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Customer Acquisition, Loyalty, & Retention Experts

4.9
9 reviews
Bronze
VERIFIED

We’re obo. A modern, results-focused, full-service Email Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Marketing Automation, and Web Development agency.    

We’re a bold, energetic group of data nerds and marketing professionals who take on unique clients to provide industry-leading support.  We help clients take control of their data for real, measurable results.

We’re not your traditional agency, we’re technology and marketing channel agnostic — what works for most companies might not work for you. We’ll identify the best strategy for your business and work with you toward a successful implementation.

Our services include sales and marketing assessments, email marketing, marketing automation implementation, CRM technology optimization, content & design, Pay-Per-Click, SEO to data & analytics.

Start generating more business today with OBO Agency. Visit www.oboagency.com

READ MORE...
 
$1,000+
 
$150 - $199 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2016
Show all +
Columbia, MD
headquarters
  • 7165 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite A
    Columbia, MD 21046
    United States
    443 266 3217
other locations
  • United States

Portfolio

Key clients: 
Norton Shopping Guarantee The Adventures Group SkillGigs Datatribe Precision for Medicine

Reviews

4.9
9 reviews
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Marketing Strategy for Learning Management Software

“They always look out for the customer’s best interests.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. - Oct. 2019
Project summary: 

obo. Agency assessed the existing marketing strategy and searched to improve the process. By conducting A/B testing they were able to develop a new strategy to reengage leads through email marketing.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Edgewater, Maryland
Joe Schweitzer
Chief Learning Officer
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

There has been a significant improvement in the response rate to marketing materials. By establishing a strong partnership, obo. Agency developed a strong understanding of project needs and delivered. The team was transparent about the project’s progress throughout the engagement.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief learning officer for a software service company, and we sell a learning management system.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo. Agency?

We hired obo. Agency to help build our brand and support our sales process by developing a marketing strategy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They looked at our marketing strategy holistically to determine our key drivers for building our client base was. Their team conducted A/B testing to craft the best marketing strategy and determined that we needed to focus on reengaging leads. They assessed what kind of leads we were getting, what their personas were, messaging, and the frequency of our existing marketing strategy and how we could improve it. Given our limited budget, obo. Agency developed a campaign that would help us build, convert, and reengage leads.

What is the team composition?

We had three people working with us, including a strategic marketer, and technical lead. Meanwhile, the owner of obo. Agency focused on the big picture of our project.

How did you come to work with obo. Agency?

I found obo. Agency on Clutch. We wanted to work with a smaller local company that would be flexible to our needs. We chose this team over three other agencies because we met in person and I really liked their personalities. It seemed like a good match.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $21,000–$22,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from April–October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over the last six months, we’ve seen between a 25%–27% response rate to our emails, which is a significant improvement for us. We have significantly more clarity on where our business needs to go and how we need to get there. The project is paused, but we would definitely like to work with them again. They went above and beyond our expectations.

How did obo. Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They followed an agile methodology, cycling through a new to-list each week. By doing one thing at a time, we could connect the dots and get everything done. They do a good job providing commentary on the project’s progress through a weekly webinar call. Their team is totally transparent and we always know the status of each task.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They develop a  close relationship with their customers and are able to understand their project needs. They start by asking questions and making suggestions to move the project in various ways. They always look out for the customer’s best interests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they did a great job and I don’t see anything they need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Develop a solid relationship with them. They’ll take the time to meet with you and understand your business needs. The better they get to know your brand message, the stronger the strategy they develop for you will be.

5.0
Overall Score It was a great experience and I look forward to working with them again.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were always on time. They really drove the schedule forward.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    For what we invested, we’re happy with the output. We gained a new perspective of what we need to do from a marketing lens.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The response rate we have now speaks for itself. They applied their expertise and asked the right questions.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’ve already recommended them.

Digital Marketing for Telecommunications Firm

“They exemplify white glove care and are our B2B marketing agency of choice for any future projects.”

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4.5

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
July 2018 - Feb. 2019
Project summary: 

obo. Agency helped raise brand awareness for a telecom company. They led a variety of PPC campaigns, wrote content for email and direct marketing, and analyzed sales and implementation lifecycles.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Arlington, Virginia
Tom Finley
Digital Marketing Specialist, Allied Telecom Group
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Through three initiatives, obo. Agency was diligent, quick, and well-organized. They demonstrated strong project management skills and integrated well with the internal team. They pushed for in-depth analysis and encouraged deep exploration of existing strategy and processes.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a Tier 2 telecom company. We operate in a few key cities in the Mid-Atlantic region. I'm part of a two-person marketing team, and my duties include designing and developing our marketing website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo. Agency?

