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4.6
7 reviews

Since 2000, the Content Bureau has created the highest quality B2B content for ambitious technology and financial services marketers. Our typical client is a marketing VP, director, or manager responsible for producing a large volume of custom content on a regular basis. We work almost exclusively with global corporations who use us year-round, and spend between $100K and $1MM/year with our agency.  

We deliver expert articles, banner ads, blog posts, case studies, eBooks, messaging, playbooks, PowerPoint decks, scripts, social posts, web copy and design, white papers, video--and most other B2B marketing assets.

Most clients ask us to handle copywriting, editing, and layout on product/industry marketing assets used in content marketing campaigns. Others ask us to just write the copy, or proof and lay out copy they've written in-house. We're very happy to produce whatever our clients (or their other trusted resources) don't want to handle themselves.

We are a premium quality, high-touch, woman-owned agency with a 100% virtual and 85% female team. Team members work from the US and Western Europe. Our deep team and client relationships last for many years, and we play nicely with both corporate marketing/brand, and other agencies our clients love and trust. We take the long view in all things, and are entirely focused on our clients' success. It's our pleasure to serve them year-round. 

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$25,000+
 
Undisclosed
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2000
Show all +
Orinda, CA
headquarters

Portfolio

Key clients: 

Autodesk (18-year client), SAP (15-year client), PayPal (11), Deloitte (8), eBay (8), Bank Leumi (4), RSA Security (3), Silicon Valley Bank (2), NetApp, UiPath. We also work with private equity and venture capital firms, primarily on PPMs and other investor marketing assets. PE/VC clients: ABS, HealthQuest Capital, JMI Equity, Sequoia Capital, Sofinnova, Thoma Bravo, Vista Equity Partners.

Reviews

4.6
7 reviews
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Content Creation & Graphics for Investment Firm

"They did a great job of understanding our strategy and reflecting that in an easy-to-read document."

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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
 
Oct. 2018 - Dec. 2018
Project summary: 

Following exhaustive interviews of stakeholders, The Content Bureau drafted and iterated a private placement memorandum for an equity fund. They created graphics to complement almost 30 pages of text.

The Reviewer
 
2-9 Employees
 
Belmont, California
Managing Partner, Investment Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Content Bureau admirably grasped client goals and strategy, successfully reflecting them in a vital fundraising document. The team delivered all drafts and the finished product according to the defined schedule. Their strong performance will likely lead to further collaborations.

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 am the founder and managing partner of a healthcare-focused venture and growth equity fund. We invest in high-growth, commercial-stage healthcare businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We were in the process of raising our next fund, which we do every few years so that we can invest. As part of that effort, we have to put together a private placement memorandum (PPM), which is a vital document in the fundraising process. The Content Bureau helped us create that PPM.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated back and forth on the initial outline of the PPM. The Content Bureau’s team interviewed several members of our team about our strategy, our focus, and our portfolio companies. They presented a first draft of the PPM, which we iterated multiple times. The Content Bureau filled out the PPM with graphics and ultimately proofread and produced a document that was close to 30 pages.

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with Lauren (Copywriter, The Content Bureau) and Stacy (Owner, The Content Bureau). They worked with a graphic designer, as well, but we did not interact with that person directly.

How did you come to work with The Content Bureau?

We had worked with them on a previous PPM, so we had a history with them. We chose to go back to them because we had a positive experience the first time.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $35,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality was excellent and as we hoped. The proof is in the pudding: We put out the PPM, and our fund was meaningfully oversubscribed in just a few months. There are a lot of components to that, but having a good PPM is undoubtedly one of them.

How did The Content Bureau perform from a project management standpoint?

They iterated on our timeline and produced the PPM on schedule. There were turns along the way, but pretty much everything went according to plan. They did a great job of understanding our strategy and reflecting that in an easy-to-read document.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have a nuanced strategy because healthcare is a complicated sector. People can play and invest in a lot of different parts of the industry. Coming from an organization that presumably writes about a lot of different things, they were able to grasp the complexities of our business exceptionally well and enunciated that in the content.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They provided excellent graphics for us, but we did explore pushing them on fancier graphics, which seemed to be a bridge too far in their skill set.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’ve been very supportive of our efforts. It speaks to the quality of their work that we’ve returned to them for our needs. We’d work with them again, no question.

