Ideas That Stick
Spitball is a creatively-tenacious, fearlessly-imaginative agency for brands looking to solve their unique branding, marketing and advertising challenges in unique ways. Our entrepreneurial spirit drives our approach to get more out of less. We are instigators of thinking differently to help brands break the mold to drive newfound success. We invite our clients to collaborate with us, experience a team truly dedicated to great service and produce work that you write home about.
Focus
Recommended Providers
Portfolio

Botanical Origin Product Launch
Spitball worked with Reckitt Benckiser to launch, Botanical Origin, their new plant-based laundry products. We put a new spin on laundry by going beyond people smelling their towels and created a unique hand-drawn creative style that was a cross-breeding of eco and innovation. Spitball was tasked with the brand strategy, creative direction and final production of video and digital assets.
https://www.spit-ball.com/botanical-origin-brand-launch/

Cholula MLB Team "Flamethrower" Sponsorship
Spitball developed a partnership program with Major League Baseball teams for Cholula Hot Sauce. The idea all started with something simple - a fast ball considered a "Cholula Flamethrower" over 98MPH that would have an instant on-screen radar callout. This idea quickly became a multi-year program that garnered an 800% ROI and helped Cholula become the fastest growing hot sauce moving from 7th to 3rd in the market.
When developing the program, Spitball could have easily went to MLB direct and just threw big money at TV. However the budget didn't allow for it and it wasn't right for the brand - one which needed to get product into people's hands. Going direct to the teams afforded the brand more access, greater flexibility and branded concessions at stadiums, the most important element for product trial. Spitball worked closely with the teams, stadiums and TV partners to create a comprehensive and integrated presence. Strategically purchased assets such as behind homeplate and key outfield signage garnered tremendous TV presence but without the TV commercial budget. This smarter approach led to the brand's tremendous success and reinvestment into the 6 year program.

Veo Active-Probiotic Cleaner Launch
Spitball developed the launch campaign and materials for Veo Active-Probiotic Surface Cleaner. Working closely with Reckitt Benckiser, Spitball tapped into the true science of the product to create a unique look for the brand. It also inspired the campaign of "put your clean under the microscope" to challenge the audience to rethink what clean meant to them. Additional direct-to-consumer assets, influencer marketing and retail support materials were created as part of a comprehensive launch plan.

iCIMS Brand Campaign "Agility Moves You Forward"
iCIMS turned to Spitball to create a brand campaign as they looked to move more into the enterprise market. With this change came new challenges, new competitors and required a new messaging strategy. With big service and software companies currently servicing these enterprise companies, iCIMS needed to tap into the audience and drive home their unique positioning. With only 16% of HR professionals feeling confident in leading their company through digital change, coupled with iCIMS’ advantage in size and focus, a new brand strategy was created. Simply put, iCIMS provided business leaders the ability to adapt when scaling their business, which gave birth to the brand platform of Agility Moves You Forward.
The media strategy leveraged unique social, digital and OOH placements to create visibility with the C-Suite and HR audience.
https://www.spit-ball.com/portfolio/icims-agility-campaign/

Rutgers Athletics - Get Your Jersey On
With plenty of other family entertainment options and few sports teams proudly calling NJ home, Spitball created a campaign for Rutgers Athletics that tapped into the unique state pride. "Get Your Jersey On" was a rally cry for fans but also helped broaden the appeal of the game beyond the product on the field and into the entire game day experience.

Agency Reel
A quick 90 second view of some of our branding, marketing and advertising work.
Reviews
the project
Marketing Strategy for Consumer Products Company
“Spitball’s strength was how close they were as a team — this came through really powerfully in their work.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a brand manager for the e-commerce team at a consumer goods company. When I worked with Spitball, I acted as the analyst on our new growth platform.
What challenge were you trying to address with Spitball Advertising?
We hired Spitball to help us with the marketing campaign of a new brand creation.
What was the scope of their involvement?
When I started working with Spitball, we had a new product that we wanted to launch under a new brand. We gave them the base information that we had about the brand and the product, including the name, price, and packaging.
Spitball gave us their insight to drive the marketing campaign and defined what the content and communication strategy should be. They took our input and transformed it into a full campaign.
What is the team composition?
