Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of a public charter school. Our enrollment has grown about 800%, and we’re a high-performing, award-winning institution.

What challenge were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

We hadn’t done any marketing or public relations work to improve our visibility in the community, so we hired Manifesto Agency to help. We were trying to raise funds for these efforts, so we wanted their team to help create these materials. Also, our website wasn’t user-friendly, so we needed to improve the UX.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Manifesto Agency simplified our website and handled the redesign to give users a more holistic experience on the platform. They helped us target the key taglines that we needed, narrowing our focus down to around seven. Their team conducts social media marketing for us, working on our branding and strategy. They create materials and new improvements for our efforts, overall. 

What is the team composition?

Tim (Chief Storyteller & Managing Partner) and Matt (Managing Director) are our main points of contact, but creators, web designers, a secretary, and others support the efforts, as well. 

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

We sent out an RFP and Manifesto Agency responded. They had more experience in branding and marketing, which is what we wanted to focus on. They’d also worked with local companies on their websites and shared their samples. We were very attracted to their branding and design work. After interviews, we chose them over other options. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $70,000–$100,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve had an ongoing relationship with Manifesto Agency since April 2018 and it’s ongoing. We’re always looking for other tasks to use them for. 

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

They’ve played a significant role in creating materials to help our fundraising efforts. We’ve been very satisfied with the deliverables. We also appreciate the guidance and wisdom they bring to our unique business, contributing to the success of the project. 

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been excellent; I’ve loved working with them. We communicate over email and phone mostly. Their secretary attends each meeting, keeps and sends the minutes, and gives us reminders. On top of making sure we’re satisfied, they work to deliver everything on time and up to our expectations. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their commitment to understanding our needs and listening to us has made them stand out. They also process our requirements but still provide their own expertise and knowledge to enhance the project. They help take our ideas to the next level, so I’m very satisfied with that. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have much experience in this area, but they’ve delivered on what they promise so I have no complaints. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d suggest you do your homework. There were a few people we considered during the process and we interviewed Manifesto Agency a couple of times before signing the contract to make sure it was the right fit. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior marketing manager for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, a philanthropic and alumni engagement nonprofit for the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

What challenge were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

There are 13 state colleges in Wisconsin with UW–Madison being the flagship university. Unfortunately, there are misperceptions surrounding the university regarding funding, admissions, and other factors. We reached out to Manifesto Agency to create an experiential, state-wide awareness campaign that allowed for engagement opportunities with both alumni and non-alumni who live in Wisconsin.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Manifesto Agency helped us set up a roadshow for UW–Madison complete with an ice cream truck. (We’re known for our freshly made ice cream from our on-campus dairy, so we decided to offer free ice cream as part our Get the Scoop Myth Busting tour.) Working with Manifesto, we rehabilitated a 1957 International Harvester Metro van. Their team walked us through what a roadshow would involve from an experiential and logistical perspective. They recommended stops in key geographic locations where we wanted the UW to have a presence. They also helped us pick smaller events where our truck would be the main attraction.

The first year we embarked on the roadshow, our staff handed out free ice cream and interacted with community members. However, in the second year, we wanted to have an engagement component. Manifesto helped us design a six-question quiz that busts specific myths about UW–Madison. We had had a basic approach in mind, but their team helped us form each question to be approachable for a wider audience. 

Manifesto also created a website that administers the quiz digitally. It resulted in a lot of powerful and positive engagements with key audience members, which we’re excited to see. 

All in all, Manifesto Agency played a key part in the creative and strategic aspects of the project. They did so much brainstorming with us, and their assistance in designing the road show was essential. In addition to the truck design and the website, they also created marketing collateral for our organization.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work with Tim (Partner & Chief Storyteller, Manifesto Agency), Matt (Managing Director, Manifesto Agency), Kathleen (Account services, Manifesto Agency), and their creative team. Dave (Partner & CEO, Manifesto Agency) is involved as well, but as he works out of the Portland office we are geographically closer to the Milwaukee office. In total, the team is about 8–9 people.

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

A member of our leadership team worked with Manifesto Agency at his previous position in another company. He had an excellent experience with their team and brought them to our attention.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $200,000–$300,000 annually.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late fall 2016, and the collaboration is ongoing.

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

The online and in-person quiz has brought over 5,000 engagements this year alone. Our staff is thrilled with the process because the in-person engagement has led to some in-depth conversations about the university. I would recommend Manifesto, which is a huge compliment from me—it’s my reputation on the line as well as theirs. 

Manifesto is really good at what they do. They provide an experiential point of view that we lacked when we first thought about how we could take the university on the road. They’re also full of incredibly friendly and lovely people. Whenever I see their team, I get hugs when I arrive, and I get hugs when I leave. I genuinely enjoy working with them. Their approach to brainstorming and partnership is key to our success.

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The team has done really well. Whenever you work with an entity in higher ed—especially one that’s aligned with the state—there’s a lot of nuances, rules, and caution. Manifesto Agency picked up on that quickly. 

Plus, even though none of them are alumni, they completely bought into what we were trying to accomplish. They listen carefully to our needs before developing solutions. After presenting their ideas later on, they listen to any additional context or knowledge we provided to inform their perspective. They were always willing to learn, and we only ever had to tell Manifesto anything once. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

For me, it comes down to Tim. Compared to other ad agencies I’ve worked with, the way Tim thinks through a situation or challenge is unique. He thinks through a variety of perspectives, asks thoughtful questions and is all about collaboration. The solutions he offers are on the mark.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our project goes through phases of heavy engagement when we’re planning and then infrequent communication when we’re in maintenance mode. However, as of now, I can always reach them through any channel and they’ll respond within a couple of hours no matter what I need.

Any advice for potential customers?

When you check out Manifesto Agency, meet with them in person, if possible. Otherwise, get on the phone and have a get-to-know-you session. I think you can learn so much more about people through a phone call or face-to-face conversation than through email. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief of Staff for a 60 person central organization within a large corporation.

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency?

We were looking to build a brand identity for the work of our team and increase the use of the team's services.

What were your goals for this project?

The campaign needed to be informative, project thought leadership, yet be humble and recognize the broader ecosystem in which we work.

How did you select this vendor?

Reverse RFP. The team participated in a workshop with a few other vendors to get to know our organization and then respond with a brief proposal as to how they could best satisfy the project needs.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The work included setting design guidelines for print, online and video. The vendor developed a value proposition and go to market messaging supported by thought leadership pieces in print, online and video.

What was the team composition?

The team was highly collaborative and brought experts to bear in the appropriate areas.

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

The work was frequently shared in external and internal presentations with positive feedback.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The vendor always responded well to feedback. Their project management was satisfactory.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team was very adept at understanding the essence of the work of the team and translating that into a passionate vision that resonated well with consumers of their content.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that hasn't already been mentioned.