Foster Web Marketing

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations and communications at Davis Law Group, a personal injury law firm in Seattle, Washington focusing on wrongful deaths, car accidents, and other types of serious and catastrophic injury claims. I’m also married to Christopher Davis, the founding attorney. We have 10–50 employees and have assisted with complex civil litigation cases since 1994. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Foster Web Marketing?

We were looking to build a functional and reliable website that allowed us to upload new information easily and let potential clients explore their legal rights. We also had to make sure the website ranked well in Google and Bing searches related to personal injury law in Washington State. Most importantly, we wanted to attain page-1 status using only ethical methods.

Before I started working for my husband, I’d worked in the technology arena for over 15 years at large companies like Microsoft. Prior my joining the team, my husband had built websites using providers that focused on the legal community. I was frustrated with the site’s downtime, difficulty of use, and general technology issues. While working for another company, I had tried to intervene on the law firm’s site and fix a few things, but the providers were useless. They either didn’t know what I was talking about or just didn’t want free assistance.

After our son was born and I decided to work with my husband for greater flexibility, I began looking for a provider with the right the expertise and technology behind their product—someone who could give me the level of service I’d been accustomed to getting from my own team of engineers. That’s how I navigated towards Foster Web. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve been a customer of Foster Web for 10 years, so the scope has changed over time, as has the breadth and depth of their products’ capabilities. Right now, we don’t just want a good-looking website. Foster Web has a content management system [CMS] included in their product, allowing us to send our electronic newsletter to current and former clients.

The platform also provides different ways for potential clients to contact us through online forms, phone calls, and chat—things which didn’t matter 10 years ago when websites were just electronic brochures. Now, websites need to be functional and serve as an interface, as the first and sometimes the only face of the firm seen by the client. Contact management, lead management, and potential client communication tools are all included in the CMS, which is a big deal for us.

We give away a lot of free information as a public service in our state, including 40,000 hardcopy books about Washington state injury law on a variety of topics like car or bike accidents. The system through which people order free books online allows us to print orders and mail them as part of the CMS.

We’ve either integrated third-party solutions or, in many cases, they’ve written the code for what we needed. They’ve also handled the SEO and web design pieces and integrated tools to help us understand and monitor visitor behavior. By looking at what buttons people responded to over time, for example, we can change the content and simplify the navigation for our visitors.

Additionally, Foster Web bought online advertising and handled things of that nature. The keyword list has evolved over time. Initially, we gave them a list of things we wanted to be found for; as our needs changed, and as Google changed how websites are listed, Foster Web adapted their strategy and educated us along the way.

What is the team dynamic?

We worked closely with Foster Web over the last 10 years as our needs changed, and the process has evolved over time. We’ve had the same main contact for years, whom I can email or call during emergencies. From time to time, I’ll also talk to Tom [Founder & CEO, Foster Web Marketing] himself about features I’m interested in. He genuinely wants to understand our requirements.

How did you come to work with Foster Web Marketing?

We met Tom in Virginia at a lawyer marketing conference in June 2007. We didn’t make a decision for 6 months since I was also doing a rigorous search for the right company. Because of my technical background, my process was more in-depth than that of the average law firm looking for these services. For a variety of reasons, we decided that Foster Web was the right fit for us: they were big enough to provide the resources and capabilities we wanted without making us feel like just another customer. Our business needed to be meaningful to them, and we wanted to have a relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Foster Web in December 2007. The relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We used to only get a couple of calls every month from new clients; we currently get 300–400 per month because of the website. Once we began working with Foster Web, we saw almost immediate results. Absolutely, without question, we are on page 1 of Google time after time primarily because of their marketing DSS service.

I believe that the digital marketing consulting services, integrated contact management, and website content-publishing tools that Foster Web provides through their DSS tool are essential to guiding a business like ours toward success. The ability to work hand in hand with the programmers is another bonus: it's like having our own web services team right in our office.

How did Foster Web Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

Every project is varied, and we’ve had different managers depending on the task. Some items are less rigorous like the design, which is more qualitative than quantitative. We have set deadlines, but some delays occur since it’s artistic work. The last major shift took place 2 years ago. We thought it would take 6–8 weeks, and it did.

