Skille

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of Readability.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

We were looking for a company that could help us grow our business through marketing efforts. Specifically, we needed help with our social media and digital marketing, so we hired Skille.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve been working with Skille for around six months on our digital marketing efforts. Their team helps us create video ads and monitor our Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns. To create these ads, Skille has taken some of our creative assets and edited them into ad content. Additionally, they write the copy, and we approve it. These video ads last up to 30 seconds.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Skille’s owner.

How did you come to work with Skille?

We found them through online research, contacted them, and spoke directly with their owner. We really liked that we would be working directly with the owner; he wouldn’t pass us off to lower-level employees.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around July 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

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

Of all of the companies we’ve worked with since starting this venture, Skille has proven to be the most effective at what they do. We’ve spent $100,000 with other companies, and it has been money down the drain. However, we’ve been working with Skille by taking a collaborative and conservative approach, and we’ve managed to make strides, so I foresee a long-term relationship with them.

One of our goals was to reduce our cost per acquisition through our Facebook Ads. With other companies, acquiring a new client to subscribe to our platform would cost us around $200, which was too expensive considering that our subscription fee is $19.99 per month. However, Skille has managed to reduce our cost per acquisition to $45, which is a huge result.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever Skille needs guidance, they ask and have us approve what they produce in case there are changes needed to ensure the content is accurate. They’re very open to changes.

We have weekly follow-up meetings to see results. Additionally, I believe that they have internal meetings to discuss our account because they come up with ideas to bring to the table. Occasionally, we pick up on some of those ideas.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We really love the fact that we work directly with Skille’s owner. They’re a small business, as are we, so we’ve been able to have wonderful conversations and develop great strategies at an owner-to-owner level.

When we found Skille, they were working in the makeup field and collaborating with influencers in the beauty industry, so we were their first clients outside of that industry. Given that everything has been new to them, they’ve been learning and paying close attention to our account. In the past six months, we’ve been able to build rapport and create a collaborative environment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Skille is a very good company with a great team, so if you’re on the fence between hiring them or not, you should give them a go.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of an e-commerce brand.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

We needed help with our digital marketing.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille helps us restructure all of our Facebook, Instagram, and Google ads campaigns.

What is the team composition?

We work with three people. The main person we’re in contact with is Kevin (Founder).

How did you come to work with Skille?

I found them on Clutch. They were more conscious than the other vendors we looked at in regards to how much we spend.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

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

Thanks to them, we have more customers. On top of that, we saw an improvement in our ROI from April to May. They’ve helped us a lot by putting the right strategy in place.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Slack, Google Sheets, and Google Drive. We also have a Google dashboard for rating the performance.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re extremely professional and honest.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re improving along with them. It takes time to understand our brand, but they’ve understood it very well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They were concerned about what we wanted and kept to our budget.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO at BodyGym, a fitness company that sells a fitness product online.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

We were looking for a marketing partner for all of our digital marketing, mainly Facebook and Instagram.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille took our digital marketing channels on social media and set everything up, including our Facebook marketing account. The team implemented a digital marketing strategy from top-, middle-, and bottom-funnel to acquire new customers. This involved running all of our social media marketing. 

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Kevin (Founder). I’ve also been introduced to Marcos (Growth Marketing Manager). 

How did you come to work with Skille?

I found a thought-leader piece by Kevin when I was searching on Google for digital marketing partners. I believe I was first hit with an ad that then led me to the piece. I thought that if someone was able to target me, that was a good sign.

I also found a YouTube video of him giving a presentation on how to run beauty and e-commerce brands, which was right in the category I was looking for. After watching that video, I was impressed with his knowledge of the industry and his approach, so I reached out to Skille.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’re just past the $10,000 mark. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in March 2020, and our engagement is ongoing. 

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

We set up some goals in the beginning based on our rough customer acquisition cost, and Kevin coached me through what we could expect as far as our cost per acquisition (CPA). He coached me through the entire process, giving me insights on what would be a successful digital campaign.

We netted around a 2x return on ad spend (ROAS), and I’ve been really happy with the team’s ability to get close to that if not overperform. If we ever underperformed, Skille always pushed to meet the goals that we had set up. 

