Execo

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Kinetix

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide a full suite of B2B IT services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Optimize SEO
• Marketing-related content creation
• Social media management & optimization

SOLUTION

How did you find Execo?

Online Search

Why did you select Execo over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Industry knowledge/expertise

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

We partnered with Execo to initially help us create a high-level startegic marketing plan which they delivered on. We then partnered with Execo for the ongoing execution of that strategy which includes:

• SEO
• Blog content creation
• Social media management
• Email campaigns

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For the initial project, it was a presentation and PDF that outlined our marketing strategy. For the ongoing project, the measurable outcomes include:

• Weekly blog posts
• Weekly social media updates
• Monthly reports

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

Execo's project management is excellent:

• Every task has a clear owner & a deadline, and those deadlines have been met 100% of the time. 
• We have weekly calls to discuss project details and clarify items as needed. 
• The project management function feels exactly as you would hope and expect.

What was your primary form of communication with Execo?

Virtual Meeting

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

The most impressive things I can describe about working with Execo are:

1. Operational excellence - things happen as promised, on time, and with high quality. 
2. The team - everyone I have worked at with Execo has been a rock star. Execo is highly competent and personable. I enjoy working with them as much as I do with my internal teams.
3. The process - having navigated through the process of strategy creation to execution, it is very logical, backed by data and alleviated many concerns I had about doing things the "right way".

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

No, my expectations have been exceeded.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

5th Kind is a cloud-based collaborative digital asset management platform. I'm the COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Marketing Group, and what were your goals?

We wanted to build more awareness, thought leadership and drive more qualified leads into our sales pipeline.

SOLUTION

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

We came across Aspire and Aaron through an ex-colleague who had worked with them in the past and had excellent experiences as well.

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

They provided us with several services:

• Developed and executed of monthly marketing campaigns
• Wrote, published multiple SEO-optimized blog posts per month to support campaign objectives
• Created, designed, published, and promoted multiple lead magnet assets (i.e., checklist, assessment, eBook, whitepaper, case study)
• Wrote, implement, and send support email campaigns and nurtures
• Wrote, implemented, manage, and optimize paid ads on appropriate channels
• Curated articles for posting on social media
• Provided regular social publishing on major platforms 3 times a week
• Developed and sent monthly newsletter to prospects
• Provided fractional Marketing Director strategy consulting and support and fractional Marketing Department support including graphic design, HubSpot Operations, and other marketing needs

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

We worked with Aaron (the owner, manager, strategy), Laura (content marketing), and Ashley (Social). But there was also an extended team that we did not interface with as frequently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increased marketing leads by 2.6X and website visits by 3.1X over a ~4-5 month period.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly calls between our GTM teams (sales, marketing, leadership) and the Aspire team. We also had weekly meetings between our Marketing Director and the Aspire team for additional execution and planning. They would also proactively reach out and interview Subject Matter Experts to develop content. We also utilized Slack. Communications was always great and they are super responsive.

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

They're a one stop shop for all our digital marketing needs. They were able to quickly learn about our business, industry and customers. They were quick to scale up and deliver thoughtful and engaging campaigns to drive leads.

Additionally, Aaron was always sensitive of our marketing budget and optimized our campaigns around how much we could spend. Lastly, the team was just so easy to work with and really understand how to work with clients.

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

No. They are an ideal digital marketing services firm to work with!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I served as the fractional CMO of a software and services company in the FinTech space

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Marketing Group?

The company recently raised funds so they could scale an attractive business. We hired Aspire to lead the charge in standing up a content marketing-based inbound marketing program. From strategy to initial implementation to ongoing optimization.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We compared 6 different agencies and felt Aspire would give us access to their more senior "strategic" partners than others who were going to pass us off to an employee with low-experience. We also felt like Aspire was willing to be "part of the team" and dig in to our specific needs, not an agency who was going to lift and shift work from other clients.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Develop content marketing strategy, stand up HubSpot, create content (lead gen magnets and ongoing newsletter communications), design assets, place ads on Google and LinkedIn, work with BDRs to ensure seamless handoff, continuously measure and optimize based on results

What was the team composition?

