Plethora Design

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The organization that I volunteer for is called the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Sciences. This is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization, and we promote the science education of rocks, minerals, and fossils. I’m the current president of the Eastern Federation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plethora Design?

We wanted to promote the organization to our affiliate societies and bring in new members using our website. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Plethora Design primarily provides us with web design and the development of a mapping function, so users can find a local society near where they live. In addition, we have discovered that Plethora could also provide other services that we could implement to future developments.

The previous website has a lot to be desired, considering it’s probably close to 20 years old now. This project is not so much of a redesign, but it’s almost like starting from scratch.

What is the team composition?

For this project, we had actually contracted two companies for web design, which isn’t the norm. However, we decided we would hire two companies and let each of them contribute to the overall success. The key players in the development are in a committee of about six people with varying degrees of website knowledge.

It was a collaborative effort to look at several proposals, along with allotting the budget to find a company with web development services. It took about six months for the committee to get to the point where we had to focus on a mission for the website, which led us to contact Plethora and one other company.

How did you come to work with Plethora Design?

Plethora Design contacted the Eastern Federation by means of our monthly newsletter, where we had an article about us looking for web designers.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested roughly around $1,500–$2,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our organization offers a group insurance for our affiliate member societies, and Plethora streamlined that process in the form of web forms — which saves us a lot of time. Plethora is able to work with us to maintain the integrity of the site — they are always there for us and advise us on the standards of web design.

How did Plethora Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate on an as-needed basis since we’re a volunteer organization, and we don’t have the internal skill set for many business functions. In the early stages of development, when things came up, it didn’t really come so much from a project management standpoint. We’ve just been going along with any needs as they come up.

However, we’re slowly moving to more of a project management model as we go forward. We want to try to be as efficient with the needs of the website as possible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their responsiveness, and how they are always there for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they could do differently or improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If a company wants a web designer that’ll give them the support and assistance they need, I would say that Plethora has done more than what we’re expecting.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and digital strategy at ERP International, a government consulting firm that focuses on information technology and health care staffing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plethora?

We needed Plethora to update our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started working with Plethora through an initial sourcing call, in which we figured out all our needs, and they explained how the process would go. Later on, we had a couple of brainstorming sessions to figure out what would look good for our website. From there, they assisted us in building the copy and coming up with the terminology and content that we’d need to populate the website. Then, they made a staging site and started making updates we could review in real-time.

Plethora developed our website using WordPress, and they used Elementor for plugins. They also handled our SEO to make sure that we were optimizing the website organically.

They did such a good job of reviewing our content and seeing what was important to us that they were able to make some keyword research recommendations with our approval.

What is the team composition?

Casper (Director) was my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Plethora?

I came across them through Google research, looking for people and firms with government-industry experience. They were the most affordable option without any sense of compromised quality.

How much have you invested with them?

I’d estimate we spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement probably began in April 2020, and we launched the website in February 2021. We had some significant delays with feedback from our side. However,  they were very patient with us and worked very quickly from their side.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw an increase in traffic from January–February 2021. We launched the website at the end of February 2021, and we still saw an increase in traffic. We've also seen an increase in the number of people using our “Contact us” form from the website. 

How did Plethora perform from a project management standpoint?

Since we were such a small team, we’d communicate back and forth through email, which worked quite well. It was very helpful because, even for a quick question, Plethora would send a screen-recorded video explaining why they made a certain change or how they made it, making sure we had a history log of how we could continue to update the website on our own after the project ended.

There was no one else in our ERP team other than myself, who was familiar with web development or what it entailed redoing a website. There were terms and practices that we needed Plethora to explain for us to feel comfortable with the decisions we’d make. They were willing to be hands-on, and explain things in a visual way to our team. They would go above and beyond to provide different examples. 

Moreover, I have an agency background in web development myself, so I appreciate how transparent Plethora was while working with us. At no point did I feel like it was just a monetary transaction, but more like they had our best interests at heart. They worked quickly and were really patient with the time that we needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Plethora is willing to go above and beyond, which shows their hands-on experience. They would respond to off-the-cuff emails and didn’t have designated schedules, which made us feel like we were their only client, even though we knew it wasn’t true. Plethora is willing to go above and beyond

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything at this time. We’d use them again and we certainly plan to, adjust as budgets allow. 

Any advice for potential customers?