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

I love working with them because they communicate through Slack, which is much more responsive than email. We also have a weekly video call through Google Meet, and it’s nice knowing that they make the time for me every week. The team is really fast to respond. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the reasons I chose them was that I didn’t want to go with a larger agency that charged me a lot more to give me an account manager who was managing a couple of other accounts. What I like about Kevin is his knowledge of the industry and of my account.

He knows it back to front. With Skille, I get a much more hands-on approach to our account, and they’re just as invested in my project as any others they run. I never feel like the feedback or response times are delayed. They’re always on.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions. As far as what I hired them for, they are nailing everything. Our biggest bottleneck as a company is giving them the proper creative. If there’s any improvement needed, it would be on my end in terms of allowing them more creative to maximize their results.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Schedule a call with Kevin, and you’ll be convinced that he will be intimately involved in your business and he’s a great person to work with. 

After working with a lot of different vendors, contractors, and agencies, what I’ve learned is that who you work with is one of the most important things. Skille is a pleasure to work with.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Riddle Oil, a fragrance oil company that does B2B and B2C sales.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

We needed our social advertising managed on Instagram, Facebook, and Google.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille first provided us a deck. They went through our account, audited them, and identified what they thought they could increase sales-wise. They also educated me and my operations person — who manages the account — on the different terms and what we’d be looking to do. After that, Skille created the ads, did our copy, and edited videos and photos for us. They also identified different audiences for us to target.

What is the team composition?

We work with two people.

How did you come to work with Skille?

I found an ad on Instagram for Skille.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $2,500 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together near the beginning of 2020.

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

Skille increased our return on ad spend (ROAS) 2–3 times over since the beginning. The person managing our account has never seen any losses with them. I couldn’t be happier. I’ve recommended Skille to other people. They’ve been wonderful.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

Our contact is easy to get in contact with. They’ll make changes immediately. We communicate over Zoom calls, Google Hangouts, and email, but they’re happy to jump on the phone with us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication stands out, as do the results Skille provides.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not necessarily.

Any advice for potential customers?

Come ready with the content you need and the knowledge of where you’re at and what your intentions are. That way, you can use your time with Skille wisely.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an e-commerce company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

I had challenges with my Facebook marketing. Previously, I worked with a larger company that didn’t deliver the results that I wanted.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille directs Facebook Ad campaigns for my business. They manage the entirety of the campaigns. 

What is the team composition?

About three people from Skille work on this project.

How did you come to work with Skille?

I reached out to Skille because they targeted me on Instagram. I liked their ad and their website, which fit my brand.

How much have you invested with them?

I spend $1,000 a month on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020, and their work’s ongoing.

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

We measure return on ad spend and the average order value. Unlike my previous experience, Skille secured a good return on ad spend. Their team also doesn’t spend a significant amount of money to test ads.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through e-mail.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Skille’s a small team, which I like because they’re able to get tasks done. When you work with a big team, it can be difficult to complete tasks. Everyone has to talk to everyone.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a good team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of MOD Boutique— a women’s clothing boutique. We’ve built a large clientele of repeat customers. We ship women’s clothing throughout the US.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

I’d done our Facebook and Instagram advertising, which we rely on for sales. The platforms change frequently, so my strategies were no longer working. We were growing, so I thought it was time to hire an agency for our advertising and marketing efforts.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille runs ads on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. I provide them with content such as pictures and new arrivals for the campaigns. They also handle our email marketing initiatives. Their team manages tasks related to Shopify, Google Analytics, and Google Ads.

What is the team composition?

I have a main point of contact and interact with two other people from Skille.

How did you come to work with Skille?

I spoke with a Facebook marketing expert who created a list of partners. In searching through this list, I ran across Skille’s website. While it didn’t seem that their team worked with many fashion brands, I saw the success that their clients have had. I felt they could take on my account.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020, and the work’s ongoing.

