Jacob Tyler

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of R3 Consultants. We’re a sales and consumer service training and consulting organization that helps companies improve their internal communication.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

Originally, our website didn’t reflect our skill set or our capabilities and we didn’t have a very strong digital presence. Because we work with a lot of high-profile clients, we decided to rebrand and improve our website with strategies to increase online visibility.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a series of deep-dive meetings to define our company values and desired voice. Using those discussions, Jacob Tyler drafted several different brand profiles for our website and our overall identity. Once we decided on the direction best suited for our company, their team built a new website from scratch. They created a logo and a corresponding style guide, company manual, and other marketing collateral.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was the CEO, but we also worked with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

I tasked my VP with searching online for a marketing agency with a good digital presence. From my perspective, if an agency can establish their own online visibility, they can do it for me as well. My VP found Jacob Taylor and scheduled an initial meeting. When I entered the room, I found that their CEO was a friend from the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a nonprofit that we both support. We ultimately chose them based on their marketing capabilities, the friendship was just an added bonus.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–October 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The added layer of visibility we get from our website has generated an estimated $4 million in top-line revenue for our company.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

We tracked the project through Basecamp and their team was excellent. At one point, I actually asked them to turn off notifications because they were sending so many updates. There was constant communication throughout the engagement.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was very impressed with their level of creativity and communication. I don’t have very much technical experience, so Jacob Tyler effectively discussed the project on my level, which I really appreciated. Additionally, they were extremely receptive to feedback and made changes with minimal pushback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We fell behind schedule a few times. It wasn’t a huge problem, but they failed to let us know why there was a delay. I would’ve liked them to be more proactive in alerting us to possible obstacles.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of HyperTrends Global Inc., a full-service software development company. I also serve as a virtual CTO for about three different startups in the San Diego area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

With all the technical products that we build, we’re always looking for local design companies that can help us create UX/UI design guidelines and brand strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked on many projects together, but two very large projects come to mind. The first was called Spledger, which is a fundraising platform we developed in 2016. The other was a complex mobile application that we built for iOS and Android. In both of these projects, I was functioning as a virtual CTO for the companies that were looking to build the products, and Jacob Tyler was our design partner.

On the fundraising project, our teams worked together to establish product guidelines. The client initially had a very limited budget, but after we presented design ideas and basic mockups, they expanded it significantly. After development, they hired us on retainer and we developed several smaller projects.

When we work with Jacob Tyler, we provide a design budget based on the specifics of the project and work fairly closely with them to develop the brand, logos, videos, color palettes, and additional design materials. We also occasionally provide more detailed wireframes and specifications depending on the client’s preferences. We have a very close professional relationship with them across both individual projects and the startups that I work as CTO for.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with several team members in the past, but I primarily work with Les (CEO & Chief Creative Officer, Jacob Tyler), who then delegates to members of his team. They have a deep understanding of branding strategy, which is apparent in their portfolio. They’ve done some very large projects, and it was clear that their workflow would mesh well with ours.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

They came highly recommended from colleagues of ours that had worked with them in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $300,000 over the course of the partnership. Initial budgets per project rarely exceed $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2016, and they’ve been our design partner ever since. We were working on the fundraising platform for about a year and a half with them, while the iOS/Android app took between nine months and a year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we launched the iOS application on the App Store, it was quickly rated very highly with a great deal of positive feedback on the user interface. As for the fundraising platform, the designs assets and markups that they provided were crucial in securing an investment of $500,000 from the client, which we were very happy with.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project managers work with theirs when we take on projects together, and it’s been a very seamless workflow. We would work together in the same office for many projects, which facilitated the whole process. It felt less like project management for our teams, and more of a smooth collaboration in completing the projects together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have in-depth experience in both digital design and print marketing, which is very difficult to find in a web design studio. When we do our brochures and collateral for trade shows, they’ve been incredibly useful. That was one of the factors that originally led us to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We design, manufacture and sell wearable exoskeletons that help reduce fatigue and improve the productivity of factory workers. I am a co-founder of the company and the vice president of marketing and business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

We wanted to establish our online presence before putting our product on the market. A full-service digital marketing agency is what we needed to lay the groundwork for our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We didn’t have an IT provider, so we needed Jacob Tyler to build a new website. They developed the site’s front- and backend and integrated SEO best practices to improve our online visibility. Their team flawlessly incorporated the new branding concepts and key messaging into the website and marketing collateral, which includes brochures and user manuals for our conferences and exhibits.

What is the team composition?

