Reel Axis

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an account executive at SynerComm, a value-added security and networking solution provider. We consult enterprise and mid-tier enterprise businesses on their security, and we provide a broad array of services for companies to enhance their security posture. We also sell hardware and software solutions around networking and security. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Reel Axis?

Since our individual segments serve as independent business units, my company has a few business initiatives with Reel Axis. For my unit, they essentially help us acquire business meetings through LinkedIn and email campaigns, as well as using tools like Mailshake, an email outreach software.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Reel Axis essentially facilitates many of my unit's campaigns and personal branding efforts. They write content for our marketing and email outreach, and they’re responsible for the delivery of our LinkedIn campaigns. 

So far, we’ve created an outreach campaign focused on a broad group of customers. Apart from that, we’ve settled in on meetings with the companies that I’m attempting to work with in the Phoenix and Las Vegas area. 

For the whole company, Reel Axis facilitates webinars for new customers and outreach programs. They also work on rebranding content for our website, sales, and deliverables to support our service offerings. On top of that, they're engaged in a consulting role with SynerComm. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Chris (President), Nick (COO), and another member of the Reel Axis team. They’re responsible for the majority of our projects. However, there’s a whole team of people on the backend that supports them. 

How did you come to work with Reel Axis?

Chris and I go way back. He was one of my previous customers at a partner business. Then, he joined the company where I worked, and we were peers for 4–5 years. After that, he started Reel Axis and my business became one of his customers for 2–3 years. 

For the current partnership, we chose Chris because I trust the integrity and quality of his work. Frankly, it was also because of our friendship. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested around $50,000–$100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership started in December 2019, and it’s ongoing. Prior to that, I contracted Reel Axis in my previous company from 2017–2019. I worked with Chris as a peer from 2014–2019, and he was my customer at another company from 2010–2014. 

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

The email and LinkedIn campaigns are static, so we’re getting many “hot” leads. In the 6–7 months that they've been working for me, I've had around eight actual meetings that have moved beyond the “hot” lead category. Essentially, these leads have not turned yet, but there's a pipeline for it that’s being developed. 

How did Reel Axis perform from a project management standpoint?

When I need something, I just pick up the phone and call them — I get what I need when I need it. Moreover, they meet deadlines just fine. Sometimes, I put an artificial deadline on tasks to make sure it meets my needs. The artificial deadline gives me the opportunity to review their work and run it by my team. Other than that, I seem to get what I need when I need it

What did you find most impressive about them?

What’s noteworthy about Reel Axis’ service is the team. Everyone's pretty young and creative. I tend to use a lot of new tools and solutions, and they're always striving to show us something new — I like this about them. At the end of the day, it's all about the team and who they are.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. I love the fact that they're constantly bringing something new for us to review, such as a tool or an idea. If they weren't bringing us new things, then there would be an issue. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

VividCortex is a SaaS [software-as-a-service] database monitoring tool which monitors distributed systems and databases. I’m the VP of marketing.

What challenge were you trying to address with OpGen Media?

We needed demand generation, brand awareness, and to help our market understand our specialized value propositions. We wanted to do this through content syndication.

What was the scope of their involvement?

OpGen Media mostly helped with promotion through third party syndicates of our various content pieces. OpGen Media also drove more direct inbound traffic through trial and demo requests.

How did you come to work with OpGen Media?

I had worked with OpGen Media at a previous company. I had confidence that OpGen Media knew what they were doing and that they would deliver value.

How much have you invested with OpGen Media?

We have spent under $10,000 with OpGen Media so far. We work on a performance based program, so it’s pre-negotiated CPLs [cost per lead] based on whatever the program is.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with OpGen Media in August 2016, and the work is ongoing.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I have lead attribution reports that I keep on my vendors. OpGen Media did a really good job on the content download programs and at promoting those. OpGen Media didn’t have as much success on the free trial and demo requests. By nature, we have a highly technical audience, so they’re going to be skeptical of doing anything right away like that. OpGen Media performed above average compared to my other vendors on the content syndication.

How did OpGen Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I had one point of contact, and they’ve been easy to work with. We communicate via email. The ideal vendor for me sets up the program, hands it off, and doesn't touch it. That was the case for OpGen Media. They have been able to meet deadlines with no problems.

What did you find most impressive about OpGen Media?

I liked that OpGen Media was performance-focused. With a lot of lead agencies, you can fall into the trap of a guaranteed program that doesn’t deliver. This relationship was cut and dried with no smoke and mirrors, and I really like that. That’s why I keep going back to OpGen Media over and over.

