Verve Marketing Group

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Communications Associate of Woodstock Institute

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a non-profit research and advocacy org working on financial systems reform. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Verve Marketing Group to accomplish?

• Website redesign
• Website management/upkeep

SOLUTION

How did you find Verve Marketing Group?

Referral

Why did you select Verve Marketing Group over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Verve Marketing Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Verve redesigned our entire website with an updated look, new page designs, and a new site organization powered by new features, incluidng the ability to filter by topic. Verve also wrote SEO title and meta descriptions and redirects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website has decades of scattered content, and our new website goes a long way in organizing this content, making it more accessible and easy-to-follow.

On our new site, we have seen 29% higher engagement and a higher rate of users downloading PDFs (which we post a lot of). We have also seen an uptick in newsletter sign-ups, which the new design makes much easier to find. 

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

Vevre was always extremely responsive and willing to spend substantial time getting to the bottom of issues as they arose. We always felt like we could rely on them to resolve issues quickly. 

What was your primary form of communication with Verve Marketing Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

In addition to being responsive and reliable, Verve was always willing to engage on complex issues regarding both project timeline issues and site organization (we have a LOT of content spanning decades and covering a lot of different topics). 

They showed a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of our work and how they all fit together, which is reflected in the new website design and structure. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Verve Marketing Group could have done differently?

At times we weren't quite aligned on project timeline and what was considered "set in stone" at different stages in the process, leading to some confusion and miscommunication. I would err on the side of making that abundantly clear for future projects, especially when the client is (like we were) unfamiliar with the process of website creation. 

However, Verve always responded to these issues by setting clear expectations and boundaries for the project, which was extremely helpful for us getting our priorities aligned. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Tyndale Momentum is now the premium non-fiction imprint for Tyndale House Publishers. This website was part of the imprint introduction campaign and a main website for the publishing house.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Verve Marketing Group, and what were your goals?

Tyndale House's non-fiction line had a reputation as a very conservative and somewhat "behind the times" brand. We were creating a new, more progressive, brand with Momentum to set our books apart for agents, for the purpose of acquisitions (letting them know we were looking for more "edgy" and current content), and consumers. We wanted more current design that showed a thoughtful book bent.

SOLUTION

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

Verve had done websites for our competitors and other companies that knocked it out of the park. We knew we'd have a good working relationship with the team due to work we'd done previously. We need it to be great, and get it done fast.

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

We started with design boards to set a design sensibility for the project. Choosing solutions for each category of content in the project. We set fonts, colors, and page design that worked with the new logo that had been created internally. We then did wireframes and started delivering visuals and content.

The team at Verve took a project that would have taken our internal team a year to complete in about 3 months. And we had strong design and functionality. We launched the site in conjunction with a B to B campaign to agents and booksellers before we targeted the consumer.

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

There was the primary at the agency, Joan, that made it all work. She drove the project along with doing strategy and some content. Seth was the design guru. He could do it all. We also worked with a coder who built the back-end of the site to function as we asked.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Partly because of the quality look and feel of the site, the launch drove our little imprint to become the dominant non-fiction imprint at Tyndale House Publishers and a leader in the publishing industry. The site showed that Tyndale had caught up with our competitors in design and content.

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

We had weekly, sometimes daily, status meetings and the work was fluid. We did do a lot of the work in batches in light of the tight time-frame. We used good old email and phones.

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

Their responsiveness to our needs and their understanding of our goals and objectives. We never had to steer them back from any rabbit trails of design or content. They were like part of our team.

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

We needed to finish this huge project in a ridiculously short timeframe. They made it possible and relatively simple. They knew their stuff and kept us up to speed. I'd recommend them to anyone.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Oasis Family Media is a multimedia publisher with imprints including Oasis Audio, a leading independent audiobook publisher, Enclave Publishing, a speculative fiction print publisher, and Sky Turtle Press, a publisher of high quality illustrated books. I am the president and publisher of Oasis Family Media. The company is privately owned.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Verve Marketing Group?

We hired Verve Marketing to create an interactive website for our new brand, The Faerie Queene. Our book series was to launch on Kickstarter as a crowdfunding campaign so we wanted an informative website that looked like it would appeal to video gamers and RPG players, but that housed enough content to make it academic.

SOLUTION

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

Joan and Seth have worked with Oasis for over 12 years, assisting us in marketing, catalogs, PR, and more. Joan is fantastic at web trends, and Seth is the designer I know.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Our editorial director and I had several zoom meetings with Joan and Seth, and explained the scope of the project. We sent Seth all of the assets and text, and over the course of several review meetings, the website as it exists today was created.

