Direction.com

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Antrim Properties, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Multifamily Asset Management

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Direction.com to accomplish?

• Build Website
• Search Engine Optimize (SEO)

SOLUTION

How did you find Direction.com?

Referral

Why did you select Direction.com over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Direction.com were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

1. Website Development:
   • Page Template Design
   • Blog Template Design
   • Backend Setup
   • Click-to-Call Integration
   • Google Maps Integration
   • Google Analytics Integration
   • Social Media Links to Your Profiles
   • Mobile Device Friendly/Responsive
   • Contact/Lead Capture Form per Page
   • Build-Out of the Design Into the WordPress CMS Platform
   • Premier-Level Theme With License Key For Updates Included 
2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): 
   • Technical SEO
   • Proper Interlinking
   • Geographic Targeting When Appropriate
   • Header Tags (H1, H2 & H3) Optimizations
   • Keyword & Related Keyword Optimizations
   • Image Alt-tag & Image Title Search Optimization
   • XML Sitemap Check & Implementation If Needed 
   • CAMPAIGN DELIVERABLES Doc ID: 012876aac88b8a6302981435118323570da9ba07 
   • Historical Content Optimization Recommendations
   • Internal & External Link Checks & Redirect/Error Fixes
   • Conversion Optimization (CTA) Checks & Implementations
   • Scanning, Monitoring & Fixing Any Broken In/Outbound Links
   • Search Volume-Backed Research For Editing Post & Page Metas
   • Search Volume-Backed Research For Editing Post & Page Title Tags
   • Site Navigational Hierarchy Change Recommendations if Needed *note: as new pages are developed or new services are offered, the conversion path can change based on user data, persona & intent targeting. 
   • On-Page SEO
   • SEO Strategy-Based Interlinking & Outbound Linking Checks/Optimizations
   • Proper Category & Tag Selection Checks/Optimizations
   • SEO-Researched Header Tags & Hierarchical Header Tag Structure Checks/Optimizations
   • Creative, Engaging Post Title Tag & Meta Description Checks/Optimizations Digital PR / Link Building
   • Link Acquisition Strategy (measured by Domain Authority, Authority Score, Domain Rating, Monthly Organic Traffic)
   • Anchor Text Strategy (exact match, partial match, branded, naked URL, generic)
   • Digital/Email PR Outreach to Authors/Editorials
   • Content Creation For New Posts
   • Editorial Publishing Costs (there will not be any additional charges on your end)
   • Active monitoring and reporting of your top competitors' backlink profiles to see if any opportunities arise to acquire potential backlinks
   • Alert you of any potential opportunities to be quoted on other websites (via HARO)
   • Directory Listing Recommendations for websites where the company profile can only be created on your end (ex. Clutch.co)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Website Leads as percentage of all lead sources = 67% (# 1 source of all leads) 
• Website Leads converting to new paying customers (leases) = 39% (# 1 source of all new customers)

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

Delivered items on time. Ultra-fast, knowledgeable, and personable responses throughout the entire project.

What was your primary form of communication with Direction.com?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their competency, professionalism, and response times were incredibly impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Direction.com could have done differently?

None

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and CEO of an e-commerce business called Sports Technology Labs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

We hired them for their SEO services. We were looking to improve our organic search rankings on Google.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Direction provides us with SEO services. They’ve helped us with keyword research, backlinking, internal linking, and content writing. Moreover, they’ve also added meta descriptions to our website and educated me about SEO and conversion rate optimization.

What is the team composition?

We work with various people from their company, including Chris (CEO), Ian (COO), Nick (Business Development Manager), and an account manager.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $50,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Direction in February 2021, and our collaboration is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With Direction’s help, we’ve managed to grow our business over 15x — in fact, our sales went up by 300% during the first month of the engagement. Apart from that, we’ve also noticed improvements in terms of our conversion rate and customer retention.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done a great job from a project management standpoint. They’re always on time for our calls and get back to us quickly whenever we need help with anything. For managing and tracking tasks, they use an internal dashboard. For communication, we mainly use email and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What stands out to us is that Direction really cares about the success of our business — they’re dedicated to delivering the results we need. Also, they do everything right, and we can’t imagine working with another SEO company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a fitness business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

We needed a website redesign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Direction built a WordPress website from scratch using inspiration from our old website. We initially sent photos and copy to the team. Also, we went through other websites and emailed them examples of what we liked.

What is the team composition?

We were in contact with three people, but two were mainly building the website.

How did you come to work with Direction?

