Think It First

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive Producer of ElevenO2 Creative

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

ElevenO2 creates, develops, and produces video content for sports, entertaniment, consumer brands and corporate entities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Think It First to accomplish?

• Website redesign
• Logo redesign

SOLUTION

How did you find Think It First?

Online Search

Why did you select Think It First over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Think It First were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• The goal was to build industry-wide awareness and engagement with a newly created company logo and online experience, highlighting ElevenO2’s deep industry experience and capabilities. 
• Design and deliver an engaging website that meets modern web and usability standards, offering an intuitive user experience to regional and national users alike. 
• To create a story that speaks to the user on a deeper, emotional level with a customer-centric.
• To develop a responsive website that marries key marketing messages with high-power creative. 
• To look great, function impeccably across all devices, and “speak” to our audience. 
• To apply current web standards for usability and navigation.
• To create a responsive site that is functional, interactive, and visually pleasing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measureable outcomes were:

• The design or our new company logo
• The development and launch of our new website.

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

The Think It First team were responsive, collaborative, and addressed our needs at every milepost throughout the project.  

What was your primary form of communication with Think It First?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Think It First talked the talk and walked the walk. Think It First operates at the highest level of their industry as an innovative, talented, collaborative team. They were a joy to work with every step of the way.   

Are there any areas for improvement or something Think It First could have done differently?

No complaints here :) 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager at Vital Care Infusion Services; we’re a franchisor of infusion pharmacies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

We initially engaged Think it First to help with our website and digital marketing needs. When our company was acquired, we dedicated our new resources and budget to rebranding with a new logo and color palette. Our website was outdated, and we needed to revamp it to incorporate the new branding, so we partnered with Think it First.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we met with the team to discuss the project scope, build the website’s blueprint, and plan the development phases. We gave Think it First access to our original website and provided them with the new logo, color scheme, and stock images. We were very transparent about wanting a totally different website, so the team designed and built a new WordPress website from scratch with custom code. They were also in charge of writing new website copy.

The new website can be used by both patients and providers to find resources about our services. It’s also a good resource for hospitals and physician’s offices who want to refer their patients. Once they finished building the site, they gave us access to the backend, so we’ve been able to manage the site and add pages as we’ve grown. 

Think it First has started helping us generate leads through Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads. They’ve also built landing pages and expanded the functionality of the site as needed. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Joe (Founding Partner), Bradley (Partner & Creative Director), Carolina (Implementation & Project Manager), and a member of the marketing team.  

How did you come to work with Think it First? 

I wasn’t part of the process, but I believe we found Think it First through a referral. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $25,000–$35,000 in the initial website build with Think it First. Now, we pay an hourly retainer fee for their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Think it First in November 2021, and the partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Think it First has delivered a website that benefits patients and providers, which has been advantageous for our business. We’ve primarily measured success by looking at lead generation efforts. Since partnering with them, we’ve seen a 24% increase in leads, with no change in our budget. We’ve attributed our improvement in leads to the new landing pages, website content, and digital marketing efforts from Think it First.

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve been impressed with Think it First’s process. During the initial build, they did a great job keeping us abreast of progress and preparing us for the website launch. They did the work upfront, which enabled us to launch the site without making alterations. We primarily used monday.com for the website development stage. 

The team has consistently met deadlines and communicated openly regarding our budget. They’ve never exceeded the budget without clearing it with us, which we’ve appreciated. Jessica has built a custom excel tracker to manage our daily and monthly spending and view the remaining budget. The tracker has also enabled us to keep track of our impressions, leads, and clicks. 

Additionally, they’ve been very responsive and accommodating with regard to our schedules. We’ve used Teams and Zoom for meetings, and phone and email for ad-hoc communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been most impressed with their quality of work. Initially, we thought we’d provide all the website copy, but after letting them take the reins, they did a much better job than we anticipated. 

