RainCastle Communications, Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a communications manager at a pharmaceutical company. We develop products mostly focused in the hematology and oncology space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

As we grew our US-based organization, it became clear we needed a web presence that would attract a US-based audience. The one we were currently using was a translated version of our Taiwenese site, so we needed to do a full refresh.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RainCastle started by rewriting all of our web copy and redoing the structure, to give the site a  whole new look and feel. That included new imagery, new color palettes, and other new brand styles. 

For the design aspect, we gave them a lot of flexibility. We knew we needed a refresh, but we didn’t necessarily have the end goal in mind when we started the process. We gave them examples of other companies that we thought were conveying the right sentiment and tone, and let RainCastle create from there. We went back and forth quite a bit — it was a very collaborative process. 

As for the development, the site was developed on WordPress.

What is the team composition?

The primary group was a team of four: a project manager, a copywriter, a design structure lead, and the technical lead who was in charge of web development. 

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

I believe we found them through a referral, but they’d already started the onboarding process and had begun their work when I joined the team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in February 2020, and we wrapped up the major piece of it in November. However, we’ll probably continue to do some expanded work, as well as some additional web support into 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any specific data metrics yet, but we’ve found the work has been done really well. Even with an ambitious timeframe, RainCastle delivered a very good, polished product. 

The searchability has improved dramatically from where it was before, and it’s also improved hiring discussions we’ve had in the US. The new site has noticeably improved our ability to attract candidates. 

Since we’ve launched, we’ve had requests from multiple other country affiliates within the network asking us to share the assets, imagery, and style, so they can replicate it within their own market. We’ve started a bit of a groundswell of change in our company with the help of RainCastle.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done really well. Our project manager is remarkable at her job, and she’s tried to the best of her ability to keep everyone on track. She was always crystal clear and made sure we were always on the same page. She pushed us for things we were missing to make sure the project progressed. Her contribution was great.

There were some times when we could’ve had a little more clarity in terms of how long things were going to take, but for the most part, they were really clear with us in what to expect and what they needed from us. Overall, the project with RainCastle was better than most web development projects I’ve undertaken.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were really impressed with our project manager’s capabilities and dedication to the project. Without her, we wouldn’t have gotten across the finish line.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times, we were working with leadership who didn't know exactly what they want, but knew they want some improvement or change. RainCastle is very good at what they do, and they definitely have a creative process and vision. However, sometimes the vision wasn’t crystal clear in those initial discussions, which required us to go back and forth a little bit, to not only educate our team, but make sure RainCastle knew what direction we were going.

It was a normal part of the process, and it reflected that RainCastle was really committed to and invested in the project. I don’t see it as a huge problem, but there were definitely times where we probably could’ve been a little more efficient with another conversation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

RainCastle does a great job, especially compared to other web vendors I’ve used. Their process is solid, and they map out timelines in a very precise way. I think anyone who works with them will have a positive experience. 

To get the most out of the relationship, come prepared with as much clarity around timeline, vison, and results as you possibly can to get everything off on the right foot. Give RainCastle enough time to process, digest, and understand the goal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of communications for the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We were looking to redesign our previous logo, which did not accurately reflect the name of our center. They were ultimately hired to not only redesign our logo, but to establish a brand identity for the center.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned our logo and delivered a pitch deck template. They provided standardized designs for us to transpose onto our letterhead and supporting collateral. They gave us everything we need to look professional, in terms of public-facing materials.

Their team graciously offered a wide range of design options to try and appease all stakeholders. We were specific with our requirements in the early stages, but those evolved into the final product, which deviated greatly from what we had originally suggested.

What is the team composition?

I communicated mainly with Paul (President & Creative Director) and Ji Lee (Senior Graphic Designer).

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

I researched firms that do logo and branding work. After seeing their portfolio online, I recommended RainCastle to our leadership team.

What is the status of this engagement?

The contract was signed in January 2019, and the work wrapped up in July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our founding donor has been very happy with our new logo and branded assets. In the weeks following the launch of our logo, our director has been utilizing our new materials in presentations. He’s been getting excellent feedback on them. Our new look and feel were also warmly received on Twitter.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They were absolutely fantastic. This was a project involving many decision-makers on our side; on the occasions that a key decision-maker changed their mind about something, their team was very flexible in accommodating us. They’d get us a new design or make the requested edits in 1–2 business days, which was phenomenal.

What did you find most impressive about them?

