New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I work for a church just outside Washington, D.C. We are nondenominational, so our teachings are based on just the Bible, and we're not part of any specific denomination.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with new target?

We had come to the realization that it was definitely time to upgrade our website. A growing number of individuals from within our church family were saying that they felt that it wasn't fitting their needs anymore. These were people who were using the website on a regular basis. One of the biggest concerns we heard was that it was difficult to navigate and locate things on the site. We realized that we had just been building on what we had instead of restructuring the site to match our current goals and focus as a church. We decided we needed a total revamp of the website instead of just trying to improve it bit by bit.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement.

They used the Drupal platform, which provides a really robust and customizable environment. They told us that when they were building our site everybody else was getting a production line Ford while we were getting a custom Lamborghini. I think that ours was one of the more complex projects they've worked on.

How did you come to work with new target?

We met with several different agencies to determine who might be the best fit. After all the proposals and interviews, we felt that new target would be the best for us. They were very professional. They would be able to provide us a very customized website. It seemed like the service and the delivery would both be great. We had seen some of their other work and appreciated their talent.

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

I don't have those figures in front of me. I'm under the impression that we have spent a sizable amount of money working with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

I believe we finalized the contract in the fall of 2013. I came on board with the communications team of the church in December – I was already on staff but not on this team – and the church had already signed the contract. It was probably October or November of 2013.

We still work with them very closely. We learned that part of the reason our last site had become so cumbersome was that we were changing it as we changed. We were just trying to build on what we had, and it was getting very cluttered and difficult to navigate. We decided that when we created this new site we would make sure we had an ongoing relationship with our developers. We meet with them for two hours every month just to see how things are going, touch base on some of the little buggy issues, and then strategize based on the way things are changing or evolving at the church.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics, metrics, or other feedback from this engagement?

One of the first things we noticed after the site launched was that the number of phone calls our front staff members were receiving was dropping greatly. That was wonderful because to us that meant people were able to find more of what they needed on the website. It was a very noticeable difference.

We've found that many of those people who had been saying that they couldn't find things usually lacked any real experience with websites in general and were just missing things. I've talked with a number of people who said they couldn't find something, but they had just simply missed a particular button or feature. We've been encouraged that the new site seems to provide more logical navigation for our members and that the layout and structure is more logical.

We have received great feedback on the stylistic features of the site. People are saying that it's more appealing, more eye catching, and cleaner. As your eye travels down the page, it's just easier to know what's going on. It helps that many features are on the same location from one page to the next, features, such as contact information and details about events, classes, and groups. There's consistency throughout the whole site. That has been helpful for our audience.

How has new target performed from a project management point of view?

Our project manager is fantastic. She has worked well with everyone in the church, from our upper executives to our editors to me, the person on the ground. Many of these people might not know much about websites, but they're the ones who update the pages. She's handled everyone with ease. We've been impressed by her ability to think on her feet in presentations and also her creativity in handling each of the things that we bring to them. It seems like they always have a way that we can make something happen.

What distinguishes new target from other providers?

We have been extremely impressed with new target from a professionalism standpoint. We like the way they've worked with us and very much appreciate their flexibility. Things are changing very quickly in our environment, but they have kept up with us no matter what we've thrown at them. We'll come to them and say we have no idea how to do something and ask them to think of a way to do that. Bringing them in as both a strategic and a technical partner has been great. They have been flexible and helpful in both those areas.

Their developers are the type of people who love a challenge. Anything we've brought to them they've been very eager to attack. There's never been any sense that our requests felt like a burden. They always have been thrilled and excited at the idea of what we could do.

Is there anything new target could have improved or done differently?

There are a couple of things that we hoped to present to our church as part of the website earlier that we are now just getting to. We've sent so many things their way that I think it kind of makes sense that there are a couple of things that we're behind on or couldn't get developed in the timeframe we had initially anticipated.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I work for Americans for the Arts. We are a nonprofit organization that does anything and everything that could promote the arts in America. We try to get more funding for the arts across the board. We lobby Congress to get more federal funding. We work with corporations to let them know the value and importance of funding the arts. We work with local arts organizations to help them build the skills needed to make the arts part of their communities. We work to bring about social change through the arts.

We do research that shows the economic impact of the arts and the value of an education that includes the arts. Wherever the arts are involved, we're there as the champion, raising visibility and awareness for the arts, arts programs, and arts education. We're headquartered in Washington, D.C., and we also have a small office in New York.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with new target?

We needed to rebuild our website. We hadn't launched a new site for quite a number of years. Our new site launched in 2013, and the last time we had launched before that was 2005. It had been a while, and our site was very much out of date.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of your involvement with new target in detail.

We were looking for a good partner that understood Drupal well and could help us integrate with our CRM [customer relationship management] database. We needed someone who was technically savvy. We're strong on the presentation side, so visually we covered that ourselves. When it came to the technical side, however, we  needed a partner who was going to complement the skills we had on our web team and take us further than we could go by ourselves. We looked at CMS [content management system] options and decided to use Drupal.

