Rail Digital - Out of Business

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

At the time I was working with Rail, I worked at an agency that helps consumer brands with their digital marketing.

What is your position?

I am one of the co-owners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Rail Digital?

We had a customer that was trying to market a medical device, but the original creative that they had developed was frankly, completely unflattering and a huge turn off. We identified that early on as an area we needed to improve immediately.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

I approached Rail Digital with an RFP [request for proposal] for the reproduction of this video. They took the storyboard and brought in a writer that streamlined the talking points and honed in on the key messages that we wanted to target. They also provided sample music and voice-over options for the video and gave guidance on which ones they thought were best. From there, we delved into the creative process of developing the animation and putting it all together. We had an early stage review, a second review, and a final review with feedback and improvements in-between.

How did you come to work with Rail Digital?

I was referred to Rail by a previous coworker. I gave them a run through and they got the concept right away. They were riffing off ideas right away, it was amazing. We came up with some fun ideas in just our initial conversations.

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

This project was less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It has been completed, but I'm planning on using them again for other projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We did a side-by-side review of the existing creative content with the new creative content, and it was fun to see people's reactions. We invited a graphic designer who I had worked with before to provide feedback, and she had nothing but positive things to say.

How did Rail Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Rail Digital was fantastic. They were very task-focused and would contact me to bump me along, which helped me to stay on task. There were times when I was waiting on deliverables to give them, but they were very patient. They made every effort to reach out and be great project managers for slow clients like me.

What distinguishes Rail Digital from other providers?

I submitted a pretty extensive request for proposal and received work back from a number of agencies. The reason I picked Rail was because they got the vision right off the bat, and their creative was beyond what I would have expected to be able to afford. They nailed the marketing message that I was going for and blew the other agencies out of the water.

Is there anything Rail Digital could have improved or done differently?

No. They were awesome. At the end of the project, they shared everything in Dropbox. It was easy to access and share with our clients. It was nice to work with an agency that just got it and knew how to work with the customer.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I work for a computer software company.

What is your position?

I have been a contractor with the company about seven years. I help manage all the videos for the web team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Rail Digital?

We have a lot of products here. Often, the teams want a two to three-minute video that they can use to briefly and succinctly explain to customers the value of their product, and what the basic functionality and idea behind it is.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We would contact Rail Digital when we had a video coming up, and they would take us through the whole process. The only thing we would do on our end was the script. We’d meet with the teams about the initial concept. We always wanted animation, but there was a lot of variety within the videos. From there, they would create and walk us through the storyboard, and then have us review the final product.

How did you come to work with Rail Digital?

I think our web team was already working them, but I do remember that they were the go-to web agency I used for probably two years. We did 10 to 15 different videos with them.

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

Most of these were in the $30,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

They’re all completed at this point.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

On the product specific web pages, the videos received the most views.

How did Rail Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. I think that one of the advantages of working with Rail Digital is that they are more of a boutique firm. Unlike some of the bigger agencies, where you can get someone that says they can do something and you later realize they can’t, at Rail Digital you build a relationship which makes everything more productive. Because they worked with us a lot, they understood our products much better. They had a level of technical understanding that really enabled them to produce the kind of materials we needed.

What distinguishes Rail Digital from other providers?

Rail Digital would always come through on getting it done. If we had a deadline, they would really do the work they needed to do to get it done on time.

Is there anything Rail Digital could have improved or done differently?

On the last project, we didn’t have scriptwriters, so it made that project a little less smooth.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is a semiconductor company that provides standard as customized SoC [system-on-chip] solutions in the imaging, computing, and networking market.

What is your position?

I'm the senior manager of marketing communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Rail Digital?

It was crucial for us to brand our company well after our formation and start to promote our product and offerings. We thought that using a video would be the best way to do that.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We had a storyboard and script developed when we approached Rail Digital. We needed professional videographers to come in and shoot some video of our executives and various employees to talk about our technologies and solutions. Rail Digital was able to provide good insight and feedback about lighting and suitable locations to shoot the videos. They were able to direct the video shoot very professionally, were willing to work with us, and were always patient. We got a good number of B-rolls to work with, which was very helpful.

