Matchbox Design Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing manager for Progressive Recovery. We’re an engineering and manufacturing firm that specializes in fluid and waste processing systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design Group?

We initially hired them to redesign our websites. With that project complete, we’re currently having them lead our SEO efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started this project by providing Matchbox Design Group with a list of terms that we wanted to rank well on search engines. They’ve integrated those keywords into the content that appears on our website. They primarily oversee our blog posts, press releases, and product pages. As a result, we’re able to leverage content that directs people to our site. This improves the site’s ability to support our products appropriately.

What is the team composition?

I know their owner from past projects, so I interact with him a bit. However, they allocated a project coordinator as our primary point of contact. That person supervises the digital strategist that works on our SEO.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design Group?

I found them by doing a quick Google search while I worked for a different company. Once the web redesign project was approved, Matchbox Design Group came to my mind as a viable option. We considered several firms, but they stood apart from the other candidates by communicating a consultative approach. We hired them for that reason.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2015 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our websites were outdated and stagnating when I first joined the company. Bringing in Matchbox Design Group to reinvigorate our web presence has been a huge success thus far. Their work doubled if not quadrupled the number of leads generated by our websites. Implementing their SEO principles into our content increased our brand’s relevancy on Google. They brought us from having little online influence to ranking at the top of applicable searches.

How did Matchbox Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re responsive and do an excellent job of keeping the project on track. They use Basecamp to store all of our correspondence, which I find super convenient. The tool enables me to quickly post updates that the whole group will see. This facilitates natural collaborations and file sharing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Other agencies will complete projects precisely as requested and won’t offer original ideas. That’s not how Matchbox Design Group operates. They provide an engaging and unique experience instead of just developing products per a checklist. Their proactive and creative approach contributes to our continued success. I also appreciate their willingness to offer advice on a variety of topics. They frequently present new concepts and aren’t discouraged if we don’t accept a pitch. Their team enjoys brainstorming and are capable of leading the ideation process. Overall, they’re good people that make each project fun.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I’ve had positive experiences with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate the project’s goal before outlining what the project will be. Creating an open-ended environment for the engagement may allow Matchbox Design Group to deliver better solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I worked for Southwestern Illinois College. I oversaw everything to do with the website and internet activities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design Group?

The website we’d built in-house was really outdated. It wasn’t responsive or mobile-friendly. As a community college, it’s a huge site. There are multiple audiences because we offer programs servicing everyone from toddlers to senior citizens. Additional challenges were our tight budget and the need for Board approval before the project could get started.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We didn’t want to be locked into a platform. The cost for the previous website was going up every year, so we wanted the ability to move it elsewhere if needed. They suggested using the WordPress platform. We moved all of our content to the new site in order to save money. They also structured the site to improve SEO.

What is the team composition?

We had one main contact and there were about 3–4 members on the team.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design Group?

They reached out to us while we were looking at various firms. The bids we'd been getting were way over our budget. We chose Matchbox because they were very accommodating and understood our budget constraints. They were able to scale back their proposal to match our budget, and still promised to give us a great website. It was something we could afford and the Board would approve.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–July 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everybody loves the site because the look is more modern and it’s easier to use. The administrative assistants who’ve been trained to maintain content for the site say it’s so much easier than what they had to do before. Matchbox has created the ability to edit directly from the page versus going into the backend of the site. It’s a much easier process for those who have little or no HTML experience.

How did Matchbox Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They stay on top of everything. During the engagement, one of my team went on maternity leave so I was the only one working on the project from the college. Matchbox was super helpful with the situation and were very patient with me. They responded quickly when I had questions. They didn’t give us a hard timeline because so much was dependent on us moving the content. Once we were ready, they had it live within a few days.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with. They provided a lot of insight into why things are structured the way they are. They gave us guidance with website design. They were accommodating with certain design features that we wanted. They were so nice to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Start with a concept of what you want your website to be, look, and function. Be open to their ideas because they’ve done this before and they know what works.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Oates Associates is a civil structural engineering firm. Our work focuses on roadways, bridges, culverts, and building sites.  As the marketing coordinator, I handle all advertising activities and oversee business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design Group?

Our outdated website was neither user-friendly nor responsive. It lacked organizational features and often failed to function properly. I couldn’t update it without an error occurring.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned and added features to our WordPress site. New search and sort functions categorize results by market and service type.  During in-depth branding strategy discussions, we decided to refresh our marketing assets. They helped us formulate a new logo, color scheme, stationary, and layout.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we worked with two resources. Our main point of contact checked in periodically. A third employee took notes during meetings and liaised between our two firms. There were usually 3-5 people at our branding and development meetings, respectively.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design Group?