The account manager is our primary point of contact.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

We interviewed five local digital marketing agencies, and Jacob Tyler was the best fit for our project’s scope and budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $75,000--$100,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on the first project in July 2016, and they completed everything within two months. They provide ongoing SEO and online marketing for us.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The moment we launched the new website, our existing customers and vendors called us to compliment the site. We receive similar praise for the brochures and manuals they designed. Regarding their digital marketing efforts, site traffic has dramatically increased. Increased visibility has also yielded a tremendous growth in sales.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

They had a challenging scope of work and a limited time frame, but they worked diligently to keep both teams on track to meet the deadline. Their responsiveness was outstanding throughout the entire project and an integral factor in our success.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We essentially created a new product category when we invented our one-of-a-kind technology. Jacob Tyler didn’t have the luxury of drawing inspiration from similar brands, but their team understood our objective and crafted a practical brand solution to introduce our new product to the market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had an excellent experience working with Jacob Tyler, and we wouldn't change anything they've done for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive vice president and an account manager for a company that provides furnished accommodations for corporations around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

We needed help developing our website when we launched the company about eight years ago, as well as some supplemental collateral (i.e., brochures, business cards).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated with Jacob Tyler's team on branding, including brainstorming tag lines and slogans. They designed and developed the website and our app, along with a brochure that was several pages long, a PowerPoint, business cards, and other collateral. They've designed ads that target our clientele that have been used in publications and programs for conferences, as well as our trade show booth. They'll also be working on a refresh of the brand with a new logo, booth, PowerPoint, and business card design soon.

What is the team composition?

We mostly worked directly with Les (CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Jacob Tyler). Over the years, we've worked with various account managers and creative directors as well.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

I'm not sure how we originally found them, but their offices are just a few blocks apart from ours, which made it convenient to set up meetings and brainstorming sessions.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around the Fall of 2010 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Jacob Tyler's design efforts certainly helped us achieve a high level of recognition immediately. In the year we launched, we received a Tower of Excellence Award within one of our industry associations.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

Les is very responsive. He's been known to turn around design work with little notice within 48 hours. They've been a great partner overall and are good at prioritizing our needs and being flexible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like having direct access to the owner of the company. I feel like we're not only able to have very candid conversations, but that their team is also invested in learning about our business in order to deliver the best outcomes. They've taken the time to get to know us and understand what differentiates us from others to best promote our work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They're great on the creative and production side of things, but lacking a little bit on the technical side of projects, which they outsource. However, that's not the core function of their services.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of marketing for a biometrics company that works on iris recognition.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

We were a fairly new spin-off from a larger technology company, and needed help with branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Jacob Tyler to help us with our company branding initiatives. Initially, we had a kick-off meeting to discuss our priorities and pinpoint where we needed the most help. This morphed into them helping to develop our branding standards guide, giving us a look and feel for the company, and studying the platform to learn what our company was all about.

From there, we delved into graphic design. They took the branding standards guide and created some visuals that would go along with the company for trade show booths, advertisements, and the videos they created for one of our new product launches. It was an all-encompassing digital and media strategy.

What is the team composition?

We worked with their CEO and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

While looking for a full PR and creative partner, we sent out an RFP to a couple of agencies. The PR agency that we signed on with partnered with Jacob Tyler rather than developing graphics themselves. We got them by default, which was very seamless.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent approximately $100k. Since they're a high-end agency, there is a little more cost involved. It was hard to quantify to senior management, but you get what you pay for. It's worth it in the long run.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2017, and the work is ongoing. Right now, they’re our agency of record for graphics and multi-media.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we’re in the biometrics industry, a lot of very high-profile clients and companies are looking for our solutions. At a recent tradeshow, a perspective client commented on the caliber of our booth presence compared to our competitors. That was very flattering since we’re a young company. We couldn’t have done it without Jacob Tyler's work creating such a beautiful backdrop and stage to tell our story.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well. We have a standing call each week since we’re working on multiple projects at the same time. My main point of contact is wonderful, proactive, and reactive. I can call her on nights and weekends. She is very conscious of our repositioning needs, since we're still a new company. They are very flexible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have worked with a lot of different graphics agencies, and I really feel that this is more than just a business to them. They help and make suggestions. Some companies just come in, get a retainer, and receive their monthly fee. You don’t hear much from them and there isn’t much interaction.

At Jacob Tyler, they are very responsive and personable. We have gotten to know them and feel very comfortable with them, both on the phone and in person. They are easy to work with, which is one of the highlights. They call it like they see it and tell you why choices are good or bad.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and communications manager for San Diego Pride. Our mission is fostering pride, equality, and respect for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. I oversee all incoming and outgoing messaging for the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

We had a decaying website that needed a lot of maintenance. It wasn't doing what we needed in terms of conveying our message. It really focused on the annual parade and festival, and not our year-round civic engagement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided backend development as well as the frontend design for a new WordPress site. The design and the layout, as well as the architecture of the site, was created to highlight our organization. We’re unique in that we have one big annual event, and many small events. They created an Events page that we use as a calendar to highlight the smaller events throughout the year. The programs page is really robust; it includes our various departments, as well as our education and outreach avenues.

