Aspire Digital Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, a self-funded affiliate of Habitat International.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aspire Digital Solutions?

We had a very outdated website that didn’t include all the community resources we needed. It was one of the areas that were lacking for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we provided Aspire Digital Solutions with our marketing kit, including our font style and colors. From there, they helped us plan and strategize the website’s design and development to ensure it was user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. Our demographic is wide, so the team has helped us to plan what the site should include. 

The team has done all the development and design work using WordPress and widgets from our CRM system, Giveffect. We've implemented Giveffect into our event ticket purchasing feature and donation button. They've also helped us with maintenance and hosting.

Aspire Digital Solutions has helped train our team so that we're comfortable with the site and can make edits. The team has also added a donation button and a way for volunteers to sign up. Previously, users would call or email us for an application. Aspire Digital Solutions has set up the website so that end users can log on and apply for our affordable housing program.

Users can also learn about our program through the resources that Aspire Digital Solutions has laid out. Volunteers can also see what our organization is doing and sign up to volunteer for specific items by clicking a button. All of this data is automatically uploaded into our CRM. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Christine at the beginning of the project on the initial negotiations. From there, we were assigned a project manager, Seana, who is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Aspire Digital Solutions?

I already knew Christine and knew who was in the marketing field, so I reached out to her, and she went above and beyond to help us out.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2024. Development lasted six months, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a 75% increase in traffic. We’ve also seen notifications come in left and right. Currently, we have a gift-wrapping fundraiser, and we’ve already had 18 volunteers sign up through the website, which is incredible. Normally, we'd have to call them to get them to come in. We’ve also been able to kickstart our fundraising efforts earlier. Additionally, we've already sold 61 tickets for a charity comedy show we have in January. 

Moreover, everything  Aspire Digital Solutions has built is functioning as intended and exceeding our expectations. The site hasn't had bugs or hiccups. We've had to work around little things to get the site to do what we needed with our CRM, and Aspire Digital Solutions has strategized with us and offered us options. They've done their research on what would work for our needs and presented the results to me. The option I picked has been extremely smooth. Aspire Digital Solutions does active listening, which is very rare these days, and then comes back with a solution. 

How did Aspire Digital Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Instead of dealing with a ton of people from Aspire Digital Solutions, we have one dedicated person, and I can't say enough good things about her. She's made the process painless by communicating the information to her team. We communicate via Google Meet, phone calls, and emails. We use a lot of back-and-forth emails, which has been convenient for me because sometimes I don't get a chance to respond to them until their work day ends. They're quick to respond to any questions I have.

They have a very structured approach. During development, we had a spreadsheet of what was needed, and I could go in and let them know what I had done. On the project management program they used, we also had a folder for all our photos. I could click on the website and request edits, upload photos, and include links all in one spot. It was super easy.

We've had some delays, but they've been on me because I've had to write a lot of the site's content while having multiple fundraisers going on. We only have two full-time teammates, two part-time teammates, and a few volunteers in our corporate office, so we run extremely lean. Aspire Digital Solutions has been very patient with my being slow to get them the materials. However, once they have them, they work extremely quickly. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Seana has gone above and beyond every single time. She's coordinated the whole project and is the only one in communication with me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love Christine, who I knew from before, but Seana has really stolen the show. Christine takes really good care of her employees because they truly care about their clients. Seana listens to me and presents solutions. She goes above and beyond and communicates effectively. One time, the team was running a bit behind, and Seana still communicated with me, which is rare. These days, providers will just ghost clients, and we have to follow up and ask where we are with the project. I've never had to do that with Aspire Digital Solutions, not once.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Customer service is extremely important to them. They put their clients first, and Christine puts her employees first, which is the right way to do it. When companies take care of their employees, the employees take care of their customers, like a ripple effect. If you're going into working with Aspire Digital Solutions, keep that in mind; you’ll have an authentic experience and feel like they truly care about you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Walk of Wellness. I’m a mental health provider and wellness coach.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aspire Digital Solutions?