They give honest feedback about what they think it’s best for the project, so be willing to lean on them as an extended team member when it comes to brainstorming and collaborative experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Marketing & Business Development Manager for a 60-year old structural engineering consulting firm in the Washington, DC area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Plethora Design, and what were your goals?

In 2014, our company completed a full branding refresh, including a new Drupal-based website. The firm that designed the new site transitioned into a different line of services and we hired Plethora Design to provide ongoing website maintenance, including security and other updates, as well assist with modifications to the site, as needed.

SOLUTION

How did you select Plethora Design and what were the deciding factors?

We looked for a firm with a strong track-record, consistent and responsive customer service, technical ability in Drupal and other CMS platforms, and competitive pricing. Plethora Design met all of our search criteria.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We have been working with Plethora Design since 2015 and have developed an excellent, dependable relationship with the company, particularly owner, Casper Voogt. In addition to providing ongoing maintenance tasks, Casper has served as a technical extension to our firm, providing guidance and consultation regarding concerns or offering design solutions for modifications to the site that may come up. We've always experienced a quick turnaround time, whether it's addressing occasional site interruptions or executing design changes. Overall, the firm has been a pleasure to work with over the past 6-plus years.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I typically work directly with co-owner Casper, however they have additional in-house specialists as well as a network of external specialists that they can tap as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

One measurable outcome is the length of time, 6-plus years, that we have been working with Plethora. Over this time, we have implemented multiple modifications to the site, including changes to our home page, leadership and technology internal pages. We're looking forward to undergoing a more extensive overhaul of the entire site in the latter half of 2021, including possibly transitioning to Word Press.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

To communicate, we use multiple methods, depending on what needs to be discussed and conveyed. Although we primarily communicate via e-mail, we also use chat/messaging, video conferencing, screen sharing and phone calls. For invoicing, Plethora uses an online portal to track task hours and to produce invoices.

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

A couple of items are impressive & unique about Plethora, and particularly their co-owner, Casper. They are versatile, able to support either Drupal or WordPress, allowing clients to adjust their website platform as needed. Also, our company is an engineering firm working with the real estate development field, specifically with architectural firms and developers. Casper actually has a former background working with architects and therefore has an understanding of the specific needs within the A/E/C field. They have great communication skills and are able to explain technical details well. Casper is a patient, easygoing person to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

When I first engaged Plethora Design, I was the director of digital strategy at a university. I oversaw all the university’s web properties, including their primary domain. I’m currently still a consultant with them in a similar capacity. Since then, I also started working with a creative digital agency that primarily works with universities, and the Plethora team has contributed to several projects with them as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plethora Design?

I have a longstanding relationship with Casper (Founder, Plethora Design) and Jesse (Senior Developer, Plethora Design), and we’ve taken on a wide variety of projects together. They’ve assisted with several redesigns for the university, as well as a few compliance testing projects with my current organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While working with my current organization, we’ve done a variety of projects that entail ADA compliance testing, recommendations, and resolutions. We often work with companies that have received complaints from the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and I utilize their expertise in ensuring that the backends of our web properties are ADA compliant. They’re also very well-versed in Drupal, which has been key to their success in both design work and compliance testing.

What is the team composition?

I work primarily with Casper.

How did you come to work with Plethora Design?

I had a friend that was working on a web project a few years ago, and the Plethora Design was managing the development process. At the time, I was working with a different developer on the university web properties. They were great, but couldn’t devote the amount of time to our projects that we needed. I started doing research on a variety of development agencies and Plethora’s team came highly recommended. After doing our first project with them, it was clear that their approach was particularly thorough, accommodating, and efficient.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested over $200,000 since the start of our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a university perspective, their work has been crucial in meeting the enrollment demands associated with a tuition-based institution. They were also instrumental in ensuring OCR ADA compliance across multiple companies.

How did Plethora Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I typically manage design projects with them, but compliance projects require more initiative on their end. We’ve established a very effective working relationship. Throughout every project I’ve done with their team, they’ve been exceptionally responsive to my needs. They’re almost always there to help you, and they give you notice if there are any conflicts. Communication has been great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re experts in leveraging Drupal to meet my requirements. Their responsiveness is also outstanding.

Any advice for potential customers?

Fully consider and draw out your goals prior to engaging with them. Document your requirements and work through them with the team to understand their cost structure and achieve the best results possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a locally owned and operated solar installation company with around 30 employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Plethora Design?

We needed web design, development, hosting, and maintenance.