We’ve been in business for more than 20 years in the D.C. area, but our primary challenge is brand awareness. We compete with over-the-top telecom companies for our business clients. We needed creative solutions to raise awareness, and felt obo was our best bet.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They came up with a wide variety of research-driven PPC ads and display ads. They also led some LinkedIn and programmatic campaigns that targeted high-value accounts. We also contracted them to do email and direct mail marketing.

I was fairly heavily involved in the campaigns, and they offered us an extensive menu of options to start with. We co-shaped a lot of the messaging and used their keyword research. They were extremely collaborative, even though we're an unusual client. We are tactically hands-on and strategic. We understand the work that they do, so we co-developed a lot of ideas and messaging.

They provided some content for our email marketing, which we massaged. Our industry is very technically specific, so we taught each other a lot over the course of our collaboration.

They also did an analysis of our sales and implementational lifecycles, as well as all the associated technologies and systems we use to track those. We never had a full-stack review previously, so that was an important part of the process. They ultimately transferred our marketing automation system to HubSpot.

What is the team composition?

I work with a lot of people within their company and feel like I know their whole team.

How did you come to work with obo. Agency?

I came across them via one of their sister agencies, and I read reviews about them on Clutch. I considered several local agencies, but we decided to work with obo, as they had the best plan for the price. They provided a lot of bang for the buck.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost for all our projects with them was between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2018 and ended our collaboration around January or February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My coworker and I absolutely love working with their team. They're prompt, diligent, and extremely organized. They exemplify white glove care and are our B2B marketing agency of choice for any future projects.

How did obo. Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They are superlative project managers. They are fairly close to our offices, so we met a few times in person and had weekly phone calls. We felt like a part of their team, and they felt like a part of ours.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have sharp minds, a dedicated work ethic, and an unbelievably positive attitude.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have been more forceful with us when we didn't hold up our end of the bargain, though that says less about them than it does about us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to do a deep dive analysis of your strategy and processes. They will require you to know all the ins and outs of your business.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Email Marketing & Web Redesign for Printing Company

"They’re real professionals, and I can’t speak highly enough of them."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Feb. - Sept. 2018
Project summary: 

obo. Agency coordinated an email marketing campaign and a website redesign for a printing company. They implemented and crafted content for a blog and a newsletter, in addition to making the site SEO-friendly. 

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Landisville, Pennsylvania
Randy Boyer
Director of BD, Yurchak Printing, Inc.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

obo. Agency’s efforts yielded overwhelmingly positive results in the form of website compliments and new clients, helping foster 75% year-to-year growth. The staff is highly professional and offers thoughtful solutions. Their project management approach fosters an agreeable collaboration.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of business development at Yurchak Printing. We specialize in book manufacturing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo. Agency?

We hired obo. Agency to help us improve our company’s online presence and make ourselves more of a recognizable name within in the industry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once we agreed to the terms, they visited our facility to meet our staff and learn about our company. We discussed our strengths and weaknesses relative to our peers, and we conducted a competitive analysis by examining the marketing materials from some of our competitors. The obo. Agency team refined a database of potential clients and launched an email marketing campaign that highlighted our services.

Once the email campaign launched, we worked with them to update our website. It was somewhat antiquated, so they refreshed it and made it more mobile-friendly. As part of the update, they came to our offices, took pictures of our principals and our facility, along with some of our work being put together. They also helped us implement a blog and a newsletter, neither of which we had before. They would typically present me with a list of relevant topics, and then I'd have conversations with their copywriter. Shortly after, we’d have a first draft of a newsletter, and, after a round of edits, we emailed it.

Lastly, obo. Agency improved our SEO rankings by helping us identify keywords that would drive searchers to our site. We didn’t alter much of our content, but they made it much more SEO-friendly.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of 6–7 people, a group that included an account representative, a copywriter, a web developer, and a few other data researchers behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with obo. Agency?

A representative from a trade organization within the printing industry recommended obo. Agency and suggested we speak with Noah (Co-founder, obo. Agency).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within 24-36 hours of the first email blast, we had about 20 positive responses, a response rate that exceeded what we thought was realistic. We converted a few of those into viable prospects, and within two or three weeks, we had secured our first new client, which was a big success. The website was a huge hit with our customers, as well.

