DX Media Direct

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former VP of sales and marketing at PointBank. We’re a community bank based in Denton County, Texas. In my role, I handled everything related to sales, marketing, and marketing operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DX Media Direct?

Before approaching DX Media Direct, we’d already executed a number of multimedia marketing campaigns but lacked a sufficient way to track our metrics. As a consequence, we weren’t seeing the results we wanted such as driving leads.

DX Media Direct came onboard to provide research and guidance as we established a new marketing direction. They also helped us secure measurable results from our efforts. Our goals were to drive leads into our loan area and nurture a new brand position with our buy local campaign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided a full-service experience, helping us to identify the right strategy and messaging, write our tagline, and cultivate a new brand promise to build our campaigns. For both initiatives, the team designed the creative assets and even produced our first television ads. They bought the schedules and media placements, tracking all of our metrics to drive results.

The buy local campaign was a particularly big brand initiative. With their support, we were able to position ourselves within the community as a bank that supports local companies. We invested an enormous amount of effort into this direction, which allowed the brand to take root and secure more commercial partnerships.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Buddy (Managing Partner, DX Media Direct), but there were other people working on the project.

How did you come to work with DX Media Direct?

Buddy banked with PointBank, so one of our staff knew about his agency.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from June 2011–2015, but I’ve continued to work with them on other projects after leaving PointBank.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Strategically sound campaigns and specific tracking procedures were instrumental in driving leads. The loan initiative was particularly successful; we’d never seen such a volume of media-driven loan call-ins before.

As for the buy local effort, DX Media Direct’s work was so impactful that we increased our business portfolio throughout the campaign. In the first 18 months alone, our commercial business increased by 25%, which was huge.

How did DX Media Direct perform from a project management standpoint?

Buddy was fantastic and went above and beyond our expectations. Although we engaged him to handle our marketing campaigns, he provided strategic consulting on all aspects, regardless of whether it was in the contract. I’ve been in advertising and marketing for 30 years, now, and have never met someone so professional and diligent in my career.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Even though we’re not working together currently, I know that I can call Buddy with a question about any market and have a discussion. He’s willing to give me knowledgeable insights, taking the time and effort to offer advice. This just speaks to how wonderful and helpful they are.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything that they could change. We have such a good relationship because they’re great people and are easy to work with. If they could clone themselves, I would love it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at a CMS Insurance Agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DX Media Direct?

We wanted to advertise our insurance products in multiple states, so we needed a company to handle radio advertising for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We consulted them about the states we wanted to target and then, we came up with the ads. They ran the scripts through the professional services to create more professional advertisements. Each ad is about 5–6 seconds long and targets open enrollment for health insurance and the products that are available.

How did you come to work with DX Media Direct?

I interviewed multiple companies, but I liked DX Media's pricing and the range of services they offered. I haven't looked around for other companies since I found them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent over $100,000, but I know that they also do smaller projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2013 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything was very high-quality. We've seen very good results and received positive feedback from our internal team. We're actually starting a new project with them, which is the best indicator that they've done a great job for us.

How did DX Media Direct perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered everything on time, and we didn't have any glitches. We usually used email and phone to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very professional and have competitive rates.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. We had a very good experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work with the business development team for TransPower Company’s Texas region. We specialize in power savings and CO2 reduction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DX Media Direct?

We had trouble communicating and marketing our product. It's an MPTS (Maximum Power Transfer Solution) that reduces KVAR (dirty power) and resistance in electrical systems. We needed a way to convey our product in a digestible way.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to promote MPTS units in an accessible, non-technical language to drive sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We received a referral and interviewed DX Media Direct. Their qualifications exceeded our expectations.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

DX Media Direct identified which keywords were lost in searches and sent them to our team. They then recreated the deck that we were using for sales. We now have an ongoing digital marketing partnership.

What was the team composition?

We work with Buddy (Managing Partner, DX Media Direct).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re experiencing continual growth. DX Media Direct quickly found ways to talk about MPTS in an accessible manner for broader audiences. As a result, a Texas-based water production system asked us to collaborate with engineers on a pump building update and MPTS implementation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The experience is very smooth, and I have no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their technology is notable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I’ve had no issues with anything they’ve done at this stage.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of Operations for GRT Financial. Our business helps consumers eliminate their unsecured debt, with a goal of helping them become debt free in less than 5 years, at an affordable monthly payment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DX Media Direct?

We were looking for a marketing strategy or medium that reached the national market at a low cost per lead and a profitable ROI. We also wanted some flexibility on different strategies and medium types such as radio, television, and social media.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve easily done at least 20 different projects. It's hard to tell because it's an every week, every month assessment of results with continual tweaks and changes. It's been a collaborative relationship and discussion with them about the different ideas we have, what costs and returns may look like, and development of the creative components.

They've helped us with media placement, content, and creative solutions, which has been for several different mediums, though largely for radio and TV. They produce a few ad options, we give feedback, then agree on a final product. They then finalize the ads and put them into production.

What is the team composition?

We typically work with Buddy, the managing partner, but, his team supports him and our initiatives as a whole.

How did you come to work with DX Media Direct?

I worked with DX Media in a different vertical prior to GRT Financial. Upon joining GRT, I found they had just began using DX Media as a marketing resource a few months prior. It was a pleasant surprise.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since March 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We navigate constant change in the marketplace and lucrative marketing veins, requiring continual monitoring and adaptation. As a result, DX Media is constantly seeking valuable marketing opportunities or mediums, and quickly adapts to limit fluctuation or improve results. Overall, the cost per lead and the ROI have been steady throughout our relationship.