I’ve used Aspire Digital Solutions for website development and SEO.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aspire Digital Solutions has designed and developed my first WordPress website and has built at least two websites for me. They've also provided me with SEO and digital marketing services. We started with a discovery call where we met face to face and had a long conversation about my business.

After COVID-19, I changed my business and updated my website. I had so much success that I couldn’t handle all the clients that contacted me. I recently moved to another state, and Aspire Digital Solutions has built my new business website. 

What is the team composition?

I mostly work with Christine.

How did you come to work with Aspire Digital Solutions?

We used to live in the same town and were both small businesses in the area. We circulated amongst women entrepreneurial groups. As an entrepreneur, I could feel like bait thrown in a sea of scavengers, with many people contacting me and trying to get our business. However, Christine had a consistent personal approach, and I appreciated that. I trusted her.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've never had a better experience working with another company than I do with Aspire Digital Solutions. Even after my move, I still get inquiries constantly for my old location. Whatever they do for SEO is phenomenal. I just launched my newest website in Florida last week, and I’m getting a lot of views on Google. 

Moreover, I learned the term discovery call from Aspire Digital Solutions and now do that with my clients. During our own discovery call, Christine really listened to me. I didn't have expertise in the field and was relying on her and her company to take my idea and transform it into what I wanted to say on my website. The results have been incredible; I've had great success with the website. Christine gives me really personalized attention. 

How did Aspire Digital Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been excellent from a project management standpoint. Depending on my whereabouts, they’ve been flexible to meet me in the capacity that I need.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Christine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Beyond the personalization and care, Aspire Digital Solutions' ability to deliver what I had in mind has been impressive. They’ve been able to manifest my ideas onto the internet, which is amazing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, their impact on my business has been so positive that I don't have anything critical to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be ready for a very professional company with great creative minds and a sense of humor.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Smart Tech Insurance

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide coverage and repairs for education facilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Aspire Digital Solutions to accomplish?

• Redesign web site
• Create a custom back end
• Create a custom claim system
• Create a custom user experience

SOLUTION

How did you find Aspire Digital Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Aspire Digital Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Aspire Digital Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Aspire was hired by us after a bad run in with another company. We were in need of a complete front end redesign but more importantly a huge custom back end solution that was so complex other companies turned us away.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

This project really seemed impossible at one point. Bill and the entire team at Aspire explained how they would proceed step by step and were able to make sense of a poorly designed system we had. The level of professionalism and expertise was astounding. They knew we were on a tight timeline and literally worked around the clock to meet our deadlines. 

There was tons of trial and error moments that they worked through with no complaints. While the project is still in progress we are light years ahead of where I ever expected to be. The Aspire Team is innovative, professional, smart and above all passionate about what they do. It has been an amazing experience and we could not be happier of the where we are today, a year after the project started.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They delivered on just about every single timeline, mostly early. The ones that had an issue being met were because of our changing needs, but the communication was ALWAYS top notch. The project was managed in a very efficient, organized manner that never left us not knowing what was going on.

What was your primary form of communication with Aspire Digital Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We are most impressed with the professionalism and flexibility this company offers. Their team is really top notch. It has always been a pleasure to deal with and they have been so accommodating to last-minute needs and changes that we are so grateful for. A majority of our stuff required a lot of custom coding and I can tell you without a doubt, they are the best! Simple as that.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Aspire Digital Solutions could have done differently?

We feel that Aspire handled this entire project perfectly. Their communication is always on point so you know what is going on anytime. It's really almost impossible to believe that a web company like this exists. In my 18 years dealing with web companies, not one of them was remotely close to the type of perfect Aspire offers.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing manager for a top ranked luxury realtor

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Digital Solutions, and what were your goals?

