Timelapse

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a recruiter at a venture capital and private equity firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Timelapse?

We wanted to build a job portal to help candidates find roles at portfolio companies, like Sequoia.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our job portal. The first stage was having a discovery call to scope out what we wanted to achieve, and what we wanted the final result to look like. From there, we designed the first draft of what the web page would look like. From there, it was a back-and-forth process of making adjustments.

The portal needed to be consistent with our company’s branding. There were also a number of functional features that we needed to get the look and feel of a normal job page. These included different filters, job categories, sectors, and displaying jobs from different companies.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Olivier (Founder & CEO), Jude (Art Director), and Natasha (Executive Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

I worked with Timelapse at a different company. I knew they did good work and felt they would be a good fit for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,000–$6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2020, and we completed the project in April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The portal was received well by internal stakeholders and the public at large. We’re very happy with how it looks and functions.

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

They were really responsive. We used Slack for communication and project management. We also used Figma to go back and forth on design changes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re responsive with communication. They also did the work to understand what our needs are.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. We’re all pretty happy with how things went.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO at BeyondHQ. We’re a location strategy organization that provides a SaaS platform where companies can identify which markets to go to next when looking to expand or move outside a dense market like San Francisco or New York City. We also offer services that align with our platform where we provide more customized and hands-on business operations services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Timelapse?

We hired Timelapse to help marketing and content creation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first project they did with us was creating a website where users could learn more about our platform and request demos. Their work includes copywriting and design. They’re continuing to work with us on additional projects. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with about four people from Timelapse. 

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

They were recommended to us. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019, and our work is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have always delivered when they said they would. We constantly throw different things at them, but they meet our deadlines regardless. Their output is amazing as well. 

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

They were respectful of our budget and kept me abreast of what we were spending on each aspect of the project. From a financial standpoint, they’ve been a great partner. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand the nuances of our work and didn’t need a lot of hand-holding which was impressive. Their grammar and knowledge of style guidelines are impeccable. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Trust them. They have a great sense of what will work. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the co-founder and CEO of Automately.io, a San Francisco-based startup that provides an on-demand candidate sourcing service. We help technology startups grow faster by managing their talent. A venture capital firm recently acquired Automately.io.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Timelapse?

My company hired Timelapse to help with a rebrand. We wanted to reposition our brand with a full overhaul of the logo and different branding assets.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Timelapse began with a kickoff workshop, during which we walked through our company’s mission and values. We also made sure we aligned internally on how we thought about what our company did, in light of the bigger picture of why we did it. Then, Timelapse helped us with messaging, constructing a specific narrative of how we should talk about ourselves.

They did a full competitive landscape analysis, which included looking at other firms that operated in our space and the mindshare of specific customers. The team considered how our competitors represented themselves—such as through logos and even colors used—in juxtaposition to how we wanted to represent ourselves. They helped us adopt something a bit more unique so that we could differentiate ourselves. Timelapse proposed different logos, along with wireframes of what the website would look like.

What is the team composition?

My team worked with Olivier (Founder and CEO, Timelapse) and a design lead, both of whom were present at all of our project meetings. While Olivier orchestrated the workshops, meetings, high-level strategy, and project management, the design lead was in charge of the actual design and the logo.

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

A member of our team recommended Timelapse after working with Olivier.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent $6,000 monthly, for a total of $18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together spanned January–March 2019. We decided to put our branding work on hold because of the acquisition.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we didn’t externally present any of the assets that they made for us, everything was very well-received internally. The process that Timelapse went through and the drafts and wireframes that they produced for us were all very high-quality. In terms of time, quality, and cost, Timelapse exceeded our expectations at every step.

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

Timelapse was very strong in this regard. They communicated effectively and had a good process that they stuck to. We had weekly check-ins over videocall or in-person, which worked well. The team was professional throughout the engagement. Both of our teams had access to a shared Dropbox folder, and we communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their branding knowledge set them apart. They didn’t have any domain expertise in what we were doing, but they quickly understood our company’s core elements and proposed how to communicate those to our desired consumers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I didn’t see any.

Any advice for potential customers?

You should have a solid grasp of your mission, values, and vision for the future coming into the project, and then validate all of that with Olivier and the Timelapse team. We had done such thinking beforehand, and that was useful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of marketing for RoseRyan, a Bay Area consulting firm that helps high-tech and life-sciences companies with accounting and finance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Timelapse?

