Brafton

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at CloudSmartz. We’re a custom software application development firm that provides global delivery services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brafton?

We reached out to them with content creation and lead generation as our primary goals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The engagement started off with Brafton producing a few blog posts so we could get to get additional content out there and build brand awareness. I'll provide the topic, minor outline, and reference link for each post. They’ll do the research and draft a detailed outline for our approval. Finally, they’ll write the post. They utilize automatic posting, so the new content gets released as soon as we approve it. This way, we don’t have to worry about execution. To give customers a greater interactive experience than looking a fact sheet, we explored additional mediums of content creation.

In addition to blog posts, Brafton provided an entire digital content strategy by creating infographics, e-books, and white papers. We collaborated with them to organize a keyword list because we’re a niche provider. They used their tools and expertise to implement an SEO plan for us. They also created videos, both animated and scripted, and did some social media work as well. Continuing the engagement, we’re moving forward with a social media revamp later this year.

What is the team composition?

There are usually 4–5 people we work with during weekly meetings. However, I talk to the account manager and project manager more frequently.

How did you come to work with Brafton?

I’ve used Brafton in the past when I worked for another company. As a result, I hired them because I knew what they could do. Plus, they’re on the East Coast and offered a price point that was affordable on my budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $25,000–$35,000 annually.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2016 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve helped fine-tune our message across all mediums. From a content creation perspective, we've got an additional 90 pages of blog posts and other content created since the start of this engagement. That influx helps improve our Google ranking. Regarding lead generation, we’ve created about 10 landing pages that garnered 81 leads, a quarter of which were industry specific. We expect the increased web-traffic to drive continued the growth of lead generation.

How did Brafton perform from a project management standpoint?

I can reach out to me any time of the day and they’ll usually get back to me within 24 hours. They’re good about being on top of everything. I’m usually the one holding the process up, so they’ve been very patient and get everything done promptly. Additionally, we just got assigned a new account manager and the transition was very smooth. It’s worth noting when a manager can transition effectively and provide value immediately.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a wide breadth of experience and I appreciate their SEO recommendations. Other companies always try to do too much. Brafton gives you what you need without going overboard. Their patience and flexibility are standout attributes as we’re a hands-on client. We provide complex solutions so getting all the details correct is important. It’s tough for people who aren’t in our industry to fully understand what we do, but they’re quick learners and deliver things swiftly. The content they’ve written has been perfect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like to see more in-depth planning to match what we’re doing on a month-to-month basis.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you're a small marketing team looking for an extension to your content creation and website management team, Brafton is a great company to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company works with universities around the country to help promote and grow their online degree programs. I’m the search engine optimization manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brafton?

We manage all the websites for the universities that we partner with, and we needed help to enhance the quality of the content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Brafton provides blog content, articles, and infographics for us to publish on our website and promote through internet marketing channels. They provide approximately 90 articles a month for us. Brafton helps with some of our social media accounts. Brafton provides a monthly social media calendar that we review internally and then we also review with our partners to get approval. From there it would get rolled out to the social media networks that we’re working with. We have a lot of interaction between our two teams. We have kickoff meetings where we talk about style guides, the primary focus, the style and tone, and expected delivery. As those articles are delivered, they go through several rounds of internal edits before they go to our partners for review. The infographics are done on a quarterly basis, those are published on the website, and shared socially.

How did you come to work with Brafton?

When I was hired, Pearson was already using Brafton. When I came on board, we were only using them for 30 articles a month. I liked the quality and communication so much that I tripled the amount of volume we were doing with Brafton.

How much have you invested with Brafton?

We spend between $100,000 and $200,000 with them monthly.

What is the status of this engagement?

I know we’ve worked with them for over three years, but I don’t know when the engagement started.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our engagement online has been very good. The turnaround times of getting everything approved has been much better.

How did Brafton perform from a project management standpoint?

We use email, phone, and Basecamp to communicate and Brafton is very responsive. Brafton listens to our feedback, and they’re a really good partner.

What did you find most impressive about Brafton?

