JOS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as a General Manager for an email design agency focused exclusively on designing and coding HTML emails for various Email Service Providers such as Mailchimp, Campaign Monitor, HubSpot, Salesforce and many others.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

We were short-staffed and in need of a marketer/copywriter to help us with publishing blog articles on our website.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of this project was to have on a regular basis published articles based on our website viewers' interests.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

When we decided to look for an outside service provider we firstly tried with a freelancer but it didn't turn up well at all. Never actually worked with them. Things started to happen such as stolen laptop and inability to recover their work and eventually they withdraw their interest in working with us.

Joseph Studios and Daniel were clients of ours. They had used our services for their clients. I can't remember how I stumbled on their website but I was able to mentally link them as one of our customers and after a bit of internal discussion we decided to try them out.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Joseph Studios were hired to help us with writing articles for our blog. They conducted initial research on the blog personas and type of articles needed. They provided a monthly list article titles, a report for the previous month and of course a copy of each article.

What was the team composition?

We had an exploratory call with some of their team members - Daniel (CEO), Hailey (Director of Operations), Dina (Directory of Marketing Strategy) and Katrina (Content Marketing Manager). Once we got the ball rolling we had a weekly touchpoint with Hailey and Dina. Once a month we had a sync meeting with Daniel where we dicuss how we are moving and where we can make improvements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I find the workflow between the teams very effective. There's barely any adjustments to the copy (or overall look) of the articles they create for us. Once we deliver, we create the artwork and publish the articles.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am most impressed by Joseph Studios' flexibility and the energy they put into their work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I'm really happy how we work with Joseph Studios and we have the opportunity to improve any point of our work. It's just a matter of quick email to them and they're always ready to listen and offer feedback.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a risk management company in metro Atlanta, Georgia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Joseph Studios?

We needed to transition our focus from research and development to business engagement. Ultimately, we relied on them for materials that would allow for business expansion.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team delivered materials that enable us to have informed discussions with businesses that would benefit from our technology. They focused on understanding market expectations before launching several press releases. They’ve also created a technical whitepaper for us.

There were some regulatory concerns within our team about specifying the scope of our technology. They helped us address those concerns by making sure we didn’t overstate our service offering.

Content creation was a collaborative effort between both of our teams. They create, curate, and publish blog postings for us. They utilized a press release software platform called PR Web to launch materials across several channels.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Marc (Director of Sales, Joseph Studios), who reached out to us. We also interfaced with Daniel (Founder, Joseph Studios). Hailey (Director of Operations, Joseph Studios) was our project manager, and Val (Email Marketing Manager, Joseph Studios) worked for our content creation efforts.

How did you come to work with Joseph Studios?

Marc (Director of Sales, Joseph Studios) reached out to us on LinkedIn and demonstrated that they could procure different types of materials to increase business engagement.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent less than $5000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2019, and it’s an ongoing collaboration.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has empowered us to launch internationally with a partner overseas. Thanks to Joseph Studios, we’re now having discussions with enterprises of all different sizes. Their partnership and work have produced great results, and we believe these results will continue into the foreseeable future.

How did Joseph Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all the expectations we agreed upon and did an excellent job with the work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their accessibility—being able to call them directly at any time—and their ability to understand our specific business challenges are both wonderful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t really think of anything. I suspect that they’ll continue to expand their expertise as they gain more experience in the financial services sector.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend them very strongly. Just do your due diligence and maintain open communication, because they’re very receptive to it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Family business. Mother & Daughter Duo that sell spice mixes & dip mixes. I'm the daughter of the duo, co-owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

Online Marketing

What were your goals for this project?

Increase Online presence, thus increasing sales

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral from a fellow small business owner

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They are very hands on and helpful. They give a strategy of how to reach the goal organically. I love they give me a 'To Do' list, and means to give them my 'homework'. They turn around and post the images & videos onto our social platform.

What was the team composition?

I get a bi-weekly meeting with the team. They provide feedback of what is and is not working, what we need to focus on, how to prep for upcoming events, etc. Plus, they respond to an unlimited amount of emails. Very easy to communicate with Joseph Studios.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have increased statistic each month, and continue to gain ground.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Super easy to work with. They are very creative and helpful!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Open communication & their diligent implementation!