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

Content Creation for Software Company

“They're able to understand the technical concepts that would be unfamiliar to a lot of people.”

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Ongoing
Project summary: 

The Content Bureau writes customer success stories and creates other content for a website. They’ve also helped develop product messaging, tailoring it to different industries.

The Reviewer
 
10,000+ Employees
 
San Rafael, CA
Marketing Manager, Software Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The stories the Content Bureau creates help highlight the success of our product and the in-house team is happy with the fast turnaround times. The Content Bureau goes above and beyond to meet all needs, while their expertise and ability to both take a lead and follow guidance made them a reliable partner. 

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 a marketing manager at a software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We needed a vendor to help us create content and develop messaging.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They write success stories about our customers and help us develop in-depth messaging for our product. They've also created some content for our website. For success stories, they do phone interviews with our customers and pull out the technical details about the usage of our platform and our API. After they write a customer success story, I hand it over to the customer for approval and then, it gets published online. The Content Bureau has been working with our company for a while, so they know our platform, our brand, and the terminology guidelines. 

I also started a new messaging project with them. Our platform is used differently by different industries. We needed to tailor our messaging to those industries, particularly manufacturing and construction industries. The Content Bureau did a series of interviews with our stakeholders on the product side and they also talked to our business development team. After that, they did a few iterations of messaging around what the platform does for different personas or industries we work with.

What is the team composition?

I have a few points of contact, depending on the type of project I am working on.

How did you come to work with The Content Bureau?

They worked with our company before I joined the marketing team a few months ago.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $138,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were instrumental in taking over our customer success story process. I have full trust in their ability to create stories that highlight both our customer success and our platform, showing how our platform helps that customer be successful.

How did The Content Bureau perform from a project management standpoint?

They turn things around very quickly and reach out to us if they have any questions. Their proactive approach and fast delivery times help the  project go smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're able to understand the technical concepts that would be unfamiliar to a lot of people. Also, they've invested a lot of time in working with our brand guidelines and our company writing style. That was invaluable to me when I joined the marketing team and they have actually taught me about some of our more obscure company writing policies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I've been very happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you're looking for. They have expertise in different areas and they can share their past experience with you and often even provide advice on procedures and process. They’re a great agency – reliable and fast, so you never have to worry about a project being delivered on time.

5.0
Overall Score They're willing to work with us, whether it's taking a lead and following our guidance.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They've never missed a deadline.
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They're expensive, but they provide great value.
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They do a great job and give us everything we ask of them.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I'd definitely recommend them.

White Paper Content Marketing for Insurance Tech Firm

“The Content Bureau provided us with a highly talented writing and design team.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. 2018 - Jun. 2018
Project summary: 

The Content Bureau assigned writers and designers to create a 3,000-word white paper featuring graphics. They followed an outline for the style and tone to convey thought leadership. 

The Reviewer
Kevin Haydon
Director of Marketing and Communications, EIS Group
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Content Bureau delivered a finalized white paper that EIS Group has distributed through a variety of marketing channels to generate market engagement and new prospects. The CB team is impressively skilled and the paper has produced excellent results. 

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

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is an insurance technology vendor. I'm the director of marketing and communications. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We were looking for a high-quality thought leadership content creator.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Content Bureau contributed the writing and design skills we needed to produce a thought leadership white paper featuring areas that we want to be known for. We outlined the scope of what we desired out of the writing, including requirements for the length, tone, and outline. 

The white paper was about 3,000 words and included a variety of graphics and images. We distributed this piece of content through the Internet for users to download across a variety of marketing channels. 

What is the team composition? 

Our main point of contact was the copywriter, Ruth (Independent Contractor, The Content Bureau). 

How did you come to work with The Content Bureau?

I have a colleague who had worked with The Content Bureau in the past. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $23,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together over a three-month period this year, in the spring quarter of 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Content Bureau delivered a piece of content for online download that has been well received. We have been gaining contacts through the downloads up to this point. We're happy with the results. The white paper did what we intended it to do. 

How did The Content Bureau perform from a project management standpoint?

