DEKSIA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a self storage company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Getting killed by national players in SEO (Search Rankings)

SOLUTION

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

Great reputiion and offering a tailered solution

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

Studied our presence and suggested a massive number of changes that rocketed our search rankings and resulting traffic and sales after implemented.

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

Worked with 3 different specialties, blog, social, google, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Probably doubled our search ranking results and resulting traffic.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent.

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

They listened and provided value that exceeded expectations.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing of Qlarity Access

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are research logistics providers that help bring confidence in market research results to bring clarity to business decisions. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Rebranding the company - with a new presence, name, logo, website, etc
• Exhibiting at conferences - materials and design
• Case study and blog creation and publication

SOLUTION

How did you find DEKSIA?

Referral

Why did you select DEKSIA over others?

• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from DEKSIA were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Deksia helped us rebrand our company on our 27th anniversary. Deksia worked first with our team to get a true understanding of who we are at the core and in turn aligned us with an archetype, which I utilize in everything I do to ensure our content matches our brand. The archetype and I have different personalities, so its a great lens to filter my ideas and make sure that our company has a cohesive and positive story rather than being my personality as the Director of Marketing. 

Past the archetype, they helped create and choose a new name, as well as a new logo, typography, colors, imagery guidelines which all came in an online brand guidelines collection that I can use everywhere. Futher, we received a write up of soft and hard offers as well as general storytelling and messaging that were worked on by both Deksia and our team to perfect which can be used by us on social media, our website, in email communications, and more. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new brand which fits us very well is cohesive and has been well received by the industry. We don't have much that is measurable as it is a bit more of an artistic project, and the goal was more personal to ourselves. We did receive everything that we asked for. 

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

Everything was delivered on time and my team was very responsive. They were always good to pick up the phone and call me if there was an issue or we seemed to be having a communication problem. Especially through the website creation piece, something I was very unfamiliar with, the Deksia team went above and beyond ensuring that we had everything that we needed! 

What was your primary form of communication with DEKSIA?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The way that they saw who we are as a company and as people and totally captured it and continue to do so in further projects that we have done with them. I also greatly appreciated their willingness to help me solve problems, even if some of them were outside the project scope.

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

Our website was launched on time, but it did feel a bit down to the wire, so a bit more time would've been great, but it was tight from both sides. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Digital Marketing Strategist of Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Clackamas County and is responsible to develop and promote county tourism.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• SEO/SEM campaign development

SOLUTION

How did you find DEKSIA?

RFP

Why did you select DEKSIA over others?

• Good value for cost
• Other

How many teammates from DEKSIA were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Manage the "Pay-Per-Click" ("PPC") marketing campaigns, maximizing yearly ad spend of $50,000.00 - $70,000.00, under the direction of the CCTCA Marketing Manager. 
• Have a complete understanding of webpage structure of the basics of HTML3. 
• Establish metrics and methodologies for monthly and quarterly reporting of program performance reviews, indicating program's growth, to CCTCA via Word, PDF, and/or Excel documents. 
• Test and collect data to maximize the best return on investment ("ROI''). 
• Demonstrate the use of basic Content Management System ("CMS") tools to optimize copy on the website to support our content-based strategy. 
• Must have a full understanding of AdSense and other such PPC programs, as well as bid management tools. 
• Understand and analyze effectiveness of traffic on the website using Google Analytics. 
• Write creative and engaging content for PCC ads. 
• Research and compile effective SEM/SEO keywords and identify off-page influences to digital campaigns. 
• Audit our website metadata descriptions and titles to provide keyword-rich recommendations 
• Manage campaign expenses, staying on budget, estimating monthly costs, and reconciling discrepancies. 
• Work collaboratively with CCTCA marketing team, the marketing agency of record, and technical support as part of an integrated marking team. 
• Audit of existing content, metadata and website practices for SEO evaluation and benchmarking for success. 
• Research and analyze competitor advertising and SEO efforts. 
• Provide CCTCA marketing team with content guidelines to better maximize digital marketing content. 
• Create and deliver trainings/information sessions for CCTCA' s local tourism business partners so they can create their own Google ads. 
• Provide a comprehensive report to the marketing lead, on a monthly basis, demonstrating success with increasing visitation of both organic and PPC traffic with lower bounce rates, longer time on site, and higher engagement within appropriate "Cost-Per-Click" ("CPC") spend. This report should be easy to read and include SEO health matrix, troubleshooting, and reviews of program performance and indications of programs growth. The report should be presentable to internal advisory groups, such as the TDC. Reporting that provides CCTCA access to updated information in a dynamic format is preferred. 
• Participate in campaign planning sessions (approximately 4 per year) to identify and prepare the SEM deliverables for each campaign, and provide written recommendations and feedback to best implement both long and short term strategies. of the contract. 

