Bay of Plenty digital and creative agency combining video, social, SEO and Google Ads
About Squid Group
Squid Group is a digital marketing and creative agency founded in 2019 by Laurence Carey, who remains founder and managing director. Head office is at 155 Maunganui Road in Mount Maunganui, and the business also works from Auckland and Tauranga. The agency serves clients in New Zealand and Australia and runs country sites for Australia, Canada and the United States. It began in a small bedroom. The team has two to nine people; seven are named, including senior client director Kirsten Thompson and a Google Ads specialist.
The service list is broad. Digital work covers SEO, ecommerce and Shopify SEO, Google Ads, Facebook and TikTok marketing, social media and AI agent and automation projects. Creative work covers web design and development, Silverstripe and Shopify builds, videography, content marketing and brand design. Industry pages exist for automotive, events, musicians and accommodation, and the agency also produces a podcast called Sink or Swim.
The SEO process starts with keyword volume and competition research, targets winnable terms first and works up to harder ones, and sets goals around calls, purchases and form fills. Local SEO for map results is one of the first things they optimise, and link building uses guest posts, citations and social backlinks, with conversion rate optimisation offered as well. SEO needs at least six months to show a clear effect, and full results across target keywords can take six to twelve months. A free SEO audit is available.
They have no dental or healthcare page and no published dental or medical clients. Published results come from retail, events and music. Endless Summer saw online sales rise 210% over roughly two months from a mix of social ads, Google Ads, email and SEO; NZ Design Week doubled revenue and lifted attendance 83%; and the L.A.B summer tour sold more than 40,000 tickets. Clients include Vodafone, Yamaha, Auckland Unlimited and Loan Market.
On Clutch they hold 4.9 from seven reviews by Sensory Corner, Trustees Executors, Loop Media, LDV Auckland South, Southeast Music, Winter Gardenz and Beauty Ethics NZ. Reviewers mention timeliness, clear communication, an understanding of their needs and good use of analytics.
Rates run $100 to $149 an hour, with an average of $149, and the minimum project is $1,000. A dental practice would mainly gain from their in-house filming and social content, but it would be among their first healthcare clients.
Squid Group's Website
Squid Group at a Glance
| Founded | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Team size | 2-9 employees |
| Headquarters | Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |
| Other offices | Auckland; Tauranga |
| Leadership | Laurence Carey (Founder and Managing Director); Kirsten Thompson (Senior Client Director) |
| Languages | English |
| Pricing | $100-$149 per hour (average $149); minimum project $1,000+ (some listings give a $10,000-$25,000 minimum budget). Website refers to packages and quotes without figures. |
| Contracts & reporting | SEO takes a minimum of 6 months for a clear effect and 6-12 months for results across all target keywords; free SEO audit; quotes on request. |
| Tools & partnerships | Silverstripe; Shopify; ClickUp (Verified Power User badge); Moz, Ahrefs and Semrush (covered in their insights articles) |
Dental Marketing Services
- SEO including local SEO for map results
- keyword research
- content writing
- link building and citations
- conversion rate optimisation
- Google Ads
- Facebook, Instagram and TikTok marketing
- videography
- web design and development
- brand design
- email marketing
- free SEO audit
Why Dentists Choose Squid Group
- In-house video production
- Runs SEO and ads for a finance firm
- 4.9 from 7 Clutch reviews
- Rates of $100 to $149 an hour
Key Strengths
- Offers practices attentive, personal service with quick answers and on-time delivery
- Adds email marketing to search and social campaigns for patient follow-up
- Produces practice videos in house to show patients the team and clinic
- Mixes social posts, SEO and Google Ads to bring new patients to practices
How the DSA Score Breaks Down
Points earned: 46.9 of 100 (profile 40 × 0.8 + client feedback 14.9). DSA Score: 89/100
What Clients Say About Squid Group
- 5 on review sites
- 3 on its website
Clients Most Often Praise
- Communication & responsiveness 3
- Clear reporting & honesty 2
- Higher Google Maps & local rankings 2
- More new patient bookings 1
In ShortClients praise responsiveness, honesty, fast delivery and measurable SEO/ads results.
Digital marketing; team responsive, helpful, on time and quick to answer queries.
See it on clutch.coVideo production and social media; impressed by attentiveness and personal service.
See it on clutch.coVideo production for a dealership; friendly, easy and honest to work with.
See it on clutch.coShow 5 more client reviews
- Shannon Funk, Marketing & Operations, Winter Gardenz: Marketing and advertising; impressed by communication, delivery speed and results. Clutch, Jun 8, 2023
- Anonymous, Manager, Southeast Music Limited: Sales and marketing services; satisfied with project management. Clutch, Jun 21, 2023
- Megan Wihongi reports large online sales growth after SEO, Facebook/Google Ads and email marketing. Agency website
- Steen Pearce, Director: After a poor past agency experience, says Squid delivers what it promises. Agency website
- Fiona Birchall: Website upgrade and SEO delivered results within a month; recommends Squid to SMEs. Agency website
Where Squid Group Is Listed
Questions Dentists Ask About Squid Group
Has Squid Group worked with dental or medical practices?
They have no published dental or healthcare clients. Their published work is mainly in retail, events, music, automotive and finance.
What could they offer a dental clinic?
They combine SEO with local map optimisation, Google Ads, social media marketing and in-house videography, which a practice could use for team introductions and treatment content. They also build websites and handle brand design.
How long does their SEO take to work?
SEO needs a minimum of six months to make a clear difference, with results across all target keywords taking six to twelve months.
What do they charge?
Hourly rates are $100 to $149, with a minimum project of $1,000. They offer packages and a free SEO audit but publish no figures.
What do clients say about them?
They hold a 4.9 rating from seven Clutch reviews. Reviewers point to timely delivery, good communication, an understanding of client needs and effective use of analytics.
Reviews of Squid Group
No reviews on this site yet. Have you worked with Squid Group? Your review helps other dentists choose.