By about the fifth blast of emails, the responses were coming in rapidly. We were completely overwhelmed in a positive way. We got to the point where we started to grow so quickly that we didn’t have the resources to take on any more business. We had an excellent return on the investment. We grew about 75% year-to-year in the past four months.

How did obo. Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the entire process, they were efficient and thorough. We had open lines of communication with all members of their team. They were always on time and came through on their deliverables when they said they would.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I felt that they were experts in everything we asked them to do. They knew what would be successful and what wouldn’t. They offered smart suggestions and sound reasoning for all decisions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They’re real professionals, and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to how they want to steer you because they definitely steered us in the right direction.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Rebranding and Content Marketing for a Bartending School

“Before working with obo Agency, our numbers were decreasing, but now we’re growing.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Nov. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

obo Agency works on content marketing and branding. They updated the old website and implemented an automated email system to contact graduates and prospective clients.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Glen Burnie, Maryland
Chantelle White
Director's Assistant, Maryland Trade School
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

obo Agency is a phenomenal partner, clearly explaining their plan and accomplishing requested tasks. Their work has increased organic search by over 200% and resulted in customers engaging more with the website and emails.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director’s assistant for the Maryland Bartending Academy, a trade school that trains bartenders who are placed all over Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo Agency?

We’re a small company and needed help managing our prospective clients and keeping in touch with our grads. We also needed help rebranding our site and better managing our marketing content.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

obo Agency cleaned up our old site and made it look new, rebranding the entire thing. Along with those changes, they also put all of our leads into an email automation system, meaning I didn’t have to compile a list and send emails out a few times every month. They keep our contacts updated across all our programs and even improved our newsletter.

They worked on our social media a bit, but that’s not the bulk of our marketing, so our internal team manages that now. The did, however, make our content more cohesive and streamlined, minimizing the content on our site to make it easier to navigate.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact, but we can talk to anyone at their office.

How did you come to work with obo Agency?

We initially worked with a different company, but they got too big and left us behind. They referred us to obo Agency, and we’ve been working together ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$50,000, and they’re worth every penny.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since November 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re landing our leads more consistently and seeing people engage with our marketing content a lot more. Before working with obo Agency, our numbers were decreasing, but now we’re growing. Our organic search is up by over 200% from last year, and the leads are much higher quality. The emails that obo Agency sends out are professional and easy for our customers to engage with.

How did obo Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They explained every detail of their plan, making sure our internal team understood what was going on. They created flowcharts to illustrate the email automations, and the website has detailed instructions for tasks like changing pricings, updating pictures, etc. They’re incredibly clear, and, if I don’t understand something, they schedule a meeting right away. They’re a great asset to our team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They care about our business and are passionate about helping their clients. If we have any problems, obo Agency is quick to fix them. I never feel like I’m bother them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re a great partner.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Work with them; you won’t regret it.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

HubSpot Integration for Financial Planning Firm

"They’re very knowledgeable regarding HubSpot and Salesforce and highly customer-oriented." 

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
4.5
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Oct. - Dec. 2018
Project summary: 

obo. Agency integrated HubSpot and Salesforce. They contributed to initial requirement definition efforts and provided valuable advice regarding best practices.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Baltimore, Maryland
Martin Dimitrov
Director of Marketing, Facet Wealth
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The integration was successful and came in on time and on budget. obo.agency was responsive to requests and facilitated regular planning opportunities. They place a premium on customer service and possess a thorough understanding of both HubSpot and Salesforce.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a director of marketing at Facet Wealth. We provide full financial life planning through a dedicated certified financial planner (CFP).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire obo. Agency?

We needed help integrating HubSpot with Salesforce.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to fully integrate HubSpot and Salesforce according to complex requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed proposals from multiple agencies.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After becoming a HubSpot client, we held a series of discovery meetings with obo to define the integration requirements. They were instrumental not only in documenting the requirements but also in advising us on best practices. The execution portion of the integration was on budget and on time.

What was the team composition?

