Search Engine People

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m VP of marketing for Cosmo Music. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Search Engine People?

We moved our e-commerce store from Magento to Workarea, but it wasn’t properly executed. As a result, we had several product pages that led to 404 errors, and our website traffic dropped significantly. 

We were selling 120,000 SKUs, and we couldn’t fix the errors manually. We needed help repairing the errors on our site and recovering our lost traffic.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Search Engine People worked with our developers to salvage our redirects and correct our links. They then evaluated our on-page content to ensure it was marked correctly, checking metatags so Google could easily index our pages.  

After that, Search Engine People helped us improve the on-page SEO of the brands we’re selling. They went through landing pages and pages for our top products, and they integrated Google Analytics into our site. Their team also changed our target keywords, content, and menu structure.

They’ve recently concluded their SEO work, and we’re currently improving our performance on YouTube. Additionally, they’re also managing our PPC campaigns on Google Ads account.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with their CEO and at least a dozen teammates. 

How did you come to work with Search Engine People?

There was a personal connection between their CEO and our CEO.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2021, and it’s ongoing. 

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

We’ve lost 70%–80% of our traffic due to the errors after migrating our website. In just eight months, Search Engine People has been able to return us to our old traffic levels. 

Further, their SEO and PPC campaigns are successful. They’ve made our website the top-ranked site for our target keyword. Additionally, our return on ad spend (ROAS) has been around $9–$11 for every $1, which far exceeds our target. 

The process has been educational for us. We learned what can and cannot be done, and they’ve helped us understand what we can do for the immediate future. They’ve set us up for long-term success.

How did Search Engine People perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m very pleased with Search Engine People’s project management. They’ve learned how to best communicate with our team. Their presentation skills are excellent, and I can see how they are helping us in just one picture.

They’re also good at resolving outstanding tasks. I’m never confused about knowing where we are with our campaigns. They’re very organized and good at putting all the information in one place. In addition, their team is extremely responsive — they even reply outside of business hours. 

We communicate using Zoom and emails. We are thankful that we’re working with Search Engine People. We look forward to meeting with them, and we feel great after speaking with their team. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their expertise and organizational skills can be relied upon.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. I’m very pleased working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They work well when you’re responsive, so ensure you have a dedicated point of contact from your organization that can spend time with them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Marketing and Creative Services at Putting Edge. A 26 year entertainment industry veteran with a chain of glow-in-the-dark mini-putt courses and arcades across North America.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People?

We hired SEP to manage, streamline and optimise our online advertising efforts.

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

After a lengthy vetting process SEP was the only company that ticked all of the boxes we needed, along with that, is they have a good human touch and make you feel valued as a client which is definitely not always the case.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

By keeping on top of our analytics they have been able to exponentially increase our click-through rates and conversions which has resulted in real sales for us and a streamlined awareness through to booking process for our guests. Geo-targeted ad campaigns help reach exactly who we need to while keeping every cent of our ad spend optimised.

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

The beauty of SEP is that we feel we have access to anyone in their team when we have needed them, which isn't often because everything has run very smoothly.

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

The aforementioned geo-targeted ads brought us back to near full capacity within days of lockdown restrictions being lifted. In fact many of our locations are performing better now than they ever have historically.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Can I say instantaneous? SEP has the fastest turnaround and response time of any vendor I have worked with in my 15+ year career. It's like we are in the same office.

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

Their response time, it actually puts all my other vendors in a very bad light by comparison. That and their measurable results.

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

I can be very picky, but none so far.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a digital media specialist at my company, responsible for social media content creation, website development and digital advertising.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We needed help with our Google Ads and how to professionally set up campaigns to reach the right audience and be more successful with our ads.

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

We searched online for local Canadian companies and had a handful of Zoom meetings. Geordan was awesome. He did his research on our company and was invested from the start. He paired us with a team he knew would blend well with our staff.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

SEP was able to set up brand new campaigns for us on Google Ads. Previously we only had 2 major campaigns but they advise use to break down to create more specific targets, which has been improving our sales thus far.

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

We work with Sameera and Zarrah, who both present good communication skills and have well thought out strategies. They both do their research on our company and our competitors to find the best strategies to be more successful.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our Black Friday campaign was very successful. Prior to the sale, we had a meeting to discuss strategies to help push the promotion. Our conversion rate increased by 37% during that week, contributing to our 9x ROAS.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Sameera and Zarrah are very communicative. We have monthly meetings to go over results and strategies to improve every promotion we have at our company. They always provide tips that will steer us into the right direction.

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

The account manager and team are all very involved and educated on our company and what kind of audience we have. We have monthly meetings that I find are very helpful as it shows they keep track of how the campaigns are doing.

