Motava

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an operations manager for Biotium. We’re a life science company that specializes in creating fluorescent dyes for research.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Motava?

We were trying to create a user-friendly website for our customers. The platform we were using wasn’t fully compatible with our database processing system for customer orders and e-commerce. We reached out to Motava to help us with SEO and rebuilding the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Motava our content and product information, which was thousands of stock keeping units (SKU). They rebuilt our website by turning multiple SKUs of color and size combinations into one product page. Organizing all the SKUs on the site made them easily trackable by customers. Motava also designed the backend to facilitate quick updates. The redesign is almost complete and their SEO work will begin in next few months.

What is the team composition?

We interact with a project manager, a digital marketing consultant, and an associate consultant.

How did you come to work with Motava?

Motava is run by two of my friends from high school. I first brought them in to consult on the project. After working together for a bit, the company decided they could accomplish the work we needed, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $240,000 and that includes SEO management.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2014 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We didn’t have much of an e-commerce platform before due the products being organized so poorly. After Motava’s redesign, online sales drastically increased each month and now consists of 25%–30% of total sales. They went above and beyond and helped create a beautiful website that customers love. We gave out surveys for customer feedback regarding the usability of the site and received no negative reviews. As a life science company, we have a massive amount of content, so enabling customers to pinpoint the information they need was exactly what we required.

How did Motava perform from a project management standpoint?

Particular parts of the rebuild took longer than others because of the amount of information they needed to go through. Occasionally, we’d contact them with new requirements and they’re able to implement the changes. Overall, they did a decent job keeping themselves on task and answering any questions when needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Motiva was very easy to work with and considered every concern we had. They built a site we knew would be beneficial to customers instead imposing their ideas on us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve on estimating timeframes. There were a few instances where they went past the agreed-upon completion date and I’d have to reach out to them for an update. Things arise unexpectedly when building a website as large as ours and that caused the project to take longer than anticipated.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The business is called European Rolling Shutters. We are located in San Jose, California. We help people add instant value to their homes. We manufacture, install, and service exterior automated motorized retractable awnings, exterior rolling shutters, and exterior retractable sun screens or solar screens. I am the CFO and Vice President of European rolling shutters

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Motava?

There were a couple, but one of the overarching business challenges was with our existing website. The website was dated and it did not convey our message or generate leads for us very well. Our primary concern was how to revitalize the website and get a mobile presence. Motava went above and beyond my expectations. I had interviewed numerous companies, which included the small business platinum Google partners and many of them had submitted bids. However, Motava's bid was the only one that was a holistic bid and made me feel comfortable that we would be able to grow our company on the digital frontier.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To start, they revitalized the website. They were able to fix all of those issues and give us a mobile presence. Specifically, they repaired years and years of problematic backlinks, which were doing a disservice to us, as far as the search engines were concerned. Then we did a massive content and physical makeover that complied with industry standards, and made us easier to find through organic searches. We're still using a website with foundational code is from 1997. The astounding results that we were able to get within the construct and the constraints are pretty amazing.

They also help us specifically with our paid search as well. They were able to analyze our industry and see what companies around the nation were trying to bid on and what the results were.

Additionally, they help us with printed marketing collateral, content, and concepts.  I don't have to do any of our social media, including Facebook, twitter, and our blog. I'll check on their work once in a while, but Motava mainly oversees it. They took an interest in our company and what we do for our clients and are able to translate that. I'm thrilled with what they were able to provide. Our next step is to build a new digital presence from the ground up.

How did you come to work with Movata?

As a CFO running numbers and as V.P. whose sole responsibility is to make sure that this company runs a profit, I have to make sure that everybody involved in the company is taken care of. A highly trusted referral vetted them very well, and I knew at least one other company they were working with and I respect the business owner of that company. We ended up interviewing them, and they had the most comprehensive proposal of any of the number of companies that I met with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $3,000 per month for their services.

What is the status of the engagement?

We started working together around March 2015 and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Motava perform from a project management standpoint?

Exceptionally well, and beyond my initial expectations. From a project management perspective, they allow me to focus on my business and grow it. If I have any issues at all, they are extremely responsive. They're also very proactive in probing potential opportunities and meeting with us to discuss and determine if they're actually a viable source of revenue. We typically communicate through e-mail and phone, and sometimes, in person. We have at least quarterly face to face meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They didn't make any promises that other companies made, which I didn't think could possibly be fulfilled. They manage my expectations, as to what can be done given the technology that's available. They helped me what their role would be and what their goals are. We would analyze those goals and adjust our course in order to meet and exceed them. It was also the proposition from the very beginning that everyone else failed on. They were the only ones that could effectively sell their services. Motava was extremely transparent and clearly communicated a plan for my growth.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'd love them to be my personal print marketing team to develop collateral for a company, but that's not their role. Otherwise, I can't think of anything, because they have all of the necessary tools to help small businesses like us. It's a real struggle for small business, and it’s hard to find other services that can truly help.