Firefli

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

HR Director for a large liquid asphalt bulk storage and distribution company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Firefli, and what were your goals?

Our company has worked with Firefli for the development of our first website in the early 2000s through the revamp of our website and development of social media platforms in 2017 and beyond.

SOLUTION

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

We reviewed multiple vendors to select Firefli.

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

Firefli has designed, hosted and maintained our web content along with producing blog and social media content for several years.

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

We have worked with multiple members of the Firefli team in a variety of roles throughout the years. We have worked closely with their leadership, designers and front line customer service team members.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Firefli designed our first website, then completed a complete overhaul of the site in 2017, at which time we added social media platforms, blogs, employee spotlights and video.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow has always been collaborative and interactive.

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

We appreciate the fact that Firefli is a local business in the same city as our company was founded and still operates today. They have worked hard to understand our business and provide services to drive results.

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

None that I am aware of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Former Director of Communications of Louisiana Lottery Corporation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Louisiana Lottery creates and manages a portfolio of lottery games, including traditional scratch-off games, in-state and multistate draw-style games, and terminal-based instant-win games, with cash and experiental prizes througha retailer network of convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores the process of which benefit Louisiana K-12 public education. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Firefli to accomplish?

• Website Design
• WordPress Conversion

SOLUTION

How did you find Firefli?

RFP

Why did you select Firefli over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Excellent proposal that alligned with our needs.

How many teammates from Firefli were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Firefli helped create a complete digital strategy for delivering comprehensive information on our website that included multiple database integration points, including up-to the minute game statistical information, jackpots, winning numbers and winnng information and retailer information/mapping/search in a way that would be user friendly and reflect our corporate mission to operate under the highest standards of public trust. In addition, they worked with us to provide marketing messaging, graphic design and site navigation that would provide excitement and visual appeal to encourage our mission of maximizing sales. Technically, they first helped us move over more than 10 years' worth of archival content to WordPress and then designed a new CMS to give our Comms. Dept. complete control over content updating. Modules included home page web ads, news stories, caldendar/promotions management, product pages/managment, faqs, player request and submission forms and winner highlights. In addition, they carried over a back-end password -protected player's club area that displays customized content based on the user's location and game preferrences. The club is integrated with out broadcast email provide to allow for relevant marketing messages. They also developed an interactive player shopping quiz to help users identify the lottery games that they would enjoy most using a series of questions based on game prize structures, play-styles and theming.  Per the specifications, the site maximizes SEO and is meet accessbility guidelines. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I retired before we could begin statistical measurement on site performance, but I can say that the process of working with Firefli was outstanding. They were extremely capable of handing a project of this massive scope. They were an adept and determined team who made us feel as if we were their only client in terms of how quickly they reponded to conversion issues. They were also extremely well organized and helped us stay on task with the process. They looked beyond the "what" and also asked "why" in the planning stages. They were also flexible enough to incporate opportunities that presented themselves once  the work began. Finally, they were a true joy and pleasure to work with, sharing excitement and buy-in for our brand; they cared about us and desired perfection. I consider the project to be a resounding sucess. The new website, developmentally, programaticcaly and design-wise will serve the corporation for many years and grow with it as new products, promotions and features are added. In the Lottery industry, I have not seen a better website than what Firefli was able to help us produce. 

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

Firefli's project management was wonderful. They clearly communicated timelines and responsiibilities, and kept up their end as we moved forward. They were very quick to respond to our needs and used online tools to track issues so that everyone was in the loop for reporting/resolving issues. 

What was your primary form of communication with Firefli?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Firefli has energy and enthusiasm! Overhauling a website that receives over 30K daily visitors with multiple dynamic datapoints can feel daunting, but Firefli made the project FUN and enjoyable. I felt we were in good hands every step of the way. Great commuication, project managment and most of all --PEOPLE!

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

Nothing comes to mind at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a SaaS Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Firefli?

We needed a company that could provide us with digital marketing assistance and consulting services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Firefli provides digital strategy, content creation, and social media marketing support. They provide us with valuable marketing guidance to help us optimize our strategies.

We also do a lot of posting on LinkedIn and, to a lesser extent, Facebook. Firefli is responsible for creating content for our posts and setting the posts up on a posting calendar. After getting our approval for the posts, they post them on our social media channels.