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

We worked with Joan and Seth. They are principals in the company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internally, the website was a success on several levels. It encouraged or staff to embrace the new brand and feel excited about it. In the marketplace, the website garnered strong positive reactions from librarians, educators, and fans in general. The link to our Kickstarter site on the website led visitors to the Kickstarter preview page in the weeks leading up to our campaign.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

This process could not have run smoother. When we were presented with test pages, we would review and make comments or suggestions. Verve would then come back with updates or other suggestions. As a collaborative effort, this could not have gone any better.

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

I found the attentiveness of Joan and Seth to be the most reassuring. these are the leaders of the company and they took special care to make us feel heard. They wanted to know our objectives, then they took charge and created something very special for us.

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

Not at all. I can't wait to use them for our corporate website overhaul.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of the National Japanese American Historical Society.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Verve Marketing Group?

We’re a nonprofit with a small staff, so our challenge is to work on exhibitions and educational programming related to the exhibitions we create. We lead a variety of groups, and our respective groups are multicultural and have common histories, but different experiences. We wanted to outline the issues and concerns we had about how we would promote the exhibit with different partners while still having them be represented as a consortium. 

We hired Verve Marketing Group to hone in on what we wanted to say to the general public and our targeted audience through our web pages.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The web pages were built from scratch; they have lots of content, but still engage the audience. Verve Marketing Group was able to incorporate moving elements while keeping to the original design. The web pages were built with WordPress, and Verve Marketing Group offers maintenance for us. They also took our employees through training sessions to learn about the website and how to use it. 

What is the team composition?

We only interacted with Joan (Chief Brand & Marketing Officer). 

How did you come to work with Verve Marketing Group?

They were a referral; we initially thought we wanted to work with someone local, but went with Verve Marketing Group because they had experience working with teachers and within the educational sector. Our values seemed to align, so we decided to move forward with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between August 2021–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website looks good, and even though there are a few places that have placeholders, Verve Marketing Group was able to work around that. We think that the website really captures the elements of design while keeping all of the content that we wanted; the website is engaging, and they went the extra mile to make sure that happened. 

Everyone is pleased with the website, and in a lot of ways, it’s more than we expected. 

How did Verve Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were engaging and responsive, even though there is a time difference between us. They were able to turn everything around and deliver it within our deadline, which was great because we needed everything within a specific timeframe. They were very patient and accommodating with us while still being deliberate about what we needed to get to them. We used phone calls and Zoom to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were extremely flexible and helped to shape the project based on what we needed. They were very good about toning down what was essential to relay to our partners and the general audience. Verve Marketing Group was able to tailor the content and the site so that the content was digestible to audiences. 

They also provided creative and actionable solutions that helped us stay within budget and get the project done. Verve Marketing Group brought a refreshing and new lens to the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We strongly recommend Verve Marketing Group to any educational or nonprofit group because they will understand your values and general goals and help you operationalize them to be more effective for your general audience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and President of Salon Neapolitan. We are a salon with 16 team members. We have 3200 sqft and we specialize in haircolor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Verve Marketing Group, and what were your goals?

We had Joan B from Verve Marketing design our website. We have increased our growth by over 5 times with more revenue of over a half million dollars in service and sales. We are pleased with our Google position as Joan is always looking to adjust SEO words so that we stand out as a local highly sought after Hair Salon. We are ranked number 1 through our Good Reviews.

SOLUTION

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

We found Joan as she was an existing client of ours and she convinced me that if we wanted to grow as a business that we absolutely needed a website.

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

Joan created a beautiful website upon coloring and a general vibe from our salon. We updated it after a few years when we switched locations and the 2nd site was just as beautiful as the first one!

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

We had Joan and I think 2 other Creative’s from the company- Joe and Seth.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I feel that we have increased our revenue by 5 x.

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

Joan has always updated the website within a day if we have changes in pricing or if we add another hairstylist on board.

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

I feel that Joan works hard and is such a great communicator and wants you to be happy with the product.

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

I feel that Joan is always great at listening g and I am pleased with our beautiful website.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Associate Director of Events at Wheaton College in the Advancement Division. I oversee fundraising-related events for the College.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Verve Marketing Group?

Verve designed and executed print save the dates, invitations with speciality mailers, programs, note cards, and digital templates for our Wheaton Weekend at The Cove donor trip.