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

No issues found as of right now.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Senior Digital Marketing Specialist at a FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) agency.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We knew it was important to optimize our website and improve our SEO rankings in organic searches and to make sure that our company appears at the right time when people are searching for expanding their international business to the Toronto Region.

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

It was based on their reputation and recommendations of others in the digital marketing field that made Search Engine People an obvious choice.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

Our campaign started with providing SEP a campaign brief that outlined the campaign objective, target audience, messaging & tone, content strategy, leveraging social media platforms, and display ad campaigns. And it outlined how to measure the success of the campaign by things such as engagement, impression, lead, and more. From this creative brief and an initial discussion with SEP, they provided recommendations, a game plan and how to best allocate the budget for the campaign.

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

Account Manager with experience in search campaigns, strategies, and best practices along with a Campaign Manager.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

After running this campaign, we hit the following metrics: Paid Campaigns Over 9 million impressions Over 640,000 clicks 64 Landing Page Conversions Average CTR of 3.3%

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are very caring and hands-on, and always give you 100% of their best effort. What made this campaign run smoothly is their availability to meet, consistent communication, and up-to-date metrics on how the campaign was doing.

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

Their level of professionalism, caring approach, and making you not feel silly about SEO campaigns and goals that you're trying to achieve with your company.

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

They provided a campaign summary of the campaign once it was over, including the wins and opportunities. I think they highlighted and did their jobs providing top service, especially during the pandemic where communication and keeping things going has been more of a challenge.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President of an Emergency Water Damage and Disaster Response company with two locations (Vaughan and Barrie). We work with homeowners and their insurance companies to dry and sanitize their properties and fully restore them to pre-loss condition.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We wanted to grow our newly formed brand with a strong PPC presence in the water damage market. This market is very competitive with multiple industries relying on specific key words like flooded basement and burst pipes. The goal for SEP was to test, learn and roll out best practices for the new brand and business.

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We interviewed 3 other agency options and chose SEP based on the teams presentation, professionalism and expertise. Michael won us over and continues to improve our ROI each year.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

SEP worked with our website designer to ensure we had the digital structure to promote both PPC and organic search approached. We refined spending, key words and continue to analyze data each year and build on the key learnings.

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

Only two members and one is Michael and the other is Amber. I would assume both are account representatives, but they are both very knowledgeable in their field and we are comfortable reaching out any time to either of them.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Yes, our ROI for web marketing is approximately 8 to 1 and is likely higher when you look at the leads and presence from other non SEP sites like Homestars, that benefit from our great reputation.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

They are very proactive in their approach, reviewing data and presenting new ideas to test, learn and roll out. The team is very responsive and will get back to us typically within an hour or less.

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

They are always available, knowledgeable and responsive. Our previous brand used a different firm and there was an heir of "trust us" or an aloofness about their ability. SEP is built on professionalism, warmth and performance.... a difficult combination for sure.

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

nothing. They are truly excellent.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President of a boutique relocation company that specializes in supporting businesses and individuals for people relocating from all over the world to Toronto! We help manage the entire project, from pre-decision making to settling in.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

SEO was required to build up the profile for our website and our two offices, one in Toronto, ON and the second in Seattle, WA. Our Seattle office is newer, and didn't have the 'credibility' to be noticed or seen by Google. This meant a quick and easy refresh of our website as well as some other projects.

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We researched 3 different companies. Two in North America and the third in the Middle East. Search Engine People were selected because, hands down, they were the best communicators, the most responsive and were able to shape a meaningful strategy for our business that aligned with our goals and strategy.

They have been incredibly enjoyable to work with - and that is something I put a very high value on. They also worked with our budget, which helped make the decision even easier.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

Truthfully, it's difficult to remember everything as it all unfolded, but there was a focus on a few different areas: making sure our website was optimized with the right key words and tags, new website page development, back-linking and then blog writing.

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

After the sales cycle had concluded, we worked with one Account Director. He was the liaison with his team...and we always had his ear.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our going in position was that we wanted to see measurable change within a certain period. Based on this, we were advised to focus on a 6 month strategy to move the position of our website to the first page. This was accomplished at exactly the 6 month mark, and we continue to work with them to improve our results on an ongoing basis.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We've had clear guidance throughout around building a set strategy, with calls once monthly to measure the effects of the investments we made. Communication has been enjoyable and impactful!

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

The one thing that struck me as we started the process with SEP was that each person along the way was so easy to speak with. SEO is not my area of expertise, and it was important to partner with a company who were able to educate me about the process so I could participate in a meaningful way. I felt right away that they could and should be trusted!