What is the team composition?

We have a core team of three, but they engage other team members with special skills on an as-needed basis.

How did you come to work with Firefli?

I knew Firefli’s founder and was already aware of what they did before this engagement. When I was preparing to select a firm for this project, I interviewed Firefli, among several other firms. I ultimately chose them based on their specific skill match to our requirements.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve created a significant social media presence, much to Firefli’s credit. Their ability to create interesting content describing our offerings has significantly ramped up engagement with our audience. So far, we’ve seen a 50% increase in our LinkedIn followers, as well as a notable improvement in our social media likes, engagement, and conversions.

How did Firefli perform from a project management standpoint?

Firefli has performed well in terms of project management. They’re excellent at meeting deadlines and staying on budget.

We primarily interact with them through Zoom, email, and in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What sets Firefli apart from their competition are their creativity, personable approach, and dedication to customer satisfaction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to provide clear definitions for your projects to avoid delays. It’s also important to be specific and to respond to their emails on a regular basis — having a good cadence of interaction is key to a great partnership.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Hollins is an independent, liberal arts university offering undergraduate education for women and selected graduate programs for men and women. Founded in 1842 as Virginia’s oldest chartered women’s college, Hollins provides abundant opportunities to students for research, study abroad, and leadership training, and provides access to real-world experience through internships around the globe supported by an extensive alumnae/i network.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Firefli?

Firefli was instrumental in developing the marketing strategy and creative to support the launch of a new scholarship program at Hollins, the Hollins Opportunity for Promise through Education (HOPE) program.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Firefli has a strong local reputation, and we have been pleased with the quality of their previous work on our behalf.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

• Strategy and design consultation
• Creative services
• Digital marketing expertise
• Developing brand awareness

What was the team composition?

Firefli seamlessly embraced our brand guidelines to create a product that fits our overall marketing portfolio.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Local response to the scholarship initiative has been tremendous thanks, in many parts, to the terrific work Firefli accomplished in support of launch. Prospective student engagement from our target market is up throughout the funnel.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. I can always count on timely response, a gentle nudge when I was delinquent on deadlines, and an openness to feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Commitment to growing their own understanding of marketing in the university prospective student space. I can always count on Firefli to ask thoughtful questions during our creative development and strategy sessions.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

None

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project specialist at QualiChem, a metalworking and chemical manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Firefli?

We needed their web design and digital marketing skills to improve our online presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In pursuit of our rebranding efforts, we’ve initially tasked Firefli with improving our digital branding strategies and social media presence. We’ve furthered the engagement by entrusting our web design needs to their team. They’ve incorporated our new brand elements into the website and continue to boost our image through social media marketing.

What is the team composition?

We mainly interact with 2–3 resources from Firefli.

How did you come to work with Firefli?

We launched a vetting process and interviewed four companies. Firefli stood out among their competitors because they were a professional team that met our requirements and communicated eagerly with us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement commenced in September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have quantitative metrics to share, but I can confirm that Firefli’s efforts have significantly improved our brand awareness and engagement.

How did Firefli perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via email and Zoom. Firefli is a highly collaborative and organized partner. They present each project phase transparently and are always available to respond to our questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Firefli has quality resources that produce the same quality of work. Each person I’ve interacted with from their team possessed the same level of talent and willingness to understand our business model to help us achieve our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything constructive to say about their work. Firefli has proactively worked like an extension of our small team, and we can’t thank them enough for that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as committed as Firefli’s team and trust that their expertise and knowledge will leverage your business.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the deputy executive director of TRIP - A National Transportation Research Nonprofit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Firefli, and what were your goals?

Firefli first re-vamped TRIP's website in 2011. In 2018, when we were ready for a new website design and a new logo we again reached out to Firefli. Our goals were to update to a brand appropriate design that clearly communicates TRIP's purpose while increasing TRIP's search engine rankings.

SOLUTION

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

We reached out to several web developers and chose Firefli based on its ideas and scope of the design and our past experience with the company.

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

We met and discussed TRIP's goals regarding user experience and Firefli's creative direction. Phase One included strategy and design and the deliverable was a prototype representing anticipated custom templates. Phase Two focused on content development sourcing assets from TRIP's existing website, including a content audit. The deliverable was content ready for migration into WordPress. Phase Three was development and included creating a customized WordPress environment for CMS.

