Markitors

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and owner of BestCompaniesAz. We’re an award, promotion, and employer branding firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Markitors?

They’re a digital marketing firm helping with our employer branding initiatives, as well as promoting our company and award-winning clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re an extension of our team, with a half-dozen people working on and off on our account. They help put our editorial calendar together (usually 6–8 months in advance), and we combine their ideas on trending content with our clients’ stated editorial goals. Markitors then runs with that plan.

They also lead on keyword research, evaluating what’s worked and hasn’t worked recently in gaining visibility. I’ll sometimes question the topics they choose, but they always drive the right type of traffic to us and our clients.

What is the team composition?

We work with Brett (Founder and CEO, Markitors) on brainstorming, and he has account and SEO managers, as well as content writers.

How did you come to work with Markitors?

I knew of Brett from when he got out of college and did a bus tour looking at cultures and brands with another company. We were in the same space. One of my Colleagues was getting really good results from his website, and he highly recommended that I work with Brett. He came on board – when stats with our existing web developer started tanking – and took on everything for us: web management, social media management, SEO.

I did look at two other companies that were on one of our best places to work list, and I’ve worked with one other firm in the past. However, agencies can sometimes bog the process down and move slowly, which is why I wanted to go with Brett’s team. Together, we felt like one big company but were able to move really quickly.

The other thing I’ve been looking at in the past year is doing a brand refresh of our logo, website, and marketing collateral. I went to another highly respected company in our community to evaluate how things were looking at our end. They said that Markitors was doing phenomenal and that we should stay where we were – not that we were looking to change. They said everything they were doing on social media, SEO, blogging, and content was phenomenal.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000–$100,000 so far with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since December 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a unique and innovative model focused on regional branding, rather than national branding. Sometimes, our clients’ profiles on our site come up in search results before their own site. Our small, niche, regional site often drives more traffic to clients' career portal than our clients' LinkedIn and Glassdoor profiles.

Additionally, their comprehensive ROI reporting has helped us retain, renew, and update clients. I’m looking to double my client-base this year, and if we succeed, it will be because of the ROI story and messaging Markitors has created for us.

How did Markitors perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re the best I’ve seen. We use a Google doc for our editorial calendar and email with statistics for the monthly reports. We’ll also have conference calls, as well as get 2–3 times a year. They provide weekly reports and updates, as well as formal monthly reports monthly on deliverables and ROI.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They seem to be experts in this space of organic traffic generation and increasing brand awareness, and SEO.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Right now, I can’t think of one thing. Maybe they could take over management of our website but that’s not what they do. Brett knows how to do it, but that’s not what the company does. Focusing on their niche is what makes them good. They’re not trying to do all things for all people.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

View them as an extension of your team and a part of your family. It’ll help create a really good relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: TruPath is a professional recruiting firm. We recruit professional services for direct hire across the country and also supply contract-to-hire projects within the state of Arizona.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Markitors?

Respondent 1: We had been in business for 13 years, and the company had undergone enough changes that we felt it was time for a rebrand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Respondent 1: We initially hired Markitors in a professional guidance capacity, but they ended up executing nearly the entire project. First and foremost, they redesigned our logo and website. They provide search engine optimization and manage our pay-per-click campaigns.

Respondent 2: We had no social media presence, so Markitors established profiles across multiple platforms, as well as blogs. We now manage these accounts in-house, but they continue to provide strategic ideas.

Respondent 1: They've also conducted email marketing for us in the past.

What is the team dynamic?

Respondent 2: Initially, Brett [Farmiloe, CEO, Markitors] was our primary point of contact, but we’ve been introduced to other team members as his business has grown.

Respondent 3: We work closely with Emily [Lierle, Digital Marketing Manager, Markitors], Hara [Kumar, Technology, Markitors] and Jason [Carr, Director of Client Services, Markitors], and we all get along very well.

How did you come to work with Markitors?

Respondent 1: I interviewed three different companies prior to selecting Markitors, but they seemed out of touch and incapable of working with a small company. Having worked with Brett in a previous job, I decided to contact Markitors, and I felt we could trust them to guide us through the marketing process.

How much have you invested with them?