We needed assistance with Google page rankings and SEO in general. We also needed to centralize our website and email systems.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Aspire Digital Solutions was recommended to use through one of our vendor partners. We interviewed them and their services and fees were in line with our needs and goals.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

We wanted to increase our Google ranking for organic search keywords. Real estate is an extremely competitive space to rank in considering the brokerage giants and pubic entities like Zillow etc. we were up against. We specifically wanted to rank on the first page in two of our key market areas for general real estate search terms such as "top realtor" or "top luxury realtor".

We also needed assistance in updating and back linking content for our website and streamlining our email capabilities as we transitioned to a new brokerage and phased out our old email addresses.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We work with both of the founders and their SEO team lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Impressive SEO results! We are ranking on the first page for our most important keywords in an incredibly competitive market space. The team continually increases back linking and offers suggestions on how to 'best' the Google algorithm ensuring we have everything in place we need to have in order rank where we want to be. They are extremely knowledgeable and proactive.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very hands on. All members of the team have defined roles, yet all are intimately connected to the organizational structure so you are able to get to the right person quickly and easily. We receive monthly reports with 'connect and review' calls available on a regular basis.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their responsiveness. I was always able to get in touch with someone via email or text. And they immediately jumped on urgent problems, solving the issues and inspiring confidence.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

We are very satisfied with the company. Whenever we need anything or have questions, they are always available and willing to help.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an associate executive for a performing arts and music school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aspire Digital Solutions?

We needed help with website design and development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aspire Digital Solutions has redesigned our website from scratch in WordPress, although they’ve used the content from our former website. Now, they’re finetuning the site, and they’ll offer maintenance and hosting services afterward. The purpose of this website is lead generation.

What is the team composition?

I have direct contact with three people from Aspire Digital Solutions, including the owner, a project manager, and a senior digital strategist.

How did you come to work with Aspire Digital Solutions?

A colleague recommended them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Aspire Digital Solutions has been incredible at understanding my needs, ultimately creating a beautiful and functional website. They’ve exceeded my expectations.

How did Aspire Digital Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Aspire Digital Solutions tracks the project’s progress and reports back to me on a weekly basis. Thus far, they’ve met all the deadlines and stayed within budget. We communicate via Zoom, email, and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aspire Digital Solutions’ main strengths are their responsiveness and their ability to help us meet our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have constructive feedback for Aspire Digital Solutions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with all your information and ideas, and let them decide the best approach to bring results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an executive at a start-up retained executive search business focused on the institutional commercial real estate business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Digital Solutions?

I wanted to create a website and business logo that would effectively convey my new company's business focus, industry expertise, and experience in handling executive search focused on commercial real estate. I had a reasonably clear image in my mind of what I wanted my site and logo to look like and the image I wanted it to present.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I based my search on google reviews and wanted a firm that was accustomed to working on start-up company sites that were "high end". I also looked for companies that had some presence in the NYC metro area. Aspire's name came up in a google search and had received good reviews.

I took the plunge and hired them after speaking with three other firms that had made my "short list". Other vendors I looked at were flaky "uber creative types" that I didn't think would understand what a business website should have or didn't seem reliable. Aspire gave the (correct) impression of being professional and business-like

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

I supplied Aspire with what I thought was a pretty clear mandate as well as comparable websites that I liked the look of. After a few virtual meetings, Aspire came up with a draft site that looked very close to what I was trying to accomplish. Aspire didn't have to "read my mind" as to what I was looking for. That being said, they did add lots of value in the process and produced design ideas that were very relevant to what I wanted. No time wasted.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked closely with the owner, Christine, and a couple of her creatives. Christine lead the charge and was very responsive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website speaks for itself: www.sysadvisorsllc.com. The also designed my logo.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Process was efficient and moved quickly. The delays were on my end as I needed to assess what elements of the web design I liked or didn't like and I also had to create the written content.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The process was efficient (granted, I provided what I thought was a clear mandate and had written a lot of the text). Aspire was responsive throughout the process. The process went smoother than I anticipated.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not really. Perhaps it would have been better if her team had more direct institutional financial services experience, but I am overall very happy with result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Hedge Fund Telemetry is a financial research website and newsletter. We offer various research products, complex data charts all through an online subscription model. Our subscribers are global and highly demanding. I am the founder of Hedge Fund Telemetry which was launched in 2017.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Digital Solutions, and what were your goals?

