Slidesigma

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Executive Director for a nonprofit organization that focuses on advancing the science of the ways in which biological sex and gender affect normal human function and the experience of disease.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

We needed a functional and visually appealing website that promoted the goals of our foundation, which includes educating the lay public and the medical profession.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slidesigma designed the WordPress website, e-newsletter, social media page and implementing SEO. We provided the content and structure. We provided keywords and explained what was needed on each page. They used their creativity to develop wireframes for us to review.

How did you come to work with Slidesigma?

We found them on Craigslist, saw that they were a local agency, and looked at their prior work. We scheduled a face-to-face interview and subsequently checked references. They seemed credible and knowledgeable, so we decided to give them a try. They produced a great site.

How much have you invested with Slidesigma?

To date, we have spent less than $10,000. Their prices are comparable to the going rate in the industry.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them at the beginning of December 2016 and the project was completed by the end of the month. The turnaround time is exceptional. We have a service contract and they continue to post content for us and manage any issues that arise with PAYPAL, navigation or broken links, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

People are responding positively to our site based on our content, easy navigation and graphics. We get statistics every week based on SEO and traffic.

They’re the best at what they do. They offer ideas, and they’re creative.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

They met deadlines, clearly communicated issues and provided advanced notice if there were problems that needed our input. When they need extra time, they always let us know ahead of time. They’re very punctual.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

They also offered marketing ideas about what would help to promote our foundation and continue to do so.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a startup company that is going to be putting phone apps into the market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

We come up with the ideas for the apps, the transitions and what the user experience should be, and then we outsource the technical aspect of creating the apps to Slidesigma.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We met to talk about the vision we had for the first app, and they have begun to write the code for it. I can't tell you more about the technical part of the process because we are not the technical group of people, we are just the idea group of people.

How did you come to work with Slidesigma?

We talked to four freelancers and more than six established app-developing companies before deciding on Slidesigma. The companies I spoke with asked for too much money for the project. I interviewed the guys at Slidesigma, we had a couple of meetings, and I could see they had the same vision I did for the app. They told me what they could do with the app, and where we could take it, and that’s how we decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with Slidesigma?

We’ve invested about $6,000 so far, and by the end of the app development, we’ll have invested around $12,000. The ongoing technical support relationship will probably bring the total up to around $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2016, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The experience has been really good. Slidesigma understands the vision we have for the first app we’re developing. They’ve added their improvements to my designs for the app, and they have always given a little more than I expected. They’ve been on time, and they’ve hit all the deadlines and milestones. They’re enhancing the user experience by adding extra features to the app that I had not envisioned. It’s been a positive experience, and I'm satisfied with the service they’ve provided.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

They established and met the deadlines that we needed to start working on the design, including when the design for iOS and Android would be finished. Then we went into technical development, which was to start building the Wireframe. They kept me informed of the developments every step of the way. Right now we’re entering the testing phase, and then we’ll release the app into the market. They’ve delivered on every aspect of the creative and development process.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

Slidesigma’s communication and availability have been impressive. They’re quick to respond, and they’ve been available basically every time I’ve reached out. If I have a question, suggestion or idea, and I need to know what’s going on or where we’re standing, I can get an answer within 30 minutes.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

Everything has been quite positive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of J Greenman Consulting LLC. Our company is a consulting firm for financial services, helping with risk and regulatory implementation. We are also involved in the training and education that pertains to bank regulation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

I needed to hire someone quickly to help with a presentation I was invited to give at a conference. Specifically, I needed help with developing training courses and conference presentations on PowerPoint.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slidesigma produced the slides and media for the presentation. Most of the time, I would send them an outline via email for the slides, visuals, and the message that I wanted to get across. Then, Slidesigma would develop a PowerPoint presentation and PDF files that illustrated the concept. In other cases, I had some previous help with the slides and Slidesigma would format them for a more professional look. I have had numerous projects with them, including 4 or 5 different PowerPoint presentations. The project timelines have mostly been about 1 to 2 weeks.

How did you come to work with Slidesigma?

I found Slidesigma on an advertisement on Craigslist. I contacted them and they had a very flexible working arrangement.

How much have you invested with Slidesigma?

