Taktical Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of growth and marketing for a ready-to-eat delivery service for kids.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical?

We hired Taktical to provide SEO and content writing support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Taktical, to start, performed a technical audit. They went through the code of our site and gave us recommendations for our engineering team to implement. Their team worked to build SEO relationships online to get people talking about our product. They also wrote content for our blog. 

What is the team composition?

Rae (Senior Content Specialist, Taktical), Ilan (Chief Strategist, Taktical), and Armand (Senior SEO Consultant, Taktical) all worked with us. 

How did you come to work with Taktical?

I’d known Ilan for a while, and Taktical has a good reputation in the SEO space. Generally speaking, Ilan does great work and is a straight-shooter, so he does what he says he’ll do. I really enjoy working with people like that, so I hired Taktical. 

How much have you invested with them?

We had a monthly retainer with Taktical for about $5,5000 over 7–8 months. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from December–July 2019. We had to stop our engagement for internal reasons, but we’re going to use their services again. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The organic traffic they were able to build for us was fantastic. We’re happy with the results we’re still seeing, which is why we’re going to work with them again. 

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great at managing the project. Everyone working on the project was on top of it. They used Google Sheets to track progress on a weekly basis. Their team was super responsive via email. They brought good transparency to their work, which is important when working in SEO. They were very easy to work with. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Taktical was very responsive and receptive, willing to make tweaks and changes to better fit our brand. If the tone of the content didn’t match our purposes, they were accommodating to any changes we suggested. Some companies aren’t responsive like they were and end up resisting any suggestions. Taktical focused on finding the right balance for the work. I’ve recommended countless clients because they’re one of the best companies I’ve worked with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind that they could have done differently. I don’t think I’d be working with them again if they didn’t do a good job in the past. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to have your engineering team involved in the decisions you’re making with Taktical. Sometimes, you can find yourself making plans and signing a contract without consulting with every team, which could end up wasting money.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the social media lead for Paddle8, and we are a 21st-century art auction company. Our auctions are both live and online, but we work with different companies, artists, and brands to do auctions and to feature artwork on our website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical?

We were trying to gain a larger audience on social media and expand beyond the platforms we already had when we teamed up with Taktical.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They have been assisting us with paid advertising on both Google and social media, as well as SEO and search ranking on google for specific keywords. We were able to provide them with keywords that people often search for on our website and help them determine what terms and phrases to try to rank for on Google as well.

We give them artwork from our providers, they create the advertisements around them, and then they use SEO to help us place those advertisements so that they’re more visible to our audience. They also help us decide which platforms are the best fit for which advertisements in order to maximize our effectiveness with those.

What is the team composition?

Natalie (Content Specialist, Taktical) does our advertising and analytics, and Patrick (Account Manager, Taktical) handles the search and the majority of the SEO aspect. They have a few other teammates working with them, but we interact with them the most.

How did you come to work with Taktical?

They were actually hired prior to my start in this position, but I believe that the head of marketing at the time did his research, found them, and decided they had the best pitch. They were extremely ready to go, so he decided to move forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

From January until now, I would say we’ve spent about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late 2018, and the project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We speak with Natalie every week and she tracks our Google Analytics and advertising for us, which I pass along to the managers here to review and update. She does a weekly report for us as well, and everything has been really positive so far.

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything has been amazingly on point so far. They are very quick to get us the information we need, and anytime I ask Natalie for something specific, she responds right away and generally gets me the information within an hour.

Patrick also has a great impact. We touch base with him via email on a regular basis, and he has been really good about letting us know if there are any issues in our search performance and how we can fix those.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their whole team has been very helpful and very available to us whenever we have questions about anything. They’re proactive when it comes to coming up with new ideas on how to continue to grow our brand presence, and we really appreciate that commitment from them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, so far they have been amazing. We have had no issues at all.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid of asking something about something you don’t know, because they will walk you through everything. Be as open with them as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at Adma Partners. We operate in the luxury jewelry buyback business. We’re a digital e-commerce player but also have physical stores around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical?

We hired Taktical to help us expand our SEO presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To start, Taktical began with a technical audit and review that our developers worked with them on. From there, they began doing content creation with us, producing content and finding the right writers, as well. Together, we work on enhancing our SEO strategy. They provide continuous feedback and help decide which keywords work best for our needs. Their team also creates backlinks for our site and track traffic and engagement. 

What is the team composition?

Two people from their team work with us. Rae (Senior Content Strategist, Taktical) and another teammate support us. 

How did you come to work with Taktical?