Worked closely with Aaron, the Founder. He mainly managed his team of content creators and designers "behind the scenes"

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

4X+ increase in Marketing Qualified Leads

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless - as if Aspire was part of the team

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their willingness to go above and beyond to get the job done is impressive, even when market feedback dictated changes to the plan.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

We should have hired them sooner!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Head of Sales at a SaaS company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Marketing Group, and what were your goals?

Aspire Marketing Group helped up shape our digital marketing strategy and execute it swiftly. This included researching SEO, setting up the blog and creating its content, sync contacts on CMS platform, create Google Ads campaigns and assist in other paid opportunities, email campaigns (newsletter, sales campaigns), social media posts, in addition to providing feedback and insights on separate internal projects.

SOLUTION

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

Expertise, proven track record in digital marketing, and knowledge about SaaS services and industry.

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

Work started with SEO strategy and setting up the blog, in addition to CMS management and emailing services (set content tone, create content, send campaigns, ...). Collaboration then moved to broader topics. Main tools used include: HubSpot, SEMrush.

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

We worked with the CEO and founder, inbound marketing manager, project coordinator, and graphic designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• All blog articles have been delivered on time. E-book created as well.
• Monthly newsletter delivered on time.
• Google Ads are yielding a positive ROI.
• HubSpot setup and management offer synced data for better CMS management.
• Contact-based actions using workflows delivered.
• SEO improving due to organic keywords targeted.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely responsive team, one of the aspects we like the most about our collaboration. We have weekly online meetings to discuss topics at hand, in addition to a shared Slack channel where we communicate daily. All deadlines are met.

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

Their team was knowledgeable about the topics at hand, and they suggested relevant marketing actions. They went the extra mile by taking the initiative to open up new discussion topics and recommending different areas of improvement. They provided swift and concise communication with all team members.

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

All good.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the Co-Founders of The E-Reading Teacher. We provide virtual tutoring for elementary aged students. Our lessons are one-on-one facilitated by certified teachers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Marketing Group?

We are a startup company co-founded by educators. We needed someone to assist with developing a marketing plan and provide guidance as to how to best utilize funds and time to build a customer base. Aaron with the Aspire Marketing Group has been the person to provide the service and support we needed.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed several consultants to assist with launching the company's marketing plan. We selected Aspire because of the personalized approach with supporting our company and expertise we believed was necessary.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We initially focused on learning about the science of marketing. Aaron facilitated a process with us to identify our buyer's persona which led to a strategic marketing plan. The plan has provided not only a structure for us with marketing but specific strategies to implement. Aaron also has provided a high level of assistance with designing our website and troubleshooting.

What was the team composition?

Our team has worked closely with Aaron. He is always timely with responding and extremely professional.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The company is growing predominantly through customer referrals and face-to-face meetings with parents and school staff. Aaron's recommendations have proven effective.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Meetings are scheduled with Aaron based on needs. He is accommodating to the multiple schedules among the E-Reading Teacher team members.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We commend their commitment to customer service, knowledge of marketing, and professionalism.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

I would change anything about our experience with Aspire and value the partnership that has been established.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a visual studio specializing in custom visual content for healthcare, pharma and medtech marketing and PR.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Marketing Group?

We were wanting to get some marketing basics set up for our company (and the basic training) to run some essential marketing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found several potential candidates on Upwork and decided based on their posted profiles that Aspire was my first choice. Fortunately, Aspire was available for the work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After several discovery sessions where Aspire learned about our business and goals, they did some market research, and they delivered to us the following deliverables over a series of a few weeks:

• Business Intro & Buyer Persona Buildout
• SEO and Topic Research Based on Personas (including key pillar topics, supporting keywords, and content recommendations for each persona, and guidance, as needed, to update Google Ads campaigns to take advantage of this keyword research)
• Marketing Support and Audit (including setup and basic training in Google Analytics, Google Ads, and some additional consulting)

What was the team composition?