We found them through an online search several years ago, the last time we updated our site. Back then, we worked with another firm and wanted a new partner this time. Matchbox Design Group’s knowledge of design and security is unsurpassed by any other firm we’d contacted. They knew exactly how to execute the best new iteration for our site.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started the redesign in August 2017 and launched our site that December.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone loves the new site and branding. We have nothing but positive feedback for the design, navigation, and UX/UI. This redesign was long overdue, and they implemented the right changes to bring our materials into the current century. We’re especially pleased with the new stationary.  Sorting our types of services by category helps users find specific projects they’re looking for.

How did Matchbox Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Due to breakdowns in communication, we missed our initial October 2017 deadline. Matchbox Design Group’s principal personally addressed this issue. Their assigned management resource was responsible for timeline adherence. When they became unresponsive, it stalled the process and pushed back the launch date through November into December.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were pleased with the firm’s leaders. They addressed any issues we incurred honestly and openly. Even when these problems arose internally, like differences in design opinions, they’d call with suggestions to mitigate the situation. We appreciated that feedback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Matchbox Design Group could definitely work on their communication.  The requirements we expressed in meetings didn’t always translate into actual revisions, which could be frustrating.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hold them accountable but respect their design capabilities and rationale. Take notes during meetings so you have a record and description of things that aren’t to your liking. Don’t be shy about expressing industry-specific needs that aren’t included in the product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the market development manager for Engineered Corrosion Solutions. Until recently, I was in charges of both marketing efforts and the development of our website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design?

Our old site was outdated and had poor UX/UI; people couldn’t find the information on it that they wanted. We needed a firm to help redevelop our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchbox completely redesigned our site, making it more sales-oriented. Our old site was more educational, teaching visitors about the fire protection industry and issues related to corrosion and fire sprinkler systems. We found people were more interested in how to control corrosion and implement solutions, so Matchbox geared the site to those kinds of questions.

They did graphic design work, changing the entire aesthetic except our logo. They created a new color palette for the WordPress site and made it much more user-friendly. We aren’t selling anything on the site yet, since our services are mainly B2B and require quite a bit of technical expertise in order to identify the best solution. However, we do have a few products that would do well in e-commerce, so that’s our next step with Matchbox.

They currently do SEO, as well.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager, graphic design lead, two backend specialists, and someone in charge of the big picture and initial development. The project manager was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design?

We found Matchbox online. We were initially looking for an SEO company in the St. Louis area, so we could have a personal face-to-face interaction. We wanted a company that did their own SEO well, and Matchbox consistently appeared at the top for firms in St. Louis.

At first, we just wanted SEO help, but we realized our outdated site was going to make that extremely difficult. That’s when we decided to do SEO and a site redesign with Matchbox.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from October 2017–February 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone in the company is happy with the new site—it represents our company much better. Our customers have also given lots of positive feedback, saying it’s easier to navigate and find the information they want. We haven’t had any major bugs or issues with it either.

How did Matchbox Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all our deadlines, although we did have some minor communication issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, we’re happy and impressed with the finished product. The new site looks modern and greatly improves the UX for our customers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been nice to be more detailed in the initial conceptualization of the scope. For example, they didn’t include a printer friendly aspect or search bar functionality to the site, which we later realized we wanted. It would’ve been good to know about those features upfront instead of during the middle of the build.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Daily Disco provides a bunch of creative services. We mainly embroider jean jackets with a chain-stitch machine from 1874. We also do social media work and sell small accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design?

Given how multifaceted my business is, the website I built was no longer showcasing everything I did. I am active on social media, and I also have a blog. I needed all of this to be in one place.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matchbox Design designed a new e-commerce website which better reflected what I do. Since I do a lot of custom embroidery work, the problem was representing each unique item. I couldn’t have generic products, but Matchbox Design was able to create a custom order form with questions and options which were sent to me by people interested in my work. They also helped me brainstorm how to best do that.

The site is on WordPress. It has an easy-to-use custom template, which allows me to make edits myself, as someone who’s not tech-savvy. The e-commerce is done through WooCommerce, which is also a simple platform.

