Our November Power User: GSD&M

This month, we wanted to find out more about GSD&M, “a full-service advertising agency born and raised in Austin, Texas,” and one of our favorite users. GSD&M has done a couple of projects with GutCheck, both of which followed the services model. That is, our moderators did the chats for them so they could focus on reading through the chat transcripts and creating more work! We talked to David Matathia, GSD&M’s Chief Strategist, to learn more about how they’re using GutCheck.

GSD&M first contacted GutCheck when they had need for a very quick turn-around on a project in early November. David said he first heard about GutCheck on Twitter (PS are you following us yet? Follow us!). “I was working on a bunch of new business projects and it sounded like a great option in those shortened timelines so I tucked it away for future use,” he said.

Additionally, GSD&M needed to recruit based on some specific attitudes and behaviors, one of which was geography.

“The culture of the region was a critical part of our creative solution and we needed a quick way to get a read on a concept statement to ensure our language/thinking was in line with our audience. We didn’t have the time to hit the road and it was truly a ‘gut check’ to ensure we were on the mark,” David said.

Ultimately, GutCheck turned around the projects (20 chats each) within a short time frame – neither took more than 48 hours to complete. With their insights, especially the geographically-targeted projects – GSD&M demonstrated the power of their idea and how they went the extra mile to be sure it fit the client’s needs.

“We were able to show that the concept more than just felt right but that we’d taken the time to talk with the very folks we needed to appeal to,” he said.

GutCheck worked with GSD&M to develop a guide that would optimize their questions to meet their objectives, and set them up with accounts so they could watch transcripts come in and start to develop their insights as our moderators completed interviews.

Obviously we’re very excited to be working with such a fun and innovative agency, and we’re really looking forward to continuing to watch their next projects unfold. David said he could see GSD&M using us not just for new business but also for testing concepts, ads, packages or even as an omnibus alternative.

“I think we’ve just scratched the surface with how we can use it,” he said.

Want to be a power user? Let us know how you’re using GutCheck or how can we make GutCheck work better for you. Leave us a comment below, let us know on Twitter, or drop us a comment on our community page!