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

Before our engagement, we were doing about $100,000 a month in sales. With Skille, we set a goal to reach $500,000 a month in sales. We’re only a couple of months into the partnership and we’ve already hit $400,000 in sales. We started seeing an increase in sales within a week of working with them. Skille has a growth mindset, which is exactly what they’re helping me to do.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

Every week we have a schedule. We haven’t had any complaints or issues. Skille is accommodating of our schedules, taking their Sundays off to help our business. We have new releases on Sundays and that’s when the new ads start running. We have weekly meetings but also email back and forth daily. Their team made us a top priority.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I knew that I needed a smaller agency because I needed that level of communication. Skille dedicates their time to us. They’re down to earth and right there beside me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve been blown away by their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re looking for someone to take Facebook marketing off your plate, go with Skille. They’ll communicate and give you the time of day that you need. They can help many different brands.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of CraveLyfe, an online boutique with fashion and accessories for women.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

My company is brand new, so I was looking for help with advertising and marketing in general. I had no experience selling anything or doing any sort of social media marketing (SMM).

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille provides full-service Facebook and Instagram advertising. They create all of the ads and the copy, and they do the targeting. They also manage the budget.

What is the team composition?

I don’t know how many people work on the contact; I only talk to Kevin (Founder).

How did you come to work with Skille?

I did an exhaustive internet search, looking at lots of different companies I saw through ads on either Facebook or Instagram. I’d tried a couple of agencies before working with Skille, and it had been a complete disaster.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $4,500, excluding ad spend.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with them in February 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

The main metrics I’ve used to measure campaign success are total sales and return on ad spend (ROAS). I’ve been pretty pleased; all of my apparel and accessories are focused on summertime and traveling, so it’s been a little challenging with the current environment [COVID-19]. However, I went from 1–2 sales per month to being on pace for nearly 100 orders per month. Considering I don’t sell anything too unique – it’s just women’s clothing and handbags – they’ve gotten me to a ROAS of 2.5. Every month, they seem to get better and better, so I’m excited to see what happens when the lockdowns dissipate across the country.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

They don’t use any project management tools with me, but I have a weekly 30-minute call with Kevin. That pretty much covers everything major that we need to touch base on, and then throughout the rest of the week, we communicate by email. He’s extremely responsive; I’ve never had to look for him or follow up on something that I’ve sent him, so I think the communication is great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The two providers that I used before were absolutely horrendous, so I don’t know if Skille is amazing or the kind of quality that goes along with their fee, but I’m happy with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of.

Any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you have a good amount of creative assets. Since I’m a new company and am new to fashion, I just didn’t understand the sheer volume of materials you need so that your audience doesn’t get bored looking at the same stuff.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an online women’s clothing boutique.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

I purchased an existing brand at the end of January, and we were trying to regrow the brand and take it into a little bit of a different direction. We brought in Skille to help with advertising and building our brand.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Right now we’re primarily using them for paid Facebook and Instagram advertising. We provide all the photos for the ads, but they did all the copy and set everything up for us. They do all of the backend work, as well as monitoring and optimizing them.

What is the team composition?

I work with Kevin (Owner) and he has a designer as well.

How did you come to work with Skille?

I found an ad on Instagram. They specialize in smaller to midrange brands on Facebook and Instagram, so that aligned with where I thought we had room to grow. They have experience with growing other companies in our space as well. I also appreciated that I got to work with them directly.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested between $5,000–$7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in April 2020 and it’s ongoing.

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

We’re focused primarily on conversions, rather than traffic. We want to grow our sales. We set out with the goal of breaking even on our return on ad spend in the first month. Then we wanted to reach 1.5x return at the end of eight weeks. We’re not even at eight weeks yet, but we’ve already met 1.6x return on our investment. They’re definitely exceeding the benchmarks we had in place. They clearly know what they’re doing and have a strategy that works.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re also really great with communication, and they’re very easy to get in contact with. I just told them that I wanted to do a Memorial Day ad, and they immediately started working with us on that. They have a super quick turnaround time, so that’s really great. We’re getting the results we asked for.

