Ladybugz Interactive Agency

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Executive Director of Joanne Langione Dance Center, a woman-owned, family business that is celebrating 46 years of teaching dance to children ages 6 months through teens in Newton, MA. JLDC was recently awarded Best of Boston, Best Dance Classes for Kids by Boston Magazine for their dedication to teaching in a fun and supportive atmosphere in their new, 11,000 sq ft. state-of-the-art studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We initially wanted to improve our SEO. Ladybugz presented us with a comprehensive project scope on how to do that which included website re-design and monthly digital marketing consultation.

SOLUTION

How did you select Lady Bugz Interactive Agency and what were the deciding factors?

We ultimately choose Ladybugz because their strategy to improving our SEO was smart and effective. In addition, we felt that in just a few short meetings they understood our brand and our value to our community.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Our work began with website redesign. We were on a tight timeline based on our enrollment season. After two discovery meetings, the Ladybugz team presented us with two design approaches.

After choosing one, we got to work refining our design and communicating our program offerings in an effective way with a more modern and clean look. Simultaneously we were also working on getting all or our digital marketing designs and materials in order so that when the website launched we could also hit the ground running with social media and blog posts.

How many resources from the Lady Bugz Interactive Agency team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with 5 primary members from the Ladybugz team. The Owner, Creative Director/brand strategist, Director of Customer Success, Digital Media Strategist and Blog writer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have launched a new website that better reflects the quality of our programs. In addition, the user experience is much more streamlined and optimized for mobile. We have a brand identity that is modern, streamlined and easy to integrate into our online and printed materials.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Ladybugz established a clear timeline for meetings and deadlines in order to keep our project on schedule. They made it very easy to share documents, feedback and their turn around time was quick and efficient. Communication was very easy and professional. It was a pleasure to work with them.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are experienced professionals that truly know their craft. They understood our design goals and worked tirelessly to make them come to fruition. When we decided we needed updated photos to include on the website they were able to provide that service for us in our timeline.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

We do not have any complaints about our website redesign project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am President of a small nonprofit based in Massachusetts. For over 30 years, our all-volunteer organization has helped provide education, shelter, medical care, and job training to women and children in South India.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

Our website was over 12 years old and quite outdated. We needed a web design agency that could help us communicate our mission more effectively and create a more inviting web presence. We wanted the new website to be more accessible than the old one, and easy to explore.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We scoured the internet for top web design companies, and interviewed 4 or 5. We chose Ladybugz because: 

1) their values and ours are extraordinarily compatible

2) they have superb communications skills

3) they are knowledgeable, and easily answered all of our questions

4) they were creative in finding ways to make our project affordable.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After a couple of exploratory phone calls and a discovery meeting on Zoom, we received drafts of several pages, giving us a clear direction. Weekly meetings with the creative director/designer for the project enabled us to fine-tune our message. He came up with some wonderfully creative solutions for conveying our work graphically and pictorially.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with 3 people over the course of the project: the CEO, the designer, and the QA point person who resolved a number of technical issues pre-launch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our site has newly launched, but feedback is overwhelmingly positive. We have received emails, texts and phone calls from so many people who want to let us know that they love the site and find it "beautiful", "engaging", "fun to explore", "easy to navigate", and "profoundly moving". Several people called to tell me they were moved to tears by the beauty of the new site and the clarity of the messaging.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The agility of thebteam in responding to our scheduling needs and goals couldn't have been better as we worked together on developing the new website.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The Ladybugz Interactive Agency team empowered us to be effective partners in collaborating with them. When we realized the site needed to be more accessible, the designer immediately responded with concrete and effective strategies. Ladybugz' corporate commitment to "getting it right", on every level, is absolutely outstanding.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

To meet our budget, Ladybugz experimented with a new approach that inadvertently led to a crunch just before launch. If they offer such a generous arrangement again, I imagine they'll structure it a little differently. Their honesty about the problem and their efforts to resolve issues quickly were really extraordinary. I came away feeling even more impressed by the quality of their work, and by their unwavering commitment to their clients.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Vice President of Marketing for NFS Leasing, Inc. NFS Leasing is a leading equipment finance company that provides customized financing solutions supporting businesses with challenged credit, including start-up & pre-revenue, high-growth, financially distressed, and turnaround companies.

