Medici + Maestro

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of business development at Pharmafusion360, a pharmaceutical data analytics company. We specialize in building custom dashboards that bridge the gap between drug manufacturers and consumers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

We needed their team to build our new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our existing website had basic features that weren’t giving us the amount of traction we needed, so we engaged i76 Solutions to develop a more updated platform for us.

During our kickoff meeting with their team, we relayed our deliverables and preferences in functionality and design. We also showed them the websites of our competitors to give them an idea about the industry-specific solutions they could consider utilizing. I76 Solutions then started devising initial mockups for the site’s homepage and built everything from there.

Apart from their development work, i76 solutions ensured that the content we integrated into the website was SEO-friendly, making our website functional and marketable.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Drew (President & Founder) and Michael (General Manager), our project manager.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

Our company owner found them while searching for potential local agencies to onboard for this project. He initially considered three firms, but i76 Solutions had the skill set and price point we needed.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It was a six-month project that ran from March–September 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still in the process of promoting our new website across our social media channels, so I can’t share any quantitative metrics yet. We were happy with the outcome of i76 Solutions’ hard work — our clients shared positive feedback about the site and its landing page. 

They built a reliable marketing tool that effectively leveraged our presence and informed potential clients about the ins and outs of our company. Overall, the new elements they incorporated into our platform led to lucrative opportunities.

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly used emails to communicate with each other’s teams. i76 Solutions was on top of their project management game — they met our deadlines and benchmarks without any issues. Any delays we encountered throughout the engagement were on our team’s end. More importantly, they valued our feedback and found ways to improve their work based on what we pointed out.

What did you find most impressive about them?

i76 Solutions listened to our needs and knew what was best for our business without crossing any boundaries. We had the liberty to determine what we wanted to do with our product, and they refined our ideas to help convey our message more effectively — as a small business, this reassuring and smooth flow was what mattered to us the most.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t encounter any issues — they set up and delivered everything in an orderly manner.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Determine your goals, requirements, and design inspirations before your kickoff meeting with their team — this strategy will make room for a more relaxed and organized collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a regional affiliate of a nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

We operate two houseware and building material stores. They hadn’t been profitable in about three years, so we reached out to i76 Solutions for marketing and advertising assistance. Previously, we had only used coupons to advertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To gather information about our operations and customer base, they spent a day at one of our locations. Using what they learned, they rolled out a data-informed advertising strategy for us. They manage Google and social media ad campaigns, using regionally relevant keywords to improve our website and social media page traffic. Their team contributed some marketing material to the campaigns while working with our internal databases and team members for other portions of the campaigns.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Mike (General Manager). Our marketing director also worked with some of the people in their art department.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

Another nonprofit in our area had just had a very successful advertising campaign, so I called their executive director and asked who they used.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since September 2019. We paused the campaigns in March 2020 but started them up again in June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In their proposal, they estimated that they could deliver around 1 million impressions. So far, though, they’ve delivered 1.4 million impressions. They’ve provided a wealth of data about the engagement like this, but what’s been most important to me is that one of our stores is on track to turn a profit of over $100,000. Their sophisticated advertising campaign will directly help the organization achieve its mission.

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been really good. I know it’s challenging for companies to work with nonprofits, but they were able to keep the engagement on track so that everything could run smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re genuine people whose sincerity has never wavered. We can spend our dollars anywhere, but we appreciate being able to spend them with people who really care about what we’re doing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, their services are great. They’re constantly bringing me innovative ideas like fundraising via text. They understand our budget and our constraints. We’re getting good value from them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep your mouth shut and let them see your whole business and tell you what you need. In the nonprofit world, it’s easy to not want to trust external firms, but you can definitely trust their teams.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Estulin Group, a full service marketing and advertising firm. We specialize in traditional advertising, such as television, radio, and print. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

i76 is our digital partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I use i76 on many different cases for almost all my accounts when there’s a digital opportunity. First and foremost, I bring them to our clients so the engagement is more transparent and the team is part of the beginning planning stages. 