I worked with various people from Spitball, including the co-founders, an account lead, two different graphic designers, and a videographer.
How did you come to work with Spitball Advertising?
We were looking for an agency that could drive the entire campaign. We didn’t want to have an agency doing the content and another one doing the strategy; we wanted someone that could do it all.
One of our former team members had worked with Spitball in the past. He told us that they were a good company, capable of giving quick responses, and open to create marketing campaigns from beginning to end.
How much have you invested with them?
In the first year of our engagement, we spent around $350,000, but I don’t know how much they cost in 2020.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together around March 2019, and I believe they were still working on the brand up until the end of 2020, but I had moved off from the project by then.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
There was a lot of testing done to validate that this was the right approach. We had various forms of market research, consumer feedback, and in-market testing — it was a trial-and-error partnership.
As we were launching a very high-end product that a lot of our consumers didn’t understand, we worked with them to make sure that it was tangible for the everyday consumer, and Spitball was able to tackle that.
How did Spitball Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?
Spitball’s project management was very good — their team had everything buttoned up quite well. It was pretty obvious that the team was personally close, so there was no loss of communication on their end between designers and strategists, and they got the job done. We used a project management tool, but I don't recall the name.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Spitball’s strength was how close they were as a team — this came through really powerfully in their work. They collaborated really well and were able to communicate with each other nicely. When we provided them feedback, we knew it was being passed along, which showed how close they were.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It would be nice to see them scale up. They’re not a massive agency yet, but they’ve gotten good leads over the last few years. I hope to see them grow more and get more exposure.
The more business they get, the more they’ll optimize themselves with further tools and investment opportunities. Good things come with funding, and I hope to see that happening for them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear upfront about what the needs of your project are. Once you’re able to do that, just trust that they’ll do their due diligence. They really research and dive in to give a personal touch on all of the work that they do.
the project
Web Design & Print Design for Environmental Consulting Firm
"They are genuinely creative and passionate about the work they do."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Hillmann Consulting, LLC is a nationwide environmental health and safety, due diligence and remediation management, and construction services firm. We also have an in-house environmental laboratory that provides analytical services for our clients and outside clients as well. As the marketing director for the firm, I worked closely with Spitball throughout the entire process of redesigning our website.
What challenge were you trying to address with Spitball Advertising?
We had a content-dense site that made it somewhat difficult for the average user to navigate. We realized early on in this process that we needed to tell our story on the landing page in 60 seconds or less. Our goal was to highlight key firm stats, show our capabilities and culture, include select project spotlights, and incorporate the ever-important CTA. Ultimately, the driving force behind redesigning the site was to elevate the user experience by making the site more user-friendly.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Spitball knows our brand well. Several years ago, their team designed our current logo, developed our tagline, and helped us completely overhaul and redesign a very outdated website. With all of our new branding firmly in place, Spitball helped us redesign the site again and develop a mobile-friendly version five years ago.
Fast forward to 2020 where Hillmann and Spitball working together on our third and most challenging redesign. We had a clear list of goals in mind and provided Spitball with examples of elements we were drawn to from other websites. We provided a simple "wish list" and Spitball ultimately brought it to fruition.
What is the team composition?
Our internal website redesign committee worked directly with Dana (Account Executive & Media Planner) and Ben (Designer). Megan (Digital Strategist) was also involved earlier on in the project.
When we first became a Spitball client many years ago, Anthony (Co-Founder & CMO) and Steve (Partner & Creative Director) were the creative geniuses behind all the design. As their team continued to grow, we eventually began working primarily with Dana and Ben.
How did you come to work with Spitball Advertising?
Anthony and I grew up in the same town. His family was well known in the community as they owned a terrific little deli on our side of town. As people often do, we fell out of touch as we went off to college and later started our careers.
Social media eventually helped us reconnect. That reconnection happened to coincide with our initial website overhaul/redesign project. Anthony and Steve had recently started their own firm and responded to Hillmann's RFP for the website redesign work. That's how the partnership between Hillmann and Spitball began.
How much have you invested with them?