NFS uses its own balance sheet capital and provides fast, flexible credit decisions and is proud to have created thousands of jobs and infused almost $1,000,000,000 of capital into credit challenged firms, a segment of the economy that struggles to secure critically needed financing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency, and what were your goals?

As a rapidly growing company with limited in-house marketing resources, we needed an external partner to enhance our digital marketing presence. At the beginning, this included an update on our current website. As well, we are working on a second project to build our digital and social media assets to raise awareness and generate leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We've been working with several agencies in the last few years, and wanted to consolidate some of these elements. I was familiar with Lysa Miller and some of the services she and her staff provided. After learning more about the Ladybugz, the impressive work they provide, and the team that would support us, I was ready to launch our first project.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

They assisted us in refreshing our website. Although we had only developed our website two years earlier, our focus at the time was on content and general navigation. We needed Ladybugz to help improve the website. They have improved the technical aspects of the back-end, so we are better equipped to manage our growing content and SEO. They also gave the website a fresher appearance and enhanced user experience.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

In general, two individuals: Lysa Miller, Ladybugz Founder, and Frank Pereira Developer/ Designer. There was also the support of Bobbie and Crystal who helped to bring our process forward quickly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The most important outcome of the project has been clear and creative direction and technical improvements. This allows us to properly scale our marketing efforts, according to industry standards and creative guidelines.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are organized and have excellent project management skills. They lay out a plan and follow it. They had excellent communication and shared with us what support was needed on our side. We were able to do the job that was originally set out on time, and I was satisfied with the process.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They do a great job as a team. Their collaboration and willingness to support and assist one another is evident throughout the project. Also, they are actual partners. They truly serve as an extension to your team. This is exactly what we needed to further our marketing efforts. We are very pleased with the outcome.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

They made improvements along the way. Lysa requested feedback, which was mostly positive, and she made minor adjustments based on that feedback to improve the process as we moved forward. It's great to have a partner asking for feedback and implementing it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO at Alamar Biosciences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We needed someone to create our website. Our goal was to develop a presence in the marketplace to help potential customers and investors find us. We also wanted to create a detailed profile of our company to help us recruit more people. Our biggest challenge was that we needed it finished within a four-week window.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ladybugz Interactive created a WordPress site for us. Due to the limited timeframe, their development and creative teams worked closely with us to produce the site’s content, layout, look and feel, and brand imagery. They brought 3–5 proposals in each meeting and helped us narrow them down to the best choice, which we would then iterate on. 

What is the team composition?

We interfaced directly with three teammates, but there was a development team working behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We found them through a web search. After seeing a number of positive reviews about their work, we decided to interview them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from August–September 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have many metrics yet, but we’ve certainly received a lot more inbound inquiries and positive feedback from people who have seen the website.

How did Ladybugz Interactive Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. The Ladybugz Interactive team was easy to work with and adhered to our strict timeline. Cost-wise, they were pretty competitive and stuck to the budget we set.

Additionally, Ladybugz Interactive was very responsive and received feedback well. We communicated through email and scheduled Zoom meetings twice a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were most impressed with their creativity and communication skills.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were pleased by their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Devote sufficient internal resources who can quickly respond to the Ladybugz Interactive team’s proposals and presentations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Sharon Cummings: I’m the founder of GermArmor Inc.

Wendy Guy: I’m the treasurer of GermArmor Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ladybugz Interactive?

