Hop Online

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Igloo Vision is the Shared VR company. We take any immersive or 360°content and put it in a shared space that anyone can use. It's a bit like stepping inside a huge VR headset.

And, because entire teams can get inside, it's great for events and experiences. It's also perfect for collaborative teamwork, visualisations and simulations. I am head of marketing for Igloo.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hop Online?

We were looking to use digital marketing to generate more self-qualified leads. We wanted advice, guidance and support with three main online platforms: Facebook, Google Adwords and LinkedIn

What were your goals for this project?

To drive awareness of our company and its capabilities To accurately target potential customers with engaging and relevant messages To support and supplement our sales pipeline with more self-qualified leads

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A member of our team had past experience of working with Hop Online and recommended them strongly - we didn't feel it was necessary to consider other vendors

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The scope was strategy, media planning, advice on the creative treatment, targeting, buying and execution. Acting on their quidance, our inhouse team dealt with the creative and copy.

What was the team composition?

There were several specialists involved in the team, including: Support from the principal - A dedicated account manager - A Facebook advertising specialist - A Google Adwords specialist - A LinkedIn advertising specialist

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Facebook campaign delivered (and continues to deliver) a strong and steady stream of self-qualified enquiries - it's a bit like turning on a tap. We can adapt the geographic targeting to reflect the business of our respective geographic BD teams.

The Google Adwords work supplemented our existing adwords, brining more structure and discipline to our approach. The LinkedIn has been more of a learning exercise - helping us judge what does and doesn't work and how best to supplement our organic LinkedIn activity.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Good workflow with regular calls - backed up with tools like Asana and Slack

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by their determination to make a difference and deliver on our needs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are an unusual business - a B2B player in a specialist market, with high ticket price products and services. With any marketing services supplier, it's generally necessary to coax them out of a consumer (or consumer-like) mindset. And Hop Online was no different.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing manager at Iron Solutions LLC. We do equipment evaluations for heavy agriculture and construction equipment. We determine the value of tractors, combines, dozers, and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hop Online?

We initially reached out to Hop Online to help us with SEO after we relaunched our ag equipment listing site. Then, they helped us with Google Analytics.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

There were two projects. The first project focused on helping us with the technical aspects of our site architecture (e.g. canonical URL) to improve our on-page SEO. 

The second project was unifying our Google Analytics across 4–5 sites so we could track a visitor across the different sites.

Our internal team was already familiar with keyword research. So, they helped us by giving recommendations on how to improve our rankings for the keywords that we knew we wanted to rank for. They pointed out SEO strategies.  

These were all changes on our side, all they could do was offer recommendations because they weren’t our developers.

For the second project, they helped us unify our Google Analytics for various sites under one umbrella. This way, we can see our traffic for all the sites in one, unified Google Analytics view. 
 
What is the team composition?

I worked with a total of three people. We landed on a project lead that we became comfortable with, and we worked with two other people for the Google Analytics project. 

How did you come to work with Hop Online?

We found them because they were on a Moz list of recommended SEO experts. I sent an introductory email to a list of ten vendors. Then, we narrowed down the list to five. 

Hop Online was the obvious choice. Paris Childress (CEO & Founder, Hop Online) was a former Google employee. When Google established its presence in different countries, Paris Childress set up Google for Bulgaria. 

He loved the country so much that he founded his own company there. So, he brought a lot of inside knowledge to Hop Online from his work at Google. His entire team seemed very authoritative on the subject. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $5,000 – $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of 2018, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My management team has been very pleased with the results we’ve gotten from them. Our organic traffic has consistently improved over the months since we adopted their advice on SEO site architecture. 

How did Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very flexible. They were always responsive and willing to help even if it wasn’t detailed in the original RFP. 

I’ve had experiences with other vendors where I can’t even talk to them after the project is over without signing another contract. So, it’s very refreshing to work with Hop Online.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There are thousands of SEO vendors out there, but Hop Online’s knowledge distinguishes them from the others. They had credibility coming in, and they only built on that. 

They have a great team with the most knowledgeable SEO, PPC, and analytics specialists that I’ve ever worked with. They were a really good find. 