The Content Bureau managed the project well. We stayed in touch using phone and email. We had some minor difficulties with scheduling around vacations and had a few related communication glitches. Other than that, they were good at scheduling.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Content Bureau provided us with a highly talented writing and design team. They produced a very high-quality piece of content. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. The Content Bureau did a great job of managing the project and getting results. We had a few scheduling glitches, but it was nothing critical. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The Content Bureau is a highly skilled resource. We will continue to use them for our content and campaign needs. I fully recommend them. 

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

Content Creation for a Security Company

 "They produce high-quality content."

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4.5

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Nov. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

The Content Bureau produces marketing content that ranges from eBooks to infographics and white papers. They also create promotional pieces and ad copy.

The Reviewer
 
Des Moines, Iowa
Global Marketing Lead, Security Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The number of qualified leads is on the rise and the internal team is satisfied. Flexible and experienced, The Content Bureau goes above and beyond to meet all needs, while their ability to work quickly and effectively made them a reliable partner. They are a great marketing and content creation agency.

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 a global marketing lead at a security company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We were looking for a company to help us produce some fresh, compelling content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provide them with the topics we want to turn into marketing content. Depending on our objectives, the content can be an eBook, a white paper, or infographics. After we give them the bullet points of what we want to get across, The Content Bureau writes the content. Then, we review it and go through an iteration process. They also do the creative layout and work closely with our brands to ensure that the creatives they produce follow the brand guidelines. In addition, they do some promotional pieces for us, including email and ad copy.

What is the team composition?

I usually work with Stacy (Founder, The Content Bureau) and Ruth (Content Writer, The Content Bureau).

How did you come to work with them?

They were referred to me by a colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our objective was to generate demand. We've definitely seen more qualified leads after we started working with The Content Bureau, so they’re helping us accomplish our goals.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s very easy to work with them. Our schedule is quite busy, but they're flexible and give us a couple of days to review everything, sending us reminders when they haven't heard back from us. We use a combination of email and phone to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They produce high-quality content, so most of the time, we only need to tweak it slightly. The speed at which they work is also astounding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. The collaboration has been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Explain to them the message you want to get across and allow them to determine how to craft that message for your target audience.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Creative Content Marketing for a Payment Systems Company

"They provide informed suggestions on our communication strategy, rooted in an understanding of our brand and legal guidelines. This permits us to move quickly and avoid multiple rounds of legal review."

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Dec. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

The Content Bureau provided sales enablement solutions for a payment systems company. They developed toolkits for merchant use and keep track of legal requirements for marketing and insight sourcing.

The Reviewer
 
New York City, New York
Catherine Krebs
Senior Marketing Manager, PayPal
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Content Bureau has a significant impact and are integral to campaign success. They meet aggressive deadlines and save time in legal review processes. They are reliable, collaborative team players who help build strategy and bring products to market.

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 am a senior marketing manager within the middle market at PayPal. We focus on partner marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We wanted a creative agency to help us engage with our partners and come up with a solution for sales enablement that gives both merchants and internal account managers a better understanding of our product suite. We wanted insights, copy, and integration information that would make us more effective.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were a critical partner as we created a suite of product toolkits, which are some of the most valuable assets they created for us. We’ve since evolved them for use across multiple partners. I work very closely with them on obtaining all the necessary information and they act as creators.

They know all the legal rules and regulations—which are constantly in flux—and they help us source our insights properly. They consolidate all of this information into a usable format to make the end user’s experience seamless. Several of our teams leverage the toolkits and there are now multiple versions of them.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Allison (Editorial Team, The Content Bureau). She acts as my account director.

How did you come to work with The Content Bureau?

They were already an approved agency that the middle market team was using when I brought them into my projects.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested about $500,000 with them. Several of our teams use them, so the total company spend is much more.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in December 2016. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They know all the social touchpoints that help develop nurture streams for email and marketing. They have a significant impact on our whole business and are integral to the success of any campaign we launch.

How did The Content Bureau perform from a project management standpoint?