Our company had just begun the contract with Taktical when I joined, so I wasn’t involved in the vetting process. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $50,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around January 2019 and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve definitely seen an impact from their services. Within a few months of working with Taktical, they’ve exceeded our expectations. We started ranking quickly for a few important keywords, rising up to the top three positions for some. Our site has seen an increase in traffic and overall submissions, too. 

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management approach is great. Taktical is well organized and helpful in executing the work. Everything is kept on track by their team and they’re good at making sure our team stays in line. 

We have biweekly calls in which Taktical updates us on their progress and analytics. Most of our communication takes place over email, but they take any ad hoc calls we need as well. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Taktical does what they promise to do and their whole approach makes sense for our business. Following through on promises is not an easy thing to do in the SEO world, but they continue to do it. They make sure the technical aspects work and roll out content in the meantime. Their plan of attack is great and works well for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could improve—nothing comes to mind. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

See if Taktical has any specific experience in your industry. It’s helpful for us that they know about jewelry and diamonds. If they have more experience in your industry, they’ll be able to think of strong keywords and know the right tone to take. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the chief of staff to the CEO and chairman of a management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical Digital?

After we acquired a company in 2017, we needed help with our growth strategy, so we reached out to Taktical for social media marketing and SEO support. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Taktical conducted research and provided SEO services, as well as social media campaigns for Facebook and Google. They also provided analytics and consulted us regarding the performance of the content we create. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with three to four people, including Derek (Director, Taktical Digital) and Illan (Chief Strategist, Taktical Digital). 

How did you come to work with Taktical Digital?

We found them online and liked the work they'd done for previous clients of theirs. After meeting with them, we also liked that they had a startup vibe similar to our company. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested close to $1 million in their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from around August 2017–June 2018, and we continue to implement their advice and build on what they taught us during that time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Taktical helped us achieve a low cost per acquisition, increasing the number of daily signups to our platform. We continue to implement their strategies to achieve continued growth. 

How did Taktical Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

The relationship was relatively seamless. We had scheduled calls each week to go over progress and action items. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very agile and proactive whenever we needed help; they were quick to provide resources we could leverage for different needs. They also implemented a solid marketing plan that was relatively easy to follow.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Try to meet Taktical's standards of organization. We found that they were very efficient, so when delays or disorganization occurred on end, we had to play catch-up which somewhat delayed our progress. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of an email verification and list cleaning service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical?

We hired Taktical to help increase our SEO exposure. We were running our own PPC and SEO campaigns but wanted their support to drive more traffic.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Taktical helped create strategic content for our blog, social media platforms, and our site. They also manage our SEO and PPC efforts.

What is the team composition?

They typically provide three teammates to support us on a range of projects.

How did you come to work with Taktical?

Their team is very well-respected in the marketing industry, and I had worked with them in the past. It felt natural to choose them again because of the great results they produced during previous engagements.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began around 2015 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve absolutely seen a growth in traffic since beginning our collaboration. There has been near a 1000% increase in visitors to our platforms.

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams have weekly project management meetings and Taktical is always on top of the workload. We receive email updates before our calls with all of the relevant statistics and analytics from the prior week. Their team is able to take the project and run with it, which we appreciate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are a team of innovators—the work they produce helps us stand out from our competitors. Instead of taking the traditional approach, Taktical knows how to form creative concepts to target our customers.

Additionally, they have immense skill in their area. I’m always wary of working with an agency that offers countless services because I think it’s critical to focus on one skillset, so I appreciated this about Taktical.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve had a really strong relationship, so there’s nothing I can think of for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sign up for their services. They’re a rapidly growing team of great people. If you’re looking for someone to handle your SEO needs, they’re the right choice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing consultant. My partner and I work with several different brands. The scope of our projects ranges from one-off strategic planning to more involved projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical? 

My partner and I serve as our client’s senior marketing team. Occasionally a client will need a digital agency, which is where we’ve brought in Taktical as an outsourced marketing team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Taktical helped us work with some of our clients on performance marketing. They led search, social, and display campaigns. They also managed our spend to drive an efficient cost for acquisitions. They came up with a digital strategy that fed back into copy and creative. The main channels they used were Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. 

What is the team composition? 

We had an account manager who served as our main point of contact on a day-to-day basis. A more junior person did a lot of work on the backend, such as managing apps. 

How did you come to work with Taktical? 

I was working for a skincare brand that churned through some bad agencies. The founders were looking for a new agency, and I was referred to Taktical by a former colleague. I've continued to work with them a number of times over the years.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $200,000 on the retainer plus the media spend.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in early 2017, and we wrapped our last project in April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The biggest metrics we measure are acquisition cost and return on spend. Thanks to Taktical, we hit our numbers within 30–45 days. That's pretty quick in terms of target acquisition costs, which was great.