How did you come to work with Rail Digital?

I found them through a referral from a woman who we have worked with for quite some time.

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

It was less than $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It's ongoing. From time to time, we ask them to come in and do some video and photography. We like what they have done and will continue to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Rail Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They did wonderful – especially in terms of productive communication. There was a lot of input on both sides, and we were able to come to an agreement in the process.

What distinguishes Rail Digital from other providers?

Rail Digital's attention to detail and patience were what stood out to me. We had teleprompters that helped many of our non-native English speakers. Also, they made sure to point out our products in the video with wide angle shooting, panning from left to right. They provided great insight into angle and lighting.

Is there anything Rail Digital could have improved or done differently?

When it comes to Rail Digital's production of videos, I have no complaints. They delivered a wonderful product. What we got when it comes to photography wasn't necessarily bad, just not what I had expected. However, the founder, Ron Fugelseth, is very professional, and I trust him to make necessary changes to improve our experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I used to work for RichRelevance.

What is your position?

I was the Creative Director. I handled our web initiatives and overall branding.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Rail Digital?

We needed video production to change how our products were being shown to the market. We wanted a couple of minute-long motion graphic pieces that highlighted our real-time capabilities.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We did a couple of motion graphics projects with Rail, both about a minute long. They helped us with the white paper and development of a script. From there, they turned that into the video we wanted.

After that, they started storyboarding. We had a couple of rounds of revisions that were pretty minor, and then we started getting the motion pieces back. All in all, they helped us with voiceover talent, scriptwriting, animation, working with illustrators, motion graphics work, and then final delivery.

How did you come to work with Rail Digital?

I know Ron [the founder] from working with him in Santa Cruz at his last company.

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

Both projects were under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

All projects are completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The first video was featured on our homepage. The video along with a rebranding effort led to an increase in traffic that was six times over the year before. We saw a lot more visits and people staying for longer on the home page; they were actually engaging with the video.

How did Rail Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Rail Digital performed very well from a project management standpoint. They are quick to give you a sense of when you can expect a project to finish. Both their communication and resulting product are great. They were always on top of everything. Before we had questions they had answers.

What distinguishes Rail Digital from other providers?

After only a couple of meetings, Rail Digital was able to develop a white paper, script, and turn it into a motion graphics video. It was very impressive. Their ability to make something visual that is complicated on paper in a way that is super digestible for the viewer was really impressive.

Is there anything Rail Digital could have improved or done differently?

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

The company I work for is called Centrify Corporation.

What is your position?

I'm the director of digital marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Rail Digital?

Initially, I approached Rail Digital because we needed a corporate-level video to communicate our corporate vision, story, and product. We needed a high-gloss and good-quality type of video, in the form of animation to tell the story.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They did the whole thing from pre-production to post-production. We engaged with a scriptwriter to help finesse the script and get it to the right length. Rail Digital advised us well on tone in terms of keeping the audience in mind. Once we finalized the script and everything was approved, we went to storyboarding. Rail Digital walked us through their idea and interpretation of the script. We were involved every step of the way, so there was a high comfort level in terms of knowing what to expect and feeling confident that they will answer any question we had. They take a lot of time to understand the business and ask questions – which is a good thing.

How did you come to work with Rail Digital?

I had experience with Rail Digital when I was working at VMware. We did many videos with the agency, so I was familiar with their quality of work, turnaround times, professionalism and their ability to understand the business.

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

It ranged, depending on the length of the video and how complicated the story was. The projects were between $10,000 and $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

There are some product videos that are ongoing. As needed, we reach out to them. Sometimes, there are three or four going on at the same time. It's all different departments reaching out to them, so it's a lot to juggle.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I see their videos being used on partner sites and through other third parties. I find it very comforting to know that what we're communicating is being used, and it's being done without us knowing. We're happy because it helps get our brand out there.

