Emote Digital Verified Company

A Deeply Disappointing Experience with Emote Digital / Big Picture Group (Emote & Bellman) I engaged Emote Digital in early 2025 with the urgent goal of generating spa treatment bookings for my business, Hair Spa Melbourne, to support a newly hired hair therapist. I was open and transparent about my financial situation, and the fact that I was using my last savings to fund this campaign, hoping it would help me keep my business afloat. Unfortunately, that trust was misplaced, and what followed was one of the most damaging experiences of my career. The campaign was managed by Azan Ahmed, Digital Marketing Director, who repeatedly promised results, deliverables, and timelines that were never met. Nearly every task, from content publishing to ad strategy execution, was delayed or mishandled, despite me following up weekly and providing everything needed (content, videos, web access, etc.). It was clear that project management and campaign execution were poorly handled, and Azan simply didn’t deliver on the agreed scope. Throughout the process, I raised these concerns directly with Boyd Roberts, Group Director overseeing Emote Digital and Bellman Branding. I notified him a full month before the project ended, outlining the delays and mismanagement. He ignored my concerns entirely. Instead of stepping in to resolve the issue, he became dismissive and eventually aggressive, warning me not to post reviews or seek help through legal consumer channels. I invested over $15000 with Emote Digital. After 3.5 months, the campaign delivered only 37 bookings, nowhere near the 15-per-week minimum required to sustain a full-time therapist. Most bookings were low-value. My cost per booking exceeded $365, which is higher than the treatment price itself. SEO deliverables were incomplete (3 of 9 blogs written, no Google Business Profile updates, no backlink strategy), and ad performance was weak. Key actions like ad scheduling and location targeting were either ignored or executed wrong. After the campaign ended, I engaged two independent digital agencies to review Emote’s performance. Both audits confirmed my concerns, Emote failed to deliver on critical deliverables and applied poor strategy. When I professionally requested a partial refund, Emote responded with legal threats, claiming I would face a $20,000 legal bill if I left a negative review or contacted Consumer Affairs Victoria or the ACCC. Instead of taking responsibility, they attempted to intimidate me into silence. IMPORTANT FOR OTHER BUSINESSES: I submitted a formal chargeback request through my bank (CommBank) and successfully recovered 70% of my losses. The case was fully reviewed and decided in my favor. If you’ve had a similar experience, I strongly encourage you to do the same. A chargeback is a free and legitimate dispute resolution option that doesn’t require a lawyer or legal action, just your supporting evidence. This review is factual, backed by verifiable documentation and two third-party audit reports. My advice to any business: Avoid Emote Digital and Big Picture Group. They are not results-driven, not accountable, and when things go wrong, they resort to blame, delay tactics, and legal intimidation instead of solutions. If this review helps even one other business avoid the same mistake, it has served its purpose.