SOLUTION

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

We looked at design companies that were recommended by the College's Marketing Communications department and some that we found online. We narrowed that long list down to just three firms through preliminary interviews. The final three submitted initial design concepts and formal quotes. Verve was selected based on its creative design concept, warm customer service, familiarity with Wheaton College, and price point.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After several initial conversations, Verve submitted a proposal with design concepts and a quote. We compared their proposal and designs with two other firms before selecting them. Once the contract was signed, we set up a time line for the save the date and note cardss, which was the lengthiest part of the process as it informed the rest of the project. We met weekly to biweekly to make edits, refine the timeline and bring that first portion to completion. Next, we created a timeline for the invitations, specialty box mailer, and digital templates. We finished with the detailed print programs. Most communication was through Zoom meetings or email, which was our preference.

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

In total, we worked with two people. We worked with the Chief Brand and Marketing Officer to secure the contract and pricing and to troubleshoot printer issues. We worked with the Creative Director to design and execute our projects and also to troubleshoot unexpected supply shortages and printer issues.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Twenty-eight donor households signed up for our exclusive Wheaton Weekend at The Cove, which was a record response. We received numerous compliments on the design, including from the venue and special keynotes and performers. To date, our event raised a substantial ROI beyond our expectations. The pieces Verve designed contributed to the execution of a detailed, refined, successful event.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The Creative Director allowed the right amount of back and forth concerning the design. He was receptive to our feedback but held firm on points that would have compromised the aesthetic of our pieces. He was communicative and quickly solved supply issues and printer problems. We could tell he was as invested in the pieces as we were.

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

Verve's customer service was exceptional.

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

We felt Verve went above and beyond.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an executive at HarperCollins Christian Publishers. We publish and distribute Christian material and Bibles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Verve Marketing Group?

We hired Verve Marketing Group in 2015 to build, design, and maintain the site for the New International Version (NIV). They continue to make maintain the site and have made numerous updates to the site over the past 7 years.

SOLUTION

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

We had an existing relationship with Verve Marketing Group with other work they had done for us. We knew they had the experience and capabilities to do the work and would stay within our budget.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Back when the site was first developed, Verve Marketing Group was responsible for building, designing, and maintaining the site. They understood our goals and needs of the site. A schedule was created for deliverables, regular check-ins, and design reviews. They had to sift through a ton of content intended for the site and create the site framework for how to best present the content.

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

I work with three people from Verve when necessary. The account manager/owner, designer, and web developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site was completed on-time and on budget and exceeded expectations. They have continued to maintain the site within the budgetary constraints. They have made significant updates and improvements to the site over the past 7 years to make it the premier destination for the NIV brand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

My contacts at Verve Marketing Group are easy to communicate with. They listen to what our needs and are ready and willing to adapt when needed. They are very responsive and are quick to resolve issues as they come up. They deliver with high quality, on time and on budget.

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

Verve Marketing Group is great to work with! They are experts with web design, web development, and content development that is SEO rich. The NIV site has developed quite a bit since 2015 and they have been an integral part of the site's success. They deliver on time and on budget.

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

I have no specific areas of improvement to recommend.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior VP of policy and communication for a nonprofit organization that advocates for consumer financial protection.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Verve Marketing Group?

We needed help with web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Verve Marketing Group has helped us design and develop our website from scratch. We initially provided them with a lot of its content and language, and they were in charge of the technical and graphic design parts of the project.

This website has a few components to it. One of those components is a financial literacy tool that provides visitors with financial information. Additionally, it has some forms, such as an intake form and an invitation form for people to submit their names for a paid research opportunity to tell their stories.

Our site also has an intake form for people who want to join our advocacy community. This form is directly embedded into the advocacy network site. Moreover, the site is bilingual — it is available in English and Spanish.

The financial literacy feature has a resource guide subject to changes based on the developments of our available programs and loan products. Therefore, Verve Marketing Group continuously helps us update and revisit the resource guide and translate the changes into Spanish. Their team also helps us make periodic changes to the site’s layout, and they’ve helped us with site maintenance since its launch.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three people from Verve Marketing Group, including Joe (Web Development Director), Seth (Creative Director), and Joan (Chief Brand & Marketing Officer), who is our main point of contact. Additionally, another person from their team helps us with our update requests.

How did you come to work with Verve Marketing Group?

My boss found them, but I don’t know how.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been successful in driving traffic to our new site, and many people have completed the paid research opportunity and the advocacy network membership forms.

