HUEMOR

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Keep It Simple Training and Development, a specialized sales and sales management training company. We work with a variety of clients, including individual salespeople, small- to medium-sized business owners, and entrepreneurs who are interested in growing their businesses. We also provide workforce development training.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HUEMOR?

My company needed to develop a website for our workforce development segment. We help a broad range of people, so we wanted the site to portray this diversity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

HUEMOR developed our WordPress website with a colorful caricature design. Since its recent launch, the team has been building another site page. 

What is the team composition?

My team works with a project manager.

How did you come to work with HUEMOR?

My team met HUEMOR when we shared a co-working space. We have worked on other tasks together. They were the obvious choice for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in January 2018. The website launched in March 2019. Our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website just launched, but feedback has been very positive so far. Users like the color scheme and the featured diversity. The website is not only aesthetically pleasing but also informative, as it explains what workforce development training is and highlights our purpose.

How did HUEMOR perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is realistic, professional, and insightful. We have weekly calls to review project updates. HUEMOR delivered the website within our timeframe.

We have used Asana and Envision.

What did you find most impressive about them?

HUEMOR has successfully portrayed our diverse clientele, which was our primary design objective. The website is exactly what we wanted; in fact, it has exceeded our expectations. HUEMOR stands out for the time they take to study the business, understand project objectives, and ask relevant questions. They do not hesitate to propose changes or new ideas. Their creative excellence and technical expertise have allowed them to transform our vision into a digestible website.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were very impressed.

Any advice for potential customers?

Lay everything out on the line and don’t hold back. The more information and stipulations that HUEMOR has, the better the product they can deliver.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the head of product marketing for Telecommunications Co., a voiceover IP and unified communications company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HUEMOR?

We engaged HUEMOR to provide branding and web design services. Our previous site was out of date, and we wanted a fresh, modern look to reflect our new product and brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

HUEMOR redesigned our website on WordPress, incorporating modern graphics, animations, and other dynamic elements as requested. They also created a feature that allows visitors to purchase directly through the site for the first time. They continue to work on additional features in phases. 

What is the team composition? 

I work with multiple members on their team, including Michael (CEO, HUEMOR), as well as Jeffrey (Partner and Chief of Memorable Digital Experiences, HUEMOR) and a project manager. 

How did you come to work with HUEMOR?

I had a short list of agencies I spoke to based on some online research. I ultimately chose to work with HUEMOR because I liked the quality of their previous work and the fact that their team was approachable, had a good sense of humor, and was confident about meeting our timelines. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested in the range of $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since December 2018 and, although the site already went live, we continue to work with them to add more features in phases. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've received a lot of positive feedback from users thus far. They've made significant improvements to the site's overall performance and interactiveness. 

How did HUEMOR perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very communicative and responsive. They set up frequent check-ins over the phone, organize milestones in Asana, and respond to any questions we have very quickly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a can-do attitude when it comes to meeting client goals and timelines. Other vendors I spoke to weren't as confident that they'd be able to meet the same deadlines, but HUEMOR came up with a creative solution to launch the site in phases, which has worked very well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide as much information and guidelines to their team as possible and give them access to any assets within the company that can help them get started on branding and web elements. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of marketing for a national building materials company. We’re a premier supplier of natural stone, porcelain tile, and other materials.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HUEMOR?

We had two websites that were in need of a complete overhaul. Our B2B website was highly technical, with thousands of pages. We needed an experienced firm to redesign and rebrand the site entirely while keeping details as easy to access as possible. Our B2C site was an e-commerce site in need of a complete overhaul from a usability standpoint. Both sites were to be done simultaneously in less than six months.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our website was initially built using WordPress. HUEMOR determined that was the best type of site for our business, so they were happy to iterate that platform further. However, they recommended replatforming our e-commerce site to Shopify. Making that switch would give us access to more features and improve what we could do regarding e-commerce.

