Alliance Interactive

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the senior brand and design manager for a cybersecurity technology company. I'm in charge of all the graphic and web design across the company globally. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We came to alliance interactive with a big project to help migrate our website from a Drupal platform to a WordPress CMS. I wanted a solution that was easier and more forward-thinking than our previous site and design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive has been working on this project for about six months. We initially started talking about ways that we could maximize conversion opportunities. We want to provide our clients with customized pages that are easy to navigate and work on all devices. They partner with me to work on the design and development of the new WordPress site. Our Drupal platform was pretty outdated. We had to analyze the old content and decide what was important to keep and how to restructure the navigation. They help us think about the end user experience, how they would come to each page, and where they click first. 

They created a platform in WordPress that allows us to keep our information organized and easy to update. I'm the one who normally does the updating and design work. I wanted someone else on my team to easily be able to go into our system, make changes, quickly produce updates, and push them live. Alliance Interactive started by restructuring our product and services pages and coming up with ideas on the most relevant information to display and link to other pages. Our previous site had a lot of miscellaneous orphan pages. We spent a lot of time discussing organization and how users navigate from start to finish. I helped guide the design and they did a lot of execution, but they also provided suggestions and design assistance. 

What is the team composition? 

I work with the managing partner and the director of development. 

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive? 

I was unhappy with our previous vendor. I wanted to find a vendor in Washington, D.C. that could not only help us build a new website but also partner with us for future projects and provide security support throughout the year. I researched vendors and brought multiple agencies in to meet with us in person. Alliance Interactive understood what we were trying to achieve and how we could maximize conversion opportunities. They got that we wanted to be self-sufficient and were willing to work with us to create a true CMS. We selected them even though they’d never worked with a cybersecurity company before. I was confident that their skills could bring us to the next level.  

What is the status of this engagement? 

Work started in October 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Our website launched last week. Navigation and accessibility of pages on the site have already dramatically improved. The new site works well on all different platforms. They built flexible templates so we can update information or change statistics as needed. We have the ability to more easily and frequently change out assets on the site. 

We don't have statistics on this yet but, anecdotally, clients have an easier time figuring out where to access support or how to become a partner. They can clearly see our products and services and how we can help them. It was easy to get lost on our old site. The new site is organized with the client’s navigation in mind. Alliance Interactive continues to work with us on future development products and design enhancements. We're happy this will be an ongoing partnership. 

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team provides excellent project management. At the beginning of the project, I worked solely with the managing partner on design, structure, and content. Then I worked with the director of development on our requests and specifications for the build. I also worked with some of their design team in the InVision collaboration tool. They’d post their designs and we'd go back and forth on any changes.

We speak pretty regularly and I get weekly updates. If I have any questions or want to know an item’s status, I can pick up the phone or shoot an email to the managing partner. He always responds quickly. The project took a little longer than we anticipated because the project scope changed and we needed to do more than we initially thought. Alliance Interactive is very flexible and accommodating in terms of scope changes. They’re so organized, which is super helpful. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They're a small team that gives us individualized attention. They don’t have us work with a bunch of different people or pass us off to different account representatives. I really appreciate that we work with the owner, managing partner, and the lead developer. Alliance Interactive has a design, digital, and development background so we get excellent help on every question. They're honest if they think our idea might not be the most practical solution. They make solid recommendations that are super helpful. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I really don't have anything. It’s been a good experience. We can always use more support with QA. They did assign another person to help us when we were getting close to launch. That's always helpful so I don't have anything negative to say. I highly recommend them to other companies looking to rebrand or to get a new CMS.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing manager at Silver Diner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We wanted to revamp the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive is a full-service partner. They have done web design, paid ads, and SEO. However, some digital media projects have moved in house.

What is the team composition?

We’re in contact with three people.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

I was not involved in the search process, but know that Silver Diner’s hiring was based on several criteria.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late 2015 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Our web traffic is up 25% due to Alliance Interactive’s SEO efforts. Since 2018, unique page views have increased by 36% and bounce rates have decreased by 50%. The exit rate is also down by 75%.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

The team works quickly and we have a great relationship with them. We are impressed with their overall management skills.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have exceeded our expectations as an accessible partner that is fun to work with. Alliance Interactive is robust in every aspect. They have an extensive knowledge base.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven’t run into anything yet that I’ve been upset with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Alliance Interactive wants collaborative relationships. The client’s knowledge of the digital space would benefit the partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior systems administrators for a financial consulting firm. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

Our website was difficult to navigate and not appearing in top search results. We engaged Alliance Interactive to rebuild our site with integrated SEO to improve our online presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive moved our site from Joomla to WordPress as our CMS. The new platform is responsive to different browsers, makes updating our content much easier, and gives the site a modern look and feel. The team helped migrated our old site’s content on the new platform and implemented SEO into the site. 

