Idea Grove

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO for Apptricity. We’re a SaaS-based mobile software company located outside of Dallas, Texas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Idea Grove?

We initially partnered with them to work on our regular PR. But, after we won a lawsuit against the federal government for misappropriating our software, they made sure that we received international coverage and boosted our visibility.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Idea Grove functioned as our entire marketing arm during our settlement. Instead of just putting out a press release and calling a few editors, they developed a comprehensive, end-to-end PR solution to capitalize on the situation.

They used our lawsuit as an opportunity to explain what our software does and gain exposure. This involved generating brand awareness at both a local and international level. The team targeted major print and news outlets as well as video spots. They also developed a robust social media program, which now generates the majority of our hits.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Scott (Founder & President, Idea Grove), but other team members joined the project as needed.

How did you come to work with Idea Grove?

They reached out to us, so I included them in our RFP process along with the other local and national agencies. While looking at their background, I fact-checked a few of their related clients and heard positive reviews.

Idea Grove outshone all other candidates in our vetting process. While most of the competitors were more tactical, Idea Grove took a holistic approach. Even before the settlement, they already had ideas to build our brand and find opportunities to increase our online exposure.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from 2016–2018. Although they aren’t on as a monthly retainer, we still work with them on a consulting basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Idea Grove’s efforts played a fundamental role in building our brand and gaining exposure. In a single week, we had over 300 appearances regarding our settlement. It was amazing; our coverage spanned major news channels, print publications, and national and international video.

The campaigns also positioned us well when approaching prospective clients because they transformed our global spotlight into an opportunity to promote our software. I was able to personally bring on a major contract with an enterprise-level company thanks to Idea Grove’s work. The client was initially skeptical if a company our size could handle the contract, but they ultimately went with us because of our coverage. It ended up being a seven-to-one ROI.

How did Idea Grove perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. We had weekly in-person meetings with their staff, which allowed us an extra hour of focus.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Idea Grove takes a strategic approach and isn’t afraid to innovate. The team came up with ideas that I hadn’t even though of, and I’ve been in this business for decades. They suggested powerful yet affordable solutions to execute on strategy, and we worked well as a team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would have liked a little less turnover on the team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the time to discuss your strategy upfront with the team so that they can be empowered to make decisions on the fly. Idea Grove would keep me informed about our efforts, but it wasn’t as if I had to make all the decisions. This enabled us to move much faster.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a software company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Developers of scientific imaging software solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Idea Grove to accomplish?

• Rebrand & Web Design

SOLUTION

How did you find Idea Grove?

Referral

Why did you select Idea Grove over others?

• High ratings
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Idea Grove were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Deliverables included updated brand assets, a website revamp with platform migration, and custom dev tailored to our needs

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Completion of all pages required and the subsequent improved page traffic, number of pages viewed per session, and CTAs completed.

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

We had a great experience with Idea Grove. They invested time in understanding our brand, provided proposals to set expectations, and impressed us with their brand 'stylescapes'. The Idea Grove team is engaged, knowledgeable, responsive, and enjoyable to work with. They listen to concerns and seamlessly incorporate feedback

What was your primary form of communication with Idea Grove?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They invested time in understanding our brand, provided proposals to set expectations, and impressed us with their brand 'stylescapes'.

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

We had a great experience with Idea Grove.