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are very happy with the results, of course one would want a faster ROI, but we understand the need to grow organically and the work it takes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-owner for an online retailer for custom window coverings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

I hired Joseph Studios for a series of web development and digital marketing projects.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to improve my company’s position in organic search results and perform better on sites like GTmetrix. I also hoped to provide unique content through our website, newsletter, and blog.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I rarely consider working with U.S.-based companies because they are often too expensive, but Daniel (Founder/CEO, Joseph Studios) won me over with his personality and ambition. I also found it worthwhile to work with a vendor that is local so that we can easily collaborate.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

My first tasks for Joseph Studios were to validate my HTML site, increase my site’s speed, and make the site mobile-friendly. They authored articles on the Houzz website about specific products—articles that in-turn helped drive sales of those items. Joseph Studios identifies seasonal sales trends and decides on the appropriate promotions or content to release. Further, they make excellent posts to my company’s Facebook page—content that was desperately needed because I previously failed to embrace social media.

Joseph Studios is currently redesigning the website to focus more on quality products with a solutions-based approach. With their help, I’m focusing less on website visits and more on conversions, and our actions reflect that mentality. We are posting relevant content that identifies a common consumer problem, and we offer solutions to fix it.

What was the team composition?

In addition to Daniel, I work with an SEO specialist, a marketing manager, a programmer, and a graphic designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I now receive more compliments about my website’s speed and how it responds on mobile devices. Additionally, the written content Joseph Studios has provided is paying dividends. Many of my customers now reference the Houzz articles in their explanations of why they decided to buy particular products from my company. Because my customers find answers to their problems through content my company produces, I’m now able to create a relationship with them that will more than likely result in sales and referrals.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We have established an effective workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciate that the owner is involved and accessible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I cannot determine anything that needs improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Call Motivated Sellers is a direct marketing service that provides outsourced cold callers for more than 50 companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Joseph Studios?

We were interested in redesigning our website and increasing its traffic with effective digital marketing strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Joseph Studios was brought on board to help us transform our website into a lead generating tool and double our client base. After presenting a few mock designs, they moved on to mapping out the entire development process based on our selection. Their team built the website per our requirements, but they also provided new ideas to enhance our original vision. Once the new web design was integrated on the frontend, they implemented SEO best practices into our content and all of our marketing channels.

What is the team composition?

They connected us with an account manager, who served as our main point of contact. However, we did have direct contact with other members of their development team.

How did you come to work with Joseph Studios?

After seeing the endless praise that their former clients had posted online, we reached out to them with the opportunity to work on our project. Their incredible team had a great influence on our hiring decision; we were impressed by their vast knowledge and their ability to understand our vision.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was completed between January 2019 through March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work that they provided was a greater value than the price that we paid, which added tremendous value to the overall project. Within one month of launching the new website, our prospect inquiries increased by more than 35%. New client acquisition has improved by a similar margin. We have also received tons of positive feedback from our staff and existing clients, with most of the accolades going toward the gorgeous design and user-friendly navigation.

How did Joseph Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager was extremely transparent about their progress and highly responsive to our needs. Their deadline-driven team ensured that all deliverables were produced within the agreed timeline and budget. As a small business, we would have never been able to achieve great results without Joseph Studios.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Exceeding our three-month goal, Joseph Studios helped us acquire new clients and improve our revenue and gross profit. Their team displayed high levels of professionalism and expertise, and their rapid work pace was astonishing to witness. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

While there is always room for improvement, Joseph Studios was outstanding in every area.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hiring Joseph Studios to revamp our website is unarguably one of the best business decisions that we have ever made.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a lifestyle blogger who works with affiliates to promote work from home opportunities, faith, and products of value.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

I needed a contractor to set up my website and do routine maintenance along with blog writing assistance.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to see an increase in my site’s quality and its traffic.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Joseph Studios came highly recommended by another client whose judgment I trusted.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The team set up email, including both Mailchimp and G Suite. They also installed plugins, wrote blog posts, and did SEO.

What was the team composition?