This report will be utilized as the baseline for key performance indicators through the duration of the contact. Identify the success of the Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory brand by conducting an audit of the current placement in the major search engines, website content, as well as evaluate the current ad placements. 

Within 30 days of contract start date, provide a written report to the marketing lead with their recommendations on a plan of action to better improve the performance during the term

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Managing PPC marketing campaigns Content guidelines Google ads training for partners

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

Deksia staff is very responsive and never misses a deadline. They set up regular check-in meetings to ensure deliverables are being met and keep lines of communication open. Post-meeting email summaries help keep us all on the same page and on track.

What was your primary form of communication with DEKSIA?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Responsiveness, thorough reporting, good working relationship

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

Turnover with account managers seems high

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Operations of Irene's Myomassology Institute

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Irene's Myomassology Institute is a nationally accredited massage therapy school with a focus on holistic health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Increase student enrollment
• Improve website plugins
• Efficiently manage our marketing budget

SOLUTION

How did you find DEKSIA?

Referral

Why did you select DEKSIA over others?

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

What was your primary form of communication with DEKSIA?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

Deksia began managing our Google Ad's by cleaning up our existing account. Their team found inefficiencies where we were spending marketing dollars and redirected these items towards increased conversions. In addition to this, their team adjusted the pop ups on our landing page to generate more leads for prospective students. They managed our plugins to ensure that all potential leads were being captured and routed to the appropriate staff members.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Coversions
• Prospective student leads

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

Quick response when working through time sensitive issues. They were always prepared in advance for meetings and followed up on action items that came from these meetings. Overall excellent time management and efficient meetings.

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

Their team is pleasant to work with. They're knowledgeable in their areas of expertise and know how to speak to different audiences that dont have the background knowledge that they possess.

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

There's nothing they need to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing for Tactive, a B2B provider of print, promotional product, and fulfillment services that help brands deliver engaging, tactile experiences through physical marketing materials.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DEKSIA?

We launched Pardot within our Salesforce instance but felt we were unable to create the kind of visual look for our emails and landing pages that best reflected our brand while utilizing the existing content builders. We hired DEKSIA to build easily editable templates that better reflected the style of our branding.

SOLUTION

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

We initially reached out to the company who built our website as we felt they understood our brand. They informed us they were recently acquired by DEKSIA, but that they would likely be able to help us.

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

After a discovery meeting to find out our goals, DEKSIA provided us with a proposal and SOW to ensure we were all aligned on the deliverables. We gave DEKSIA's team several mock-ups of what we were looking for along with access to our brand guide & Pardot account.

DEKSIA built the HTML templates within our system for our review. We made a few minor edits, but ultimately the templates were exactly what we were looking for!

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

We worked with 3 people, a salesperson, a project manager, and a web developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DEKSI provided us with fantastic training videos on how to utilize the templates as well as on-hands training/review. We are still working on sending out our first emails, but we were very pleased with how engaged and helpful the team was!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was seamless - with communication happening consistently through email and several offers to hop on a video chat should we need it.

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

I was impressed with their ability to hop into a platform they weren't familiar with and create something user-friendly. I found their communication cadence to be extremely helpful, as I never felt like we were falling behind the timeline.

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

I can't think of anything they could have done better!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Popular Revolt (formerly TuneLinked Corporation), a social media website for music professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DEKSIA?