Our evolution started off with the most basic website and email services. It grew into a Word Press site with other programmers who just could not deliver what we were looking for such as design and more importantly reliability. We hired Aspire Digital Solutions as they quickly understood the problems and importantly the huge upside opportunity for our business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Aspire Digital Solutions were clearly the right developer for our project. I knew it would be a big complex project and I was very careful not to hire another developer who would fall short of our expectations. Bill and Christine were on the task from day one.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

At first, the plan was to fix the previous website. It became clear that an entirely new website was needed. The plan was set to tackle various steps in order to launch as fast as possible.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked mainly with Bill who was fantastic as the lead developer. Bill brought in various developers with different expertise saving us a lot of time and money. Christine was helpful with some of the later marketing once the new website launched.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our business has exploded with a 65% increase in revenue year over year and a 180% increase in new subscribers year over year.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We were and continue to be in constant contact online and Aspire is quick to respond with any issues. 24/7

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They really are dedicated to helping my business reach its potential. They go over and beyond and I know they have expanded and have grown their own knowledge for subscription websites.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I have a hard time thinking back at what they could have done differently. There were a few issues that took a little longer and I would attribute that to the complex nature of some of the data collection our site required.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Ridgefield Bicycle Club was founded in 2011 to create a community of local recreational cyclists, and promote the joy of cycling in a fun, welcoming and safe environment. RBC is a member-led non-profit organization that has grown to over 400 members from Ridgefield and surrounding towns in Connecticut and New York.

Cyclists of all skill levels from those new to the sport or coming back after an absence, to experienced/accomplished riders, are welcome and encouraged to participate in our exceptional group riding opportunities. Our members offer peer and group support for cyclists to improve their riding skill levels and pursue their health and fitness goals. Planned group rides designed and led by experienced ride leaders are available every day of the week, and organized to fit the skill levels of the participating cyclists.

While local group road riding is the core of the RBC cycling activities, RBC also offers group gravel and rail-trail options, as well as organized rides at destinations outside of our local area. RBC also promotes social opportunities for members to build friendships with fellow cyclists, and share experiences and fellowship through post-ride social gatherings and special events My position and responsibility for the RBC non-profit bicycling club is as it's (Webmaster and Manager of Technology Related Projects)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Digital Solutions, and what were your goals?

Aspire Digital Solutions was hired via a competitive RFP process to employ their design and development services to provide an enhanced new website that features a simple and elegant design, that is functionally robust, easily navigable, and engaging to our current and prospective members to use. The new website should establish by design and function that it is the primary focal point for club member activities, plans, communications, and all social events which involve the Ridgefield Bicycle Club (RBC).

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Aspire Digital Solutions was selected via a competitive RFP process from 11 other website development firms. The deciding factors in the selection of the winning web development firm were:

• Demonstration through the completion of prior projects, the capacity to effectively translate very specific goals and objectives in our RFP into a plan of design/development & action that we comfortably felt could be achieved
• An RFP response that was on time, crisply, and professionally done
• An RFP response that did not let a challenging budget impact their ability to deliver the project on time and on budget. We were very impressed by their can do attitude and professional confidence.
• The breadth of website design, development and implementation offered

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The scope of work was basically the following:

• Project initiated with RFP sent out to select group of firms (Aspire Digital Solutions, included) on 9/13/2021

The project RFP proposal requirements were the inclusion of the following details in their proposal response:

• Overview of your company
• Overview of how you will meet our objectives
• Explanation of your proposed platform/CMS if not WildApricot
• Outline of your website design & development strategy
• Proposed website timeline from kickoff to launch
• Details about your team
• Recent design & development examples
• References
• Any key differentiators about you?
• Pricing with optional elements by line item