They're actually still working with our client while we've moved on. That was always the plan that we bring them on, get them onboarded, and then transition their management over to the client’s internal team. I've recommended them to multiple clients looking to hire a digital agency.

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint? 

The Taktical team was very responsive. Derek (Director, Taktical) and Ilan (Chief Strategist, Taktical) were both accessible if I ever wanted to touch base. That was a breath of fresh air because they provided a high level of service at a lower level of cost. Our account manager led a 30-minute weekly call and produced a weekly report. They'd customize each report based on the metrics we wanted to see. That allowed us to be able to manage the project effectively. It also ensured that we not only understood the results but also could communicate back to the client on how to improve performance. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Taktical has real expertise on the backend. It's so easy now to put up an ad on Facebook and Instagram. Any business owner can do it themselves on the platform. However, it takes an expert in social media targeting to really lower acquisition costs. They know how to change their approach on mobile versus desktop, and which audience marketing metrics get the best output. Everyone that we've worked with at Taktical had a deep understanding of those tactics, which is definitely not true of every agency. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there's nothing specific that I would mention. I’ve used them multiple times because I've had good experiences. They've been a pleasure to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

It’s a collaborative process. Taktical can take as much of a lead as you want, but it's most effective to bounce ideas off each other. Ideally, you’d have someone on your team that helps feed into their strategy discussions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the gallery director of an online art gallery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical?

We are primarily online, working within an industry that has always been dominated by an offline presence. Artwork, in general, is very tactile and a lot of people prefer to see the works in person first. For us, our main goal was getting our gallery in front of new collectors and qualified demographics who are interested in either seeing works in person or interested more in the art buying process.

We wanted to work with a digital agency to expand that presence and have more people aware of our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We work with them to handle all of our social ad campaigns across Facebook and Instagram. They handle all of our digital accounts. The content is a collaboration. We have been working with them for several months and have become pretty familiar with the flow and the type of creative that works.

In the beginning, they helped to advise us on the content they had previously seen as successful or a different type of content we should test with. They helped advise us on what type of content we should test out to be able to really narrow in on that qualified demographic.

In the beginning, we collaborated, and at this point, we are in a comfortable flow that we now handle most of the creative and hand it over to them to manage and put into all of the campaigns.

What is the team composition?

We have worked with about six people in total. We have two account managers we work with directly: one lead and another account manager who helps with day to day maintenance. We also work with the founder, who reaches out quite frequently. The whole team has been really great and receptive and even came out to one of our exhibitions.

How did you come to work with Taktical?

Taktical was recommended to us by a few companies within the arts and service industries. We offer complimentary art advisory, and one of our goals was to increase visibility to that program, so experience with other service-based companies was important. Similarly, fine art is an industry that has only recently moved online and requires a unique e-commerce approach. Taktical helped put a now well known online art platform on the map, which gave us confidence that they would bring industry knowledge and become a trusted resource to guide our digital strategy.

Beyond just industry experience, their entire team is very warm, receptive and knowledgeable. Like us, they're a small team based in New York, which allows us to connect with any of their team members at any time.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent around $17,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in September 2018, and it is an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have seen more traffic to our website and our social channels since working with Taktical. That has helped drive immediate short-term conversions, as well as increase the engagement to drive long-term conversions. As first-time advertisers, we look to them for advice on creative, and they've delivered specific and insightful feedback to guide our campaigns in the right direction.

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with Taktical has been seamless. The onboarding process was simple, and they set up and handle all of our campaigns. We touch base in weekly check-ins via conference call where they report on KPIs and how the campaigns are performing, from which creative is doing the best to where we can tighten up our targeted demographics. They give us a heads-up when we need to update the creative, as well as provide feedback on any new ideas.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This is our first time our company has advertised on Facebook or Instagram, so gathering data is of key importance to help refine our campaigns. Their team guides us on what types of tests to run, when we have enough data to make an analysis, and how we can optimize our campaigns once we have enough data. Eight months in, our campaigns feel tight and efficient. It would take a lot more manpower on our end to constantly look at all the data, identify the patterns, and see where the trends are, so Taktical saves us time by providing this analysis for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re excited to test advertising on new channels with Taktical. It will give us an opportunity to take all of the data from our social campaigns and apply it to new outlets, like offline or Google, to continue to reach new collectors.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any partnership, patience is key. Being honest about what we want has proven helpful in our relationship. Taktical is a company that values and appreciates any feedback, good or bad. They really want their clients to be communicative. Take initiative and be very honest and upfront about your brand, what you have seen works for you, and what hasn’t worked for you. That will only make the partnership and the work they do for you stronger.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO at BetterPT.  We're a platform that connects patients with physical therapy clinics around the country through mobile and web platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical?