Foster Web has made a big effort from the top down to understand our business. They’re not a law firm, so when we share our requirements, they take the time to explore aspects that they may not know. They know that this is required in order to build a working solution.

What did you find most impressive about them?

With our previous provider, I didn’t have access to the CEO or the programmers. Companies like that probably outsource support, so the people we spoke with didn’t even work for the company. With a group like Foster Web, we have access to the team. When we’re calling about a problem, the person we’re talking to has actually worked on the code, which makes a huge difference in getting to a solution or a product improvement.

In contrast, the law firm’s previous provider didn’t even write the software; they were buying it from a third-party. I tried to call the author company, but they said they weren’t allowed to talk to us since we weren’t a customer. I was calling from Microsoft, offering to help them solve a problem, and they didn’t want my help.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Anyone could improve and move faster in terms of internet marketing and Google search results. We don’t have the time to become experts or watch technology trends. But, it’s incumbent on me, as a customer, to communicate my needs and on Foster Web, as a provider, to be open to hearing those needs. They’ve been extremely open to those discussions.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Someone who tends to sit silently when there’s a problem, instead of communicating, may have a totally different experience with Foster Web. I’ve worked out a good system with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Marketing Coordinator for Morris James Personal Injury Group, which is part of Morris James LLP, a law firm located in Delaware. We have six locations throughout the state. The main firm has primarily corporate and personal representation. There are over 60 attorneys within the firm, and The Personal Injury Group consists of eight of those attorneys.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Foster Web Marketing?

The main firm and the Personal Injury Group each has their own website. Foster Web created and manages the Personal Injury Group website. 

We were ready to move from our last provider, and we liked what Foster Web had to offer.  We were especially interested in the DSS [Dynamic Self-Syndication] feature, which allows us to make edits and updates ourselves. Foster Web responds quickly to requests for changes we can't do ourselves through DSS.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked closely with us in redesigning our website. We have eight attorneys in five locations throughout the state. Foster Web continues to update our site on a regular basis. They continue to make improvements to our website and it has become more user-friendly. They are rewriting certain articles, and have implemented a call to action with book and newsletter offers. 

They also help with social media campaigns and SEO, along with answering all of my questions. They provide us with a monthly phone call where we discuss how to improve our site. We added two new attorneys this year and they needed to adjust some pages on our site to incorporate the new attorneys. 

Foster Web has also educated and worked closely with me to make sure I can utilize the DSS [Dynamic Self-Syndication] effectively. They hosted an academy where I learned many things I was able to implement myself. They also offer monthly webinars that cover social media campaigns, and Susie [Digital Marketing Strategist, Foster Web Marketing] has helped me gain 300 organic followers on Facebook in two weeks' time.

They’ve also helped us develop a Spanish version of our website, which recently launched. Additionally, they supply blog content and articles which are reviewed and approved by our attorneys.

What is the team dynamic?

Zach [SEO Analyst, Foster Web Marketing] is our rep, and Susie assists him. Lisa [Contract Editor, Foster Web Marketing] is the person I communicate with concerning article rewrites, and she sends us options for our attorneys to choose from. Allison [Project Manager, Foster Web Marketing] is who I’ve been working with for the Spanish website version. There are many people involved in answering questions, and they always respond in a timely manner. They know what I need, and if they don’t, they’ll take the time to work through it with me.

How did you come to work with Foster Web Marketing?

One of our partners, Kevin, met Tom [Owner, Foster Web Marketing] at a Great Legal Marketing seminar. Kevin liked what Foster Web had to offer. Kevin brought back Tom’s information, and we then traveled to Fairfax, Virginia, to meet Foster Web’s team. They showed us their facility, and we liked everything we saw. There have been no glitches, and everything they promised has been true.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $20,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our site went live in November 2015. We’ve been working with them for almost 2 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We passed our top 2 local opponents for personal injury in the google search rankings. 

How did Foster Web Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been perfect, so I have no complaints. I can’t say enough nice things about their responsiveness and knowledge because they figure out every problem we send their way. Different projects have different reps, and sometimes they might ask for a WebEx depending on the project. They truly cater to our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Responsiveness is their most impressive quality, and if I have a question, they all work together to provide a response right away. If they can’t get back to me immediately, they’ll inform me of that. They’re a cheerful team to work with, and they have a friendly environment in their office. You can tell everyone who works there enjoys their job, which is appealing to us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Hupy and Abraham, a personal injury law firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We’re the largest personal injury firm in the Midwest, with locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. We have just under 200 employees, and we’ve been in business since 1969. Foster Web has been our provider for close to a decade.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Foster Web Marketing?

