Hughes Media

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Piedmont M&A Advisors, an investment banking firm. We help people turn illiquid assets, normally businesses, into cash or liquid assets.

What challenge were you trying to address with Hughes Media?

We wanted to update our website to strengthen our ability to reach out to potential clients. It needed a fresh look, with the perspective of someone who understands SEO.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took a close look at what we were doing, listened, and evaluated both us and our competitors. We also pointed out to them what we like and don’t like, then they developed our website and did our SEO. They host the site and provide maintenance and updates for it.

What is the team composition?

I interface with Deedra (Digital Marketing Innovator, Hughes Media) the most. Valentina (Vice President, Hughes Media) is also an integral player and I have some contact with Angela (Graphic Designer, Hughes Media).

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

I had known Deedra for several years from being in the same group in a global business organization. I saw her work for other clients, and felt that she was quick, pleasant to work with, and had the courage to tell me if we agree to disagree. She was very willing to learn more about what we do for our clients.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2017, and the work is ongoing.

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

We surveyed clients and prospects to find out how we were doing with our image, delivery, and how we compared to our competitors, which has helped us measure the impact. I got positive feedback about the website. Users say it’s fresh, looks up to date, and has a modern look and feel. I’m very positive that within the next 3–4 months, I’ll be talking with Deedra about what to tweak.

They think about marketing and sales—they know we didn’t want to have a website just to have a website. We wanted it to generate interest from clients. In fact, I’ve had two or three prospects that have come to us after finding us on the web.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive, executed on a timely basis, and kept to the budget. They’re very cost conscious, and I don’t feel overcharged.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to reach and approachable, never avoiding our phone calls. If they don’t understand what we’re asking for, they do their best to understand better, which helps us on both sides. They bring a fresh perspective to our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They did a good job of getting up to speed quickly and I don’t have to worry about what they were doing. My only hang up that I would like more feedback on what they may see behind the scenes. I’d like an analytical assessment of what has changed since we updated the website.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a thorough orientation about what it is you do, how you differentiate yourself in the marketplace, and how you communicate with clients. Be sure that they understand your business very well and be very open about your strengths and weaknesses.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at Formetco, a digital manufacturing company. We mainly focus on our LED product.

What challenge were you trying to address with Hughes Media?

Our company has multiple divisions, including digital billboards, sports, and LED video. All of our departments have different audiences and varying needs, so I wanted a company to help bring unity across our business. We hired Hughes Media to create a similar appearance for the platforms.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hughes Media built five different websites from scratch. When creating our home page, we went through the wireframe process together, they incorporated our feedback and handled the rest of the development.

They created our printed marketing materials and launched several marketing campaigns. They handle our SEO and PR needs, as well as video and email marketing efforts. We have their services on a monthly retainer, so we work with them on additional projects, as well. For example, they are working with us to build a creative library. The product will offer free content for users to utilize for their billboards.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Valentina (Vice President, Hughes Media), Abbey (Digital Marketing Specialist, Hughes Media), and Jacqueline (Marketing Assistant, Hughes Media). To get a proposal for a new project, Deedra (President, Hughes Media) helps me directly.

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

After being unsatisfied with our previous vendor, I did research online and narrowed my search down to three companies. Hughes Media was the easiest to speak with, whereas other companies needed multiple surveys and forms filled out before even speaking with us. I chose this team because they are located close to us and have great SEO efforts in place for themselves.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

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

Internally, our team has been blown away by the materials produced. For example, one sales manager didn’t support the idea of an external vendor helping because of our past experiences, but they were thrilled with Hughes Media’s work. Their work has surpassed all of our expectations, so far. They’ve delivered stellar work for everything we’ve hired them for.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

One of my favorite aspects of working with Hughes Media is their project management approach. Typically, we email to approve items and have a back and forth throughout the day. They’re always on top of the workload. Whether it be through text, email, or calls, I can always reach them after hours and on weekends. Once a month, we have a phone call to go through our analytics. Their team is full of fantastic communicators.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Hughes Media is always available to help us. When we were short of an in-house graphic designer, they provided half-priced support while we looked for a replacement. They did their homework and learned about our industry and competitors quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our in-house team took on too many projects with limited resources so it could have been helpful if Hughes Media had told us to slow our pace down and handle projects one at a time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want a firm that feels more like an intimate, familial, supportive partner, they’re the right choice. Their team is highly positive and great at communicating, making them a great option to fulfill that need.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Trimtab Consultants. We are a B2B consulting firm for businesses looking to upgrade their infrastructure with the NetSuite software product.

What challenge were you trying to address with Hughes Media?

We wanted to generate more leads to our company through a refreshed website and digital marketing campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We relied on Hughes Media to rebuild our website, and in the context of doing so, we made the site more SEO-friendly with certain keywords. They also initiated Google Ads campaigns and later trained me to manage them myself. We leveraged a few other digital marketing methods, but Google proved to be the most effective.

What is the team composition?

I interact weekly with Deedra (President, Hughes Media), Valentina (Vice President, Hughes Media), and Christina (Graphic Designer, Hughes Media).

How did you come to work with Hughes Media?

I was confident in the team’s experience in marketing and advertising. Deedra assembled a strong team that understood what I was trying to accomplish.

How much have you invested with them?

During our startup period, we spent around $10,000–$20,000 per year. For smaller engagements, we pay maybe $3,000–$5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in June 2011 and remains ongoing as necessary.

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

Probably over half of our clients come from their SEO and Google Ads efforts. Every client they’ve generated is an ideal match and is highly valuable.

How did Hughes Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very prompt in their email and phone call responses.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They bring creative ideas into the fold—they build on my ideas, and they offer ideas I didn’t think of. They also keep detailed logs of their time and hours so that I can see what I’m paying for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring your own ideas, but also be open to their ideas and strategies. Let their ideas complement yours so that you get the best of what you know and the best of what they know.