Simple Machines Marketing

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing at ThreeKit, a visual technology company. We take single design files and create 3D renderings or photorealistic images of products.

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

We had two giant categories. One was improving our website, and the second was starting out with Google Ads.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the website, they’ve been helping us with our conversion paths. Simple Machines is trying to understand how customers move through our website, and their goal is to optimize that journey. They started with a comprehensive media analysis to understand other leading sites in our industry. From there, they went through an evaluated our calls to action (CTA).

They’re also building pages for the site and adjusting how we do navigation. They’ve started to add new elements where people can provide contact information more easily. In addition to conversion rate (CRO) and landing page optimization (LPO), they’re also helping us with implementing Google Ads. They set up the entire infrastructure and matched the ads to our landing pages.

What is the team composition?

I work with the president, the strategic director, their head of digital, and their design director.

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

They’re based in Chicago, and I was familiar with them. I actually interviewed with them about seven years ago. They came highly recommended because they do good work.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000 at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in July of 2019 and is ongoing.

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

The impact has been incredible. We’ve seen a considerable change in web traffic—it’s up by 17% since they started. Our lead conversion rate is also up. We’ve seen more business overall as a result of their work. Also, some members of our team used to dislike the site, and now it’s much better and easier to use. Simple Machines helped us in a major way.

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management has been excellent. It’s been seamless—I never have to worry about it. Simple Machines is efficient, and they keep detailed timesheets. We also haven’t been surprised by any overages or unexpected costs. We've met in person once or twice, but we mostly do video calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would describe them as being super agile. They’re great about testing new ideas. They’ll come to us with a solution, put it to market, and then iterate to make it better. For a startup like us, their speed and agility are huge. We’ll take that over a team that strives for perfection but takes months to do it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re not world-leading, enterprise-level SaaS designers, but there’s a significant tradeoff there. Their design aesthetics could be better, but we’re not spending a ton of money, and we don’t have to wait long for designs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re an organization that wants to iterate and grow quickly, Simple Machines can help you do that, and do it very well.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of sales and marketing at Switchfast Technologies. We provide outsourced IT consulting, strategy, and planning services to small-mid-sized firms in Chicago. I’m responsible for growing our company through sales, business development, and marketing of existing and new services and products.

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

Before working with Simple Machines Marketing, we didn’t have a marketing strategy or an in-house marketing team. Our goal was to develop a complete and professional marketing strategy with a budget and measurable goals that we could track and determine ROI from. In particular, we wanted to increase our inbound lead generation.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Since we began working with Simple Machines Marketing in 2013, our overall strategic goals have stayed the same, but the scope of their work has changed. In the beginning, they developed and designed our website. Now, they continue to maintain our site. They also do SEO on our website to make sure it ranks in organic searches on various platforms, such as Bing, Google, and Yahoo. They’ve targeted the keywords that we told them we wanted to optimize. Their team tracks the various metrics that impact our ROI, such as keyword rankings and different types of lead generation. They also integrated our site with HubSpot to monitor and automate our marketing activities.

They also provide market research. For instance, my company was interested in entering the managed securities service provider (MSSP) space because an increasing number of businesses are interested in these heightened levels of IT cybersecurity. However, we didn’t know much about this emerging market. Simple Machines Marketing used their analysis tools to compile comprehensive reports on the market and the best approach to entering it.

Simple Machines Marketing also manages our content strategy. They recommend topics and create engaging, relevant, and current content for our site’s blog. They often interview members of our team to collect information, and they have the copywriting and authoring skills to compile content. They either ghostwrite or write on our behalf, then publish the content on our blog. Besides website copy, they develop other marketing materials, such as flyers and tailored messaging. Simple Machines Marketing also helps us with event planning and webinars.

What is the team composition?

We usually work with 3–5 marketing team members, including a marketing director who is our primary contact. We don’t meet with the marketing director as often now, but we used to have weekly meetings to review performance and goals.

My team also works with several marketing strategists and analysts. A marketing specialist does all the website analytics and SEO work. We also engage with the content team.

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

I’m not sure because Simple Machines Marketing began working with my company before I was hired, but I believe we had a previous business relationship that evolved into our current one.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $550,000. Our annual costs are around $30,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration began in August 2013, and it’s ongoing.

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

We consistently rank on the first page of Google for all of the keywords we’re most interested in. Their work has also increased both inbound and qualified sales leads.  

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

Simple Machines Marketing does very well in this area. They’re organized and professional. They use some type of project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we need information, such as on a new market segment, Simple Machines Marketing does a great job collecting market research and delivering reports.