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

No.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a manufacturer of highly specialized high temperature materials and fire protection fabrications.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

Increase our website inquiries from new corporate and commercial clients worldwide, without clogging up our network with inquiries from hobbyists and non-commercial enterprises.

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We looked primarily at their ability to understand our unique business, their track record of managing long term SEO campaigns, and the value they could deliver.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

They delivered on all factors shown above, and later in the process also overhauled our website.

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

We worked with an initial sales contact who was actually quite knowledgeable technically, and now we work primarily with long term SEO manager and occasionally with one of their tech support people whenever needed.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Their SEO program has resulted in over $3.5 million in new business over the 7 years we have been working with them

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Monthly SEO reviews where we leverage their SEO and tech knowledge with our indepth market knowledge for best results.

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

Matt Pollnow! We are quite pleased with every aspect of Search Engine People's service.

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

We get 3 calls a week from unknown companies claiming to be some type of google certified partner. We just hang up them because we are very happy with SEP.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Digital Communications Specialist for an Insurance Brokerage. We service clients in the home, auto, recreational, farm, and commercial sectors. I oversee all communication for the organization.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We hired SEP in 2018 to take charge of our PPC and some SEO strategy. As a small in-house team, we wanted to focus more attention on these key areas of the business but did not have the time or resources to do so.

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

I was not with the company at the time SEP was hired and cannot speak to the deciding factors.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

We work with SEP to build our Google Ads, backlinking, Bing and Facebook placements. We meet with SEP bi-weekly to review results and adjust strategy as needed. They also support any in-house initiatives as needed for PPC.

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

We work closely with an account manager who oversees activity and provides updates on results.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Since working with SEP, we have seen a significant increase in traffic to our website and higher conversion rates. They have exceeded our expectations.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

SEP is extremely organized and is always prepared for our bi-weekly check-in meetings. They are able to speak to all aspects of the campaigns and provide updates, areas for improvement, and recommend changes. We meet with our account manager who provides updates on these initiatives.

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

The level of professionalism, organization, and care is standout. Search Engine People is quick to answer any queries we have and provide a friendly and professional service.

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

If SEP is held up with a project because we have not provided it, it would be nice if they expressed a sense of urgency in order to move forward with initiatives.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Vice President and Co-Owner of Canadian Mortgage Services, a boutique mortgage brokerage and mortgage investment firm in the Greater Toronto Area.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

We originally hired SEP for SEO projects to start, which led to site development, PPC management and is further heading towards social media marketing as well.

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We contacted at least a few different companies during the process. SEP assessed our goals and budget. They didn't try to sell on us things we didn't need... nor did they try to sell us at all. It was just genuine interest and conversation.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

• SEO - Build, deliver and maintenance
• PPC - Research, design, launch and maintain
• Site Development - Copywrite, design, functionality and responsiveness

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

• Michael - Account Manager
• Vamsee - PPC Specialist
• Craig - Director

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

SEP effectively increased our rankings to page 1 of Google with many targeted keywords. There are continuous efforts to improve rankings on related keywords, bounce rates, conversions, etc.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Timelines are specific and realistic. Communication is on point with effective use of available resources.

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

The culture of the company is great. Everyone seems to emulate the same common interest of the client, which makes each individual valuable and each team powerful.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director, Marketing. Custom mobile application development organization, selling to IT and LOB (Field Service) in Manufacturing, Energy, and Healthcare.

For what projects/services did your company hire Search Engine People, and what were your goals?

SEP is our provider of SEO and PPC across Google and Linkedin Ad Campaigns. We outsource SEO and PPC to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of digital marketing, in order to stay competitive.

How did you select Search Engine People and what were the deciding factors?

We evaluated several demand gen/digital marketing vendors but have sticked with SEP as they are transparent, professional, and focus on customer relationships.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

SEO manages our PPC accounts on google ads, and Linkedin Campaign Manager. We also have a minor ongoing SEO engagement/retainer.

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

We've worked with several members of the SEP team over the years but our primary contact is with our account manager(s) who coordinate tasks amongst their internal domain experts in ad management and seo.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Difficult to provide concrete data as this has been a multi-year engagement across many projects but we're highly satisfied with our engagement and have been able to retain our market position in a highly competitive landscape.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Collaborative, weekly meetings on ongoing tasks, monthly larger scale executive discussions and quarterly business/strategic reviews.

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

I'd say Search Engine People's competitive advantage is customer service - we've had a few account managers and points of contact over the years and across the board they've all been results oriented and professional.

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

Continue the pace - be more proactive and prescriptive with budget management and areas of improvement.