Comrade Digital Marketing Agency

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing for Europa Eyewear. We manufacture, design, brand, and distribute eyewear. We have 11 collections — three are sold directly to consumers, and the rest are sold to optometrist offices and other places.

We’ve built our business through relationships; we have long-term relationships with our customers and vendor partners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

Our relationships with our customers were driving our business, but if you looked up any of our brands online, it was a bit disappointing. Our digital presence felt outdated, which harmed the brand's overall perception.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our first project with Comrade was to redesign and launch a complete website with better UI/UX for prospective customers. It was a pretty significant endeavor for us, and concurrent with this project, we had to develop an API for our ERP system from scratch.

Their team was pretty instrumental in helping us think through the UX that we wanted prospective customers to have. We wanted customers to log into an online portal to order from and check their account details. We needed a competent team of developers and designers, and they definitely gave us that.

Our second project with them was to redesign and launch an e-commerce website for one of our direct-to-consumer brands. They worked with us from a strategy standpoint to find which conversion rate optimization techniques we should use. Additionally, they did a third site. It was basically the same thing, but for a different brand.

What is the team composition?

We talked the most with three people. We had an account manager as our primary point person, and there was a lead developer and an art director on each project. Those three people worked with a distributed team to get the project across the finish line.

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We worked with a consultant, and he recommended a couple of agencies to fulfill our digital needs — Comrade was one of those. After we had interviewed those agencies, Comrade was the one that felt like the best fit.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent about $100,000 on the first project, $50,000 on the second project, and $30,000 on the third.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in January 2018, and the relationship is ongoing. We have more projects with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we’ve relaunched the site, the perception of Europa as a business has really changed in and outside of the industry. We’ve attracted top-level talent to our team and increased our average order sizes and the number of online business transactions with our customers. Overall, it has taken some of the burdens off our customer service department.

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very organized and proactive about mapping out a successful project. Comrade’s team is conscious of ideas, requests, and issues as they come up. They don’t take everything we say; they push back when we’re suggesting or requesting something that doesn’t make sense for our site goals, the UX, or other practical reasons.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really come to the table as business partners. We’ve never felt it’s just a client and vendor relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they seem to have our best interest and business goals at heart. We’ve been able to grow together.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Start the conversation with a clear idea of where you want to end up; they can help you flush that out. Also, capitalize on their momentum by staying responsive and alert to the updates.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

EZ Blockchain LLC, Marketing Specialist

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Comrade Digital Marketing Agency, and what were your goals?

We started developing a new website at the end of September 2020 and wanted to get first positions in Google search, get ahead of our competitors. We did it! We’ve gained top SEO positions with main KWs, and our content became so popular on the internet so even our competitors can’t miss a new blog.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Google and Comrade Web Portfolio

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

It’s the 2nd year that we’re working with Comrade Digital Marketing and we’re very happy with our results.

What was done:

* Completed full marketing audit

* Crafted an SEO strategy

* Onsite and off-site SEO, speed, and technical optimizations were made

* Implemented a content marketing campaign

* Backlinks implementation strategy

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2 SEO specialists and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We’ve gained top SEO positions. We have only TOP positions with brand search queries in Google before SEO optimization.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

It was a pleasure to communicate with the Comrade team. The project manager is always attentive and informs us about the progress and results of the project in a timely manner, all deadlines are met.

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

They have solid SEO expertise in both on-page and off-page SEO. They provided us with expert strategic planning.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

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BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and manager of Career Concepts, a staffing and recruitment agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

Our previous website was outdated and not mobile-friendly, so we needed someone who could update it and make it more user-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the project with a kick-off meeting, wherein we discussed what we wanted for the site in more detail. We had an in-depth look at the number of pages and forms we wanted on the site and how we wanted it to look.

Throughout the development process, we would meet with Anna (Project Manager) virtually to go over specifics, after which she would delegate tasks to their development team. Their team would then create the pages and Anna would present them to us so we could provide our feedback and they could make the necessary changes.

