Digital Brand Expressions

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Viggi Kids and Inventor of the Vidget 3-in-1 Active & Flexible Seating System. Viggi Kids® invents products that inspire learning and well-being. Our goal is to ignite a sense of wonder and excitement in people of all ages. Learning through play is at the very heart of our company mission and values. Viggi Kids® is a WBE Certified Business in New York State.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions, and what were your goals?

PPC, Paid Social, Social, Analytics

SOLUTION

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

DBE was referred by one of our Board Members based on high performing results form another company he is part of leading in the Healthcare Industry.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

From the Discovery process through implementation, DBE listened compassionately to ensure our messaging and marketing goals were on target with industry and consumer trends in the marketplace.

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

I worked with most members of the DBE Team. All the team members provided outstanding quality of service and cared at each step of the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DBE reconfigured our paid search program and within the first month of the reconfiguration, our conversions jumped to a record high and stayed in an upward trend.

They believe in our products and often suggest ideas for marketing outside the scope of the programs they manage simply because they see opportunities to help us help the parents of the children who rely on our products. If you’re looking for team players who really perform, you’ll definitely find that with DBE.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

DBE is very thorough and results oriented. They became an extension of our company and made it feel as though we were all in the same company, working together. They are focused on how to maximize our limited funding to realize the highest ROI possible. Everyone at DBE is a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend their team.

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

Their high level of knowledge in digital marketing. Based on their careful needs assessment process, they were able to identify key words to target that would increase our ROI. Their team carefully managed our marketing budget and communicated changes in a timely manner. They have clear communication within their team and it is clear they all love what they do!

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

Nothing I can think of at this time based on our needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of marketing and communications for a major Japanese manufacturer across the energy, aerospace, and infrastructure industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions?

The company had launched an online branded content website, something like GE Reports, to serve as a platform for our nascent thought leadership program. We wanted to drive search traffic to the site and build an audience. We hired DBE to create a PPC program to drive niche audiences to specific pages within the site, and at the same time to advise us on how to better structure the site for SEO.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to establish a repeat audience and increase brand awareness in North America.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had been working with a domestic Japanese ad agency that did not have the level of specialized knowledge of the North American market we were looking for. We sent out an RFP to several agencies, and I included DBE because I had met Niki Fielding, the CEO, through the American Marketing Association Executive Circle. I and my company were convinced by DBE's in house expertise, and also persuaded by Niki's personal involvement in our account and the dedication of her account team.

Describe the project in detail.

DBE ran our entire AdWords program and built multiple campaigns on the fly. They conducted research to see which of our articles would be most topical, found the best keywords and phrases, managed the bidding and optimization, and provided weekly reports.

What was the team composition?

DBE's team was anywhere from 3-5 people at any given time, but in reality we felt that the whole agency was at our disposal, including the CEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw traffic jump from triple digits to tens of thousands per month, and on exactly the pages that we were targeting. We also were able to gather valuable intel that informed our choice of topics for articles over the following months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly communications locally and monthly team meetings with the Japan team. DBE always made themselves available, no matter the time zone.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their subject matter expertise was second to none. Their flexibility and openness were among the best I've ever worked with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As our program scaled to include Japan and EMEA, it was harder to scale and keep all of our regional teams on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

MMS Education is a 40 year + marketing company with deep experience in the K-12 ed market. We help clients reach, engage and measure success for their programs, products or services in schools and student related markets. As president, I lead a team of strategy, marketing communications, research, project implementation, data analytics and program support professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions?

DBE was hired to review and audit our MMS Education website for SEO, best practices, Google analytics and digital marketing integration.

What were your goals for this project?

MMS desired to clean up and maximize our SEO efforts and learn how to leverage all our digital marketing communications.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were previously working with another vendor for multiple years and thought we needed a fresh approach. Two companies were considered, both known to us through experience and referrals. The deciding factor was the depth of experience and client service. It was the staff that wowed us. DBE was the right fit for the size of the assignment and our organization. The recommendation to hire came from our senior marketing manager and the final decision was from the President.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

A complete review of prior Google analytics, with old keywords was provided. Then an exercise to scope and refine new keywords was initiated. At the same time, a website review provided missing or unusable links and other corrections and edits needed. A report was issued with findings and recommendations. With the final report presentation, our entire marketing team was educated on best practices and all the work needed for success.

