Decoder

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of marketing at a software platform in the wellness space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Decoder?

Our company has a niche market and a long history in the market. We've benefited from word-of-mouth and brand recognition, but the audience we need to reach can be very difficult to find. We reached out to Decoder to streamline our SEO and manage our PPC ads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Decoder manages all of our ad spend on Google Ads and Microsoft Ads. The team is responsible for optimizing our spending and the keywords we're going after. Decoder has also worked on our SEO and conversion rate optimization strategies. 

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Ben (Founder & CEO). 

How did you come to work with Decoder?

I'm unsure since our engagement with Decoder predates my time working at my company.
How much have you invested with them?

We spend $1,500 monthly, and we've spent more in the past when we had a greater ad budget. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Decoder around four years ago. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We track leads coming in through paid advertising and follow them through the sales funnel until the sale closes to track what we can attribute to our paid ads. Around 60% of our business has come from an attribution through paid ads, which is excellent. Decoder's ad campaigns are one of our main sources of new leads. 

We're happy with the team because they've honed our cost per click month over month to one that fits our budget. I'm impressed with how Decoder has been able to streamline our spending. 

How did Decoder perform from a project management standpoint?

Decoder's project management is fantastic. We have monthly meetings with the team to go over our plan and what we'll focus on. Decoder's nature of work can be really dense, but the team explains it in simpler terms and is able to simplify the complex world of digital marketing so we can really understand what they're doing with their strategy. Decoder works as translators, and we mostly communicate via email. The team sends monthly reports with thorough information.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to highlight Ben's work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Decoder distinguishes for their ability to educate and manage our marketing process. I've worked with PPC and SEO vendors in the past, and I felt like I was looking at a black box since I could only see the project's inputs and outcomes. Decoder makes the process transparent, and I really appreciate that. We're happy with the team's service, and I wish we had more budget to work with them on the other services they provide.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything Decoder can improve. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I suggest coming to meetings with questions prepared, which is something I'm working on getting better at. Decoder's team is packed with information, and I recommend having clarity in the aspects you don't know so the team can fill in the rest. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CMO of Mobile Mentor

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

IT managed Service provider

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Grow organic traffic
• Grow organic conversions
• strategic SEO expertise

SOLUTION

How did you find Decoder?

Referral

Why did you select Decoder over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Decoder were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

• Configure Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track key SEO metrics 
• Setup keyword and authority tracking tools 
• Benchmark current organic search traffic, keyword rankings, and authority metrics 
• Keyword Research 
• Identify relevant keywords through client interviews, existing traction in organic search, paid search performance, keyword discovery tools, and competitive analysis 
• Assess and prioritize keywords based on the best combination of search volume, competition, relevance and conversion history 
• Develop prioritized master keyword list for targeting in current and future site content 
• On-Site Optimization 
• Audit existing content and align with high priority keywords 
• Develop site optimization guide aligning keywords with existing content

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

10-15% increase in organic conversions- which was the goal SEO content strategy

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

Ben is timely and delivers his work on time. He is very responsive to every request we sent his way

What was your primary form of communication with Decoder?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Ben functions like a partner and is able to find ways to make improvements himself, provide guidance at every step and offered the expertise we needed to improve our organic conversions

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

I have beenconsistently satisfied with Decoder's work, and have rehired their team three times. We will work with them again. The team was reasonably priced and did exceptional work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a department director at a financial services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SAIF is Oregon's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Launch our digital self-service platform and reach $1 million in premium
• Improve SEO on saif.com to increase prospects coming to the site
• Launch PPC to support digital self-service platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Decoder?

Referral

Why did you select Decoder over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Decoder were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Overall: Decoder helped us achieve our goal of reaching over $1 million in premium the first year from our brand new digital self-service platform.
• SEO: Our organic search visibility increased 76% and traffic is up 47%. We now rank in the top 3 for nearly 100 of our targeted keywords and in the top 10 for more than 200 of them.
• PPC: Decoder has helped us generate thousands of quotes from prospective policyholders at an average of just $85 each through paid media. When factoring lifetime value in (which is significant due to our 98%+ policyholder retention), these campaigns have shown a 35x return on investment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Please see previous section for results.