What were your goals for this project?

It was important for us to be easily distinguishable from the hundreds of solar "consultants" and installers that have popped up recently as solar incentives have increased. The website needed to be professional, comprehensive, and content-rich without making us look like a cookie-cutter solar company that outsources most of their work.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I called around three or four website developers. They either charged too much or I found their own website so severely lacking that I knew they couldn’t possibly help with mine.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Plethora designed, developed, hosted, and implemented a fully-functional and optimized website from scratch. It’s keyword-rich for the locations and demographics we’re trying to hit. Post-launch, they provided ongoing maintenance, SEO support, and web updates, as well as some custom work.

At one point, I wanted a highly-customized sketch of our sales-to-construction process. Casper [Project Manager & Senior Developer Plethora Design] had access to a talented and cost-effective sketch artist, which was great.

What was the team composition?

I primarily dealt with Casper.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Plethora delivered a website that we’re 100% proud of and super comfortable sending our clients to. Our particular industry relies heavily on education—the information has to be there and the navigation needs to be simple and intuitive. Many of our prospects have already navigated and achieved much of their education before they pick up the phone or contact us via the website.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I had one primary contact and he met all of our needs. He was highly responsive, transparent, and knowledgeable.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge and experience are remarkable. I appreciated that Casper didn't give his opinion on sales, marketing, or template layouts/choices for the website, though he often cited data-driven marketing research for what did and didn't work.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I wish they could’ve provided small company SEO services. They deal with bigger websites/companies than us.

BACKGROUND

Could you briefly describe your company?

We're a management consulting firm that helps companies to expand their products and services into APAC markets.

What is your position?

I'm the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenges that you were attempting to address when you initiated the relationship with Plethora Design?

We had an outdated, obsolete, and static website that desperately needed replacement. At first, we were considering merely a redesign, but we decided to start anew on a completely different platform. We wanted a website with dynamic, interactive content, and we also needed the backend functionality to enable it. 

SOLUTION

How did you select Plethora Design as your solution partner?

We conducted some preliminary research into potential vendors and distributed several RFPs. Plethora was one of a handful that responded and expressed interest in partnering with us. We invited them to introduce themselves and demonstrate some of their capabilities, and the rest is history. 

Could you describe the scope of the work that they delivered to you? For instance, did it involve custom visual design, backend development, training, or support?

They were responsible for all of it. It began with strategic planning and requirements gathering. After reaching a consensus on the approach, Plethora Design began to revamp our Web presence. Their tasks included custom visual design, backend development, usability testing, data preparation and migration, training, and ongoing support. 

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

If I recall correctly, the site cost between $2,000 and $3,000. 

When was this project completed?

It's still an ongoing project. We're now working on enhancements and functional expansion within the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that might demonstrate the effectiveness of the work they've delivered? 

We don't really use analytics with our website. We're a small firm, and that's never been of great importance to us. The staff here is fond of the new site. It's hard not to be considering what we came from. I can tell you that the site is active, and it's definitely functional in a way that the previous one wasn't. That's enough for me.

How do you think Plethora Design performed during this project?

I think they've done very well. They're very responsive and accountable with us. They've delivered everything we've asked on time and within budget, which isn't necessarily always the case with other vendors. I've been very impressed with their overall performance. 

In retrospect, are there any areas you think that they could improve upon, or are there things you might do differently as the client before approaching this type of project?

No, I can't really think of anything. Like I said, I've had a very positive experience working with Plethora Design. I have no reservations with them or the criticisms regarding their work. 

BACKGROUND

Could you briefly describe your company?

We’re a nonprofit trade association of dental manufacturers and distributors of dental equipment. We’re a very small nonprofit with eight to 10 staff members.

What is your position?

I’m the manager of IT and Web development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenges you were attempting to address when you initiated the project with Plethora Design?

We had worked with a prior designer to design and develop two sites for our organization. One site was for our primary company, and the other was for our foundation. Both of those sites were of relatively low quality. On the surface it looked decent, but if you got down to the coding you would realize it’s pretty limited. There also wasn’t much of a relationship between our previous designer and us. When we made requests for things to be done they weren’t getting done in a timely manner. That’s when we decided we needed to make a transition. We needed a CRM system to be implemented, and we decided to go with CiviCRM. It was at that point that we decided to replace our previous vendor with someone more capable. I looked in part for a vendor with substantial CRM experience. I eventually came across Casper and Plethora Design and contacted them.

