Kinex Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was a marketing consultant at a fertility clinic.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

We needed to completely redo our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redid our website using WordPress. They’re continuing to help us with SEO. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with two people, but I had one main point of contact who was my account manager. 

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

We put out that we were looking for a website development company and they submitted a proposal for the project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000 CAD (approximately $7,468 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2019, and it took us about three months to complete the project. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone loves it. The website is beautifully done in terms of design and functionality. They also helped me learn about the website backend so I could update it myself. 

How did Kinex Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management team was very professional. We had weekly meetings, and they provided regular status updates. The quality of their service was excellent. Everything we needed was delivered on time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They showed a lot of empathy, and I felt like they cared about our business. The account manager was also patient and friendly. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I wish the project could’ve taken a little less time and that their team contributed more creatively to the design of the website. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

I would just say go for it. They’re very reliable. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a forensic accounting firm, and I’m an associate here. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

We were a growing company that needed to create a new website with several new features like webinars, content, pictures, and articles.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an existing website when we started the engagement and opted to keep some of the content. Otherwise, they developed the new site from scratch. We knew exactly what we wanted but needed them to walk us through the process of creating it. They were also able to provide us input that we may not have considered without a technical background.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with two points of contact, but there was also a larger team working in the background.

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

Through third-party sources and online reviews, our firm did our due diligence to ensure that we partnered with a team that would be right for our project. I don’t have exact details on how we found them.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe that we spent about $10,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in July 2019, and our site went live in February 2020. Our engagement is ongoing, however.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because of the global pandemic, we’re not seeing the exact results that we expected. However, the traffic we’re seeing from our uploaded articles is exponentially larger than it was before. Their turnaround times really helped us adapt to changes and take on challenges as well. They really impressed us with the quality of their work as well.  

How did Kinex Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The process was very iterative and centered around communication. If they had feedback for us, they weren’t afraid to suggest it as we worked seamlessly toward the end product. Throughout the engagement, we communicated over email or phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

From beginning to end, they were the right choice of provider. They were able to walk a non-technical team through their processes with clarity and depth. Their expertise in their field along with their strong communication skills was impressive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were hoping to go live by the end of 2019, which didn’t happen due to the holidays. As a whole, though, we’re more than happy with the work of their team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have a strong idea of what you want to accomplish, they’ll be able to determine an appropriate project timeline and step-by-step process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a retail/wholesale perfume company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

For the first 25 years of our existence, we were a brick and mortar operation with several retail locations. We moved into a telephone mail order service, and we developed our first ecommerce website about ten years ago. When our original web designer moved, we reached out to local web designers to completely revamp our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our initial website was very simple and not up to modern standards. We explained how we wanted to display our inventory, and they came back to us with design suggestions. The site was built using Magento.

Early in the project, we had an unrelated issue with our email servers. They went out of their way to collect us and get us back up and running. We had a major issue with another vendor, but Kinex was flexible and didn't add extra costs when the project dragged out longer than we thought it would.

What is the team composition?

We had direct contact with a project manager and a developer throughout the project. We met their other coders during meetings, but most of our communication was with those two main contacts.

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

We found them through an online search for local website designers, and we spent several months researching our options. We met with approximately 25 local companies, but Kinex understood exactly what we wanted. They clearly explained the process and the limitations, and we had a good connection with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The full cost came to $28,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed a contract with them in June 2018, and the work started the following month. The site launched in July 2019. They still provide maintenance and other ongoing services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's still too soon to cite any quantifiable effects of their work. The feedback from our customers is positive, and we've had a lot of old clients return to us, now that our site is better.

