Flamingo Agency

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of a hair salon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flamingo Agency?

I had changed my business model. I had a hair salon and spa for 43 years, and then due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I closed it. After that, I rented a salon suite and now work alone. It was a different location, a different place, and a whole different business model, so I needed to develop a new website and create an online presence. ​​​​​

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flamingo Agency developed my website in WordPress — I wanted an updated, modern, creative, and social presence online. They offered several different templates, and at first, Chris (Founder) did ask how involved I wanted to be. Initially, I thought I wanted to be very engaged, but it became so technical, so I trusted him 100% because he has experience creating a great website.

I wanted someone to do that for me and just let them design the website. Chris came up with the entire layout and the design; he suggested the number of pages I should have and then ultimately laid it all out, which was great.

Currently, they're supporting me with maintenance and updates.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Chris.

How did you come to work with Flamingo Agency?

Flamingo Agency was recommended to me by my photographer, who I hired to take new pictures of my new location for the website. She told me about the web designer she used, mentioned how happy she was with her rebuild, and highly recommended them.

How much have you invested in them?

So far, I've spent about $3,700.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in July 2022, and the engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They've been doing phenomenally through a swift, on-time, and responsive approach — Chris always responds on the same or the following day.

I feel that Chris goes above and beyond with everything he does. I had tried working with another provider for a year, which was horrible; I'd talk to a different person every time, and it'd take weeks for someone to call me back. It was an awful experience, but Chris is the opposite; he's patient, kind, and deals with every situation immediately.

For example, I'm not tech savvy, and I was having some tech trouble getting my photos from my laptop to Flaming Agency's team and didn't know what to do. Chris contacted the photographer and got all the pictures sent to him, taking the problem away. It wasn't his responsibility to do that, but he went ahead and solved everything.

How did Flamingo Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

For communication, we use email, text, or phone calls; it depends on what is easiest for me at that time — however I communicate with him, it works.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Chris' mannerism is his best attribute; he's so pleasant to work with because he's patient and kind — I have not experienced this before.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Chris takes care of every little thing I encounter that needs to be changed — they show their amount of input and talent. I've had a couple of ideas that he's willing to work with, and it has ended up being a combination of what we're looking for, so I can't think of anything he could have done better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their advice because they're very good. I'm so glad I put this project into their hands because I could never have done what they did.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and also the director of programming.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flamingo Agency?

We requested the services of Flamingo Agency to redesign our website and also add a second location with separate pages for our new facility. They also fixed and updated our SEO and overall site cleanliness.

SOLUTION

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

Upon a Google search, they rated extremely high, which is always a positive sign. I looked through their gallery and saw they have worked with gym and fitness centers in the past and this is what pushed me to contact them to learn more. As well, the price for the work was more than acceptable and was very fair.

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

After my initial call, it was clear that they were a good choice for our project needs. Grant provided us with details of our current site that we wouldn't have known on our own, poor SEO, long load times due to videos on mobile, and many more. After discussing my needs and what I was looking to add, he broke it down into stages and provided me with options that could be put together, kept the same, or thrown out and redesigned altogether.

We went through each section of our website together, and he made great suggestions and listened to mine with great patience and eagerness to provide me with what I envisioned. Upon completion, he walked me through the site, provided me with updated SEO info, and suggested improving our reach and searchability.

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

We worked exclusively with Grant.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback from our members, staff, family, and friends has been fantastic. Our site is much cleaner, to the point, and very user-friendly for anyone who visits. As the project was completed recently, we don't have direct specifics yet on traffic.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very smooth and communication was excellent all the way through.

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

The communication and ease of choosing options as they were presented as quickly as possible through the web and links to different designs and choices. More importantly, they were patient in answering my questions and asking if he could do certain things that weren't shown at first.

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

not at all. A+++ all around.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Hudson Advisors LLC, a new consulting firm focused on arts and culture philanthropic consulting. We mainly work with institutions to help them build or expand their fundraising capacities. Still, we also advise individual philanthropists seeking to make an impact in the arts and culture field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flamingo Agency?

Given that ours is a new firm, I wanted to launch a website and a social media presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flamingo Agency has designed a website for me. Initially, we engaged in some thoughtful conversations about my goals with this website, which helped us outline the three main objectives of the project. Additionally, we had a conversation about the look and feel that I wanted on the site, during which I got very specific about my idea.

During the development, I was in charge of writing the copy. Chris (Founder) took that copy and the input I provided during the discovery process and turned them into a beautiful website. He also implemented on-site SEO during this process.

