Mess

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a development manager at Libenu. We provide services to children and adults with developmental disabilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mess Marketing?

We needed a vendor to help us create a video for our annual gala event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an idea of what story we wanted to tell and Mess Marketing helped us put together a storyboard. They made valuable recommendations and we ended up going with one of their suggestions. Then, they did two full days of filming, which included interviews and a B-roll. We also gave them the footage we already had, and they produced the final version of the video, incorporating our feedback.

What is the team composition?

We interacted with an editor, a producer, a creative director, and one of their partners, but there were more members of their team working on our project.

How did you come to work with Mess Marketing?

I knew one of their partners socially.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between December 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created an extremely moving video that was perfect for the gala. We also sent out an email blast to our donors, and one of our larger donors responded by letting us know how good the video made him feel about his philanthropy work.

How did Mess Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very organized and met our deadline. We mostly used email and Basecamp to keep track of the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very good problem solvers. We had a miscommunication on our part, so our executive director wasn't entirely happy with the first draft. We were impressed with Mess Marketing's ability to listen to our feedback and work with us to fulfill our vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Internally, we felt that something was off with the color of the video, but that could be because our opinion was different from theirs. We didn't ask them to change the color because the deadline was so close. Also, we wish the video was a bit shorter. It was perfect for the gala, but it's too long to show in a meeting.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't make any assumptions about who they bring to the table. They have a very talented team and they want to work with you and hear your feedback. Also, give them as much information as you can–they'll know what to do with it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the president of a boutique marketing firm located in Chicago. We work with a variety of middle-market companies across the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mess Marketing?

Our first company website had been created several years ago and needed a redesign and overhaul. We utilized Mess Marketing to revamp the UI/UX, develop the site, and launch it.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a robust yet simple theme solution that we could integrate into WordPress and easily update. We were also looking to refresh the overall brand look and feel, increase site traffic and leads, and enhance the user experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked with Mess Marketing over the past several years on other projects. We knew this was something that they could easily handle within the projected budget and timing.

Describe the project in detail.

We first had a series of discovery meetings to discuss overall objectives and strategy. Mess Marketing then came back to us with initial wireframes and three rough look-and-feels for the main page. We finalized architecture and agreed upon the look and feel. 

After that, Mess Marketing built out the remaining wireframes and eventually a rendered version of the site for our review and approval. We made minor updates along the way during our regroup meetings before locking in on a final version. 

Finally, Mess Marketing developed and coded the site over a few weeks. We then held multiple reviews on a staging site to beta-test everything. Once we gave final approval, Mess Marketing proceeded to launch.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, a designer, several front- and backend developers, and a strategist and director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has just recently launched, so we're awaiting quantitative data. From a qualitative standpoint, we've received positive reviews on the updated look and feel, functionality, and ease of use from current clients and new prospects.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was fluid. Mess Marketing assigned us a project manager who set up all timelines and deliverables in Basecamp and Asana. We held weekly status meetings and scheduled reviews to ensure we stayed on track and within budget.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge of design and optimizing the overall user experience stood out to us. Mess Marketing knows the ecosystem exceptionally well, and we would not hesitate to use them for similar projects.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Timing slipped in certain areas due to design changes on our end. Overall, however, the process seemed rather seamless, and we ended up with a high-quality end product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Sinai Health System in Chicago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mess Marketing?

I have a very small in-house marketing team. I wasn’t happy with the external firm that we were working with. I needed to find a firm that could help us with digital marketing and be a collaborative partner. I wanted to find a firm in the Chicago area that had a good portfolio of clients, but not so big that we’d get lost. I was looking for a mid-sized firm that wasn’t too expensive. They also needed to have the ability to understand my needs and come up with solutions to our problems. 

SOLUTION

SOLUTION 
What was the scope of their involvement?