The only difficulty is the timezone difference because they’re in Bulgaria. You can expect a one-day delay because it’s in the middle of the night over there during our workday.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It worked well. If they hadn’t been so responsive, I would have set up a weekly meeting to layout our questions and problems. But, I never had to do that. As things came up, I would ask them questions and they would respond. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Future clients should be confident that they know what they’re talking about. You can be confident that the folks at Hop Online are experts in the field. Due to their background with Google and the clients they’ve served, they know SEO and analytics inside and out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of admissions at the American University School of Medicine Aruba. We are an international medical school, but we also have term rotations in the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hop Online?

We recently opened, so as a new school, we needed to improve our brand awareness and generate leads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They improved our SEO by collaborating with us on keyword research. Additionally, they stoked our brand imaging by developing and managing a social media marketing campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Finally, they produced a video and created content for our blog.  

What is the team composition?

I interacted with about six members of their team—a project manager, a graphic designer, a social media strategist, an SEO strategist, and a video producer.

How did you come to work with Hop Online?

We found them through a Google search and they came highly recommended. We interviewed three companies, but Hop Online was the best fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000-$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February-August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

About 60% of our leads come as a direct response from their efforts. As a new brand, this has been very significant. Overall, it was a positive engagement.

How did Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication skills were excellent. They kept us in the loop and ran everything by us for approval. They met every single deadline we set for them. In addition to email and weekly phone calls, we used Asana to share documents and images.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond, going outside of the scope outlined in our contract to deliver what was needed for the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Before starting your project, be prepares with a library of images, messaging, and key selling points.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing at Vogue Tire, a specialty tire company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hop Online?

My company initially hired Hop Online for SEO. Then, a provider we were working with on PPC and other advertising wasn’t meeting our needs, so we re-engaged Hop Online to provide these services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Hop Online provided SEO. Now, they manage our PPC and online advertising through Google Ads and the Bing Network.  

What is the team composition?

Our primary contact is Antoaneta (Digital Marketing and Advertising Specialist, Hop Online). There are a lot of people working behind the scenes. When we were doing SEO with Hop Online, we had another contact who was also very professional.

How did you come to work with Hop Online?

We found Hop Online through Moz.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement started in June 2017, when Hop Online began providing SEO. In October 2017, they began PPC and online advertising services, and this work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen our KPIs increase. Since we’re a B2B company, it’s difficult to get a pure ROI, but Hop Online’s work has undoubtedly delivered very favorable outcomes. They do an exceptional job of managing the project and driving results.

How did Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

When we worked with them on SEO, we liked their process and how thoroughly they answered all of our questions. We knew they’d be capable of handling PPC and online advertising as well.

Our teams have weekly status update meetings, during which we discuss ongoing issues, new initiatives, and the go-to-market plan. We strategize online advertising for the next thirty, sixty, and ninety days. Hop Online regularly provides analytics and reports on things like product demand and keyword performance, and they give us recommendations on what we can do to improve from creative and content standpoints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve been very pleased with the care and attention that Hop Online gives us as their client. The team wants to help us improve our performance and grow our KPIs. They not only help us in advertising but also in stewarding our brand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there is nothing I’ve seen.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of an IT security firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hop Online?

We needed a partner to manage our SEO.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hop Online assessed our business and online presence, coming back with a recommended strategy for the engagement. They oversaw a massive overhaul of the website where they changed almost the entire thing. We gave them a history of our company and some of our customer personas, and they used that to do the SEO work, including keyword research. They also optimize the blog posts that we write, do backlinking, and manage our social media accounts. When needed, they’ve done on-demand writing, too.

What is the team composition?

We work with six people: a project manager, social media specialist, two backlinking experts, an advertiser, and a copywriter.

How did you come to work with Hop Online?

They were a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend between $2,000–$5,000 every month, so over $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in October 2018, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our domain authority has gone from 10 to 35, and our website traffic is up by five or six times more than before. Every metric we can measure has improved, including cost of acquisition, which has stayed low.

How did Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

They require a bit more oversight than an internal team would need, but given the size and price of their firm, the project management has been excellent. They set up an Asana dashboard so that we can write tickets and track projects. We also get weekly status reports on traffic trends and other analytics.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We didn’t understand SEO, so they’ve been a trusted partner throughout our learning process. Our business has grown so much because of the hard work they’ve done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone could always be better at improving efforts to achieve data-driven results, but they’re pretty good at that.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Don’t just expect to hire them and not do anything else. To make the most out of the partnership, follow their advice and create the content they suggest.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the vice president for corporate development at a global electronics manufacturer and systems integrator. We provide electronic safety products, data and communication infrastructure, and electrical power systems for mining, tunneling, construction, and other associated industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hop Online?