We’ve already finished the website, but we haven’t launched it. Now, Flamingo Agency is going to be in charge of designing some business cards for me, as well as some imagery that I’ll use for my initial social media posts.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Chris.

How did you come to work with Flamingo Agency?

When I was looking for a partner, I reached out to various colleagues and asked them for their recommendations. Still, I also did my own Google search for the best web design firms in Chicago, and Flamingo Agency was one of them.

I looked at the firms I found, as well as at their past projects, and I narrowed them down to three. I reached out to these firms and some of the other firms that were recommended to me. Still, Flamingo Agency’s work and proposal stood out from the rest.

During one of our early email exchanges, Chris asked me what did I like and dislike about certain websites I had searched. No other agency asked me these kinds of questions, which made me realize that Chris was very interested in my opinion — it really impressed me.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first engaged with Flamingo Agency in October 2021, but the work started in April 2022. Starting the project was lengthy because I was fortunate enough to secure some early clients, who kept me happily distracted with work from focusing on my web presence. Still, our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Flamingo Agency’s work quality is fantastic, and it has impacted my business very positively. I had a standard for what I wanted, and Flamingo Agency still exceeded it. They were able to take my vision and interpret what I wanted really well. There are certain aspects of the site that I love through which Chris’ creativity came shining. Overall, they’ve been an ideal partner for me.

How did Flamingo Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Flamingo Agency has performed very well. While we were doing changes and tweaks to the site during the development process, Chris was a good listener and presented me with various options.

Flamingo Agency has also been very flexible regarding our meetings. On occasions, I’ve had to push meetings backward or forward, and they’ve always been very understanding. We communicate via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Flamingo Agency excels at listening to their clients and understanding their vision. Additionally, they’re very creative and nimble.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re a real delight to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest and open in your conversation with Flamingo Agency; they respond very well to that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Crescent Drive Apartments, an apartment management business that owns and manages apartment buildings throughout Chicago and its suburbs. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flamingo Agency?

We needed a new website with more customer-focused functionalities. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flamingo Agency developed a website for our business that showcased our available units from scratch in WordPress. First, Flamingo Agency redesigned my logo and helped us customize our social media content. 

We then provided Flamingo Agency with a design draft to use to inform their design. From there, they gave us several options for each piece of the website design — they helped us reorganize our site pages and photos. They also streamlined our online application process. We developed a custom application process that was more thorough than our previous application. Flamingo Agency's team also integrated rental payment and maintenance request functions. We also requested a rewards page, which my last website didn't have. Flamingo Agency customized every piece of the new website. Once the website design was complete, Flamingo Agency developed content for the site. They also led initial SEO efforts.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Chris (Founder). 

How did you come to work with Flamingo Agency?

I found Flamingo Agency on Google after reaching out to several different companies. Flamingo Agency was the best fit for us — they offered the range of services we needed. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $5,000 with Flamingo Agency. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with Flamingo Agency was from October 2021–January 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don't have any concrete metrics, but Flamingo Agency delivered exactly what I wanted. My tenants can now pay rent through our website, which is very convenient for everyone. 

How did Flamingo Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

I was able to directly contact Chris through email or phone calls. Flamingo Agency's team managed the project well; they rectified any project issues within a day. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Flamingo Agency was the total package — they could do everything at a reasonable price. Other firms only offered limited services and still charged more. In general, Flamingo Agency was great value for money. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing for Flamingo Agency to improve; they were excellent. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to be upfront with ​​Flamingo Agency about their project goals and provide all the information they need to tailor the website. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the President, founder and owner of a legal recruiting firm. We recruit for lawyers and lead administrators for law firm and corporate clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My business is brand new so the website I hired Flamingo to develop was 100% from the ground up. My goal was to create a website that was informative as to my background and how that would provide value added recruiting services for our clients. It also needed to service as the primary marketing piece for the new firm.

SOLUTION

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

I found Flamingo through simple online research. Examples of other website projects were impressive and the reviews were all very positive. After my initial discussion with Flamingo's owner, I was confident that he understood my goals and could deliver.

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

We had a kick off meeting where discussed my companies' business and my background and goals for the website project. From their, Flamingo outlined a detailed 10-step process that would end with the website being fully complete and live. The process was comprehensive, but also simple to understand. At each step, I was provided with several mock-ups and various options for me to choose. It was very helpful to actually visualize these options and I also was provided Chris's thoughts on why one option may work better than another. Chris's assistance went well beyond the website development process including helping me with advice on appropriate cloud and other vendors, and helping me find a logo designer.