A highlight of the engagement was the variety of design options they gave us. The concept and values behind a health and human rights center is difficult to convey in a logo, and while we ultimately selected the standard Harvard shield, they offered some compelling logos that communicated the organization’s unique stance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

All of the hiccups I can think of were on our side. The RainCastle team was incredibly gracious in dealing with the sudden changes and direction shifts we demanded. They handled the entire process wonderfully.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should just come in with a sense of what they’d like to achieve, but RainCastle did a great job of filling in the blanks.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a business manager in the research department at a major oncology hospital.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We wanted to upgrade our department website to better communicate our events and department-related news.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We knew what features we wanted our new website to have, and we had a branding reference palette. We provided them with this information, and they took those concepts and developed a brand new website. I also provided the content, though they advised me on the page structure and web design. Their team also designed iconography and graphics that aligned with our branding. 

The website was built on WordPress. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Paul (President & Creative Director), Jill (Director of Client Strategy), Donato (Senior Web Developer), Ji (Senior Graphic Designer), their SEO specialist, and a development specialist. Our main point of contact was Jill.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We sent out a detailed RFP. As a nonprofit, we had a strict budget, but we got some great proposals. We invited four companies, including RainCastle, to present their pitch. RainCastle stood out because of the detail and thoughtfulness of their presentation. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We put out our RFP in late-September 2019. We started working with RainCastle in November of that year, and we completed the website in May 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven’t had a chance to look at our new analytics yet. However, the feedback we’ve gotten from department members has been overwhelmingly positive. Our team feels it reflects our values and highlights our work. The icons they designed for us are especially impressive. They created an incredibly engaging, aesthetically pleasing, and well-designed website. The website has helped us solidify a strong department identity. 

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was exceptional, and communication on every level was incredible. They provided us with a detailed timeline using Smartsheet. Jill was very diligent about checking in. We received all our deliverables on time. They were accommodating to all of the internal adjustments that we made, especially with the unexpected changes we had as a result of COVID-19. 

They also followed through to make sure everything went smoothly with the launch. Their work didn’t end with the delivery of the product. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

This has been one of the most positive experiences I’ve ever had working with a vendor. Every person we worked with did an excellent job. Their visual concepts really hit it out of the park. It communicated the people behind our research, it was amazing. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I couldn’t think of any constructive feedback. I felt I could trust them; there was never anything to worry about with the engagement. They delivered and exceeded our expectations in every way. They were a dream to work with. We feel lucky that they chose to work with us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

It was helpful for us to have a detailed sense of what we wanted. However, my impression is that they’re probably very good at helping you clarify your needs if you don’t have a thorough plan at the beginning of the engagement. 

They’re so responsive and transparent, so you can communicate as much as you feel is needed for the success of your project. You can trust them because they know what they’re doing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, LLC is a sustainability-focused trust company that manages funds and portfolios on behalf of their clients. I’m an environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) analyst.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications Inc.?

I was overseeing our website refresh. Our site was quite dated, so we wanted to revamp it to reflect the brand and character of our firm. We wanted to redesign our platform so that it would differentiate us from other sustainability-focused investing companies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They re-designed our website and delivered the copy on it. The team handled everything related to the UX/UI of the platform. They produced the non-photograph graphics on the site — like diagrams and icons. They also executed SEO-mapping for the platform. In addition to web development, they refreshed our PowerPoint deck format.

What is the team composition?

We had a main point of contact, but the team size fluctuated around ten people.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications Inc.?

I know that the company had a pre-existing relationship with RainCastle. We still put out an RFP for this project, and their proposal outshone the others. It helped that they were familiar with our firm and idiosyncrasies.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere between $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project began in April 2019 and the project wrapped up in December of that year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team loved the new website. I work for a subset of a larger organization and was asked to present the new website to the entire firm. It received phenomenal internal feedback because there was the consensus that it really distinguishes us from other companies. It successfully communicates our values to our clients.

How did RainCastle Communications Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. They were communicative, and even Paul (Owner) checked in with us at numerous points. They met deadlines no problem and were very flexible throughout the engagement. I know they used SmartSheet as a project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is excellent. They really understand the client, and they’re great at addressing the client’s specific needs. We’re a little old-school in how we operate, and they were very accommodating of that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. The team is very receptive to feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to give feedback. Be vocal about what you want, and tell them what constraints you’re working with. They’re very flexible and will give you a great result.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a healthcare consulting company that helps small- to medium-size tech companies come to market. In this particular project, I was working with a biotherapeutics company that was finishing a clinical trial and getting ready to launch a product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We wanted to secure an online presence for a biotherapeutics company so that they could get exposure for their new product. RainCastle did this by creating a webpage and integrating provided animations. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Initially, we began with positioning work. RainCastle’s team interviewed a number of internal and external constituents to determine how we perceived the brand compared to others. They then provided decks to go over their analysis, and we came to an agreement on the brand messaging.

