Comrade Digital Marketing Agency

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner and president of a leading countertop installation company in the Illinois area. We are manufacturers and fabricators, provide design consultations and installation services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

Social media presence, advice on paid ads and SEO promotion, website design and development, online marketing strategy.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to keep the business at the same level but improve our customer service. Also, win the competition and have a good online rating.

SOLUTION

How did you select Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

It was an occasional meeting with Comrade's co-owner in an informal setting.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Comrade designed and developed the website and are currently providing maintenance and marketing services: marketing strategy, Paid advertising, and SEO.

What was the team composition?

CEO, copywriter, designer, developers, project manager, customer relationship manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provide a sustainable flow of prospects which take about 30% of all jobs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Project management was arranged quite well. Most of the delays accrue due to Granite Selection's lack of time to cooperate.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team was flexible with clients and able to work with minimum client involvement. Everything went smoothly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As a client, Granite Selection should be more demanding. As for now, there are not any crucial failures.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business development manager of an organization that manufactures precision machine components and assembly systems made from those components.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

We retained Comrade Digital Marketing Agency to redesign our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

My time with Comrade Digital was limited to the last four months of the project, so I can only speak to that timeframe. They’d recommended some improvements to our website, which we undertook along with some other maintenance activities. 

What is the team composition? 

I worked with Reed (Senior Account Executive) and Anna (Project Manager) who worked on our design.

How did you come to work with Comrade Digital Marketing Agency?

I wasn’t at my company when we made the decision, but I understand that we solicited bids from several website designers and found Comrade Digital to be the most attractive.

How much have you invested with them?

It was less than $5,000. The project costs weren’t high since we were just doing site maintenance and minor improvements.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from July–November 2020 before we switched to a different agency. The only reason stopped working with Comrade Digital was that we wanted someone local to us (their design team was in Russia). Location aside, we were pleased with Comrade Digital’s work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team was always responsive and helpful. We told them what we wanted to be done, and they reacted quickly to do it. They did a good job at executing our requests.

How did Comrade Digital Marketing Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They were generally prompt at meeting deadlines, though we faced some difficulty with the nine-hour time difference. Because their design team was in Russia, we had to wait a day or so to get an answer overnight.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall knowledge about web design was impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’d be helpful if they staffed local designers and technical support to mitigate the nine-hour time difference. That was the only downside for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior consultant for a financial consultancy and software provider. We provide balance sheet risk management services for commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, mortgage banks, and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

Our sales cycle is usually around nine months or longer. In that timeframe, we need to provide them with a lot of information, which requires a lot of back and forth, conference calls, and web demonstrations of our app.

We realized we could provide more information online, so we needed a partner to develop a website.  needed a web site that provided a good balance of mystery and making sure that the visitor felt like they're in the right landing spot to start with.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our site from scratch using HTML5 and WordPress They did all the technical work, but I had a solid idea of what I wanted to do ahead of time. I envisioned a parallax view with continuous scrolling and a monochromatic color scheme. I didn’t want a lot of other fluff because I didn’t want users to be distracted from the message.

Comrade Web Agency executed based on our creative ideas; we wanted our website to be a little mysterious but ensure that the visitor was confident that they found the right landing page. I asked them to solve some creative design problems and they hashed out different approaches. They provided their own creative feedback

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Reed (Senior Account Executive) and Andy (Software Engineer).

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

I found them while searching on Google and Yelp. I liked that they were local.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project spanned between April 2018 — September 2020, but we paused the project here and there. They probably spent about three months working on the project altogether.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They actualized what I wanted to see on screen, which can be difficult to accomplish. Feedback on their work has been universally positive.

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They laid out their plans and stuck to the timeline. We communicated through phone and email depending on what made sense. If there were screenshots or artwork we needed to discuss, we used email. They also did a few web demos.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their desire to deliver what we needed. It was clear that they were dedicated to delivering quality work. If something didn’t work out, they went back to the drawing board and came up with new approaches.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend them because they pay attention to detail and invest in learning about their customers.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a law practice that handles civil litigation and real estate transactions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Comrade Web Agency?

I needed help promoting our plaintiff oriented civil litigation practice.

What were your goals for this project?

Provide a web presence, an access point for prospective and current clients, and relevant / useful information for the public.

SOLUTION

How did you select Comrade Web Agency?

Comrade Web Agency is a trusted source of web tech that I have been familiar with for several years. I have has several successful projects with the agency.

Describe the project in detail.

Upgrade my firm's website. Update the information and access portal. Hosting.

What was the team composition?

