DASH TWO

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a director of marketing and communications at a university. I oversee the recruitment of students as well as branding and communications strategies for one of our graduate schools.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DASH TWO?

We were trying to attract more prospective students to our website and our events. We needed a vendor to help us with digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They've done a few different campaigns for us, including a comprehensive PhD campaign and website retargeting. We have a university-wide open house event, and DASH TWO ran a digital campaign for that, helping us target local prospective students. In addition, they manage our social media, which we use for PPC search campaigns. When a student searches for a graduate degree in Google, they see our ad. We mostly target Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What is the team composition?

I work closely with two of their team members, but there is a team of four people working on our project.

How did you come to work with DASH TWO?

I used them in my previous position, so I knew that they're very hands-on, innovative, and easy to work with. They have an excellent knowledge base, so I brought them with me when I moved to my new position.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2015, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a result of our PhD campaign, the number of applicants to our PhD programs has increased by 30%. About half of the people who attended our open house events applied to the program, while 73% out of those applicants signed up through a digital ad campaign.

How did DASH TWO perform from a project management standpoint?

They're flexible and easy to work with. Also, they always bring new ideas to the table, so we can apply them to our campaigns.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very personable and hands-on. I always learn something new from them. They know what I need and what makes sense for my business and my budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They make my job a lot easier, and I'm happy to work with them. I rely on them for all of my digital marketing projects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell them about your goals and see what they'll come up with. They might have some excellent ideas you haven't even thought of, so go into the project with an open mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and part owner of Encore Nationwide, a full-service experiential staffing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DASH TWO?

We hired DASH TWO for website and SEO support. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a new, improved website as well as backend tools to help increase traffic to the site. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

How did you select this vendor? I have known DASH TWO’s owner both personally and professionally for about 10 years now. His work ethic and knowledge in this industry are second-to-none, so the choice was easy.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

DASH TWO built us a new website and continues to work with us every week to evaluate optimization. 

What was the team composition?

We worked with a large team of people from concept through completion, but we are down to a smaller team while we monitor performance. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

They delivered very tangible results that speak for themselves. Inquiries have jumped exponentially from five per month to nearly 40, and we have experienced a significant uptick in traffic and service requests. Our next phase is to revamp the entire site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project team was set immediately from the beginning, which facilitated effective management. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

DASH TWO is an honest team. We have worked with and researched many web development companies, the majority of which seemed dubious in at least some aspect of our engagements. DASH TWO was unafraid to give us a straight answer, even if it was not the one we wanted. In the end, we put our trust in them, and they taught us how to work effectively within the online space. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

Any improvements are on our end; we need to respond more quickly to their suggestions.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an online advertising media buyer for ad agency that specializes in live theatre.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DASH TWO?

We hired DASH TWO for display, search, and niche advertising as well as general consulting.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to work with a company that listened to us. DASH TWO clearly put consideration into what they presented. They offered us an approach that was new and fresh, rather than trying to  "sell" us just anything. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was referred to DASH TWO by a co-worker who had worked with their company at a previous job.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

DASH TWO provided a full range of services. They support us with many types of marketing including search advertising, display ads, and niche advertising 

What was the team composition?

I worked closely with the owner and upper management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we started working with DASH TWO, reporting has greatly improved. We always know they provide us with honest discussion and good advice.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our two teams was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I find the ease of working with their team most impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’re very happy with their service as-is.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the SVP of a music production company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DASH TWO?

My team required help building an online marketing campaign, as we rely heavily on online advertising to reach existing fans as well as potential ones.

What were your goals for this project?

My company’s biggest goal is to prompt a consumer to buy or stream music.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with Gino (Founder, DASH TWO) for more than two decades.

​​​​​​Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Before the online campaign began, DASH TWO identified our target audience. This entailed determining which fans of similar artists to include. Once the campaign commenced, DASH TWO re-allocated money to the best performing parts of the campaign.

What was the team composition?

We engaged with a principal and a product manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My team received daily reports detailing key metrics, such as impressions and click-throughs, that illustrated the campaign's progress and whether we needed to make any changes. My company shared the campaign with our account base of established retailers and music streaming services to increase visibility.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

DASH TWO worked exceptionally well with my team, fostering a synergetic partnership. The project began with the principal, who then determined the best product manager for the campaign. We communicated in person and via phone, text, and email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

DASH TWO was a receptive partner that provided superb customer service. The team did a fantastic job customizing our media plans. They were highly skilled and could translate the most complex situations into understandable, everyday language. They provided critical feedback and suggestions that we often implemented.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have liked for them to be closer in proximity to my company. I highly suggest that they open another office.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CMO at Q Prime Management, overseeing the company's marketing initiative, sales, and advertising for 11 of our clients in Nashville.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DASH TWO?