First, we engaged in a three-day discovery and design charrette wherein HUEMOR asked a lot of questions, understood our audience, and evaluated our goals. That process enabled them to deliver a frontend interface similar to products within the design and fashion industries. Those aesthetics appeal to our audience of architects and designers. They implemented modern UX principles to make the best use of each page. For example, users can click on featured projects and the site takes them directly to the product page. They created an interface that perfectly benefits our sales process.

Regarding our e-commerce platform, most of HUEMOR’s efforts were database driven. Our universal change system helped them make the site smarter and more scalable. They’ve made the product imagery bigger and bolder than before. Users can rollover images to enlarge them without having to click on anything. The images change from product shots to installation photographs.

What is the team composition?

HUEMOR assigned two project leads to oversee each website, respectively. They each worked with a developer who made themselves available to answer our technical questions.

How did you come to work with HUEMOR?

Our search process involved looking for firms online. HUEMOR had won a design award, so the accompanying publicity helped them appear at the top of our search results. After considering 20–30 options, we found that HUEMOR fit with our company best. They understood the technical requirements of both of our websites and had the resources available to make the project a success.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Both projects took place from May­–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

HUEMOR delivered a unique aesthetic to each site. Their contributions are immediately understood and appreciated by our clients. Anecdotally, our users have responded well to the redesign. The number of sessions per user has increased, as has the average session duration. This is the case for both sites.

How did HUEMOR perform from a project management standpoint?

When it came to the emails and conference calls, the entire team was on the same page, so I say it flowed seamlessly. They like using Asana, which isn’t our preferred method of project management, but we did our best to accommodate their suggested processes. The use of Google Docs helped to keep us organized as we prioritized the many, many action items we had.

Their team effectively managed both assignments simultaneously. We had weekly and biweekly meetings with them depending on the project’s requirements. As we got closer to launch, the weekly meetings became daily discussions. Most importantly, they remained available to us after launch to fix any outstanding issues. We remain in pretty close contact even though the sites have been live for a while.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listened to our input and interpreted it well. In addition to understating our clientele, they built each website with our internal staff in mind. We use it as a training tool and a sales support tool, so HUEMOR developed features to compliment those functions. They waited to provide solutions until they learned about the different dynamics within our company. Approaching the project from a business standpoint in addition to a design standpoint helped them succeed. They’re smart, dedicated, and capable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We weren’t trained to use Asana, so their reliance on it led to some miscommunication.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend that future clients be attentive during the budgeting and project planning process and understand all potential line items. With Shopify, we were surprised to see our app costs add up so quickly. Be sure to seek clarification on responsibilities involved with content migration. This is the most time-consuming, labor-intensive portion of the project on the client side.

Also, if you are rebuilding a site (rather than building a site from scratch), have a discussion around existing content and functionality to make sure that anything that is eliminated is done so intentionally. Because, ultimately, the site is an important marketing tool, and your sales team and clients often want access to any content and functionality they’ve already grown accustomed to.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of e-commerce at Briogeo Hair Care.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HUEMOR?

We decided to invest in influencer marketing and growing our digital advertising spend. We realized that if we're going to spend all this money, we needed to first make sure our website is compelling and designed to convert visitors into buyers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

HUEMOR played a big role in redesigning our Shopify Plus website, from the checkout process to the product pages and the homepage. The previous design was subpar. They had to do a lot of work clean up the old messy code structure. They also made recommendations to improve overall speed of the site. In terms of digital marketing, they focused on driving traffic to the website via Google search advertising, social media (Facebook, Instagram) advertising, and influencer partnerships.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager and two developers.

How did you come to work with HUEMOR?

I found them through a Google search for a firm based here in New York. I thought their website was well done, and I liked the work they've done for other clients. I figured they would deliver the same quality for me.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from December 2017–April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen an increase in average order value. There’s also been an uptick in the website conversion rate of visitors to buyers. I frequently get compliments from customers on how easy our website is to navigate and to find exactly what they're looking for.

