JSL Marketing & Web Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our family owned and operated niche roofing company has been in business for over 40 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire JSL Marketing & Web Design?

We engaged them to redesign and update our entire website and assume our monthly SEO initiatives.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to increase marketing efforts and move our website to the first page of Google as quickly as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

JSL was one of three small local firms we interviewed.

Describe the project in detail.

We first collaborated on the website design. Then, because of our inexperience, they explained what the SEO marketing process entailed and helped us select the appropriate package. 

What was the team composition?

We worked with the CEO and the president. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

The webpage quickly reached our ranking goal, so we are now focused on growth in the highest priority areas. 

How did the JSL Marketing & Web Design perform from a project management standpoint?

The team performed very well. They delivered every action item on schedule and were very generous with their time and attention. Their team feels like family to our small company.

What impresses you about the JSL Marketing & Web Design?

Their organization is impressive. They consistently complete deliverables without having to rush through anything. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior coordinator of marketing and development at a manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing and Web Design?

We enlisted JSL to update our website to look more fresh and up-to-date, as well as provide SEO expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sarah Leff [Co-founder and Website Designer, JSL Marketing and Web Design] built a mockup of the new website using Wordpress. After we gave her our approval of the mockup, she proceeded to move all of our content from our old website onto the new one. Once they finished building the site, we reviewed it for any typos and dead links. We exchanged feedback with them for some time until all of our issues were resolved and the site looked how we envisioned it. JSL then worked with our I.T. department to get it live.

Some of the site's key features include a redesigned homepage that allows users to access any other page they need by simply scrolling. Sarah also made some of the site’s icons stand out so users can easily navigate the pages and find when they need.

On the backend, the site includes meta-tagging capabilities and other SEO-geared features that helped our company rank highest in Google searches. They also offer blogging capabilities, but we have yet to take advantage of that. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with Sarah and James Leff [Owner and SEO Executive, JSL Marketing and Web Design].

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing and Web Design?

We were looking for a local company so we would be able to interact with them face-to-face. I Googled web design firms within our area and they were among the search results. I reached out to 10 different companies, and I would say around five of them contacted me back. After slimming that list down, we brought in the remaining three or four firms to speak with our leadership and discuss how they could help us.

We ultimately decided to work with JSL because they offered a great price and Sarah has copywriting experience, which was hugely beneficial to us during the redesign. We also appreciated JSL because they didn’t oversell — they simply offered us what we needed to redesign our website.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in May 2017, and the engagement continues, as they continue to provide us with SEO expertise.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the first months after launching the site, we gained about three more leads than we would’ve had JSL not redesigned our website. Though I have not formally checked myself, James has told us that our Google Analytics indicates we have more hits on our site than we did previously. 

How did JSL Marketing and Web Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job. They remained on top of everything and they went above and beyond what we asked for. 

During the process of redesigning the website, we spoke with them at least once a week via phone call or email. Since then, we speak to them once or twice a month to discuss SEO strategies.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were easy to get ahold of — we never felt like they disappeared on us throughout the process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, none that I can identify.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Allow them to do the work, and they won’t disappoint.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the senior coordinator of marketing and development for a health firm in Dallas, Texas. We offer behavioral health services and training tools to hospitals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing?

We wanted to redesign our website with a fresh, modern look so it would convey our brand efficiently. Our previous design work had been done in-house, but we needed someone with a little more of a creative touch for this project. We also didn't have anybody with SEO expertise and we wanted to do more with that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sarah Leff, one of JSL's co-founders, created a mockup for our new site. They built it using WordPress and added a number of features we'd never had before, like infinite scrolling with a fixed header menu, so there's a much more modern aesthetic. They also reorganized the content by adding new icons that convey our products and services more efficiently, and by ensuring that every icon or text blurb was linked to a corresponding page with more information. And then, on the back end, they added meta tags and content descriptions to make our site more SEO-friendly.

Once we approved the new design, JSL built it out and reformatted all of our old content and we reviewed it to correct some minor issues with the presentation of our information. Once everything was complete, they provided SEO guidance to our IT staff and helped us take the site live.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Sarah and James Leff, JSL's co-founders, and then they managed their team.

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing?