Terms & conditions

• Responses were Due: 09/27/2021,
• EOD Finalists Selected: 09/30/2021
• Winner Selected & Contacted: 10/01/2021 – 10/04/2021
• Project Kicked-off: 10/15/2021
• New Website Launch Target Date Set as January 1, 2022

The project deliverables were delineated by a set of objectives established in our RFP broken down by :

• website audience (primary/secondary/tertiary)
• website objectives (primary/secondary/tertiary
• functionality requirements of the newwebsite

website design curb appeal vis-a-vis the design aesthetics

• Simple & elegant design
• Seamlessly integrates functionalities: membership, events
• Easily navigated by visitors & members alike
• Allows for content organization and updates
• Visually pleasing while promoting essence/branding of RBC
• Readily integrated with social media
• Allows for easy content management
• Flexible design allowing for future use and scalability
• Hosted with a stable, responsive web host
• Webhost with excellent service and support
• Search Engine Optimization
• provision of an efficient and streamlined site-map
• provision of a web design that would highlight in a simple, elegant, and informational way our foundational and club business sponsor relationships
• provision of a website designed and developed to work seamlessly within and or with the WildApricot membership management platform which we (RBC) is an existing customer
• provision of a website design that would employ the use of the WordPress Content Management Platform in the management of the content (text, images, video, and functional plug-ins like news and newsletter posting, etc.)

Appropriate web technologies such as HTML 5.0, CSS, API plugins, Security Certificates, SSO authentication, etc., were used as appropriate to accomplish the goals of our project

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Two individuals from the Aspire Digital Solutions team worked directly with our RBC new website project group. Their titles were CO-Founder /CMO and CO-Founder/Director of WEB DEVELOPMENT

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

I can a summary of quotes up the official launch of our new website. They are:

• President of the RBC (Ridgefield Bicycle Club) ".... team, congratulations on a beautiful, high-end site. I am humbled by your efforts and so proud of the collaboration and fortitude it took to get here. Thank you..."
• Vice President (RBC) - "..This new RBC website is Terrific!"
• VP Safety & Education - " Fantastic!!..."

Raw comments, I would agree, but sometimes visceral, gut reactions to a work product say it best. Aspire did an outstanding job for us. They met all of our objectives and more. They absolutely delivered!!!

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very professional and efficient project management style but quite cordial and easy to work and communicate with. They timely and used communication tools (Zoom, text, email, shared drives) as appropriate

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They exhibited smooth quiet confidence in their ability to deliver on the objectives. Nothing seemed to fluster them.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

ABGH is a nonprofit organization that exists to promote health equity in Black communities and to foster the careers of current and future Black gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and scientists. I am the Founding President of the nonprofit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Digital Solutions, and what were your goals?

We hired Aspire to create a website for our new nonprofit that helped to showcase our mission and vision well, and to attract members of all levels of training and post-training, as well as individual donors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I found Aspire through an internet search -- I saw examples of their work that they provided on their website, appreciated their work with nonprofits in the past, and found them to be within our price range and of good value.

They were incredibly prompt in their responses to get back to me and have been very professional throughout our ongoing work together.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a kick-off meeting with a few of our other board members/co-founders to discuss what we wanted to have on the site, what to highlight, what we could do without/could not afford, and what would best suit our needs as a new company.

Bill and Christine were fantastic about breaking every step down to us, guiding us through the process, providing their expertise while also respecting our vision, and going through different iterations of the site until it was exactly what we wanted.

We had a feature on the site for new members, and we went through advantages and disadvantages of different means to collect application fees from members (WordPress for instance), broken down to us without the use of tech jargon given it is not our area of expertise as physicians.

