Shannon D.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

1/29/2024

"From alumni to client: A reunion with the best and brightest."

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

What I really love about SmartBug Media is that I used to be a Senior Marketing Strategist for nearly 4 years at the company and understand the innerworkings and work ethic. When I decided to leave SmartBug I always knew that they held their employees to a higher standard of education and client services. I had really high expectations as a client because I know what SmartBug employees are made of. The people at SmartBug will always be the most brilliant marketers I have surrounded myself with and if I wanted to impress my new organzation I knew I needed to partner with the best agency. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

Like most things in life you get what you pay for. SmartBug is not the inexpensive agency who will crank out a quick project on the cheap. Their services are considered pricey but you you quickly understand why when you begin to see the results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

When I was hired on as the Senior Marketing Campaigns Manager at Ntiva, I started to notice gaps and areas that our organization could be doing better. Although our previous agency was great at writing content, we needed a more elite agency with elevated expertise and internal resources that we didn't have. We ulitmately needed an agency to help solve our CRM integration issues, HubSpot Sales and Sales enablement, Automation, Content Creation, Website, Conversion Paths, and a slew of many other required tasks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Adam N.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

1/24/2024

"SmartBug is a true partner."

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

The SmartBug team is comprised of sharp, talented people with a wide-variety of skill-sets related to marketing and development. The team is always very responsive and friendly, and they are a pleasure to work with in general. They're willing to step up to any challenge and support us, and they're great at helping us to find and implement successful solutions. They get the job done, and they also keep things fun and make it easy to work them. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

I wouldn't say there are any downsides to working with SmartBug. We've been working with them for many years now, and as with any agency, some of the team members who support us have changed over that time. Getting new people on the team fully up-to-speed with our projects has been challenging at times, but things have always worked out and I've always felt like we've had full support from SmartBug's leadership when navigating those situations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

If you're looking for a top-notch inbound marketing agency, they should be first on your list. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

SmartBug helps us drive the strategy and execution of our inbound marketing programs. From campaign strategy through reporting, they assist us in a variety of areas including creative, development, and sales enablement. They have been instrumental in helping us to get the most our HubSpot platform and tools and have contiunally provided guidance and support to assist us in navigating sigficant changes in our business follwing mergers and acquisitions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Computer Software

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

7/16/2024

"Smartbug expertise goes beyond"

4.5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

It was my first time knowing about SmartBug and I totally like the high level of expertise brought in into our business discussions and the support level into our eCommerce strategy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

Nothing to dislike. Time run so fast so when the last session came to an end, the dislike part was about wanting to keep going and discussing our business strategy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Tony I.

Loans and Investments

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/5/2024

"Great partner and expertise!"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

SBM has a variety of disciplines and a diverse team of experts. I appreciate that we have one designated account representative that advocates across all the disciplines and facilitates the working relationship across digital, social, content, PR, and email marketing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

Not much on this list to be candid. Everyone wishes they could pay less, but they will work with you on an ongoing relationship basis, project-based pricing, or ad-hoc out-of-scope pricing. They make it work and there is good value in working with this group. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

I have already referred several colleagues who own or operate their businesses. They all need help in acquiring customers through digital marketing and SBM is a valued partner in navigating this channel. Their expertise is top notch and they can honestly help just about any size firm scale their efforts. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

The team at SmartBug Media (SBM) know their stuff. They helped us boil down what the intent of our marketing efforts are and ultimately how we can improve upon them. They helped us focus our efforts on acquiring the right kind of traffic and converting them into higher quality leads. As many B2B companies know, acquiring leads is not always beneficial if they are not a good fit. SBM helped us to tailor specific content that has ultimately helped us to acquire more consistent and better quality leads, ultimately growing our business. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Craig L.

Owner/CEO

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/3/2024

"Leads Have Increased & Most Importantly Revenues Have Increased."

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

Chair 10 Marketing, A SmartBug Company, has been very professional and has operated with minimal hand holding ... They know what they are doing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

There has been no downside of working with Chair 10 Marketing (A SmartBug Company). We are early in our relationship (< 1 year), but we expect that to continue. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

Give them a try, set boundaries & expectations ... and set SMARTGoals (Specific, Measureable, Achieveable, Realistic & Time Bound) Then get to work changing those leads into revenue. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

In our market we had been growing steadily for 7 years with organic leads. Spring 2023 we decided to take our business to the next level. We hired more personnel and let Chair 10 Marketing (A SmartBug Company) create more leads. Ryan Moore & Asa Rabin guided our marketing effort, and did a GREAT JOB!! We exceeded CY2022 Revenues by mid October 2023, and finished 2023 with our best year ever. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Linda Q.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/29/2023

"Exceeds Expectations"

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

My entire team appreciates their vast knowledge and understanding of Hubspot. We often turn to them for advice on how to do something. And they always have an answer or will get us an answer. When there isn't one available they figure out another solution to the problem. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

The one thing I wished they could do for me is bill through my advertising. Because of our corporate finance structure, this is challenging for me to do. I would use their services for advertising if I could bill through them. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

As with any agency, it is important to get the right team that fits your team's work style. Our team is a perfect fit, and it makes a difference. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

We needed a partner agency that could help us be more productive and efficient, manage the ins and outs of our marketing database, and teach us how to be more self-sufficient along the way. The Smart Bug team goes beyond what we ask of them to provide strategic thinking around how to best reach our audiences, all the while lifting a heavy load off of our plate. They are a crucial part of our team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Lindsay H.

