Storm Brain

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

President of the International Business Council. We are an alumni organization for a student group on 3 catholic universities. It is a business community that seeks to leverage business as a force for good. We've been leveraging technology to create a close community that can grow and help each other.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

We needed to build a professional, world-class online platform that included our own custom features plus integration into a 3rd party platform that included additional functionality.

What were your goals for this project?

Complete build of an online platform that users are excited to engage and brands us well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Interviewed 5 different vendors in San Diego and determined they were the highest quality for the cost.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They began by brainstorming with us different functionality for an online platform. Once we identified what we needed, they assisted us in interviewing various 3rd party providers to make sure we can execute and integrate.

They then built our side of the website which included design, UIX and everything else along with integrating an API from a 3rd party so the two platforms (ours and the 3rd party) communicate seamlessly and the user does not realize there are two parts to the website.

What was the team composition?

Project manager + Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are now able to scale our user offering to thousands of alumni quickly and manage them with relative ease.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Routine check-in phone conversations/email were the main forms fo communication

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We ran into some struggles with the integration that was not the fault of Storm Brain. Our 3rd party provider was eager to ensure us all their robust integration capabilities and it turned out they were less than ideal. Storm Brain went above and beyond to finish the project without increasing the budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Only suggestion, and it's just personal preference, would be more frequent communication when a problem arises. There were a few areas where I appreciated storm brain trying to solve the problem on their own and come to me with a solution.

We may have gotten one slightly quicker by bringing me into the conversation sooner. Nevertheless, I appreciated why they didn't bring me in; their thinking was we will figure it out and come to the client with a solution (which is admirable as well).

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

IT consulting business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

We hired Storm Brain for web development, custom graphic design, branding and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for a total overhaul (rewrite) of our website and an increased exposure to new potential clients online.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I reviewed many vendors, interviewed potential partners and called references.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Storm Brain was essential in every aspect of our website deployment, digital marketing, online brand awareness and market presence. They were instrumental in creating a unique, bold, and recognizable branding for our company. They beautifully wove custom digital graphic design with a sleek and intuitive user experience (UI).

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager who translated our business requirements into specific deliverables for the development and graphic design teams.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After website deployment (and SEO) we had a noticeable increase in web traffic and most importantly new client contact resulting in increased revenue.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had a main point of contact assigned who gave us regular updates on the status of the project and worked to clarify project direction and timelines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive aspect of this company is the true professionalism of the staff. Also their process and their finished products. I cannot stress enough how their statement of work matched the final product and the project was completed on time with transparent communications on milestone status'.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are very happy with the process and product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Alport Syndrome Foundation: We are the leading independent non-profit orgniazation in the United States educating and giving a voice to the Alport syndrome community. I serve as Director of Communications and Patient Engagement

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Complete website re-development for alportsyndrome.org

What were your goals for this project?

We were seeking a sleek, clean, aesthetically pleasing, easily-navigated webpage, especially for mobile users

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Location, Budgeting, Impressive Portfolio,

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Storm Brain physically met with our Executive Director to understand our vision. We provided Word Documents of all new site content to their team broken down into how we wanted items arranged.

Their team and my staff systematically went through all site areas. The beta site allowed my staff time to provide more updates via a shared GoogleSheet which prompted very quick turnaround times by their team.

What was the team composition?

Our Core team consisted of three Storm Brain employees all of which maintained regular contact with us. Now post-launch of our new page, one employee remains our critical point of contact for future updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new website edits have allowed us to reduce manual data entry and manual replies for certain inquiries which is a huge help. Sleek design of our pages has received praise from industry partners. Information is very easy to find much to the pleasure of our doctor and researcher communities.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very effective. Shared Google Docs allowed a constant two-way flow of thought and updates. Deadlines were well-kept.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our team, particularly Tracy, has been exceptional at always answering the phone or replying to our concerns at any hour of the day. The entire team has made website training enjoyable and not a chore.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Any setbacks we faced were due to OUR Alport Syndrome Foundation small staff size. My non-profit is 2 paid staff. With that said, more often than not, Storm Brain was waiting on us for content. They were very patient and cooperative.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Managing partner-needed a company to design a web site for a radio show based in Las Vegas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Work directly with the radio show on creating a web site that reflected the show's content and edge.