I worked with Colby Craig, Jeremy Schwartz and a few other members of their team. Everyone was helpful and kept me informed throughout the process. They were always easy to get a hold of, and, if I wanted any last-minute changes, they were happy to do it.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design?

I had worked with a company in Chicago for branding work. Since the website was a bigger project, I wanted to find a local vendor so that I could go in, meet the team, and give them a better understanding of who I was and what I wanted. I did a bunch of research on places in St. Louis that could tackle my project, and talked to around three of them. I was really impressed with Matchbox Design. They called me, discussed what I truly wanted and seemed interested in the project. Talking to a real human allowed me to better-understand what they did, and vice versa.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first met with Matchbox Design in early January 2017 or late December 2016. The site went live in April.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback for the website. It’s much more sophisticated than what I had before, when I was only using Etsy for e-commerce. It was a huge step up to have my own platform. I’ve definitely seen an increase in traffic, and, with the new blog platform, it’s been awesome to create posts. The site is user-friendly and has everything in one place.

Before the website, the only place where I could do custom orders was Instagram, where I received direct messages from people. Having a site has increased my custom orders a lot. I now have a business, rather than a hobby on Instagram.

How did Matchbox Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They were good with deadlines. Everything kept moving at a good pace, and I never even have to think about it.

What did you find most impressive about Matchbox Design?

They really wanted to get to know me and my business, which was really helpful. What I do is creative, and my aesthetic is bright and colorful. It was important to know that Matchbox Design understood that.

Are there any areas Matchbox Design could improve?

I don’t think so. It was an overall great experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am currently the president of the UCITY [University City] Swim Club. I volunteer as a parent, but I’m also a swimmer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design Group?

I thought it was time for the swim club to have a decent website that’s searchable and interactive. Our former website was done by a volunteer, and it showed. It wasn’t very user-friendly, and it didn’t look as good as it could. Since the website is a marketing tool, it has to be easy to find and easy to navigate. People do a lot of searches for things for their children to do. Our website is one of the main ways people find out about us, so we needed something bright, visual, and simple to use. We wanted visitors to easily find out about membership, costs, information about a swim team versus swim lessons, and other aspects of our organization. We’re part of a larger national organization called USA Swimming, so we also wanted that relationship to be visible on our site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we asked Matchbox to do a website for us, we wanted lots of images. Our vision was to have a happier, more interactive experience. I didn’t really have anything in mind for design. When it comes to a website, I defer to people who are more knowledgeable. I tried not to have a predisposition. I just knew that we wanted something that reflected happiness, and they did it. Matchbox came up with a completely new design. It fell together pretty easily—I think they hit the nail on the head right off the bat. We looked at a couple of options and worked through images and colors. They even went out and photographed swimmers at the pools. Our head coach was also involved with the decisions for the site’s development.

The website is built on WordPress. Brent was leading the effort, and Colby was managing the project. We also had a designer, but I can’t remember her name. When it went from design to implementation, Colin took over. I don’t remember anyone’s title, but Brent was my main contact. He also took the time to explain to us how a website is developed and how to achieve our goals.

Matchbox also took care of some glitches on Google. As we’re a volunteer organization, the people holding positions here change all the time. I’m about ready to retire, and the younger parents will start taking over some positions. Having a person’s name on the website didn’t make sense for us. There was even a phone number on the old site, but no one knew whose number it was. Matchbox cleaned all that up for us through Google.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design Group?

I met Brent socially, as he lived next door to some friends of mine. We met at a party and started talking about websites. I realized that he could be a good person to help with our project. We did interview a couple companies, but I was already committed to hiring Matchbox. They seemed organized, but not overly so.

How much have you invested with Matchbox Design Group?

We spent $3,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

I believe we started working together in the spring/summer of 2016. The website is complete, and now Matchbox provides us with ongoing service. For example, we update registration forms on our end, then we send that information to Matchbox so that they can put it on the website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t see exact metrics, but I’ve noticed more traffic. When a visitor to the site wants more information, I’m one of the people who receive those requests. There’s been much more of that since the new website went live. I know that interested people will find us now.

Matchbox’s process was actually fairly smooth and manageable on our side. It wasn’t oppressive at all. Their ability to explain things is very good. I’m not a tech person, so I don’t understand a lot until I see it and get an explanation.

How did Matchbox Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. They kept us up to date on what we needed to provide and when things were due from us to keep their side moving. We got through it pretty smoothly, without a lot of changes. They didn’t come back to us with a budget increase. We were always aware of what needed to be done and what could have been extra. They kept us informed about that.