Between the recent website redesign and the full color brochure we're currently developing, we've invested between $40,000-$45,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
After signing the contract and proposal in October 2020, Hillmann's newly redesigned website launched in April 2021 and the brochure should be finished by June 2021. The engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We met all of our initial redesign goals and are continuing to monitor the site's performance to track our bounce rates, lead generation, and conversion rates. Early data suggests that the bounce rate has decreased, time spent on the site has remained steady, leads have increased, and the conversion rate is becoming more favorable. Traffic to the site has been steadily increasing, but we also have a robust mix of advertising in place.
To say they simply redesigned the site, would be an understatement of the role they played. They listened, provided guidance, got really creative, and allowed us to be hands-on and take on an active role in collaborating on this project. The creativity abounds!
How did Spitball Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?
Spitball is incredible to work with, and their project management is second to none. Dana and Ben feel like part of our team here at Hillmann and that allows everything to happen almost seamlessly. Communication and transparency are key in projects like this. I always know where the project stands and what’s happening. We're in touch with one another almost daily and typically communicate via email with the occasional Google Meet or Microsoft Teams meeting sprinkled in there.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They are genuinely creative and passionate about the work they do. At no point in time did it ever feel like they were simply going through the motion of doing their job. They truly care about the final product and it shows.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can’t think of a single thing that they could do differently or improve upon. They are wonderful to work with, and I sincerely value our relationship.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Transparency and communication are key. The success of your project depends heavily on your ability to effectively communicate your likes, dislikes, project-related goals, and applicable budgets. It also depends on your ability to follow through in providing the information they request in a timely manner. You also have to be willing to accept advice and guidance along the way. They'd be doing a disservice to their clients by not offering their expertise, so be open to listening.
the project
Advertising for Isotopes Equipment Production Company
“They’re proactive, and it’s encouraging that they’re engaged and excited. They act accountable for our success.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CCO at ARTMS Inc, a Vancouver-based company that produces equipment to enable isotope production at local commercial radiopharmacies.
What challenge were you trying to address with Spitball Advertising?
We were looking to establish our brand. Since our founding, we hadn’t done any advertising and so we never focused on our branding. By hiring Spitball Advertising, we hoped to increase brand awareness and launch an advertising campaign.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Spitball Advertising began the project by working with us to identify what our company does, what our technology does, and what customers we should target. Then we brainstormed about what we could do from a commercial standpoint based on our goals and the market.
Since then, we’ve consistently discussed ideas for advertising — what the ads could be, where they should be placed, and how we could best target our ideal audience.
They provide data on the most effective placement for our industry and segments. They gave us access to all the proprietary and third-party tools that they use, and we've even given them some access to a few internal share drives and document holders
We want to kick off a few more advertising projects with them, but for now, we’re moving onto a website development project with them.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with their technical, creative, account management, and executive teams. There have been at least eight different people involved in the project from the CEO down to the account manager level.
How did you come to work with Spitball Advertising?
Our segment in the medical field is very niche, so I reached out to former colleagues for recommendations. They gave me the names of a few different vendors, and I vetted all of them. Spitball Advertising was the best fit for us — we’re a non-traditional company and we create disruptive technology, and Spitball Advertising aligned with us on that. They embraced the challenge to look and act differently than others in our industry. At the end of the day, their pitch was better than anyone else’s. They created a better solution and promoted it well.
We also felt like we were very important clients to them. Other potential partners we talked to wanted to take a cookie-cutter approach. Spitball Advertising, in comparison, embraced our ideas.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our initial project kicked off in August 2020 and we signed off on a long-term agreement in October. We just signed an extension to our contract as well.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The engagement has been valuable and productive. Before this project, we didn’t see much activity on our website. We had maybe a few thousand people visiting our site on a weekly basis and we didn’t have any ad campaigns. In November we began to track metrics and averaged 70,000 impressions our ads, and that became our baseline. Additionally, our click-through rates exceeded our expectations.
Since then, we’ve reached 1.2 million impressions per week on our ads and we’re maintaining the same click-through rate. As a result, we’ve doubled the number of installations we do over the last six months. We’re definitely growing due to Spitball Advertising’s work.
How did Spitball Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve been very transparent and proactive about sharing the data. It has been a really collaborative process.
They’ve been extremely engaged, especially as our partnership has evolved. We’ve always felt like their communication channels are open. Whether we email, text, or phone call, we can always reach them. It feels like they’re part of the team. Unlike other providers I’ve worked with in the past, they always deliver on time and meet our requirements. We had high expectations, but they’ve exceeded them.