I found them on Google and thought they’d be the best fit. Their price range was within my budget, and they seemed to have a lot of good reviews online.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $3,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from August–October 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received a lot of positive feedback, and the website was easy to navigate.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive throughout the engagement. We mainly communicated via email, and sometimes we did video calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were a small team, so we got a lot of personal attention. We could reach out to them, and they listened to us. It was a one-on-one experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did a great job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do everything in a timely fashion. They gave us a lot of things to do in the process, and we just got them done and sent them back — I think that’s why it worked out well for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an owner of Diligent Exterior Remodeling. We remodel exterior roofing, siding, windows, doors, rock, and gutters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

We needed help getting our name out there to build our brand. The goal was for people to see our website on Google to get local customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Direction implements SEO strategies for us. They also rebuilt our entire website to optimize it for SEO. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with 3–4 people from Direction, including Chris (CEO). The team also includes developers and two account managers assigned to our project.

How did you come to work with Direction?

I met Chris when I was young. After having a bad experience with a previous company, I realized Chris did SEO, so I reached out to him. I exposed our situation to him, and he hopped on the opportunity to talk to me; that’s how it all started. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spend roughly $1,200 a month. In total, we’ve spent around $13,200 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Direction’s SEO campaign has been excellent and has clearly worked. When we brought them on, we weren’t ranking on Google in any scenario; Chris was able to show me why, and since then, Direction has gotten us ranking extremely high. Moreover, we’re now getting calls, which we weren’t before. It’s been very noticeable that whatever the Direction team is working on or adjusting, that’s what we start getting calls on, specifically.

Additionally, they’re really open and honest about things that they can improve. For example, they’ll tell us that when numbers are low, their team will look into why and make the changes needed every month. Whenever keywords have been in the red, they’ve done whatever they needed to ensure they’re green, which has been extremely helpful.

Them rebuilding our website was also fantastic and more than we could have asked for. We didn’t know they were redoing the site and had no expectations. Direction saw the need for changes to optimize the site for the SEO campaign, and they completely revamped it. Our site now looks like we’d always envisioned, and we didn’t have to tell them what we wanted  — the Direction team just knew. 

We’re a newer company, so to see where we’re at versus where we were before is phenomenal. Direction has done everything we’ve asked for and then some, and their quality of service has been fantastic. We’d had such a bad experience with our previous provider that coming to Direction has been a fantastic transfer. We don’t plan on going to anyone else any time soon.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic at project management. Except for the site revamping, they’ve let me know what they’re doing every step of the way. We have monthly calls that are really helpful. They keep up with these monthly meetings to see how things are going, and they show us every step of the way, making sure that the numbers are reflected how they should.

I’ve also had phone calls and chats with the owner; he’s always been able to answer any of my questions and never hesitates to get on a call with me. I have regular calls with at least one account manager every month.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed by the way that Direction manages their customers. This starts from the top down; Chris treats me with respect and knows exactly what I need to do. From the day we signed the contract, we’ve felt like part of the Direction family; their whole team emailed us immediately to welcome us.

I also appreciate their attention to detail. When the team reached out to us, it wasn’t an automated email; they each wrote a personal welcome message. Direction understands that any company that goes with them is making an investment — they value that investment, which is great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to improve; I wouldn’t change anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their advice, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Additionally, be specific in your needs and what you’re trying to accomplish. From top to bottom, the entire Direction team knows exactly what they need to do and how to do it. Just ask the questions, and you’ll be good to go.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and co-founder of Sloan School of Music, a music instrument retailer and music lessons facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Frederick, Maryland. We’ve been open for about a year and a half.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

We hired Direction to build our website and manage our SEO efforts, mainly because we needed a new way for people to find us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To kickstart our project, we shared our business plan with Direction. We also had a couple of meetings and consultations where they worked on familiarizing themselves with our brand and our identity. They then provided a team of designers and came up with our company logo. 

After that, they worked with us to figure out our website’s layout. They produced a lot of artwork and copies, too. The team now continues to create blogs for us, and they spearhead our website maintenance and SEO efforts.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with 2–3 people from Direction, including Chris (CEO & Founder), Ian (COO), and Connor (Marketing Director).

How did you come to work with Direction?