What did you find most impressive about Matchbox Design Group?

It’s fun to work with them. That may not sound like much, but it makes a big difference. It was an interactive and collaborative process, and there’s nothing I would change.

Are there any areas Matchbox Design Group could improve?

No. It was one of the first times I worked with a consultant in this regard. It’s very similar to what I do in my day job, but in a different media and with a different way of thinking about it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an architecture design firm in Saint Louis. We provide architecture for healthcare, higher education, parks and recreation, and entertainment. I’m a marketing coordinator.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design Group?

We were looking to update our website. We had been doing our website in-house for a long time, and we decided that we needed a professional to get it SEO compliant and make it look modern and user-friendly. The site is a portfolio of our past work and what we do, so it’s more informational.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project was all-encompassing. Matchbox Design Group helped with the design, the features, and the technical capabilities of the website. The site had been on Dreamweaver for a long time, and they migrated it to WordPress. They made it more user-friendly for us and for our end users. They helped with a contact form, moving images, and a nice banner. We had a project manager, and one of their owners also worked closely with that project manager. He would attend all the meetings. For the technical building of the site, we dealt with their higher-ups on the technical side. They had a really good team. We could call them for anything we needed, and they would answer pretty quickly.

The design phase was a complete collaboration from all parties. We told them what we were looking for in our first design meeting. We gave them ideas of what we liked or didn’t like, and they came back with a couple of designs they thought fit that description. We worked together from there to get to a final design.

We wanted to be more visible on Google, and we wanted to be mobile-optimized. Our old site wasn’t mobile-friendly. We wanted the site to be searchable for healthcare keywords, such as MRI architects, so we would pop up as one of the first results for stuff like that.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design Group?

It was basically through word-of-mouth. We heard a lot of great things about them, so we interviewed them and really got along well. I think being local does help, as you can see them face-to-face. They’re always up for coming to our office, sitting down, and talking things through. I don’t think you can get the same level of service from a phone conversation or through email. It’s just better to walk through the process together. I would say that was a big reason why we selected them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around March of 2016, and the relationship is ongoing. The website went live in December of 2016, and they now provide maintenance for us. I’ll have questions here and there with which they help me. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think it’s a complete turnaround from what we had. Without Matchbox Design Group, I don’t think we would have gotten to where we are now with the whole design and the workability of the website. Being able to see how many people it’s reaching and the success of it is really good. Before, we couldn’t tell how many people we were reaching. Now, we can see what platforms we’re reaching them on and the demographics in which they’re located. It’s all organic SEO.

How did Matchbox Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were extremely good on the project management side. They answered everything super-quickly. If they didn’t know something, they would find the answer and get back to me as soon as they could. They kept to their timeline very well, and they pushed us to keep up with them.

What did you find most impressive about Matchbox Design Group?

It’s really how they communicate with you. They make you feel comfortable. Everything they say is easy to understand. It’s very easy to get along with them. They’re professional but laid-back. They help your ideas come alive.

Are there any areas Matchbox Design Group could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice or recommendations for potential clients?

Go into it with a good idea of what you want. I guess that’s true when you’re redoing any website. They will definitely help with that process. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are an international nonprofit headquartered in St. Louis and operate in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. Our factory there produces ready-to-use therapeutic food, namely a fortified peanut butter paste. Its trade name is Plumpy'Nut, but the local people call it Medika Mamba, which translates to "peanut butter medicine" in Haitian Creole. We treat malnutrition, for the purpose of which we run a number of agricultural programs and also a school feeding program.

What is your position?

I am the Director of Development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox?

We had a non-user-friendly website which had been built through a different service. Our main problem was the fact that it couldn't be updated, and it crashed quite a bit. We were stuck with a website that looked somewhat complete, but none of its information was up-to-date or accurate.

We also hold a significant gala event in St. Louis every spring. We needed a way in which to transfer information, give out details and directions, take reservations, and sell sponsorships. This was not possible through our website at the time. We also found out that all of the content on our former site was declared the property of our service provider at the time, which meant that we weren't allowed to transfer our website.

We needed something very user-friendly and wanted a company that would work with us from the ground up.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

One of the things with which we struggled was SEO [search engine optimization]. We never came close to the top of the list for relevant keywords. None of our pages were tagged appropriately, for which the company we were using at the time would not offer support. We wanted to end up at the top of the heap for searches like "Haiti agencies," "malnutrition treatment Haiti," and so on. We couldn't be supported if people couldn't find us. The solution needed to be organized, offer many more capabilities, and give us the chance to be found easily.