We have regular calls, but as the project has expanded, we have multiple calls with them every week. Every call and email has a clear goal and endpoint so they never waste time.
They’ve been flexible with my team’s schedule. I’m based in Annapolis, Maryland, but we have offices in Vancouver, Asia, and Europe. We’ve had calls early in the morning and worked late to discuss things with them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They understand what our goals are and present a customized solution. The ideas they come up with are very unique to our organization. I feel like they’ve become interwoven part of our team. They’re proactive, and it’s encouraging that they’re engaged and excited. They act accountable for our success.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I wouldn’t change anything about our process. Throughout the project, we’ve gone through trial and error, but everything has been a learning opportunity.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I’ll certainly recommend them to anybody. Be transparent about what you want to achieve. One of the reasons why our partnership has been successful is because we’ve communicated what our strengths and weaknesses are. You should let them develop their ideas. You should also engage with the project. The more directive you can be, the better.
the project
Comms & Creative Strategies for Household Cleaners Co
"Spitball uses insights to drive a unique and compelling creative approach to communications."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
When I worked with Spitball, I was at a different company called Reckitt Benckiser. I was the brand manager responsible for launching a brand within the household cleaning portfolio.
What challenge were you trying to address with Spitball Advertising?
We hired Spitball to develop our creative and communication strategies for the launch of a new brand.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We shared insights into the product, its market, and the consumer. Then, their team developed a whole communication strategy and helped us craft creative ideas using those insights to bring the strategy to life visually through ads. Those morphed into paid social media ads on Facebook and Instagram.
What is the team composition?
About eight people from Spitball worked on this project.
How did you come to work with Spitball Advertising?
I previously worked with Spitball when I had my own business. When I was in this role, I decided to hire them again.
What is the status of this engagement?
They started on this project around March 2019, and the project finished by January 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Once we launched the paid social media campaigns, we judged its success by cost per clicks, impressions, and website traffic growth. Anecdotally, their team was in tune with us and delivered concisely on the brief.
How did Spitball Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?
Spitball listened and managed the project extremely well. They structured our weekly calls and had a great tracking system that kept us on target for launching the whole project.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Spitball uses insights to drive a unique and compelling creative approach to communications.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It would be best to utilize a variety of options for disciplines that fall outside of their core competencies. For example, they could give more options of who they might partner with instead of a single partner.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Come in with a strong foundation of brand insights to give them as much background information as possible. That helps them to hit the ground running.
the project
Brand Development for HR Technology Software Company
"The team at Spitball had a remarkable ability for reading our business."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are an HR technology software company supporting the talent acquisitions for corporations. I served as the Chief Customer Officer for the business, responsible for most aspects of go-to-market strategy, with emphasis on Sales and Customer Success.
For what projects/services did your company hire Spitball Advertising?
Spitball was hired for many projects ranging from 2012-2019, each of which helped to develop what became an iconic brand in both the HR technology space, as well as an identifiable employer brand in our home state of New Jersey.
What were your goals for this project?
We sought to increase the visibility and brand awareness for iCIMS both in terms of driving commercial interest in our products/services, as well as helping to generate excitement around the employment opportunities we offered as a fast growing business.
How did you select Spitball Advertising?
Spitball was ultimately selected as a partner to our Marketing organization by our Chief Marketing Officer. Agencies were afforded an opportunity to present a vision for what iCIMS business and employment brand could be. We looked to agencies to convey our corporate culture through this brand with emphasis on our differentiation as a high-touch service provider to our customers.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
Spitball was highly engaged with our team, in many respects becoming an extension of our marketing organization. Because of their ability to roll up their sleeves with our business, we were able to achieve the goals we had for the various projects, while also not losing any momentum in the day-to-day function of our marketing group.
Of note, Spitball was very influential in the ideation and introduction of our corporate mascot, Ike, intended to convey the growing advancements of social and mobile in our area of expertise. This mascot became beloved in the community we served, inclusive of our customers and our employees.
What was the team composition?