Then, we meet strategically with the team to come up with a marketing solution to use different tactics. i76 usually comes up with a couple of different options, based on budget, time, and the client’s goals. We present those options to the client, and when they give us the okay, the campaign starts.

What is the team composition?

I work very closely with Drew (President & Chief Digital Officer). Depending on who the project or account manager is, I’ll work with them as well. The cperson I work most closely with across all the accounts, besides Drew, is Alexa (Director, Digital Marketing & Strategy).

I have a unique relationship with them where they’re my partner, so over the course of a couple of years, I’ve worked with pretty much everyone on the team.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

Drew and I knew of one another because we’ve been in the same industry for many years. He’s a very professional, smart, honorable, and honest person. It made it easy for me to choose i76 as my partner: they’re very transparent and up to date with the current market. They’re very thoughtful and can offer more of a marketing plan, rather than just a digital tactic.

How much have you invested with them?

It’s been anywhere between $200,000–$300,000 over the course of different accounts.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve worked on a lot of different projects, so there’s a number of metrics. Overall, my clients keep coming back. They enjoy the relationship with the team and appreciate the transparency. i76 makes it very easy to work with them.

They over deliver on almost everything, from results to service. They’re very quick to jump on projects and give us a fast turn around, which makes a big difference. 

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We haven’t had any issues. They work extremely well under pressure and meet all of our deadlines. 

i76 does a great job of tracking and monitoring the projects, and keeping us and the client in the loop. They let us know what’s happening and how things are performing on an almost weekly basis. 

At the end of each month, they do a very nice in-depth analysis report that they review with me, the client, or both. In some cases, the team is able to give us a customized dashboard where the client can log in and monitor the performance of the campaign themselves.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re most impressed with their transparency and their consistent over-delivery.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing about their services they need to improve. Sometimes, certain opportunities are difficult to deliver because of budget constraints, and it can be hard to manage client expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give i76 a chance, and give them time to develop and show results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m VP of sales and marketing for a brand of scrub brushes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

Initially, we were looking to outsource our social media marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team came in and handled our social media presence while we were backfilling the position. They responded to DMs and comments, along with providing KPIs and metrics of how the sites and platforms were doing.

We evolved with them into doing a digital campaign that also turned into a television commercial. They scripted it, cast roles for it, and produced it.

What is the team composition?

I work with Drew (CEO & Founder), Michael (General Manager, Director of Strategic Accounts), Ashlee (Digital Campaign Manager), Alexa (Director, Digital Marketing & Strategy), and Cheryl (VP, Client Services & Media Strategy).

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

I found them on Clutch and I felt like they would be a good fit for our organization. Drew and I really hit it off, and I liked their creative work, too.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2018, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of social media, they’ve definitely grown our followers. They also did an amazing job at providing metrics for our campaign to increase interest at Walmart stores. They were excellent with geo-targeting and re-marketing during that campaign. We’ve been very happy with their creative approach, overall.

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. The team works well with tight deadlines and tight budgets.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re nimble in a couple of different ways. First, they’re flexible and easy to work with. Secondly, they’re flexible in terms of making changes to their creative and their work, while still delivering everything on time and on budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes they can go down creative rabbit holes. That being said, we love to see a breadth of ideas and creative executions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate with them and they’ll be easy to work with. They’re very responsive, and I highly recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President of a media representation company. We represent various tv radio and digital properties, mostly in and around Sports and sell them to advertising agencies, specifically/only in the Political Advertising community (eg Candidate, Advocacy, Issue advertising). We cover the entire U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire i76 Solutions?

i76 did our initial website design and launch back in 2014. We have since grown exponentially and added many assets. It was time for a redesign and relaunch of the site. While doing so we tried to plan for the future and keep things nimble as the marketplace changes.

What were your goals for this project?

A more streamlined appearance and an easier navigation by potential customers. We wanted it to be a resource and marketing tool that could garner interest and drive requests to us for more information.