From there, they worked on the site content, starting first with wireframes and then handling the text and visuals. 

We wanted to strike a delicate balance between communicating technical aspects appropriately for the physician community (they were our primary target), while also having sophisticated information for investors. The site also needed to have a compassionate feel so that potential patients could feel comfortable.

What is the team composition? 

I worked with three main people, though there were others working behind the scenes. RainCastle also worked with our contracted animation company, sharing information with them to make sure that we were all on the same page.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We found them on Clutch. I wanted a company that was within the same time zone and had good reviews for the healthcare space. Because we’re in such a highly-regulated field, we have to be extremely careful about the words and images we choose, so I was looking for a vendor that understood that nuance.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first conversations were in November 2019, but we didn’t start the project until December with a target end date of March 2020. We’ve almost wrapped up, but we’ve had to pause due to economic circumstances. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did an incredible job, and the board and key opinion leaders absolutely loved the site — it looks like a well-furnished Lamborghini in this space.

I appreciated that they really listened to us and were responsive to our needs. Not only did they find spot-on imagery that suited the brand, but the copy was professional and beautifully written. We could extract anything from the website and include it in a corporate presentation.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Organizationally, they’re very easy to work with. There weren’t any miscommunications or occasions when we lost track of time.

Jill (Director of Client Strategy), in particular, was remarkable at managing the project using a sheet format. She could make adjustments to move forward or backward depending on the cycle time from other stakeholders. She made sure that we always knew where we were in terms of timing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of their strengths is their ability to think through all of the needs of the constituents so that the content hits the mark. They know how to translate complex biopharmaceutical information in an appealing, easy-to-understand way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I couldn’t say. Everything they did was excellent.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have a main point of contact on your side who has control over all of the approval timelines. Because we’re in the biopharmaceutical and MedTech space, there’s so much regulatory oversight involved. You have to be in direct contact with the lawyers so that you can give RainCastle a better idea of the cycle time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP Business Development with WaveGuide Corp but I am a retained advisor with four additional companies plus a member-investor with the Launchpad Venture Group. WaveGuide has licensed underlying technology from Harvard University to produce the world's first portable NMR device (nuclear magnetic resonance) for medical and industrial diagnostics applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

Website development Product naming Collateral design Tradeshow booth design

What were your goals for this project?

Bring the company out of stealth and unveil our new breakthrough product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with Paul Regensberg and his team at Raincastle in three other companies where I was either CEO or a Vice President.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

1. Website 
2. Three pieces of collateral (corporate brochure, product specification, application note
3. Create a powerpoint template and style guide
4. Create a tradeshow booth design that ties it all together
5. Come up with a name for our product (Formμla)
6. Copywriter review on the press release announcement 

What was the team composition?

Project Manager Web designer Creative Copy writer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

CEO & President was ecstatic. COO was thrilled the project was completed ahead of scheduled VP Business Development (me) was vindicated for making a great choice with RainCastle.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Exceptionally fast and efficient.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They emphasize quality, creativity, and efficient communications, which we appreciated. Clearly a lot of experience and tribal knowledge from past projects and clients that shows in their team work and professional results.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. Keep it up if you can.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is called Agile Mind. We’re an educational technology publisher working in the K-12 market with a focus on middle school and high school math, social and emotional learning, as well as biology.

We provide blended teaching and learning resources that are focused on giving all students the chance to succeed, regardless of where they might be in their personal learning path. I’m the marketing director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

They worked with us on branding and messaging. We had a complex message that we wanted to convey clearly. So, we wanted to build a website that would walk the viewer through an introduction to Agile Mind.

In particular, we need to communicate content from subject matter experts, but make sure the general industry population (e.g. a teacher or coach at a school) could understand. We wanted to convey our mission around equity along with our high educational ratings in content, rigor, and development quality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a very collaborative effort. Some of the content was developed internally, but they created the structure for the design choices. For example, the template design, the hierarchy of messaging, and initial content mapping were designed by Raincastle Communications, Inc. 

