Envolve Strategies

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of a company called the Vigilance Group. We were born out of 9/11 and originally focused on anti-terrorism work, but switched gears to start teaching people that have never been in the military or law enforcement how to recognize danger, be aware of it, and have a safe place. 

After the Virginia Tech shooting where there were so many deaths, we focused on younger populations and college kids, but now we’ve evolved to a place where we are teaching various demographics, from mothers and daughters to whole families. Our goal is to sustain lives and keep people safe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Envolve Strategies?

Before Envolve Strategies approached our company, we had a large social media presence, but weren’t able to successfully market that from a digital perspective. The company had a lot to offer, but we weren’t sure if it was sustainable because we weren’t growing, and I was living job to job. 

I’m a really passionate person, especially about this business and teaching people how to keep themselves safe. When people approached me, I wanted to be able to help them. The company wasn’t organized, and there was no formal pricing structure, so the prices changed based on what people thought they should pay. I wanted to help them in any way that I could, but I was killing my business at that expense. 

We hired Envolve Strategies to help us with our marketing strategy, social media presence, and to grow the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first thing that Envolve Strategies did was to help me get organized. We went through all of the work I’d done with clients over the years and figured out a pricing strategy. I hadn’t kept a close eye on older documents, so they went through those, and figured out a pricing structure from there. Every individual thing that we teach has a set price now. 

Once we got everything organized and structured, we moved on to marketing, and they taught me how I could visually promote myself and the company through the use of social media and the internet. They took many of the words I was using on our marketing platforms already, and turned them into separate marketing pieces. 

They broke up the services we offer into 4–5 different segments, and created individual digital flyers and one-page promos to market them better. 

In addition to digital marketing, Envolve Strategies utilizes print marketing to promote my business. They secured my company a front page article in Nashville’s local newspaper, The Tennessean, which has a huge circulation. 

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Mark (Founding Partner, Fractional CMO).

How did you come to work with Envolve Strategies?

I’ve known Mark for 25 years, and he reached out to me. He’d been watching my company’s social media, and noticed how we were trying to help people. He thought it was important work, and that Envolve Strategies could help us market ourselves more effectively. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together about seven months ago in February 2022, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve probably done more marketing with Envolve Strategies in the last six months than I did in the last 6–10 years, and that’s made a huge difference. In the last two weeks, I’ve had contact with 10 clients, and sometimes that’s how many I would get in a year before working with Envolve Strategies. After the article in The Tennessean, I had six people reach out to set up engagements. 

Envolve Strategies knew that my company could be something special, and we’ve grown with their guidance. They recently asked me how much I could handle, and I told them to shoot for the moon and if I get tired, I’ll tell them. 

The team at Envolve Strategies is a driving force behind my company's success and the reason I’m able to stay in business. 

How did Envolve Strategies perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m in constant communication over the phone with Mark about different ideas and where we can go from here.

They take things at a speed that I can handle and make sure that I understand what they’re saying and doing before moving on to something else. They know what I need, and work with me to figure out the direction we should be moving in and how to get us there.

I’ve been blown away by all of the work that they’ve done and how quickly they’ve been able to help me grow my business. All I did was tell Envolve Strategies what I was trying to do, and they took those ideas and have been building on them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

When Envolve Strategies called me, we were just a small business that didn’t know there was potential to grow. They cared more about growing my company than I did, and they’ve been teaching me how to do that.

They keep me accountable and are always bringing in new ideas for the business and how we can market it. It’s a go-to company for me because they really can do it all. 

Envolve Strategies is working with a lot of different companies that range in size, but one of the things that makes them special is that they never forget about little businesses like mine, and I’m honored to be one of their customers. They always treat me with respect and take the time to be honest about their belief in the growth of this company. 

They’ve given me every piece I need and went above and beyond to teach me about things I didn’t understand. They’re teaching me about the power of the internet and how to communicate and engage with people in a way they’ll respond to. 