How did you come to work with new target?

In the early stages, we spent a lot of time talking to new target, trying to decide which CMS to use before we signed a contract. Their willingness to engage in conversation, to be helpful and to get us on the right path before we had even signed a contract was impressive. They came in and showed us a different content management system besides Drupal because we wanted to see what else was out there, even though we were leaning towards Drupal. They did that without us having yet become a formal customer. They built a relationship with us – they were clearly not concerned about the money. They were concerned about the end product, which led us to become a very strong customer and get a very strong end product.

We started talking to them long before we actually began the work. Right from the beginning, they just created this sense that they were somebody we could talk with. When we were early in deciding what we were going to do with our site, we reached out to them and started having conversations with them. They didn't pressure us to make the decision. They knew we were trying to figure out a lot of things, so they were just there when we called upon them for conversations.

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

The website redesign was around $60,000. The monthly fees have been high lately because we've been doing a lot of work. Our quarterly fees are around $5,000 for maintenance and hosting. When we're heavy into work, we could spend an extra $2,000 or $3,000 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

I think we started talking to new target in 2012, and we began the official engagement at the end of that year. The bulk of the work was done in 2013. We are still working with them. They host our website and provide monthly maintenance. We just finished a project to relaunch our arts blog, and we're talking to them about redesigning our artsmarketing.org site. We have lots of projects in the works with them. They also help us make updates to the main site as we come across things that we want to push further and improve.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics, metrics, or other feedback from this engagement?

The website redesign project went very well. We spent a lot of time on research and planning, but then we found out that our old CMS was actually going dark at the end of that year. We went from being leisurely and comprehensive in our thought process to having a tight deadline and knowing that we needed to get the project done. Literally, they helped us build the site in less than six months. We went live in the beginning of December [2013], long before the time we would have been forced to go offline.

They were remarkable in being aware of that deadline and helping us make it happen. That was amazing because it was a big project to put together so quickly. We were very organized, so there wasn't a lot of discovery needed, but I don't think a lot of contractors would have been able to deal with the timeline we gave them. They jumped in and made it happen.

Along the way, they suggested other pieces of technology that would help us achieve our goals. With Drupal, there are so many available modules, and new target made a number of suggestions that were great. They were smart and economical choices. Their knowledge of the technology really helped us have a better product in the end.

What distinguishes new target from other providers?

new target's technical ability is outstanding. We've had the same project manager through all of our projects, and we've had the same programmers as well. They feel like an extension of our staff – part of the family. We get honest answers from them. They never withhold information. If we say to them that we'd like them to show us how to do something because we want to do it ourselves, they'll show us – they'll empower us to take care of things for ourselves. They could have held on to that information to try to make more money, but they're not like that. That's helpful, so we can spend our money wisely and not waste it on things that we don't want to learn how to do or don't need to know. They're great partners.

Is there anything new target could have improved or done differently?

The biggest issue is that they are extremely busy. They have many clients, and, every now and then, it's hard to get their attention. The workload kind of ebbs and flows. We can tell when they're in the throes of a major project with somebody else because things get kind of quiet.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We're a nonprofit advocacy alliance. We are focused on trying to improve health research through public education and advocacy initiatives. We advocate with various federal health agencies. We also support policies that help private sector innovation to accelerate the pace of development of new drugs, therapies and medical devices.

What is your position?

I am the vice president of communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with New Target?

We wanted to revamp our website, to make it more consumer-friendly, more accessible to the public, more engaging and interactive.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We were looking to New Target for their expertise on ways to make sure that the face of our organization had a more contemporary feel, was more in line with current technology, and to get that outside perspective as to whether or not our messaging was too technical. We wanted to get their feedback and expertise on ways we could broaden our reach through the website and make it more engaging. Although the work was mainly to redesign the website, we did ask for their input on ways to promote and market, and to increase our traffic.

How did you come to work with New Target?

I asked my peers in communications with other organizations, affiliations, and companies for their recommendations. We also gathered a list of companies from other organizations that had recently redesigned their websites, and New Target was chosen eventually.

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

We have spent somewhere in the low six figures, in the $100,000 area, working with New Target.

What is the status of this engagement?

We put out our RFP [request for proposal] in the fall or winter of 2013, and we accepted New Target's proposal in early 2014. We're still working with them. They're helping us tweak some minor glitches here and there. They're continuing to do work for us – minor projects with the website and helping us troubleshoot occasional problems.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics, metrics or other feedback from this engagement?

We had to go back to New Target because we didn't see a sizeable increase in traffic in the first few months after the launch. We wanted to get some recommendations on what we should be doing to drive more traffic to the site. They responded with several recommendations, and we're working on those right now, so the relationship is ongoing.

Anecdotally, we did hear back from our members and partners; they thought the new site was dynamic and refreshing. They thought it was a real improvement from the old website. We're getting positive feedback, but we're still trying to see what we can do to increase traffic.