We wanted someone local to Dallas/Fort Worth so we could have in-person contact. JSL was one of five firms that we considered after our initial online search. After a meeting with our leadership team, we ended up choosing JSL not only because they offered us a great price, but also because we felt like Sarah's copywriting experience could be a huge benefit. We also liked the relative simplicity of their focus—some of the other firms we considered offered a lot more bells and whistles, but JSL seemed the most solid on their SEO expertise as well as web design.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the past year and a half, we've spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed our contract in May 2017 and we're still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There was a noticeable increase in contact form use in the first few months after we redid the site. We've heard from three hospitals that we wouldn't have encountered otherwise. James has also reported that we're receiving more search hits and traffic to our site, although I haven't seen the Google Analytics data to confirm.

How did JSL Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

During the redesign, we were in touch at least once a week, either by phone or email. Now that the site is live we communicate once or twice a month to discuss our SEO services. They’ve been wonderful to work with—they’re always on top of any task or correction, no matter how small.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They definitely gave us services that went above and beyond what we originally contracted them for, which we really appreciated. Their attentiveness was top-notch, especially since they could have easily taken their time to respond to minor issues, or ghosted us the way some other firms do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just let them do their work and trust the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of a landscaping company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL?

I wanted to have a website to which I could refer prospective clients to increase my credibility, so I was looking for a company to build a website for me for a reasonable price.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Since it was their first time developing a website for a landscaping company, I gave them some links to other landscaping sites to look at. I explained what exactly I was looking for and provided them with photos. The important part for me was to have a nice gallery section where prospective customers could see the examples of jobs I had completed. They wrote the information about me, my services, and the company, and I tweaked it and proofread it. They also featured my book and added a contact form for customers to fill out.

What is the team dynamic? 

I worked with James [Co-Founder and Marketing Expert, JSL Marketing] and Sarah [Co-Founder and Branding Expert,  JSL Marketing].

How did you come to work with them?

I called several web designers and met with some of them. The decisive factors for me were the price and the location - I wanted to find a local company. 

I asked JSL to send me some examples of their work and the terms of contract. After I met with them, I decided they would be a good fit. 

How much have you invested with them?

The website cost $850.

What is the status of this engagement? 

The project happened in February–May of this year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was successfully launched and I added it to my business card. It gives me credibility and allows my potential customers to see the examples of my projects.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered the product on time and within my budget. They were very accessible, so we had a few face-to-face meetings. In addition, we used phone and email to communicate. Over the course of the project, I spoke with them probably 10–15 times.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were a pleasure to work with, and I'm happy with the way the website looks.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They know how to handle the project, so you can trust their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the marketing director at CDS Global.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing & Website Design?

We just opened our western division (our home office is in Beijing), and we didn't have a website in English. We were looking for a company with expertise in web development to build a website in English for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a completely new WordPress website. Since no one knew who we were (we had mostly operated in Asia), we needed to drive traffic to the website and establish branding to get the message out there. We provided them with the information about our business and picked out a theme.

Our challenge was that we link to a back-end in Beijing, but they were able to make it work. We plan to have them recreate our back-end and make it English-friendly. 

We had to translate from Chinese nearly everything we had. After we had done the first two rounds of translation, they helped us present the information in a way that is attractive to the audience. It was a major endeavor on their part, but they worked fast and finished the project in about a month. 

What is the team dynamic? 

We were working primarily with James [Co-Founder and Marketing Expert, JSL Marketing & Website Design] and Sarah [Co-Founder and Branding Expert,  JSL Marketing & Website Design].

How did you come to work with them?

We interviewed several people, and JSL was able to do the project in the timeframe that we needed for a reasonable price. We also liked the fact that we could work directly with the designer and the programmer.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

The project happened in May–June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything we do on Google AdWords (for which another vendor is responsible) links to our landing pages. All of our contacts come through the website and Google AdWords, so the website contributed considerably to our success.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

There was a lot of collaboration: at first we talked to Sarah every day and, after a while, we emailed back and forth every couple of days. We mostly used phone, email, and face-to-face meetings to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very responsive. We worked with them directly, which was a big advantage. They understood exactly what we were trying to accomplish.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you're starting a new website, have all the information ready - you won't believe how many questions you'll have to answer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Apartment Locating Specialists.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing?

I was working with a business coach that was helping me rebrand with a new logo, and because of that, I wanted to update our current website. I wanted a website that would relate to professionals, was trendier, cleaner, and more organized. I needed something that would bring in more business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I wanted JSL’s feedback on what they would recommend so that my website matched well with my new logo We collaborated on a list of everything that needed to be accomplished, from fonts to artwork. The original wireframes were completed in a week-and-a-half, and the full project took four or five weeks.

