Sayenko Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of Denali Advanced Integration

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Enterprise IT Services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sayenko Design to accomplish?

• Create a new updated website

SOLUTION

How did you find Sayenko Design?

Online Search

Why did you select Sayenko Design over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Thorough RFP response

What was the size of Sayenko Design’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Build custom designed website to fit the unique portfolio of the company. Update the look and feel from the current site. Assist with initial content writing and SEO. Train team on WordPress site management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Positive feedback from internal and external stakeholders. No decrease in traffic after launch, now starting to increase.

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

They were very responsive and flexible during the project. They delivered everything on time and accommodated all our requests.

What was your primary form of communication with Sayenko Design?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Knowledge of WordPress was crucial to the project success, they were able to quickly adapt to our needs as they changed during the project.

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

We asked them to create pages without knowing what the full scope of content would be, which was a difficult problem to solve. It would have been helpful to hear more creative solutions to creating pages that adapt to changing content needs and simplify the page structure further once the final plan was in place.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Communications/Content Specialist of (a/an) Chemicals & Biotechnology

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Develops and manufactures diagnostics for infectious diseases.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sayenko Design to accomplish?

Update and maintain our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Sayenko Design?

Online Search

Why did you select Sayenko Design over others?

High ratings, Good value for cost

What was the size of Sayenko Design’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Sayenko was hired to update our existing website and provide a stable platform for it. They have done a number of updates including a redesigned home page, new product pages and updated forms.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

updated website that elevates our company to the level of larger competitors

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

Sayenko is great to work with. They are knowledgeable about the backend of our website (something we have no in-house expertise in) so we don't have to worry about making sure everything works as it should. They also have great design skills - listening carefully to our needs and striving to understand our industry.

What was your primary form of communication with Sayenko Design?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

The ability to talk directly to the people who are doing the work for us; the relationship we've created with the Sayenko team makes it easy to ask for help and get it quickly.

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

No - I would highly recommend Sayenko.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of Olympus Spa

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a Korean/American spa that provides beauty and wellness services like Korean body scrubs, body massages, and facials.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sayenko Design to accomplish?

• Fix our broken gift certificates
• Update our Wordpress site
• Provide backups and tech support for website

SOLUTION

How did you find Sayenko Design?

Referral

Why did you select Sayenko Design over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Sayenko Design’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

We originally hired them to take over as the tech support guys for our website. We are working with a custom built plugin that other developers were telling us was preventing us from updating our Wordpress site, and all other plugins. So our site was becoming more and more of a security risk as time went on.

This company was able to update all of our code without any problem or any stop to our business. Their knowledge of Wordpress is seriously amazing. They have saved my companies website when everyone else was telling us we needed to just build a new one from scratch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Website code being updated
• Website working smoothly with updated plug-ins and our old code

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

They are very responsive. I just shoot them an email and I get a reply either the same day or next day (depending on the time). When things get really tricky for me to explain, they were able to do a screen share so I could show them exactly what I was looking at. Easy to talk to and great to work with.

What was your primary form of communication with Sayenko Design?

• Email
• Messaging App

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

I'm impressed with their knowledge of WordPress and coding. Can't stress enough how other website developers told us our site was unsalvageable and we needed to start from scratch. And then Sayenko Design was like "that's no big deal to update, here you go, all fixed!"

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

Nope.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Programs of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The administrative office of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sayenko Design to accomplish?

• Create a new and effective design for our website.

SOLUTION

How did you find Sayenko Design?

Online Search

Why did you select Sayenko Design over others?

High ratings, Pricing first our budget, Good value for cost

What was the size of Sayenko Design’s team?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with Sayenko Design?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

Designing the look of the entire website redesign, providing new hosting for the website, consulting on reducing and streamlining the number of pages, providing regular updates on progress of the work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Overall satisfaction with website design.
• Reviews of current board members and volunteers.

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

Initially introduced a feedback/review system that had technical issues for us, so we ended up having to do more traditional feedback and communication for the designs and edits. Sometimes hard to get a hold of until things would be done. Happy with final product and it was delivered on our timeline for the most part.

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

Overall final product exceeded expectations and met all of our initially stated objectives.