How did HUEMOR perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always responsive. I'm super busy and only have brief times during the day when I can speak on the phone. It was really helpful to have an account manager who was available on email and would quickly respond to my questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designers were able to take the image I had in my mind for the site and turn it into reality. They did as many revisions as needed to make sure that everything was exactly the way I wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It took them a little while to make sense of the sloppy backend of our site, but that’s not really their fault. In fact, it’s a compliment to them that they were able to work through the code and make it better. I can't say anything negative about them.

Any advice for potential customers?

One of the reasons why our engagement works well is I took the time to do research on best practices for UX design. HUEMOR is definitely more than capable of giving you guidance in that regard, but I do think it helped that I took the time to educate myself.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing manager at AC Lion, an executive recruiting firm that helps with sales, marketing, design, and account management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Huemor?

We needed to fully redesign a website in order to scale market growth.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their developers updated and cleaned the code of the backend Wordpress infrastructure. They provided technical off-site SEO resources and designed graphics to develop a marketing brand/ethos which became a part of our digital marketing initiative. Their developers then streamlined functionality by updating UX/IU provided feedback and consultation about technical and business practices.

What is the team composition?

We worked with the CEO, a digital strategist, a team of designers, a project manager, a creative director, and a team of developers.

How did you come to work with Huemor?

We found them through an online search. Their proposal was the most detailed and chosen out of 20 other vendors.Their SEO practices and customization to the project at hand impressed us. They were within our budget range and their pitch really resonated with us.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $10,000–$50,000 on this build.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started with them in November 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site is not yet live, but I am extremely satisfied with the prototypes they have showcased. Their emulated prototypes are exceptional and have the same technical functions in an actual development space. Their updated backend infrastructure allows us to generate landing pages quickly and edit on the fly.

How did Huemor perform from a project management standpoint?

They produce very high-quality deliverables at a fast rate and communicate with us through consistent updates. Their project leads showcased their designs and prototypes with us on InVision throughout the entire design process. Their team is acutely focused on deadlines and delivering results.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Huemor is consultative and very engaged in our project. They are very outgoing and were eager to form a partnership with us. Their experts provide useful feedback on technical and business operations. They are driven to grow and scale the companies they work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would’ve liked them to have more services beyond pure web design.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder of a company that provides SEO consulting and other search marketing services for clients across a broad spectrum of industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HUEMOR?

We use their services on an ongoing basis whenever our clients need to execute design-related projects. Very often clients rely on us to find a trustworthy design agency and we know they are in good hands with HUEMOR.

What were your goals for this project?

We've used them for a variety of projects which each have their own goals. Often the goals will be as simple as increasing the perception of a brand but can be as complex as extensive UX campaigns. We've tackled them all with HUEMOR and will continue to do so.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Their work speaks for itself so it wasn't a hard choice to select them. After only a few phone calls, we knew they would be a partner we could trust with our clients.

Describe the project in detail.

Our projects with HUEMOR range in scope from traditional branding to large commerce overhauls. They've taken sites with hilariously bad conversion rates and used a scientific approach to make improvements, which usually leads to a dramatic increase in the client’s bottom line.

What was the team composition?

They have a talented, knowledgeable, and professional team. Each project we do with them gets a slightly different team depending on the niche and needs, but typically, we have an account manager, a designer, a frontend developer, and a backend developer for implementation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One project, in particular, involved an overhaul of a WooCommerce site. Within a few months, the site went from a generic template to a unique, eye-catching design. It wasn't just better to look at, it also performed better and the client saw a substantial revenue boost that we can directly attribute to their work.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They’re fantastic in this regard. They’re responsive, professional, and always on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge is remarkable. Designers are plenty and easy to find but discovering someone who really gets it is hard. Everyone we engage with at HUEMOR has shown the desire to understand each client’s unique challenges and will apply their experience to it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. Our projects with HUEMOR run smoothly and on time. Their performance is great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Serraview, a workplace optimization platform for Corporate Real Estate professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Huemor?

When I came onboard, our main objective was to scale our brand to the national level. Our existing site was several years out of date. We didn't have any marketing resources on staff and needed additional support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This engagement has involved a tremendous amount of work. Huemor provides ongoing web, graphic design, strategic and analytical services. The design team created mockups for our blog pages. They’re executing on the recommendations of another SEO vendor who conducted a full site review.