They charge on a per slide basis. For each project, the cost varied from $400 to $1,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in September 2015. We have also talked about having them help us with our website design. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The turnaround time was incredibly good and the presentation itself went very well. I have received very good feedback about the quality of the slides from various firms at the conference. I traveled internationally to Cairo last November; that was the most significant project we worked on with Slidesigma. The client made specific comments about how visually strong the presentation was. Generally speaking, I have had a lot of success with the content Slidesigma produced.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very good in terms of communication and providing updates. They are a creative firm, so they work better when there's some kind of time buffer. They are able to think about the content rather than just turn something around in a couple of hours. I've found that their communication is quite responsive. If I send a note, I will get a response.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

They do a higher level of thinking, beyond just taking an existing slide and tweaking it for artistic purposes. They get involved in the actual content creation, so to speak. I can send them an email with just the concept and Slidesigma will think about the graphics and the way that the message gets portrayed.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

Interacting with Slidesigma fits my personality. It's similar to talking to artists and more creative types of people. However, in some business contexts, there's a very chop-chop nature to communications and the rhythm of work. I can imagine that in those contexts, there might be some differences in terms of communication style.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Horizon Projects Consulting provides management consulting services to Fortune 500 companies and local state governments. I am the president.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

We had limited time and resources to develop effective presentations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Oftentimes, I have to give presentations to large groups of people of various levels. What Slidesigma is able to do for me is create these presentations. I describe for them what I’m looking to include in the presentation and I’ll give them rough cuts. They’re able to look at what I provide them, whether it’s hand-drawn or in Word, or through a description that I provide them through an interview. Then they are able to transform that into a really effective presentation.

How did you come to work with Slidesigma?

I found them on Craigslist.

How much have you invested with Slidesigma?

I spend around $800 to $2,500 per project.

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve been working with Slidesigma throughout 2015 and 2016. I’ve engaged them in at least six major presentations. My last project with them is completed, but I’ve queued them up to do another project for me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I know I can rely on Slidesigma. At various times, I have tried to create presentations on my own, but I always run into a time issue. I’m often calling them three days before a major presentation and asking them to jump in, and they are great. They’re always ready to help, so it provides me with great comfort knowing that they are always available. I can’t tell you just how simple, clear, and easy their presentation materials are for people to follow and understand.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

On a scale of one to ten, they are always a 10 in terms of project management. If they need to work throughout the night to get a presentation done, they will do so.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

I would say two things: reliability and quality. They always deliver on time. I’ve worked with other companies before doing the same thing and the quality was not always there.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

No, not that I can see. They have done everything that I’ve wanted, and they’ve always come through for me.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I manufacture and produce tutus for girls and hair accessories for newborns. You can create your own tutu colors and accessories, and there is a variety of options that you can mix and match. I’m the founder and business owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

Slidesigma helped me with my marketing strategies. I needed to get the word around about my business, especially on different types of social media platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slidesigma allowed me to call them whenever I wanted. They provided 24/7 assistance, which was great because they worked around my schedule. I liked dealing with them because they understood me. I started from scratch, so they were able to tell me all of the different marketing options I had. They helped me with all the different social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. I didn’t even know that I could have an account on Instagram that could be linked to my website, and Slidesigma really helped me in that case.

How did you come to work with Slide Sigma?

It was actually through Google. I was looking for somebody that was local in Brooklyn, New York.

How much have you invested with Slide Sigma?

The project was $2,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in April 2015, and it took 2 weeks for it to be completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Before, it was a little bit difficult. Client-wise, I didn’t receive as many phone calls or product orders because I didn’t have experience. Before, I would have a large amount of orders placed through email and the social networks. When Slidesigma linked all my accounts together, it was so much easier because everything was just directed to my email.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

I appreciated that they were all on board with my vision for my company. I felt like they were part of my team. They would give me tips and advice on how I can make my products and company reach more individuals, whether it was through Google, social networking, or even through phone calls. They helped me start my company because I was starting from scratch.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

They offered 24/7 assistance; other companies didn’t. The price point was also too expensive with other providers, so I stuck with Slidesigma. I mostly needed the 24-hour assistance, so I didn’t wind up working with anyone else.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

Not really. I had a great experience with them. Especially since they followed up afterward, I can’t say anything negative about them. I was satisfied with the products and the services that they offered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an auto body repair facility. We've been around for almost 60 years. It's a family owned and operated business. My grandfather opened a one-car repair shop and over time my father took it over and expanded.  Now we have a 45-car repair shop.