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

I worked directly with Flamingo founder and owner, Chris.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website went live very recently, but already I have received business contacts through it, as well as overwhelmingly positive feedback from those that have visited it so far.

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

Chris is very organized and kept the project on track, without being pushy. He is highly responsive and delivered all requests in a timely manner.

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

The end product exceeded my expectations which is the main goal. However, Flamingo's organized, but simplified approach was greatly appreciated. The approach is also collegial and collaborative.

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

None. The service and results were excellent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager at a banquet hall, and we do weddings, baby showers, memorial luncheons, and similar events. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flamingo Agency?

Our website was old, and we needed help developing a new website. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flamingo Agency has designed and developed our WordPress website. The site includes a gallery, customer feedback system, and cybersecurity features, and it’s optimized for Google My Business. Additionally, they’ve implemented SEO improvements on our platform. 

Initially, Flamingo Agency did extensive research and looked at our competitors’ websites. They gave us options for our keywords and the site’s design in general. Their team also created the site’s content and layout. They’ve also built the site so we can revise and update it on our own. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with their owner. 

How did you come to work with Flamingo Agency?

We researched and talked with various providers, and we found Flamingo Agency to be the best. Their proposal and pricing attracted us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve started working together in May 2021, and our partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

More people are viewing our website now, and we’ve gotten most of our business through that platform. The site has received a lot of compliments since it’s visual and has a lot of pictures. 

How did Flamingo Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Flamingo Agency is very professional, and they’ve walked us through the whole process. They’re also very responsive and easy to reach whenever we have questions or ideas. We communicate through phone calls and emails. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Flamingo Agency has been accommodating to our preferences. Additionally, they know how to start from scratch and work with people unfamiliar with website technicalities. They have high standards, which we like. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be shy to say what you envision for your website. They will go the whole way with it and follow what you want. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and managing partner of a boutique law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I recently started my business and wanted to develop a website that displayed the values and goals of our firm. Because we had no in-house web designers, I hired Flamingo Agency to build the website from scratch and implement an SEO strategy that would attract customers.

SOLUTION

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

I searched online for vendors that were versatile, responsive and had a documented history of producing quality work. From an initial list of five, I was able to quickly determine that Flamingo Agency was the best bet.

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

We had an initial meeting to discuss my vision and goals. I was then provided a step-by-step guide to the process to refer to throughout the website's construction. We then worked in conjunction during each step during which I was provided pointers, would provide content based on these suggestions, and then we would fine tune the content until my goals were reached.

Throughout each step I was in constant contact with Flamingo Agency, either via phone or email with the owner, Chris. Chris' website building process is available on their website. The process stayed true to their description and made things transparent and painless.

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

I worked exclusively with the owner, Chris.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have received numerous compliments and excellent reviews from both industry professionals, customers, and even some competitors. Chris' skills and SEO abilities have provided a substantial boost in traffic and revenue to my firm.

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

Chris is beyond responsive. I always dealt directly with Chris and was always able to reach him. In addition, it is apparent that Chris enjoys helping his clients. He is easy going, strives to promote a collaborative environment, and always generous with his time.

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

I was a neophyte with respect to web design and SEO development before I teamed up with Chris. No longer. I really appreciated how they took the time to explain their process. They made certain that my vision and goals for the project were always paramount.

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

None. My dealings with Flamingo Agency were truly impressive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner/operator of Roscoe Recess and Wheaton Wags & Whiskers - two dog walking and pet care companies based in Chicago and the Western Suburbs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flamingo Agency?

Our websites were created ten years ago and were very outdated. We're a small business and don't have web designers on staff, but needed to optimize our web presence to stay competitive in our industry. We hired Chris and Flamingo Agency to help us revitalize our website and optimize our SEO.

SOLUTION

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

We reached out to a few different companies - being a small family run business we really wanted to support other small local businesses. Price, communication and quality of work were the key deciding factors for us.

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

After our initial conversation in which we discussed our company, our current website, and our needs, Chris put together some mock ups and a proposal based on the information we'd provided. We were very impressed and decided to move forward. Chris guided us through the process step by step offering different options at each stage and providing samples/examples so we could see exactly what it would look like with each selection. He offered advice and guidance but let us steer the ship. Whenever we had specific requests for changes he was happy to oblige!

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

We worked directly with Chris, the founder and owner of the company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new website is much more modern and visually appealing, it's more user friendly and professional. It presents a much more polished impression of our company!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Chris has been great to work with, communicative, attentive, offering guidance and advice based on our needs while still respecting our vision.

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

Working with Flamingo Agency was a fantastic experience. It was clear that Chris truly cared about producing quality work and the communication was top-notch.

