eGuide Tech Allies

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Partner of Hubay Dougherty

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We're a law firm that works with political campaigns, nonprofits, and clean energy developers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire eGuide Tech Allies to accomplish?

• Single project management tool
• Optimize how the firm talks to eachother
• Change file storage

SOLUTION

How did you find eGuide Tech Allies?

Referral

Why did you select eGuide Tech Allies over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

What was the size of eGuide Tech Allies’s team?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with eGuide Tech Allies?

Virtual Meeting

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

They switched our firm to Monday.com, changed our file storage to Google Drive, and helped us with client onboarding procedures.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was a big success. We use one project management tool now as a firm (Monday.com) instead of several which helps our work immensely. We also use a better time tracking tool (Clockify) that meets our needs more than our previous tool (Toggl). Much more efficient and productive as a firm.

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

They did yes.

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

They really sought to take the time to understand what our law firm specialized in, why it does it certain ways, and asked good questions about why we do things that made us think so that we could make the right changes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something eGuide Tech Allies could have done differently?

Implementation of Monday.com could have been a little bit better, but we fixed what we needed to fix.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the producer and editor of a leadership training company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

We needed someone to help us with web development, digital marketing, and branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

eGuide Tech Allies has helped us build a podcast from scratch and continually provides maintenance and improvements to our Squarespace platform. The team also manages our social media channels, such as Instagram and LinkedIn, and designed our branding logo.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with a social media manager, designer, and web developer.

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

eGiude Tech Allies was introduced to us by a colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent approximately $10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in February 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any measurable metrics to share, but the team has been easy to work with and highly responsive, so it’s been great continuing to collaborate with them.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform well from a project management perspective, as they adhere to our deadlines and deliver their tasks consistently. We typically communicate through Zoom, email, and text.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their personal investment in the project — they seem to care about the work and make us feel that this partnership is more than a transactional one.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be more attentive to the details of the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don’t have any specific advice other than recommend eGuide Tech Allies for your web development and digital marketing needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Operations for Ma3 Insurance Group; we help people with their health insurance options for businesses, individuals, and seniors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies, and what were your goals?

I did create our website, adding features here and there as I learned to use the system; I ended up with a website that would not represent our company, and it wasn't selling for us.

SOLUTION

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

An ex-coworker told me that she was working with this company; I know her to be very professional and highly ethical, so I researched the company and compared it, and reached out to former clients, and everything pointed to a great professional

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

We had a kick-off meeting, and after learning our goals for the website, they started working on mockups, examples, and bearing with us adapting to our busy schedule.

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

Cindy. and the project manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Information is now given in bite-size, so people that want to enroll or need a quick update can find the information they need as well as people that like to research all their options or speaks Spanish

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

Open, to the point, and easy to understand,

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

They are great at putting together a price that would fit our budget. The web designer walked us through all the steps in a simple way.

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

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Associate Director of Operations at a small (~30 staff members), multi-site nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?

eGuide Tech Allies provided us with consulting and implementation of large-scale changes to our Salesforce infrastructure for fundraising. Our Salesforce instance had been over-customized over the course of nearly a decade which made data maintenance and reporting very difficult for us. eGuide Tech Allies supported us in moving back towards the innate features of the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack and implementing a manageable amount of customization for us given our internal capacity.

SOLUTION

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

We launched an RFP and shortlisted about three vendors. eGuide stood out as a reliable and knowledgeable group of people, all bringing different perspectives and expertise. They seemed to quickly understand our context within interviews and brought ideas and solutions we were excited to potentially implement.

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

1. Salesforce assessment (analyze the status of major giving and review pipeline prospects workflow; ascertain what tools are currently being used; evaluate how these tools are being utilized; examine effectiveness in relation to current and future goals)
2. Technology assessment (database audit; campaign and event audit; processing, integrations, and communication)
3. Database architecture planning (roles and responsibilities; donor development life cycle and detailing; key major donor strategies and modeling)
4. Database architecture guide (workflow, information flow, and dashboard design; query and reporting design; integrations evaluation and implementation plan)
5. Salesforce implementation (updating Salesforce infrastructure; donor pipeline flow to include dashboards for fundraising and standardized reports for efficiency; volunteer, membership, and advocacy integration for fundraising; data import, dashboard creation)
6. Technology implementation and onboarding (database refinements and updates; customized training videos and Standard Operating Procedures; training for key staff)

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

I primarily interfaced with the organization's founder/CEO (Gregory) and Director, Operations (Clayton), but there were other eGuide Tech Allies staff members working behind the scenes of our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a set of standardized fundraising reports across each of our sites, which has immediately improved our ability to report and assess our progress. Additionally, our users are updating the system much more regularly given the more user-friendly interface.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

In the project's kick off meeting, eGuide asked us our preferred methods of communication and work management. I opted for mostly written communication, and eGuide implemented a weekly (Friday) written update of progress that week. It was exceptionally clear and structure in a way that made it easy to identify what they were doing, what I needed to do, and key questions that needed to be answered in order to move the work forward.