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

Decoder works very quickly and is responsive to requests. All items have been delivered on time and in excellent quality over the past 5 years working together.

What was your primary form of communication with Decoder?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Ben Wills is an extremely agreeable partner, who not only provides the contracted services, but is also constantly bringing forward new opportunities to improve our online presence and conversion rates.

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

I can't think of anything I would have wanted differently from them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital strategist at an art publishing company based in Portland. I oversee digital marketing for our D2C customers through social media, paid advertising, email marketing, and website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Decoder?

We were looking to reach out to prospective clients, so we needed someone to provide us with SEO expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Decoder spent three months optimizing our digital presence through SEO. We started by identifying growth and content opportunities, and once that was done, they gave us their recommendations and implemented improvements to our platform’s keyphrases and backlinking. 

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was the CEO.

How did you come to work with Decoder?

I already worked with the team at Decoders from a previous company.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $9,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–July 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to Decoder,  we’ve increased our visibility by 43%, traffic by 37%, revenue by 33%, and conversion rate by 12%.

How did Decoder perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was very helpful and available throughout the partnership, and they consistently answered all our concerns and questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their vast expertise and how they went above and beyond the original scope of this project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they need to improve on because I was very happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don’t have any specific advice except recommend them for your SEO needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Director of Digital Marketing at BACO Realty. We're a real estate investment company that owns and operates self-storage properties across the US. These properties are operated under our brand Security Public Storage.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Decoder?

We needed someone to improve and manage our digital advertising spend and online conversions through conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Decoder Digital was responsible for managing our Google PPC campaigns as well as executing CRO including research, design, testing, and execution.

On the PPC side, they basically recalibrated all of our digital ad campaigns within Google Ads, modified our strategy, managed everything to stabilize the performance, and helped us transition to an in-house team. 

On the CRO side, they focused on improving our website design to clarify our value props to our potential customers which helped create more interest in renting or reserving storage units with us. The team conducted qualitative and quantitative research before formulating a plan. From there, it was all about testing, design, and implementing designs that improved our conversion rate.

What is the team composition? 

We worked with Ben (Founder & CEO), Amy, and Nate (PPC Managers). We also worked with Amber, Tessa, and Annie (CRO team).

How did you come to work with Decoder?

I’d worked with Decoder before joining BACO Realty. In my prior experience, not only was I was able to see the results that they produced for their clients, but I could also understand how great they were at what they did. I appreciated their style of communication, too.

We did look at 5–6 other companies and went through an extensive due-diligence period. But, in the end, we chose Decoder because they had a boutique service offering that was custom to our business needs.

How much have you invested with them?

Altogether, it was about $75,000 with the PPC and CRO work.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted between May 2019–July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Decoder helped increase our conversion rate by 40%–50% after completing the various CRO tests. Website leads have improved over 20% year-over-year and costs declined by nearly 30% year-over-year.

How did Decoder perform from a project management standpoint?

Decoder was very responsive. We had weekly meetings with their team for all projects. On those calls, we’d go over the prior week’s performance, look at existing action items, and discuss any changes we’d need to make as a result.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Every single person on their team was just so deeply knowledgeable in their field. It felt like each team member had at least a decade of experience in their discipline.

They were also very engaged with our business. The team took the time to understand every element of our business, not just from a marketing perspective but also our overall operations and how marketing affects that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they executed exactly what we hired them to do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't hesitate to contact Ben at Decoder to discuss your project. He will work with you to achieve your goals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing director for iPEC Coaching. We offer tools and training services for coaches, business owners, and other influential leaders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Decoder?

We wanted to optimize our current website and Google AdWords campaigns to increase our lead generation rate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Decoder rebuilt our entire website on a WordPress platform. First, they tested the performance of our existing content to better understand our incoming traffic and the success of our PPC campaigns. We identified several action areas to improve, which would generate immediate results.