The team refreshed our company’s appearance by modernizing our company logo. They first offered to completely redo it, but we settled on making subtle tweaks. Alliance Interactive also created a style guide to guide our site and other areas of the company down the road. As a bonus to kick off the style guide, they designed new business cards for no additional cost.

What is the team composition?

We coordinated primarily with Adam (Managing Partner, Alliance Interactive) and a lead programmer. A design team worked behind the scenes as well.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

We searched for web design firms on Google. I first looked nationally, but we decided that face-to-face interaction would be valuable for us, so we narrowed our search to the local area. We came up with a list of 4–8 firms, each of whom we then sent an RFP. Adam got back to us right away. His proposal met all of our needs at less than half the price that other firms were quoting. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just under $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018, and the website launched in February 2019. We’re still working with Alliance Interactive to make tweaks and clean some areas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve received praise for the new, modern website from stakeholders who regularly frequented our old site. Due to more calls-to-actions integrated into the new platform, managers have received far more leads and requests for information from potential clients.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

The team balanced over 30 internal stakeholders on our side providing notes on every step. They kept the project momentum going while remaining patient with us when delays arose while we sought everyone’s input.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In our RFP, we offered a max budget of $150,000. Every other firm’s offer hit that number except for Alliance Interactive, whose quote came in at $68,000. Their offer also included services for free than other firms charged extra for. What’s more, Adam took the time to give an in-person presentation about their proposal and to understand more about our business and project. We were sold on their team before we even signed a formal contract.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project took longer than Alliance Interactive initially expected due to delays on our sides. Also, we sometimes had periods where we didn’t hear from their team. However, we overall were satisfied with our collaboration. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Go into your project with Alliance Interactive with an open mind. Listen to their suggestions and try to incorporate their ideas. The team draws from their in-depth expertise and project experience and won’t steer you wrong.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Senior Director of Public Affairs at NCTA - The Internet & Television Association. One of my responsibilities is to raise awareness among key audiences about parental controls and resources.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

In 2006, the TV and movie industries created thetvboss.org to give parents the tools and information they need to guide their child’s television consumption. It's an important parental controls brand. To maintain this status, we wanted to do a complete rebuild of the site to update the design to present-day standards and increase functionality on mobile devices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at Alliance Interactive redesigned the site and updated site-wide branding. They built us a brand new, custom site using WordPress that included responsive design. They also reorganized the content so that it flowed more logically for users.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one of the managing partners and a developer.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

We wanted to work with an agency local to the Washington, DC region for this project. I talked to many and narrowed down my top choices. With Alliance Interactive, I felt like they genuinely listened to us and were eager to deliver exactly what we wanted. Their team was very put-together and friendly and made me feel confident that they’d succeed.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The new site has only been live for a few days, but it’s been well-received so far. Not only is the site far more functional, but we also have an updated brand that’s fresh, parent-focused, and ready for the future.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

This was definitely one of their strengths. I never felt like I was waiting. They’re always responsive to email and calls, and they were diligent about documenting their progress in their project management software. There was a real sense that they wanted to understand our needs and deliver a product that felt right for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I loved how I felt like I could go to them with any question, concern, or change. When they say “unlimited revisions,” they mean it. They never treated it like an inconvenience. It was easy to communicate with them, and they were extremely responsive from beginning to end.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. It was a pretty easy, enjoyable experience. They were timely and worked well with our IT department.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a comprehensive understanding of your company and goals from the outset. The more information you’re able to share, the better the outcome will be. They’re very good at processing your feedback and turning it into results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the head of marketing of the Center for Innovative GYN Care, a laparoscopic GYN surgical practice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Alliance Interactive?

We engaged Alliance Interactive to completely redesign our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve the overall UX, decrease our bounce rate, and increase leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed several web development companies for this project. Alliance Interactive was the most innovative team that focused on user experience. Their technical and design skills were top-notch, and they responded promptly to our inquiries. As a result, we chose them to complete this project.

Describe the project in detail.

Alliance Interactive rewrote the CSS and web content for our site. They developed a new approach to its navigation and choosing interactive elements that would drive traffic and interest in the site. They also completed SEO to maintain our strong position in search results.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a lead strategist, a concept designer, and a design-and-development person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We received positive feedback on the new look and navigation. Alliance Interactive managed the site’s launch with minimal disruption to our lead generation system and our Google search rankings.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used a project management tool that made the project run smoothly from start to finish.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Alliance Interactive wrote clean CSS to build a stunning frontend and an intuitive backend. Every employee in our different business areas finds it highly accessible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had an overly ambitious deadline at first, but Alliance Interactive responded well to updates and completed reasonable modifications on time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a communications manager for a federal consulting company. We specialize in change management work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We needed an external firm to design and develop a website for a federal government client.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive built a new website for a federal government agency. Once that process was complete, they started revamping an existing site for the same organization. The goal of that project is to update the client’s online presence and create an intuitive frontend interface. The redesign portion of our engagement with them is currently ongoing.