I had a long history of working with DASH TWO at other companies, and I wanted to bring them on at Q Prime Management to specifically help with outdoor advertising. I felt that outdoor ads would be the most advantageous approach for promoting some of our clients based on my previous experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DASH TWO provided outdoor advertising services, including billboards and bus benches, mostly targeting a national market. I've also worked with their team on larger advertising campaigns in the past at other companies.

What is the team composition?

I work closely with Gino (Founder, DASH TWO), along with some of his account representatives. I've been very happy with the caliber and quality of his staff.

How did you come to work with DASH TWO?

I've been working with Gino for over 10 years at different companies I bounced around from. In a previous role, he became my structured partner for all of my advertising needs and we had great success from previous projects he'd worked on.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I hired DASH TWO almost immediately after I came onboard in September 2017. They continue to be a great resource for us, so the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DASH TWO's advertising efforts have provided a huge impact for some of my largest clients. They've done a great job at adapting to change within the advertising world, keeping me up to speed on everything along the way. They're on the cusp of the latest trends and technologies, which has really paid off.

On a campaign I worked with them on in the past, they helped us come up with an out-of-the-box solution for developing gas station and bar billboards. The campaign didn't cost a fortune, but the impact of it was massive. I must've received 30 calls from other record labels asking how I pulled that campaign together, and it became a trend in LA after that.

In another instance, their team was able to craft a snipe campaign within just two days. That particular artist was able to look out his hotel window and see the snipes just days after asking for them, making me look like a rockstar to the client.

How did DASH TWO perform from a project management standpoint?

They couldn't be more fantastic. I get a lot of clients who expect answers immediately, but luckily I know I can always reach DASH TWO's team whenever I need to. They're not only responsive and attentive to our needs, but also very detailed in their approach. They'll send summaries at the end of each project that I'm able to share with our clients so they can see the impact of the work. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate being able to pick up the phone and get someone on the line at any time. Regardless of what my budget is, they treat every project with the same level of urgency and professionalism.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing manager at a music corporation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DASH TWO?

We don’t have an in-house advertising team, but we wanted to reach the most people possible for different projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DASH TWO do advertiser access, socials, Google contextual searches, and even YouTube TrueView. Many team members use DASH TWO for product placement on streets and billboards.

They’re good at gauging a campaign’s progress and comprehensively analyzing it. They don’t just tell us the click-through rate; we go through the deep data. If needed, we’ll reassess a campaign together and re-tweak it, which I appreciate.

How did you come to work with DASH TWO?

The company was working with DASH TWO and multiple other ad agencies before I started. However, the other agencies didn’t provide the analytical reporting we needed, unlike DASH TWO. Because of this, we decided to run most of our campaigns through DASH TWO. They’re much better than the other teams we’ve worked with.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Various click-through rates have skyrocketed because of DASH TWO. Before, we only had one way of driving people to our landing page, but it didn’t work well. After collaborating with DASH TWO and gauging what works best, we now have click-through rates on Facebook of over 3%.

How did DASH TWO perform from a project management standpoint?

The digital strategy manager comes in every Monday or whenever we need him. If we have an emergency, he’s always available. He feels like a part of our team. We mainly communicate with him in-person, but we also use email and sometimes phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take time to engage with our projects. They’re accountable and willing to help at every phase of our campaigns, unlike many other agencies.

They’re honest with their feedback, which helps us hit certain targets and numbers. It’s great to be able to reassess in order to improve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes we’re not able to delve as deep into the detailed analytics as we’d like. Increasing their reporting would be helpful, but they give us more than any other firm.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a general idea of the demographic you want to target and key moments in your campaign. Make sure it syncs up with where you’re advertising, where you’re pointing, and what audiences you’re driving the ads to. If you don’t give DASH TWO that information, they’re not going to know where to go.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the head of marketing for the Los Angeles office of American Apparel. We're a retail apparel brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DASH TWO?

We needed to build awareness of the brand relaunch in key cities, so we were looking for a vendor to help us with that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to build presence in LA from wild posting and billboards. American Apparel has historically done a lot of out-of-home campaigns – smaller city life initiatives, without using big billboards. We wanted to re-establish that tradition and give our campaign a DIY feel.