Our account director is absolutely phenomenal. They’re organized and meet even the most aggressive deadlines. They provide informed suggestions on our communication strategy, rooted in an understanding of our brand and legal guidelines. This permits us to move quickly and avoid multiple rounds of legal review.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They fully a part of our team. We recently launched a huge campaign and they’re still helping us make changes. From beginning to end, they build a strategy, come up with timelines, and bring products to market. We couldn’t do without them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We keep going back to them because they are reliable, collaborative team players. They meet deadlines and deliver everything they’re supposed to. They are honest about their abilities and respond quickly.

They understand our business and deliver creative copy that makes sense for our products. They know their craft and they excel at it.

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

Created Messaging Architecture for a Non-profit

"They're extremely flexible, respond quickly, and deliver on promises." 

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4.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Sept. 2015 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

After conducting an in-depth interview, The Content Bureau developed a messaging architecture to provide Salesforce and partner management sales teams with a consistent message.

The Reviewer
 
San Jose, California
Anna Suarez
Director of Marketing, Opportunity Fund
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The refined message helped formalize the programs and bring consistency to the organization. Experienced and professional, The Content Bureau went above and beyond to meet all needs, while their flexibility and commitment earned them our trust.

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 director of marketing at Opportunity Fund. We're a small business microlender based in California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We needed to put together a solid messaging architecture for our small business lending program. We were looking for a company to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They interviewed us and we shared with them the direction we wanted to go in. Then, they came up with a very nice messaging architecture that allowed us to offer specific content and images related to our message. They were instrumental in helping us refine our message and bring consistency to our organization. We're now lining up a contract with them for our new fiscal year.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with Stacy (Owner, The Content Bureau).

How did you come to work with them?

I used to work with them at my former company.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2015 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have direct Salesforce and partner management sales teams, but they didn’t have a consistent sales tool. Now, we have one consistent set of messages for our sales and marketing teams, and Salesforce has really become dependent on those assets. The Content Bureau helped us refine and formalize our programs before we present them to the outside world, which had a big impact on our organization.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're extremely flexible, respond quickly, and deliver on promises.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Having a project manager can help facilitate the execution of some projects. Most of our projects are fairly straightforward, but occasionally we have a complex project, so having someone to manage it would be helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about their scope work, the content they'll work with, and any constraints they'll have. They're incredibly flexible and are always trying to find a way to meet our needs.

4.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Consumer Facing Marketing for E-Commerce Company

"The Content Bureau was patient through that process and created something that everybody loved"

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4.0

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
3.5
Willing to refer: 
4.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Apr. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

The Content Bureau developed marketing assets and an online gateway to promote opt-ins for a new program. They also created a messaging grid to host copy blocks in various locations of the website.

The Reviewer
 
10,000 + Employees
 
Sunny Vale, California
Customer Service Manager, Internet Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The project was completed on time and to the satisfaction of all team members. The Content Bureau was accepting of all feedback and was flexible to changes. They met all deadlines and showcased dedication to the project’s completion and success.

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 am the customer service manager for an online auction marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Content Bureau?

We were launching a new program, and they were a marketing partner to develop customer-facing content on the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

There were two work streams. The first was developing a messaging grid so that copy blocks could to be used in multiple places around the site. The second was developing marketing assets, which included emails that are sent to sellers inviting them to the program and a gateway that allows users to sign up and learn more about a new program.

What is the team composition?

Our primary point of contact was a writer, and she interfaced with a designer their end. We also worked with The Content Bureau’s owner.

How did you come to work with The Content Bureau?

My manager had previously worked with them and had developed a pleasant working relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $26,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April 2018 to May 2018. The program hasn’t launched, but it is in the hands of our project team now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There were several review cycles, especially on the marketing assets because those will draw sellers into this program. The Content Bureau was patient through that process and created something that everybody loved, including our CEO.

How did The Content Bureau perform from a project management standpoint?

They were incredibly organized, and they were willing to work extra hours to ensure our project’s success. We had weekly meetings all over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We could tell they were committed to the project. They were fully accepting of all of our requests, but they also let us know the impact of every decision. We appreciated that transparency.

Any advice for potential customers?

Future clients should be prepared for the time commitment necessary to have a successful engagement. To ensure the quality they want, they have to be organized and willing to assist The Content Bureau as much as they need.

4.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    We trusted them fully to complete the projects on time.
  • 3.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    We’re happy with the output. The time and commitment were well worth it.
  • 4.0 NPS
    Willing to refer