SOLUTION

Could you describe the scope of the project? For instance, did it involve custom visual design, backend development, training, and support?

In the beginning Plethora Design was responsible only for our site maintenance, which involved data preparation and migration, and some information architecting. Once we were confident that they could do that work, we moved into a lot of backend improvements. Not only styling but also implementing CiviCRM in the backend, which is still very much an ongoing task. We did everything from database upgrades to integration with our other backend systems. I worked closely with them on that. I handled a lot of the set up of the database, but they definitely handled a lot of the technical challenges that came with the implementation process.

Could describe the in-house expertise that you contributed to the projects?

Our duties fell into a couple of areas. First of all, we were responsible for all of the content development that was to be integrated into the new site. With the implementation of CiviCRM, I was the one who installed it,  imported all of our database records, and set up all the fields. Plethora was responsible for the backend development and systemwide enhancements. Their team handled the deep technical aspects of the implementation and Web design while we provided the strategic oversight and creative aspects.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this project in monetary terms?

In dollar terms, I probably couldn’t give you an accurate estimate. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at them. It must have been between $5,000 and $10,000.

When was the CRM implementation completed?

I had installed the CRM around March [2013], and it was live by June. However, as I’d mentioned before, we’re still in the process of rolling out functional enhancements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or feedback that you’ve received that would demonstrate the effectiveness of the work they’ve delivered?

By and large, our Web statistics indicate that our traffic has been increasing steadily since we relaunched the website. This year in particular, when we first implemented the new registration system, we’ve witness a dramatic increase. Truth be told, my boss was absolutely impressed that we even managed to get it launched in the short timeframe that we did. That certainly wouldn’t have happened without Plethora Design. A lot of the tweaks thus far have not been obviously used. But, once we get the template worked on, we’ll be sharing a lot more. From what I understand, the end user experience has been quite good. Our staff loves the new system, and they’ve been very complimentary of it since its deployment.

How do you think that they performed on the project?

I think they’ve performed very well. Solutions are always delivered within the specified timeframe. They’ve surprised the heck out of us by how quickly they can work on some things. Having dealt with a very bad vendor prior to Plethora, I can say with confidence that they’ve exceeded my expectations. They document all of their work with precise detail and submit progress reports to us on a regular basis. They’ve been a superb vendor.

In retrospect, are there any areas that you think Plethora Design could improve upon, or are there things that you’d do differently as the client before beginning this type of project?

It’s important to hire the right vendor from the start, and we learned that lesson the hard way. If we’d begun this whole thing with Plethora and skipped our previous vendor, we’d be even further ahead than we are now. We relied on the recommendation of another contractor, and that came back to bite us. This time, we did our due diligence. We laid out our requirements, goals, and expectations to Plethora and they met all of them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I worked for Ashworth Bros., Inc. as their Marketing Communications Specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Plethora Design, and what were your goals?

We had Plethora design develop our intranet and website.

SOLUTION

How did you select Plethora Design and what were the deciding factors?

Plethora was already in place as our preferred web developer.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We outlined the customer journey for Casper and he made recommendations about improvements for both UI/UX design.

How many people from the Plethora Design team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked closely with Casper.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

n/a

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Mainly utilized email and in person meetings.

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

Their dedication to the improvement of all their work and deliverables was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

n/a

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

East Harlem Block Nursery, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit organization that focuses on early childhood education. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the vendor?  

We needed to update our website to be more user-friendly and visually represent the work that we do. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?  

Plethora created the original website.  They handle the development and design work. 

How did you come to work with the vendor?

We were introduced by a colleague who had worked with Plethora in the past. 

How much have you invested with them?

Approximately $15,000 including the development of the first website. 

What is the status of this engagement?  

The project is complete. Plethora continues to handle maintenance functions. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?  

They were patient with the pace of the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?  

Cooperation and patience.

Are there any areas they could improve?  

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Contracts Administrator that wears a lot of hats.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Plethora Design?

Dfuse's main website, maintenance and additional pages.

What were your goals for this project?

To publish a professional website for potential clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select Plethora Design?

interview, quote, etc.

Describe the project in detail.

Creating a new website for Dfuse

What was the team composition?

Owner, myself, and other back office people

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new website was launched shortly after our first meeting. We received many compliments on the new design. We've added new pages, awards and news items over the years.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creativity and turn-around time were impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I've never had a complaint. Plethora is responsive and creative.