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

I wouldn't change a thing, fantastic experience all the way around! For a small family owned business with limited internal resources, working with Flamingo Agency was stellar, from the exploratory calls at the beginning, through the proposal and mock ups, to the finished product!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Office Manager at GP construction located in Chicago IL. We specialize in kitchen, bathroom, basement remodeling as well as electrical, plumbing, painting and window installation services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flamingo Agency?

Flamingo Agency has helped us with creating a new website for our construction company.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to have Flamingo Agency create a unique website for us that would capture all of our services and attract new customers to the business.

SOLUTION

How did you select Flamingo Agency?

It was a referral from a good friend.

Describe the project in detail.

We had hired Flamingo Agency to create a new website for our interior remodeling business, as we were not satisfied how our previous website was created by someone else quite some time ago. We were very picky of the design for the website and Chris had listened to everything we had to say patiently. He offered a lot of options for web design/layout, colors, shapes etc., which was great because we had a lot to choose from and were not presented with couple choices. Our company has only provided Flamingo Agency with some pictures of completed projects for our clients.

What was the team composition?

For our project, we a pleasure to work with Chris Granat, the Founder of Flamingo Agency, from the very beginning to an end of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The owner of our company is very satisfied with the website! And that is the most important to us, that we love everything about the website. Also, we have already received good comments from a few of our new clients on how our website looks so nicely put together and overall is very presentable, easy to read and find everything.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I was very happy with the communication that I had with Flamingo Agency. Chris is very open, honest and so helpful. He responds very quickly to emails and is available to have a phone conversation at all times, even on weekends! We had set the timeline for the project and they completed our website on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was so nicely surprised that Flamingo Agency was so patient with us! We had a lot of questions and Chris was so helpful with answering them throughout the whole project. He took a lot of his time to make sure everything is answered in detail and understood by us.

Not to mention, his patience with all the requests we had for creating the website. Chris has a lot of knowledge and experience in what he does and he did an outstanding job with our project!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Maybe our website could have been done sooner, but that was not important for us. The quality and uniqueness of the website was a top priority for our company and Flamingo Agency did an amazing job with that!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a headshot and portrait photographer. I primarily work with people in business who have a website or social media presence and want a photo that will set them apart from others.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flamingo Agency?

I had two different websites that I linked and managed myself. It was a messy situation, and I knew that it wasn’t right. However, I didn’t have the time to fix my problems. I needed someone to manage the website and format it to be SEO-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flamingo unified my two sites and identified a couple of other problems, namely load time. Their team resolved that problem, speeding up the load time to create a more satisfying experience for people. Now, CloudWave hosts my website. They also recommended that I switch email services from Bluehost to Office365 for business.

I wanted to include content from my other sites, and Flamingo rearranged it. I didn’t want them to write code for the website because I needed a platform that I could maintain. Their team then used a WordPress template that I approved for its versatility. Right now, we’re putting more content on the site. For example, I’m writing copy for my gallery page.

What is the team composition?

I directly communicate with Chris (Founder).

How did you come to work with Flamingo Agency?

I talked with three different website designers who I found on Google. I know that website designers can live anywhere, but I ultimately wanted to work with someone in my area because it would require less explanation. Chris was forthcoming and friendly. He also had a lot of ideas, and I appreciated how he came across.

How much have you invested with them?

This is a $5,000 project. Their team’s reasonable.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in August, and the bulk of the project wrapped up in September 2020. Now, they’re fine-tuning the website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team’s always able to complete my requests. Contacts through the website have gone up. Google shows that people are coming to my website and my inbox shows that too. Also, every contact form now comes to me as expected because of the new email process. The website looks good, functions well, and is easy for me to maintain. I’m really pleased with the template.

How did Flamingo Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s easy to get a hold of Chris. If he doesn’t pick up the phone, he calls me right back. He always reiterates our discussions in an email to keep the project organized. That lets me know that he heard what I said and that he’ll act on it.  Their team doesn’t put pressure on me, which I appreciate. They want to get the project done the way I want it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a can-do type of team. I talked to other agencies that planned to set it up and then I would fill it in. I would’ve had to do way more than I had to do for Chris. Another agency wanted to start from scratch and didn’t want to work with WordPress. If I ask Chris for something, he makes it happen. They’re friendly and listen to what I have to say.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, my experience has been exactly what I wanted and then some.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It would be helpful if you had examples of websites or features that you would like to have on your site. It would also be helpful if you had content ready for them. Don’t reinvent the wheel and try to figure it all out yourself.