Right now  we just use Google Docs and email to communicate and for the approval process. It’s very easy and streamlined for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s great that we were able to work one-on-one with their team, as opposed to having to go through a lot of different people. They’re super quick to respond, so if we were having issues or not getting the results we expected, they’re always open to pivoting and changing directions. They always want to address concerns and figure out new strategies that will deliver results. They’re very flexible to business needs and want to get things done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not as of yet.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Absolutely go for it, especially if you’re in e-commerce. They know what strategies work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company called ipaymy. We’re a payment company that focuses on processing credit card payments for small businesses. Our platform’s mostly self-service.

What challenge were you trying to address with Skille?

We wanted to use Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn as platforms to generate leads. Our goal was to find marketing folks who could drive conversions.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skille overhauled our paid acquisition efforts. They started with an audit, looking through our content to find what worked and what didn't. Then, their team restructured our campaigns and took over their management including the budget. They did some creative work too. Now, they manage campaigns via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google marketing. Also, their team set up Google Analytics and tracking measures properly, which weren’t functioning properly previously.  

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from Skille. Kevin (Founder, Skille) managed our account and supported the team that worked on this project. One person focused on analytics and then another person was an adverts specialist.

How did you come to work with Skille?

I came across Kevin’s profile on LinkedIn. I added him because I sought a partner for marketing services and his profile was interesting. I reached out to talk about working together and we ended up doing so.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $30,000 on their services so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the initial engagement in June 2019 but Skille manages our PPC efforts on an ongoing basis.

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

Largely, we look at transaction volume to gauge success. The initial challenge was not to find leads but to acquire customers to then transact and keep transacting. We didn’t want to work with an agency that only creates ads for the top of the sales funnel. We wanted an agency to reach down the sales funnel. We found a sophisticated team that actually helps us to drive conversions at Skille.

How did Skille perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, we’ve had a great experience working with Skille. We’re on the other side of the world from Skille but they’ve accommodated our schedule. We use Slack and video calls to communicate. We hold weekly check-ins and their team connects with us throughout the week. They always provide reports and complete assignments by the stated deadline. They're a good fit because the engagement's less formal and more flexible, which created a boutique agency feel.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been most excited about the results relative to our specific problem. It was a big undertaking to review our campaigns and targets to restructure them properly but Skille did a good job. Coming into the project, they didn’t know our business. Their team has done e-commerce work but hadn’t done projects in Asia or for companies like ours. We were blown away by their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This is true for many agencies but I would like Skille to have different models for payment. Rather than just a flat retainer with additional cost options, they could offer percent of ad spend for example.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go for it. Our experience has been good. I’ve worked with numerous agencies for 15–16 years and can say that their founder’s knowledgeable.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of digital strategy at Zutana, a brand that sells baby clothing and accessories.

What challenge were you trying to address with Acquilead?

I was trying to improve the performance of our Facebook and Instagram ads.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Acquilead did an audit of our account and suggested some areas where we could improve our structure, creative, and overall process. Now, they’re providing advanced training. Acquilead doesn’t run our account; instead, they train me on their system. 

What is the team composition?

I just work with Kevin (Founder, Acquilead). 

How did you come to work with Acquilead?

I came across an article that Kevin wrote. It was a really smart article, so I contacted him, and we went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

I paid an initial fee of $2,500 and am now paying a monthly fee of $1,500. In total, I’ve spent about $4,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

My work with Acquilead began in November 2019, and it’s ongoing.

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

I’ve learned a lot in the short time we’ve worked together. Kevin has really extensive knowledge of how Facebook Ads Manager works. Our account is pretty much fully restructured based on their suggestions, and our performance has improved. Since we’ve been working together, our Facebook revenue has increased 2.5-fold over this period last year.

How did Acquilead perform from a project management standpoint?

Kevin and I have weekly one-hour calls, during which we go through my accounts. He answers any questions I have and makes suggestions. We also talk on Slack pretty much every day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think what’s most impressive about Kevin is his experience. He’s worked on so many different accounts, and he has a lot of knowledge of the platform; he really knows everything about it. He also uniquely structures things, which makes the account easier to manage and improves performance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t been working with them for too long, but so far, I don’t see any.

Any advice for potential customers?

My only advice would be to hire them.