We’re officially done with the project, but if we have any issues or concerns with the site, we can just call them and get those taken care of for us.

What is the team composition?

We only worked with Anna, who was our main point of contact, but Reed (Senior Account Executive) did check in on us towards the end of the project as well.

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We did some research and interviewed four different companies to find one that we felt most comfortable with. We ultimately decided to hire Comrade Digital Marketing Agency because they were really transparent about what they could do for us and what their limitations were. Their price point was also really competitive — they offered us a discounted package, which was really nice.
 
How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $10,500 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency from February 2021–August 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because our site is significantly more user-friendly than our previous one, we’ve seen an increase in our site traffic as well as in the number of people contacting us through our site. Now, visitors could just fill out a few questions, send them to us, and we could get back to them right away.

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Comrade Digital Marketing Agency did great in terms of project management — they checked in routinely with us to make sure that everything was running smoothly. They used a platform wherein we could see their progress and give them feedback in real-time, which was very helpful.

We primarily communicated with them through email, but we also had Zoom meetings from time to time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m really impressed that Comrade Digital Marketing Agency delivered exactly what they promised they would in the timeframe that we agreed on in the beginning. I also appreciated their honesty in terms of what they could do and what their limitations were.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some communication issues because of language barriers. Our project manager’s first language was not English, so we had some trouble staying on the same page in terms of the terminologies that we used throughout the project. There were instances when we had to take more time explaining what we wanted, which was a bit frustrating.

Another thing that I think they could improve on is their QA. When they delivered the site to us, right before launching it, we discovered several formatting issues that we felt should have been caught before they presented the site to us.

Overall, they did everything that they said they would within budget and within the timeframe we agreed on, so we were still very happy with what they delivered and it was still a wonderful experience for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to be honest with them. Even if you don’t exactly know what you’re looking for, you just have to give them the best description that you can and they will work with you to expand on your ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the administrator and accounting controller for an ophthalmology and refractive surgery practice. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We moved from another marketing company when we were introduced to Comrade, which was hired to give us more insights about the refractive surgery market and practice. We wanted to capture greater traffic and understand where our demographics were coming. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, there was a transition period since we were working with another company. Comrade picked up the job from where we were and implemented key features to take us to the next level.

At present, Comrade helps us navigate through different demographics in the city. That way, we can pinpoint where our patients are coming from and to get our name out in the market as we compete with bigger players. Moving forward, we’ll go over our metrics and look back at what they’ve been doing. Everything’s changing, and it will take us some time to move forward again. 

What is the team composition?

We work with two project managers from Comrade, though they have a whole team behind them. Our main points of contact communicate with us on a regular basis, and then they report back to the whole team. 

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We found Comrade through word-of-mouth recommendations. They were referred to us by another physician group. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested around $120,000. Our team initially invested about $60,000–$80,000, and then we upped our marketing and research dollars with them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our partnership in January 2020, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Comrade produces results. We see what type of traffic is coming to our website, and we know how many patients are scheduling consultations from that traffic. 

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve seen an increase in what they’re able to produce, and they work hard. Our teams have had to backpedal a little because Comrade had to learn about our entire operation. They’ve also had to understand the ophthalmology industry as a whole, including our busy and slow times of the year. That being said, we’ve opened up the lines of communication to let them see how their efforts are making a difference. 

In terms of communication, we do a lot of virtual meetings. We’ve had a couple of on-site meetings prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but everything’s been done online so far. Comrade has also provided us with spreadsheets and other tools for reporting. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have an enthusiastic contact person that works like they’re a true part of our team. Moreover, our team feels comfortable with them, and they serve as an extension of our team. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. We’re evolving, and they’re doing their best to point out what they need from us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep your lines of communication open. I’d recommend having a point person that you can call quickly. The Comrade team is receptive when it comes to communication. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of serviceminder, a SaaS platform for managing and operating franchised home services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Comrade Digital Marketing Agency, and what were your goals?