SC: We had a website that was created by a previous agency, but we decided to overhaul it. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

SC: Ladybugz Interactive revamped our whole website to better fit our personality. We’ve just launched the website in August 2021, but there are still a few moving parts that we’re fine-tuning like a future blog. At the moment, we’re working with them on our branding in addition to defining our niche. They’re helping us identify the people who would be most interested in our product.

WG: I’ll also add that, as we’ve gone through this process, we’ve realized that there are some areas where we don’t have efficiency. Working with us, Ladybugz Interactive has put together a jumpstart package, which includes a Google Drive where they document everything they’ve done under one umbrella. This makes it easier for us to refer to if we later decide to do a branding component ourselves or go down a different path.

What is the team composition? 

SC: We’re currently working with about five people, including developers and designers. Each individual’s role doesn’t overlap, but they work closely together so that there are never any gaps in the process.

WG: Morgan (Creative Director & Brand Strategist) is our main point of contact. Her project management skills are spot on, and she’s met or exceeded every deliverable that she’s outlined. We’ve never had to follow up with her on anything. Once, she had meeting minutes and updates for us within 30 minutes after a call — I’d never experienced that before!

How did you come to work with Ladybugz Interactive?

SC: After interviewing several marketing companies, Wendy and I felt a very strong connection to Ladybugz Interactive. They seemed to get what we were looking for because they were a women-owned marketing company themselves.

What made them stand out was that they took the time to be personal with us and learn about our interests. They noted what we liked right down to the colors we preferred, which made for a more personal interview overall. 

WG: It was a mutual process — they were interviewing us as much as we were interviewing them. Their goal was to make sure that we were an appropriate client. I really appreciated that because they wanted to fully understand what our needs were to see if we were the right fit.

How much have you invested with them?

SC: So far, we’ve spent just over $24,000.

After we got to know each other, Ladybugz Interactive identified which marketing goals would be the best for GermArmor Inc., and they discussed different packages we could pursue. It was nice that they didn’t try to force a specific package on us. Rather, they were willing to work with us to determine the best financial option for a new company and product like ours. 

Once we start getting more interest and can afford it, we plan to move a little further with our package.

What is the status of this engagement?

SC: We started working with Ladybugz Interactive in May 2021 and foresee a long-term relationship with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SC: I appreciate that they’ve given us suggestions to guide us through this whole process — it’s been outstanding. The site itself is day and night compared to our initial version. It’s soft and happy, and we throw in some affirmations now and then. It’s just a beautifully done website that fits our personality perfectly. Ladybugz Interactive absolutely nailed it.

How did Ladybugz Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

WG: Ladybugz Interactive has given us a much more efficient way to handle projects through their centralized documentation. That’s not necessarily what you’d see with other agencies that might keep assets in different places. We’re thankful that they brought this point to our attention. 

SG: They’ve set up a Google Drive to house all of our documentation. That’s where we review and approve their work, and it helps ensure that every team member is on the same page. Besides that, we have a Zoom call every Monday, and we have each person’s phone number and email so that we can speak with them whenever we have any questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

SC: I can’t say enough about them. They take the bull by the horns and are driven to see us succeed. Even the photoshoot that we had with them was enjoyable while still being professional. 

This engagement feels so natural because they’re easy to work with and approachable. The fact that they get to know you as a person before deciding if they want to jump in is stellar. The team is transparent, too. We always know where we are with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

SC: I don’t have anything to say. They’re a well-oiled machine! They just need to clone themselves so that they can take on more clients.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

WG: Like with anybody, the biggest thing is to keep an honest line of communication open. In the beginning, Ladybugz Interactive just laid everything on the table, and whatever they said came to fruition. I’m sure that other customers will have the same experience as us. We’re very fortunate to have met them because we work very well together.