Due to various acquisitions and company growth, we’d launched a new website at the start of 2018. We hired Hop Online to work closely with our external website developers and our internal team to maximize SEO from a content perspective. This included an additional focus on Google Ad's, as well as ongoing enhancements and support.

What were your goals for this project?

Our overall project goal was to have an industry-leading website from a visibility perspective. We also wanted to obtain the highest search engine rankings possible based on our content.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We gathered advice and searched on SEO sites before choosing three companies. This shortlist of companies covered a broad spectrum in terms of price range, geography, and industries served.

We chose Hop Online because they listened to us and understood what we were trying to achieve. They also seemed able to advise us on areas that weren't in our core skill set and provided the best proposal with what was by far the best cost.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

During the first phase of the project, Hop Online focused on keyword research and content mapping. They discovered the most profitable organic keywords to use, classifying each into priority buckets before introducing them to our new, consolidated website. They also recommended an improved site structure based on their keyword research. Their team consolidated all of our web properties under a single domain and optimized the titles and meta descriptions for each of our pages.

In the second phase, they focused on implementation, content strategy, and site redesign and development. Hop Online rebuilt and relaunched our site based on their phase one recommendations. Their team then created a slide presentation that defined target buyer personas and outlined recommended topics for ongoing content marketing.

During the third phase of the project, Hop Online focused on content marketing and content production. They produced blog posts of varying lengths that were well-researched, well-written, unique, and SEO-optimized. They also promoted some of their articles through social media and direct influencer outreach.

What was the team composition?

We held initial conversations with the CEO of Hop Online and met the rest of the team as the project progressed. In total, we've probably worked with about 5–6 people, including an SEO specialist, a project manager, a content manager, and a finance manager. The handover from the CEO to the project manager was seamless, and we've maintained a single point of contact throughout the partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although the partnership is still in its early stages, we’ve met many of our goals, as evidenced by the statistics we’ve been tracking.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Hop Online’s approach to project management is structured and detailed. They take ownership of every task and are committed to meeting our goals. They also communicate well, allowing me to act as a sponsor and provide data as requested.

We’re a time-critical company, and this was one of our initial concerns. However, the Hop Online team completes work as and when required and understands how to best collaborate with us. They're able to define a plan of attack before each phase and provide regular updates as needed. They also keep distractions and barriers to a minimum.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I’ve been impressed by their ability to work closely with our web development team. This has been essential to our success.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don’t think there are any areas where they could improve. They should continue to take ownership of all aspects of their client’s websites, as they've done with us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and founder of Menlo Coaching, which advises MBA applicants to top programs like Harvard, Wharton, and Columbia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hop Online?

We hired Hop Online to develop marketing channels like SEO to help supplement our new business acquisition. We have historically relied on referrals, but we believed we had the potential to rank well online.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to attract more clients to our website with SEO. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Endorsed by Moz, Hop Online was the only firm I researched that, thanks to their location in Bulgaria, offered a high quality of service against a low price.

Describe the project in detail.

After researching how people search for our services, Hop Online designed a strategy for creating content that would align with that. They continue to provide ongoing support, strategizing for each content piece and identifying other potentially interested partners. 

What was the team composition?

Our project manager serves as the primary point of contact. She coordinates specialists from various areas like outreach, technical audit, and keyword research. Hop Online’s CEO is also kept abreast of our progress and goals and is available if necessary. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

Our position quickly soared from a baseline with only our brand name to rankings for hundreds of new keywords. The engagement is still in the early stages, but we expect to see even more increases in the future. 

How did the Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

Hop’s project management structure is perhaps their strongest aspect. We follow detailed schedules for content production with research documents that are clear and organized, and all materials are stored in our preferred systems (Basecamp and Google).  

What impresses you about the Hop Online?

Hop Online took advantage of our European location to visit us personally. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

We do have to conduct a final proofread for some of the content. We are very particular about the precise, highly educated tone customers expect from us. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing director of a mapping software company. I primarily manage the strategic direction of our online marketing and advertising efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hop Online?