We hired them as our website creator and provider, which includes full-service web marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Foster Web provides web solutions for us, including setup, servicing, SEO, and SEM services. They also manage our content creation, including articles, FAQs, blog posts, and reference materials related to our business.

The keyword research is highly collaborative, and we are constantly making updates to our site to stay current with trends. Foster Web is really at the forefront of service providers in this arena.

They have their own software called DSS [Dynamic Self-Syndication], which allows us to go in and update content for whatever we need without having to manually go into the backend to transfer code. Our goal is always to be one step ahead of our competitors.

Foster Web is truly a partner to us, and our relationship is a two-way street where they listen to our needs. We work hand in hand to make sure we’re always on top of what needs to be done.

What is the team dynamic?

We are assigned a lead on our account who I feel I can call, email, or text at any time, day or night. We also have a team assigned to our account, and they’re all really responsive. They make us feel like we’re a priority because any requests we have are met in a very timely manner.

How did you come to work with Foster Web Marketing?

We sought out the best in the industry.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2007, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve increased our web traffic by more than 100% in the last 5 years. The number of leads we’ve received through the website has more than substantiated our investment.

How did Foster Web Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is amazing. We have a scheduled monthly call in which we review the past month’s metrics and performance, then plan ahead with our goals for the upcoming month.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Tom [Founder/CEO, Foster Web Marketing] has a cutting edge team that’s in the know of where we need to be in our industry. It feels like they are a local, hometown provider even though they service many clients nationwide. We have a very close relationship, and it shows how much they care about providing great customer service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any critiques.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own, and am a lawyer, at The Voss Law Firm in The Woodlands, Texas. Our law firm services policy holders throughout the country with any insurance-related claims issue where the owner or holder’s claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid. We have between 10-15 employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Foster Web Marketing?

I engaged them specifically to handle website development, deployment, and marketing for my new website. Prior to engaging Foster, I had used an outside provider.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Foster Web Marketing implemented a plan for me to improve my market share. We had several strategy discussions, and went through the development process from scratch, including website implementation, launch, and training. From a marketing perspective, we have been growing ever since.

They were involved in both design and development, and added core functionalities related to testimonials, FAQs, articles, and content-generation. We’ve been pushing hard to grow as fast as we can from an organic perspective. We’ve launched an SEO and pay-per-click campaign, in order to enhance the organic growth we’ve obtained over the years.

They’ve implemented a backend management system that allows for easy content entry and manipulation, as well as tracking analytics. It’s a user-friendly, intuitive dashboard which allows even a lawyer like me to be successful on the web.

What is the team dynamic? 

Foster asked for my feedback and any thoughts I had for their improvement, but, in all reality, they did 90% of the legwork in picking keywords, researching, writing, and launching the ads.

How did you come to work with Foster Web Marketing?

I found them through a colleague’s a referral. We went through an interview process, during which time Foster was interviewing me as much as I was interviewing them. We clicked and they were doing some good work for other lawyers and clients around the country. They seemed to be a good investment of both time and resources. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I have been working with Foster Web for at least 6 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I look at any process like this in terms of the return on investment. We have a monthly meeting in which we discuss analytics, bounce-rate traffic, conversions, and cost-per-acquisition. In these meetings, we’ve consistently seen the green arrow pointing up year-after-year.

How did Foster Web Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been outstanding in this respect. Foster responds within the hour, with information that addresses the actual issue or problem. Without a doubt, they will do what it takes to improve my web presence. Their communication is key—they’ve done a great job of setting and managing expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The results are the most important factor for me. Foster has consistently performed in this department. Their technical expertise is also outstanding. Finally, Foster does a good job of making me feel like their only client, which I appreciate since they’re in the service industry, and that is important to customers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Providing the service for free would be outstanding. Realistically, they’re great people doing a great job. Foster has been consistent and put a great amount of effort to get us to our goals. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner and manager of a law group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Foster Web Marketing?