We had the opportunity to work with senior leadership at Spitball, Anthony and Steve, while also getting tremendous support from their Account Managers and project support team.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The brand Spitball helped iCIMS create launched our business into a period of high growth and profitability. The brand foundation gave our Sales organization a confidence in presenting our story out to the market and it became somewhat an element of pride across our customer base.
These customers always valued the experience and results from our work together. The brand advancements gave these outcomes a personality and deepened credibility amongst senior leadership that was previously less familiar with our company.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Spitball was essentially an extension of the iCIMS team. They worked extremely close within marketing, while also making in roads with other areas of the business to ensure that the brand and messaging they were building would become ideas that all groups could rally behind.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
The team at Spitball had a remarkable ability for reading our business and seeing things that were lost ton us as insiders. This fresh perspective helped us hone our message and brand in ways we would have been unable to do on our own.
Are there any areas for improvement?
As iCIMS grew, so did Spitball. Inherent with any growth phase there are natural growing pains that come from the needs of new customers and the importance of ramping up new hires to support all the need. Though this period of ramp did not materially effect the output or results we sought, there were sensitive moments that senior leadership on both teams worked closely on supporting.
the project
Social Media Advertising & Brand Launch for Food Company
"I would definitely recommend Spitball."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of a food company. However, my more long-standing relationship with Spitball was during my previous role as president of a different food company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Spitball Advertising?
In both capacities I've worked with Spitball, we were trying to address expansion from a consumer standpoint. We also wanted to increase our brand awareness and establish more of a footprint in the digital and social media atmosphere.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Spitball was, and still is, the agency of record for our business. That means that from all standpoints of marketing, they provide the foundation. Whether that means the look and feel of our marketing campaigns or the implementation of strategy, Spitball will develop it. We work under the umbrella of campaigns they developed, and tactically, that trickled down to other elements within our marketing strategy and platform.
The first step is developing the scope on our side. Then, Spitball will take that scope and directionally develop a campaign, which we’re able to utilize to trickle down into different channels.
For our current launch, we’re utilizing social to start a bit more than elements, which will expand. Eventually, we’ll also be doing a little bit of print, billboards, and radio.
What is the team composition?
I dealt with Anthony (Co-Founder & CMO), Steve (Partner & Creative Director), Kristin (Account Director), and Dana (Account Executive). There were also a few other creative people.
How did you come to work with Spitball Advertising?
They were initially sourced by my marketing director. They definitely had an eye for creative and delivered a personalized touch. Not only was Spitball a very creative agency, they also became part of our organization.
How much have you invested with them?
Currently, we’re spending around $25,000 per month.
How much have you invested with them?
I started working with them in 2013 at my previous company. In my current role, we’ve been working together since March 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The team has been great helping us build out our current platform. They’ve involved different members of my team from key functional areas, working alongside them as if they’re part of our internal staff.
The initial campaign has been received very well so far, even though we’ve just launched. Spitball has done a tremendous job so far when it comes to establishing a brand identity and look and feel. Their work will eventually evolve into all of our marketing spheres.
How did Spitball Advertising perform from a project management standpoint?
The project management piece is very well done. It depends on the size of the campaign, but we work with specific members on their team that are able to manage the project from a timing and communication aspect. The individuals Spitball assigns to manage the project, as well as the deliverables around project management, are always well done.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Spitball has an excellent ability to work with our team as if they’re a part of it. They offer a teamwork trait that is so important, especially within these small, dynamic, nimble environments.
Are there any areas they could improve?
At the beginning of our relationship, there was a bit of turnover which led to the rotation of people on our projects changing. However, Spitball’s addressed as they’ve grown.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would definitely recommend Spitball. With any project you work on, the input is just as important as the output. Provide clear direction as to what you’re looking to achieve, and they’ll come back and execute.
the project
Branding for Consumer Goods Company
"Spitball is great at being really nimble and adaptable as a creative agency."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
As senior brand manager at Cholula Hot Sauce, I managed the retail and foodservice marketing of the top Mexican hot sauce in the US, including brand advertising, digital media, social media, PR, and trade advertising.
For what projects/services did your company hire Spitball Advertising?
Spitball worked as our Agency of Record for many years, developing the branding and advertising, from key visuals to OTT, print, OOH, digital and programmatic campaigns.