I worked with the president/principal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Based on the recommendations and advice from Aaron at Aspire, we have designed our quarterly newsletter, set up the blog on our site ready for publishing, and gathered a great list of future blog post titles/ideas.

We made the changes to our website that Aspire was recommending and we feel it speaks much more effectively to our ideal client and appears much more professional. In just the last month since making these basic SEO changes we've seen an increase of 50% in new users on the site. We expect this to increase substantially when we launch our blog and Google Ads (both of which will incorporate Aspire's direction). 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. We had several discovery calls to provide Aspire with the information they needed about our business, then we started receiving deliverables promptly. Aaron responded promptly to our questions via email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of work and customized insights about our business and our ideal clients were excellent.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

We were very satisfied with Aspire's service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the SVP of Sales and Development for Courtroom Animation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Marketing Group, and what were your goals?

We were looking to partner with Aspire for multiple reasons. We really had not figured out a marketing strategy, and needed to hone in on how we were going to gain market share of our specific demographics, along with streamlining our entire CRM while creating automation in processes to help create more efficient use of our time.

SOLUTION

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

We found Aaron on UpWork and we really liked his HubSpot (CRM) abilities. Our entire team was very green to CRM and how to use it and access its fulll potential. From the initial calls he had great rapport with us and was very easy to talk to and understood the entirety of our needs. He made sure to have us understand this is a partnership, not just a business transaction - and he has held that promise!

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

First Aaron and team went through a discovery of our types of clients, and created the buyers journeys. After assessing the specific types of clients and their journeys, Aspire then created a gameplan of how to increase our organic and paid SEO searches through multiple marketing tools that we had not used. Aaron and team also helped us with HubSpot and how to create the most automated client interractions possible along with creating MQLs to then turn into SQLs.

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

We worked with Aaron Marks, President of Aspire, as well as Laura Rodgers, Inbound Marketing Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far everything that Aaron and team has touched has been nothing short of amazing. From creating organic search material to automating Lead funnels in HubSpot - Aaron and his team have really shown their skills and we are starting to see results.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It has been very effective. We created a ClickUp site for our team and Aspire and that has been crucial in hitting timelines as well as edits, etc. to marketing material and assets. We also have a Slack channel that we reach out to Aaron on whenever we need something and he always responds in a prompt amount of time.

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

Aspire has really shown us the strength and usefulness of how marketing and sales can come together to create new sales opportunities while growing our market share and educating our clients. Aspire for us is a one-stop shop for everything from SEO, Marketing, and Graphic Design. They have been playing a crucial part in the growth of our company this year.

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

No - Aaron and Aspire run a tight ship. Very very professional and accommodating to anyone regardless of Marketing/SEO knowledge. The only thing I would have done differently is wish we found Aspire earlier!!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Mighty. We’re a legal tech startup focusing on helping service providers in the personal injury space keep track of their financial interests and personal intricacies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bandalier?

We were trying to figure out how to acquire more customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They dedicated people, processes, and expertise to help us strategize how to do cold prospecting as a channel to acquire new users. Their team set up systems in order to do that and then delivered the people and personnel to effectuate those goals.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Jeremy (Founder & CEO). He helped advise on some strategies. I also worked with Anton (Director of Client Delivery) who advised on strategy coaching and tactical advice. In addition, I worked with a few of their sales reps — Abby (Inside Sales Representative), Dylan (Assistant Sales Manager), and a couple of others.

How did you come to work with Bandalier?

I knew Jeremey from a previous role he was in. I thought their business model was really smart — taking college students and recent graduates in areas that aren’t as expensive as New York City and being able to utilize talent there and do cold prospecting really well.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from October 2018–August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Bandalier brought in first-class talent. They helped us hit some of our sales goals that we wouldn’t have been able to hit without them. Their team brought a level of expertise and professionalism that increased our trajectory.