We hired Foster Web Marketing for web design and management services.

What were your goals for this project?

Our objective for this engagement was to set up a high-quality website that could help us get better exposure and more clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Foster Web Marketing based on their marketing materials.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Foster Web Marketing has been providing website development, design, and hosting for our company for about 10 years now.

What was the team composition?

I usually worked with one specific person from Foster Web Marketing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I thought the website Foster Web Marketing originally designed and developed for us was good. Over the years, however, many things have changed. They don’t seem to offer any solutions that don’t require spending more money now.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Sometimes the workflow is good, but at other times, it could use improvement.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Initially, we found their marking materials most impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

In my opinion, this company is designed to make the most sales possible, even when they don’t always align with the client’s needs. At this point, I would direct other attorneys like me who need similar services to go elsewhere.

I am leaving this review because I don’t feel like they deserve to have exclusively perfect reviews. That doesn’t seem realistic or truthful to me.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the executive director of Swier Law Firm, Prof. LLC.  law firm. We are dedicated to providing the best legal representation for people throughout South Dakota with a variety of needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Foster Web Marketing?

We hired them for website development and hosting, redesigns, SEO, social media management, and continued marketing enhancements.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a website that would drive both phone and direct contact leads to the business on a daily basis.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by Great Legal Marketing, LLC.

Describe the project in detail.

They completed our website, SwierLaw.com, and worked on multiple social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and Google +. We continue to invest a significant amount of time and energy on content and ongoing website improvements. 

What was the team composition?

I’m unsure of the team composition.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website drives over 90% of our daily leads. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was seamless.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their customer service was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of marketing and community relations for an independent podiatry practice. We specialize in painful foot and ankle conditions, neuropathy treatment, and comprehensive diabetic foot care.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Foster Web Marketing?

We hired Foster Web Marketing to design our new website. We continue to use them for ongoing website maintenance.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a simple but impressive platform that would increase our web traffic and presence. Our ultimate goal is to increase the number of patients we see.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The referral came from a podiatry marketing company.

Describe the project in detail.

They built a user-friendly website and designed our mobile site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very satisfied with our new website and the increase in traffic. The DSS system makes editing and adding content very easy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked well together. They were very helpful whenever we asked technical questions and needed assistance.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We enjoyed working with them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would’ve been nice if they’d completed the project sooner, but these things take time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing director for a law firm with offices in New York City and New Jersey.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to build our reputation. Our goal was to increase contact with potential customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’ve worked with them before.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They redesigned our website and promoted it.

What was the team composition?

We have two contacts who are available at all times.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve helped improve our online reputation and increased our caseload.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I am quite content with their services, as they are committed to marketing our firm. Not only are they quick to respond to my emails and calls, they have also helped me out considerably with whatever I have asked them to do. I am glad we returned to Foster Web for our marketing needs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own The Cardoza Law Corporation, a consumer rights litigation law firm that protects clients from financial abuse.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Foster Web Marketing?

They provide web design and digital marketing services.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to build a reliable lead generation machine.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were a referral.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The scope of their work is all-encompassing, including web design, web interface, content generation, marketing strategy, digital marketing, SEO, PPC, Facebook ads, and more.

What was the team composition?

We’ve worked with creatives, advertising people, technical specialists, and strategy consultants.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My firm is successful.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It has been very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their transparency, innovation, and drive are impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the managing partner at Kirshenbaum & KIrshenbaum Attorneys at Law, Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Foster Web Marketing?

We hired Foster Web Marketing to handle all of our marketing plans, ideas, and website design.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to have an excellent website and greater web presence as our past website's design and performance was abysmal. We wanted a company to help our whole marketing strategy as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I searched the web for a suitable vendor. I found Foster and their pitch really showed us that they were the right people for our firm.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They handle all of our marketing ideas including video shoots for our website.

What was the team composition?

The team includes their owners, CEO, and marketing team. Their whole company is available for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Foster Web Marketing's work directly impacts our business. Our clients tell us they chose our firm because of our great marketing ads and videos.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They conduct monthly meetings to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are thorough, sincere, and care about our business. Foster really wants our business to succeed and are direct with their approach.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

No, I honestly don't see anything bad so far.