I dealt with Reed Adler, the sales consultant who guided me through the design and upgrade process. Reed was backed up by a team of designers and techs who kept the project on time and on budget. i was very satisfied with the outcome.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I track the website views. Those numbers have gone up. I have pride in the site and often direct prospective clients to it to learn more about my practice and my results.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication as easy and effective. No waiting for hours or days for a response. Often response times where within 15 minutes. Work product was quality and there were no issues asking for tweaks or changes to the design or functionality of the site.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Comrade Web Agency cares about doing a good job each and every time it undertakes a job. And if something isn't quite perfect, the agency has willingly and effectively made every effort to satisfy my expectations. I would definitely work with agency again.

Are there any areas for improvement?

While there is always room for improvement, my expectations and needs were satisfied with Comrade Web Agency's work product. I think being reasonable and realistic are important. Getting to the point where everyone is one the same page takes time and effort, but once there, all ran very smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of a company that sends technicians to the homes of families that have head lice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

We wanted to improve our rankings on Google, so we hired them for SEO, PPC, and a website revamp.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an existing website and kept the basic design. They stepped in to reconfigure it to make it more user friendly, adjusting the content for SEO purposes. In that process, we also moved the site from Drupal to Webflow. They also handled SEO and PPC efforts for us. 

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Julia (Marketing & Web Development Account Manager).

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

My husband got their name from a colleague. We spoke with them and one other firm about the work, and they were more eager and comfortable with the scope of the project.  

How much have you invested with them?

We pay them about $3,000 each month for SEO work. The website cost about $12,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on the website from March–October 2020. They continue to manage PPC and SEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Each month, we receive reports that document the number of hits on our site and Google Ads campaigns. We’re happy with what we’ve seen from them so far. It’s still early in our relationship with them, so we don’t have metrics on how successful their work will be for us.   

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The overall communication is very good. We communicate over the phone once each week. If I have additional questions, I call or email her. They generally meet our deadlines, but a few have slipped in the past. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The website is now more attractive and moves faster. Eventually, we’ll be able to update the site ourselves, rather than relying on their services for quick updates. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s too early to tell at this point. I wish that they could move a little more quickly, but I think there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved that I don’t see. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t expect an overnight change in SEO. Time will tell whether your investment is paying off in the SEO world.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an independent insurance broker.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

We needed a website to promote our services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built me a WordPress website with plenty of functionality. We were replacing my old, templated website with something that would better reflect what my business does. They brought us into the 21st century with new features and graphics.  

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people, including Reed (Senior Account Executive) and Anna (Project Manager).

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

Through a trusted advisor, they and a few other companies were referred to me. I selected them through a process of elimination.  

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of the project was about $20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated from January 2018–August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was very happy with the quality of service. They met our expectations.  

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through email, phone, and video conferences. There were delays on both sides of the project, but they did a good job of meeting deadlines. They were willing to work at my pace, completing the project as I had time to devote to the effort. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The end product was sufficient in quality. They were patient, creative, and flexible. I was happy when we reached the final product. In order to satisfy me, Reed took on a lot of work. That was appreciated.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project took a good deal of work on my part. All of the work was worth it.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

While some of their services are a little expensive, you can trust Reed and Comrade to deliver quality work. Still, do your homework and clearly define what you will be responsible for and what they will actually do. You must understand that once you start this project, you as a customer need to commit time to it on a monthly, if not weekly basis.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing coordinator for a division that is under a machinery company. We sell and do service on medium-speed engines.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

Our website was very outdated. We wanted a refreshed look — something that reflected our company in a better light. We also wanted to implement an SEO strategy plan.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Comrade Web Agency used WordPress to create our website. They first delivered a design, and we went back and forth on that. They were able to customize the code that was needed to complete the website.

The team also implemented an SEO program in the backend. Once the website launched, they went into our Google Search Console to help us with SEO as well.

What is the team composition?

The core team consisted of three people, but we interacted with about 15 team members when it came to feedback. 

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

I found them through a Google search. We also talked to other firms, but we thought that Comrade Web Agency was a good fit because of how flexible and customizable they were. We also liked their initial design work, and their account rep was easy to talk to. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from fall 2017–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The functionality of the website is great. It’s easy for the user, and it’s easy for us to add content. It was important for us to have control of the website so that we could update it as needed as opposed to going to someone else. 

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was good. It helped that we only communicated with one person, and we used phone and email. They were good about being flexible and being able to customize their work according to what we wanted. We never felt restricted.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive thing about them was their customizable development. We could tell that they were skilled when it came to development.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could’ve been more upfront and transparent about certain aspects of the project. Other than that, they performed quite well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be completely transparent, and clarify each aspect of the project. Make sure that nothing is ambiguous because things can get lost in communication.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner at Rivas & Associates.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

We hired them to create our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Comrade Web Agency designed and developed a completely new WordPress website for us. They built the site to be as optimized as possible.

