents our ad spend and marketing statistics through Google Analytics. We’re planning to have them handle our SEO marketing pipeline soon.

What is the team composition?

We work with three resources from Black Propeller, including John (CEO), Annie (Account Director), and Mary (Paid Search Manager).

How did you come to work with Black Propeller?

Black Propeller topped the Google search list for digital marketing agencies, and I took that as a sign that they were a capable team with reputable experience. I reached out to John and immediately found them to be a good fit for us because he understood our needs — we were on the same page with everything we discussed.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in March 2021, and our collaboration is ongoing.

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

Black Propeller has recently presented our quarterly review, which states that our cost per lead (CPL) went down by almost $300. We’ve acquired 101 qualified leads in a matter of five months — this is an impressive metric as we’ve already surpassed last year’s total of 74 leads. Black Propeller continues to do their part in driving lucrative results to our business, and that’s why we still rely on their services.

How did Black Propeller perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and hold regular virtual meetings. Black Propeller is a communicative team with a thorough work process — there’s really nothing for us to worry about when they’re in charge. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Black Propeller is a collaborative and responsive team. We’re confident that we’re always in good hands because we can always reach them, unlike our previous partners that lacked professional communication skills.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They hit all our targets and deliver our needs on time — there’s nothing to complain about at this point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Choose Black Propeller. They may seem too good to be true, but don’t let that stop you from hiring a proactive partner to deliver your exact needs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of public relations and social media at Valet Living, a full-service amenities provider in the multifamily housing industry.

What challenge were you trying to address with Black Propeller?

We needed their team’s help in lead generation.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve initially engaged Black Propeller to handle our Google Ads efforts. They manage our ad spend by allocating it to different campaigns, so we can strategically capture more leads. Recently, we've tasked them with handling our social media and PPC ads to help us acquire additional avenues for lead generation and recruitment.

What is the team composition?

We work with a team comprised of 4–6 resources, including an account director and a social media manager.

How did you come to work with Black Propeller?

We weren’t pleased with the results we were getting with a previous agency, so we searched for similar service providers online. Black Propellerwas one of the ten teams we shortlisted, and we decided to onboard them because of their reputable profile.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $25,000–$30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our ongoing engagement with Black Propeller in April 2021.

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

We’ve only worked with Black Propeller for a few months, but they’ve already driven substantial upticks in our business. Their team lowered cost per lead (CPL) by 30%, doubled our conversion rate, and escalate our total qualified leads. Overall, we’re pleased with the lucrative results they’ve been delivering.

How did Black Propeller perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via email and Google Meet. Black Propeller is a highly collaborative partner. They go above and beyond to address our needs and make it a point to secure our approval before implementing anything.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Black Propeller is a communicative team that’s keen on delivering data-driven results. They have an inquisitive and goal-oriented approach, which unfailingly helps them meet our expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they can improve. We’re pleased to be working with such a reliable and responsive team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust Black Propeller’s team to meet your needs with their dependable skill set. You’ll only need to define your goals clearly if you want to make the most of your engagement.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a technology support company. We support organizations who are looking for assistance with cloud migration, modern workplace, cloud optimization and security, data & insights, managed services, and more.

For what projects/services did your company hire Black Propeller?

Due to the size of our team, we are not able to appropriately give enough time and attention to manage our own digital campaign strategy at the campaign level. We have been looking to expand out brand awareness in the marketplace, but also increase our flow of qualified leads into the pipeline.

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

We decided on this vendor because of their solutions they offered. Black Propeller had some stellar expertise in the areas of PPC, keyword analysis, competitive analysis, and campaign management - which is what we were looking for.

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

Since beginning with Black Propeller, they have managed our PPC campaign strategy. It began with a deep dive into our goals and offerings and then came the planning stage where they offered their keyword recommendations before pushing the campaign live. From that point on, we meet on a regular basis and then make adjustments and increase the number of campaigns since then.

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

We had an account management team that has been meeting with us on a regular basis. There is also a design team that helps with landing page development when needed.

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

Since beginning our campaigns with Black Propeller, we have definitely seen an increase in our lead flow and steadily as campaigns progress we have seen a cost per lead go down as the campaigns become more optimized.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow is excellent. At the meeting we met on a weekly basis to get things off the ground and make sure both parties are happy with how campaigns are progressing. Then we have eased back and meet every two weeks with a quarterly review every quarter. But we also communicate effectively through email in between those meetings as needed. BP also created a dashboard for us to live track our campaign outcomes between our meetings.

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

Their ability to take the project and run with it.They're a team that could manage our projects so we can spend time on operational matters. 

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

I can't think of anything right now.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing manager for an electric manufacturing company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Black Propeller?

We wanted to expand our business and get more visibility.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Black Propeller is responsible for providing web design, PPC, and a marketing strategy for us. They’ve established great landing pages that outline what our business is about and make it easy to target correct clients. Their team has also helped us increase leads across different platforms by launching Google ads and PPC campaigns.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with John (Founder & CEO), Kelsey (Paid Social Manager), and Delaney (Account Manager).

How did you come to work with Black Propeller?

A friend who uses Black Propeller’s services recommended them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in March 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

Our partnership has been very successful — numbers speak for themselves. We’ve seen an increase in traffic and a reduction in the cost per conversion. Every time we get certified with a company, we expand our work with Black Propeller, and they’ve always been readily available. They add value to our company, which is why we continue to work with them.