SC: For customers who are starting a new business, know that there are bumps in the road. We’ve found that you just have to go with your instincts. When you’re interviewing someone and it feels comfortable and honest, you need to go with that. We felt that with Ladybugz Interactive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder & Executive Director of the world's only classical music organization created for individuals living with mental illness and the people who support them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We hired Ladybugz to create our first professionally-designed website that would integrate a new donation processing platform. We also needed a website with solid accessibility features. Ladybugz designed the site and also helped identify a photographer so we would have beautiful images.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We requested bids from 3 different vendors in the greater Boston area. We chose Ladybugz based on the quality of their current projects, affordable bid, and the fact that they mentioned accessibility in their bid to us -- before we even told them that we needed these features.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Our Ladybugz designer pitched a fabulous idea for the "hero image" on the new home page of our website and we built everything around that idea. We had a photo shoot and, while waiting for the images to be selected and optimized for the site, we held weekly meetings with or project manager and designer to move forward with each page of the website.

Once the overall design was agreed upon we added things like the menu design, calendar plug-in, and donation platform.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with 3 people including the project manager, designer, and an assistant.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new website received great feedback upon launch. People love the images and the ease of navigation. The switch from a Paypal processing donation site to our new donation platform makes our donors feel more confident with providing their financial information.

Most importantly, we have had people comment on how much they love the fact that our website has accessibility features for people who might otherwise have trouble reading it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Simply put: flawless. They responded so quickly to all of our questions!

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Personally, I love the fact that it is owned by a woman. I also enjoyed the feeling of fluidity. This manifested itself in the fact that we held weekly meetings but could also email and chat any time during the week if we found a small correction that needed to be made during the website development, or even if we just had a little idea we wanted to share. Everything was extremely personalized and the Ladybugz Interactive Agency's team was incredibly responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

We were completely satisfied with the end result -- our gorgeous new website at a price our nonprofit could afford! -- and now we look forward to entering into a monthly maintenance agreement to ensure that we always put our best "virtual face forward!"

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a general dentistry office that provides dental care with a focus in the use of technology and innovation to provide the best results for our patients. I am the Marketing Coordinator for the office as well as transitioning into join the practice as an Associate Dentist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency, and what were your goals?

We hired Ladybugz to help strengthen our social media presence. Even though we had all the social media sites, we did not have a level of consistency in design, post quality, post frequency and overall strategy to be efficiently using these social media sites to gain new patients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

In deciding who to use to manage our social media problem I met with multiple marketing and website management vendors. When speaking with Lysa at Ladybugz my first impression was one of integrity and honesty. She took the time to explain to me what her company does and allowed me the time to explain what I was looking for.

Through this conversation she was able to tell me how we could improve on our current situation. I really appreciated that every time I met with her that it never felt like she was trying to sell me a product or push me down a path that I wasn't planning on going. It really felt like we were working as a team together towards a common goal.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

The project entailed a complete build-out of a year's worth of social media posts to our key social media platform: twitter, instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. In the process of building these posts Lysa and her team helped our practice redefine our brand through style sheets outlining the fonts that we should use to best match our logo, the color scheme for future documents and post, along with adjustments to our profile pictures and timeline photos on each of our social media platforms.

Part of the way through the project Lysa had a member of her team, Morgan, come to our office to do a photoshoot of all of our team members, our office, our staff in action, along with some other marketing photos to help with our posts. After all of this was completed Lysa and her team put together all of the posts for our approval and then through the use of Coschedule scheduled all of the posts out for a full year so we no longer had to think about putting together a post and we could put more energy into other marketing efforts in our office!

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were three main members of Lysa's team that worked with me. Morgan was the behind all of the branding that we did and the photoshoot. Alex was a member of her team who focused on creating all of the posts, pulling all the content necessary from our website and other professional sites, and writing out which each post should say. And Lysa was the coordinator behind the whole project. She made sure that everything ran smoothly, that all the content I was happy with, and when any problems came up she dealt with them so efficiently and easily.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

At this point we don't have any direct numbers from the project yet, but we are already hearing from patients and our own staff how the consistency that we are putting out now is much more professional and informative than it's ever been.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Given the type of project this was the workflow was very easy. I don't think that it could been done any better.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are very creative. Lysa is always thinking outside of the box and asking how can we make this better, what can we do different. I really like that about her approach. She has given me so many off the cuff ideas through these couple of months working with her that I feel like I am learning so much more about marketing from her.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I really have no complaints from this project. I think everything was done great!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing Communications Manager for a leading design and manufacturer of spectral instrumentation solutions for the remote sensing, advanced machine vision, and government/defense markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency, and what were your goals?