With changes we made, especially early on in the web development process, they were responsive and worked with us in real time for some elements of the site until it was something we were completely satisfied with; we were incredibly appreciated of this unique service.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with two folks -- Christine, the President of Aspire, and Bill, the Director of Web Development. In addition to the web development for our nonprofit's page, Christine also worked with us to create pop-up banners and other signage for an event we were hosting, and in short time.

We loved this additional service, and their ability to deliver to us timely when we needed it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Though we do not have measurable outcomes to share, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback on our site, not only from a functionality standpoint, but also from an aesthetic one.

Other nonprofits with whom we've worked have been impressed with the site, and have even hired Aspire to take over their web design after seeing our site.

With a few changes to the application process for membership, we were able to quickly and seamlessly sign up new members in less than 5 minutes, which resulted in a noticeable increase in membership over a few days time around an event we were hosting in which it was critical to boost membership.

These changes that Bill worked on with us paid off considerably.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The team at Aspire has generally been very available to us, which we appreciate with busy schedules. In terms of communication when we needed a project completed or changes to the site made, they have been primarily via Zoom or email, which have been most convenient.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were knowledgeable, and also able to break down complicated web design topics simply so we could understand what to ask for and how to ask for it to get the results we wanted.

They understood our vision, worked with us well while honoring our budget and mission as a nonprofit with a health equity focus, and have been incredibly professional and friendly throughout.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not at this time. The team is a pleasure and we've been quite satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of a coaching and consulting firm. We work with companies, academic institutions, non-profits and individuals, mostly in the healthcare, science and technology fields.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Aspire Digital Solutions?

The project included the design, copywriting, development and launch of the first website for my business, to support its launch. Aspire also designed a unique logo representing my business name.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I did my own research and vetting of digital marketing firms and decided that Aspire was all around best staffed and suited for my business needs. Their local presence in Connecticut also made a difference to me.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After introductory meetings to align on the goals, we started with the business name and logo design. Aspire proposed 3-5 designs, and we narrowed it down from there and added colors and modern fonts. I had in-depth meetings with Aspire's copywriter to ensure the website's text and service offering were correct, strategically aligned and well crafted. Aspire did its own research to thoroughly understand my business. The next phase included wireframe layouts of the website's home and subpages, followed by a few rounds of revisions and minor tweaks prior to launch. The launch date was perfectly timed with my needs and worked very smoothly.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

In total, I worked and directly interfaced with four members of Aspires team: President, overall project lead, President, web designer and technical lead, Logo designer, Copywriter

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website launch was timed perfectly with my needs and was executed carefully and without any major glitch. Any minor tuning needs were addressed rapidly. I have received numerous positive feedback from my network regarding the professional look of my website and the ease of navigation on PC and mobile device alike. I am highly satisfied with the outcome myself (regarding both look and content of the site) and will look to Aspire for further partnership and website development as my business needs expand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow and meetings worked very well, all conveniently via Zoom. The introductory meetings with the president were very helpful to me, she provide important advice and feedback to me that I needed with respect to digital branding and design. The web design technical lead was very accommodating to my timing needs and technical questions. Meetings with the copywriter were conducted in a timely fashion and the communication with me was great. 1:1 meetings with logo designer added great value to making sure the final product met my needs not only for the website but also for other digital media.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was very glad to have chosen Aspire for my digital marketing needs because they are a nimble, small firm that is very customer focused. I loved that I was able to interface directly with the experts in each area of the project and to build rapport. I saw it as a partnership from the beginning, not just a one-off product delivery, and I saw that mindset appreciated. Possibly the most impressive outcome is that the website just looks great! It's professional, functional, has a consistent brand image, and doesn't have any cookie-cutter feel. I wanted creativity to speak and it does!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

At times I noticed that I made assumptions that what was discussed in 1:1 meetings with a team member would quickly filter through to all others on the project who had some part in its execution. That wasn't always the case, or perhaps just not as rapidly as I had anticipated in my own mind. In all cases, though, any intermittent confusion was resolved to my satisfaction.