It’s a combination of excellent communication, excellent customer service, and the quality of their work.

Are there any areas Brafton could improve?

Brafton could offer more services so I can use them more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Profiles is a creative, marketing, and technology recruitment firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. We have supporting offices in Philadelphia, Richmond, and Washington, DC. Recently Profiles has made a national footprint to include the markets of Chicago, Dallas, Northern New Jersey, and San Francisco. Our recruitment services provide Fortune 500 and midsized brands with candidates in the marketing, creative, and technology space. Staffing solutions come in the form of contract, contract for hire, direct hire, and managed services. My role is the Director of Marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Brafton?

Profiles’ executive leadership strongly believes in investing in the company's marketing department. We wanted to augment our internal staff to include a copywriter in order to increase our search rankings, gain a greater visibility online, and position Profiles as the subject matter expert in the creative staffing space. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project includes two long-form blogs per week. Topics are published from a content calendar that we create together. The content calendar is based on targeted key phrases that correlate to our business offerings. The relationship begins with a kickoff meeting amongst you and your dedicated account team. The intake meeting will document your creative briefing to ensure all Brafton team members understand our vision, goals, obstables, tone, audience, and a means to measure results. A weekly cadence of deliverables had both of our teams in a groove in no time. Once the content is written, Brafton will optimize the page title, URL, header tags, keyword usage throughout, internal link, and supply images and alt text. Each article is sent via email requesting our feedback. With one or two rounds of revisions, we then submit the approved copy that is streamed directly into our CMS and published in real time. Monthly reporting calls are held to review how our rankings and lead conversions performed site wide.

How did you come to work with Brafton?

I vetted a total of five firms and freelancers who I found through content agency research and Upwork (formerly Elance and oDesk). Brafton was then referred to me by a fellow marketing friend who worked at an enterprise staffing firm. I was hesitant my budget couldn't compete but made the call to learn more. The rates were fair and scalable. The access that Brafton has to resources and publications is a big selling feature. We now have a dedicated team of five---writer, strategist, and account manager--for less than the cost of one full-time copywriter. 

How much have you invested with Brafton?

We spend $16,000 per year with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in March 2012 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?

Writing a good article that can be found is essential to attracting inbound leads and that's what they help us achieve. We’ve seen a 16% YoY in organic traffic from blog articles alone. Overall organic traffic increased 22% YoY. To know that blogs alone contributed to 16% of that increase tells a big story. Recently, we aligned our content strategy to support B2B client lead generation. In staffing, marketing efforts must attract both prospective clients and qualified candidates. We’ve been publishing a lot of content to attract and nurture the B2B audience in support of sales growth. Understanding the challenges of B2B marketing and then seeing the results in organic traffic is very telling of Brafton's impact. 

How did Brafton perform from a project management standpoint?

Brafton's team is spearheaded by an Account Manager who is our main point of contact. That person has an understanding of web, digital, and SEO. The team is always available and we communicate by email, except for our monthly meetings by phone. The success that comes from the relationship is also very reliant on the efforts you put in as a client. It is not a 'set it and forget' journey. It takes a collaborative team to produce an impactful outcome to your business. 

What did you find most impressive about Brafton?

There are other agencies who have content agencies who offer shiny bells and whistles that Brafton doesn't but they come at a premium. If you’re a marketer with a vision and strategy for how content will improve your business but don't have the copywriting resources to execute, then Brafton is a true partner that is good at what they do, and are the biggest bang for your buck. 

Are there any areas Brafton could improve?

Their creative library could be improved. They’re pulling stock images to support our articles and those are limited.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Department Manager of Oxford University Press

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of the University of Oxford that publishes academic and educational resources

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Create white paper that could be used in a gated environment to attract new leads

SOLUTION

How did you find Brafton?

Online Search

Why did you select Brafton over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Brafton were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• 6 x 1,200 word blogs 
• 6 x Search Performance Briefs 
• 3 x Silver Infographics
• 1 x Whitepaper
• Strategic support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Produced all deliverables within budget to a high quality witihn project timelines.