How did Black Propeller perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through phone calls and have Zoom meetings once every three months. Their team has performed very well; they work together and have set meeting times, which they’ve never missed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their performance has been very professional. Moreover, they deliver on their promises.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything right now, but there’s always room for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a shot — they’re awesome.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an advertising, consulting, and marketing company called Mad Girl Marketing.

What challenge were you trying to address with Black Propeller?

I don’t handle any PPC or SEO myself, and neither does my team. So, I brought on Black Propeller to handle that for one of my lead-driven clients.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Black Propeller does a number of things. They do display advertising, which they’re also providing for my client, video content for social platforms, and remarketing. I primarily use them for PPC services.

What is the team composition?

I worked with John (Founder & CEO) at the beginning, but I now primarily work with Annie (Senior Account Manager).

How did you come to work with Black Propeller?

I heard great things from other clients who had worked with Black Propeller, so I thought I’d reach out and vet them. I spoke with Annie and John, and we hit it off at the beginning.

Besides their capabilities, I felt an instant connection. John was very friendly and forthcoming, and he provided all of the information that I was looking for. We’re also both small businesses, which we have in common, and we both give our clients a hands-on experience. 

How much have you invested with them?

My clients have spent about $350,000 on the PPC, as well as another $50,000 on fees.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since November 2019.

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

Black Propeller has played an instrumental role in the growth and success of my client. We sold over 900 confidence plans and we’re in a record-breaking year. Our leads are constantly going up and our cost per click is really low.

I can attribute this success to them because this particular client doesn’t use any other media outlets apart from billboards. Black Propeller has come to the table and has done what they said they would do.

How did Black Propeller perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well. They communicate clearly, and they have a clear, concise plan of how they’re going to handle things. The plans that they put in front of us are accurate and backed up by their expertise. They always convey why we should take certain steps, even though our clients don’t.

Every Tuesday, my client and I receive a simplistic report from them. Their reports are very straightforward, and we can see our spend, conversions, and what we’re getting week-to-week. Black Propeller recaps everything and specify’s each campaign that we’re involved in.

I’m a little different than who they’re normally used to working with because I’m the middleman between their company and my clients, but we’ve navigated through it extremely well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their hands-on experience distinguishes them. When I have an issue, I can call Annie and we can discuss it that day. The ability to reach them and not getting handed off to other people is great. Black Propeller is responsive and cares. They also take responsibility and know what they’re good at.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Black Propeller could make sure that they have their T’s crossed and I’s dotted in terms of paperwork, which Annie and I talked about. Verbal agreements don’t always work out the way you like, so everything should be written down. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be transparent about what you’re looking for. People are only as good as the information given to them. Black Propeller is good at what they do, but you need to make sure that expectations are set up upfront. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and Founder of The Garden Montessori school, which is a private preschool serving students ages 18m-5yrs.

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

PPC, increase leads for enrollment

How did you select Black Propeller and what were the deciding factors?

I interviewed them along with several other companies and found them to be cost effective, professional and honest. Ultimately, they seemed to be the most knowledgeable and confident in producing real results.

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

I met with them and discussed the priorities of the project, laid out our goals and their strategies for achieving those results. From there, they put together a Google ads campaign that ultimately delivered great results.

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

I worked with the CEO directly.

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

Increased site traffic, gained multiple leads that led directly to enrollment.

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

We met by phone and email and their communication was always clear and consistent. They set forth clear timelines and answered all questions without hesitation.

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

They are extremely professional and communication is definitely their strong suit, but I think their knowledge base sets them apart from other companies. I also felt they are extremely honest and reliable and genuinely care about getting their customers the best results possible.

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

I don't have any complaints at all. I'll continue to work with John & his team for all of my future needs. Definitely could not ask for anything more from this awesome team.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing manager for a microscope sales and service company.

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

We hired Black Propeller to reorganize and manage our Google Adwords Campaign with the goal of efficiently driving an increased volume of sales.

How did you select Black Propeller and what were the deciding factors?

We conducted a search for a PPC partner, and based on Black Propeller's reputation, opened discussions. They evaluated our existing campaign to identify opportunities, proved to be very flexible (based on our needs) and offered a reasonably priced proposal.

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

After a "download" of our business needs and goals and the initial evaluation of our existing campaign, we met with the Account Manager to discuss each phase of a complete reorganization, including:

1. Keyword analysis
2. Development of negative keywords
3. Optimization of settings
4. Re-alignment of sub-campaigns
5. Development of ads
6. Bidding strategy

After this work was completed, Black Propeller has continued to optimize our campaign, making adjustments to bidding, keywords, and architecture as needed.

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

Account Manager with a supporting team

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

Since implementing the changes to our campaign, we have seen a substantial decrease in our Cost Per Click coupled with a significant increase in sales volume.

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

Our Account Manager is proactive in indentifying/communicating both challenges and opportunities and responsive to our questions. We have bi-weekly status meetings, however, we are in contact throughout the week.

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

Their knowledge of digital marketing is profound which engenders trust and a willingness on our part to explore new approaches to the project.

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

We are seeing great results, however, simplified reporting would help reinforce this.