We were undertaking a complete corporate rebranding, and Timelapse helped us with several important projects: creating a new logo and visual identity (fonts, colors, brand guidelines), custom illustrations, and a completely new corporate web site.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to revitalize our brand, bring it to life, and raise traffic on our web site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reached out and got proposals from 10 firms with strong reputations. After meeting with each, we narrowed it down to a few finalists. We selected Timelapse based on the quality of their work, their timeline, and their practical pricing. We also liked their energy, modern approaches, and the quality of their designs and illustrations.

Describe the project in detail.

We discussed the project, reviewed and approved the proposal, and dove in. They created a timeline and list of deliverables, and we reviewed and finalized drafts of brand identity elements (logo, colors, guidelines).

For the website project, we received wireframes and discussed navigation, web sections, and key operations (web-to-lead). Weekly meetings allowed us to review progress and sign off on completed work.

What was the team composition?

We met with our Timelapse lead weekly. Behind him were a brand designer, illustrator, and web designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We continue to see an ongoing stream of rave reviews from clients, prospects, and partners on the new web site, logo, and look. All our branding elements get positive comments. We’re pleased with the traffic increases we’ve seen after the complete revamp.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their communication, check-in meetings, and workflow were effective throughout this multi-step project. We held checkpoint meetings to review and discuss designs and next steps at logical times based on our deadline. The project was well-planned and well-executed, finishing on time and budget.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were very pleased by the overall project plan and how organized it was. We also appreciated the high level of creativity the design team brought to our logo, branding elements, illustrations, and the overall web design. It’s all beautiful!

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were a few minor inconsistencies as we mocked up the new web designs regarding spacing and box sizes, but these were fixed easily during the proofing process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the VP of Operations for Objective Clinical LLC, a clinical research consulting and oversight firm. We provide operational infrastructure and program oversight to physician groups engaging in onsite clinical research or improve an existing program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Timelapse?

We needed to rebrand and refocus our business with a new message, website, and name.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for both a clearly focused message and a website with compelling graphics to convey what we provide for our clients. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were highly impressed with the work they did for a Health IT firm we have a relationship with.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The process began with a series of interviews to help us focus our offering and provide content that could help explain our business offerings. They then developed graphics, messaging, and a new website, which conveyed all our relevant information using new themes and messaging. They also created PowerPoint templates and developed our outreach strategy.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with their president and some graphic designers, who helped with our PowerPoint templates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a much more professional look to our communications which helped us with acquiring new clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They scoped the project initially and held regular meetings to keep us updated on the project. The whole process was efficient and flexible.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They listened well and understood what we were trying to create, which allowed them to deliver great results at a great price. They provided a collaborative approach that went beyond basic services.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don't have any advice to offer Timelapse.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and founder of Versaggi Biocommunications. We provide marketing solutions for the life sciences industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Timelapse?

One of our clients commissioned us to build a website, and we needed more resources to develop effective key messaging for the platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed Timelapse to co-develop a strategic communication plan and execute our strategy during the web development process. We conducted extensive market research to create a unique brand identity for the client and later integrated the new persona into the website’s content. Our collaborative team used similar research methods to improve the client’s social media strategy.

What is the team composition?

Their founder Olivier Roth was our main point of contact, but we occasionally interacted with the rest of their team.

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

They were the first company that I reached out to because I was already familiar with Olivier’s work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $150,000 – $280,000 in the last two years.

What is the status of this engagement?

They helped us with the client’s account from August 2016 through August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their digital marketing efforts were tremendously effective in boosting our client’s online visibility. Although the engagement has ended, their strategies still have an impact on digital audience growth. 

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

Managing the project was a collaborative effort, so we’re very grateful that our teams worked well together. Their deadline-driven team isn’t afraid of hard work. As small businesses, we only needed basic technology like phone, email, Skype, and Dropbox to stay connected.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their marketing expertise was a great complement to our team’s niche skills. Although they don’t have a background in life sciences, they quickly adapted to the industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Timelapse should consider investing in an internal video production team. Transitioning to a full-service business model would increase their growth significantly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The ideal client is honest about the weaknesses of their company. Many companies overestimate their impact on the market, which makes it difficult to establish effective business solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of sales and vice president of business development at myClin, a communication and collaboration platform for the clinical trial business. We work with a range of pharma and biotech customers, helping them improve their clinical operations. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Timelapse?

We needed to update our online presence and marketing efforts. We had a website, a slide deck, and a lot of ideas when we came to Timelapse. But, we didn’t have much in terms of hard copy or electronic public collateral. We’d been in business 8 years at that point. When I came on board, I realized that we needed to step up our efforts. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They conducted a website redesign. We had a time-limited engagement to start. We liked their team, so we expanded the engagement to a long-term partnership and consider them our marketing department.