Respondent 1: We’ve invested around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Respondent 1: We officially launched the TruPath brand and website in January 2015 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Respondent 1: Approximately 75% of all new business over the last three years is the direct result of marketing. While Markitors previously handled all marketing aspects, they helped us internalize the management process a year ago, so I like to think this success is a sign of our effective partnership.

How did Markitors perform from a project management standpoint?

Respondent 3: Brett is extremely responsive, collaborative, and supportive. His creativity has made him a reliable partner over the years, ensuring we stay up to date.

Respondent 1: He has a personable approach in terms of customer service. He prefers to conduct business in person, which we like as well. If we're emailing back and forth too often, he'll pick up the phone to communicate that information directly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Respondent 1: Brett is very responsive. Any large project has its issues, and he’s always able to explain any questions we have. He doesn’t get defensive; he addresses the issue and finds a solution. That's a really favorable quality.

Respondent 2: Brett is a great teacher. Our organization now has a firmer grasp of marketing and he's helped build our internal marketing team.

Respondent 1: When we started, everyone at TruPath had differing conceptions of the project. Markitors didn’t simply come in with a rote solution. They did a great job of working with our leadership team, challenging expectations, and ultimately got all of us on the same page.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Respondent 1: When they create marketing content for us, we'd like to see a detailed schedule for coming back and revisiting that content to determine its continued relevancy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Respondent 1: They truly value input, so it’s helpful to be honest – or even abrupt – in your communications. Brett doesn’t like dancing around an issue. He prefers to get to the core of the problem and solve it.

Markitors relies on a collaborative approach. They may not be the best fit for clients who are unwilling to engage in the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am president and co-founder of Y Scouts, which is an executive search firm for companies with purpose-based leadership hiring philosophies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Markitors?

My relationship with Brett Farmiloe [Founder, Markitors] pre-dated our company launch in 2012. My co-founder and I asked him to conduct business research prior to our launch. His team validated our ability to do purpose-based leadership searches in a competitive market. Since the launch, his company has handled our marketing needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Brett first built our website and then did the original outreach and marketing campaign to raise brand awareness. His team leveraged SEO to drive organic traffic and generate revenue. More recently, their services have focused on SEO and content creation and distribution.

Abby [Digital Marketing Manager, Markitors] does guest research for my podcast show. The team edits the audio and uploads the intro and outro music. They distribute it on iTunes and Podbean.

What is the team dynamic?

The company has grown since our launch. Brett has approximately 12 employees including Abby, who is our current main point of contact. However, I’m able to Skype Brett anytime because of our long-standing relationship.

How did you come to work with Markitors?

I chose Brett because we’d been friends since 2005. I prefer to do business with people that I have a relationship with and can trust.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $40,000 - $50,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started March 2012 and is on-going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Lead generation is steady and lucrative. We average 10 leads a month that equate to 20x ROI. We had 61,000 website visits last month, which represents a gradual build in organic traffic. We’re very proud of our organic numbers. Our key phrases rank near the number 1 spot; this is an impressive accomplishment for a young company in the executive search industry.

Qualitatively, I love the content creation and branding. Their podcast support also helps solidify our brand and boost lead generation.

How did Markitors perform from a project management standpoint?

Abby and Brett are incredibly responsive. I email or text on time sensitives matters. I always hear back promptly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work as partners with a willingness to co-create and collaborate. The team continues to bring a fresh perspective to our industry that has resulted in innovative solutions. They’re not afraid to be honest, either.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We need more help understanding the social channels that we are leveraging for content distribution. I’d like clearer picture on which ones matter most to our target audience. Next steps should include next level analytics on what’s driving the highest value conversions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Treat Brett and his team as partners, not vendors. Give them clear guidelines and then let them generate new and alternative ideas. Digital marketing thrives in long-term partnerships with effective communication and understanding between parties. Do not look for short-term solutions in these projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Artesian Wellness is a wholistic addiction treatment facility focusing on the neuroscientific and biochemical discoveries which have uncovered the cause of addictions, and then implementing advanced treatment techniques that are providing up to 91% long-term recovery rates.