After the website redesign, I had them take over my social media and SEO. They found a lot of errors on my site made by the previous webmaster I had been using. JSL walked me through why our rankings had dropped, and I was grateful for that.

What is the team dynamic? 

I work with James and Sarah [Co-Owners, JSL Marketing]. I speak with them every day.

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing?

I did research and found several companies that I wanted to interview. I narrowed down my choices based on my new logo. JSL was the second agency on my list. The first agency I called said they didn’t handle existing websites. I called JSL and I was on the phone for 45 minutes with James, he was very helpful. He explained their process and who they are, he felt like he could help me. He and Sarah then came to my office and spent a couple of hours going over everything. They told me what they saw happening each week. He had already sent me a proposal so I knew the pricing. I felt like the overall package was a good fit, and felt very comfortable with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

The web design project cost $6,000. Additionally, I pay $1,750 per month for social media, email marketing, etc.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our social media is taking off. I’ve been able to decrease the amount that I was spending on PPC and AdWords, so their work has been cost-effective.

How did JSL Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

A lot of people act like they could care less about customer service, but JSL Marketing made me feel important, like I was their only customer. They never rush you off the phone. Anytime I gave feedback, they made the changes promptly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most valuable thing about them is their technology and design knowledge. Sarah has a degree in communications and I love the trendy way she words content for our website and blog. Everything is scheduled out, and they keep their word.

Their integrity, principles, and things they stand for are also amazing. I can’t say enough good things about them. They nailed what I wanted.  

Do you have any advice for potential clients?

Hire them. I’ve had a great experience with them. They’ve met every weekly goal that was set, which is becoming increasingly rare, and they are honest.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a mortgage company. I’m a loan partner for a senior loan officer in our firm. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing?

We had an old, outdated website that we needed to revamp and rebrand. The reason for the revamp/rebrand is that we had moved companies and wanted a fresh, new look. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave them a few examples of how we wanted the website to look, and they took it from there. We provided some content for them, and they added it to the site. We needed the customer to be able to apply online, so we requested that feature as well. They were pulling from the existing WordPress framework and redesigning it. There wasn't very much back and forth. It was more along the lines of, "We want it to look like this." The back and forth really was in the content and making sure it was correct.

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing?

Actually, they’re friends of our senior loan officer.

How much have you invested with JSL Marketing?

It was under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Right now, it is in review with corporate. It hasn't gone live yet, but JSL Marketing finished it. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

Nobody has really seen it except the corporate office, and they haven't mentioned much yet. But, I think JSL Marketing did a really good job. It's very up-to-date and trendy. In terms of the functionality of people being able to sign in, those things were actualized in the way that I wanted them to be.

How did JSL Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very professional. They were up-to-date all the time in terms of knowing where the project was and meeting deadlines that I had set for them. We primarily communicated with them by email.

What did you find most impressive about JSL Marketing?

They were both really great in their technical services and workflow. They helped us form an idea and execute it, so I think they did a really good job.

We’ve had an awesome experience with JSL Marketing & Web Design. They have completely revamped our website, and it looks wonderful! They are very knowledgeable and creative. I’ll definitely be calling them again.

Are there any areas JSL Marketing could improve?

No, I don't think so. I think they did a good job. I wouldn’t have changed it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Garage Floors DFW, a residential garage floor coating company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing & Website Design?

We wanted to improve our SEO [search engine optimization]. In the past, I had handled the SEO myself, but it was getting harder to keep it up.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of the first things they did was register our site and information with Yext to manage our listings across the Internet. They made sure the content on our site was consistent in an effort to improve local search optimization. We also had them perform an audit on our site to see how it was performing. They identified places that could be improved and fixed existing errors.

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing & Website Design?

We found them through a Google search. They were one of the first results that came up and I thought that said something about their abilities. They are a local company, which was something I was interested in. I scheduled a meeting with them and after that, I felt like they were the right choice.

How much have you invested with JSL Marketing & Website Design?

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

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in December 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

After they performed the initial audit, they identified quite a few issues. Some of the issues we were aware of and that’s why we were looking for someone to help us. We’ve seen an improvement on our site with regard to broken links now being corrected, our menus are laid out better, and the website is easier to use. We now get a lot of compliments on our website. We’re also seeing improvement in the number of leads we’re getting.