How did Kinex Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication and project management are excellent. Now that the site is running, they answer all my questions within 24 hours. We met in person every other week, had daily conversations, and had occasional video conferences.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ongoing communication is a major strength. They always get back quickly, and they proactively find solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should do differently. They checked every box, and we're happy to continue the partnership.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're able to work with any project scope, and they helped us build our online presence from almost nothing. Don't be afraid to approach them, no matter how large or small your project is. They can work with anyone.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Ninjaz Canada, Canada’s first Ninja Warrior training facility for kids and adults. We’re a play gym with an obstacle course racing setup and cater to everybody from toddlers to adults. We have different obstacle courses with different difficulty levels and provide venue options for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, and corporate events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

We were working with another web design company in Toronto, and they did a fairly good job, but because we were the first company of our kind in the market, they had trouble pinpointing our programs and being concise with them. When our website launched, parents were confused about our offerings and programs and their timing. I was busy operating the business and didn’t have time to pre-screen everything the vendor was developing. Eventually, it was time to redo our website, and I wanted to look for another partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned the site using WordPress and some custom code. Amir said the site would take four to eight weeks, and I saw a skeleton of the site after three. I knew where he was going with the color scheme and it looked quite nice.

Our previous site didn’t have any booking capabilities, but they introduced them to us when we went into their office. We looked at things they’d done for other companies and liked the booking feature. After talking about what ours would look like, they created one specifically for us.

Amir (Co-Founder, Kinex Media) recommended we put a calendar on the site. We’re in the recreation industry, so our hours can be irregular at times (seven days a week during the summer, M-F during the year except for winter break, open to the public on weekends only). Before this, I’d hired a receptionist to answer peoples’ questions about how to get to our site and what our hours were.

They also implemented a new customer contact system. On our site, people see a one-click contact page where they put in their name, phone number, email, and a brief message, and then submit it. This way we know exactly what their questions are about and which department to direct them toward.

Our website has a dashboard where my marketing coordinator can edit the site. If we want to change something that Kinex heavily coded, all we have to do is send them a quick text or hop on a call with Amir, and they’ll have it done quickly, usually within the hour. If this is the case, we give them all the information and pictures we want them to include.

What is the team composition?

Amir is my direct contact, but I’m also in constant touch with a designer.

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

When starting any project, I do online research and then tap into my network to see if anyone has had experience with them. I shortlisted Kinex Media and one other company from this project, and one of my husband’s friends had worked with Amir before. He remembered they had quick turnaround, so I met with Amir.

After numerous discussions, I could tell Amir was knowledgeable, patient, and quick to listen, which is how he understands everything. He was able to critique my website without me giving him a lot of information and tell me what changes were required. Ultimately, I chose them because of the close attention they pay to detail.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2016 until January 2017. The website took eight weeks to complete, and then we went back and forth to fine tune things for 1–2 weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have better control of my website and, as a small business owner, I feel empowered. The contact page lets my employees receive emails directly, which improves their efficiency, and I don’t have a receptionist just to handle calls for hours of operations and directions anymore. Everything on our website is clear.

How did Kinex Media perform from a project management standpoint?

If a feature isn’t functioning properly, I can call or text Amir because we’ve developed that kind of relationship. The rest of my team communicates via phone calls or email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Whenever we’ve had ideas, Kinex does some research and comes up with a solution that better fits my business. Their after-sale service has been fantastic. They’re approachable and turn things around quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m sure they offer more services to bigger companies, like taking care of all the design work and tweaks they require. If I had to say something, that's what I’d recommend.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sales and marketing manager at an ERP software company called Blue Link Associates. We design, develop, sell, and support our proprietary ERP software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

Our in-house team had updated our previous website on an ongoing basis, but we hadn’t completed a full update in years. As a result, our site looked outdated and needed a complete refresh. We reached out to Kinex Media to migrate our site to a different platform before revamping the design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed a new WordPress site, updating the general look and feel from the ground up. Because we wanted to be involved throughout the process, they provided critical input and taught us how to make modifications ourselves.

We collaborated to redesign the core visual elements, overhauling the templates, fonts, and colors. They also modified the site’s structure; it now features 100% width and has embedded forms. Together, we migrated, reformatted, and edited 300 legacy webpages in addition to moving our blog onto the new platform.

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with Amir (Co-Founder, Kinex Media) and Karan (Co-Founder, Kinex Media). Karan was our go-to contact and acted like a project manager. If we had pressing issues and didn’t hear back from him for whatever reason, we would also reach out to Amir. Between the two of them, they always got back to us quickly.