What was the team composition?

We worked with the senor management of DBE and their team behind the scenes. It was seamless to our team, without any changes or hiccups.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results of the DBE report were great. We asked DBE to continue to work with us as we corrected and managed the improvement of our website, our analytics and our digital marketing communications. We added appropriate key words and dropped others, added blogs and social media to our marketing mix. The results have exceeded our expectations. We have seen a significant increase in inquiries from our website as a result of improved SEO.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow evolved from good to great. We continually, almost organically, improved our work process and communications as finished the initial report and moved onto specific shared deliverables. We jointed improved a "creative" brief for blog writing and managed deadlines. DBE was always open to suggestions and provided a lot of guidance to us as well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The knowledge of the DBE team is very impressive, however it's how they uniquely applied it to our company, not too much, not too little,that really made the difference. We found many companies know this area and try a one size fits all approach. We felt that the analytics and solutions fit our needs perfectly. And of course, their people have the best client service DNA you could ask for. We're also a client service company so we especially appreciate their extra care. patience and willingness to go above and beyond the exact assignment and add extra value

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were pretty novice in the space when we started and DBE was kind enough to allow us to find our way sometimes as a learning experience. They don't need to be shy in this area, they are the experts.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead the global marketing team for a licensor of early childhood music and movement programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions?

We needed help with our digital marketing. In particular, we needed help in increasing our brand awareness, while efficiently and effectively driving qualified leads online.

What were your goals for this project?

We had three primary goals:

1. Improve our brand awareness among our key target audiences
2. Support our licensees in their efforts to increase family enrollment
3. Support our recruitment of new qualified licensees

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Music Together selected DBE prior to my joining Music Together. When I came on board at Music Together, I was extremely comfortable with DBE as our digital agency, as I had selected and worked with DBE for 5 years at my previous employer, following a competitive triple bid process that led to DBE's selection. Then, as I began working with DBE at Music Together, it quickly became very clear that they were the right partner for what we needed to accomplish at Music Together.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

DBE has focused primarily on planning, buying, and analyzing paid digital media on leading search and social media sites, in support of key aspects of the Music Together business. DBE also provides valuable insight into the ever changing digital landscape.

What was the team composition?

My team and I work closely with the DBE account team, typically via bi-weekly status calls with 1 on 1 contact in between those calls, as appropriate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are pleased that we are on the right track in our digital efforts with DBE.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow has been quite smooth. As mentioned, we have status calls every two weeks, which helps to keep everyone up to date.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am impressed with their passion for and focus on digital marketing. From what I've observed they actively work at staying current with the ever changing digital marketing landscape. Plus, the DBE team is full of genuinely nice people who are easy to work with and always try to do what's best for their clients, including always doing their best to help to connect us with other vendors for projects outside of DBE's areas of expertise.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that comes to mind. I've been very pleased with DBE and would highly recommend them to anyone who needs digital marketing services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am partner in the restaurant company that has worked directly with DBE for approx. 5 years. I oversee any marketing, advertising & brand awareness with the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions?

We had several new locations open within close proximity to us. We experienced a sales dip that appeared to be never ending. We needed to remind guests we were there & also the tried & true nature of our menu.

What were your goals for this project?

To regain lost sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed many digital marketing companies. What impresses us most with DBA was their knowledge of the moving parts. They were very honest about budgets. They were very resourceful when specific projects were beneficial to our brand.

Describe the project in detail.

Google, Facebook awareness for our Princeton, NJ location. After a year of comparing & contracting to a similar CA company - we took all 4 stores over to DBE. Including a 5, alternate concept we own.

What was the team composition?

We had great support and their team was fantastic about communication. Something in a busy world I can go back on to review. Reports & calls were always respectful of my time & any request- no matter how large or small- was always treated with the highest sense of urgency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a massive year over year succes rate. We kept the relativly same budget- but the quick thinking & FULL understanding of not only our brand but digital marketing in general- DBE kept us infront of scrolling eyes!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent! Often times they were waiting on my approval - never the other way around.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Integrity & knowledge. They know what they are doing & are honest about the entire process. Honest about money spending, ideas, tests, and results (even if not favorable).

Are there any areas for improvement?