I am a repair cost appraiser.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

We had a really outdated website and I wanted to update it, make it modern, and make it more appealing in order to draw in some new business. We wanted the website to be a place for customers to take a look at our facility and read some reviews.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, I gave Hamza, the owner of Slidesigma, an outline of things that I wanted on the website. He told me the best way to go about them, showing me different ways to use a website to market our business. It’s a very old business, family-owned and operated, so I had pretty much zero experience with websites. We run our business in a very old-school manner, so Slidesigma showed me a couple of ways to make the website more modern and up with the times.

How did you come to work with Slidesigma?

A friend of mine had actually used them for his company's website and he recommended them. Once I spoke with Hamza, he showed me a couple other sites he had done and was working on. I was pretty impressed. He was super easy to talk to and just made it seem like it was going to be an easy process overall, which it definitely wound up being.

How much have you invested with Slidesigma?

The size of the project was around $3,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted about six weeks - somewhere around Feb. 2016 to mid-March 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

It’s difficult to do marketing in my business because we are a collision repair shop. If people don't get into car accidents, we really don't get business. It's not an industry where you can really target specific people because it’s an unfortunate thing to happen. If people aren't having accidents, we won't get a lot of business, so it's very unpredictable. Since we’ve developed the website, we're on an NYPD [New York Police Department] program, so the NYPD calls us to pick up cars that aren't able to be driven. A lot of times, we pick up a car and the owners won't know who we are. We call them up and now with the website that Slidesigma has built us, they have a good reference point to get an idea of what our business is all about. In a lot of ways, the website has definitely helped our business. If our customers look at the site, they're very impressed. They get a brief history of the place and they get to read some testimonials.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

Excellent. Like I said, Hamza made it very easy for me. Through a couple of emails, he made me an outline of what he would need and he gave me a couple of options of what I would like and not like. He was very responsive. When I couldn't get back to him, he was understanding. I'm pretty busy over here, so my time is limited. He just made it very easy for me to deal with him.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

Slidesigma outlined everything for me and gave me a clear idea of what they would have to do. It was a very personal relationship. Hamza even picked up the phone when I called him and got back to me right away. It didn't feel like I was just dealing with a faceless business. He actually came down here in person once, too. I like doing business like that.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

The project went above and beyond what I wanted it to be, so not really.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is an entertainment company that provides live entertainment for events. I am the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slidesigma?

I used Slidesigma to create a client dashboard and portal to increase the ease of communication and exchange of data between myself, my clients and my employees. We also worked on a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Although I’m not very technically savvy, I know that Slidesigma helped us with a lot of custom design, specifically for the website. They also made video sliders and an entire website platform in WordPress for my business.

How did you come to work with Slidesigma?

I had heard about the owner, Hamza, through another company. I emailed him, and he was incredibly responsive. I heard back from him, literally, within the hour, and it was at night. That was impressive to me. Within a day, we had an in-person meeting, and he was very impressive, polite and professional. I felt confidence working with him.

How much have you invested with Slidesigma?

I would say we spent between $3,000 and $5,000 for the website and probably about $5,000 to $7,000 for the dashboard and portal.

What is the status of this engagement?

The portal and the dashboard were one project, and the website was the other. Since then, Slidesigma has worked on them simultaneously. The website is completely done, but we are still in the finishing processes with the dashboard and the portal. We still need to test it and have actual clients use it. We are going to wait until the end of the year to experiment and gradually implement it within our company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The only feedback I can give thus far is that people really love the design of the website and are very complimentary of that. It’s too soon to know if it's successful as far as yielding or improving business.

How did Slidesigma perform from a project management standpoint?

I would say that project management is their strongest attribute. They are really, very responsive. Every call, email, and concern is addressed same day. That responsiveness is unusual in most business, so I was very impressed.

What did you find most impressive about Slidesigma?

Their design aspect was very creative, young and fresh, which is important with technology, especially as 2017 is approaching. Slidesigma is very tech and social media savvy, which are some really strong attributes.

Are there any areas Slidesigma could improve?

Not really. We haven’t fully completed the project, so it's too soon to say if there's anything negative to improve upon. I would still recommend them highly to anybody.