Geo-Technology Associates (GTA)
Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. (GTA) is an industry-leading engineering firm serving clients across the mid-Atlantic. Since 2018, GTA has partnered with First Ascent to execute multiple aspects of its marketing and brand identity. Our collaboration began with social media support, followed by a redesign of the company’s website, and has grown into a long-term partnership that includes organic and paid social media management and enhancing their Glassdoor presence.
Scope of Work
- Website Design and Development
- Social Media Strategy
- Organic Social Media Management
- Social Media Advertising
- Online Reputation Management
A Design that Brings GTA’s Values to Life
We designed a website that puts GTA’s people, culture, and expertise front and center. Starting with their core identity, we created a site that’s both professional and approachable, blending vibrant visuals with seamless functionality. The bold design and intuitive layout reflect the energy and expertise that set GTA apart, while future-ready features ensure the site grows with their ambitions. A key feature is the custom HR integration, allowing visitors to search and filter job opportunities using a map and tailored criteria, streamlining the hiring process and improving the user experience. The new website boasts a strong 58.65% engagement rate, with visitors spending an average of 2 minutes and 35 seconds per session—proof that the content resonates with their needs and keeps them exploring.
TUrning likes into hires
We’ve partnered with GTA to transform their social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn into a dynamic platform for recruitment, employee engagement, and community connection. We’ve positioned GTA as a top choice for talent by creating engaging content that highlights behind-the-scenes moments, celebrates company culture, and showcases industry expertise. This approach not only attracts prospective employees—particularly engineers and technicians—but also helps retain current staff by building employee pride. Since 2019, our organic social strategy has delivered over 939,000 impressions and driven follower growth across platforms—Instagram up by 190%, Facebook by 44%, and LinkedIn by 110%.
ADS THAT deliver results
Our paid advertising strategy combines targeted campaigns across social, search, and display networks to drive meaningful results while staying cost-effective. LinkedIn ads have generated over 311,000 impressions, getting GTA in front of top talent at just $2.12 per click. Search ads have outperformed industry benchmarks with a 2.52% click-through rate—above the typical 1-2%. Even better, these search campaigns are running at an ultra-efficient $0.66 cost-per-click. On top of that, boosted posts have amplified reach and engagement, ensuring GTA stays visible to the right audience.
Elevating Employer Reputation, One Review at a time
Beyond social media, we’ve helped GTA strengthen their employer brand by improving their Glassdoor presence. We’ve highlighted what makes GTA a great place to work, acknowledging and professionally responding to reviews—both positive and negative—to reinforce their values and demonstrate a proactive, employee-centered approach. These efforts have elevated GTA’s Glassdoor rating from 3.5 to 4.0 and counting. Combined with their social media recruitment strategy, this cohesive approach helps attract and retain top talent while showcasing the culture that sets GTA apart.
702K+
Impressions across display, search, and social media ads
188%
Follower Growth across all social platforms
9.27%
engagement rate across all social platforms
First Ascent has been fantastic for us. We originally approached them to help with social media for recruitment, focusing on showcasing our company culture to attract younger staff. It’s hard to make geotechnical and civil engineering look glamorous, but they’ve helped us highlight our employees and projects in a way that resonates. They’ve taken the time to understand our company, doing legwork upfront and even coming down to meet with our partners and recruitment committee to ensure everyone was comfortable with the process.
They’ve gone above and beyond, from helping us with analytics to recommending photographers when we didn’t have a catalog of images. They’ve also kept us on track with thoughtful reminders that aren’t pushy but always helpful. Working with First Ascent has been seamless because they make everything so easy and accessible. I would absolutely recommend them—they’re the perfect partner.
MEGHAN LESTER
Vice President, Geo-Technology Associates
AWArd-winning results
GTA’s new website not only elevated their brand but also earned them industry-wide recognition. In 2024, the site won a Gold Hermes Creative Award from the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals. This honor showcases GTA’s bold vision and the strength of our partnership in creating a standout digital platform recognized on a global stage.