As a HubSpot enterprise, Simple Machines Marketing’s staff is certified in various areas of marketing and marketing automation. Their knowledge has been very useful, as they’ve helped us set up HubSpot and automate much of our marketing platform and program. Their team attends an annual HubSpot conference each year, and they always return with innovative ideas. Simple Machines Marketing helps us remain at the cutting-edge, which is so important in the technology industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their higher-level strategy could be slightly improved. They’re great at planning the day-to-day, month-to-month, and even quarter-to-quarter. However, they don’t always plan year-to-year. When my team asks for it, they deliver, but I think there could be a little more structure in this area.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

For over 20 years, IPMG has proven to be a committed partner to independent agents, brokers, and their clients. Building trust, delivering on promises, and achieving optimal results have placed IPMG in the very fortunate position of being a go-to resource for those who do business with us.

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

We wanted experts in marketing to help us with our marketing redesign, restructure, and strategy.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to achieve a cohesive message that reflected the voice of IPMG. Simple Machines Marketing helped us integrate all our services to provide uniformity and interconnectivity. They’re helping us improve our market visibility at trade shows, boosting our social media presence and helping with blog content and calendars.

What is the team composition?

Our initial point of contact operates almost like our creative director and VP of marketing. We also work with a few additional team members on a regular basis.

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

A valued client referred them to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around May 2014, and work is ongoing. We just launched a new website and are crafting our marketing plan for 2019.

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

Their work on the website has had an impact. They’ve freshened and modernized the look and are assisting with proposals and presentation templates. They’ve helped us to find our voice, setting design and verbiage standards across the whole company.

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They are incredibly timely. I have never had an issue with them, and they’re faster than we are ready for them. They provide comprehensive information and are great to work with. We have a weekly huddle where we speak on the phone for 15–30 minutes with the whole team. They prepare the agenda beforehand and cover everything we’re going to do in the coming week. Afterward, they follow up within minutes so that we always stay on track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really understand what we do. Insurance is hard to explain, but they connect to what we do and are able to discern the different communication methods we need for all of our services as well as for brokers, agents, and direct-to-client marketing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. When our internal marketing person left us, they filled the gap and are now helping with the recruiting process to make sure we get the right person.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are fluid and flexible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give feedback. If they provide something you don’t like the first time, you can be honest and straightforward with them. They take the time to understand your needs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of communications for the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. It is a national member-based association providing educational and career opportunities for osteopathic emergency physicians, from medical school all the way through retirement. We are also able to offer educational credit to MDs [medical doctors].

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

We were concerned that we would lose our members to other associations, so we looked for someone to help us with whatever we needed to get back on the right track. The industry was going through a change where osteopathic physicians were trained the same way MDs were trained. However, DOs [Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine] had an additional component to their training, which meant that our college is significantly smaller than MD colleges.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Simple Machines to help with the big picture planning. Initially, they did a lot of investigation and market research for us. They helped shape and strengthen our messaging nationally and then branched out from there. They actually recommended a different direction than what we were planning to do. We took that to our board, but the board decided to keep going the direction we had planned. After listening to our concerns, Simple Machines went back to the drawing board and gave us something workable that made smart marketing sense. Also, we recently acquired a smaller college. We’ve been working on rebranding with Simple Machines. It’s been a long process, but they’ve remained professional and optimistic.

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

We reached out to five or six companies in Chicago. What I liked about Simple Machines is that they’re a full-service firm. They can help us with graphic design, social media, and the website.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2016, and the work is ongoing. Our relationship with Simple Machines has evolved a lot. We have really come to rely on Simple Machines, and I’d like to continue working with them indefinitely.

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

A lot of their work has been around raising the profile of our conferences and helping us with advertising. For our spring seminar, we’re 25% over what we were this time last year. All of the feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive. We put out a magazine for each conference, and there’s been an incredible increase in the quality of that and the website. Their work is of high quality.

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

We work with Brittney, and she’s amazing. She keeps everything on track, which means there are no delays in their work. If they provide us with something that’s not quite what we want, they don’t hesitate to come up with something different. They listen very well and are very organized.

What did you find most impressive about Simple Machines Marketing?

If there’s something the board doesn’t like or needs to be changed, they don’t waste any time in finding something that will work, which I really appreciate. Last summer, we had five members of our staff leave and our biggest conference of the year was coming up. I was also getting ready to go on maternity leave. We would never have never gotten the project accomplished without them, much less on such a high level.

Are there any areas Simple Machines Marketing could improve?

None.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of AAA Pool Service, a swimming pool service company. We provide weekly service maintenance, seasonal work, major renovations, repairs, equipment installation, and anything else related to swimming pools.

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

My father and I are partners, and we don’t have any knowledge about marketing or websites. We tried doing it ourselves and using local people who were cheaper, but we weren’t getting results.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simple Machines started out by doing research on my company and my competitors. They came up with a plan and made suggestions on what we should do and why we should do them. They also completely redesigned our website from start to finish. We had an idea of what we wanted the company to look like to others, but the way the website had been done by the previous developer wasn’t reflecting the image we were trying to portray. We worked closely with Simple Machines to describe our vision—what we do and who we want to be. From there, I gave them complete control over the process. The SEO part of the site was completely overhauled as well. Over the years, we’ve continued to change things about the website and advertising.