Artesian has abandoned the concepts of shame, blame, and guilt which are prevalent in addiction recovery. In contrast, Artesian holds to the philosophy that addiction is a brain function disease that is beyond conscious control and is fully curable. We help heal the addictive brain. Artesian Wellness & Recovery Centers, LLC is located on the coast of Stuart, Florida, and I was the Project Manager for Marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Markitors?

Markitors was actually recommended to us by another Marketing/SEO Company. We agreed that our services were unique, and thus a tailored strategy would be best. The addiction treatment industry is highly competitive for SEO and client acquisition.

We hired Markitors to assist in focusing our marketing efforts for the best bang for the buck. We began to see an immediate ROI within the first month as the multi tiered media campaigns took off.

SOLUTION

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

Markitors is - Real people who take the time to understand the unique challenge their customer is facing. In my first discussion with Brett Farmiloe at Markitors, he dove in. I felt as if he was as interested in our business model and growth as we were.

We immediately threw out the cookie-cutter solutions, and began to dig deep to not only spread the word, but to reach those who believed that the standard addiction treatment models simply weren't working for them .

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Marketing Consultation Website development and Maintenance SEO Optimizations and Monitoring SEO Blog Posts Numerous Adword Campaigns

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

We worked with a number of the crew at Markitors, and each person fulfilling their role with excellence. i guess this was one of the best parts of the experience. The culture at Markitors is one of excellence. There is a shared vision and common goal. Simply put they want to see their customer succeed. Equals success for them!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Spot on! Their delivery and execution were their strongest suit. Its not often you get to work with an outside company who fulfills every aspect of the promise, and then some. Markitors elevated our SEO impact 100 fold. I wish I were at liberty to share specifics and data. We saw an immediate return which grew steadily each month.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Easy - Simple - Effective. The team at Markitors consistently worked around my schedule to complete tasks.

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

Style. It is clear that Markitors understands their customer. I think they take pride in that. This is what sets them apart, and then allows them to build a winning strategy for that specific project.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My LLC provides assistance to lenders who want to provide SBA loan program options to their clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Markitors?

Website development and support and hosting.

What were your goals for this project?

Website

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral

Describe the project in detail.

Website development and ongoing support.

What was the team composition?

Brett Farmiloe

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Brett has been of great assistance to us at ECS and has answered questions and supported all questions regarding internet topics. His follow up and clarity in providing support has been impeccable and we appreciate his marketing insight.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

EXCELLENT!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism, accessibility, and clarity are impressive!

Are there any areas for improvement?

none that we know of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are the largest RV rental company in North America and in the travel segment. I am an executive on our marketing and business development initiatives as well as involved in our digital spend efforts via SEO/PPC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Markitors?

SEO expert. Markitors led by their founder is one of the best SEO houses in Arizona with a deep knowledge of driving organic traffic to the web. We have been very impressed with their skills and more importantly the smooth transition of the relationships and most importantly the results.

What were your goals for this project?

Increase organic traffic. They have done that and then some.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Found them through word of mouth and recommendation. Personal relationship with founder.

Describe the project in detail.

SEO efforts across the board

What was the team composition?

Fantastic. They offer smooth communication hard work, which is a perfect dynamic.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Big increases in organic traffic.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Perfect flow, easy to communicate hands off from us which is what we need and want

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The results, the overall deliverables and the team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, sometimes I wish they were bigger to do more!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President at Gatekeeper Press, the world’s premier self-publishing service provider with the largest distribution network in the industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Markitors?

We hired Markitors to increase organic traffic to our site.

What were your goals for this project?

To significantly increase organic traffic to our site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We conducted a comprehensive search for the top SEO companies in the world. We narrowed down our field to 3-4 companies and held interviews with each. Markitors stood head and shoulders above the others.

Describe the project in detail.

To significantly increase organic traffic to our site.

What was the team composition?

We work with a project manager who runs a team of experts in SEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Targeted to our site has increased significantly. Markitors has been excellent.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Outstanding. They are professionals who know exactly what they're doing. Very efficient and streamlined.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism and expertise. They're true experts in their field with outstanding customer service. Very customer friendly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None. They are exceptional.