We were looking to address concerns within the marketplace and fill a specific niche. Specifically, we wanted to be a directory platform for music professionals to find each other. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I originally signed an agreement with DEKSIA for them to do brand development for us. They helped us with our branding guidelines and with the development of our solution. For one, I needed help with changing our company’s name to Popular Revolt, so I needed trademark support. For that, they gave me an attorney. 

Moreover, around a year ago, they also developed a prototype for our platform. While the prototype was behind a curtain, the demo was available for me to try. They also managed my landing page. Meanwhile, their team also partnered with third parties to handle the more complicated parts of the project. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Josh (Managing Partner), Lauren (Director of Digital Strategy), and Luis (Former Marketing Strategist & Client Growth Hacker). 

How did you come to work with DEKSIA?

I found DEKSIA on Clutch. They were highly rated, and I liked their price for small and medium-sized businesses. DEKSIA was also one of the few branding agencies that didn’t want a percentage of my business. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from October 2017–December 2021. 

For transparency, they’re still billing me for some services right now — I have about $7,000 worth of outstanding invoices that I’ll take care of — but I plan to turn them off this week. I’ve also received a 60-day termination letter from them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

Our engagement started off well, but things didn’t come to fruition. I was a novice at that time. I didn’t know what I didn’t know until I brought in consultants, and that was when everything became clear. To be fair, DEKSIA was forthcoming by saying that some things would be challenging, but they said that the project could be done. In the end, however, they ripped me off and didn’t deliver what I expected. 

To elaborate, they were supposed to serve as advisers, but I never received good advice; it seemed that their founders and leadership team were simply trying to enrich themselves. For instance, the attorney they gave me did nothing but charge billable hours without delivering anything. It was a misappropriation of funds, which I had on bootstrap. 

Moreover, the prototype they created was terrible, and it seemed like it could be done on WordPress. In any case, I still received an $8,000 invoice for it — their “management services” were more expensive than the actual development work quoted by the third-party development firm they used. In hindsight, I should’ve known that that was a red flag. 

Then, the branding guidelines they delivered were also subpar. In fact, I floated the guidelines to professional marketers in the industry, and I was laughed out of the room. They told me that those weren’t brand guidelines — they didn’t know what those were, but they were definitely not what real brand guidelines should look like. When I finally used another vendor, they showed me what real branding should be. 

I was also being charged for Google and Facebook ads even though there was nothing to advertise since we weren’t live yet. I hired a consultant overseas, and she told me that I was getting ripped off. She said that I didn’t need what DEKSIA was giving me, and the team wasn’t even telling me that.

Overall, DEKSIA didn’t understand what I was trying to do. They could help build a website and all the marketing mechanisms within Google and Facebook, but they couldn’t do the type of custom development that I was looking for nor the branding guidelines that I needed. They said they could do it, but they weren’t able to do so at the level that they claimed they could reach. At some point, they also realized that, but they weren’t forthcoming about it.

How did DEKSIA address the challenges that arose?

I didn’t hear anything from their founders and leadership except for when they talked about my outstanding invoices. They didn’t ask me whether I was satisfied with their services or not; they simply asked me to pay up the invoices. 

For comparison, if I told my new vendor that I wasn’t satisfied with their work, they’d call me and ask what they could do to fix the issue. I didn’t get that kind of response from DEKSIA even though I told their CEO I wasn’t satisfied. To be honest, I expected them to address problems since we’d been working together for a long time. Instead, they gave me an incomplete service.

Meanwhile, Lauren was a bright spot in our engagement. He was smart. However, he left and went to DEKSIA’s competitor in the middle of the engagement — he came back a few months later. Luis also left. 

How was project management handled?

Our communication deteriorated over time. In fact, I reached a point where I honestly wouldn’t pick up a phone call from them, so we kept the communication via emails. 

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

They had no strengths. I was a novice, and it seemed that they took advantage of that. I was absolutely unimpressed by them. 

In what specific areas can they improve?

It would have been nice if Josh acknowledged that they didn’t meet our expectations and worked with me to figure out the $8,000 invoice they sent. There was never an attempt to right their wrongs with me. By contrast, if I had the same situation with my clients, I'd try to fix it and even take back the invoice. I wouldn’t want my clients to feel swindled. DEKSIA never showed any attempt to do any of that. 

