Jives Media — Local services in New York

I engaged Jives Media after a three-month search for a suitable Google Ads agency, initially attracted by their promises of expertise and a tailored approach. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing, and the results did not reflect the $4,700 per month we invested in their services.

From the start, there were significant issues with their approach and recommendations. One of our key concerns was the suggestion to change our main campaign’s bid strategy from Target Impression Share to Maximise Conversions without conducting an A/B test. As someone experienced in Google Ads, I know that changing a bid strategy is one of the most significant shifts you can make within a campaign, and it should never be done without proper testing. Jay described this change as "baby steps," but the suggestion revealed a clear disconnect in understanding and a concerning lack of expertise from the team.

Adding to this, the team recommended pausing bids for the search term “eyelash extension course,” which is literally the core product we sell. This recommendation was not only baffling but showed an evident lack of understanding of our business and goals. We had expected a partner with a sound strategy aligned with our business needs, but these suggestions showed the opposite.

Our concerns were repeatedly ignored or mishandled, leading to a further breakdown of trust. I specifically requested to speak directly with Jay, the CEO, to address these strategy concerns and discuss his team’s experience with accounts of our scale. Instead, Jay brought additional team members, preventing an open discussion about these issues. The lack of regard for our requests as a new client left us feeling undervalued and sidelined.

Further adding to the frustration, Jives Media regularly took days to respond to our emails, even as a new client. In an industry where timing and communication are critical, this lack of responsiveness only deepened our dissatisfaction.

On the technical side, Jives Media was contractually responsible for conducting market analysis and competitive research during their onboarding process. Instead, we were asked to provide our own list of competitors and revenue data, which they could have easily accessed within our Google Ads account. This failure to carry out basic responsibilities reinforced our view that they were not doing the necessary work to manage our account effectively.

Additionally, when it came to landing page optimisations, I had made it very clear that 90% of our traffic came from mobile users. Despite this, we received recommendations based solely on desktop performance. This oversight showed a clear lack of attention to detail and was another instance of them not fully comprehending or accommodating our business needs.

After expressing our dissatisfaction and intent to part ways, we were met with legal involvement from their team. I had hoped for an open conversation directly with Jay, business owner to business owner, to resolve matters amicably, but instead, I received an email from their billing department with legal threats. This approach was both unexpected and disappointing, especially after I had clearly stated in writing that we did not intend to share our experience publicly.

In short, Jives Media’s strategy, responsiveness, and lack of attention to detail did not reflect the professional service they promoted during initial discussions. For $4,700 a month, we expected a knowledgeable, proactive partner, yet the reality fell far short of that standard. Businesses looking for a Google Ads partner should proceed with caution, as our experience highlighted serious issues with both their strategy and...

I’ve been trying to reach this agency for over two weeks! Multiple emails and phone calls, but no response at all. As a business actively seeking a marketing partner, I expected at least some acknowledgment or follow-up. Unfortunately, the lack of communication raises concerns about reliability and professionalism. I’m disappointed, especially considering the positive reviews that influenced my decision to contact them in the first place.

My response to their reply: Thank you for your reply. I understand that you are a boutique agency, but that does not excuse two weeks of silence across multiple channels (contact forms, emails, and phone calls)

After your reply to this review, I made another effort to reach out by both phone and email. Unfortunately, your phone system still says no one is available, and I have not received any reply to my follow up email, not even an automated acknowledgment.

The fact that I received a quick response here, but not through direct channels, suggests that monitoring Google reviews takes priority over actual client communication. That is concerning for any potential partner.

Lastly, accusing someone of leaving a fake review based solely on the name used on Google is unnecessary. Many people use partial names online for privacy. That kind of assumption came across as defensive and unprofessional, especially given that I was making a legitimate inquiry.

I was genuinely interested in working with your agency, but the continued lack of response and the tone of your reply have only confirmed my concerns. I hope this feedback encourages improvements in how inquiries are handled...

We sought out the team at Jives Media for marketing services (SEO, Google My Business, Brand etc.) after seeing they were voted the top agency on clutch. My colleague and I reached out via their contact form on their website and heard back from Jay quickly after. During our consultation call, Jay and the team provided a thorough proposed marketing plan which included the touch points we had provided. Once we were in agreement, the team went straight to work. In just a few weeks, we were seeing significant quality results from all of their implementations. Our social media platforms were increasing in engagement and traffic, we were receiving new clients via Google My Business, and secured several major clients due to our increased brand awareness. Needless to say, we are ecstatic with...