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

We found them while searching online and brought them in along with 1–2 other potential candidates. During the meeting, they presented their project approach, detailing their structure and plan for helping companies move to new platforms. Based on that, we decided to go with Kinex Media.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from June–September 2018. Since the site launch, they’ve continued to provide ongoing support when necessary.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our site traffic has increased significantly since going live, and everyone internally really likes the design. Visitors have also commented on the visuals, noting that the new site looks professional and has great content. Although it’s text heavy, it’s easy to navigate and manage. Moving the blog to the site has also saved time because we no longer have to oversee two separate platforms.

How did Kinex Media perform from a project management standpoint?

For the most part, they did a great job. There was some miscommunication in the beginning as we sorted out our responsibilities from theirs, but we had no issues going forward. Kinex Media understood that we wanted to be involved, too, and worked with us. A lot of times, we asked them to teach us how to do a task ourselves instead of assigning it to them because we wanted to learn. In terms of communication, we mostly spoke through phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Although we don’t work with them on a regular basis anymore, they’ve remained responsive to our inquiries, getting back to us almost immediately. They’re also proactive in helping us ensure optimal site performance. For example, during the big push to move all sites to a secure HTTPS format, they reached out to us to keep us up to date.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the initial stages, there was some communication on who was responsible for what, which led to a bit of duplicate work. But once we addressed those issues, the process was really good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear and upfront about how much you want to be involved. If you want to learn throughout and be more hands-on, then you need to communicate that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the marketing director for a design build firm. We build everything from museum galleries to trade show booth exhibits. We also do retail designs, such as pop-up locations and experiential marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

Our website was decent but not optimized, so we wanted to hire a partner to improve our SEO. We also had quite a few other technical issues with the site that we wanted fixed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kinex Media worked on our SEO and made changes to the website to reflect those improvements. They came up with functional and creative designs, arranging copy in a way that improved our image. We also rely on them for some social media consultation, helping us maximize our online presence. Part of their SEO work is online advertising, and we’ll soon be starting a PPC campaign with them.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager and the owner.

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

We found them on Google. We had a thorough vetting process and interviewed numerous agencies, but we felt Kinex Media was the best match.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our Google rankings are improving, and we’re showing up on the first page of search results. Our SEO has become strong, and Kinex Media is in tune with Google’s algorithms and the changes that frequently take place.

How did Kinex Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Every month, we review keywords to make sure everything is working properly and make changes as needed. They’re reliable and manage the project correctly. They meet our deadlines or let us know if something will take longer than expected. We mainly communicate via email and phone, but they have project management tools available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re professional and extremely friendly, helping with any concerns. They have a quick turnaround time and seem to know the answer to every question. We trust them and don’t need to constantly check their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should celebrate their work more and build a stronger social media presence.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Get in touch with them, meet in person, and explain what you want. Let them guide you.

BACKGROUND

I work for Lavis Limos. We provide limos for events, corporate accounts, etc...

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

I needed to find a website design, development, and online marketing partner to grow my business. I also own other transportation companies under the same umbrella, so I wanted a full-service solution so I wouldn't have to hire many agencies or experts.

We had worked with other firms in the past that took our money and provided no results. We didn't want to get burned again, so reputation was key in my search.

SOLUTION

Kinex Media provides web design, SEO [search engine optimization], PPC [pay-per-click], and social media marketing to enhance my online lead generation efforts. I found Kinex Media online and liked the look of their website. They seemed reputable and honest.

We have worked together for about three years, starting in 2013. One of the main projects they provided was an interactive, online booking system to reserve cars. They also produced an online database to gather the data from the system.

They support our system 24/7 and manage bookings as well, which is a demanding task.

They always work within our budget. We tell them what we have to spend and they can always accommodate. Some months, we spend up to $20,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

I am a very picky client, but can happily say that Kinex can get it done. They have produced a beautiful website and grown our lead generation efforts. They always make changes lightning quick when I ask for them. I can give them a 12 hour notice for a change and they always get it done on time.

My PPC campaign is effective and is also producing a positive return on investment. Our website has a complex booking system, but it's only gone down a couple of times. They got the system back up right away and it didn't cause any lasting problems.