The team was very open to developing custom ways to manage our particular client needs and workflow, and our account team was always incredibly responsive when we needed anything. The creative team was engaged and willing to strategize together with our other agencies to ensure the brand had a consistent voice across all channels.
What were your goals for this project?
Grow awareness and consideration for Cholula Hot Sauce
How did you select Spitball Advertising?
Spitball pitched against a few different agencies. Their history with the brand and their creativity won the business.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
With a creative brief, the Spitball team was able to develop our brand advertising over multiple campaigns and then roll that campaign idea out to different formats based on the intent of the advertising.
What was the team composition?
I worked with the account management team but had frequent access to the creative team to discuss ideas and tweak content.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We experienced sales growth over the three years that I was on the brand.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The team did a great job managing communication and was very open to making changes when given feedback.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Spitball is great at being really nimble and adaptable as a creative agency, and they truly enjoy their work, which made it a pleasure to spend time with them.
Are there any areas for improvement?
The team continues to create great content, and as they grow, I think bringing in more consumer and strategic insight to the creative development will make them an even stronger creative agency.
the project
Advertising Services for University Sports Program
"Their genuine care for the success of our brand, our teams, and ticket sales has been amazing."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Rutgers University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 24 Division 1 varsity teams that play in the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA. I am the Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing, and one of my main responsibilities is to oversee the advertising to promote ticket sales and brand awareness for the Scarlet Knights athletic teams.
For what projects/services did your company hire Spitball Advertising?
We needed an agency to help us develop our brand and call to action to generate more ticket sales and assist us in becoming the tri-state area's hometown college sports team, and to make the recommendations and oversee our media strategy and buy in a very inundated market.
What were your goals for this project?
Our goals included coming up with a "call to action" to maintain existing fans and find new fans to buy into the Rutgers Athletics brand and become lifelong supporters of our programs, as well as to generate brand awareness throughout the state of New Jersey and the tri-state area that Rutgers is their home-town team.
How did you select Spitball Advertising?
The University put a request for proposal out to multiple ad agencies, preferably with some experience and/or knowledge of increasing sales and brand awareness. We narrowed the search to 2 agencies who came in to present in person to us. Spitball's presentation showed a knowledge of Rutgers Athletics and the many ups and downs our teams had experienced over the years.
They included possible creative ideas that we could take to another level, and indicated that they would be able to work with our ever-changing budget from year to year. Their flexibility to "play nice in the sandbox" to work with other vendors was also a key deciding factor.
The Spitball team put together a video that was shared during their presentation of research they conducted on their own about the general public's perception of Rutgers Athletics, which was very eye-opening and went above and beyond what we were expecting. Our entire Athletics Marketing office (8 people) was involved in the selection process along with a representative from the Athletics Business Office and two representatives from the University's Procurement Department.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
For the first year, Spitball was tasked with coming up with our creative/call to action, srategy, media planning & buying, tracking and reporting. They made the recommendations on what channels we should allocate to and were responsible for handling the traditional media channels (out of home, TV, radio, print) and working with a separate digital agency who would be handling the digital advertising spend.
I have been charged with being the main point person with Spitball from the start of our partnership. I gathered all materials they requested for review including previous cash and trade advertising agreements, past budgets and channel allocations, contacts from our existing partners (both paid and trade), as well as providing them with all logos, artwork, photos, etc. that they request. I provide all feedback to Spitball from our group as a whole when reviewing proposals, media plans and vendor events.
Spitball's team reviewed all materials to brainstorm and come up with 3 options for creative/call to action in our first year working with them. We moved forward with the GET YOUR JERSEY ON campaign which we felt invoked pride in Rutgers being New Jersey's team, and would resonate with both existing fans as well as draw in new fans who didn't want to miss out on the experience.
Although they were initially only tasked with coming up with the Creative and then our internal team would take over, due to some challenges on our end, Spitball cared and believed in the campaign's success that they handled the majority of the creative for the entire first year. After year one, they provided feedback and recommendations as needed.
What was the team composition?
We work with multiple folks from the agency on a regular basis, including an Account Director, Account Executive, and Communications Strategist. Additionally, we receive support from a the creative/design team and one of the partners is often a part of some of the sessions that we have together. Team size has stayed consistent throughout.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
For the first time in several years, the Get Your Jersey On (GYJO) campaign was something we would be able to utilize across all of our sports, which helped increase brand awareness.