I worked mostly with the firm owner, who also put me in contact with his director of marketing and sales. He had a graphic designer create my logo.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results were better than I could have hoped for. They provided expertise on organic sales and traffic, and their work got my business off the ground.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I communicated almost exclusively with the owner and the director of marketing. The owner conducted phone conferences to discuss progress on our project and give advice on my business.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The owner is willing to go to great lengths to make sure the work is superb. Client satisfaction is his top priority and he makes that clear in his communication.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of Dr. CBD. We produce hemp-derived CBD goods.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

We needed to modify our website to comply with credit card companies’ regulations.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to pass our initial merchant processing audit.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them on social media.

Describe the project in detail.

After we scoped the project, Joseph Studios provided their own recommendations. Specifically, they modified our policies and procedures regarding altering images. They submitted our credit card processing application and installed our cart plugin.

What was the team composition?

We worked with four people: a sales resource, a developer, a UI resource, and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The credit cards we targeted accepted our applications, so we’re going to add card processing capabilities in 2019. Joseph Studios was instrumental in handling our requests, and we expect this positive trajectory to continue. They’re a gem.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Joseph Studios navigated different time zones, creative opinions, and my own lack of experience. They were great.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It feels like you’re working with a small company because everyone knows your name. I appreciated it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have no material concerns to date.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. We are a small family business in a very competitive market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

We hired Joseph Studios for ongoing SEO services, including social media marketing and website SEO strategies.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to increase traffic to our website and convert visitors to buyers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found this company through a close family friend who works there.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Our company relies on organic rankings and social media; we don’t have any PPC ads. Initially, we had a few meetings with Joseph Studios so that they could get a feel of my business. I also wanted to get an idea of what they could do for me. They take the initiative to do bigger tasks that are beyond my knowledge or availability. I also appreciate the way they assign me small tasks that I can easily do by myself.

What was the team composition?

I work closely with several people from their team who have varied talents. Daniel (Founder & CEO, Joseph Studios) is also involved in the work and participates at every level.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve made phenomenal progress since we opened three months ago. Our website is on page one for most organic searches, while our social media reach has risen significantly. As a result, we're getting pretty busy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have a quick weekly meeting that keeps everyone on the same page. During our meetings, we review the prior week and set the goals and plans for future projects. They are good at follow-through, although I sometimes fall short on getting my tasks done.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The entire team is knowledgeable and patient. They have taken the time to learn my industry and my competition. Not only do they have great ideas, but they also have the talent to implement them. I also appreciate their willingness to teach and involve me in every step.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of anything to improve. I haven't been disappointed with anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the managing partner of Hundred Acre Consulting, LLC. We’re a full-service, certified franchise consulting and referral firm in the US and Canada, with a reach in 21 industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

I needed a website redesign, social media expansion, and other marketing materials.

What were your goals for this project?

Overall, we wanted digital marketing to take our web presence to the next level. We needed more potential customers funneled to our page and have more organic site traffic.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After I spoke with them, I knew they were the right fit, and I trusted my instincts.

Describe the project in detail.

Joseph Studios redesigned our website. Also, they created a newsletter geared toward our audience. They implemented digital marketing tools to drive more organic traffic to our site, and they improved our social media presence. As we move through the project, we’ve expanded the work to cover different areas that need growth.

What was the team composition?

I work with their CEO, head of marketing, web designer, and social media individual.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been working with them for around 90 days, and we’ve seen positive results in every area. All of the materials they’ve developed for us have been functional and helped my company take advantage of the avenues available to us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Joseph Studios goes above and beyond—their attention to detail and professional demeanor makes the process easy. They take all the necessary actions on their end and provide a staff of digital marketing experts.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They continue to fulfill our needs and make us anticipate our future collaborations. They've followed through on the targets we set in our first meeting.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s nothing they could do differently, so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a business solutions company. We provide end-to-end transformation solutions for those looking to change their business model, reduce waste, change debt, and earn more revenue.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

We needed to develop our online training system.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to achieve a four-level platform that included assessments, quizzes, etc. delivered on an interactive and engaging platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We thought Joseph Studios was the right fit because they had previously developed a similar learning management system and program.

Describe the project in detail.

Joseph Studios is developing the platform as an e-learning system. Their team is taking the information from our 370-page book and turning into a 4-level platform. They’re building interactive tools for users and writing content for the program.