Furthermore, being in the healthcare industry, we didn’t expect to have the most eye-popping site but Think it First has done a great job with the creative aspects. They’ve given us a modern, professional website that functions as requested. The website is clean, legible, and bulletproof; we’ve never had issues with load time or lost leads. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone has areas for improvement, and while their communication was great overall, we faced a hiccup with the launch date. Although the delay was primarily on our end, it lingered longer than expected. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend sending Think it First examples of websites to draw on for inspiration and letting them take full creative control.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP for institutional advancement at Chestnut Hill College, a higher education Catholic institution in the Philadelphia area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

First, we needed strategic communication support for our fundraising campaign. The second part was helping us honor and recognize a retiring president after 30 years of service.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial discovery phase to understand the scope of the project. We knew we needed communication support, but we weren’t sure what it would look like. As we talked with Think it First about our vision, it became apparent that we needed more than we’d thought. We decided to build a website to support the fundraiser's initiative and honor Sister Carol, our outgoing president.

They’ve done a comprehensive strategic communication plan, which includes new approaches. We’d never done paid social media before, so they did an in-depth analysis of the numbers. Also, they’ve helped us immensely with writing and design aspects, ensuring all the branding and marketing elements are cohesive and distinct throughout the year. Overall, we’ve had all these balls in the air, and Think it First has helped us connect everything and bring it together at a high level.

They’ve built the site on WordPress, and the team manages Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. We’ve subcontracted video production through them, and Think it First also develops content and has done logos for us.

What is the team composition?

We have three primary contacts. The first one is Dave (Director of Client Strategy); he’s more on the creative side. Then, there’s a lead web developer and a project manager who’s always on the calls. Additionally, they incorporate members in the areas that they need to.

How did you come to work with Think it First?

Someone recommended them to us. We interviewed three communication firms, but they were the best by far.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2021, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure success in terms of the projects completed. We’ve made sure to continue raising money and awareness for what we’re doing, but Think it First has exceeded our campaign goals. We’ve exceeded the fundraising goal for the gala and seen an increase in our click-through rate, money, and attendance at events.

Behind the scenes, they’ve completed everything on time. When we started the project, we were very pressed for time, and they pushed hard to meet almost unrealistic deadlines. Moreover, they understood what we were trying to do; we could tell it in their writing style and their ideas.

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good. They’ve taken the timeline and scope off our plate. They manage everything, and we clearly see what they’re doing, when, and by who.

We use Trello and have a Google Meet session every Friday. We also use phone calls, emails, and texts as needed. Overall, they’re always available. Communication is never an issue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They think outside the box. They’re very creative, and their work ethic is strong. Also, they wish to understand their clients and the message they want to get to their audience. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any. It’s been a wonderful experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to let them lead; you hired them to guide you on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder and CEO of a third-party review site that writes reviews on different products and services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

Think it First was hired to develop our brand. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Think it First developed our branding, related materials, and website design. Before they began the creative process, they asked me many questions about our company and how we envisioned standing out from our competitors. Then, they provided us with the logo and color scheme before designing the website layout in Adobe XD. 

We optimized the site’s usability on desktop and mobile and created conversion rate optimization tools. Together, we determined how the search function and menus would be used and how each page would interact with our main categories page. Then, we decided how each SEO aspect would work with the other to ensure we were findable on Google and Bing. Finally, they developed and deployed the site. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 teammates from Think it First, including their lead designer, project manager, developer, and president. 

How did you come to work with Think it First?

Think it First was recommended to me by a former coworker who’d had a nice experience working with them. I talked to 2–3 references that I found on LinkedIn, along with three references Think it First provided. Everyone had positive feedback about their work, and so we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $50,000–$60,000 with Think it First. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with Think it First was from March–July 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As soon as the website launched, we saw a good click-through rate, and users stayed on the site. Think it First really brought their design sensibilities and UX optimization expertise to the table to ensure our users took the actions we needed. 