What is the team composition?

I primary interface with Adam (Managing Partner, Alliance Interactive) and a subcontractor he assigned to the project.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

They have both the technical and government experience we prioritize when looking for an outsourced partner. As a result, hiring them was an easy choice.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2017 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Alliance Interactive is always willing to do what’s needed to get the job done. Despite working within a fast paced environment, the whole team is accommodating and pleasant. They put together a dynamic looking website that fits within the regulations and constraints of the federal government. As a result, the client is extremely happy with what they received. Everything looks sharp and professional. It’s been a highly productive and positive engagement thus far.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

Adam is experienced, professional, and responsive and maintains frequent correspondence with our team. He has provided several easy-to-use project management tools to keep the team focused, well-organized, and efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designs are exciting, and they’re able to make changes at a moment’s notice. Additionally, they aren’t afraid to offer design suggestions and guidance when appropriate. They are really adept at understanding how the end user will experience the website and what will provide the best user experience, offering many options as to how to design websites to best meet those needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, I’d like to see greater attention to detail. There’s a lot of emails and communication between us, but some requests have gotten lost in the shuffle, however, this is most likely due to rushed time schedules dictated by the client.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Alliance Interactive is capable of presenting clients with website layouts they likely wouldn’t have considered otherwise. They're professional, accommodating, and can easily help customers present information. Their designs are sharp, interesting, and always have the end user in mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the associate vice president of communications marketing and engagement for a faith-based NGO. We respond to some of the world’s worst natural disasters and seek to break the cycle of poverty by working in rural economies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We didn’t feel that our website portrayed us accurately as an organization to current or prospective supporters, so we needed help with our branding and visibility.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We specifically had design and technical problems that extended into e-commerce and our donation platforms. Their development and design have resulted in a much more engaging and user-friendly website.

What is the team composition?

We worked with their principal throughout the entire project and did not feel the need to work with other folks throughout the agency. Since they are a small agency, we knew that he could act as the liaison and accurately communicate our needs.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

We initially found them on Clutch.co. They, along with several other agencies in the Baltimore and Washington Metro area, competed for the bid. We chose Alliance Interactive based on their reasonable pricing, their previous experience working with NGOs, how communicative they are, and their boutique approach.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost just over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our RFP process was about six weeks and the project lasted from April 2018–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It has only been 3–4 week since we launched the website, and we’ve seen huge metrics increase through Google Analytics. There has been an increase of 200%–1200% for every important metric. The difference from our old website, especially in such a short amount of time, is astounding, and I expect those numbers to continue increasing.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We used several project management tools, one of which was InVision. With that cloud-based design tool, we proofed our designs and iterated them in the cloud. It went more smoothly than I could ever have imagined.

The linchpin of our communications was not really emailing (although that played a role) but was our teleconferences. Communication is key for effective project management, and they had a regular cadence with us, in addition to being available if there was ever an emergency.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand the NGO market and how nonprofits interact with their supporters. We wanted our website to cultivate relationships with supporters who want to act out their faith, as well as build relationships with new supporters.

Alliance Interactive demonstrated an acute understanding of our goals and their knowledge of the web design and development market. I was afraid that larger companies would treat us as just another project to add to their portfolio. Alliance Interactive showed that they recognized, and cared about, our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were always there for us when we needed them; however, I did harbor the fear that, as a small agency, they wouldn’t have the bandwidth to effectively handle all of their clients.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Instead of looking at the project as design and development—which are the two bedrocks of website development—leverage Alliance Interactive’s marketing acumen and prowess to connect with your user base.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of a global risk consulting and advisory group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We needed help with our website—redesigning, rebranding, and migrating to a new platform—as well as increasing efficiency within our organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

There were a number of aspects that we tackled with this project. The first was that, as a consultancy, we have a think tank aspect to the organization and we wanted to see if we should remodel the think tank as a consultancy, or research, or if it needed to be reformed to be more efficient. The second aspect was grouping our services. I knew that our organization was capable, but it was beneficial to have another point of view. They helped reformat and restructure several features of the consultancy to make the organization, as a whole, be more in sync.

The third aspect was for the website itself. Our previous website used a WordPress format, and Alliance moved the website to Drupal, which is much more secure. In addition to migrating the website, they helped redesign some of our organization’s imaging from our logo, to color scheme, to the type of font we use. They helped streamline our processes and now we stand out in the industry.

What is the team composition?