Our business is largely referral based with low search volume so we wanted to both improve our "searchability" and also implement retargeting for when prospects are referred to us to check us out but aren't ready to take action immediately.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

They provide content for our site, recommendations on technical SEO improvements, reporting and execute various SEO and remarketing campaigns across various networks.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

The initial phase was a bit of a shotgun style approach with some content, some PPC and some remarketing. We evaluated keywords as well as keywords used by various competitors. They also began to systematically get us registered with common online directories to improve our searchability. We monitored the reporting and activities to fine tune the strategy going forward.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2-3. Our primary contact is the project manager. The back end team involved content writers and technical campaign execution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our goal was to find at least one new prospect that was not referred to us or that we could trace to other direct actions by us. We got our first solid lead in September. While they aren't a perfect fit for us, their profile is a good match.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

2-3 meetings per month to review reporting, action items, etc.

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

They know their stuff. Very strong in SEO and PPC strategies.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

It took us a little while to get to the strategy we felt was the right one but through the journey of trying alternate tactics, we felt we learned a lot about our market and audience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of e-commerce at Alexis Bittar, a designer jewelry and accessories brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We were looking to have a new website developed following our brand relaunching plans.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially met with Anton (Account Manager) to discuss our needs and preferences in design and functionality. Comrade Digital Marketing Agency first incorporated our rebranding solutions and expectations into the wireframes they built and asked for our team’s feedback before kicking off the development phase.

During the coding process, Comrade Digital Marketing integrated new Shopify plug-ins to accommodate our loyalty program for our customers. They also deployed new API customization functionalities that fit our new branding and highlighted our on-site product recommendations.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Anton, and we also worked with two developers.

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We worked with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency on previous projects, and we already had their team in mind when we finalized the scope of work for this development project. They felt like the right provider to choose in terms of skill set, turnaround times, and price points.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $60,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from January–August 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched a brand overhaul, so it was difficult to come up with definitive KPIs and customer metrics. From our perspective, Comrade Digital Marketing Agency refined the look and functionality of our website, which rewarded us with better traction and collective user affirmations. With our rebranding efforts and their team’s development expertise combined, we moved smoothly towards a more positive and marketable direction.

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via email and weekly check-in calls. Comrade Digital Marketing Agency was attentive to our needs from start to finish. They were always quick to staff up and down depending on the deliverables, and they tailored their processes to accommodate our concerns.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We got what we paid for and more with the quality of Comrade Digital Marketing Agency’s services. The cherry on top was their high level of customer service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We spent a lot more time on the design phase than necessary, which could’ve been improved through a well-paced discovery process. Nevertheless, we were all happy with the final results.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having a clear vision of your true needs will help streamline the initial processes. If you have more time, you may also consider conducting thorough research on your own.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations at an international trade law firm. We specialize in international trade, customs work, and import and export compliance for various entities. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We needed help with web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Comrade Digital updated and overhauled our website. They added various photo and text content, and they showcased our services. Additionally, they integrated a newsletter into the site. 

Comrade Digital also tweaked the site’s colors, fonts, and other design elements. The process was collaborative, and if they did something, we looked at it and gave our feedback. 

We were a niche law firm, and we weren’t technologically savvy — we didn’t even know what a wireframe was. Comrade Digital took the time to explain technical concepts to us until we got on the same page. We rolled right through the process, developing multiple iterations of the site together.

We knew what we wanted — Comrade Digital just fine-tuned our ideas and made them a lot better than what we could imagine. 

What is the team composition?

Reed (Senior Account Executive) was our point of contact, and 4–5 teammates worked behind the scenes.  

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We looked around for web development agencies through Google, and we shortlisted some companies. We contacted one firm, but we weren’t big enough for them, and they referred us to Comrade Digital.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $13,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from March–November 2020.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got what we wanted, and the site worked perfectly. Comrade Digital finished the project on time, and the price was great. There was nothing wrong with any of the iterations they did. They were quick and perfect. Everything worked out well; we’re delighted with the engagement.