Correcting our sitemap requires extensive H1 tag updates. Based on UX research, they used heat maps to strategize performance optimization methods. Video recording software consistently monitors the legacy design and development components. This oversight helps the team assess the quality of existing features. Programmers wrote new analytics code to ensure everything is properly tracked.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Mike (Founder, Huemor) during the onboarding stage for our original contract. I'm regularly in contact with Pete (Project Manager, Huemor) and Alex (Digital Strategist, Huemor), our specific development and design resource. Each of them works with a substantial team.

How did you come to work with Huemor?

We originally collaborated on a different company’s major overhaul. They’d been the clear winner of an extensive search. We considered proposals from numerous agencies, but Huemor alone met all our requirements. I knew they were the right fit for this project and didn't even consider an alternative. Based on my past experience, I wanted to bring them in as quickly as possible.

What is the status of this engagement?

We brought Huemor onboard as our new web developer in September 2017. Our partnership began right after our previous vendor’s contract expired.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They just started working on our SEO, and we’re already seeing a strong response from their tactics. Their new online analytics service aggregates specific UX details, including the exact point where users drop off. A brief pop-up survey indicates how our content and messaging is resonating with customers. From a marketing standpoint, this high volume of useful feedback helps us refine our brand.

Huemor’s recommendations have proven extremely effective at taking us to the next level. Their work is extraordinarily professional. I always have faith in their ability to quickly yield high-quality deliverables. The team is great at both taking our directions and providing new recommendations. I feel comfortable entrusting them with important responsibilities.

How did Huemor perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was continually organized and adhered to a strict timeline. Huemor tracks and monitors each facet of the project using the online system Freedcamp. This tool provides transparency on the project’s status. It also helps me schedule requests or queries. We’re in constant communication to plan the next development phase. I've never had a problem getting ahold of them. I can always call them directly or send an email. Their team is truly an extension of my department.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Based on their site, I know they have several concurrent projects. As a medium-sized business, however, we never felt deprioritized. That’s a testament to how well they manage their resources. They dedicate focused attention to each and every one of their clients. I never feel like I'm competing for resources, time, or work. That’s something I really love about Huemor. They promptly answer all my calls, emails, and requests in Freedcamp. It’s a rare opportunity to find an agency of their caliber.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to speak up. Most people who’ve worked with creative agencies feel reluctant to assert their own marketing ideas. Despite Huemor’s targeted expertise, they’re always open to collaboration. They would never shut down a client’s perspective. They work more as an extension of your team than traditional vendors. Cultivating an open and candid dialogue is a useful strategy for any project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the creative director at Quirk Creative, a full-service video agency. We create concepts and manage various types of advertising and video services for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HUEMOR?

We didn't have a good website, so we were looking for a company to build a new website for us from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They came to our office, downloaded everything they needed, and immediately got down to work. They're using a customized WordPress template to build our website. Once the website is built, we want to see how people are responding to it, so it's a very collaborative process.

Initially, we had two main goals: we wanted to make sure we get leads and we were looking to show off our past work on the website. HUEMOR gave us some recommendations in terms of what types of leads we need to target and suggested that we build a website around the work we want to be doing, but not our past projects.

What is the team composition?

We have a development team and a design team. I work directly with three frontend developers and I regularly communicate with their CEO.

How did you come to work with them?

We found them through an online search. We were impressed when we saw their website, so we called them. Within three hours, we had a response from their CEO and the following week we signed the contract.

How much have you invested with them?