SOLUTION

How did you select i76 Solutions?

We worked with i76 when we initially launched our company and built our first website. I know/have known many of the principles including Drew Salamone and Michael McCall for many years and a major factor was they understand my business in detail which made them ideal to work with.

Describe the project in detail.

We did numerous meetings to try and calculate foreseen as well as unforeseen possibilities. Complicating the process was the Covid19 pandemic. Many traditional sports and media outlets were operating under unusual circumstances that would have both short term and long term effects.

We had to change many things "on the fly" as a result which required constant communication. In addition we were continuously signing new assets that needed to be added to the mix.

What was the team composition?

Michael McCall was the main point of contact throughout, but we had a team of about 5 or 6 in all. We had our own PR and Graphics person be included and they brought some great ideas on board. Michael and the i76 team also came up and collaborated on design and implementation ideas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's hard to directly tie the website and visits to our success. We don't do e-commerce and the site is more informational and branding in nature then it is to drive direct sales. That said, we got numerous positive reviews and feedback after launching.

We've had a number of folk sign up for our newsletter which was a feature i76 added. Our company had a record year this year as well so I am sure that the site and marketing of it helped.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We kept up to date through Basecamp and everyone could access, post, update etc. so never felt off track. And we did regular conference calls. They provided us with a checklist of needs regularly too which kept us on task.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Drew knew much about our needs from our initial launch with them and Michael had past work experience specifically in our field which made them by far the best to work with.

They were able to understand our concerns or needs as well as 'push' us towards other ideas and ways to approach a problem which was great. They have a great work ethic too--if it had to be done at midnight on a Monday then that's when it was done. If only time available was a Saturday we did it on a Saturday.

They illustrated the commitment above and beyond to get things done right.

Are there any areas for improvement?

In the end we got exactly what we wanted and 100% happy though it took a bit longer than we initially planned. However, in all fairness we-- like everyone else-- had some difficulties due to the nature of working through a pandemic.

We couldn't do face to face meetings, garnering assets from third parties took more time, production of elements took longer, etc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and a partner of Swell. We are a branding and advertising agency headquartered in Philadelphia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

We needed to put together a media plan for one of our largest clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

i76 helped us devise an integrated digital print media plan for our client. We’ve been working together on that account since 2014.

They do digital advertising, such as Google ads and Facebook, network buys, print advertising, and multi-market publications. In the past, they have done some outdoor marketing and video delivery, as well. They occasionally advise on landing page optimization.

What is the team composition?

We interact primarily with Alexa (Director, Digital Marketing & Strategy) and Drew (CEO & Founder). Occasionally, we also work with Cheryl (VP, Client Services & Media Strategy), who works in more traditional media.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

They were a subcontractor for a company we engaged with. We were impressed with them and wanted to continue the engagement directly.

How much have you invested with them?

The company has spent $150,000¬–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around Q1 2014, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Media planning is a very competitive art form and science that doesn’t allow for a lot of creative flexibility. i76 does very well in this area; they think creatively and show new ways of reaching the market. We are achieving our goals regarding reach, impressions, and conversions.

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they’ve done well regarding project management and meeting deadlines. They’re responsive and organized. They track and report on various performance metrics, including impressions delivered and click-through rates. The team interfaces directly with media as needed. Email is our primary form of communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The i76 team is passionate and has great personalities. They seem to really care about cultivating a productive relationship with us, and they want to see us succeed. They bring a boutique style to media planning and buying.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they need to simplify their story and use less buzz words. We’ve had a challenge understanding what more they can offer to take the relationship to the next level.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Based on my experience, I would say to make sure you have the attention of Alexa and Drew on your project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the president of the Skippack Business Owners Association.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

We hired them to create a platform that would enable users to maintain their own web listings, without the need for programming.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, i76 Solutions obtained the Skippack domain name. Then, they migrated our existing website to a new platform that they recommended. The platform enables WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing of the website, so users can maintain their own pages and business listings. We also engaged them to provide marketing services.