While the GYJO campaign went away for year 3, with Spitball's guidance and feedback we were able to shift the creative development back to our internal team, which had been the intial plan, though the Spitball designers and creative team are called upon to provide feedback and review our messaging. We have increased ticket sales for some sports or for key games for certain sports as well.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Workflow has been tremendous. Spitball provides a timeline for both sides to follow and who is responsible for what. Both teams have adjusted on the fly multiple times to last minute changes and requests that have come up. Any feedback we provide to Spitball is received well and they will ask additional questions to clarify.
We've had to pull and shift dollars in the middle of a season and Spitball has been extremely flexible in making that work. They are solution-oriented; we met weekly as a group for most of the first year and then switched to bi-weekly group meetings depending on the sports season. Of course, based on what might be going on, I might be in touch with them several times in a week. We managed the workflow with a timeline that Spitball put together with due dates for approvals, feedback, creative for the various channels, etc.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their genuine care for the success of our brand, our teams, and ticket sales has been amazing. Every person on the Spitball team, even those that do not work on the Rutgers Athletics account, are vested in us.
They attend games and they look for ways to provide added value with other existing partners. They work great with other vendors and partners, truly "playing nice in the sandbox." I know they want to see Rutgers Athletics succeed both on the field/court and in building our brand and increasing ticket sales!
Are there any areas for improvement?
Our experience working with Spitball has been great. This group truly feels as if they are a part of "R Family." We are fortunate to have this partnership with them!
This review was published on November 18, 2020.
Lisa Tirrell
Assoc. Athletic Dir., Rutgers Athletics
Sports
501-1,000 Employees
Piscataway, New Jersey
Confidential
Project summary:
A university sports program hired Spitball Advertising to be their advertising agency. Their goal is to drive their brands and improve attendance to their games.
Feedback summary:
Thanks to the efforts of the Spitball Advertising team, the company was able to run a number of successful events from radio station events to statewide billboard campaigns. The company enjoys brainstorming with the team on new ways of promoting their games and events.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
Rutgers Athletics supports 24 sports and student athletes and coaches to excel in both the classroom and on the field of play.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Spitball Advertising?
Rutgers Athletics hired Spitball as our advertising agency to place media buys to drive the brand of Rutgers Athletics as well as attendance.
What were your goals for this project?
Increase the brand of Rutgers Athletics, increase attendance, and create new Rutgers fans in the New Jersey area.
SOLUTION
How did you select Spitball Advertising?
RFP process
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
Spitball recommends media buys to our team, discovers and collaborates our target audiences, and gives creative direction on assigned campaigns.
What was the team composition?
We have been lucky enough to have worked with ownership and their entire staff. Not only do they get the job done, they also make it fun and enjoyable while going through the process.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We have had several successes from our projects, from secret billboards, collaborating with radio stations on events, and running a statewide billboard campaign to alert everyone of the excitement of Rutgers Football.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
We meet frequently and then as needed pending deadlines and campaigns, but every time we are thrilled to brainstorm together, exchange ideas and thoughts, and come up with an outcome we have ideated together.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
The preparation and thought put into a product/company that they become a part of instantly.
Are there any areas for improvement?
More team lunches! :)
Star Ratings
Overall rating: 5
Quality: 5
Schedule: 5
Cost: 5
Willing to refer: 5
the project
Social Media Content Dev for Video Production Company
"Spitball is easy and enjoyable to work with."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Senior Producer - Awakened Films video production.
For what projects/services did your company hire Spitball Advertising, and what were your goals?
We collaborated with Spitball to produce engaging, social media content for a National brand.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
Great people who care about their clients, collaboration and creative ideas.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.
Spitball diligently worked on concept creation to identify a creative approach that would encapsulate their client’s message and reach their demographic.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We worked with account managers and creative developers.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
What was striking to witness was the level of trust and confidence that Spitball had developed with the end-client. Clearly, they had earned that trust through diligent and dedicated service, creative concept development and clear communication. As a result, the pre-production process was smooth, efficient and fun!!
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Great, clear and timely communication. Spitball is easy and enjoyable to work with.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Their calm approach-they make a detailed process enjoyable, efficient and effective!
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No