I worked closely with their CTO, an assigned account manager, a developer, and a designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

HubSpot and Salesforce are  fully integrated in a manner that fits our business needs. obo Agency did a great job completing it in a month.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly standing meetings to plan the next sprint. On top of that, obo was very accommodating to one-off requests, responding to and assisting us promptly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re very knowledgeable regarding HubSpot and Salesforce and highly customer-oriented.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could improve their creative, but I’d stop short of calling it a true area for improvement. We didn’t give them sufficient direction regarding applying our design system.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 4.5 NPS
    Willing to refer

ABM & Web Dev/Design for Analytics Company

"I’ve worked with quite a few agencies and obo. Agency’s customer-focus outshines them all."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Nov. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Initially brought on for ABM strategy implementation, obo. Agency’s work has resulted in recurring marketing and technical projects, to include HubSpot migration, email campaigns, and website redesign.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Washington DC Metro Area
Karen Megarbane
Marketing Campaign Manager, PublicRelay
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

obo. Agency is incredibly responsive and takes the time to understand short and long-term goals, enabling them to provide perfect fit solutions. Their website redesign and rebranding have established a solid footing in a competitive market, while their marketing strategies have engaged new contacts.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing campaign manager for PublicRelay. We’re an analytics company that works with the communications and PR departments of Fortune 500 brands. We sell them high-level analytics that help them prove their business value and report on their campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo. Agency?

We initially began working with obo. Agency for help implementing an account-based marketing (ABM) strategy. However, as we saw the value of their support, their work increased to include HubSpot migration, email campaigns, and a website redesign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

obo. Agency developed an ABM program for our sales and marketing team. They created a detailed playbook, based on their independent industry research and best practices, and we followed their directions to the letter.

They also put our marketing automation tool HubSpot in place and helped us with the data migration. They assisted us with the move from our old CRM Zoho to the HubSpot CRM, and then provided a 10-person training to ensure that we understood how it worked and how to optimize it to suit our business.

Another large project they helped us with was the website redesign. Using Elementor, they completely transformed our existing site and highlighted our rebranding initiative. The site is much more user-friendly, engaging, and modern. They helped us weave wonderful content that we had been developing, such as videos, throughout the site. It gives users that land our site the incentive to consume the information, download free resources, and learn more about our company.

One of the added benefits of their work on our site is that it is much easier to edit now. Previous web developers, or web development companies, that I’ve worked with have used templates that make it difficult or impossible to customize or edit as our business grows. obo. Agency designed the site so that once the project was over, we had full creative control and could edit the site to our liking.

Additional work they have done for us includes two rounds of cold emailing campaigns, ad development, and SEO consultations. Specifically for the emailing campaigns, they helped us create engaging messaging and drove appointments for our sales team.

What is the team composition?

Depending on the project, we would have a different team, but we’ve consistently worked with Taryn (Marketing Strategist, obo. Agency). She is extremely customer-focused, patient, thorough, and has always been cognizant of our resources. She only presents us with solutions that are a good fit for the business.

How did you come to work with obo. Agency?

I believe that my manager met obo. Agency’s owner at a networking event. After we began working with them, we were impressed with their attentiveness to our needs and strategy, and their results. We enjoyed working with them, so it made sense to continue bringing them onboard for our marketing projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in November 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of their work on our website, they helped us completely rebrand and boost our brand awareness. It’s helped modernize and professionalize our brand, competitively positioning us in the market. As a small company with large competitors, we really appreciated that.

Regarding their marketing work, they’ve helped us engage with new contacts and introduced a unique and effective marketing approach. Additionally, they were extremely helpful in training us with the ABM strategy and bringing that to fruition.

How did obo. Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

As a whole, the team was responsive and extremely receptive to deadlines. They’re always willing to develop plans and implement best practices. Taryn, specifically, would immediately respond to my emails. If she didn’t know an answer, she would find it.

The team worked in two-week sprints. So, we would have weekly meetings to discuss the status and/or review deliverables. Outside of the meetings, our communication was mostly through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

From our first project together, I was impressed with how attentive they were to our needs and the time that they took to understand our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve worked with quite a few agencies and obo. Agency’s customer-focus outshines them all. I have nothing negative to say about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Something we appreciated about obo. Agency was that they took the time to understand our short and long-term strategy and aspirations. I suggest being open to their questions and allowing them to see the big picture of your business goals.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Content and Digital Marketing for a Software Company

"As an effective coordinator, Alex makes my life easier."

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4.5

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
3.5
Willing to refer: 
4.5
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jun. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

obo. Agency manages ongoing omnichannel marketing campaigns. The team focuses on marketing automation, but also assists with SEO, SEM, copywriting, and design. They execute data hygiene as needed.