They rewrote all of our content, implemented a new tagging system, and redesigned the platform’s architecture based on information found through analysis and heat mapping. They studied our visitors’ navigation habits, how much time they’re spending on the site, and translated that data into lead generation strategies. The team also made sure that our marketing message aligned with our sales message.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Ben (CEO, Decoder), Kelly (Project Manager, Decoder), and Gabe (Graphic Design Lead, Decoder). Jamie (Project Manager & SEO Lead, Decoder) and Kiva (Frontend Development Lead, Decoder) handled the programming aspects of the project.

How did you come to work with Decoder?

A different marketing company introduced me to Ben. We started a dialogue, listing out the various tasks we wanted their team to complete. Ultimately, we just decided to redo the entire website.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $250,000 on their services, not including the media fees.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2014–December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We improved our performance in terms of PPC, SEO, and conversion rates. It was crucial that we worked to drive a higher quality of traffic and also convert it at a higher rate. In our first round of leads after partnering with Decoder, our generation rate increased by over 700%.

To break it down, our overall number of leads skyrocketed from 690 to nearly 15,000. Organic search campaigns yielded a 90% increase in traffic, which attributed to a 1,212% increase in potential customers. In terms of paid search, the number of leads jumped up almost sixfold, while cost-per-lead decreased by 84%.

How did Decoder perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fantastic. The team stayed on top of their work and made an effort to keep us in alignment with our schedule. We mainly interacted via Google Hangouts, using the instant messaging function and some screen sharing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Decoder translated marketing-specific language into common terms to help us understand their processes. They were very efficient in managing our expectations and organizing their workload. In my opinion, they're a top-notch company. They translate goals into valuable results. If their client isn’t satisfied, they’ll offer up other suggestions to keep the project moving forward.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of any.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should give Decoder freedom in the partnership. They’re very smart and intelligent, and they’ll deliver great results, as long as they have the latitude to do so.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the VP of marketing for Bark.us. We're a technology company that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to protect teenagers on the internet by identifying potential dangers and alerting parents. I led all of the organization’s marketing initiatives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Decoder?

Our website’s low conversion rates were hindering our ability to scale our business in terms of paid media. So, in order to optimize growth, we needed to improve our conversion rates.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Following a consumer research phase, Decoder redesigned our website, using strategies that prioritized conversion optimization. They drafted a new content architecture, messaging plan, language style guide, and a collection of imagery and iconography that created a cohesive tone throughout the UI. After completing the design, they coded the entire website.

The new platform better describes our story/services and more directly targets our ideal audiences. They also supported the site with a series of SEO campaigns to boost organic traffic.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a large team that included a conversion optimization specialist, an SEO specialist, a copywriter, a designer, a UX specialist, and a couple of web developers. Ben (CEO, Decoder) coordinated the team.

How did you come to work with Decoder?

I found them through an online search for digital optimization agencies. After narrowing my prospects down to a few candidates and interviewing each, I chose Decoder because they seemed the most aligned with my company’s culture and goals.

Because they were a small firm, they were able to offer skilled resources for my project. Based on their portfolio, it was clear that they had the experience to deliver high-quality work. Additionally, they offered these benefits for a good price.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $30,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We set up an A/B test, launching the new site side-by-side with our original. The updated design’s conversion rate was four times better than the previous iteration.

How did Decoder perform from a project management standpoint?

Decoder’s project management skills were perfect. The team stayed on top of their work, approaching each task with organized and clearly defined milestones. Mainly, we communicated through Slack messages and a shared Google Drive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They follow an effective and unique methodology. Their team has no weaknesses, and they don’t cut corners. They work at a balanced pace—not too slow and not too fast. This structured workflow improves the quality of their work, helping them stand out among other agencies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing really comes to mind regarding potential improvements.

Any advice for potential customers?

If a client already has an established revenue stream and is just looking for opportunities to scale using conversion optimization strategies, then hiring Decoder is a no-brainer.