We have a blended learning platform where teachers use both technology and traditional learning materials. They helped tell that story and show what an Agile Minds classroom looks like.

We have an extensive amount of data that shows the impact of our program on students’ learning. We wanted to show that information very clearly. So, they were able to display the data in a visually appealing way. They re-designed all of our graphs and charts from a visual presentation perspective.

We used WordPress as our site foundation with a lot of extra functionality built-in. It includes an event calendar tool where people can register on our website. We also created a resource library, which they designed from scratch. 

What is the team composition?

The project team consisted of seven team members, not counting the backend workers.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

I reviewed several other firms before deciding to hire RainCastle Communications, Inc. I did some industry networking, and they came up in conversation. We ultimately decided they were the best fit for us based on their background in education and their ability to understand our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $60,000 and $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in June of 2019, and they finished all of their work in November of 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site debuted, and we’re loving it.  I unveiled it at our national sales training meeting in early January. Sales representatives have already been using a couple of the key sections in sales presentations. It helps clarify and present a clear picture of messaging. 

We’ve gotten phenomenal feedback internally from our field and inside sales teams. But, we’ve also seen a huge spike in our web traffic. 

Initially, we weren’t sure what type of resource library we wanted, and it came out exactly as we had hoped. This new resource library is so highly functional that people can find what they need quickly and simply. It’s also very visually appealing. 

Since we have the resource library, we’ve seen increased activity in downloads for our key materials. We’ve also noted increased inquiries requesting demos and sales contacts.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a diverse team spread all over the country. They were phenomenal at project manager. The leader was always on target, on track, and they were pleasant to work with at all steps. They were very responsive.

We had a weekly or bi-weekly project team meetings to report on progress. They used smart sheet, and we got access to it internally. We wanted to work almost in-tandem, and that’s how they set it up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listen really well, and they explored for understanding very deeply. They facilitated feedback and our internal team’s ideas very professionally. They got to the base of the message, but also addressed concerns or other ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of a thing. We were right on track, right up to the day we released the site. 
 
Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They should take them up on consulting for the frontend of the project. While they’re excellent at building and consulting, they’re just as strong at centralizing messaging and copywriting. They can translate your vision into a visual and contextual communication presentation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Executive Vice President of Assessments at Certica Solutions, and we provide solutions to K-12 school districts using student assessments and data analytics. I oversee our assessment product line.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Raincastle Communications, Inc?

We’re repositioning our business to focus on finding technology solutions for the K-12 sector. Because of this, we had to do a complete overhaul of our website. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Raincastle Communications, Inc to complete our site overhaul. This included revamping messaging, visual elements, navigation, and other aspects of our site. They built the anchor page of our site, which set our brand and feel. From there, they built the site outwards.

What is the team composition?

They had about five people working with us in different roles. These were: a project manager, a content writer, a designer, and an architect.

How did you come to work with Raincastle Communications, Inc?

A few years ago, I was looking for someone to do a similar project and wanted someone based in the Boston Area. That project ultimately didn’t go through. But I liked Raincastle Communication, Inc’s client management style, so I hired them for this website overhaul.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from August 2019–January 2020. While that seems like a long time, that’s because of delays on our end. They were very good at meeting all deadlines.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was much more successful because they were able to tighten the schedule by several weeks.

In the fall, other dynamics at my company made us need to significantly accelerate the timeline of the website overhaul. Raincastle Communications, Inc was able to meet this accelerated timeline, even with it occurring over the holidays.

They exceeded all my expectations in being able to work quickly and then deliver incredibly high-quality work. After all, we have had a lot of compliments on our site so far.

How did Raincastle Communications, Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well at client management and project oversight. They’re very diligent about this, and it is one of their biggest strengths.

We used a project management tool and had one in-person meeting, but we mostly communicated over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with how easy they were to work with.

I also was very impressed with the skilled content writer they brought into the process. He did his homework and worked hard to understand our business, and then made good suggestions. The quality of his work was excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We probably would have benefited from more in-person meetings. It likely would’ve accelerated our company’s ability to do the work that Raincastle Communications, Inc needed us to do so we could meet our deadlines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take full advantage of their talent. They’re very good at answering questions, sharing, learning, giving design advice, and teaching.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and business development consultant at Scaringi Marketing. I mostly work with lawyers, law firms, and other professionals to build their brand’s visibility.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

For this project, I hired RainCastle Communications, Inc. to build a new website for our client.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a customized WordPress website, handling both the design and development phases. They also supported us in creating the branding, including the logo, color scheme, letterheads, and everything else related to the brand identity. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with five people from RainCastle Communications, Inc. 