What is the team composition?

I worked mainly with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

They were on our target list as a top agency here in San Diego. Our director of development led the search and put out bids. Jacob Tyler came back with the most detailed, comprehensive proposal.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from January–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site has only been live for a few weeks, so we haven't looked at the full metrics yet. However, we have seen an increase in ticket sales. We averaged 4–5 tickets sold around this time last year. Right now, we're seeing 18–25 tickets sold. It's a much higher conversion rate. We did a big press release the week after it launched, and we’ve had glowing reviews of the new site. All of the reviews agree that it’s much cleaner, more beautiful and robust compared to the old site.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is great. Their communication was seamless. They’re always on point and quick. They use a variety of tools and software for web processes or submitting tickets for bugs. They were flexible about scheduling meetings based on our availability. They made things very easy for us. Even after the site launched, they've been responsive and haven't fallen off the radar.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of expertise gave us confidence throughout the project. They’re able to work with people who may not know much about websites. They never simply gave in to what we wanted; they provided advice on what we should do. The way they laid out the site allows us to better tell our full story, and leverage the size of our organization to help smaller nonprofit organizations. I speak very highly of Jacob Tyler when anyone asks who made our website.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a real estate investment company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

Our website was outdated and we needed a development firm to assist a redesign effort.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once the project began, we had a kickoff meeting with Jacob Tyler to help them understand how our company works and what we’d be comfortable with design-wise. We discussed the timeline and they were upfront with expressing their concerns. I appreciated that they didn’t sell us on something they couldn’t deliver.

There were various deliverable points where they showed us mock-ups of different website pages. A month and a half before the site was supposed to launch, they delivered a beta version of the site to demonstrate its functionalities. Unfortunately, the other development team responsible for integrating a custom system didn’t start their portion of the project early enough. As a result, they held Jacob Tyler back from launching the site as scheduled. Currently, the site is online and we’re working out some minor issues. We’re happy with the experience and are planning future updates with them.

What is the team composition?

Andrew (Account Director, Jacob Tyler) was our primary point of contact. I also had regular conversations with Les (CEO, Jacob Tyler) where he called to confirm everything was going okay. We’ve also interacted with their head designer and other various resources.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

I initially reached out to a handful of development firms to discuss the general cost of the project and gauge the achievability of our proposed schedule. I invited several vendors to bid for the project, but we ultimately selected Jacob Tyler. They offered the best price and made an effort to understand an existing system to be integrated into the website. Proactively engaging our challenges put them a step ahead of the other companies we considered.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a little over $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2017 and the website launched in April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our company isn’t very forward thinking when it comes to utilizing new technology. Jacob Tyler tried to pull us into the current century by increasing the web traffic on our site. However, all of our investment funds come from private investors. We don't try to attract new investors to our website because it’s not necessary. Instead, we want people to have a positive experience when interacting with our brand online. The internal response has been positive as my colleagues have praised the site’s fresh and modern appearance. We didn’t realize how dated our old website was until we saw the new one.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

They're organized, they never reschedule meetings, and they stick to the tasks at hand. Andrew was our dedicated project manager and he was absolutely wonderful to work with. He was responsive whenever we had questions and could explain tech-related topics to people not well-versed in web development. He effectively collaborated with the various parties needed to make the project happen. Nothing fell through the cracks and every member of their team seemed focused on the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The employees of Jacob Tyler seem genuinely happy to be there. No one likes working for a company that isn’t run correctly, so seeing a happy and engaged staff gave us the confidence to hire them. I appreciate that they got the job done and remained personable while doing it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some frustrations during the final days and weeks before the launch date. I’m not a web developer, so I had difficulty providing the login information to our hosting platform. As it turns out, the hosting platform we were using was the wrong type. Their use of an outside consultant might've caused some of that confusion during the final stages of the project. Ultimately, they delivered on what was promised.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Jacob Tyler will deliver an amazing end product, as will others. So if you are choosing between several developers of good repute, choose the one whose personality suits your work approach best. They're a more relaxed company, so if you're looking for people who wear suits every day, Jacob Tyler probably isn't the team you'll feel most comfortable with. However, if you want a group of people who you can have a casual conversation with between meetings, you'll be very happy working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and owner of POTENTE, a Professional Law Corporation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

About nine years ago, the relationship between my business partner and I was terminated, so I was looking to do a complete rebrand of the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had several in-depth meetings with their team over the course of a couple months initially. Before we discussed branding, it was important to their team to fully understand our business. Once they felt they grasped our mission, goals, and the types of clients we have, they started designing our website and provided a lot of creative direction as needed. They designed our logo, color schemes, and marketing collateral (i.e., business cards, letterhead, signage). They even sourced the exact color of paint for our office that was chosen for our color scheme.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Les (CEO, Jacob Tyler), but my employees worked with others on their team as well.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