Often, digital agencies redesign websites based purely on design and messaging. Decoder understands the importance of the consumer, forming their strategies based on user behavior and interactions. In using this feedback to dictate the optimization campaign, they set their clients up for success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of Powerful Prep, an SAT and ACT prep program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Decoder?

We needed an entire website overhaul to fix issues that were overlooked under our previous SEO provider. On the surface, we needed a redesign, but we also needed assistance with conversion rate optimization and overall market research.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They constructed the new site on the back- and front-end in WordPress, including writing copy and building the interface. They had input on every detail of the site, from the font to the logo. They also created questionnaires for market research.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Ben, our main contact, Tessa, who worked on copy, and another colleague who focused on design.

How did you come to work with Decoder?

I started outreach to find a company and Ben responded immediately with a personalized email that stood out from others. I valued the way he didn’t respond to me with a standard template that many companies use. I chose to work with Decoder because of Ben’s customized solutions to our issues.

How much have you invested in them?

We invested around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between June—October 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we began the project, our conversions have been continuously increasing. Compared to the eight months before their work, there is a 50% increase in page-view duration, a 50% decrease in bounce rate, and a significant growth in conversions. Not only did their work have an immediate effect, it has continued to have an impact long after the engagement ended. Our TTM Conversions went from a constant 2.9% to a still-growing 11.8% after working with Decoder. 

How did Decoder perform from a project management standpoint?

They were highly professional at all times. Though we communicated primarily through email, they gave us many opportunities for calls with the entire team for progress reports. Everything about the project was laid out from the beginning. We knew all the details about the time frame, the cost, and the final product from the outset. It was a very predictable process and that was exactly what I wanted.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Decoder showed an ongoing commitment to our success. An example of this came when they recommended us to a different company for some of our needs, knowing that their own offer would be overkill for what we needed. They're a thoughtful team that is dedicated to finding the best solution for the individual. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there wasn’t anything they could have done better.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Hire them as soon as you can afford them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of West Coast Sailing

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online retailer for small sailboats, sailing parts, equipment, and accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Grow online revenue
• Redesign website

SOLUTION

How did you find Decoder?

Online Search

Why did you select Decoder over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Decoder were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

West Coast Sailing hired Decoder Digital initially to help optimize Google Ads. The partnership evolved over time to include a complete business rebranding and new site development project. Key deliverables included meeting/exceeding 500% ROI in Google Ads spending and lifting site conversion rate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

PPC revenue grew 4.6x with a profitable return on ad spend of 625%. Revenue from organic traffic increased 5.8x through SEO, even higher than the 155% traffic growth we saw thanks to a focus on top performing keywords. The site redesign saw a lift in conversion rates and customer retention, resulting in a 40% lift in e-commerce revenue year-over-year.

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

Decoder provided hands on management of the project, meeting at least weekly. Most delays in the web development process were related to internal decision making rather than the Decoder team. Responses were always thoughtful and provided options for next steps with costs and implications.

What was your primary form of communication with Decoder?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Decoder offered a really well-rounded approach to digital marketing, with team members experienced in PPC, SEO, branding, development, design, and even customer research. The ability to tap into different skill sets for different needs was invaluable, without needing to go to another firm.

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

No, we had a great experience and would recommend.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Powell's Books

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Powell's Books is the worlds largest independent bookseller, selling used and new books.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Improve site SEO performance
• Develop and implement SEM strategies

SOLUTION

How did you find Decoder?

Referral

Why did you select Decoder over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Decoder were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Decoder conducted a site assessment to determine ways that Powell's Books could improve our SEO functionality, and identify features and opportunities for improving organic visibility and click-through rates. This included URL formatting and site architecture best practices.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Dramatic improvement in SEO rankings, site performance, and conversion rates.

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

Decoder was very responsive to our requests, provided guidance when appropriate, and always delivered on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Decoder?

Virtual Meeting

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

Decoder was exceptionally flexible as we tried to figure out the best way to implement their recommendations.

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

None that I can think of.