How did Bandalier perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. They’re very professional and good at project management. Their people are very attentive, and they’re amazing at that. We communicated through phone calls, Zoom, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with their consistency.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a very clear sense of your own business, customers, and goals. Bandalier will slot right in and fill in your needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Revenue and Marketing Operations manager, and oversee the team of SDRs as well. I work with everything involved with our go to market strategy.

Our company provides an end-to-end Workforce Management software to help build, manage and engage employees in hospitality. We are located in NYC and serve clients all over the world, with a majority of our clients being in the US and UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bandalier?

We needed to quickly increase our outbound sales activity and the number of opportunities created from our efforts. Without the ability to increase internal headcount, we needed another solution that would be a quick fix to helping us scale.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to find similar quality of output from a team that was not in house. Our company was looking to grow at a very fast rate, so the goal was to have this team get on board and help with these efforts. The main form of measurement was the number of new opportunities that were created by the Bandalier team.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was not here for the initial vetting of Bandalier, but believe it was through a referral. They were highly rated and the management team there was great to work with throughout the process.

Describe the project in detail.

The project consisted of 3 Bandalier SDRs working as if they were part of Harri. They were measured on the same KPIs (Calls made, emails sent, social messaging, etc)and outcomes (Number of meetings/opportunities booked).

They also reported to Harri in the same way that the internal reps did. We wanted the outsourced team to feel that they were part of the team as much as possible, so they were invited to all sales meetings via video conferencing.

The team grew through trainings provided by Bandalier and Harri during the partnership.

What was the team composition?

We worked very close with the Founder and Director of Client Delivery. They were extremely helpful and communicated well. We worked with them to help the team composition and management align with what we had in mind.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to triple our monthly recurring revenue during the project. Also, our meeting stick rates were well above industry standards. The team performed at a high level and the trust between our management group and the reps allowed them to take on new, more advanced outreach.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked very closely with one another. This included daily communication through Slack, video conferencing for sales meetings/training and bi-weekly one on one meetings with the outsourced team. The expectations of the outsourced team were the same as our internal group.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The buy-in from the reps was amazing. They truly felt like part of the team and showcased the company in a very positive light. Their ability to speak to the product was great, and they were actively striving to get better daily. The collaboration that they had with the internal reps and management team was great.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have liked to have the team come into the office. That is likely on us for not setting that up. Even with all the video conferencing, it still would have been great to get together with the team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Managing Director of Operations at a document review center. Our parent company is the pioneer and trusted partner for law firms, corporations, and legal professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bandalier?

We wanted to expand our sales operations. Our sales teams are so busy with existing and new clients that when it comes to calling on prospects, we felt there was an opportunity that was being missed.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to utilize Bandalier to help us gain access to new prospects while maintaining and working on our existing clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did some discovery online and decided on three companies for the final review. Bandalier was the one that checked the most boxes for what we needed at the time.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Bandalier, they had a very efficient onboarding schedule that was well documented from Day 1 to the 30 Day review.

What was the team composition?

We started the program with a 20 hour, part-time resource by design. This was so that we could collaborate and work together on the the geographic areas we wanted to initially focus on. We knew there would be some hurdles we needed to jump over together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've been in the program now for about three months and we are very pleased. Again, we knew that the legal sector would be a little harder to gain access to so we anticipated the need to work together. I can say without hesitation that Bandalier has been very flexible in helping us get into the door of several new clients. As we move forward and expand the program, the numbers will continue to grow for us in terms of prospects.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very easy and very effective. We established a weekly call and continue to refine the process as we go.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The people, the culture, and the process. Like I stated, they were able to check off all of the boxes we were looking for in a partner and have been able to produce what they said they could. It started off as a good relationship, as with any new venture, but they have been able to keep that momentum without skipping a beat.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Knowing ahead of time that it was going to be a tougher sell with the prospects were looking at, we have worked as a team to refine and learn. For that alone, we have made weekly improvements. Progress is all you could really ask for.