How did DX Media Direct perform from a project management standpoint?

The managing partner, our main point of contact, is collaborative and available whenever we need him. They take the main bolt or vein of what we're trying to accomplish and run with it.

They provide performance reports on a weekly basis that give us insight into our cost per lead, conversion rates, and ROI. Their reporting provides what is needed to visualize the success of our campaigns and quantifies their value.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's the relationship I've had over time with Buddy. He’s a very genuine person and gives clear, translucent feedback as to what is transpiring in the marketing environment, what to expect, and historical data or knowledge that may impact the decision.

You must navigate the ups and downs of market and consumer changes. With this comes the understanding that not all marketing initiatives will be a home-run. But DX Media is very accountable in what they do and will act quickly to find that other marketing source or initiative that gives you the lead you desire. They're honest and will support you any way they can.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven't had any significant challenges with DX Media.

Any advice for potential customers?

Provide them clear reporting on responder data, be fluid and open in terms of automating different marketing and CRM systems.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of marketing at Vista College. We're a full-profit educational institution that owns colleges across Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and some other places. We also have an online division.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DX Media Direct?

We were looking for a full-scale agency to help us with anything related to advertising and marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DX Media Direct handles out traditional marketing, including television advertising and media buying for TV and radio. They shoot footage for our television and digital commercials and manage all the production. In addition, DX Media handles our outdoor advertising and billboards. They're very creative and know what consumers want to see, so they help us develop scripts for our ads and come up with conceptual ideas. Essentially, they’re in charge of the look and feel of our ads. Within our industry, we have a lot of regulations we need to be compliant with, so we work hand in hand with DX Media Direct.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with their president and a senior VP, who is our current executive. We've also worked with a lot of video editors, camera people, and an accounting team.

How did you come to work with them?

I joined the company after the relationship had already started.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent millions of dollars.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2011 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We experience an increase in phone calls, website traffic, and walk-in traffic almost immediately after we air any type of commercial. People are interested in out colleges, which is an indicator that the work DX Media Direct produces has an immediate impact on our business.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a very good relationship with them. Our company is very analytical, so DX Media Direct provides a lot of reports to us. They also give us plenty of resources to make sound decision. Our project has a lot of moving parts, so we have frequent in-person meetings with them and talk on the phone multiple times a day. We also email back and forth all day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're fun, innovative, and know what's going on in the market. Also, they're very attentive and easy to work with. They care about their customers. We've never had to second-guess any of their decisions. I'd highly recommend them to anyone looking for a company with expertise in traditional media.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They get fairly busy, so I'd suggest hiring more people to work on their creative editing side.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of Need Him Global. We’re a ministry that uses different media channels to share the Gospel in places that people wouldn’t traditionally expect.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DX Media Direct?

As a ministry that uses media, we’re always interested in partners who can source competitive advertising rates and help us with creative strategy and execution. As such, we turned to DX Media to handle our all of our marketing needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For nearly a decade, they’ve done everything from content creation to purchasing ad spots and managing ad cycles. Initially, this involved producing videos for TV spots—they were instrumental in sourcing MTV for our first commercials. Since then, they’ve expanded into voicing commercials, producing videos for social media campaigns, and developing strategic audio ads for Pandora Satellite.

We regularly meet to discuss our objectives, current successes, and any trends we’re seeing. Because we engage with about 30,000 people per month, we have a strong idea of what motivates people to reach out for help. We share our insights with their team, and they help us develop follow-up campaigns that would strike the right chord with our target audience.

From a logistical standpoint, they analyze our marketing reach to determine how effective our efforts are. This allows us to decide whether we want to continue with the current strategy or consider adjusting to make a greater impact.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work with their managing partner, who has introduced the rest of the company to our mission.

How did you come to work with DX Media Direct?

They started working with us before my tenure, here, so I don’t know the specifics.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work started in 2010 and is ongoing. We ran our first TV spot in 2010 and started our Pandora campaigns in 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a ministry, it’s essential for us to make donor dollars stretch as far as possible. DX Media Direct has been crucial in providing cost-effective solutions to capitalize on remnant inventory. Instead of buying a handful of spots in primetime, we get hundreds (if not thousands) of spots during off-peak hours for the same investment.

As it turns out, those spots are ideal for us because more people are willing to explore their faith during those times. With DX Media Direct’s guidance, we were able to establish an effective media strategy that suited our budget.

How did DX Media Direct perform from a project management standpoint?

They beat us to the punch every time. Whenever I ask for something within a certain timeframe, they always deliver faster than expected. Recently, I requested some voiceover work, expecting to get it within a month. They managed to complete the task two days later, which was fantastic.

In terms of communication, everyone on the team is willing to help us with our needs. At least once a year, the entire organization gathers to exchange ideas and have a meal together. This helps solidify our partnership, and we’re able to talk with everyone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Building on my previous comment, I appreciate their responsiveness. I’ve never had to ask for something twice, and they often anticipate what I need. Moreover, they’re full of heart and understand what we’re about. They’ve supported the ministry and have actually donated a few services to us. It’s unique to have a partner that’s invested enough in the client’s mission to put their money where their mouth is.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. Based on what we’ve seen from them, we’re completely satisfied with their performance.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the time to explain your goals and needs but also be open to their suggestions. They have a lot of experience and know how to adjust a strategy to get more out of the original idea. Whether it’s changing where to implement ads or doing AB testing to gauge effectiveness, they’re able to advise us in ways that we hadn’t considered before.