DASH TWO presented us with good options that felt organic to our brand. I sent them some parameters based on our brand study data and they identified target areas we needed to hit, taking into account our demographic. Then, they facilitated printing of the posters and found placement for them.

What is the team composition? 

We primarily worked with Gino [Sesto, Founder, DASH TWO] and Rodolfo [Queiroz, Outdoor Strategy Manager, DASH TWO].

How did you come to work with them?

I did an online search and reached out to some companies. Gino was very friendly and gave me a great quote. They were very patient with us, so we decided it was a good match.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working with them in August 2017 and the relationship is ongoing. We plan to do a campaign with them every month of this year. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The billboards are definitely eye-catching, making us more present in the areas where we're posting. We've even seen comments on our social media about some of our billboards.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very clear and organized in their proposals. They show us maps of the places where they're going to place the billboards, which gives us an idea of estimated traffic eyes. They present most of the information to us either in a spreadsheet or in a PDF.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very professional and eager to get everything right. They came to our office, taking time to get to know us, providing follow-ups and excellent customer care.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I appreciate the work they've done for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have some good insight. Take time to get to know their capabilities and work with them collaboratively to achieve your target goal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of digital development & analytics for a music company. I oversee all our advertising or agency partnerships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DASH TWO?

We needed to collaborate with an advertising agency to improve sales, specifically in the country music market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DASH TWO provided both digital and traditional advertising services. They came to the project with logistic recommendations on where to place advertising, as well as creative ideas on what platforms would improve our overall engagement, cost per click, and cost per 1000 impressions (CPM). Their digital advertising efforts include helping us build an ad plan, considering target audiences, marketing the best platforms, and using creative practices. We build the creative aspects and send them to DASH TWO or vice versa, depending on the project. For traditional advertising, we communicate what billboards we need to buy and in what areas. They find ones that are beneficial.

How did you come to work with DASH TWO?

I followed a colleague’s recommendation.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2015 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DASH TWO’S work helped us release multiple number one records. They’re a good creative agency that can probably be up there with the best of them.

How did DASH TWO perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a fantastic staff who’s on top of any project. They do a great job meeting deadlines and communicating via Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Incredibly transparent, they’re not afraid to share actual results and parse through the details with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should expand the amount of offered services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a fantastic agency for boutique projects. Whether you're an apparel brand or entertainment brand, they're able to work with both and provide a small agency feel with a large agency model.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Nederlander Concerts is an independent event promotion company that ranks in the top 10 nationally. As the director of digital, I come up with the campaign strategy for more than 200 concerts annually.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DASH TWO?

DASH TWO was brought on board to advise and implement the digital campaigns for all of our company's concerts, including search engine optimization, social media, display, and search engine marketing.

What were your goals for this project?

With digital, the headline metric is sales, so we wanted to use data to consistently monitor and optimize our campaigns. In short, we wanted to sell more tickets for less money.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

DASH TWO emerged as the most qualified agency after a vetting process that involved extensive meetings and consulting a lot of referrals.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We consulted them on which channels would be most effective per artist and per campaign. They then generated, uploaded, implemented, monitored, and reported on multiple campaigns daily.

What was the team composition?

We had access to the company president and a day-to-day point person for all aspects of strategy, guidance, and general advice on best practices.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were savvy enough to track sales using multiple platforms.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was top-notch. After the actual metrics, this was the most important factor. The company data dashboard, their daily reports, and even the email and Slack flow were all excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have a deep knowledge of digital strategy elements, from budget amounts to the size and length of the creative elements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder of ShareGrid, a film and photo rental marketplace, headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DASH TWO?

We wanted help with paid marketing optimization, including Adwords and Facebook.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to increase conversion, lower our cost-per-action, test new online marketing strategies, and promote our community.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After an interview process, we selected them as the best agency for the job.

Describe the project in detail.

The project involved setting up, monitoring, and maintaining our Google Adwords campaigns and our Facebook advertisements. We also had them work on aggregating and presenting reports for the advertisements.

What was the team composition?

They worked with our ad specialist and company management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our conversions increased by 20%. Our ad spending was lowered by 15% while maintaining consistent results. 

How did the DASH TWO perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was great. We had weekly touchpoints that helped keep the project on track.

What impresses you about the DASH TWO?

Their willingness to adapt to shifting strategies and their metrics-driven culture were both very impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

If there is anything I could say, it would be that they could suggest new strategies to try for the advertising.