This idea was always a passion of mine, but Envolve Strategies has turned it into a real business. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing more that I could ask of them. They’ve given me every piece I need and went above and beyond to teach me about things I didn’t understand. They’re teaching me about the power of the internet and how to communicate and engage with people in a way they’ll respond to. There’s nothing they’re not doing for me and nothing else they could give me. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re interested in growing your company, meet with Envolve Strategies. If you’re local, meet up with them in person, and if you’re not, then Zoom with them so that you can see their passion. I would recommend them for digital presence and growing your company, whether that be through social media or sales.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a small business that helps people find assisted living, independent living, and memory care communities, so we basically act as a senior placement agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Envolve Strategies?

I needed assistance with strategic planning for a marketing plan.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Envolve Strategies helps us with social media and online marketing, and they’ve helped us with strategic planning to support our whole marketing plan. Part of this plan is implementing advertising campaigns on Facebook and other digital channels, but we’re also focusing on developing print marketing materials, like brochures, to leave on hospitals. Moreover, Envolve Strategies has helped us create a newsletter.

What is the team composition?

We’ve mainly worked with Mark (Founding Partner), but Envolve Strategies has other people working on our project behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Envolve Strategies?

Envolve Strategies is local to us. Mark is a friend of a friend and of my brother, too, so he’s more of a personal acquaintance.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around March 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most valuable result we’ve gotten from working with Envolve Strategies has been our strategic planning. They’ve done a phenomenal job at helping me see the whole picture of my marketing. My business partner loves the work that they’ve done, and my customers have responded to our marketing very well.

How did Envolve Strategies perform from a project management standpoint?

Envolve Strategies is great at meeting deadlines and staying on budget. Every time they promise to do something, they do it on time and deliver exactly what they promised. We communicate via email, virtual discussions, and in-person meetings. We especially meet in person when we need to discuss marketing plans.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Envolve Strategies shows a lot of caring and commitment to projects. Mark is very inquisitive, so he asks the questions he needs to understand our business. Once he gathers the information he needs, he provides a great service because he has a better idea of our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open with Mark and let him know the nuts and bolts of your business so that he can help you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of partnerships for an environmental services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Envolve Strategies?

We were creating a new brand of sustainable seafood out of the Gulf of Mexico. We needed a complete branding package, imaging, marketing strategy, communications strategy, and implementation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Envolve Strategies has helped create a platform for traceable seafood. They’ve built a portal that allows consumers to log in and find out every detail about where their fish was caught, who caught it, and if it was safe and sustainable. Alongside this portal, they’ve created the website and done a complete engagement and communications campaign, promoting it throughout the US.

Initially, we brought them down, and they came to several board meetings with the directors and stakeholders to gain input and insight into the needs and goals of the project, as well as the emphasis on sustainability with consumer engagement. Then, Envolve Strategies came back with digital assets in draft form and the entire communication strategy, including the website, marketing components, social media aspects, and printed collateral materials.

Additionally, they’ve written all content through impulse strategies. As they’ve built the website, part of the interview process has been determining some keywords for SEO on the site.

What is the team composition?

We work with the founder and two other team members.

How did you come to work with Envolve Strategies?

We found them through a search engine. They were focused on sustainability issues.

How much have you invested with them?

The first contract was for $20,000, but we’ve escalated the project. In total, we’ve probably spent $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2010, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since it was a brand new program, we started from scratch. Thanks to the program they built, our seafood sells in every US state in the continental US. Considering that it has spread to all 49 states, is still in existence today, and it’s been a model for traceability throughout the US, we’d say it’s highly successful.

How did Envolve Strategies perform from a project management standpoint?

They provide a dashboard so we can know when deliverables are coming and when is the target date. Everything is managed to those dates, and they always meet their targets. We communicate through email, Zoom, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stand out for their commitment to excellence. Also, they focus on anything that has a sustainability lens involved. If they aren’t entirely adept in the topic, they research it until they become a subject matter expert to make great recommendations on what direction we should go.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, if we could clone them, that’d be great.