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

I don’t want to bad-mouth the team, but I want potential clients to know what they can and can’t do with DEKSIA based on my experience. They can help a mom-and-pop business, but they’re not a place for entrepreneurs who want to build a global brand — that’s outside of their skill set.

If you’re going to do something at the same scale as Popular Revolt, look for a team that has done large-scale marketing and branding campaigns. Then, figure out how the team can do those things at the same time or find a team that has relationships with other companies. For instance, the vendor I’m using now has partnerships with a development firm in another country, and that third party is helping us build our solution. 

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on 12/17/2018 

Damien Leach
Founder & CEO, TuneLinked Corporation
Arts, Entertainment & Music
1-10 Employees
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia, United States (24476)
$50,000 to $199,999
Oct 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary

DEKSIA provided research and branding services to fill a position in the music marketplace. Their team is in the process of developing the MVP for the company. The first phase is completed.

Feedback summary

DEKSIA exceeded expectations. Early feedback for the website has been positive. Their team produces a high-quality product within an affordable budget and in a timely manner. Their collaborative approach complemented their approachable management style. Expect a dedicated and involved group. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of TuneLinked Corporation, a social media connection website for music professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DEKSIA?

We were looking to address concerns within the marketplace and fill a specific niche.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DEKSIA began with researching our marketplace to determine what to build within an MVP. We decided on a website to be more cost-efficient and because we can add more functionalities. It will be optimized for mobile.

The platform is for music professionals to connect outside of fan-building pages. Users can look for jobs, gig, and connect with musicians in various areas. Their team completed the branding phase and landing page.

At the start of the new year, we will begin building the finished MVP. Their team is partnering with other companies to build complicated pieces of the solution.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Josh (Managing Partner, DEKSIA), Luis (Business Development Manager, DEKSIA), and Lauren (Digital Specialist, DEKSIA).

How did you come to work with DEKSIA?

I found DEKSIA on Clutch. They were highly rated, and I liked their price point for small to medium-level businesses. DEKSIA was one of the few branding agencies that didn’t want a percentage of my business to engage.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $60,000–$70,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with DEKSIA in October 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received outstanding feedback from the landing page, and have been pleased with DEKSIA’s work so far. Their technical and marketing experience is fantastic.

I didn’t give their team a lot to work on besides a business plan, financial projections, and my vision. They boiled down my idea into something we can now build upon.

If you’re looking for a true partner, DEKSIA is the perfect fit. We bounce ideas off each other, and I’m treated as a valued client. They’ve met every deliverable I’ve asked for with high value and given me detailed direction for moving forward with our project. DEKSIA has gone above and beyond.

How did DEKSIA perform from a project management standpoint?

I have access to their work dashboard but mainly correspond through email. I’m able to visit their office anytime. DEKSIA supplies me with PowerPoint decks that showcase our progress and has a helpful finance department that I can talk to about invoices.

I’m a professional project manager by trade and feel that sometimes tools don’t drive the successfulness of a project, but can disrupt it. I love collaborating with DEKSIA’s team over lunch rather than going back and forth through Microsoft Project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DEKSIA treated me no differently than their high-level clients. Their hands-on approach is a crucial asset of our engagement. They’re collaborative, communicative, and offer an affordable price point. DEKSIA helps companies navigate the waters of being a startup. I feel important working with DEKSIA.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, DEKSIA has done everything I’ve needed them to do. There’s nothing in our agreement that their team hasn’t met or exceeded. The next phase of the project is approaching, and development will be more tangible, so things may change. But working with them for over a year, DEKSIA’s work has been exceptional.

Overall rating

Quality: 5

Cost: 5

Schedule: 5

Willing to refer: 5

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CFO of a Japan-based beauty and wellness company. I am in charge of financial work and product development.

We initially sold hair care products for men, but we are now launching a new brand made for women. We are a product-based e-commerce company and have recently expanded our business in the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DEKSIA?

We needed DEKSIA’s support in rebranding our products and the overall branding of our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DEKSIA initially helped us with the rebranding of our existing products. They changed the names and logos of these products. Then, they created an e-commerce site on Shopify where we sold those. Additionally, they have helped us establish another brand from scratch. For this brand, they were in charge of product label design, product shoots, and the website launch.

