Newpath Web

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Empire Equity Group. We’re an investment management company that combines investment products with lifestyle rewards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Newpath web?

We needed to develop a web platform and mobile app to provide our services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Newpath developed our entire platform from scratch. First, we needed to enable digital verification of identities for customers applying for financial products. To accomplish that, Newpath built a form that integrates with third-party providers of those services. They also integrated the platform with third-party payment providers to deposit customer’s investments and ongoing fees. A significant functionality is the platform’s ability to store financial data and deliver monthly reports. We upload the data and the system populates it to each user’s account. Additionally, they programmed social media integrations so that users can attribute the involvement of colleagues in products or efforts.

What is the team composition?

We had a dedicated project manager and worked with 4–12 people throughout the length of the engagement. The team size varied relative to project’s needs.

How did you come to work with Newpath web?

They were referred to us by a colleague who had previously worked with them. We received quotes from various vendors, but Newpath’s offer was the most comprehensive and reasonably priced.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place March 2014–March 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We wouldn’t have been able to launch our product without Newpath developing the software and mobile app. Overall, our customers are very happy with app’s UI/UX.

How did Newpath web perform from a project management standpoint?

They took complete ownership of the project and handled communication with the developers. They planned the development milestones and delivered key-elements of each. I have zero complaints regarding the project managers. They’re working out of a different time zone, so we experienced delays around weekends. However, that’s mostly unavoidable when outsourcing a development firm.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their pre-development process is quite comprehensive as they go through business analysis, wireframing, and scope formation. Also, they provide an incredible value for the price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a notable weakness in the graphic design area, but they have since acquired a design firm. I’ve seen some of their work and can say the issue’s been resolved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and one of the executive directors of Collins Street Business Centre. We offer coworking spaces and serviced offices for rent.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Newpath web?

I started this company in 2002 when Google was just starting to grow. We relied heavily on traditional paper media like the Yellow Pages, newspaper advertising, and direct mail for marketing. We started to advertise online, but as more competitors utilized PPC and SEO, we needed someone more knowledgeable to handle our digital marketing and advertising needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, they adjusted our site to enhance it. Now, they manage our digital marketing campaigns, providing PPC and SEO services for us. They recently built us a program for social media marketing. We have someone in-house running the program; they supervise that person and oversee them for us. We are currently in the creative and design phase for a new site.

What is the team composition?

Who we work with varies, but someone always guides our online marketing and advertising. About two or three people from their team typically work with us on project tasks related to development. They may be a frontend developer, user experience tester, or QA tester. 

They have a large staff. We interact with various team members for different roles. For SEO, we have one main point of contact for technical aspects. We also interface with a salesperson who handles account management.

How did you come to work with Newpath web?

Our site was initially built by a graphics designer instead of a developer, so we wanted to enhance our site and incorporate invoice payments online. Someone referred us to Newpath; they modified and enhanced our site. We realized that they could help us in other ways as well.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $1.6 million–$1.8 million AUD ($1.2 million–$1.4 million USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together February 2008 and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In Australia, Google accounts for 99.9% of online searches. This makes effective online marketing crucial for customers to find us. With their assistance, online marketing has played a bigger part in our business; it is now the only marketing we do. We've been the envy of many of our industry peers because we consistently appear on the first page of search results. The majority of the keywords we use are on the first page of organic search listings as well.

We have to be more conservative with our spending compared to many of our competitors, but despite this, we've been very successful overall. They’ve offered us cost-effective PPC and SEO.  We've had significant growth over the last few years. We rely completely on online marketing for drawing in customers, so we're very dependent on them.

How did Newpath web perform from a project management standpoint?

They set up project portals to manage work and facilitates online communication, which we mainly use for SEO. I can always check the threads of conversation on our project portals and add my own comments. They also meet with us face to face once a month to review reports and progress. During our monthly meetings, they table results from previous meetings and make suggestions for our next steps. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are genuine. They deliver great results as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would like to see more communication regarding upcoming work in order to keep us better updated and informed. I want to hear about new strategies and new online marketing opportunities. They could send monthly update emails to minimize the chance of surprises.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We’re a cosmetic tattoo firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Newpath Web?

We hired them for SEO work.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve our Google search ranking.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We received a recommendation of their work.

Describe the project in detail.

They performed SEO for our business.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a thorough team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any statistics or metrics that speak to the quality of their work and impact of the engagement?

They increased my rankings for most of my targeted keywords very quickly.

How did the Newpath Web perform from a project management standpoint?

They communicated well with our team and kept me informed of their progress. We had a few issues at the beginning, but I’m happy that we’re working together.

What impresses you about the Newpath Web?

I’m thrilled with how well we’re performing in search rankings. Our search rankings have never been better, and at a very reasonable rate.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re very satisfied.