Truly, nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Serta is the leading bedding manufacturer in the US with the #1 consumer brand. I worked with DBE in two capacities, first as SVP Marketing for Serta international and then as EVP Brand Marketing for Serta at Serta Simmons Bedding.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions?

We hired DBE because we had grown dissatisfied with the work of our previous SEO consultant who had become too focused on technical optimization drivers and not optimizing for the actual experience of our consumers.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to improve the organic ranking for our website on key category search terms, thus driving overall increases in traffic and ultimately conversions through our funnel.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed several possible partners. DBE was referred to me through a mutual networking group that the founder and I both belonged to. That said, we did do a thorough vetting process and found their approach and client focus to be the best among all the partners we reviewed.

Describe the project in detail.

This project was focused on both SEO and social content development. It started with with a thorough content and technical review of our site which resulted in some immediate optimizations.

From there, we developed a monthly review cadence and content publishing schedule that ensured that we were constantly adding to the content footprint of our site and also providing content that became more relevant in other social channels.

What was the team composition?

Are engagement was led by an account manager along with the appropriate functional experts both in technical SEO and content development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From 2011 to 2016 our website traffic grew in excess of 25% P.A. with a corresponding increase in conversions. Our engagement (measured in time on site) was amongst the best in our industry. We continuously ranked among the top sites in the category for natural search.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had an excellent working relationship between our Digital Marketing leader and our account lead at DBE. Communication was frequent and ongoing.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by their sincere interest in our business and the talent they were able to put on our project. It was important for us to feel important to our agency partners (e.g. not to be the little fish in a big pond). We always felt like we were an important account to DBE.

Are there any areas for improvement?

DBE's biggest challenge is the same as for many mid-size in their industry - the ability to retain talent in an incredibly fluid labor market. Over our time with them I have seen the agency take steps to think differently about talent and ensuring continuity of staffing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing at Water Tech Corp, a pool vacuum manufacturer and distributor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions, and what were your goals?

We were looking to establish a digital presence and begin organic and paid marketing on multiple channels.

SOLUTION

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

We chose DBE above all other because they understood our limitations and goals in starting from scratch and didn't try to up-sell a larger package. They worked with us to execute a plan that worked for Water Tech.

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

DBE helped us establish our social media presence and actively manage our paid search, display, and paid social advertising with consistent and strong returns on ad spend. Our team appreciates their partnering mindset—their recommendations consider all aspects of our brand, audiences, and goals, and we know they’ve thoroughly considered multiple options when we strategize, so our team can make decisions with confidence.

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

We worked with a account manager and media specialist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We realized a 300% Increase in website traffic YoY

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had bi-weekly meetings to get the project started and eventually went o monthly meetings once the program was in place.

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

They have easily adjusted to our needs and requirements.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

UX Staffing and Recruiting

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions, and what were your goals?

We needed to drive high quality leads to our website for conversion.

SOLUTION

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

They were recommended to us from a trusted friend, we vetted several potential partners and DBE stood out as the most professional and focused.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

Initial research, anaThey provided research, strategy and implementation of a complete SEO solution, along with recommendations for more varied digital marketing activities.lysis, strategy, recommendation

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

About four, CEO, SEO leads and account management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Very strong ROI from our investment into the SEO strategy. Leads are up about 2-3x from the time prior to our engagement.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Professional, efficient, pragmatic

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

No smoke and mirrors, no 'glam'. They really know their craft and get down to delivering results. Easy to work with, transparent and effective.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a general pediatric practice consisting of five offices in central NJ. I hold the dual role of President/Managing partner and pediatrician.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Brand Expressions, and what were your goals?

We were looking to expand our presence on google and social media in order to drive traffic to our website, increase new patient acquisition and continue strong patient retention.

SOLUTION

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

They were the perfect mix of small enough to give us the individualized attention we wanted but large/experienced enough to provide us with the level of service we needed.

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

Over the last 4 years we have met monthly to review our goals and our campaigns' performance, with steadily increasing engagement and new patient acquisition.

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

Three people, primarily. Account manager, search manager, and someone from higher level management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As mentioned, new patient acquisition via open houses signed up for via our website increased substantially. We've increased our presence online, as desired.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely.

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

We're impressed with their team's accessibility.

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

No.