DEKSIA also does SEO and content writing services for us on a regular basis. They do marketing research on different strategies and write FDA regulations for our hair-loss treatment products. Their ongoing work for us centers on social media marketing — from selecting Instagram influencers to making YouTube videos to advertise our products.

What is the team composition?

We mainly communicate with Joe (Account Manager). Adam (Director of Strategy) is in charge of building our brand. We also work with two of their designers, Josh and Mary, who are in charge of creating our Shopify website and brand image as well as designing product labels.

How did you come to work with DEKSIA?

We had an initial list of 5–6 companies, and I contacted each of them to get to know more about their branding agency. Since we had not engaged with a branding agency before, we were still unsure if we were willing to pay a huge sum of money for their service. We planned to start looking for a team with affordable services and move on to another company with more expensive pricing if things didn’t work out. 

I thought that DEKSIA was the right team for us because Joe and Adam spoke clearly and impressively about what they do as a company. Their pricing was also fair as compared to other companies — it was not too expensive, but not too cheap as well. We were happy to hire their agency for these reasons.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in November 2020, and our engagement with DEKSIA is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ll definitely rate their work with a 10/10. The website, labels, and images they create for us are all high-quality.

How did DEKSIA perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via email. They have a strict policy of sticking with that platform and using their email domain when contacting us. As for video calls, we regularly use Zoom.

They have amazing and top-notch communication skills. Our CEO is keen on preserving schedules and timelines, and DEKSIA’s team always delivers that. They immediately respond to our requests — their fast communication just sets them apart from other companies.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We are most impressed with the turnaround time of their work. We have a really tight schedule so we tend to set unrealistic timelines, but DEKSIA always delivers. Despite having to keep up with a tight timeline, they still constantly exceed our expectations with their high-quality work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you don’t want to waste their money, you should hire DEKSIA. There are a lot of branding agencies, and you might not always be sure if they provide good services or if their pricing is reasonable. However, you can always rely on DEKSIA to be the dedicated agency that will stand by your company’s side.

Joe is especially communicative and service-oriented. He goes out of his way to provide what we need. That’s the kind of service that their agency can provide, so choose DEKSIA if you’re looking for a company that can get the job done and meets your high expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Unmistakable LEADER™ (a Become Unmistakable company) is a brain-science based leadership development course that takes rising leaders through 6 unique workshops.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DEKSIA?

We hired Kory and Deksia to create a series of case studies to showcase the unique value of the program.

What were your goals for this project?

Prove the value of participating in Unmistakable LEADER. Showcase select activities of the program Establish expert credibility for Director of Learning Highlight the successes of Unmistakable LEADER graduates

SOLUTION

How did you select DEKSIA?

A referral

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

The production process was highly collaborative. As a former DP, it was nice to be able to speak the same planning and technical language. We worked together closely through pre-production, scouting, casting and shooting. Shoot was about 3/4 of a day.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I was very satisfied with the professionalism and expertise of Kory and his team. They did a fantastic job of listening to feedback and adapting in the moment. They moved very quickly on set and the post-production process beat deadlines by one week!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There were four deliverables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA65Ck2zXKw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT1U77A4t1I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49yUX1J9Lk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta3f0JCknLc

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Communication was prompt.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kory's skill, demeanor, and easy-going attitude. The speed of their service was above-average in the Grand Rapids market.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of. Highly recommend!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of operations for the Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan chapter. We’re an industry trade association that supports the commercial construction industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DEKSIA?

We’re preparing to build and open a skilled trades training institute in an effort to help our members attract and train a new generation in the workforce. As we began to raise funds for the project, we needed to develop the branding and marketing needed to attract students to the school. We hired DEKSIA to work on the branding for the capital campaign that would appeal to potential donors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came to them with an idea and they created a brand strategy. Then they developed all of our brand assets like our logo, tag lines, key messaging, archetype, voice, and tone. Now they’re building our website.  

What is the team composition?