The Reviewer
 
Columbia, Maryland
Director of Marketing, Software Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The team’s extensive expertise has expanded in-house marketing bandwidth. Quarterly reviews effectively assess performance and inform strategic resource allocation. Consistent in-person and remote communication ensure flow between projects. They are particularly helpful for smaller businesses.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager at a data warehousing CRM software provider. We serve associations in the nonprofit market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo. Agency?

We were a small-to-midsize company with reactive, not proactive, marketing. Our organization created my marketing position to elevate outreach and expand into more marketing channels. However, we lacked in-house resources to fulfill this objective effectively. We needed a vendor to supplement technology stack skills for SEO, search engine marketing (SEM), and website CRM data management. Ultimately, we wanted obo. Agency to increase our marketing revenue.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

obo. Agency serves as our agency of record. The engagement started with web designs, during which our freelance web developers advised about layout, lead forums, and workflow processes. Next, we focused on SEO and SEM as smaller components of our total ad spend. Primarily, obo. Agency does hosting and marketing automation.

For each project, we identify the target audience, the segment, and determine the right messaging. They assist with pop up ads, banner ads, and copywriting and design for the landing pages. Also, obo. Agency does data hygiene including email validation and enhancements for our contact lists.

What is the team composition?

Alex (Senior Marketing Strategist, obo. Agency) serves as our account representative. But subject-matter experts may take the lead for particular campaigns. We work with a graphic designer—who focuses on the layout—and a data lead; the latter does enhancements and tracks compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The technical team works on HTML development.

How did you come to work with obo. Agency?

My company engaged obo. Agency one month before they hired me. obo. Agency reached out to our VP of sales and built a relationship. Originally, they were across the street from our office, but have since moved a few minutes away. In addition to being a local vendor, the team had experience in providing sophisticated marketing services to other small-to-midsized businesses.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2016 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re now able to implement marketing campaigns—SEO, SEM, paid ads— and measure their impact. obo. Agency does quarterly business reviews for outbound marketing; these reports track pickup, key performance indicators (KPI), organic traffic, and open and click-through rates. During the quarterly reviews, we assess the KPIs to determine which tactics we should be using.

How did obo. Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

As an effective coordinator, Alex makes my life easier. She assembles campaigns’ launch plans and strategically selects team members for each in-person meeting and project. This approach maintains flow. We communicate via email outside the scheduled weekly calls. I call Alex when issues are time sensitive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a result of obo. Agency’s extensive subject-matter expertise, we’re able to keep up with omnichannel marketing. Our company benefits from their cost-effective knowledge of the PR, CRM integration, and marketing automation fields.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We want to increase our digital ad spend to include count-based marketing on top of the personal level, but our budget cannot accommodate those services.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 3.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 4.5 NPS
    Willing to refer

Email Marketing Campaign for Printing Company

"I was impressed with their willingness to understand the nuances of my business."  

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Nov. 2016 - Dec. 2017
Project summary: 

In an effort to increase qualified lead generation and improve brand recognition in the modern space, obo. Agency established an email marketing campaign that replaced the client’s traditional sales model.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Silver Spring, Maryland
Robert Firestein
CEO, Ecoprint
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

No longer reliant on time-consuming methods like cold calling, the campaign has garnered dramatic increases in sales volume and positive response rate. Obo. delivered a customized, on-target solution that addressed the client’s unique challenges and resulted in major changes in sales procedures. 

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and president of Ecoprint, an environmentally friendly printing company with a history in commercial offset and digital printing. Established in 1977, we also offer in-house mailing and large format services as well as promotional items and apparel. We have 30 full-time and several part-time employees and an annual revenue approaching $5 million.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire obo. Agency?

We reached out to obo. to help us generate qualified leads and improve our brand recognition.

What were your goals for this project?

I had one simple goal: replace the old sales approach that was dependent on cold calling and traditional sales representatives with a process that consistently generated warm prospects for follow-ups.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had been struggling with our existing prospecting practices and knew I needed to do something different. While I was confident that my brand and name were marketable, I was skeptical of the email marketing (i.e. spam) method. Still, I felt anything was worth a shot and one of my employees at the time had connections at obo.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After obo.'s co-founder met with my key staff members and me to share his company’s success stories, he developed a 90-day plan, researched the printing industry, and presented his outline, which we readily approved.

What was the team composition?