As the sole marketing and communications creator at Headwall, I needed an outside perspective and creative talent to help me with taking their brand to the next level. My biggest concern was with the brand's marketing assets because they had never had a defined brand or consistency in the look and feel. After talking to LadyBugz, I knew that a brand and logo refresh exercise was extremely necessary before we moved forward with anything else.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I reviewed 4 different companies, including ones I had used at prior organizations, and LadyBugz's pricing and process was one of the best I've seen on the market. Honestly, no other company could compare or compete with what they offered me in my opinion.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

They assisted us with the visual refresh of the Headwall logo and created a brand book with clear guidelines for the visual direction of new and refreshed marketing content. First step was a brand discovery meeting, followed by a brand review with designs for stakeholder feedback, and then final delivery of the logo assets and brand book. It was very organized and we were clear on dates for deliverables every step of the way. 

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Two people: Lysa Miller, LadyBugz Founder, and Ryan Kohler, Designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clear creative direction was the biggest outcome. Headwall never had that before and it was such a relief to finally have a base to work off as a marketing communications professional.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They have a plan and follow it. Communication is consistent and clear. I never worried about anything.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are structured differently from other agencies. So that means they provide more flexibility with projects, especially when there are a lot of stakeholders who need to weigh in on costs and timing. I found them to be a true partner for me. This is what I've needed to help me succeed in this type of role. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No, I just want to keep using them for every project I have. Great people and great work.. you can't ask for anything more as a MarCom professional. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ascentiya, and we are a coaching practice organization that specializes in career coaching, executive career coaching, and corporate advisory for women. We work on creating a diverse workforce through inclusivity culture training.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ascentiya, and we are a coaching practice organization that specializes in career coaching, executive career coaching, and corporate advisory for women. We work on creating a diverse workforce through inclusivity culture training.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ladybugz did a discovery process prior to any delivery. Then, they developed the brand for our company and came up with the colors, fonts, and how our assets looked. They also created our digital presence by designing and developing a website that incorporated the new branding. Ladybugz’s team produced our photography and videography, too. 

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Lyza (CEO & Founder) who provided the oversight guidance to the team through the entire project. We also worked with Morgan (Creative Director) who took care of the photography, and two other people from their network took care of the videography. Additionally, we worked with Amy (Content creator) who did some of the writing and Frank (Developer) who developed the website.

How did you come to work with Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We googled Ladybugz, and they came up on top even though they were not a huge agency, which was quite amazing. We figured that they were the best fit for us because we needed to hire somebody to make our business come up on top, too. 

In addition to that, when I spoke to Lyza, she was really responsive. We put in a request to learn more about them, and she got right back to us and set up a time. She was very rigorous with her questions, and we felt that it was a good match from a cultural perspective. We wanted to find somebody who was into Ascentya’s mission as much as we were, and Ladybugz was. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $27,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Ladybugz from October 2020–March 2021. We will be engaging with them for another project on our social media management starting in April 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t started marketing the website yet. However, everyone that has looked at the website has given so many compliments. We’ve had people say that it’s a beautiful website from a usability standpoint. Working your way through the website, it comes out really easy to use. 

How did Ladybugz Interactive Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management performance was as we expected. We primarily used Zoom for meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive aspect of Ladybugz’s team was their dedication to our company’s mission.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve.

Any advice for potential customers?