How did JSL Marketing & Website Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything met our expectations. They call once a week or every two weeks to touch base and update us on their progress. They also provide us with a weekly or biweekly SEO report so that we can see progress. Even if they’re not actively working on it, they call to ask questions about what we’re seeing as far as performance is concerned. They also call to see if we have any concerns.

What did you find most impressive about JSL Marketing & Website Design?

I really enjoy working with them. We’ve consulted with other firms in the past that have a corporate feel and structure, including bundled pricing. I feel like JSL is a lot more personable. They were able to custom-tailor a service plan for what we were looking for, which means we’re not paying for services that we’re not interested in. They’re very responsive and have done an excellent job.

Are there any areas JSL Marketing & Website Design could improve?

None.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and president of 12Feet Inc., an information security consulting firm based in Dallas. We focus on Fortune 100 clients, helping them keep their credit card data safe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing?

We needed a validation tool that represented the Fortune 100 style of business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I met with the team and let them know my background. That helped us shortcut the process because we provided some of the services ourselves. The iteration and development process was very casual because of our collective experiences. JSL Marketing’s team was very open to certain directions. They provided options for us every step of the way, and I was very open to their creative directions.

We were already on a WordPress platform and I wanted to keep it that way. As a result, the development work focused more on design. They then developed the responsive CSS to make sure it rendered appropriately. They also did some things around the branding of the website, including business cards. I do speaking engagements as well, so they helped me come up with a PowerPoint template that followed the branding.

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing?

I had a vision of how I wanted the website to look and feel. I searched a lot of organizations, looking for someone local who I could meet with. Looking through JSL’s portfolio, I saw certain styles that I wanted to be implemented on our site.

How much have you invested with JSL Marketing?

We spent around $10,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2016 and the project was completed in January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Most of our leads come from relationships, so we use the site as a validation tool for our organization. I’ve had some existing clients comment on the site and how much better it looks.

How did JSL Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

There were two occasions where I needed things by a certain date and they met their deadlines. Any delays on the rest of the work were because I was behind.

What did you find most impressive about JSL Marketing?

They were willing to approach a project that I had already had experience in. I drove them in the direction I wanted to go and they were very responsive to that. They adapted well to our organization.

Are there any areas JSL Marketing could improve?

No, we were very happy with the outcome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our foundation helps look for cures to a medical condition, and I’m the president of the board.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with JSL Marketing & Website Design?

We had an existing website, but it had been neglected and needed to be updated.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sarah [Website Designer, JSL Marketing & Website Design] and James [Sales Coach, JSL Marketing & Website Design] met with us, and we looked at the website. That gave Sarah some ideas on my thoughts of making things simpler, more intuitive, and more modern. That was the guidance that I gave her, and then I put it in her hands to bring the site to fruition. We moved from our old web host to GoDaddy, and Sarah facilitated that. She revamped the site using WordPress and a template.

How did you come to work with JSL Marketing?

I searched online for an agency and found organizations that were more mature but those were out of our price range. I looked at JSL’s website, and I liked the work they had done. I spoke to Sarah, and they seemed capable and willing to work with us in spite of our budget. We were not willing to commit to any monthly SEO [search engine optimization] work, and they were good with that.

How much have you invested with JSL Marketing & Website Design?

We spent under $10,000 on JSL Marketing with the project. They were very economical.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project both started and ended in October 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The feedback I’ve gotten from other board members is that they really like the updates. It’s more modern, intuitive, and easier to use. I think we still need to evolve it a bit more, but JSL Marketing did a nice job with the initial work.

How did JSL Marketing & Website Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn’t have a hard deadline, but Sarah gave us a good sense of how long it would take. When we had a question, she was very responsive. If we had ideas that she could use, she would incorporate them, but she also gave us feedback if she didn’t think it was the best for us. The effort was very collaborative, and I was very happy with the communication.

What did you find most impressive about JSL Marketing & Website Design?

I don’t have much to compare JSL Marketing to since this is my first experience but I think they did well.

Are there any areas JSL Marketing & Website Design could improve?

All companies need an ongoing relationship. JSL Marketing offered us a monthly program, but we decided not to go with that. After the project was done, when I needed something fixed, JSL Marketing wasn’t as responsive as I hoped. But I know I’m just calling out of the blue and don’t have a monthly commitment with JSL Marketing, so I don’t fault them for that.