Tortoise and Hare Software

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Director of an it services company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

provides U.S.-based managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions to help businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Tortoise and Hare Software to accomplish?

• Google PPC Ad Management

SOLUTION

How did you find Tortoise and Hare Software?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Tortoise and Hare Software over others?

Good value for cost

How many teammates from Tortoise and Hare Software were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We worked with this agency for a couple of months, spending around $8K in total. Ultimately, we had to walk away due to misalignment and poor results. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Lead Quality & ROI: We ended up with just a handful of leads, all from very small businesses (3-person operations or less). The cost per lead was over $2,000 — not viable by any standard. The results didn’t justify the cost — On top of that, the offboarding process included an unexpected additional month’s charge due to a strict cancellation clause, which made the exit more frustrating than it needed to be.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

hroughout the engagement, communication was clear, direct, and timely — particularly in early stages. Expectations and processes were always outlined in writing.

What was your primary form of communication with Tortoise and Hare Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were upfront about how demand-based platforms like Google Ads can vary in performance due to timing, market conditions, and budget. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Tortoise and Hare Software could have done differently?

Misaligned Expectations: While there were conversations about realistic performance early on, the actual results didn't align with what we were hoping for in terms of business size and relevance.

Cancellation Terms: The cancellation clause requires a full calendar month’s notice, which means you can easily end up paying for an extra month even if you decide to stop. This wasn’t something we focused on initially and would advise others to pay close attention to.

Offboarding Experience: Once we brought up cancellation, the tone of communication shifted. It felt less collaborative and more transactional, which left a sour note on the way out.

Company Responses

The service provider responded on June 2, 2025.

We're sorry the 1-month advertising effort during a historic stock market meltdown induced by tariff tensions did not go to plan.  We set expectations on sales calls multiple times and via email that typical costs per lead for new advertisers on Google Ads are typically about $1,500/lead but may be higher with rising inflation and and economic uncertainty. Not sure how that came as a surprise. We're also sorry that negative reviews are left as a condition of paying invoices specified in contracts we both signed are part of the business culture at your company.  Hopefully you will find better success with another agency in the future.