Fortunately for us, the team leader was familiar with the printing industry after spending several years working for a commercial printing company. He could understand and relate to our challenges.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At 30%, our positive email response rate dramatically exceeded expectations and our sales pipeline increased by nearly 200%; the volume was almost overwhelming. Determining how to best distribute the positive responses among my sales staff was the only internal challenge I faced.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

My management team and I worked well with obo., but my traditional sales staff had difficulty with the amount of leads. I have since released most of those staff members and am trying to build a more contemporary “hybrid” sales representative. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with their willingness to understand the nuances of my business. Rather than force on me an inadequate or inappropriate solution, they truly did their research, which is demonstrated both in my results and those of similar printing companies throughout the United States. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

Only for myself.

5.0
Overall Score I would recommend their services to any business that requires consistent opportunities in their pipeline.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    The scheduling was phenomenal.
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    This cost less then any sales experiment I have tried during my 15 years as a business owner.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    I've embraced their model and brought it in-house, implementing the strategy on a daily basis.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I refer them and their strategy all the time.

Lead Generation & Content Marketing for Wireless Communications Provider

"They take the time to know your business and be proactive."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jan. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Obo. Agency conducted customer-based research and provided data cleansing and marketing automation services for a client in need of lead generation. They assisted with email campaigns and content marketing as well.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Baltimore Metro Area, Maryland
Director of Marketing, Wireless Communications Provider
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Inquiries, appointments, quote requests, and orders increased to a volume so large, marketing efforts had to slow down. Obo. Agency stays proactive, re-evaluating campaigns and adjusting as necessary to surpass expectations. They are always up for a challenge and meet all deadlines.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is a wireless communications company based in Baltimore, Maryland. We've been around for over 40 years, and we provide Motorola two-way radio communication as well as in-building solutions. If an organization does not have a strong cell signal in their building or strong public safety signal for first responders' two-way radios, we go in and fix that.

I'm the director of marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with obo. Agency?

We were looking for a lead generation solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were interested in obo. Agency's marketing automation services. Their process consists of doing a strong overview and learning everything about how we function, what we sell, and who our ideal customer is. They did a lot of research and came back with some recommendations. We also needed help with our database. They were instrumental in helping us scrub that, identify, clean up, and then market a lot more specifically to unique groups instead of just general marketing to the whole group.

They also did email campaigns, content marketing, and newsletters. The lead generation involved email marketing. They created the content for our outbound marketing email campaigns, and it was a combination of warm to our database and cold to prospects. I was impressed with obo. Agency and their capability, so we let them handle our newsletters that we had been previously been doing with another marketing firm as well. For the newsletters, I provided most of the content.

Now, we're talking about working with them on blogs, webinars, and case studies. That's going to be new for us.

What is the team dynamic?

Noah [Co-founder, obo. Agency] was our initial contact. He is incredibly bright, wonderful to work with, and he's always responsive. We have an account manager we also work with. We have weekly phone calls, and she's incredibly responsive and capable. I've worked with many marketing agencies, and they're the most responsive, creative, and proactive group I've worked with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $50,000 annually with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our email outreach efforts generated a total of 128 unique positive responses out of 430. They rate all the responses either positive, neutral, or negative. It's almost a 30% positive response rate we've generated. We're not only getting inquiries; we're getting appointments, request for quotes, and even orders. At one point, we had to slow it down because we were having trouble handling the volume. We've had great success with them.

How did obo. Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We had deadlines to meet all the time. It's never been a problem with them. They have a very can-do attitude and make things happen. We recently had an acquisition, and they helped us with promoting it as well. I wrote the press release, and they tweaked and developed it into an email that we sent to our database and the acquiring company's database.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and proactive. We've gotten to a point where it's now time to move ahead and develop new tactics. They take the time to know your business and be proactive. They evaluate, re-evaluate, and adjust campaigns as needed if we're not getting the results that we're looking for. Some agencies get campaigns going, but then fall short with the analysis and follow-up. Obo. Agency is constantly reviewing ongoing campaigns and looking for opportunities to improve them for better results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven't had any negative experiences with them since we've been working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their recommendations.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
Verification

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Verification Level
Bronze
VERIFIED
Business Entity
Status
Active
Jurisdiction of Formation
Maryland
ID
T00446308
Date of Formation
May 8, 2018
Last Updated
Mar 12, 2019
Client Reviews
VERIFIED CLIENT REVIEWS
9
OVERALL REVIEW RATING
4.9
Source
Clutch
LAST UPDATED
November 13, 2019