What is the team composition?

I knew of 3–4 people who worked on the project. The president of the company handled the initial requirements gathering. We also worked with a programmer and a content creator. A marketing person was involved at one point as well.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

They were located in the same town as the association. It was a natural fit for us to look to them to host the website.

How much have you invested with them?

Our work together began in 2016. The initial implementation was a couple of months, and then they remained involved in changing functionality or adding new features.

What is the status of this engagement?

The company spent less than $10,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Feedback from our members and the association on how the website looked and its functionality was our key measuring stick as to whether what i76 had done for us was exactly what we needed, and it sure was.

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

i76 did very well. The team managed the project pretty well. They asked for our input on web pages and how we wanted the site designed. We communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The end result was exactly what we were looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I can think of.

Any advice for potential customers?

Just have a clear idea of what the scope of work is and have defined deliverables and deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and operator of Aardvark Video Works, Inc. We’re a video production company, mainly producing short-form videos for broadcast and regional television. Our other services include corporate, training, web, and promotional videos for B2B businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

While television holds a place in our clients’ marketing plans, we still needed support in expanding our digital services. i76 Solutions has been our long-term partner, acting as a reliable resource for web design, email blasts, and other digital marketing services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We rely on i76 Solutions to be an extension to our team. They handle all of the web and digital marketing services for our clients, and we’ve completed about 10–12 projects with them.

One of the more notable projects that comes to mind is their work with a realty client. Because of COVID-19, it’s really tough to market real estate, so our client wanted to produce a TV commercial. However, they realized that it didn’t make sense for the call to action to be a phone number given their unique situation.

I76 resolved the issue by having the call to action be a landing page. It was quickly produced and became the driving force of the TV commercial. On top of that, the page had more information that didn’t make its way into the 30-second ad. That’s just one example of how we collaborate to support our clients.

What is the team composition? 

We coordinate with 3–4 people during a project. It’s great that they’re open to working as an extension of our team. On projects where I prefer to manage things from top to bottom, I know that I can bring them to a client as part of Aardvark Video Works.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

We’d both worked for the same agency, so it was through a mutual acquaintance.

How much have you invested with them?

It’s been about $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them since October 2018.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We hold a pretty high standard for the work we present and have a great reputation. That means we need to make sure that our partners will also protect that image. That’s exactly what i76 Solutions does, and I’m confident that anyone who partners with i76 Solutions would feel the same way.

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re super responsive, which is great considering that most of my projects are highly deadline-oriented. I might not know if I have a job then find out that it has to get done the next day. They’re flexible enough to accommodate that kind of schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a collaborative partner, i7g Solutions seems to really pour everything into each project, just like us. They share our drive to do whatever it takes regardless of the original estimates, which is invaluable for us. It means that they not only do what’s needed but also go beyond expectations.

For example, the realty project was tiny in the grand scheme of things. But, for our client, it was huge and played a crucial role in their campaign. Their team understands that perspective and is willing to treat each client as a big client.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to say one thing, I’d like more of an immediate response. That’s a hard ask, especially during these days, but it would be great if they could get back to us about the client's back-and-forth. Things like letting us know that they’ve received a file and that it’s under the client’s review.

We were involved in a few projects with some larger clients, and I just felt that I would sometimes have to wait a couple of days for a response. I was pretty sure that they saw what I’d given them, but I wasn’t sure if it was under review. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just give them a try — they won’t let you down. Digital marketing is one of those things that can be difficult to quantify because it’s intangible most of the time. It’s not quite creative, nor is it traditional advertising. But you just need to trust that they have your best interests in mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing and Communications for Community Nonprofit. We are the state’s largest non-profit organization committed to strengthening local citizens through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

With seven branches statewide, a youth resource center in downtown Wilmington, and an overnight camp and conference center in Worton, Maryland, we have developed long-standing relationships and a physical presence in Delaware to deliver lasting personal and social change.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire i76 Solutions?