What were your goals for this project?

Create the site in less than 3 months and continue to update the site based on the content of the show.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Talked about the project with several perspective designers and selected Storm Brain based on the involvement of the owners and their past work.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Create a new web site that reflected the show and got the listeners and potential listeners to spend some time on the site to learn more about the show.

What was the team composition?

Not sure as the owners took care of every aspect of the project as far as I was concerned.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The show's hosts are thrilled with the site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Again-all through the owners who had a weekly call with the major supporter of the show and appraised them along the way on what they were doing and next steps.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Attention to detail-finishing the project within budget and on-time. They were very creative as well!

Are there any areas for improvement?

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of Kaylee's Culture, a sparkling probiotic water for kids!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Storm Brain was hired to build my e-commerce website for my product.

What were your goals for this project?

My goals for this project was to have a professional website that my consumers can visit that make my product look and feel validated to purchase and try!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After interviewing a few different web development companies and researching online, I came across Storm Brain that was local but also had an incredible portfolio. After talking with them on the phone I was sold, they were friendly, helpful, and professional. They aligned with my vision early on and were genuinely excited about my product and building an online platform for it!

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Storm Brain provided my business with its digital marketing services. They built an e-commerce website that fit the look and feel I imagined when creating a space to sell my product.

What was the team composition?

The team is composed of 3 people who have similar and different skills who can support one another in building a flawless site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have not launched my product yet so the website is not live but in the market testing aspect, this website has been extremely important in working with my product and its validity.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Storm Brain did their own project management and it was SO nice not to have to micro manage their work. I hired them to do a job and they delivered above and beyond without my having to nag them. BEST money I've spent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were extremely organized and asked me all the right questions and we had the right amount of phone calls for them to build a website that brought tears to my eyes when I saw it. I never had to manage them to get work done, which was very refreshing!

Are there any areas for improvement?

In my experience with Storm Brain I can't think of anything I would improve, it has been seamless.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide powerful stand-alone and integrated solutions that capture real-time data about every aspect of an operation, via satellite, cellular, WIFI, V2x, BLE and RFID. Our customers can make timely decisions based on data analytics, and implement improvements that create measurable and impactful ROI

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Website development, messaging, email campaigns, digital marketing, and advertising (SEO/CRO)

What were your goals for this project?

Increase lead gen 

Increase lead conversion

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Selecting the right marketing agency partnership was very important to our organization. We filtered through almost 30 candidates, interviewed 17 and the clear winner was Storm Brain.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Website development, messaging, email campaigns, digital marketing, and advertising (SEO/CRO)

What was the team composition?

We have worked with the principals, project management, graphic design, and content developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched late last year and are seeing progress in our impressions and lead gen is growing. We look forward to seeing this trend continue.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great. They are very responsive and hands-on at every level of the organization.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very knowledgeable about digital marketing and take the time to help us learn more. Also, they are avid students of our business and are eager to learn what our offerings deliver to our customers to ensure they can help move our business in the right direction.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They are not as knowledgable in our specific industries today, but are making great strides in the time we have worked together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director of AI & Content at a robotics company specialized in intelligent software, based in Southern California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Storm Brain was hired to assist with digital strategy, they worked to develop an ecommerce site for one of our businesses, and also manage digital marketing campaigns for us. They also provide ongoing support and maintenance in all that we do with our online businesses.

What were your goals for this project?

We were interested in increasing the visibility of our digital presence and looking for a more significant return on our SEO and PPC efforts, not only are we focused on brand visibility overall, but also engaging new customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After doing agency research, and reviewing other agency proposals, we made the decision to work with Storm Brain because they had a better understanding of what we are trying to accomplish, and they have experience with our brands so we knew that our own previous experiences with them were positive.

Describe the project in detail.

We hired Storm Brain to run a full digital marketing campaign for us. This included a complete audit of our keyword set and strategic redeployment of our pay per click efforts and Google Ads, and an overhaul of our site’s SEO elements in general.