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

Their team was methodical and deadline-driven, which made for a very positive experience managing this vendor against their deliverables. Additionally, they strike a strong balance (probably the best I've seen) of learning/understanding the context of the organization they're working within and then bringing strong recommendations for best practices externally.

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

I'd recommend that eGuide build in more structures related to their post-implementation supports. They've been wonderful and highly responsive in post-implementation, but some structure could ensure less back and forth (and that we don't overstay our welcome as their client)!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of a company that rents out a residential property. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

When I started my business, I reached out to eGuide Tech Allies for web development assistance. My overall goal was to utilize the website as a stepping stone to move beyond third-party rental services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

eGuide Tech Allies developed my company's website in Wix. Per their team's request, I hired a photographer to take pictures of our rental property — eGuide Tech Allies added those photos to the site design. Their team linked the site to a third-party rental service to facilitate online book capabilities during the development process. They also helped me license my business with the city. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Andy (Content Marketing Manager) and Gregory (Owner). 

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

A friend of mine worked with eGuide Tech Allies and connected me to their salesperson. eGuide Tech Allies had a great reputation in the Chicago area, so I knew our partnership would be successful. 

How much have you invested with them?

I invested around $500 with eGuide Tech Allies. 

What is the status of this engagement?

My partnership with eGuide Tech Allies was from November 2021–March 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm absolutely thrilled with the website eGuide Tech Allies delivered. Since the website launched, I've received numerous bookings — the property is booked for the entire summer. 

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

eGuide Tech Allies delivered on time, although I put the project on hold while I furnished the property. Their team was easy to work with and responded quickly to my requests. We didn't need to communicate often because eGuide Tech Allies was very efficient, but when we did, it was through text messages, email, and Zoom calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm not very tech-savvy, so eGuide Tech Allies led the entire project at my behest. They handled every step of the project and explained complicated jargon in ways that I could understand — I didn't have any questions about how to proceed with the site after they delivered the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing for eGuide Tech Allies to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to be honest about their technical prowess — eGuide Tech Allies will guide customers through the entire development process if they need assistance. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of Burger Empire LLC. a Chicago based restaurant management group

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies, and what were your goals?

Our website needed to be updated so we hired this team to design and develop our new site. By doing this our goal was to give us better company brand recognition and increase our web traffic.

SOLUTION

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

They came highly recommended by my bookkeeper, and once I communicated with them I knew instantly that they were the right team for the job.

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

The process was stress-free. We had a kickoff discussion on my goals and they took it over from there. The end result was exactly what I envisioned.

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

The project manager was my main point of contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched the site but already our guests are loving the new look and feel of it.

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

Project manager was responsive and very professional throughout the entire progress.

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

The team was very competent

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

I don't see any areas of improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Shorty Tang and Sons, an online Chinese-American food delivery company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

I needed their team to develop my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I engaged eGuide Tech Allies to handle the development of my online food ordering platform. They used my existing company logo as a design reference and built the development solutions using Wix, so I could still implement simple changes or updates on my own.

I needed the homepage to include a narration of the restaurant’s history and the services we uniquely offered, so eGuide Tech Allies devised the necessary design solutions to incorporate those. Additionally, I provided them with the cuisine-specific images needed to make my brand stand out.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Greg (Chief Executive Intern), and I also worked with their web designer.

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

I found them online while searching for potential agencies to onboard for this project — eGuide Tech Allies was one of the few providers who handled development via Wix.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent a little over $1,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from August–September 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven’t launched the product yet, so there aren’t any quantitative metrics to share at this point. eGuide Tech Allies delivered the exact website I needed to kick start my business —  that was the only success metric I had for their team. To add to that, I showed their work to my family and friends, and everyone was delighted with how they put everything together creatively.

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

We collaborated via email. eGuide Tech Allies met all my timelines diligently, and they were always prepared to bring productive ideas to the table.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Working with eGuide Tech Allies alone was already a rewarding experience — they were professional, communicative, and timeline-oriented throughout the process. Their team listened to my needs and delivered those with utmost accuracy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I honestly couldn’t think of any constructive feedback for their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear and honest in outlining your goals and provide them with the information they need in order to meet those.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a lifestyle publication. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?