Comrade also helped create our firm’s logo.

What is the team composition?

I worked with 2–3 people from Comrade. Reed (Senior Account Executive) was my main point of contact from the beginning. He presented their work and checked in on me.

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

I Googled ‘modern, clean-looking law firm websites,’ and Comrade Web Agency appeared in the search results. We chose them because they were very responsive and their websites looked really good.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was about $9,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I think I reached out to them in November 2019, and the website launched in July or August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m really pleased with the website and logo. They definitely portray the image I want. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from people who say the website looks very good and optimized, and that it doesn’t need much work right now because it was done right.

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was very good. Any time I reached out to them, they got back to me. The deadline was reasonable; if anybody dragged their feet, it was me.

We communicated via email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Comrade was eager to please. They were persistent in convincing me of this product, and then making sure that I was getting what I wanted throughout the process. They were very prompt in communicating with me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think the logo design could’ve improved a little bit. I liked the logo they created for the law firm, but when I tried to hire them for a side firm’s logo, we couldn’t connect creatively. I wanted more of a locally-themed logo, and I think they just weren’t knowledgeable of my locality because of the distance. However, that was the only thing.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be ready to be engaged with Comrade because they want to make sure you’re okay with the direction they’re going to go in, as they should. They will need and want to talk to you to verify things, so just make sure to make the time for them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for a company that specializes in the design, sales, installation, repair, and support of industrial compressed air equipment. We have three locations and serve all facilities that use compressed air as a primary utility that drives their operation. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

They were working on SEO, PPC, and social media marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Just as I was joining the company, they put together a quick website to support a trade show that was a few weeks out at the time. Additionally, they’ve done some patchwork on our old, template-based website to improve it from a marketing perspective.

Since then, I’ve worked with them on two other website projects. One is for fluid air safety products, while the other supports a product that’s offered through our sister company. Two of the sites are on Shopify and the other two are WordPress sites. They ran advertisements on Facebook and LinkedIn to get the word out about our services as well.

What is the team composition?

I work with a few designers and project managers as well as a marketing manager. I have two points of contact for SEO services and another two main points of contact for web development. 

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

I inherited the relationship. However, it was important to our owners to be able to meet with partners face-to-face. We searched for local companies specializing in digital marketing and web development. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $60,000–$80,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since around January 2018. Our teams are moving into a new project together soon. We’re working on the scoping process now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They operate at an expert level when it comes to web development, SEO, and PPC strategies. Their team understands the science and the art behind their work and approaches projects accordingly.  

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate regularly, meeting monthly to discuss PPC and SEO metrics. There, we also speak about new tasks or requirements. If something needs to be repaired or replaced, we’re able to easily request that. We’re working together on a new scope of work currently. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their depth of experience and specialization offers a lot of value for our team. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve had issues with launching sites in the past. They’ve declared sites finished when there were still changes that needed to be implemented and aspects that clearly had not been tested. This isn’t an earth-shattering issue, but it’s been my greatest source of disappointment with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Expect to build in some post-launch time for adjustments to the site, which should be coming with any project anyway. It’s important to have a thorough testing and tweaking phase.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Maxim Partners is a small private equity firm in the suburbs of Chicago. Our team consists of five full-time employees and 10 additional industry partners and interns. My position is office manager and executive assistant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Comrade Web Agency?

We began working with Comrade Web Agency in 2018, by which point our website was really outdated and didn’t look very professional. We needed a completely new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Comrade Web Agency developed a WordPress website from scratch. Creating a website from scratch was new for us, so our team worked closely with Comrade to determine the best way to develop and design the site. The site is informational.

What is the team composition?

Our point of contact was Reed (Senior Account Executive), but I’m sure he had a team that he worked with.

How did you come to work with Comrade Web Agency?

They were recommended to us by our IT support company, Framework IT. We did extensive research first and then settled on Comrade.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2018, and they finished the site by the end of 2018. Since then, we’ve had a maintenance package with them, so that if we have any questions or need something to be changed, they do so.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re extremely satisfied. The website looks really good, and we’re proud to present it. It runs smoothly.

How did Comrade Web Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very professional and hit deadlines. Most of our team travels a lot, so it’s hard for us to stick to deadlines, but Reed was very professional; he would constantly reach out and ask what else we needed. We communicated via email and phone. We also set milestones, and they met them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Comrade does great work. They’re professional, patient, and full of ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re great.

Any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with the basics, and they’ll come up with extras and go from there.