We also rely on them for web support and that encompasses management, strategy and maintenance overall on everything that we do with the business online.

What was the team composition?

They have 4–5 core teammates tasked on our account and our projects. Blake (Chief Strategy Officer & Founder) and Leah (CEO) are our main points of contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their efforts in reworking and managing our SEO and PPC campaigns have made an apparent difference in our level of online exposure. Our positioning in search rankings has improved, and we’ve seen an uptick in our digital conversions as a result.

User experience strategy is a big part of what Storm Brain does, which shows with the conversion growth as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team at Storm Brain is always available and responsive via email and phone call. They also send us regular reporting to keep us updated on their work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness and expertise. They were able to quickly identify problem areas in our SEO and PPC efforts and implement timely and effective solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we continue to be satisfied with Storm Brain’s services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Criminal defense attorney's office

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Storm Brain designed and developed our website, and they also handle ongoing hosting, maintenance, and digital marketing campaigns for our business. They continue to manage our SEO campaign any Google AdWords management we do.

What were your goals for this project?

Increase visibility, get more leads, dominate our industry within our region.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Their reputation for digital marketing and their experience in our space.

Describe the project in detail.

We talk about our goals from a marketing and sales/lead generation perspective and we talk about the various areas of law that we are focused on. Storm Brain keeps us up to date on how things should be managed, and new ways of reaching more clients. We created a new website with the goal of being more visible and leading in search engine optimization.

What was the team composition?

We work with the owner of the company, which is great to have as a resource for high level marketing consulting.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are ranking on over 30 keywords that relate to our business and are ranking on page 1. We have invested in the long term strategy of SEO and it pays off. The practice continues to grow and we are holding our positions as the top criminal defense attorney in RI.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Always responsive and available for updates via email and phone. We also receive regular reporting which keeps us in the loop on everything they are doing.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Results, knowledge and commitment to our business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for a telecommunications company. I was looking to revamp a web site due to complaints that it was too complicated. I am a business analyst.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

Complete resigned of sections of the website.

What were your goals for this project?

Cut out clutter and make a sleek easy to use webpage.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Google, cost, recommendations.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They were able to cut out info that did not need to be on all pages, organize everything in a more user friendly way, and made the pages load better for customers.

What was the team composition?

We turned the entire project over to the Storm Brain team. They had 3 people working on our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The biggest impact has been seen in the time it takes someone that wants to become a customer. They were able to cut this down by a full minute or more in some cases.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Everything was done before the deadline. I did not get involved in the project management and just let them do their thing.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was very impressed that they were able to take my very basic instructions and run with them. What they came up with was even better than what I had imagined.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None, I was surprised how much better this went than any other project involving web design I had done in the past.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a small e-commerce website that services the home pet market. We sell over 250 SKUs worth of pet products that range from leashes to actual food. We have an annual revenue run rate of between $5m-$10m per year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Storm Brain?

We worked with Storm Brain for the creation and management of our web & mobile app properties.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a refreshed digital look and feel for our web & mobile app experiences. We’re hoping to increase our online conversion percentage from 1.5% to something above 2%.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Storm Brain because of their breath of experience, their granular proposal and our overall experience with their team before we signed any agreement with them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Storm Brain provided the website design and development for site that included over 500 pages and 250 total product SKU’s. They provided our e-commerce platform to allow our site to have a quick & easy transaction process. They also refreshed our mobile app experience.

What was the team composition?

Our project consisted of a team of roughly 6 people. We had access to a PM, sales rep, chief creative officer, director of user experience and database engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project stayed within the timeline and budget that we originally agreed upon which was fantastic from a cost management perspective. The results are a tad preliminary as we’ve only been live for a few months. Early returns are showing a slight increase in organic web visits and a slight increase in YoY revenue for the months of Aug & Sept.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

PM was great. We had a project tracker sheet that I was glued to throughout our initiative. We also had weekly cadence calls to review our tracker sheet and make sure both parties we’re staying on task.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It sounds cliche but their personal touch. We felt like Storm Brain clearly understood our business and objectives.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had a positive experience with Storm Brain. There isn’t any meaningful areas I’d like to see improvement on.