What was the team composition?

I work with the founder, who also serves as the project lead. Additionally, they provide a content and course developer, a graphic designer, an IT developer, and an artist who produces the animations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform is still being developed, but we’re highly pleased with their progress so far. Joseph Studios' skill level has been exceptional, and we’re confident the final deliverable will address all of our needs. They are on track to produce a useable, attractive platform that our target market will value.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have great communication between our teams. There are scheduled walk-throughs and an open testing environment so we can see Joseph Studios’ progress and give them feedback. Their team is available through email, Skype, and phone calls. We always get quick, useful responses from them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The Joseph Studios team has a diverse range of skills and they collaborate seamlessly toward a shared goal. They’ve been willing to put our needs first and develop a product that will add value to my company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It could be more productive to limit interruptions due to progress updates. As a team, we try to be unobtrusive to avoid slowing momentum down. Though we do value the information they give us,, it could be beneficial to find a better balance that doesn’t impede production as much.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was updated on January 3, 2019, by the client. The original star ratings were: Overall - 5, Quality - 5, Schedule - 5, Cost - 5, NPS - 5. New content is below:

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Joseph Studios?

We engaged them to develop an online training system.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to achieve a four-level platform that included features such as assessments and quizzes. Furthermore, we wanted the platform to be interactive and engaging.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We thought Joseph Studios would be the right fit because they had previously developed a similar learning management system and program.

Describe the project in detail.

Joseph Studios used our book to develop the training program for the e-learning platform. Planned features included animations, interactive quizzes, assessments, and writing content.

What was the team composition?

The founder served as the project lead. The team included a course developer, a graphic designer, an IT developer, and artist that produced the animated content.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although the team started with good intentions, they did not manage the project well. We canceled the partnership because Joseph Studio did not produce the agreed-to final deliverables.

The team provided a 5-week timeline and budget of 80–120 hours. However, Joseph Studio missed early milestone dates, despite onboarding extra resources. We felt their process lacked transparency and proper tracking. As a result, we incurred additional costs at the same time the additional services and resources did not create extra value. At this point, the project got away from our main goal to put out the product we wanted on time and within budget.

In the project’s twelfth week, we were behind schedule and at 129 hours. This delay and the corresponding invoice made us cancel the project. Joseph Studio did not comply with our request for an itemized bill; the invoice only specified high-level activity. Consequently, we could not track the tasks that had accumulated to 129 hours.

In retrospect, their approach to add resources and services was a major red flag. It was premature to leave a review for Joseph Studio before they had completed work. In particular, the project manager role experienced turnover and lacked transparency. Our first company testimonial was made in good faith, but since updated to reflect our experience and situation. We can no longer recommend this company.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team’s performance did not match their promise for an effective agile approach. During development, we did not have visibility into several aspects of the platform’s progress: requirements, themes, features, stories, story point, run down, and burn down charts. There were scheduled walk-throughs, but they did not happen on a regular basis. They said they were aware of the problem, but never acted on it.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The lack of transparency and timeliness detracted from the project’s promising start. The company does have a diverse range of skills and staff that are passionate about their job. They have the potential to be a good company, but they need to perform better.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could be more honest and transparent, while displaying better leadership and project management skills.

Company Responses

The vendor responded on February 7, 2019. The reply is written by Daniel (Founder, Joseph Studios):

As the owner of Joseph Studios, I take personal responsibility for this project not meeting the client's standards. My team created 434 eLearning course lessons and a 100-question test bank in the 120 hours that we billed. The work and estimate were aligned and of excellent quality—I fully stand behind that. But throughout the project, the client made significant directional and scope changes that prevented the project’s completion.

Near the end of the engagement, the client attempted to change the contract from ‘time and materials’ to a fixed-cost rate due to cash flow reasons. I made the executive decision not to accept this request, fearing further changes and a never-ending project at my company’s expense.

 Since the project’s end, we’ve niched down and no longer build websites. My team now focuses solely on marketing services. What’s more, we’ve implemented a formal change control process for our remaining builds to ensure this issue never happens again.  

Please know that I personally reached out to the client and tried to resolve this issue, but those efforts weren't successful.