How did you come to work with Matchbox?

We made a request for proposal for a new website and found Matchbox, which had already worked with other organizations in the St. Louis area.

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

We were working with a very specific budget, so Matchbox may have ended up donating some of their services to us. The total development cost was between $10,000-50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July, 2014. Our relationship is ongoing. Matchbox provided a very user-friendly and functional product, but we still need technical assistance from time to time and have occasional troubleshooting. We may also start tapping into some of their unrelated services, like graphic design.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Matchbox helped us raise the bar in many ways. Our current website comes across as much more professional. My organization does the same work as much larger groups, like UNICEF or The World Food Program. We needed a site that would be on-par with our direct competitors and collaborators.

Our professional image and Internet presentation are greatly improved. Many of our donors and supporters report that our website is the first interaction they had with our organization. They prefer checking out our page before picking up the phone and talking to a real person, which is understandable.

In the past, we had difficulties with pushing out updates and giving people an inside look into our programs and what we were doing. One of our biggest challenges is the fact that our activity is in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, a place which most people will not be able to visit. We need to connect those interested in our work as closely as we can to it, in order for them to feel that they are a part of it.

Matchbox worked out different modules for the site, like a blog and a news section. They were simple, but they completely changed the way in which we communicated with our supporters. It also had an impact on the way in which we connect social media to the website. Before, the two were completely separate with no way of changing this. Now, our website is connected through our social media pages. Everything that we post will affect the website and vice versa. This has helped us diversify the ways in which people find us and how they support us.

The blog connections and news section have brought us more donations, given that people are seeing more articles from us. They feel better informed about what we're doing.

After the website launch, Matchbox helped us tweak and update different sections of the site, making it be the best that it could possibly be. The previous website didn't show a secure connection when it came to making registrations or donations. Many people told us that they would not be registering or donating because of the security issue. The current website features secured registration and sponsorship areas, completely changing how people communicate with us. Matchbox is always willing to step up to the plate and add value wherever they can. We've made a lot more money due to how the site has been set up.

Our gala event is the largest-scale effort that we host each year. Typically, it brings in around $500,000 in donations. We needed to pump-up the events section of the website. After the website was completed, Matchbox helped us overhaul that portion, changing the way in which people interacted with us in this context. When the website was initially created, the gala was not at the top of our priorities, as opposed to figuring out how we could detail our programs and make sure that people could contribute.

Matchbox is made up of a committed group of people. I've worked with agencies that nickel-and-dime the customer to death for every little issue. When working for a charity, I have to answer for every expense, so it can be problematic. Matchbox worked with us until the job was done. I've always felt good about their communication and willingness to support us. They bought in to what we were doing and were as committed as the rest of our team, being as efficient as possible.

How did Matchbox perform from a project management standpoint?

I have to give them a ton of credit in this respect. We've had a significant staff transition while working with Matchbox. I appreciated that even while we were going through changes which we were not on top of, they constantly worked in the background.

They used Basecamp for project planning. Every detail about our project was posted there, and we could see updates as they happened. Everybody knew what was going on, and we didn't have to chase down emails for our contacts; the relevant team members were copied on important messages.

Even when we weren't on top of the work, they were. Matchbox nudged us along for important issues but were also respectful of what was going on within our organization.

What distinguishes Matchbox from other providers?

I was always impressed by their creativity from the start. When we set out to work with their team, they already had a substantial body of work and had collaborated with many local agencies in St. Louis, which is a very big charity town. Matchbox stood out in terms of designing websites for non-profits.

When we had meetings, they came out as very invested and personable people. They did their homework on the backend as well, which made it much easier for us to sit down with them. I didn't have to present our organization story from day-one. They're committed, savvy, and creative people. They're always looking for the next big thing as well, which means that we will also have access to ways in which we can innovate and keep current with the trends.

Is there anything Matchbox could have improved or done differently?

Nothing comes to mind. They're a well-oiled machine.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a large $6 billion healthcare organization.

What is your position?

I am the systems manager, overseeing the web team of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox Design Group?

We needed to create several campaign-specific landing-page websites in order to drive conversions and put out information. The pages we had at the time were template-based, so they could not be updated easily.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The sites were created using WordPress. They are responsive and SEO-enabled.