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

There was a lot of back and forth between our teams. Comrade Digital tried to understand our process as we had a unique business model. Once we got on the same page after some weeks, the project flowed nicely. 

We worked at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a challenge for everybody, but Comrade Digital overcame challenges and had everything completed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Comrade Digital delivered what they said they were going to do. They put up with our team that didn’t know anything about web development. They simplified their process for us, and we learned a lot. Overall, it was a good experience. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want and what you’re looking for, and let them run with it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the managing member of Infinity , we provide private charter buses rental service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We hired them to create an a line presence for us and increase our website ranking

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have seen their work done to few other companies and they were happy with the end results

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They did analyze our current website and our online status and strategized our a new plan. They built a new user friendly website and currently working on our SEO project to get our website ranked high

What was the team composition?

We have an assigned account manager who is directly dealing with me and our Operations Manager, we have meetings every 2 weeks to go over the work completed

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have already started to see an increase on our leads and we love the new website

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Meeting every 2 weeks really helps us understand the process…. And everyone in our team are extremely nice and helpful.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am impressed with how well and quickly they are able to understand the scope of our work and based on this they build our marketing strategies in a very short time.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

So far we are extremely satisfied

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a veteran-owned and operated children's fitness facility.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Comrade Digital Marketing Agency, and what were your goals?

We needed to update our website, and launch a second location. My goals were to have the website updated functioning by Nov '21.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have worked with Comrade in the past before COVID, and are happy to be still working with them. The biggest deciding factor was the professionalism that I experienced immediately. They definitely outshined the others I was looking at.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

First was the discovery phase, which went smooth enough. Our concept is truly one of a kind, which made it difficult to compare and contrast to others, but the team I am working with got it moving quickly. After the initial discovery went the content and keyword approval phase.

Maria and her team made that as painless as it could be. Then went the website re-platforming, which was completed in less than 1 month. Then now we are finishing the adding of a second location.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I work with a dedicated team leader, who has abundant resources at her disposal and uses them well. the work goes very smoothly!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Having the website re-platformed in under a month was magnificent! All the deliveries received of content and other work was done carefully and well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good! We email back and forth almost daily.

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

Besides their name, which is pretty cool ;) it has to be the care that they have placed into their work, which is extremely apparent to me. So much so, that I am taking the time that I don't really have right now to write this review for them. They are great!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Honestly, the only thing I wish I could have changed is that we should have been working with them 8 years ago.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO at Cowtown Express Logistics, an asset-based freight brokerage company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We wanted to grow our business through SEO and a more profit-oriented website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve initially engaged Comrade Digital Marketing Agency to handle our SEO efforts — we’ve then realized that our website also needs some improvement, so it can efficiently accommodate our digital growth marketing campaigns. Their team has integrated additional SEO-friendly pages and devised a keyword list that caters to the specific services we offer. Additionally, we’ve asked them to incorporate a chat functionality to improve our customer support operations.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Sasha (VP of Solutions & Managing Partner), Marya (Marketing Manager), and another marketing resource.

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

Comrade Digital Marketing Agency was recommended to us by a business consulting agency that we were acquainted with.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $55,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with their team started in April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can’t share any quantifiable results at this point since we haven’t launched any new efforts to measure our engagement. We’ve received early feedback from initial users who particularly appreciate the website’s new look and user-friendliness. 

From our team’s perspective, Comrade Digital Marketing Agency has created a platform that has improved our customer experience by introducing convenient contact methods and promoting our core services better. We’re definitely looking forward to securing measurable and lucrative results in the long run.

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email. Comrade Digital Marketing Agency is a highly responsive team that meets our expectations in terms of project management.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They tasked us with producing a promotional video for our website, and we had to go through rounds of editing since they didn’t like what we delivered. In the future, it will help if they relay more concrete guidelines on the creative outputs that they require from their clients — we’re not from the marketing or production industry, so we’ll appreciate clearer suggestions and requirements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Assign a dedicated member to oversee the project and stay in contact with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency’s team.