We hired Hop Online to help us rank for new keywords. We weren’t pleased with our previous provider because of the lack of results and transparency.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to improve our ranking for existing keywords and improve our overall visibility online. We wanted to increase the number of online referrals we receive and get more visitors to our website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We followed a referral to include Hop Online in our search. We vetted several companies but chose their team because they were results-oriented, communicated clearly, and had a strong technical strategy.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a series of meetings to familiarize Hop Online with our brand and online goals. They helped us revise and increase our target group of keywords. They also provided support across our social media accounts. They implemented a few structural changes to the site to make it more SEO-friendly; for example, the calls to action were made more apparent, and the site design is more intuitive. They’ve continually made suggestions to streamline our website for users.

What was the team composition?

We work with a team of analysts from Hop Online.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

We’ve seen a drastic increase in online inquiries and visits to our website since beginning our engagement. Overall, traffic to our site has improved. We’ve also seen a lot more engagement on social media and an increase in social media followers.

How did the Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team has been a pleasure to work with. They’re responsive and we primarily communicate through email and phone calls. If we need updates, they are always available and willing to help us understand any aspect of their progress. Outside of our monthly scheduled meetings, we communicate on an as-needed basis.

What impresses you about the Hop Online?

Outside of the fantastic results, their professionalism and knowledge stand out to us. They take the time to understand our industry and competitive landscape. The due diligence they put in at the beginning of the project and their follow-through have made all the difference.

Are there any areas for improvement?

If any issues arise, they’re great about responding and incorporating our feedback. They’re a reliable and flexible partner which is why we continue to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Beauty Bridge, a cosmetic firm that carries various high-end brands. We have a store, but most of our business comes from online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hop Online?

We wanted to improve our SEO and were looking for a reliable agency to analyze our site and come up with recommendations. We also don’t have an in-house technical team, so we needed assistance with any implementation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hop Online ran a content improvement project with us for the website. We write the content for the site that strives to be SEO friendly and able to attract our customer base. Their team assists with content writing. We also work with their team on link building.

We later started with projects on a demand basis, but also have services we get from them continually. We started working with them on PPC and Google Ads. They also organize our Facebook advertising and campaign management.

What is the team composition?

We mainly communicated with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Hop Online?

We were looking for another SEO company after we stopped working with our previous. I researched different companies and liked what clients said about Hop Online. After an initial conversation, I decided to go with their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Hop Online in October 2014, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Compared to other SEO agencies, Hop Online is the most strategically structured firm. We measure keyword rankings using SEMrush, which gives insights and analyzes how we’re doing. We can also track the progress, and over the last five years, we’ve seen substantial improvements. Hop Online continuously learns from outside resources and try to implement what they learn into my business.

How did Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

I like being hands-on with agencies I work with. We have a weekly meeting for each project. Their team stays on track and sticks to the schedule. There are some delays if upper management requires a specific decision. Their team reminds me of the tasks I need to complete. We use email, Google Calendar, Google Spreadsheets, and other Google tools for reporting.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Hop Online understands we’re a business that has certain budgets and guidelines to follow. Their team is also open to trying new techniques.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While there has been an improvement, I’d like to see my keywords rank higher faster.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

During an engagement with Hop Online, make sure to work on a regular schedule with a weekly call.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a medical firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hop Online?

We needed an experienced firm to help us with content marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hop Online handles our SEO audits and most of our content marketing efforts. We collaborate on different types of marketing campaigns and brainstorm ideas for blog posts. They research relevant information and write the content that we need. Their work appears strictly on our website for now.

What is the team composition?

They’ve assigned a project manager and 2–3 content writers to our account.

How did you come to work with Hop Online?

I don’t recall how I initially found them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000–$150,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2017 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s a combined effort with the developers and myself, but I look upon their work favorably. It’s contributed to the success of our company. For example, there’s more traffic on our website since we’ve hired Hop Online.

How did Hop Online perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re highly responsive and always on top of things. We use email and shared sheets to keep track each deliverable. Overall, I’m happy with their project management skills.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with similar companies, but Hop Online produces better content than their competitors. As a result, I prefer working with them. I give them the scope of what we expect, and they do what’s required. They’re reliable marketing consultants.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I don’t have any substantial criticism to offer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be patient and have realistic expectations of when you’ll see results.