How did Verve Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Verve Marketing Group is very responsive, and they work quickly under short deadlines. We wanted to get our site up and running by the end of 2021, and as mentioned previously, we hired Verve Marketing Group in November 2021. Still, they were able to deliver. Additionally, they’ve delivered things within fairly short timeframes on various instances.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Verve Marketing Group is very affordable, and part of that affordability is because they’re mission-driven. They care about our organization’s mission, and they want to support it. Additionally, their responsiveness and the quality of their outputs are outstanding.

Given that we do legislative advocacy, things happen in an unpredictable way, so we need to shift, be flexible, change timelines, and create short deadlines. Still, Verve Marketing Group has been nimble at accommodating our changing needs depending on current events, and they’ve been very reactive to those shifts and changes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

On one occasion, I thought that Verve Marketing Group’s graphic designs weren’t as impressive as I wanted them to be. However, they took my feedback and produced something excellent the second go around.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Providing specific instructions and timetables is important. Moreover, be on top of doing your part and provide them with the necessary textual content for your site.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Executive Director of a nonprofit Childcare center and preschool

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Verve Marketing Group, and what were your goals?

Verve built a new website for us and assisted us with a variety of other marketing efforts - creating signage, modifying the website for special marketing, creating copy for other advertising. We needed a new look for our marketing efforts and wanted to have a more visible presence in our neighborhood.

SOLUTION

How did you select Verve Marketing Group and what were the deciding factors?

Verve was recommended to us by a board members. Our initial conversations told us they understood who we were and what we needed and they would work to keep it affordable for us.

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

Verve helped us define what we wanted and needed in a website, they put together a proposal and we refined it together. After we gave approval, they created the website, they presented the results and we tweaked it. Since then we have made a number of modifications to adapt to out changing business needs - we have worked in collaboration each time.

We needed copy for a print and online ad. We gave them an example of a previously used ad, indicated what we would like to be different and they produced a new design. We needed signage for our street level windows and also signs for the neighborhood. We provided photos to be used and proposed copy and they made it work beautifully for us.

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

We have worked with several people. We interact regularly with the principal of the company and hear from technical people as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have been very happy with the products we have received. The functionality is great. The look is fresh and very attractive. We have been please with the number of contacts we are receiving.

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

We communicate primarily with email. They propose timelines and we negotiate as needed.

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

They are very attentive to us, give us time to discuss our needs and work at refining it to satisfy us completely. They have skilled and talented people who produce great products.

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

No, we have been satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing and sales for a boutique market research firm. We focus on market research for the medical field including devices, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical companies. We work with them to do product studies about end-users. It’s a small but great niche

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Verve Marketing Group?

I came on two years ago from a consulting position to continue to grow business through marketing and sales. I realized right off the bat that I wanted to update our brand to be more modern, which involved redoing the website, creating a logo, and doing outreach.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One really nice thing was how flexible and sensitive they were to our budget. We wanted a great site but couldn’t afford all the bells and whistles. They did all the design, but I provided the copy.

It was a nice collaboration. The logo was a bit difficult, with different stakeholder priorities, but they were sensitive to all that, offering several options and helping us develop something polished and cleaner. We also worked together on an email campaign and business cards.

What is the team composition?

Joan (Chief Marketing Strategist, Verve Marketing) was my main contact. Seth (Creative Director, Verve Marketing) did design, and there was another person who did the tech-related work.

How did you come to work with Verve Marketing Group?

Someone I used to work with recommended Joan.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $12,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February until May 2019. We’re now in talks to do some Google Ads work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The visual and branding quality was very high. We’re very happy with the look and how the website looks, and we relied on Verve to direct that process. I might have had ideas but they would take it and make it better.  

We hadn’t done Google analytics before, but they provided it and its really nice to see who’s visiting our and how we’re being seen.

How did Verve Marketing Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were quick to respond if I sent an email or had a question. Joan wrote back right away; she on top of it. I never had to write twice asking where they were, which was a big deal for me.

They were very timely and understood I was waiting on them for the logo and website so I could do marketing with the brand in front of me. They were sensitive to our time constraints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of their best qualities is how they make you feel like they’re working with you. It’s a very collaborative team, and I felt like my marketing ideas and goals were being heard and considered as they moved forward with their designs and campaigns. They gave me a sense that they were listening to me, and that’s really important.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything I’d change with the process. The one thing that did come across though was that they were used to working with companies who are already doing marketing and know how it works. I think we surprised them when we weren’t like that—but then they got it and changed direction.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you communicate really clearly what you want. That will help them understand your goals and objectives. They work hard to do a good job.