I wanted to create a website for my interest in food.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were essential in shaping, designing, and building the site. It started with a concept from me, but they helped grow and evolve the platform over time. In the beginning, we opted for a blog-style site that was meant for me to share my experiences with food. We used Squarespace to create the site.

They helped determine three major categories that my site would cover: gastronomy, travel, and wellness. In addition to setting up the site, they assisted me in finding my brand voice. I’m not a writer, so they did a few exercises with me to determine my authentic voice for the site.   

What is the team composition?

I worked with Gregory (Owner) and Lauren (Project Manager). 

How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?

I attended a class, and they were presenting. Their presenter was great. I’m not a tech-savvy person and knew that I would need help from a team to build my site. I reached out to them to see if they could translate my ideas into a platform. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $900. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project spanned March–June 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The reception of the site was great. People admire it for its aesthetic appeal. Lauren understood my vision and personality, translating it brilliantly into an elevated website. I’m happy with my readership and performance on Google.   

How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very professional. Everything was on time and delivered in a professional manner. We used Excel to exchange information.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were in-tune with my needs, responsive, and made sure I was satisfied. I was impressed with how easily they were able to guide me through the process and educate me on managing a Squarespace site. They were willing to teach to make sure that I would be able to update the site on my own moving forward. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice for them to provide some flexibility in their offering and pricing packages.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest and transparent with your needs. If you’re being your authentic self, they can take the project forward in a professional manner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of Scurry Street Meeting Management, a full-service event management and consulting firm. We work with corporate and association clients to design in-person and virtual event experiences that facilitate learning, influence behavior, and elevate brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?

When I first started my company I created a logo and website just to have some sort of digital presence, but they were far from what I wanted them to be.

What were your goals for this project?

To completely redesign my logo and establish a "brand", and also redesign my website to create a professional, but approachable digital presence.

SOLUTION

How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?

I met Gregory P. while we were both working on an outside project, and when I learned what all they could do for a small start-up like mine, I knew he was the guy to help me.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Gregory and his team worked with me to determine my "brand personality" and what I wanted my corporate identity to convey. They created a logo, a logo mark, a style guide, and completely redesigned my website from scratch.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Gregory for most of the project, with some assistance from Lauren R. on some of the technical details.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I now have a corporate identity and web presence I can be very proud of! They captured my "vibe" so well and I've received so many compliments on their work. One person even expressed that they thought my company was much larger than the one-woman shop it really is, based on how professional my website looks. I have recommended them to all of my small biz colleagues!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent! Gregory and his team are so responsive and helpful. Even well after the project was completed, he is always willing to answer questions or help me get through quick fixes. True customer-centric service.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Gregory is one of the most informed and professional people I know when it comes to technology and small business needs. Plus, he's an excellent teacher and is so patient. He really takes the time to listen and understand and doesn't "geek-speak" you to death - he makes sure you are comfortable and understand everything that's going on. Plus, he's just an all-around super nice guy and a joy to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I cannot think of one! I'd absolutely recommend them to any of my small business/nonprofit colleagues any day.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization with over 200 small business members. The Chamber’s mission is to strengthen its business community so that West Town Chicago continues to be a destination for shopping, dining, professional services, nightlife, and culture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?

Our main website was very much outdated and we also had other individual websites for all of our special events/festivals. eGuide Tech totally revamped our main website and also organized it to house all of our events/festivals.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to have everything done before our first "virtual festival" of 2020.

SOLUTION

How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?

eGuide Tech Allies is local business, they were easy to communicate with, and they were able to work within our budget (we're a nonprofit) to get the project done on time and within our means.

Describe the project in detail.

The main purpose of the project was to overhaul the main West Town Chamber website and supplementary event pages. We had to decide between Wix and Wordpress, and per eGuide's recommendation, we went with Wix.

Once eGuide got the new site's up, they provided training to Chamber staff to learn how to operate the back-end of the site.

What was the team composition?

The Chamber initially met with the whole eGuide Team, but mainly worked with Lauren and she was great!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new website is up and running and Chamber staff feel like we have the tools to know how to keep it updated. We have gotten many compliments on the new site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was effective having one main point of contact at eGuide and we will continue to work with Lauren (on retainer), incase anything pops up that we can't handle.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by eGuide's clear communication and quick turnaround. Redoing our websites was not as scary as I thought it might be, thanks to their help.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A