Are there any areas OpGen Media could improve?

I would like if OpGen Media delivered more on the inbound stuff. Everybody in the SaaS world wants a whole line of people signing up for free trials or demos. That’s not a criticism of OpGen Media, but if they could find the secret sauce, that would make my life a lot easier.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is called Admiral. We are an internet software company in the B2B space helping web publishers analyze and provide solutions for their ad blocking traffic. I am the VP of revenue.

What challenge were you trying to address with OpGen Media?

We needed to find a specific targeted list of leads and contacts to run outbound email campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided them the criteria of the websites, businesses, titles of people, and their functionality in their job positions so they could help us find email addresses and phone numbers. We signed an agreement for an expected amount each month. They did good work and were always willing to credit back any leads that weren’t valuable or which we already had. We had a very collaborative and iterative arrangement. Brandon, the founder, provided insight to help open things up more.

How did you come to work with OpGen Media?

We were referred to them by someone we trust. We talked to Brandon in person to make sure this project was something he could do. We worked out the pricing so that it was fair for both of us.

How much have you invested with OpGen Media?

The project cost under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September 2016 and the work is ongoing.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

They do something that’s not very glamorous but it’s important to our business. The quality of the work is good. For us, outsourcing this function has been very cost effective. We went from having two to three full-time employees to now being able to move those employees to sales ops and pre-sales roles. We are happy with the results we’ve gotten. We’ve had a steady and gradual improvement.

How did OpGen Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We speak any time we need to and use Google Docs to share information. They have been able to meet deadlines and our expectations.

What did you find most impressive about OpGen Media?

They have a level of personal service and care that distinguishes them. Brandon has been very responsive. I’ve met him in person on several occasions, which was nice. I would recommend them to people who need this kind of service.

Are there any areas OpGen Media could improve?

No.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Ziflow is a marketing automation company focused on automating tasks and processes for creative marketers. I am the chief marketing officer.

What challenge were you trying to address with OpGen Media?

I’ve worked with OpGen for a couple of companies. For Ziflow, we’re more focused on product market fit since we’re in an early stage. We are trying to have conversations with senior-level marketers at brands to find out what processes they wish they could automate so their teams can be more productive. My current team is very small so anything I can outsource, I will. We needed content created from their team and lead generation campaigns.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ziflow uses OpGen to drive people to demo requests. We wanted to identify senior level executives at brands and those in the creative production space within brands. We planned to do enough education and drive the proper amount of context to them. We wanted these executives to take a demo and drive conversations to identify use cases that will push wider to market.

With the other company, ProofHQ, we realized that the best way for us to close business was to get people in trials. We worked with OpGen to devise different program strategies for driving people to trials. I’m following the same model at Ziflow. The model was around book content as well as lead generation campaigns. We’re having OpGen generate new content for us, both in terms of long- and short-form content for blogs and infographics. They also used their own organic campaigns to drive people to trials and conversion.

How did you come to work with OpGen Media?

I found them through one of the GrowthHacker community boards. Brandon approached me about OpGen approaching the work as a consultant. It worked out well so that I didn’t have to hire a full-time resource.

How much have you invested with OpGen Media?

Our total spend at Ziflow will be between $10,000 and $50,000 at the end of the quarter.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work is ongoing.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

It’s still new, but the conversion rate from demo to trial for Brandon’s generated leads are higher than our own efforts right now. His demo requests to trials are more than 50%; for ours, it’s 35%. He’s been providing quality leads that have been converting very well. Brandon had a full grasp of the marketer and was able to quickly develop some impactful trial starts for us. They gave some suggestions and that was how we started to expand the scope to content. At Ziflow, we have developed an e-book about tasks and we’ll put another piece about processes. OpGen understands the space really well. They know our buyer, so there hasn’t been a lot of back-and-forth. They’re really strong for companies that are selling around the marketing persona, so the ramp up time is minimal.

How did OpGen Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve given them access to all of our analytics packages. We meet biweekly on Skype to get updates on content and programs. We do two-week sprints and daily Scrums over video calls. They are very accessible and they’ve been able to meet deadlines. It’s been very easy to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about OpGen Media?

They’re accessible and really easy to work with. I give them credit for thinking outside the box. We have a partnership of coming up with ideas and generating new content that I can use. They do a great job of reaching marketing personas. That’s important because that’s the space we’re in.

Are there any areas OpGen Media could improve?

I can’t think of anything. I’m happy with their model and their pricing.