How did Rail Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They are always very on top of every aspect of a project. Whether it is billing or knowing what is outstanding, Rail Digital is always a step ahead. They're very accommodating in being flexible and able to meet deadlines.

What distinguishes Rail Digital from other providers?

The reason I keep using Rail Digital is because we have a very intimate working relationship with them. It's very personal, and we feel like we're getting the attention we need. They make us feel like we are their only client even though I know they have many. They are always available, responsive, and for a reasonable cost.

Is there anything Rail Digital could have improved or done differently?

No. They've delivered on everything that we've needed and helped extend our brand. Rail Digital has gone beyond our expectations of them. They're diligent in keeping the brand in mind. It's a very good working relationship. Rail Digital makes a concerted effort to learn the business of their client so that they can apply that knowledge to future projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I work for PABCO Gypsum - a drywall manufacturer. We were established in 1972.

What is your position?

I'm the Senior Designer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Rail Digital?

One of the biggest challenges came when we were acquired by the PABCO Gypsum QuietRock group. We needed a website because there was only a page on our corporate site, and we felt that that was not a good move for the brand. We pitched both a redesign of the corporate site and a new site for PABCO Gypsum. We wanted to strengthen the brand and have a stronger presence online. We've had Rail Digital build three sites for us and I've always been pleased with the product.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We first met for lunch for the discovery phase of the project so they could get to know us and what we wanted. They developed a three-phase plan for us. The price wasn't too terrible. It included design work and getting us onto a CMS [Content Management System] platform that we thought would be scalable, maintainable, and secure. It was from cradle to concept to execution.

They built our sites on the Drupal CMS platform. Before, we had to load everything ourselves, which was frustrating for both us and the users. Rail Digital fixed that. They nailed the artistic design of the PABCO Gypsum site immediately. They delivered exactly what we were looking for.

From there it went into the design phase. We built the site on Pantheon in a Pantheon Multi-development environment. We were able to build everything we wanted in the timeframe in which we needed it.

How did you come to work with Rail Digital?

My director and I were searching on Google and narrowed it down to about six or eight different contractors or firms. We read through reviews of Rail Digital and looked at some of the work they'd done and clients they'd worked with. Rail Digital had some pretty good brands behind them, and they were located close in Santa Cruz. After talking with Ron [Founder] at Rail Digital, we knew that they were the right fit.

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

We spent over $50,000. Ron and Jake at Rail Digital are fully capable of handling medium to very, very large projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We are currently working with Rail Digital. We have a second phase of the project going on with them for one of our websites. They're working on smoothing out our websites functionality and adding a couple of wall design tools. They'll be wrapped up with that within the next few days to a week. I've been entertaining the idea of doing some video work with them as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Our internal customer base (sales, operations, and executive staff for our parent company, Pacific Coast Company) was completely ecstatic and floored by the work and the delivery of the site. The site is nice and clean. Mobile traffic has improved, we are retaining visitors, and they're coming back. We're getting new visitors, which is great. It's a flat design, responsive, and looks great on mobile devices.

Considering we’re a drywall manufacturer, we're very happy that our average session duration on our site is almost two minutes. Additionally, each user is visiting an average of three pages per session. Right now, after a month, we have over 5,000 page views and about 77% of that are new sessions.

How did Rail Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they did pretty well. There was a point in the project where our contact left the company and so we got a new contact. We were a little worried but ever since we have started working with Jake, everything has gone smoothly. He's our project manager for all of our little various projects.

Rail Digital is very timely as far as the deliverables go. They are either ahead of schedule, on schedule, or slightly behind. They've been incredibly accommodating throughout the whole process.

What distinguishes Rail Digital from other providers?

Other than the fact that Rail Digital is really easy to talk to and deal with, they are great about explaining the more technical side of development to me.

Is there anything Rail Digital could have improved or done differently?

Sometimes communication could be better. That being said, I don’t blame them for it. I know that it’s the nature of development work. If they manage their development team a bit better, it would help. There was a bit of confusion with billable hours, but Ron and Jake were both willing to listen to me and ultimately fixed it.