Deliverables included responsive design for various devices, compatibility for all modern browsers. Phase Four dealt with production, culminating strategy, content and code. the deliverable was a pre-launch version of the site, complete with content and creative assets. Phase Five was quality assurance and launch.

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

We worked with several members of the team including designers, developers and strategists. We also had contact throughout the process with Firefli's founder.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Firefli's end product met all of our expectations and then some.

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

Project management was attentive and regular. We had scheduled meeting throughout the process (mostly through Zoom) and whenever we had a question we could reach out to any member of the team and received timely responses from all.

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

Firefli worked with us every step of the way, including training for WordPress, with which we were not familiar. The company's attention and responsiveness were outstanding.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of communications and technology of an electrical construction company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Firefli?

The message we were sending to the public and our marketing material was outdated and unprofessional, so we needed a partner to assist us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Firefli initially helped us with website development for our different departments. After that, we saw their value, so we decided on working with them in managing our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts, advertising and marketing, and other brand identity matters. They’ve also helped us create our tagline and get a vision of who we are.

They’ve also done copywriting for our site and recommended a photographer that we’ve been using for the last seven years.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working directly with two members of their team, and they delegate to their staff.

How did you come to work with Firefli?

They were referred to us by someone who had worked with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $150,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2014, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They gave us an identity when they launched our website, and we started getting comments from people who thought we were a larger company because of the quality of our site. Additionally, the taglines that they figured out for us have become our company’s mantra — we couldn’t have done it without them.

How did Firefli perform from a project management standpoint?

They work with us collaboratively, and they’re always in constant contact — they feel like part of my staff. We always know what’s going on with our projects, and there are no surprises because they keep us updated. In terms of communication, we use email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to understand us and our business needs is what stands out about their work. It’s challenging for people outside our company to comprehend our industry, but they did it almost immediately — it was like a superpower!

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have more internal resources for photography and video, but I know they’re already working on that.

Any advice for potential customers?

Relax and trust them; they know what they’re doing, and you don’t have to worry about their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Davis Brand Capital, a global brand consultancy. We’ve been in business for 25 years, and we work with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Firefli?

Our business challenges and opportunities vary by client. We’ve had breakthrough startups that needed a particular functionality to bring their vision to life. On the other hand, some projects have been multi-language web rebuilds that were part of major corporations’ digital transformations.

In all of them, we’ve used Firefli to provide the same level of thinking, attention, service, and quality regardless of client size.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Firefli does work for my company, and we’ve had multiple engagements with them. They’ve worked directly with Davis Brand Capital and several other companies I own, but we also engage them to work for our global clients. They counsel and guide us to the right digital solutions.

What is the team composition?

The teams have been large and comprehensive. We’ve worked closely with the three founders and principals, and we’ve also worked with project managers, programmers, and UX/UI designers.

How did you come to work with Firefli?

They reached out to us. Firefli was aware of a project we were doing with a nonprofit foundation, and they wanted to be helpful. We met, and we were very impressed by what they had to say and how they approached the strategic solution. They brought vision to the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership in October 2011, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients and we have increased our brand perception, customer engagement, sell-through, lead generation, and global presence.

Moreover, we trust them with our own work and the work of our most important clients. They go beyond delivering a final product and put in attention, service, and quality in how they operate.

How did Firefli perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s one of their greatest strengths. They do things in an organized, methodical, and precise way.

We communicate through many channels. We’ve done in-person meetings, emails, phone calls, text messages, and video conference calls. They’re always available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Firefli thinks in terms of solutions, not in terms of building what the client says. They’re great at thinking through the challenges, imagining unexpected solutions, and then delivering them. There isn’t a disconnect between the concept and final product — they bring ideas to life.

Also, knowledge and professionalism run throughout the organization; it doesn’t stay at the top.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re still developing their graphic design capabilities, so they could be stronger in that area. We’re very demanding on that side, so sometimes we complement their services with our own designers to get exactly what we need in terms of visual presentation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

First, engage them; they’re the right people. Secondly, you get what you pay for. They’re not the cheapest, but we don’t have any interest in working with the cheapest. We get real talent with Firefli.