What distinguishes New Target from other providers?

I would say that they were very responsive and organized. New Target was very helpful in training our staff on the new content management system. We hadn't used Drupal before, so it was good to have their experts available to come to our office and train our staff.

Is there anything New Target could have improved or done differently?

The only issue that we had during the project was that our project manager left before completion, so there was an adjustment in working with a new manager. I think that was one reason why the process slowed down a little. New Target did their best to accommodate us with that adjustment, so I would say that overall it's been a good experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP, Communications and Community Giving of Tailored Brands

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Leading omnichannel menswear retailer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency to accomplish?

Website development

SOLUTION

How did you find New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

Referral

Why did you select New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

wesbite development, design and ongoing support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

New Target has been our strategic partner in the success of our website

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They are incredinly responsive

What was your primary form of communication with New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

New Target's expertise and commitment to excellence have significantly enhanced our digital presence. Their team goes above and beyond. They’re responsive, collaborative and truly invested in our goals. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency could have done differently?

No notes

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the SVP of Institute of World Politics

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Institute of World Politics is a graduate school of national security, intelligence and international affairs. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency to accomplish?

• online marketing
• website refresh
• increasing student enrollment

SOLUTION

How did you find New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

Referral

Why did you select New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

New Target's digital marketing campaign resulted in 1000s of leads for our recruitment team. The refreshed our website, greatly improving the look and feel, online application process and site navigation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

number of website visits and number of leads from online marketing

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The New Target team met all deadlines, with time to spare. They responded to all requests - whether they were by phone, text or email within hours. 

What was your primary form of communication with New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency's high-quality work and high-caliber team members were impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency could have done differently?

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President of Oxford Finance LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Oxford Finance delivers flexible financial solutions to companies worldwide across multiple sectors, including life sciences, healthcare, business services and software & technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency to accomplish?

• Support for our SalesForce CRM application

SOLUTION

How did you find New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

Referral

Why did you select New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

New Target supports our instance of SalesForce. From data management to creating and maintaining fields, workflows and reports. We do not have in-house expertise, and we use New Target for on-demand project work as it arises. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

New Target has successfully supported our SalesForce CRM instance and is always responsive and able to deliver the results that we requested. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Always on time and responsive. 

What was your primary form of communication with New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

They understand our business needs and our application environment. There is never a need to explain the background for the project that we are looking for. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency could have done differently?

No. We are completely satisfied. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project Lead / chair of Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a church that is very engaged in community support and engagement.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency to accomplish?

• Help create a website that enables access to local history
• Do so in a manner that appeals to a wide audience
• Create a searchable website

SOLUTION

How did you find New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

Online Search

Why did you select New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• fit with our design needs

How many teammates from New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Discovery
• Design and style
• web design
• Set requirements
• Analytics
• Testing
• Training
• Finalization and launch

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Production of website that met our objectives

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Continued interaction with project manager and staff

What was your primary form of communication with New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency?

Virtual Meeting

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

They brought their experience from work on a project that reflected our design expectations

Are there any areas for improvement or something New Target, Inc. - The Digital Agency could have done differently?

Full apprecition that we were unlike business customers and brought little experience in this work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am a manager at a food company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Food manufacturer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire new target, inc. - the digital agency to accomplish?

• Web Design

SOLUTION

How did you find new target, inc. - the digital agency?

Referral

Why did you select new target, inc. - the digital agency over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from new target, inc. - the digital agency were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Redesign corporate website, refresh branding and content

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Content, user experience

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The account manager, Tessa, was a pleasure to work with. She developed detailed project plans outlining scope, timelines, and deliverables. She did an excellent job of managing our hours and ensuring our project was executed within allocated budget. 

What was your primary form of communication with new target, inc. - the digital agency?

Virtual Meeting

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

She is very easy to work with and brought a high level of expertise and professionalism which exceeded our expectations. Their designer, Rachel, played a huge role helping us to conceptualize and develop all the visual elements to create a cohesive and eye catching website. David was also very helpful!

Are there any areas for improvement or something new target, inc. - the digital agency could have done differently?

None to mention.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria [SFA] is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps the students of the Alexandria City Public Schools successfully access and complete college. The SFA awards over $950,000 in college scholarships each year and provides college and financial aid advising services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what reason(s) did your company hire new target, inc.?

We needed a website for the SFA that reflected the services we provide and its impact on the community.

SOLUTION

Describe the project in detail.

The new target team proposed a website that highlighted the value of the organization and was easy for all stakeholders to navigate. With the project manager, Trevor West, at the helm, they worked with us to understand our needs. They developed a great design concept and created a dynamic website that will draw traffic to the site, facilitate serving our stakeholders, and help with funding our mission.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They performed all the work on time and were great at problem-solving. We are thrilled with the new website! Trevor was especially great with his thoroughness, patience, and charm.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everyone at new target is very professional and highly competent.