The estimated cost is between $25,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2018 and it's an ongoing project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything they brought to us on day one of their build was exactly what we wanted. (I’ve worked with a lot of contractors and that doesn't happen often.) We didn't need to go back and forth, which saved us time. Even though we're only midway through the process, they're very far along in terms of the design and the look. They're become a true partner to us, always looking for our best interests and helping us reach our goals.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very flexible. We keep an open line of communication and have weekly meetings. After working with them, our company is looking to replicate some of their practices when we service our own clients.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve made the process very smooth and easy for us. They give us exactly what we need. We're a smaller agency compared to other companies they're working with, but we were still able to build a relationship with their leadership. I know we're in good hands and everyone in my company feels the same way. They're the right team for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It's important to understand that your website is a really useful tool in your sales funnel. HUEMOR can recommend how to build a website that is right for your industry. Let them open your mind. Prior to working with them, we just saw our website as a pretty design, but they explained to us how we could use it effectively.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a consumer goods company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HUEMOR?

We were unhappy with our previous e-commerce agency and weren’t seeing the progression we intended. We needed to bring in another developer to improve our platform’s front- and backend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We put together a development task list of different functionalities to implement site-wide. HUEMOR’s substantial contributions and Shopify customizations included navigation and search improvements, redesigning our home page, and developing product pages. The frontend design included the addition of tools to increase product knowledge and understanding of consumers visiting the site.

What is the team composition?

We regularly communicate with our account and product managers. We’re not in contact with the development team directly executing the project.

How did you come to work with HUEMOR?

We interviewed numerous vendors, but our Shopify manger recommended HUEMOR as a preferred Shopify partner. In addition to this relevant experience, we also appreciated their analytical approach to development and believed it could greatly benefit our small team. We enjoyed speaking with them and were comfortable with the price point.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from August–November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

HUEMOR helped take our website to the next level. The increased conversion rate has significantly grown our revenue across the e-commerce channel. The holiday season was exponentially larger than the previous season thanks to their improvements. We look forward to making great strides with the website by working with them in the future.

How did HUEMOR perform from a project management standpoint?

We used several task management tools they recommended to help everyone stay on top of things. However, we struggled with communication and workload management across both teams. We have a million things we want to do, so it’s difficult to prioritize things correctly and allow HUEMOR to do their best work. However, we’re happy with their overall project management approach.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a great team to work with and have a “yes” attitude. They quickly implemented the tasks we assigned.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could’ve been more proactive in the ideation process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a game plan and a clear vision before entering a partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Media Max Network sells local media solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Huemor?

Our old website was cumbersome; updating it would have been too time intensive. We needed a new one built from scratch with the following features: easy to maintain on our end, an improved UX, and a clearer reflection of our business and Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The process started with the founders facilitating ideation and conceptualization. Our initial meeting also included a designer and the project manager. After we approved the wireframes and concepts, their development team built the site on WordPress, making minor adjustments at the end of the project. We filled copy and content into the template.

It’s a B2B site, but we’re considering adding an e-commerce component. Huemor didn’t do SEO or digital marketing; we use another firm for those services.

What is the team composition?

Worked with: the founders, a designer, the project managers, and a developer who they assigned to be responsive to our requests.

How did you come to work with Huemor?

We wanted to a different firm from the one that built our website. We found four or five companies in an online search and saw that Huemor had won awards. We reached out and got referrals, at which point we narrowed our consideration to time and budget flexibility. We went with another highly-rated agency that offered a lower price, but the engagement was a horrible experience. We terminated the contract and hired Huemor instead.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began in Sept 2017 and ended in January 2018 when the site launched.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything went smoothly without a hitch. They were responsive and proactive in finding solutions. We got very positive feedback that the site’s easy to use and navigate; it made sense as a sales tool for a variety of users. Overall, it’s cleaner, fresher, and makes us more competitive.

How did Huemor perform from a project management standpoint?

They stayed on schedule the entire time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took the time to understand our business, our competitors, and the existing site, which the original firm didn’t do. Huemor also identified prospective users and built personas around them, which helped determine the journeys and flow. That investment made the entire process a smooth experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not at this point. Currently, we’re identifying where further improvements can be made.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Research different vendors’ costs and turnaround times. In addition, make sure the organizations understand the client, their competition, and opportunities to distinguish them. If the vendor doesn’t do that, the highest quality website wouldn’t make any difference.