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

• Very proactive
• Delivered on time
• Quick response to requests/changes

What was your primary form of communication with Brafton?

Virtual Meeting

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

They were very professional and understood the needs of our market.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Director of City of Pompano Beach

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a City in South Florida

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• create awareness of the Love Always campaign

SOLUTION

How did you find Brafton?

Online Search

Why did you select Brafton over others?

I had an initial consultation with them and they seemed very knowledgeable

How many teammates from Brafton were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We hire Brafton to help amplify the reach of our campaign through search engine marketing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered by sending people to our website to learn more about the campaign. They did what they said they would and were very accommodating and easy to work with.

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

The project management was great. They always delivered on time and were very good about communicating possible delays and the reasons why. 

What was your primary form of communication with Brafton?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The level of knowledge on the team and the willingness to help event when the questions did not pertain to the project at hand.

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

none

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Marketing of Rosterfy

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Volunteer Management Software

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Grow Organic Traffic
• Sales Enablement

SOLUTION

How did you find Brafton?

Online Search

Why did you select Brafton over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Brafton were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Brafton created content to align with our business growth and GTM strategy. This included ideation, writing and production of content

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Lead generation and Traffic Growth

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

They showed excellent communication and adaptability

What was your primary form of communication with Brafton?

Virtual Meeting

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

Creative thinking

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

Some projects overran the initial agreed timelines

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the SVP US Sales and Marketing of Lanshore LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We’re a forward thinking digital process consultancy, implementer and outsourcer, with domain expertise in Sales Performance Management and Robotic Process Automation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Create engaging customer facing content
• Create new and targeted landing pages
• Help insure all collateral and landing pages maximized SEO

SOLUTION

How did you find Brafton?

Had used previously

Why did you select Brafton over others?

• High ratings
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Brafton were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Brafton helped Lanshore create and deploy new collateral and content that could be sent directly to clients as well as customized landing pages optimized for SEO. In addition, Brafton served as the subject matter experts to help us further develop our marketing efforts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increase in leads from one of our key partners that Brafton developed a "sales offering" for, better alignment on our messaging to portray Lanshore as a RPA development and support partner for clients.

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

Yes, Brafton was always very responsive and on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Brafton?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Both the personal touch as well as the depth in knowledge and experience.

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

Not really, the met and exceeded our expectations

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

demand generation for saas company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brafton?

We needed help to scale our content development efforts and we turned to Brafton to help

SOLUTION

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

Recommendation

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

The team helps us with the content development process, including writing and design. They've also helped us with launch materials to support our marketing efforts to support our content

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

We worked with several members of the team including a dedicated PM

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team works very efficiently and are very flexible. I like their PM tools, it makes it easy to access the content library and see the status at a glance. We now have more content thanks to their team

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Easy workflow with a dedicated PM and access to their PM tool

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

They are super efficient and easy to work with.

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

None come immediately to mind

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Swift SMS Gateway is a leading SMS aggregator connecting business, institutions and government to text message in their communication suites. I am the CEO and President, of Swift SMS Gateway.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Brafton?

Brafton was hired for content marketing, assisting Swift SMS Gateway in providing high value, relevant blog articles, and marketing services.

What were your goals for this project?

Goals are to stimulate user signup of developers and business operators that are integrating text services into their business operations.

SOLUTION

How did you select Brafton?

Brafton demonstrated clear understanding of pull marketing strategy to offset traditional Google AdWords campaigns to generate organic traffic.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Market research to understand you business vertical, ongoing topic relevance, news, story boarding, ad creation and continuing review.

What was the team composition?

We’ve worked closely with Brafton’s editorial staff, and their creative department for blog material, graphic design, animation, and voice material.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Brafton is eager to become your business champion, and to demonstrate their skills in helping to grow your business. Swift SMS Gateway continues to exceed growth expectations averaging well above 30% sales growth per year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Brafton’s Project Managers are responsive and on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Brafton listens and is continually looking for ways to provide value.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Content quality relies on current relevance, industry trends, and response. Brafton is never resting and always looking to improve your reach.