Companies need to be ready to be engaged themselves.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing operations for a Biotechnology (CRO and Vivarium Services) Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We hired the team at Ladybugz Interactive to help with the full scope of services, from brand, photography, videography, website, SEO + social media consulting and web support. We really wanted a complete new brand with a shiny new website. We also wanted to engage with a team that really understood our goals and could work in a capacity that was flexible.

What were your goals for this project?

Our biotech company is expanding our location, we needed a new brand, photos, videography and a website to showcase our facilities and services.

SOLUTION

How did you select Ladybugz Interactive Agency?

We found the company through a Google Search. We contacted them and we just really connected with the team. We really liked the company’s structure and were at ease with their process. Their timeline and budget were perfect for what we were looking for and we loved their past work.

It really helped that they had a large team to tackle all of our needs under one roof. The deciding factor was we just loved and it felt like we were all part of the team, and in the end that is why we hired them.

Describe the project in detail.

Before we started the project we were onboarded with a checklist to get everything organized up front. From there we had several discovery meetings with the team.

We got to the website reorganization and design fairly fast, within two weeks the team had several designs and directions for us. Once we chose a direction the team started to build the site’s infrastructure. As they were doing that, we continued to work on inside page designs. We signed off on the live initial homepage, and started to build the inside pages.

As the pages were being built, we provided content to fit the design and user journey the team had suggested. Pages were being completed and signed off while we completed the designs and copy. Earlier in the process we also started videography. Nearing the end of the project we had a video and a complete set of new photos.

One really exciting part of the project was a custom map that sits at the bottom of our pages. The location was a key factor in the design, as the location is a huge value proposition for our company.

At the end of about 10 weeks we had a full working website complete with custom illustrations, photography and video. It was a really great overall experience with a stunning end product that really showcases our state-of-the-art biotechnology (CRO/Vivarium Services) facility.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a customer success manager, creative director, a UI/UX designer, two videographers/photographers, a senior front end web developer and a back-end technologist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Immediately our site speed was improved along with the first goal of improving our site’s usability and architecture. We saw the website work impact and improve conversions on our ad campaigns as soon as we implemented the changes.

We have been working on SEO for a few months and already we’ve seen a huge increase in traffic year over year, in November approximately 200%. Our content is improved and we see more people visiting those pages, along with ongoing improvements in SEO rankings on Google.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The company used several tools to keep the project on track. We met regularly on Zoom with most of the team members, the 3 designers were our main contacts and they managed the project from start to finish, with a customer success manager (the company CEO) always checking in.

Most of our content was organized on Google Docs, we used InVision for designs, and most of the pages were managed using a live development server throughout the process. Because we were signing off on live pages, there was no long QA period and deployment happened really fast and efficiently with no hiccups.

The team also had a plan for redirecting old links on Google and implemented that upon launch. They helped us with SEO to make sure we had assigned keywords and specifically how we worked that into the hierarchy of the website. They actually launched the site on New Year’s Eve because we had the goal to finish by December 31st. It was a great easy launch.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

As mentioned earlier, when we hired them we were most impressed by their team. The company owner and creative director really are the ones we met with. We were impressed that we met the team actually working on the project. Once they brought the rest of the team members in, we had the same experience. We all just meshed and it felt like we were all part of the team and they were just as excited about the project as we were.

For so many moving pieces the project was super organized and stayed right on track and the budget never changed. All promises were kept and the team over-delivered.

Are there any areas for improvement?

This was a newly formed team and we knew that going into the project they were very transparent about that. I believe it may have been one of the first full scope projects they worked on under this agency brand together. The company was reforming but all of the team members were highly experienced and had all worked at other agencies. They told us they formed the new company (that had been on hiatus for a few years) to meet the demands they saw changing with Covid.

They were very specific about their process and how they were able to keep projects on time and budget using a very streamlined agile design and development process. I was impressed with how well the team came together. We really enjoyed the designers; they really are the ones who kept rolling along perfectly. They were also very patient and flexible.