We had a family reference to the company, so that was how we found the Direction team. After meeting with them and talking with their people, we saw that they were a good fit. They also had a positive working environment, and they were willing to listen to our ideas.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $25,000–$30,000. From that, we’ve spent $10,000–$15,000 on our website. The rest of the budget has been spread out monthly on an ongoing SEO campaign.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership began in May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now use the logo in our building, business cards, and pretty much everything. Direction has ensured that our ideas and vision have been represented properly on our website. More importantly, the website that they’ve built for us gives us daily leads for music lessons. From a metrics perspective, over the course of our website’s life, we’ve generated more than 500 leads.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re super organized. We normally get in touch with them through email, but we also communicate through Google, Zoom, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I get the feeling that Direction really wants to do right by us; they’re very patient, thorough, responsive, and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t really have any criticism or negative feedback about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you want your website to do. Don’t make your website be everything to everybody. If you have a website in mind with a specific function, Direction will help you make that happen.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and general manager for a hospitality company. We host custom experienced-based vacations at our property, The Pura Vida House, in Costa Rica. We host themed vacations centered around tennis, pickleball, and yoga, but also help organize friends and family trips.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

We needed to generate more leads by enhancing our SEO and online visibility.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled all of our SEO efforts. To start the project, they did extensive research and discovery.

Since then, they’ve led our blogging efforts. Throughout the process, they’ve built backlinks, managed guest posts, and handled backend analytics and reporting.

They also supported technical SEO efforts by revamping the entire blog section of our website. In doing so, they made the design more user-friendly and featured several links to drive leads.

They also helped educate me on SEO. They explained how keyword research and backlinking works. Even when I suggested titles or topics for blogs, they did the research to identify trends and identified better titles.

What is the team composition?

I was always able to talk to Chris (CEO); he was readily accessible. However, Connor (Marketing Director) and two other people were the leads on our project.  

How did you come to work with Direction?

A mutual friend recommended them. Chris and I are also in the same business group. Once we started talking, it was clear they could help us and they were a good fit.

How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $25,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2020 and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received a ton of leads since we brought them on. We’re now booked out through next year. We’ve been very happy with the services they’ve provided.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

They always set expectations and delivered accordingly. They are punctual and proactive as well, so I never have to reach out to them. Instead, they reach out to us first. 

They always provide us with summaries of each meeting and are proactive about scheduling upcoming meetings. I’ve definitely recommended them to several people.

We usually communicate via Zoom calls, but if I’m available, we have a phone call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They get results. They’re obviously very professional and they clearly know their craft, but what impresses me most is their deliverables.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a clear vision of what your goals are. Make sure you clearly state what you expect from the partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner and chief revenue officer (CRO) for ERC Today. Our company helps organizations determine their eligibility for Employee Retention Credit. We help them claim funding upwards of thousands to millions of dollars.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

As a new startup, we needed a development partner to set up a temporary website so that we could start taking on customers immediately. Every minute that we didn’t have a site was thousands of dollars in lost opportunities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Direction developed our temporary WordPress site. We white-boarded the site virtually — I delivered the content along with some ideas, and they came up with the design concept that expanded on our previous generic site. By the end of the week, we had something we could work with. 

On the site, customers can apply for an employee retention credit to see if they qualify. As time has gone on, the site has obviously grown and grown. 

What’s been really helpful is that they’ve taken the time to educate me about the site so that I can add content and expand it as needed. I’m able to support my site at the turn of a dime without needing to call them.

What is the team composition? 

Chris (Owner, Direction) and the CFO took the jobs on themselves, which I didn’t expect at all. Chris is still my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Direction?

I interviewed 2–3 companies and got a referral for Direction. One of my partners had used them, and I’d liked what they’d done. That partner had actually known Chris since he was a child, which resonated with me, too.

Within minutes of talking to Chris, I knew that we’d have a good relationship. I learned his background, got a better idea of what he could do, and saw that he could do my project quickly. 

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $5,000 with them so far, and it’s been the best $5,000 I’ve spent in my entire life.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in April 2021 and lasted about a week. We still work with them on the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

What Chris and his team have done in just seven days has gone beyond my expectations. They’ve provided, in my opinion, a masterpiece. On top of that, the attention and amount of clients we’ve gotten from their support has been outstanding. I owe a majority of the money that this site is generating to Direction — we’re going to be a billion-dollar company.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

Service is everything, especially when you have a company like mine that’s moving a million miles an hour. Having a team like Direction that I can lean in on is great. They’re so responsive. When I text or email, I usually get a reply within a couple of hours. In fact, I’ve spoken to them at 1 a.m. sometimes. We still communicate daily.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I know I’m not, but I feel like I’m their only customer — it’s that kind of experience. Their service is second to none.