Are there any areas for improvement or something {provider_name} could have done differently?

Not sure if it was related to the lack of being able to use the feedback system they initially proposed, but the communication loop could be a little tighter. Just being able to give small updates and timeline check-ins without us having to initiate them would have made our experience better.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I retired from academic veterinary medicine in 2006. Since then I have been writing and self-publishing memoirs and historical novels.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My website needed a complete overhaul and to be brought up to date and Sayenko was recommended to me.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I relied on the person who gave me their name, but only after talking to 2 other companies doing website development.

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

We had a meeting where I described what I had in mind. After supplying Sayenko with the information, photos, etc. that they needed they made some drafts that I was able to comment on.

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

The project manager, at least one design person, and Kyle who did most of the work of putting the website together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My hope was that with a more professional website my book sales would increase. So far that has not happened but I am still hopeful.

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

Everything was done in a timely manner. My concerns were addressed with good humor, considering my lack of expertise. The company seems to be run very efficiently with good communication with me as a client.

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

I am 86 years old and not very nimble with computers. The company continues to help me upload new publications and helps when I have problems uploading my blogs.

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

Don't think so.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a real estate company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We wanted to streamline some of our processes through our website, but the platform we had was old, so we needed a new site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko Design did web design and development from scratch using WordPress. They created an informational site where we can show our units and where our residents can pay their rent.

In addition to that, they’ve provided hosting and maintenance to the site.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Mike and Kyle (Web Designers).

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

They were already working with us when I took my current position.

How much money have you invested in this partnership?

We spent around $20,000–$25,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March 2021–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We gained a lot of traffic on our site thanks to Sayenko Design’s work compared to our previous platform.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They met deadlines and stayed within budget. Regarding tools, we used Google chat and emails for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall support was outstanding — it was easy to work with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — they adapted to our requirements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Try to keep a tight deadline.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Creative Lead in the Marketing Department at Erickson Incorporated. I design, manage and assist in all creative aspects that are delivered via marketing efforts and throughout the company internally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our website was outdated and needed a better user experience, as well as a more modern design to appeal to the industry. We also needed a customized CSM that was easy for us to update the website as needed.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I was hired onto the team after this project was already kicked off by my previous manager.

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

I can't speak to this from start to finish, but when I was brought onto the team, we had several check-in meetings for review. I also assisted in providing content documents to outline specific web pages, as well as helping to visualize how we can improve some of the design and UX in certain areas.

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

A project manager and web developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website refresh was received well internally and externally

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

Easy to submit tickets through their management system for website updates or requests. Their team always responds within a reasonable time and is able to prioritize issues that come up.

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

They delivered a site that was easy for us to update in WordPress.

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

When we first launched we caught a lot of bugs throughout the website. We let the team know ASAP and they were quick to resolve them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing communications consultant, and for this particular project, I’m working with Chugach Commercial Holdings, an investment company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We were trying to set the groundwork of the commercial division by establishing its own brand within the Chugach family of brands. We also wanted to have a lead generation site that could help us establish our presence in the digital world. As a result, we hired Sayenko Design to support us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko Design based the commercial division’s branding on the brand guidelines set by the parent company. Since they were already familiar with those guidelines, they figured out how the commercial division could have its own unique visual presentation while still adhering to the brand guidelines. They took one of the third-tier colors within the palette and brought it out front, in a way that looked professional and sharp.

After that, the team worked on a subdomain of our parent company website and implemented the new branding they created. The team adjusted an existing website, and they made it unique so that it could stand on its own two feet. In addition, they followed our requested changes and integrated the unique elements we wanted to implement.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with two people, including Mike (Owner) and Kyle (WordPress Developer).