I asked other colleagues for recommendations and interviewed a few of Jacob's previous clients. Based on those references, I decided to meet with them and I immediately liked their creative energy and culture.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested between $50,000–$60,00 over the years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2010 and although the rebranding effort was completed by the following year, we continue to work together on various design projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've received a lot of positive feedback on the website and overall branding from colleagues and clients alike.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team operates very efficiently and executes quickly on our requests. They're one of the best service providers we work with. By providing additional creative input, it felt as if we hired a genuine partner to help us build a sustainable brand. Unlike other design firms, Jacob works to build truly organic relationships with their customers, which is why we continue to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm most impressed by their creative energy. They have a way of branding that sets you apart, because they themselves are truly unique and talented.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. We've been working with them for almost a decade and I've never had a problem.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing editor of an environmental and engineering consulting firm. We help public and private clients plan, design, permit, build, and manage projects that improve infrastructure and the natural environment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

Our website built by a previous vendor was extremely out of date. It wasn’t very navigable and much of the information was out of date. We reached out to Jacob Tyler for a redesign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided our brand guidelines and they provided detailed wireframes to help us translate our color palette into a new motif throughout the entire website. We plan to also incorporate these designs into our marketing materials.

They also integrated our blog and website into a single site, making it easier for visitors to discover our blog content.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with the founder, Les [CEO/Creative Officer, Jacob Tyler]. Amanda [Senior Brand Manager, Jacob Tyler] served as our initial account manager, but she’s since left the company. We then worked with Sophia [Digital Producer, Jacob Tyler]. Rami [Senior U/X Designer, Jacob Tyler] provided UX/UI design.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

We ran a Google search for web design firms. We had undertaken a redesign of our firm intranet the previous year with an agency that wasn’t close to us, but found it difficult to collaborate, so for our web redesign we wanted a local firm.

We liked the look of Jacob Tyler’s website and thought it meshed well with our own aesthetic. We contacted them for an initial interview and their presentation really blew us away.

How much have you invested with them?

Between $45,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between July 2017–December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ten potential clients reached out to us through the redesigned website to request proposals in the first two months after launching.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

Amanda was phenomenal. She was very communicative, stayed on top of every task, and kept me updated along the way, answering any questions. Our second project manager had a different style, and while there was obviously a period of adjustment, she was also very helpful.

We ended up having to extend the launch by three weeks due to project manager turnover, but the new launch date ended up being better for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had a lot of specific needs and our own ideas about how to accomplish those goals. Jacob Tyler’s team was very accommodating. They took in all of our suggestions and made sure every need was met.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would have appreciated more regular updates during the development phase. We didn’t hear from them for a few weeks as they prepared the first draft. I also wish I had received more notice about our change in project management.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ullman Sails International. We're a licensing and brand management company for sail-making companies around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jacob Tyler?

We had an outdated website and as an international brand, we needed an international website that could direct users to our local loft locations. In addition to a main brand website solution, we wanted to create a subdomain template for all of our locations worldwide.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Through full-stack design and development, they built the website on WordPress. In order to link web-users with our loft location, Jacob Tyler designed a loft locator map. It’s essentially a worldwide directory of our representatives that enables customers to find the closest loft to them. They also created a blog that we could post content too and profile the expertise of our people as well as our products.

The other aspect of their work was the creation of a subdomain template. This template allows us to control our digital footprint by easily creating location-specific websites that are intuitive and on-brand. Additionally, template helps ensure we have a consistent aesthetic and web presence worldwide.

What is the team composition?

We worked with their CEO and one developer.

How did you come to work with Jacob Tyler?

Les [CEO, Jacob Tyler] had been a guest speaker in one of our marketing coordinator’s college courses. So we looked at Jacob Tyler when we started getting estimates from different web companies. We then met with Les and his team and they were extremely engaging. They had clearly done research on our current web presence and were able to provide ideas and solutions within that initial meeting. Considering they immediately understood our brand, we were confident they could produce the results we needed.

How much have you invested with them?

The total project cost around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place June 2015–June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve experienced a significant increase in unique visitor traffic since the redesigned main site and subdomains launched.

How did Jacob Tyler perform from a project management standpoint?

They responded quickly to any question and were generally organized and timely. After sending them a list of items that need addressing, they’d reply with a comprehensive email or even call to talk through the issues. We also used Basecamp to efficiently communicate info to developers as they built the site. This approach allowed Jacob Tyler to keep the project moving and they even delivered the website earlier than promised.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with how quickly Les and his team grasped the voice and aesthetic of our brand. When designing the look and feel of the site, they took extra steps to understand the company’s history and traditions. This enabled them to revamp our brand with modern technology and design principals while remaining true to the company’s origins.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no recommendations, it was easy doing business with them.