The previous website was rudimentary. It had only 3 or 4 static pages with a modest amount of dynamic content. Timelapse transformed it into a functional website with various engagement tools, resources, on-demand webinars, press releases, news, use cases, and white papers. It’s taken months to get all that content, but that has nothing to do with Timelapse. We’re a small company, and a lot of the information is tied to only a few people. Getting access to the customer stories and project backgrounds is challenging. Over 6 months, we’ve transformed our online presence.

The front page of the site is our sales façade. In the background, we offer another web-based service. Our primary users are prospects who want to learn more about our company. Hospitals and investigative sites around the world use the tools that we provide, as well as biotech firms, pharma companies, and CROs [content research organizations]. Most of them paid no attention to our front page. Pharma and biotech companies pay for our service. Hospitals have no interest in understanding the website; they just use the tool.

What did Timelapse do to market your company?

The original engagement to rebuild the website spawned this longer-term engagement. That relationship produced a set of ideas for our overall marketing effort, including collateral such as use cases and customer stories, materials for social media, a webinar series, and a coordinated effort to build a database of contacts. That was a fundamental part of the engagement.

We needed to create a database of contacts in our target market in Europe and the US for direct mail and email. We also use it to support our regional presence, which has been quite effective. We often attend massive conferences, and the restraint of travel expenses means that we often don’t meet the right kind of client. Instead, we’re finding more local conferences in San Francisco and Boston. This seems to be a more effective marketing environment because people can drive to an event. Timelapse has also supported that effort.

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

Our founder, Jim, was a speaker at an event that Oliver [CEO, Timelapse] organized for another customer. That relationship developed into another conversation. At the time, we knew that we needed a new website. Jim and Oliver are both based in San Francisco, so it was easy for them. Eventually, the relationship was handed to me. I may be multiple time zones away, but I don’t feel out of touch. They are responsive, and we’re aligned in what we’re trying to achieve.

How much have you invested with Timelapse?

We’ve spent between $50,000 and $100,000 over the course of our relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2016, and the relationship is ongoing. We have them on a monthly retainer now. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think of Oliver as my head of marketing. He’s full of ideas and critical insights. He brings ideas to the table and holds both of us to account, which is a good attribute. We have plenty of material to show what we do, but we don’t have a clear way to show improved sales performance. Our customer base is still too small to credit certain initiatives reliably to anyone. The website is more credible now and full of content. We have clear ideas to verify the sales pitch. What I say on the phone matches the website. Visitors can see a customer reference that points to our shared success. That is important in pushing sales prospects forward.

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

They do a good job. We’ve worked out a rhythm of dialogue and interaction despite the time zone difference. I have no hesitation recommending them to a European company if they have an interest in opening to the US market. They are an excellent organization. We use Skype and Google Hangouts to communicate. We’re using the G Suite, which is pretty effective. They have access to our demo system. I can explain a new feature in a call, and later the team can log in and look at that feature.

What did you find most impressive about Timelapse?

Oliver conducted a comprehensive strategic review in the beginning of our marketing efforts and positioning. He’s got a firm view of our vision and makes sure his efforts generate a return. The team ensures that we’re satisfied and get what we’re paying for.

Are there any areas Timelapse could improve?

They have evolved the team in the time that I’ve known them. They’ve responded to needs that were identified. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

PRC Clinical is contract research organization that specializes in providing clinical trial management services. We are small business based in the Bay Area and have been around since 2003. We work with pharmaceutical and device companies to help bring their products to market. My role is in business development. I work sales and marketing team to identify and develop new working relationships with prospective clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Timelapse?

As a small contract research organization, it can be a challenge to get our name out there as an experienced quality service provider in a highly competitive industry. Prior to approaching Timelapse, we had worked with a several of marketing groups and found it challenging to capture our message, establish our internet presence, and develop marketing material that reflected our expertise and values. We also wanted to develop a website that would be informative to our clients and also serve as a way to connect to new clients. Olivier and his team worked closely with us and made this happen.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Timelapse initially started out with developing our company’s website. We were very impressed with the quality of work and attention to detail Olivier and his team put into the project. After a successful launch of the website, we kept Timelapse on to develop our marketing materials, coordinate our trade shows and conferences, and manage social media presence on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Olivier is constantly developing new content, keeping our team relevant and visible in the industry. Personally, I have consulted with Olivier to create sales presentations for client meetings, which has helped me be more successful in bring in new business. Timelapse has done an excellent job in building our brand in the market and making us more accessible to new clients.

