Content Reactor

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former director of technology and marketing operations for a network of coworking spaces in several large metropolitan areas in the Midwest and New York.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Content Reactor?

We were transitioning to a new brand and business model, which included a new social component. We needed help to grow our audience and find personas that aligned with our various revenue streams.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started by compiling market research and matching personas with our different streams. They also helped set the tone of our brand voice and coupled our current language with our future goals. An important element of their work included a social media plan and message structuring for each channel, both for our blog and the members on our team.

They assembled a content roadmap, with topics that we could build upon and suggestions for which team members would be the best content creators for each topic. They set us up with the operations to create the content ourselves.

As a consequence of this restructuring, our SEO took a hit in the transition. We asked them to build a comprehensive plan to get us back to our previous rankings. That included work on our keywords and some benchmarks to work toward.

What is the team composition?

We had two main points of contact, but there may have been other team members behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Content Reactor?

We teamed with three different organizations through a traction marketing plan. They were one of the agencies we partnered with for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $10,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between about June–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They got us back to our rankings before the rebrand, and we were so happy with the work that we invited them to take us further. The brand personas they developed for us became a fundamental building block for the rest of our business strategy. Their work touches everything, including finding new members and onboarding new prospects. They really helped us focus and find our direction.

How did Content Reactor perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is amazing. As a company that is highly structured, we value that level of organization.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We structure all our projects and business objectives in very specific ways. They fit right into that, and they always understood our management structure. They were flexible with every assignment and helped us work toward the results we wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions for improvements. I was pleased with their communication, project management, and all the work they produced.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust their process. They’re fundamentally different from a content farm, and they will find ways to align content and deliver your business objectives.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an account project manager at a design and development company based in Minneapolis. I run account and project management processes along with managing our internal team’s services and communicating with clients. Our agency mainly completes web design and development work, but we’re moving into sales enablement, CRM, marketing automation, and various digital marketing services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Content Reactor?

We hired Content Reactor to deliver content marketing services for our agency, as well as use them for client marketing programs. They act as our content marketing arm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the beginning of a project, Content Reactor starts with formulating a content strategy, which leads to planning and drafting content for the content calendar. Their team also does persona development and research for us, creating deliverables. They’ve also helped with SEO during a one-time refresh.

Periodically, we have different clients that request content needs. If we’re working on a site, whether it’s a redesign or launch, and we feel the need for them, their team drafts and edits content on the website.

What is the team composition?

We have a primary account manager who works with another team member to draft and plan the work. Alex (Co-Founder–Growth, Content Reactor) and Elisha (Co-Founder–Operations, Content Reactor) split their role. One completes in-depth services, and the other focuses on article content.

How did you come to work with Content Reactor?

I’ve only been here for about a year, and they engaged with them before I started. Our owner either connected with them through an acquaintance or we found them through an online search.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $40,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started engaging with Content Reactor in October 2017, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the past year, the content they’ve produced has performed exceptionally well. Our blog posts receive hundreds of organic visitors. Internally, we talk monthly about our own marketing efforts. We track and review our digital marketing metrics and content performance. This is a collaborative effort between our teams. We discuss sales and lead quality improvements and what topics or articles have the potential of doing well.

How did Content Reactor perform from a project management standpoint?

We maintain a shared project management tool, but they use a separate tool that I’m also familiar with. Their team uses Asana, while our internal team uses a different software to track project management. We settled on Trello to manage all of the content as its drafted.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Content Reactor is a full-service content agency that owns a project from start to finish. I haven’t personally worked with a lot of people like that. Internally we have team members like that, but it’s nice to have a larger content marketing arm. Our team can go to them for help with different specialties. We get to tap into the expertise of various people as opposed to connecting with the same person for everything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Content Reactor meets deadlines, but sometimes the work comes in under the wire. Their team could be more on top of that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Customers should rely on their expertise and content marketing strategies. Let them give recommendations because they’re proactive when it comes to guiding their clients.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the VP of sales and marketing at Authentic Brand. We help small business solve their marketing headaches by combining a proven process with a seasoned marketing leader who works on a part-time, flexible basis. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Content Reactor?

Content Reactor has been extremely helpful in helping to augment our content creation efforts. By writing, editing, and posting thought leadership to our blog; they have expanded our ability to broadcast our message.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted Content Reactor to write and publish one thought leadership piece per month to build brand awareness and drive viewership to our blog.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were introduced to them through our network and clicked with the team immediately.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Content Reactor develops content strategies, produces outstanding thought leadership pieces, and creates SEO content and copy-for-conversion for web properties.

What was the team composition?

We work primarily with the co-founders.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Content Reactor is excellent at building brand awareness. We routinely share their articles to provide clarity and depth about our work. They have been a great support to our double-digit growth. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It's seamless, and the team is extremely flexible. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It is rare to find a content shop that can quickly grasp a complex subject and write about it like an insider. Content Reactor has been a wonderful surprise. If you want to build or augment your content or inbound marketing efforts, I recommend them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of anything.