How did you come to work with Matchbox Design Group?

We came about our relationship with them in a very indirect way, namely by acquiring a university hospital in the area. Matchbox had done some work for that hospital, prior to it being bought by us. I don't know how exactly the relationship came to be, in great details. 

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

Our ongoing costs are in the range of $4,500 per year for hosting, maintenance, and updates. I am not sure what the development cost for the site was. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Matchbox since September 2015. The collaboration is ongoing, but we aren't planning to use Matchbox for any new web development in the near future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Their biggest contribution has been to offer the hospital an optimum solution, which its in-house team was not able to provide. Through this engagement, they were able to obtain dynamic and flexible websites that allowed them to make updates as needed, by as many people as was necessary. WordPress was implemented in a very easy-to-use way.

How did Matchbox Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The collaboration ran smoothly. During our transition phase, we needed to implement some design updates. I wasn't concerned in terms of timing and organization. Matchbox communicated with us well, and they completed the work on time and on budget.

What distinguishes Matchbox Design Group from other providers?

I like their personable communication. Matchbox has a very transparent and easy-to-work-with team. I've had conversations in-person with them, and they've proven to be very nice. We can talk about our families and hobbies, having some fun during the work. I didn't get the typical black-and-white feel from them. Matchbox worked together for us in order to find the right solutions.

Is there anything Matchbox Design Group could have improved or done differently?

Prior to my involvement in the engagement, there were some timing issues about which I heard from the person initially in charge of the project. I haven't experienced anything of this kind, so I can assume that everything has been fixed. Also, the development in which I was involved was minor, compared to the site building project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

The Department of Social Work and Public Health is a part of Washington University in St. Louis.

What is your position?

I work within the Prevention Research Center, running a research training program for cancer researchers called Mentored Training for Dissemination & Implementation Research in Cancer (MT-DIRC). We recruit nationally and internationally for program candidates.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Matchbox?

We had an overall Prevention Research Center website, but I wanted to create a page that would be more specific to our program, in order to use it better as a recruitment tool. I was usually the one who pushed for having an online presence because in this day and age, being online would speak to the validity of our program. We have IT resources at the university, but given that we run under a separate NIH [National Institutes of Health] research grant and have a lower priority than the other programs, it could have been over a one-year waiting period. We decided to use an outside organization for the work.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Matchbox built our website from scratch. We have a password-protected page on the site which allows our current fellows to have access to the site material, as a courtesy that comes with being part of the program. This and our blog were the only additions to the original scope of the site. Most of the material that we wanted to publish on the web had already been created.

How did you come to work with Matchbox?

I knew of a couple of other development firms within the St. Louis area, but Matchbox stood out by having built another website for our center. Knowing that they'd worked with us in the past encouraged me to choose them. I received a quote from the company, which our IT department confirmed as being a fair price. They were a reasonable and easy-to-work-with organization.

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

The total cost of the project was between $10,000-50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I initially contacted them in February of 2015. Matchbox had a deadline of June 1st for the project, given that we would have a conference at that time, and I was hoping to showcase the page to our attendees. The website is fully functional at this time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I was given the ability to edit the page, adding fellow profiles and applicant information when necessary. Matchbox has remained supportive. I can call them anytime and receive an answer, even though their work has been completed.

Their team has shown me how to use Google Analytics, which has been helpful when constructing our NIH grant reports. We can show how many people have visited our website each month. There have been cohorts of people reporting that they've found our program online, which has been encouraging. We continue to rely on word-of-mouth, but being able to reach new people online is very exciting.

How did Matchbox perform from a project management standpoint?

They've always been very helpful and friendly. We had a planning meeting to begin with. I visited their office three times and worked with them. I enjoyed the constant communication as well as their utilization of the Basecamp software. It enabled an ongoing, collaborative process. I could upload documents, add requests for features, and so on. It was a quick process, simplified by the fact that I already had all the content for the website. It was definitely easy, even though I am not tech-savvy in terms of coding or designing websites. Matchbox made me feel like I knew something.

What distinguishes Matchbox from other providers?

I haven't had experience working with other companies, but I enjoyed their team approach. Even though I had one person of contact, I could interact with three or four of their team members during meetings. I knew what their role would be during the project, and they were all included in email and Basecamp communication. If my regular contact was not in the office that day, I would be contacted by someone else within a few hours.

Is there anything Matchbox could have improved or done differently?

There's nothing that I could think of.