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

Think it First had good project management and communicated project steps clearly. The president was a part of the project until completion, ensuring everything was running smoothly. They hit our project deadlines, which was impressive considering we made a lot of changes to the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Think it First was always open to finding a solution for our challenges. I’ve worked with other agencies and felt that their push back to project ideas was more of a useless rule than a best practice. However, Think it First came to my team with well-researched suggestions but was open to pushback. They were a beautiful blend of pushback and solution-presentation that I hadn’t experienced before in my career. Think it First is, without a doubt, the best design and development company I’ve worked with in my 20-year career. They’re a small, nimble, but effective group of designers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Think it First to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise my customers to be as open to the entire design experience as possible with Think it First, including answering branding questions. It may set the project timeline back a little, but it’s critical for a high-quality final product. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the VP of operational excellence solutions of a chemistry simulation company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

We hired Think it First to modernize our web pages because they were very scientific and didn't have any marketing appeal, making it hard for new customers to understand our business. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Think it First completely regenerated our website and pages and then moved them into a more portable platform. I provided the Think it First team with a basic overview of our firm, and then we worked together to create a site framework using an Adobe toolset. Think it First then turned those into a blueprint and developed the site in WordPress. They integrated blog publishing capabilities and a solutions-driven menu into the site. 

Once the site was developed, Think it First set up our hosting service and handled some troubleshooting. Think it First also provided some SEO and digital marketing guidance, but that is something we've mostly worked on in-house.  

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with Bradley (Partner and Creative Director) and Carolina (Implementation and Project Manager). However, several technical teammates rotated in and out. 

How did you come to work with Think it First?

We sorted through 15 companies as part of our interview process, and Think it First was referred to our CEO by a colleague. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $54,000 with Think it First. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Think it First was from June 2021–January 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has launched without any major bugs or technical issues; we didn't have any gaps in service during the rollout. Customers now have easy access to our blogs through our website. Overall, I am very pleased with the end product. Think it First did an excellent job and was very professional. 

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

Think it First's project management was the weakest part of our engagement, although it improved over time. Communication on the higher level was good, but our weekly communication wasn't great. Often, my team didn't know what Think it First needed from us to ensure deadlines were met. There were no action item lists to track progress. Think it First utilized various Google tools, including Google Docs, to share information. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Think it First's technical support during the website rollout was excellent. Their team understood our goals and worked to get us to the right place. Their communication was clear and followed up on our needs during that time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Think it First could've improved their project management and understanding of our budget. They weren't openly familiar with the deliverables of our project: what they were responsible for versus what we were responsible for. In my opinion, that issue can be attributed to their new project manager. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to document the project well to ensure each decision is followed through. It's crucial to have meeting minutes to ensure that there is proof of work. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Digital Project Manager for our company and manager all of our digital vendors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Think it First, and what were your goals?

This website was developed over 7 years ago and had passed through several in house developers. It needed to be updated both on the front end and the back end. We hired Think It First to design and develop a WordPress site for us in order to increase organic traffic and conversions.

SOLUTION

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

After a long vetting process of different partners in the area, we talked to TIF based on a recommendation from a team member. We loved their process, their prices, and their past work that we saw.

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

The TIF Process is why we were so confident in our choice. The project started with a kick-off meeting and discovery period where we discussed our goals for the new site. From there, the team delivered detailed wireframes and blueprints that gave us detailed insight into what the site would look like. They took all of our needs and objectives and translated them to high converting widgets that allowed us to own majority of our site.

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

We worked with a Project Manager as our main point of contact. From there, we worked with an expert in each category, such as Design, Development, Hosting. We also worked with 2 developers and a Content expert.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching the site, we saw improved bounce rate at 2% YoY and Web CVR improved by 30% YoY.

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

We had weekly calls to do formal updates on the project. The TIF team is always timely in email responses. Post launch we used Jira to communicate bugs that needed to be fixed.

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

We have complete ownership of the site barring major site development or style changes. They went through a full training session for our team so members knew where and how to update anything.