Mess Marketing’s first project was creating a template for an e-newsletter platform. That was successful so I decided to ask them for help with a digital marketing strategy. They help me figure out what we need to do to engage our patients. They got to know our healthcare system and conducted stakeholder interviews to make sure that we were moving in the right direction. Then they put together their recommendations in terms of what our digital marketing flow should look like.

One key outcome of that strategy was the decision to redo our website. We're still in the project planning phase. They plan to use a custom CMS. They've created site maps and are working on wireframes now. Given the size of our healthcare system, it'll probably be a year-long project and include a lot of research.  

What is the team composition?

The strategy lead and the project manager are my main points of contact. Depending on the project, I also work with the creative director, a copywriter, and a designer. 

How did you come to work with Mess Marketing?

I first spoke to agencies I knew from previous jobs. Some didn't want to engage because it would be a lot of work to understand our demographics. We're on the southwest side of Chicago and serve primarily African-American and Hispanic patients. That’s a big learning curve for some agencies. I found Mess Marketing through an internet search. They were willing to learn more about our clients’ challenges so I decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

The e-newsletter template was $5,000 and the digital marketing was about $25,000. I don't know the exact amount yet for the website but will be at least $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in late 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don't have metrics yet because we just started working on the implementation. I like that they understand what I’m looking for. Mess Marketing adheres to my brand and my standards. I've been happy with their flexibility and the way they help me figure out solutions that will work for our system. The collaboration is so creative and meets all of my expectations. 

How did Mess Marketing perform from a project management standpoint? 

Mess Marketing utilizes a project management platform for collaboration and feedback. We use that as a tool to send any documents back and forth. They schedule calls every 2–3 weeks to touch base. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their team is very involved in making sure they understand our challenges and problems are. Mess Marketing is much better at that than other firms I've encountered. We have a really good working relationship and that’s why I continue using them. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

So far, the only constructive feedback is that I often have to remind them that we need to meet. I think it’s because they’re so small. As a small team myself, I also end up having to push deadlines. It’s not criticism but rather something we both need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Understand your goals and what you’re seeking so Mess Marketing can utilize their time better. That's what I did and I think it helped steer the course of my project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and CEO of a SaaS business that provides technology for the motion picture, film, and television industry. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mess Marketing?

We wanted to create a scalable, marketable piece of technology that solves specific problems.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us build a custom solution, and now they’re providing ongoing maintenance and development. Our systems process thousands of users each day, so it was a complex project.

Their services included writing custom code in Jango and integrating the solution with third parties such as SMS. They also made a lot of technical choices regarding cybersecurity, including configuring server security preferences and ensuring cookies were functioning correctly. 

What is the team composition?

I mainly work with Jack (Interactive Director, Mess Marketing) and a senior developer. We also use a project manager.

How did you come to work with Mess Marketing?

After meeting Jack and a business development specialist at a networking event, I evaluated their services compared to other firms in the area. I could tell they were sought after because they weren’t desperate to work with us. I was impressed by their portfolio of work, and there were no lawsuits against them according to public records. 

When I visited their office, their employees were on-task, so I could tell there would be an ROI. Also, their offices are well-organized and presentable. Their offices have the atmosphere of a well-run technology shop. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $200,000 with the team so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2017, and the partnership is ongoing. I’ve already hired them for another project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I couldn’t have run my business successfully in this early phase without them. I expect their technologies to help me turn my company into a multi-million dollar business.

How did Mess Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

Despite the fact that I’m pushy, commanding, and detail-oriented, they satisfied my requirements. We use Basecamp to manage the project collaboratively, and they use Asana within their team. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Mess Marketing has an excellent portfolio of past experience. Their employees work hard to produce quality results. Jack and Rob (Partner & Director, Mess Marketing) run a clean business. Also, Jack is a personable, empathetic business owner with a flexible approach. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

This is not something I need or require, but they could offer more client appreciation. For example, after we built a product, I sent them a thank you note. I do get plenty of attention and everything I need from them, but little touches like that would go a long way.