We were looking for a media buyer/marketing partner to help support our small marketing team with large campaigns.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to find a company that was a true partner. Because we have a small team and limited resources, we were in need of a partner that would not only manage our media buying, but would also help us develop strategy, plan large campaigns, make recommendations for future marketing efforts, and serve as an IT resource.

SOLUTION

How did you select i76 Solutions?

They were recommended by another nonprofit.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

i76 Solutions provides a wide scope of services to us including strategy, media planning & buying, marketing execution, tracking, reporting, website hosting, IT support and more.

What was the team composition?

When we first began our relationship with i76 Solution, their team was small but mighty. Over the years, they have grown to help better support organizations like ours. Unlike large marketing firms, I have had the privilege of regularly working with most of their team. They are always accessible and easy to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to the support of the i76 team, our small market team has been able to launch and manage monthly marketing campaigns and strategies. Pre COVID pandemic, we have been able to consistently grow membership numbers and website visits.

However, their biggest accomplishment was the design and launch of our website at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Knowing we were most likely going to be forced to shut down, i76 made a recommendation to go virtual for group exercise classes.

They quickly moved to develop and launch a website where we could provide online options for members and the community. They even gated the site which allowed us to collect data about our visitors. Everything was up and running on the day we announced that our buildings would be closing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager Cheryl is amazing! We meet weekly to review current and upcoming projects. Additionally, projects are managed online through basecamp. I can visit the Basecamp site at any time to ask a question, send an update or review the history or a campaign.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

i76 Solutions is more than just a marketing agency, they are family. They genuinely care about our team and organization. They are dedicated to helping us achieve results and are always willing to go the extra mile.

Our organization moves very quickly and works really hard to make adjustments and plans based on the most current information. As a result, we sometimes end up planning our campaigns at the last minute. i76 is always very flexible and moves quickly with us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our department is very small making it a challenge to stay on top of all campaign planning, details, deadlines, reports, etc. i76 works hard to keep us on track, but there is always room for improvement (on both sides). We could both be a little more proactive and work harder to plan in advance.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of sales and marketing at 309 Office Furniture & Design. We’re a full-service office furniture company. We design, layout, deliver, and set up brand new office furniture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with i76 Solutions?

We wanted to build a brand new website that was more up to date and more representative of our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The i76 team is building a brand new website for us. They’ve made our photos brighter, they showcase our furniture really well, and they’ve made the design more intuitive. 

They’re also working on our social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram with a plan to start LinkedIn soon. The team creates ads, run campaigns, and generally takes care of everything so we don’t have to worry.

What is the team composition?

Drew (President & CEO) is available for us at any time, as is Michael (General Manager), and Allison (Social Media Specialist), who works on our social media.

How did you come to work with i76 Solutions?

Our marketing assistant reached out to several companies and ended up finding i76. They understood exactly what we were looking for and gave us great advice, so we made the decision to go with them. 

Even though we met with several other companies, the main reason we went with i76 is because they really took the time to come in, meet us, and get to know our business.

How much have you invested with them?

i76 Solutions delivered a content management system driven website with inventory control for our $5,000 investment. We also pay a monthly retainer to i76 Solutions for social media management.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2019. We’re still working on and building on the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Even though the site has only been up and running for a short period of team, we’ve already gotten compliments from customers who find the site a lot easier to navigate. In the first month since we’ve been up and running, we’ve seen about a 2% increase, and we expect to grow a little more every week. We’re very happy.

Their help with the marketing side of the project has been a huge weight off our shoulders, especially since we’re not back to full staff from the pandemic. Also, the i76 team is really knowledgeable; they’re always thinking about the best ways to showcase our product. 

How did i76 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they’re amazing. i76 is a well-oiled machine. Everyone is available for us at any time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with the personal attention i76 pays us. They really care about us and about what we do. Also, their quick response time is noteworthy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I honestly can’t think of anything. They’ve gone above and beyond to make sure we’re successful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We have a lot of confidence in i76. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them.