Finally, be involved. They work best with clients who are present and want to do something remarkable.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for a large tattoo removal company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Firefli?

Our company bought four of the largest tattoo removal brands in the US, and we wanted to merge those companies with ours.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Firefli came in and helped us take the best of all the companies we merged with and rebrand it into our business to start scaling our market. A major player of each brand gave their take on the direction, and Firefli distilled that into what they think would be best from a digital customer service perspective.

After that, they built a wireframe structure using customer research provided by an agency. The product is something digestible for someone who’s searching for tattoo removal for the first time.

Currently, we’re focusing on making world-class location pages and rank number one on each of our locales. For instance, if someone searches ‘Jacksonville tattoo removal,’ we want to be number one in search rankings.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is John (VP of Products), but we also work with Alex (Project Manager) and web designers from their team.

How did you come to work with Firefli?

We chose them because they’re flexible in what they can do and can take directions as well. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spend around $10,000 a month with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of organic traffic for our site, we’ve grown 300% since we started working with them, and conversion rates are 221% on-site.

How did Firefli perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever we come up against a challenge, they help us find the best solution rather than only taking information from us and waiting for us to tell them what to do. Also, they’re great at working with our other vendors to fill in possible gaps.

In terms of communication, we use email and have biweekly meetings to ensure everything’s on track. We also have meetings with Firefli and our other vendors to stay aligned. I don’t have to do any heavy lifting because they work well to put a process in place and take that responsibility off from us as a business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility and availability are what distinguishes them. Firefli can build what we ask them to, and they’re always there when we need them. I know that if something goes wrong, I can email them, and actions will be taken.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could provide more creative inspiration to keep us at the forefront of technology.

Any advice for potential customers?

Go through an RFP process with them. They’re great at helping you think at scale — especially if you’re going for a private equity acquisition and buying multiple brands at once because you need to combine them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At the time of relevance for this review, I was the project manager for a national women's membership organization that was launching a consortium for their 60+ supported museums that are located throughout the United States.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Firefli, and what were your goals?

We engaged Firefli to create a dynamic website from scratch for a nationwide program that was still being developed when we contracted with them. Our goal was to create an engaging website that could help spread awareness about the program.

SOLUTION

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

We were interested in working with a smaller firm and decided to contract Firefli after reviewing the work of three similar agencies. As humanities professionals with little knowledge of the digital development space, it was important for us to find a team that could explain their work to us in ways that we could understand. We knew we had found such a team after our first meeting with Firefli's leadership.

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

Firefli was brought on to develop a website from the ground up. This website had to feature 60+ historic sites with individual pages, provide users with an interactive way to find the sites based on location or interests, contain blog & news/events capabilities, and include a member only section for resources and real-time communication. The project began with in-depth planning meetings that helped Firefli become familiar with our project and which helped us become familiar with Firefli's processes.

From there, the Firefli team created wireframes of how the website would function, which we then tweaked before moving on to the design phase. Mockups of various pages were then created with an outside designer which helped us visualize and approve the look of the website. With the design of the site established, Firefli then used WordPress and BugHerd to build our customized website. A team effort between Firefli, myself, and other outside consultants was used to create the content and copy for the site throughout the design and development process.

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

We worked with five or more Firefli employees on a regular basis, including the partners, a project manager, designers, and developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project deliverable was apparent - we started with no website and by project end had a highly functional, exceptionally engaging website that was reflective of a brand that we had been simultaneously developing. Analytics from the first few weeks of the website being live showed an incredible amount of traffic with many users clicking through and engaging with several of the webpages.

Many of our primary stakeholders (60+ historic sites that were represented with individual webpages) reported that website visitors clicked through to their dedicated websites, thus increasing their own traffic.

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

Our primary point of contact was a superb project manager. She scheduled regular check-ins with a number of team members, typically held via GoToMeeting, on a two-week basis for a long period of time during our project. She also ensured that we had an open line of communication from project beginning to end.

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

Each and every member of the Firefli team that we worked with made us feel like our project was their number one priority. And perhaps more importantly, they seemed to develop a passion for the project that matched our own. It was wonderful to find a team that saw and appreciated the bigger picture of what we were trying to accomplish.

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

No - even in the face of delays and setbacks caused by a cumbersome review process on our end, the Firefli team was patient and gracious.