Shines Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-founders of a startup that has a superannuation product, which is a pension fund. We’re advertising directly to consumers via Facebook, Google Ads, and Bing. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shines Digital?

We needed Shines to help us deliver our superannuation product to a segment of the market that wasn’t being serviced by anybody else. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We previously tried freelancers, but we didn’t truly have any digital capabilities in the business. Shines then worked to understand our customer base and go-to-market strategy. Then, they translated them to Facebook and Google Ads to help us achieve our business objectives. We made the creative assets of the campaigns, and then their team handled the audience targeting and traffic generation. 

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Boris (Head of Digital) and Pearse (Senior Account Manager). 

How did you come to work with Shines Digital?

Shines came through a referral. One of our directors had used them in another business. They weren’t a cookie-cutter; they took the time to understand our customers and business to tailor a strategy for us. Other agencies simply offered off-the-shelf solutions. As a result, we decided to use them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $300,000 AUD (approximately $215,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from January–November 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Shines consistently delivered cost-effective results based on industry benchmarks. They also proactively looked for ways to reduce our costs. Ultimately, though, the project was unsuccessful, but this had nothing to do with Shines’ part of the engagement. 

How did Shines Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

For project management, we used ClickUp. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They didn’t take a cookie-cutter approach to the project. They took the time to learn about our business, strategy, and customers and designed something bespoke for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the time to determine a clear strategy before you engage Shines. Then, work with the team to apply that strategy to the world of Facebook and Google. Don’t expect them to drive the overall strategy. Instead, expect them to be a great translator of your strategy to the internet.