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

I got a cold call one day. It was right when we were discussing the fact that we don’t know what we’re doing with advertising. Jill Wilson came in, talked with me, and sold me on their process. I believed that what they had to offer was what we needed.

How much have you invested with Simple Machines Marketing?

We spend $20,000 a year on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2010, and the work is ongoing.

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

They send me reports on the metrics, but all I know is we’re a lot busier and the phone rings more often. I have also gotten positive feedback on the design and navigation of the website.

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

One of the things that I first liked about them was that they were prompt to return phone calls. We have a couple of in-person meetings every year, but mostly we’re communicating via email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about Simple Machines Marketing?

For a small company like us, we’re experts at what we do but that doesn’t mean we know everything about advertising. I really enjoy the fact that I’ve got two or three people regularly worrying about my business. It’s like having someone in the same office, but I’m not paying them what I would a full-time employee.

Are there any areas Simple Machines Marketing could improve?

No, they’ve met all my demands.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the business development manager. 

Aloha Print Group is a 15-year-old digital printer in Chicago. We do printing for business cards, marketing materials, banners, etc. We also attack vertical markets along with architecture printing, litigation, and e-discovery. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

Aloha used to heavily rely on referrals, but they wanted to use a different strategy to grow. They hired Simple Machines to put together a marketing plan for both internet and other approaches.

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of the vertical markets we wanted to attack was the hospitality industry. Simple Machines helped us with proper keywords and a layout that would give us higher success with email blasts and Google. Another example of Simple Machine's involvement was with our concierge stand collateral that they helped us build. This was created for guests of the hotel that couldn't fly with their marketing and print materials. So they would be able to get printing done quickly at Aloha. Simple Machines also reinvented our website from top to bottom and helped us usher in a name/identity that better defined our capabilities. 

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

I was hired on after they were brought in.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Simple Machines at the beginning of 2015, and we continue to work with them.

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

Simple Machines was easy to work with and build relationships with. We have had an increase in responses from Google and Yelp reviews. There has been an array of business that we’ve been able to work with together. We’ve seen an increase in traffic on the website and have received positive feedback from the users.

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

I thought they did a great job. I worked with 4 to 5 different people from their team who were extremely responsive.

What did you find most impressive about Simple Machines Marketing?

They were always very good at finding solutions and had different options if an issue came up.

Are there any areas Simple Machines Marketing could improve?

I enjoyed everything about working with them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the vice president of marketing and business development of a mid-sized printing company. We provide printing and mailing services along with the technology to manage and implement printing.

What challenge were you trying to address with Simple Machines Marketing?

We needed an agency that could help us with digital marketing and other marketing plans. These are meant to increase awareness and hopefully drive new opportunities to our company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simple Machines Marketing updated our website and made it SEO-friendly. They have written and developed content for us. They’ve also cross-posted blogs. In order to make us rank higher on Google pages, they have posted us on numerous sites for referral. They have recommended and implemented PPC Google campaigns as well as LinkedIn and Facebook ads.

In the beginning, we met and I provided them with examples of material that I liked for our content. We brainstormed 6 to 8 topics because they weren’t familiar with our business. As they become more familiar with us, they’re generating content on their own. I review content before it’s posted.

How did you come to work with Simple Machines Marketing?

I was searching for agencies online and found them. I called Jill Wilson, the president, and explained who we are and what we’re trying to do. She seemed to be very approachable and willing to help us where we needed it. I decided to meet and interview them. I felt very comfortable with her and her team.

How much have you invested with Simple Machines Marketing?

That is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We are currently working with them.

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

Customers are able to find us now, so we’ve seen increased activity on our website. People are also staying on the website longer. We’ve been doing inbound marketing efforts since April and just in the last month we’ve seen an uptake in inbound marketing. We’ve seen increased calls requesting information that we were not receiving before. For example, we’ve received 2 new clients since April.

How did Simple Machines Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive and open to hearing my feedback. They’re easy to talk to. I requested that I have a summary report instead of all the reports I was getting, and they accommodated that request.

Are there any areas Simple Machines Marketing could improve?

I am more familiar with traditional marketing and I would say their strengths are more in digital marketing and execution rather than traditional marketing and strategy. Other than that, I don’t have any complaints and we plan to continue working with them. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing and sales manager at a full-service design and build room addition company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Simple Machines Marketing?

We hired Simple Machines to update our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a modernized site.

How did you select this vendor?

Simple Machines was referred to us.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Simple Machines designed and hosted a website for our business. Their team made the site mobile-friendly.

What was the team composition?

I worked with a team of four.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We’ve received positive feedback from existing and new customers. As a result of the updated website, traffic and lead generation has increased.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We communicated through phone calls and email. Effective communication benefitted the engagement greatly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Simple Machines is extremely knowledgeable about their products and services they provide. Their team was clear about how their work could benefit our business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are none that I can think of.