On the SEO side, they have grown our keyword rankings and organic traffic. They are honest and transparent with all activities. They are awesome and I highly recommend them to anyone.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I have a psychology and counseling practice in Canada. I employ about 23 people, and we work with couples and individuals on relationship issues.

What is your position?

I am the owner of the practice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

I wanted to have a new website.  

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Kinex Media did the design and the implementation of my mobile responsive site. They did social media covers and banners, because I was really looking forward to that. They’re still working on email signature stuff. The site has two parts in it; the first is the website, and then the second is the backend membership part of the site. We’re still working together on developing that part. Right now there’s a free membership, but then in December we’re planning on launching a paid membership part of the site as well.

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

My original website was done by a company in London, England. I was really happy with their services, but because of the conversion right now with the British Pound, it wasn’t financially smart to go with a company overseas. So I looked for a company in Canada, and Kinex came up really high on the search engine rankings. When I spoke to them, they were super professional, and they seemed to understand the kind of look and feel I was going for. I did talk to a few other people, but they didn’t seem as good as Kinex. Kinex seemed to fit the bill, and pretty soon after that we were working together.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

I found them to be very cost-effective. My whole site, including the membership part, was $8,500. I feel like they really went above and beyond for that cost, considering that the site I had previously was $21,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first contact was July 30th, and the site was actually published on September 21st. That’s a crazy turnaround, especially for a site with a backend like that, and it was extremely well done. We are still working together to complete the membership part of the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

They were able to turn things around really quickly. I had a specific date in mind that I wanted to launch, and it was not easy to accomplish. I’m very particular about what I want.

I think the site turned out great and Kinex Media performed very well. The feedback has been fantastic. It is a Parallax site, which is a specific type of site, and it takes a specific type of designer to do it. I love the Parallax function and I love how it scrolls. I think the visual appeal is fantastic. It’s exactly what I was looking for. Just about everyone who’s seen it, loves it. They know that, in my industry, nobody else has a site like this. So it’s kind of new and groundbreaking in terms of that as well. So I’m very happy with it.

What distinguishes Kinex Media from other providers?

The thing I appreciated the most was that they really respected my deadline. These guys were not like other companies. The weekend before the launch, we were in touch every two hours. They were working so hard on it. I had eight updates for them, and they’d write back with eight responses. I feel like it’s very rare to find someone that is actually that responsive and cares about making it happen for you.

Is there anything Kinex Media could have improved or done differently?

Nothing I can think of right now. I was really clear from day one about what I was looking for in someone to work with, and they met all of those criteria for me.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is a law firm that provides legal services to clients relating to matrimonial and family matters, real estate law, corporate matters and wills and estates matters.

What is your role at the company?

I am the owner, managing director, and principal lawyer at the firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Kinex Media?

I had a basic website before I approached Kinex Media, and I was looking for someone who understood the needs and demands of a law firm and the type of clientele I wanted to attract. My website at the time was not reflective of my vision for the company. I was interested in having a website developed that reflected the progressive nature of my values, goals, and principles in a user-friendly format. Additionally, I was seeking a modern, forward-thinking representation of my firm while maintaining the traditional values of a law firm.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The scope was to create a website for my company and eventually proceed to SEO [search engine optimization].

How did you come to work with Kinex Media?

I reviewed their previous work and websites they had created for other companies, including a law firm. I sat with Amir [Waheed, project manager at Kinex Media] to discuss my goals and values and felt that he understood my needs.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was a few thousand dollars.

What is the status of this engagement?

It was completed slightly less than two years ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I had very positive feedback from friends, colleagues, and clients with respect to my new website. They helped me portray my company as I envisioned and communicated to individuals that my company was progressing and ready to move forward with them in new ways. They were very professional, efficient, and timely with their service.

What distinguishes Kinex Media from other providers?

The greatest part of working with Kinex Media was their communication and commitment to customer service. I felt that I was heard, my ideas were appreciated, and my values were incorporated into the project.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve, or things you might do differently?

Nothing that I can think of.