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

I wasn’t sure how our parent company found them, but I was introduced by my parent company to them. We chose Sayenko Design because we wanted to work with a company that was already familiar with our brand.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2021, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been very satisfied with their design skills. We’re still in the process of benchmarking because we didn’t have an online presence before. There’s nothing quantifiable at the moment, but we’ve gotten positive feedback on the appearance of our website.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a great project management tool, and they do a great job of keeping us on track. I have a lot going on my side, and they ensure that we meet the deadlines and goals that we set at the beginning of the project. We’re also impressed that they’ve been able to meet our deadline despite us not meeting our deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to create a clean and fresh design is impressive. In addition, once they had the mockup prepared, they came to us and talked us through any issues we had. They also did a good job of having that conversation so that we could get the best results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could’ve helped me reach my deadlines better earlier in the process. However, it wasn't really their responsibility.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly communicate your needs to Sayenko Design, and don’t hesitate to push back if there’s something that you don’t like.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the shareholder and owner of a public accounting firm called McDonald Jacobs. We primarily provide tax audit and assurance consultancy services for various companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We were looking to do some thought leadership content and boost our SEO abilities and knowledge, but our site was really limited. We also wanted to drive new customers and employees, so we asked Sayenko Design to build a platform where visitors can learn about our unique culture and organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko Design provides us with ongoing web development and SEO services. The site is built using WordPress, and some of the features that we have are linking articles on various sites and listing our employees as writers for the posts.

Other than that, we’re also able to highlight some of our unique aspects by helping us build the content and integrate them into the various pages of the site. We initially provided them with a lot of the documentation, and their job is to implement that into the specific areas of the platform.

Moreover, they also help us with keyword research to help identify the top words for SEO.

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact are Mike (Seattle Web Designer) and Kyle (WordPress Developer).

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

We did an RFP based on some recommendations from our external IT provider. They have a list of vendors they’ve previously worked with and we decided to work with Sayenko Design. We chose them because of the additional services they were doing that we didn’t even consider.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe we’ve spent around $25,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of the scope of the project, they’ve really helped define, identify, and produce an output based on the conversations we had, and our strategic strengths in the market.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform fairly well, as they have a project management software that’s easy to use in terms of responding to emails. The development is taking longer than we realized because we underestimated the time it takes to build a website.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like the fact that they’re able to help us root out what’s unique about our company and highlight that on our website.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They let us slack off quite a bit, so they could maybe push us more to keep the project on track.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would suggest having invested individuals from all aspects of the company be part of the team, so that everybody can weigh in and benefit from Sayenko Design’s knowledge.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Skyline Communications, a low-voltage systems integrator. We design and install communication and security systems. As for security, we focus on electronic access control and video surveillance systems. As for communications, we do structured fiber and cat six cablings and implement wireless solutions, including emergency responder radio coverage and indoor cellphone coverage.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We needed to refresh our website so that it better reflected what we did. Most of our customers are IT people, and they mainly determine who to work with based on online research. Thus, we also wanted to have higher visibility so that potential customers could find us when searching for companies in our industry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko first understood who we were trying to reach with our website. Then, they did a competitor analysis and looked at different websites of companies in the same industry and other tangential industries. After that, they proposed an outline for our website based on the best features they saw on our competitors, and finally, they developed our website on WordPress.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from Sayenko.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

We had used some lower-end designers in the past, but we didn’t get as professional of a project as we wanted, and we didn’t get the regular maintenance we needed. Thus, we started looking for a new company, but we still wanted to find a boutique and small company to get a personal service.

We found Sayenko and discovered that they were very professional. Additionally, they had good processes for a company of their size.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000–$25,000 on the website redesign. However, the ongoing maintenance cost is minimal.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2020–January 2021, but they still provide maintenance services to our site. We expect to have this site up and running for at least five more years. Although we would try to fix any important issues immediately, we don’t want to do another total refresh for five years if we can help it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website’s adaptability to different devices and platforms is really good compared to how it was before. It looks great whether our customers access it from an iPhone, an Android device, a tablet, or a computer. Before this redesign, our website had some adaptability issues.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Sayenko’s project management was professional and structured. We had weekly updates throughout the project, so we never experienced a time where we didn’t know what was happening.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sayenko’s process was great. They knew what they were doing at every step of the way, and they had a great process in place, from competitor research to launching the site.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that when Sayenko asks questions, you put a good amount of effort into answering them. For example, if they want to know more about your competitors, spend some time thinking who they are so that you can point them in the right direction. Likewise, when talking about what you offer, make sure that you give them good information.