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

Upon QA and initial launch there were a few bugs to be fixed related to different elements of the site. These were quickly and easily communicated and resolved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at a partner level at a consulting firm for life sciences companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

We needed to update our brand and create a new version of our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Think it First did a logo redesign, and the second step was to agree on the wireframe or outline for the new website. The next step was to build out and refine all the content. Then, we did the design, upload, and activation of that content, which was the last step.

Overall, they provided guidance and managed the whole design and development process, especially in terms of how we should structure the WordPress website and its contents. We didn’t transfer much from the old website; we gave them some contents and they augmented them with a copywriter.

What is the team composition?

Brad (Partner) has been our main contact. He’s been the one that coordinates everything. Joe (Founding Partner) is more like the account manager, and he did some of the early stage stuff, but I wasn’t involved as much. Dave (Digital Strategist) is a copywriter, and then Carolina (Implementation & Project Manager) will be our point of contact moving forward.

How did you come to work with Think it First?

We were looking for somebody in our area. It was pre COVID-19, so we thought we’d be able to work with them more interactively.

We found a couple of firms. We compared the means we had with what they did and just how everybody got along when we met, and we thought Think it First was the best fit for us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the beginning of 2020. There have been several stages of the project, and we’re still working on some changes and a new version. One of the deliverables was done mid-year of last year, and then we’ve recently finished another deliverable in early June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re a consulting firm, so we don’t rely on our website to develop business. Therefore, we don’t have any hard metrics, at least right now. Eventually, we’ll get to the point where maybe we’re going to generate some contacts for this, but I think our goal was to upgrade our presence and make it as good or even better than our competitors’. We’ve definitely achieved that objective, and everybody is really happy with Think it First’s work.

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done a great job. We’re usually the ones that hold things up, but we know when they’re going to do something. When we figured out how to get things properly to them, they were very efficient. We’ve extended some things with our delays in content, but they’ve been good to turn them around in a reasonable amount of time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

For me, the number one thing is that they’re easy to work with. For example, when we kind of spin our wheels a bit, they try to provide solutions. If people don’t like their suggestions, they don’t get insulted, they propose another option. Hence, being easy to work with and productive at the same time is quite helpful.

Also, they’ve done a great job with the site. They designed and developed it in the way we wanted, and the quality of the work was great. Especially in comparison to some other people we’ve worked with in the past. Think it First has given us the quality of a large company with the size of a boutique firm, which is a good combination for me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t really think they could’ve done anything differently. We’re not the easiest company to work with, and they’ve been pretty helpful. We haven’t had any complaints or issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to what they say and follow their lead — they know what they’re doing. If somebody hires them for something, there’s obviously an aligned perspective on what they want to accomplish, and Think it First has a good amount of expertise in their area.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the associate principal of commercialization at a marketing innovation and digital health consultancy for life sciences clients. We help our clients identify more creative solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

We needed to redesign our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Think it First completely revamped our site. Our main deliverables included content development, a copy document, video development, logo creation, website prototyping, and website design. Each milestone was approved by our team after it was completed.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a business development person, a copywriter, a designer, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Think it First?

They reached out to our boss. We had conversations with six different web developers and got proposals from three of them. Think it First was in our price range and strategically thought about our business holistically.

We knew they’d make a comprehensive site that would fully explain our business. They definitely didn’t have a cookie-cutter approach like other vendors. The team offered the perfect goldilocks ratio of strategy and execution. We decided to go with Think it First from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $55,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020, and we wrapped up in April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We only launched the site last week, so we don’t have any metrics yet. Internally, the reception from our team and senior leadership were positive Everyone’s blown away by the final result and how the website turned out. Think it First was committed to making sure the website was done right, and it showed in the final product.