Senior Marketing Specialist

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/19/2024

"Great PPC Partner for Our Franchise System"

4.5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

Support, responsiveness, and keeping our team in the loop about upcoming trends and changes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

PPC and results always have their nuances and ebbs and flows - much of this can be out of our control though and more often than not, the team has back up ideas in place. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

Take advantage of communication with your reps - set expectations on how much or little you want to be involved and they will follow suit. I believe they are a great partner with our franchise system when many PPC vendors can come across as ambiguous. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

I have worked with many PPC vendors. SmartBug's team, namely Tiffanie, has been a great partner to work with who explains thorough, but understanable, answers to our questions. She is prompt and proactive and they strive to get the results we aim for. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Dave M.

Director Of Engineering

Computer Software

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/18/2023

"A gamechanger for us."

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

SmartBug's extensive team boasts specialists for every need. Recently, when we needed to refine our messaging, they introduced us to an expert whose sole focus is crafting impactful messages. This specialized approach extends to other areas as well, including graphic design, animations, and web design, ensuring that each aspect of our marketing is handled by a dedicated professional with targeted expertise. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

Any issue we had along the way was discussed and resolved immediately. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

GPT

Ready yourself for a hands-on involvement in your marketing initiatives, as this isn't a set-it-and-forget-it type of service. Our success with SmartBug stems from our consistent engagement in strategy sessions and regular meetings, highlighting the importance of active participation in shaping the marketing direction. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

SmartBug Media has been instrumental in elevating eConnect's marketing endeavors, particularly within the casino industry. Their strategic approach has not only refined our targeting but also maximized the efficiency and effectiveness of our CRM system, HubSpot. They've crafted engaging marketing campaigns and eye-catching promotions for trade shows, significantly boosting our brand visibility and audience engagement. Additionally, their innovative strategies in promoting both live and virtual events have led to increased attendance and more impactful interactions, further solidifying our presence and influence in the market. The overall impact of SmartBug Media's expertise is a more cohesive, effective, and successful marketing approach for eConnect. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Brandon M.

CEO & Founder

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/17/2023

"Marketing Foundation and Execution"

4.5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

Our Marketing Strategist (Sara Wolfe Vaughan) and Director of Client Services (John Suarez) genuinely care about making us successful. They have done a great job of understanding our needs and driving to execute them. They also do a good job managing me, and pushing back internally.

SmartBug has many people who do many different things, which is great but can be challenging. Sara does a brilliant job organizing and managing everyone.

The broader team at SmartBug also does a solid job with their specialties.

The overall strategy and execution are working well for us at this stage, and I'm looking forward to seeing it expand over the next few quarters. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

Agencies can get expensive with hourly rates and add-ons. This is the same for any professional services firm. Overall I feel SmartBug is fair and balanced with this, but it's also something to pay attention to closely.

They are highly focused on the Hubspot ecosystem, and my company is deeply engaged in the Salesforce ecosystem, so that has created challenges. I would love it if they had a Salesforce practice! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

I recommend working with SmartBug, especially if you want a partner to build the foundation for inbound and outbound. The Marketing Strategist consultant is the most important role you engage with, so ensure there is a deep sense of trust, transparency, and effective communication with that person specifically. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

We are an early-stage SaaS and Professional Services technology company. We needed a partner to set the overall foundation for our marketing efforts and partner with us to execute it. This included creating messaging/positioning, branding, strategy, and the technical foundation of what marketing platform to utilize and ensuring it seemingly flows to our Salesforce instance where our sales and leadership team operates. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Deirdre M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/15/2023

"SmartBug = The. Best. Decision. Ever."

5/5

What do you like best about SmartBug Media?

They are smart, quick and extremely well versed in marketing and implementation. Having our SmartBug team is like having an additional team member! Their efficient support and quick communication is crucial to our success! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about SmartBug Media?

I LOVE everything about SmartBug, zero dislikes! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering SmartBug Media:

If you are looking for a team that is well versed in marketing, media and can create strategies for your specific industry/business, look no further! We were struggling to find the right setup and assistance for our quick implementation and SmartBug was the best decision we could have made! They've made a super complicated process much easier! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is SmartBug Media solving and how is that benefiting you?

With a tight timeline to get 7 companies into HubSpot, we needed help. Enter SmartBug! We not only met our deadline, but have been supported, educated, and assisted in creating and optimizing our sales and marketing processes. Viole Morales, Megan Golden and Courtney Fraas have been absolutely crucial to our success. Their knowledge, consistent communication, professionalism and patience with our entire team has been exceptional. Our marketing team is tiny and having the extra hands-on help has been absolutely invaluable. In addition, Brent Worley has been working around the clock to migrate our data from a previous system and connect a custom API with our EHR system. We are so grateful we have SmartBug and look forward to even more collaboration down the road! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.