I communicate with our project manager almost daily, but we also have a monthly meeting to connect. Early on in the capital campaign phase, we connected with their lead strategist several times a week.

How did you come to work with DEKSIA?

We issued an RFP for support services. Then we reached out to our board of directors to ask if there were marketing firms they would like us to include and one person recommended DEKSIA. In total, we had three companies respond, and we brought in two to interview. Ultimately, our selection committee chose DEKSIA because of their astute awareness of business and how they aligned with our organization.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 so far, but expect to spend $60,000 in total.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I would definitely consider our partnership a success. Although we haven’t launched yet, they’ve delivered all of our materials and have worked efficiently. Within a month, they developed our entire strategy for the capital campaign and it needed very few changes. Our strategist was able to take everything we are and turn it into an effective strategy. That was remarkable.

Additionally, we felt like the graphics department really understood us. We want to elevate the pathway that leads to trade schools like ours, and DEKSIA really spoke to that. They created a logo design and marketing materials for school counselor’s offices and information packets that can compete with other higher education opportunities.

How did DEKSIA perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. Our meetings are very structured and we have very specific goals for each meeting, which helps us stay on track to avoid tangential conversations. We walk away from every meeting with a clear understanding of our to-dos and deadlines. Their system works really well.

Our project manager is also very responsive. He always sets up follow-up meetings so we are held accountable for reviewing documents and moving the project forward.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really understand what we need. They listen, discern it, and turn it into a successful campaign. They’ve done everything right.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the interview process, we told them that we wanted to know who we were going to be working with, so I was very upfront with them when we were assigned a project manager we hadn’t met before. Once I brought it up, they introduced us and it was taken care of. It’s very common for agencies to have a salesperson, but then once the project starts, the client never sees them again. I just wish that they had explained that we would be getting a project manager who wasn’t a part of the interview process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of customer experience for a company that sells nutrition supplements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DEKSIA?

We initially decided to work with DEKSIA to generate new ideas and a strategic direction for growing the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DEKSIA helped us discover new ideas to grow the company. Their initial deliverable was a comprehensive strategy document that evaluated the business for growth opportunities. That exploration looked into additional messages that we can communicate. Our strategy engagement went well, so we decided to continue working with them on digital marketing management and design projects.

Their team executed on the ideas that we discovered. They manage our digital ad spend and advertising campaigns, specifically on Google, Facebook, and YouTube. DEKSIA started by taking over our existing campaigns and continues optimizing them. Our goal is to grow the percentage of spend and profit attributable to digital marketing.

What is the team composition?

We’re in contact with our account manager, Chelsea (Account Manager), and Lauren (Director of Digital Strategy).

How did you come to work with DEKSIA?

One of our founders met one of the partners at DEKSIA at a conference years ago. When we sought additional strategic direction, we naturally decided to talk with DEKSIA. They described their new strategy process, which we decided would be a good exercise for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend roughly $20,000 a month with them. At this point, we’ve probably spent $95,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership began around August 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s hard to measure strategy work. However, we continue to work with them, which is an indication of the value that we found in the opportunities that their process uncovered.

It’s easier to measure the success of digital marketing. For our most expensive campaign, DEKSIA improved the cost of acquiring a customer by 39% within a few weeks of managing it. They keep the budget steady and substantially improve that campaign. We’re getting better results with it while spending less money.

How did DEKSIA perform from a project management standpoint?

DEKSIA has worked well to mesh with our current systems and processes. It’s been a seamless transition in terms of project management. They maintain consistent communication in the form of weekly and monthly meetings. Their team also maintains communication in our Slack channels. They make sure that we’re able to see continual progress across the half-a-dozen projects that we have at any given time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If someone’s wondering which ad agency to hire, I have no reservations recommending them. DEKSIA combines strategic depth with the ability to execute with creativity and quality. They deeply care about their customers. Their team begins with a desire to understand what their customer needs and then caters to that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I wouldn’t call out any particular area of weakness.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be willing to take the time it requires to formulate a good strategy and then trust the strategy. When entering into an engagement with an ad agency, you’re usually motivated by a desire to get work done. However, it’s incredibly valuable to take a few weeks and ensure you set a solid strategic foundation.