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

Timelapse came as a recommendation from a trusted business partner of ours. We’ve been working with them for a few years now. We initially brought them on to launch our website and now they are managing our marketing operations.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began 30 months ago in October 2014. We continue to retain Timelapse under contract.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We initially hired them to launch our website and develop marketing material like industry specific publications. Olivier and his team did such a good job in building our brand and providing consistency in our marketing material that we let his team support our marketing operations. We’re now seeing opportunities and new business come in through our website, which speaks for itself. New customers searching for our services are connected to us, and it’s all done online. It’s been a tremendous turn of events in only two years.

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great. We’re in touch with them quite often and meet with them regularly. They’re highly responsive to requests. Olivier and his team are highly communicative and consistently meet their deadlines. We typically get answers within a day, things are turned around quickly, and they can handle ad-hoc requests. I like that I can to get in touch with their team when I need too.

What did you find most impressive about Timelapse?

It’s their attention to detail and flexibility. They’re nimble. There are times when we needed something done a few days before a road trip or a conference, and Olivier would turn it around in 24-48 hours. We’ve never had a problem with getting things done.

Are there any areas Timelapse could improve?

I don’t have the marketing mind that Olivier and his team does, so I can’t think of anything. What matters to me is having a marketing team that get us to a place where industry professionals recognize our brand. It is such a satisfying feeling when you meet a new client and they tell you that they’ve heard of our company already.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations for ClinCapture. Our company captures patient data during the clinical trial process. I manage sales, marketing, and general operations in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Timelapse?

We are a small company. I wouldn't say a start-up, but we have limited funds. That means I couldn't hire enough full-time employees to do the work that we needed done for marketing. That's where Timelapse came into play. They helped address that problem.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The scope depended on our needs, which varied over time. First, Timelapse did web development. They worked on our existing website on Drupal, then recently redid our whole website from scratch on WordPress. They did a lot of ad design and strategy, because one of our big pushes for 2016 was to invest heavily in advertising. Timelapse also did a lot of content generation for white papers and blogs. They also handle the blog which is on WordPress. I hired them to submit abstracts so that our company will get awards and get recognized in the industry. They also produced some videos of case studies of our customers. Those are the main 3 things: web development, design, and content.

How did you come to work with Timelapse?

I've known Olivier for a while and we’ve worked together in the past. He's extremely reliable, very fast, and does good quality work. I knew I wanted to work with him on specific projects such as content. One of the biggest things, when you work with vendors, is their reliability. Are they going to deliver on time? Are they going to understand the market? Are they going to deliver the quality I needed? As I knew Olivier and his team had these qualities, I wanted to work with them on long term projects. For website design, we received bids from 3 companies with 3 different types of designs and difference prices. Eventually, we still decided to go with Timelapse.

How much have you invested with Timelapse?

We’ve spent around $50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together a couple of years ago and he did some projects for us. Then, we didn't have a need anymore. I would say a year ago, we hired Timelapse for the recent projects we've done. Yes, it's been a year that their team has been working with us more regularly. But Timelapse had helped us with other projects in the last 4 years before that. We have a very good relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw an increase in traffic and more people downloaded our white papers. It's not just thanks to them. I do have a marketing team so there's a lot of generation activities in-house. So, that increase is a combination of both. Definitely, we have very valuable content, which has driven traffic and interest to our company. We also got very good feedback from our clients on the case study videos. They thought the videos were really professional and viewers really understood what they wanted to say.

How did Timelapse perform from a project management standpoint?

Timelapse managed projects well. They're very organized and pretty autonomous. They handled a lot of projects at a time. My company does a lot of other things for our size and our budget. They were able to go along with that and manage 5, even 10 projects at a time as needed.

What did you find most impressive about Timelapse?

As I was saying, they're extremely reliable. They're very dedicated. If you had a deadline, if you have a need, you know it's going to be met. I really enjoy that. They're really involved. They go in-depth about a company, the different stakeholders, the industry and so on, so it's not superficial. We've worked with some companies who wrote content for our blogs and they didn't have the depth that we needed. Here, it's really done diligently and I like that. I really appreciate the quality and reliability. They listen to the customers. I really think the customer approach, service, and attention is definitely something to highlight.

Are there any areas Timelapse could improve?

I hired them for specific aspects I knew they would excel at, so I don't have anything for improvement. I don't know the scope of all of their work. We haven't done social media together or some other aspects. In terms of things I've seen, it's been really smooth and really well done.