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We sent our client’s RFP to RainCastle Communications, Inc. along with several other providers. After receiving proposals from them all, we narrowed it down for the interview process. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March–November 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They had a huge impact on our client’s business. Their website was very outdated and the brand was even older. It was really important for them to make these changes. RainCastle Communications, Inc. did a great job balancing the conservative nature of a law firm while still giving them a fresh identity. 

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We were in contact very frequently, given the nature of the project. We usually used phone calls, emails, and webinars to speak, along with a tool. Sometimes we spoke several times a day, and other times we communicated every other week. They kept us on top of everything and let us know what needed to be done. We always knew their status, so their project management approach was very helpful. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very open-minded and willing to help our client achieve their goals. Their team was really in-tune with the needs of the project and knew just how far to push to get results. They also did a great job giving gentle reminders and offering assistance to make sure everyone was being responsive and productive. Overall, they just handled everything really smoothly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing that stood out to me for them to improve. If anything, since I’m not the most tech-savvy person, it’d be helpful for them to not directly involve me in certain things like the scheduling tool. However, that probably works well for other clients. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as organized as you can to match their level. If you’re both on top of the organization, you’ll be a dream team. Being communicative and straightforward about expectations is best practice for any engagement. If you’re looking for a fresh, new approach to website design, they’re a great contender. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Mitokinin, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We wanted to project the image of a serious company working in a serious field. To do that, we needed a website that reflects that image.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RainCastle Communications, Inc. created a WordPress website and some brand elements—such as presentation materials—for our company. 

The project started with a quick scoping exercise where we discussed what we wanted to achieve and what information we wanted to share with our audience. RainCastle Communications, Inc. then prepared a quick mockup of the content and its narrative flow. It helped us align on what story we wanted to tell. 

After that, because our content would be highly technical, our internal team created draft copy and figures that we wanted to include on the site. RainCastle Communications, Inc. then revised the drafts, cleaning up the figures and tweaking the copy to make them look polished. It took a few iterations, but the result was a highly professional website that lets us put our best foot forward.

What is the team composition?

We had direct interaction with four people. Paul (President, Creative Director, RainCastle Communications, Inc.) provided high-level design ideas and conceptualization. Jill (Director of Client Strategy, RainCastle Communications, Inc.) served as our project manager, staying on top of things and making sure we hit our deadlines. Ji (Senior Graphic Designer, RainCastle Communications, Inc.) handled all the design and illustration, while Donato (Senior Web Developer, RainCastle Communications, Inc.) worked as a developer and DevOps person.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

Biotech is a small industry, so we all know which small companies in our space are high performers. We surveyed the small biotech company website landscape and noted the names of their web developers. We then interviewed 5–6 companies, narrowed our list down to 2–3 names, and then reinterviewed those choices.

The prices across the shortlist were about the same. The other vendors we considered offered some unusual design elements and page features in their proposals, but while they interested us, they strayed away from the core of what we wanted to do. RainCastle Communications, Inc. gave us tremendous confidence that they would execute what we asked for and leave us with something that satisfied our objectives. That’s why we ultimately went with their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $24,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in July 2019 and wrapped up in September the same year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website is not our primary method to generate leads, so it’s a bit hard for us to measure the site’s impact tangibly. What I can say, though, is that people have complimented the website, which means that we’ve achieved our goal of projecting a corporate presence with gravitas. Our team is also happy with how the website turned out. I think we got outstanding value for our money.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We have no complaints about the way they oversaw our account or communicated with us. We hit every deadline, and the team managed our expectations well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

At the end of the day, what matters most is the final product. We wound up with a website and brand presence that we’re proud to show the world. Much of what we do as a biotech firm is too esoteric for the lay reader. Paul and Jill did a great job defining an accessible narrative structure and design for our site. It allows laypeople to learn more about us while still projecting a professional, serious brand. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing but good things to say about our experience with RainCastle Communications, Inc.

Any advice for potential customers?

We’re experts in our industry domain and couldn’t expect RainCastle Communications, Inc. to match our level of knowledge in our story and content. We knew that, and so did RainCastle Communications, Inc. Because of that, we got majorly involved and ended up with a product that fully satisfied our needs.