We wanted to get the word out in specific areas where we have many physiotherapy clinics, so we were looking for a vendor to help us with SEO and paid advertising.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Taktical learned about our business and our needs. Then, they made recommendations on how we could achieve our goals and developed different strategies and tactics for us. They're also implementing the content strategy, doing paid advertising, and managing SEO for our website.

What is the team composition?

I've worked directly with about five people, including both of their owners, but there is a larger team working on our project.

How did you come to work with Taktical?

They were recommended to us. We interviewed a couple of other firms, and Taktical seemed to be the best fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $30,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our traffic has been increasing by about 20% month after month and more patients find us online. Taktical is constantly trying new things, so we trust them. They've become a true partner to us.

How did Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly meetings and use email to stay in touch in between the meetings. They usually respond the same day and they'll jump on the call with us whenever we need them. It does take a few months to understand a business and learn what works and what doesn't. We’ve been patient with them and they’ve been patient with us, which contributed to the successful relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very knowledgeable about their field and take pride in seeing our success. They're not looking for short-term gains. Instead, they focus on developing a long-term strategy to help us improve our business. Also, they’re very honest and let us know if they've had a poor month and why that happened.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I've been very happy with them. They explain the whole process to us, helping us understand their strategies.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Figure out your goals before your engagement with Taktical and tell them about your business, your product, and your customer. Then, let them come up with a plan of action. I highly recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Positec Tool Corp owns multiple tool brands in the battery powered and electric tool industry, selling to both B2B and B2C. As the marketing analyst, I report the performance of our operations.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Taktical?

We hired Taktical to help increase our B2C SEO value with website improvements.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to generate more organic traffic to the website through robust, original, and related content that would add buyer confidence to our products and expertise.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We surveyed multiple companies offering both content and technical SEO enhancements, but ultimately chose Taktical for their comprehensive and constant performance monitoring. 

Describe the project in detail.

Takital has enhanced our product and detail pages by optimizing our content. After conducting a technical audit, they now manage a link-building campaign and produce weekly SEO block content and educational blog posts that are rich in useful information. 

What was the team composition?

I enjoy having just two primary contacts, one each for content and technical SEO efforts. There are other team members involved, but I rarely communicate with them directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

Even when all other acquisition channels are trending negatively, our organic SEO continues to improve, from traffic and conversion rates to revenue and transactions.

How did the Taktical perform from a project management standpoint?

I appreciate their use of Google Docs to organize information and assign tasks. They do not hesitate to send reminders if a task is missed, and the bi-weekly calls are helpful for discussing project status and performance metrics in detail. They are exceptionally communicative and will cooperate with the in-house development team as needed for clarification on tasks. 

What impresses you about the Taktical?

Professional and eager to help, Taktical genuinely wants their clients to succeed. They work continuously to grow and improve our business. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

Working with them for nearly a year has been a pleasant experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of marketing at 15Five, a continuous performance management software company that provides tools and practices to help companies adopt more agile HR processes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taktical Digital?

While we had already been producing a significant amount of content, we needed a partner that could help us distribute and promote it to improve our organic search rankings.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Taktical provides digital marketing services, including link building and content creation. They initially came up with our SEO strategy and collaborated with our team to identify keywords to target. They then identified writers, bloggers, and publications that would be interested in our content and pitched articles to a series of relevant media outlets. They also advise on all of our organic efforts, performing website audits and tracking our analytics in the process. 

What is the team composition?

We have an Account Manager that we interact with on a weekly basis.

How did you come to work with Taktical Digital?

We liked that they were transparent about their approach and pricing; they weren't overpriced and they provided a clear scope of work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $36,000–$40,000 annually.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed a contract with them in August 2017, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Taktical has helped increase our organic leads twofold since we started working with them. Our top five ranking keywords are performing four times as well, and organic traffic is up year over year by more than 26%.

They've done a phenomenal job overall in finding the right publications to pitch and publish our content in. They've also been able to line up some top-tier media outlets for us, including recognition in the Economist, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.

How did Taktical Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They're great; they're organized, communicative, and independently driven to get everything done in a timely manner. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to delivering great results, their level of knowledge and expertise in their field sets them apart. They're not mere yes-men; they provide feedback to us to help ensure we continue to make the best choices for our company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The onboarding process wasn't as smooth as it could've been, but we were able to work that out pretty quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a content team up and running before engaging with an agency. Our relationship with Taktical worked so well, because we'd already had a few years of experience in producing content under out belt. Make sure someone within the company has capacity to oversee, review, and make edits to content as needed.