I coordinated with Adam (Managing Partner, Alliance Interactive). He responded any time that I sent him an email and always followed up with me.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

I did a little online research and they were recommended to me by a friend in the industry.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $15,000. I got a great deal with them. The organization has transformed from the beginning of the project. We’re much more efficient and stand out in a competitive industry, because of our work with Alliance.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in February 2018, and the website was live in early July 2018. It was actually done a month earlier, but I wanted to fine-tune a few details before the release.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

When I uploaded the website to my LinkedIn and shared it with my network, it was viewed over 800 times within one hour. We uploaded PDF reports that were very well received—not just the content, but also the presentation of the information. Within two hours we were getting calls from other high-end competitors that wanted to site us. We’ve now become leaders in the industry.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was the best I’ve ever received. They always responded to emails, answered all of my questions, and quickly resolved any issues.

We communicated through phone and email, and used online project management tools, like InVision and Google. It was efficient because I had access through multiple mobile devices. There were several instances where I was traveling to different cities or countries, would get a project update, send feedback, and, by the time I arrived, it had already been implemented.

Going into the project, I was worried that the project may go in a direction that I didn’t understand, or that the organization as a whole may change. However, Adam led me through the whole thought process and helped develop us as a highly adaptable organization.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think they do a number of things better than other providers. The first is that the site construction is a lot more user-friendly and streamlined than I’ve found comes from other organizations. The second is that they are very much in tune with the needs of your client base, and they’re able to identify other potential client bases. The third is that their response time is better than any other I’ve seen in the industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I got more than I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as open as possible with your needs. They’ll be able to identify your needs and uncover any other areas where you may be lacking.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of the Arts Club of Washington. We’re a private social club that also hosts a public art gallery. We offer artistic public events like theater performances, poetry readings, and movie nights. We also rent the location for private events like weddings, business events, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

Our website was technologically obsolete and we wanted to completely revamp it. This required a developer to update the site and provide long-term maintenance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance redesigned our existing website and added features like a member directory, and the ability to register for club events. In addition to the public website, they built a site only accessible to club members through a log-in portal. Completely renovating our digital presence, they assisted with content creation as well. They provide ongoing maintenance and resolve any issues with the site.

What is the team composition?

Their managing partner was our primary point of contact.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

We put together a committee to research vendors. Specifically, we were looking for a company that understood the different facets of our organization and could communicate them through the site. We considered two other vendors before ultimately hiring Alliance.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was around $50,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The design process took place from April to November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The results of the website are great. Our bounce rate decreased by 90% and we’ve also experienced a 120% increase in search visibility. We’re seeing tangible results as more people contact and visit the club.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re pleased with how they handled everything as it was a complex project. They were responsive and flexible to accommodate our specific requirements. We communicated 3–4 times a week via email but also met in person. Now that development is complete, we communicate once a week regarding site maintenance. Their managing partner did several presentations and was always willing to do so.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They made the effort to really understand who we are as an organization and what we wanted to accomplish with this project. Knowledgeable and open to communication, they were a true partner throughout the entire design process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any suggestions as they completed everything professionally. They overcame project challenges by properly managing the situation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Strategize and have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Providing Alliance a perfect understanding of the intended product will yield a successful collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a program director for the Solar Foundation. We are a nonprofit organization that focuses on advancing the use of solar and solar-compatible technologies worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We needed to build a complex, portal-based website. We don’t have a surplus of internal resources so it was imperative the website be self-sustaining. We initially worked with another developer on this project but needed to bring in a higher quality firm to ensure the final product met our needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the website on WordPress and it functions as a platform for people to apply for jobs within the solar industry. Alliance built additional features like the front-facing home page and a login feature that supports 3 types of users. Once the site was completed, they helped us launch it as well.

What is the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager who was the primary point of contact throughout this engagement. We rarely spoke with anyone else from Alliance.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

We put out an RFP and competitively solicited proposals based on the needs of our project. Several agencies applied and Alliance’s proposal was the best. We selected them based on their competitive bid, background, and history with other clients.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together March 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They helped us get an excellent website in short amount of time. Alliance is a more efficient and high-quality provider of their services than what we’d previously experienced.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager was great and particularly responsive. As a result, e-mail and calls were the only communication tools necessary. He was friendly, helpful, and a real advocate for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have enough staff and resources to provide creative solutions. Despite frequent changes in scope, they’ve been flexible in working through evolving ideas without overcharging us. Overall, they helped us build a nice website and we’re happy customers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone has room for improvement, but we’ve had a positive experience and I’d recommend them to others.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We did most of our brainstorming in-house and then brought our concepts to Alliance. That’s when ideas started to evolve and cause delays. As a result, I recommend involving Alliance in the concept development process because their staff is clever, cooperative, and can help the creative process go smoothly.