I’d also say they’re somewhat visionaries. When we were talking through site ideas, they gave some incredible suggestions that I hadn’t even thought of. In that sense, they’re more like a partner. I’ve become very close friends with them in a short amount of time. They’re almost like family.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wish they had a 24-hour team, but everyone’s got to sleep eventually! Really, there’s nothing for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re such a good partner that I’m now referring clients of ours to them. If anyone is looking to get a phenomenal website done with innovative thinking, these are the guys. Not only will they provide you with what you need, but they’ll also challenge you with directions that you haven’t even thought of. It’s a different way of thinking.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of Alvarez LLC, a reseller of IT products and services to the federal government.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction?

Our website was relatively stale; we needed to update and improve the outward-facing features. We needed a really good site that could be a resource for people looking to do business with the federal government.

Additionally, our biggest vehicle, the program office, needed our website to comply with their regulations. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They revamped our website completely. Before this project, we were on Craft CMS, but then they migrated us to WordPress.

They utilized a lot of the old copy but made some improvements to our existing collateral. They included our documents, such as a capability statement and a partner flyer, and ordering docks for our contract vehicle.

What is the team composition?

During the big push, I interfaced with a larger team led by Ian (COO). There were a few other people that I either worked with directly or popped up in Basecamp, including a lead graphic designer.

How did you come to work with Direction?

I started with a Google search. A bunch of companies came up and I stumbled across a site like Clutch. The reviews were pretty good and the range I was seeing for what we wanted to spend and what we wanted was also very appropriate for our needs.

How much have you invested in them?

It was between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We formally engaged with Direction in May and we went live in mid-July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have formal metrics, but we did come into compliance with our contract vehicle program management office. We have also had a significant amount of feedback from our partners saying the website looks great. It was outdated before and it was noticed within the community.

How did Direction perform from a project management standpoint?

I was interfacing with Ian and he performed very well. He was very easy to work with, on top of his stuff, and just very open. He was able to accommodate our requests and a lot of our direction as to where we wanted the website to go relatively easily.

After the project ended, I still kept in contact to knock off the last touches. We took a break for a while and I reengaged with Ian and he has been really responsive and that is how he has been throughout the whole period.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stood out for the description of their approach and their go-to market approach. They were very specific in what they would do and that was what we were looking for. They met all of the criteria.

The pricing seemed right where we wanted it to be. Between the price point and their business model, Chris (CEO) at Direction has it in a pretty good spot.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It isn’t negative, but they were maybe too eager to meet my needs. When I asked them to make changes, they said they would be able to do it, but when I went to check it out, I saw that they missed some things.

Eventually, they whittled down each task until it was all complete. They were very eager to get things done for us and had a very positive attitude. Unfortunately, I think that might have led to a rush to finish the product.

They could manage expectations better, work methodically, and let the client know how it's progressing. They could slow down a little bit and be a little more careful. 

When I followed up with Ian and provided feedback, he was totally cool with all of my suggestions. I can be a picky executive and customer, and he handled that very well. They are nice, professional, and good at what they do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be involved in the project. There is a creative aspect to websites as well as an image aspect. If it is your company, you want to be on top of everything. Just prepare to be more hands-on. They worked with us hand-in-hand, and I really appreciated that. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a private practice that specializes in naturopathic medicine. I describe being a naturopathic physician as being an internist of the natural world. I aim to give my patients a better understanding of their health through a more natural point of view.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Direction, Inc.?

I needed more visibility on the internet. I’ve been in practice for 20 years, but I’ve had zero presence online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team started working on my existing website through development & design services. It wasn’t optimized, but they upgraded the platform into something more useful. They produce blogs monthly and perform SEO services as well. For keyword research, we meet regularly to ensure we’re choosing the right words to target.

What is the team composition?

I had two project managers. One of them moved on, but I’m now working with another point person.

How did you come to work with Direction, Inc.?

I knew the owner of Direction, Inc., through a business organization.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested around $16,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Direction, Inc. in June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team at Direction, Inc. took me from zero to ranking in the top three within a few months. More people are finding my services and scheduling appointments with me.

How did Direction, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team communicates very well, remaining responsive even when they’re not working. Even when I tell them to wait to respond, they do anyway. If I bring up something that needs changing, they also do that immediately.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Along with being easy to work with, the team at Direction, Inc. does exactly what they say they’re going to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. Their team is fantastic in all aspects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s required if you want to advertise your business. Just in my experience, my practice went from zero to nearly number one in a matter of months. Their team knows what they’re doing. I completely trust Direction, Inc. Customers need to do something like this to promote themselves.