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication was the only area that left something to be desired. There wasn’t proactive communication about the timeline, and it definitely got pushed back. Originally, we planned on a 12-week timeline, and it got extended to a 3–6-month timeline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They told our company story in a thoughtful and strategic way; It was the strongest part about the engagement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The budget also increased significantly because of the videos. While we understood that incorporating videos would cost more, there wasn’t a lot of communication about how much longer the process would take. There was a point where I had to push on them to get clear answers about the timeline and budget changed. It ended up being fine, just not ideal.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to trust that the team will do the right thing for your brand and company. Allow them to make creative recommendations to really get the most out of the project. Also, make sure you have clear expectations for timeline and budget from the start; if your budget and timeline are strict, make that known.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of sales and marketing for Payday Payroll. We’re a privately-held company that specializes in payroll benefits and HR services for businesses of all sizes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Think it First?

Recently, as of January 2020, we decided to merge with another company into a single brand. We needed a service provider to unify both businesses under a vision for the future while still respecting each brand’s history.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Think it First guided us through a merger, creating a new, unified brand. It was a collaborative effort since their team was talented in brand design, but we had to fill in the nuanced information around our industry. Through our combined input, we were able to create a position that stood out among our peers.

Our main goal was to explain our defining value in a very overcrowded market that only seemed to care about a race to the bottom for price. Together, we identified early on that our largest competitor wasn’t any one individual business but rather the misconception that switching benefit providers was always cumbersome.

Think it First rebuilt our brand from the ground up to take the fear out of switching. They created a new logo, slogan, and color palette, which they applied to our marketing materials and WordPress site. This site itself featured a mobile responsive design so that we could target clients on mobile and tablet.

What is the team composition? 

I mostly worked with Bradley and Joe (Partners) as well as our account manager.

How did you come to work with Think it First?

Brad and I have been friends for about 10–15 years, and I’ve always admired the work that he’s done at Think it First. He puts a lot of weight into all of his endeavors. When this rebranding task fell on my shoulders, I saw it as an opportunity to work with him. And, quite frankly, I didn’t want to bring in any other firm given how much was at stake.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first part of this project lasted from March–October 2020. With a branding effort of this magnitude, we expect to continue collaborating on ongoing releases and other marketing efforts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received nothing but amazing feedback since the site launched. Our leadership, international partners, clients — everyone is just floored by how well-done it is, especially the responsive design elements. The site runs perfectly on mobile devices, and everything is sized appropriately.

That’s a hidden gem that Think it First doesn’t always give themselves the most credit for, and it was an intangible that I didn’t spend enough time selling my superiors on. Think it First put in a painstaking amount of effort to ensure that our design was responsive, and now I expect 80% of our future clients will find us through a mobile search.

How did Think it First perform from a project management standpoint?

The creative process can be hard when you’re asking a group of leaders that’s used to making unilateral decisions to go through a collaborative effort. Our people would go back and forth over the colors, which would sometimes even delay our launch because we couldn’t come to an agreement. 

As we got closer to going live, everybody had to make very tough compromises. I realized that I had to increase my ability to manage the project so that we could get everything done in time. If you’re working on a project of this size, you have to stay on top of things. I’d recommend anyone partnering with Think it First to create a spreadsheet of the tasks and changes that need to get done before launch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our team isn’t an expert in design. We know what we might like, but we don’t know the theory work behind how our colors will impact our audience. Of course, it’s easy to find creatives who can design our brand but much harder to invest in a partner that legitimately cares about us and how to best reach our targets.

Think it First has given us 100% throughout the process. The team is passionate about their work, and they’ll stand up and speak to their ideas when they know something is right. They won’t die on a hill at the risk of losing a client, but, when they do stand their ground, they have professional, thoughtful reasons for doing so. 

As a result, we now have a website that stands out from the competition. They understood that we operate in an industry that’s very cut-and-dry and helped create a brand that has colors, language, and a voice. It was really a process of putting the human element back into our site, which made for such a different experience compared to our competitors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have a pretty solid process, but having a stronger type of project management system in place would’ve benefited us.