WDG - Web Development Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a CIO consultant, and I was hired as a contractor to be the project executive for a Washington, D.C. graduate school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

We needed to move a fifteen-year-old website from its proprietary platform to an open source platform. The new site needed to be easier to manage and allow their staff to make changes themselves. Also, we wanted to lower the cost of maintaining the website, as the proprietary vendor would charge for any changes made.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WDP – Web Development Group is developing the website on WordPress, since managing this requires less expertise. The project has two phases. Phase 1 included replacing the frontend of the proprietary system. We also created the beginning frameworks for our distance learning system. In phase 2, WDP – Web Development Group will replace the proprietary backend and re-configure the third-party interfaces to the new site.

What is the team composition?

We are in contact with at least ten people. I have worked with Ab (Founder, WDP – Web Development Group), Josh (Project Manager, WDP – Web Development Group), and a couple of strategy team members.

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

We released an RFP to thirteen vendors.  There were two proposal rounds. Round two included only the top three candidates, and WDG won the bid. I told the graduate school that they needed to select a long-term partner, as opposed to just a vendor.  During the Q&A and interview portion of round two, Ab clearly made an effort to build that relationship with my client.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began speaking with WDP – Web Development Group in September 2017, but we didn’t start the work until the fall of 2018. We will be launching phase 2 of the project shortly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Phase 1 launched on schedule and in budget, which is both excellent and rare for a development project.

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They have performed well. They are easy to work with.  We were truly a team. They do an excellent job across the board, whether it's design, development, or customer relations. 

During phase 1, we often spoke to Josh daily. Josh has been excellent about keeping everyone updated and negotiating all the details. We also had meetings each Friday, which various parties were involved in depending on the stage of development. If either team had questions, we had that Friday meeting to connect. They have done a fantastic job, and I feel they were an excellent choice. I think they will be a great long-term partner for the organization.

The phase 1 launch went fairly smoothly. There were things to fix, but WDG –Web Development Group was very responsive to any issues we reported.  We are also in the process of determining the plans and costs for phase 2, which will start in mid-July.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their process and staff are their most impressive attributes. They deploy a solid process, and they have staff who execute on that process. Their staff knows what they are doing. I’ve learned to step back at times rather than just jump in and shape solutions, etc. because they do a great job and have not disappointed me with how they handle things.  In short, I have to give them space sometimes to do their jobs.  They are very competent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Whenever we have an issue or an area of improvement, they have always worked with us to resolve it. They are open to listening and providing good customer service. Their process is slightly different from some of the other projects that I’ve worked on, but I think they do an extremely good job. I don’t have any suggestions for changes they should make in their process. They are top-of-the-line.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Customers who hire WDP – Web Development Group must do their own part in the development process.  Customers need to manage the costs, expectations of fellow staff members, and execution. If someone doesn’t go to a meeting or engage themselves in the project, that isn’t WDP – Web Development Group’s fault. Allow them to use their process and do the job they do. My client, the VP of the graduate school, has been pleased with WDP – Web Development Group’s work, specifically how they shape things, how they adhere to the schedule and cost, and what they’ve planned for phase 2.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of technology at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, an independent school that serves kids from nursery through eighth grade.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG – Web Development Group?

Several years ago, we embarked on a search for a web tool that would allow our faculty and staff to collaborate and share information in one place.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WDG’s scope shifted from building custom intranet software to helping us find an existing product that met all of our requirements. After many brainstorming sessions, their team conducted a thorough analysis of products on the market and compiled a list of the top 10 tools and their capabilities. We eventually decided to adopt the Jostle platform.

What is the team composition?

They assigned three individuals to our account.

How did you come to work with WDG – Web Development Group?

We discovered them during our search for boutique development shops. WDG managed to impress us during the first meeting; their team was amiable and attentive to our needs.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was completed during the last six months in 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our productivity was suffering from the lack of organization, but WDG’s expert advice helped us make the right decision. We went into the project with an incomplete vision, and they managed to match our preferences into a product that we could buy. Jostle has all of the collaborative services that we needed and an excellent file management system.

How did WDG – Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided exceptional customer service. Although we are not their biggest client, they make us feel as if we are their top priority.

What did you find most impressive about them?

WDG could have made a lot more money by continuing with the custom development project, but they looked out for our best interest and presented more cost-effective options. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t notice any troubling areas.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their team is very talented at conceptualizing basic ideas, but it always nice to provide them with a detailed list of requirements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief strategy officer at Whitespace Solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

I worked with WDG - Web Development Group several years ago when I was the founder and CEO of a separate company. I was looking for help with web design as well as digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They completed a WordPress website for me. I had three companies that were doing different things, though they built off of each other. Ab (Founder, WDG - Web Development Group) developed a multi-phase plan to build each site individually but allowed them to be interwoven together. Their process is human-centric but also structured. I never felt lost because their team has a good, regimented roadmap on how to get things done.

They sent me an in-depth survey to get a sense of who I was as the product owner and to better understand the vision. They asked questions to try to get to know me, as well as some fun questions to solicit personality. They got into the essentials of what I was trying to accomplish.

Next, we had a lot of design thinking sessions where the designers put together some ideas and developed some wireframing using a structured, smart approach. I talked through what I liked and didn’t like. They did a good job of not overloading me with everything all at once. They introduced me to fundamentals and the basic elements, and as we built on that, I was more comfortable with how the process went. Then they gave me more, walking through things like font choices, which was helpful. They gave explanations and made recommendations, almost like a guided tour. I went on a journey with them while they built. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Al and Homiera (Director of Client Services, WDG - Web Development Group).

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

I did a comprehensive search in the area. Supporting the local economy was important to me as an entrepreneur. I was looking for a personal touch. I wanted someone that I could get on the phone with at crazy hours if there were issues or to make changes. I narrowed it down to two companies and chose WDG - Web Development Group based on Ab’s responses to my emails. I got the impression that he is a high-touch entrepreneur, which is what won me over. There is technical talent everywhere, but the interpersonal and one-on-one relating is difficult. WDG - Web Development Group is a company full of empathic, caring human beings that will bend over backward to make their customers happy.

How much have you invested in them?

I invested around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2012–August 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a ton of great feedback when the site launched, and, had we been able to stay in business longer, it would have gone well, but our client’s funding was wiped out overnight. The site was for marketing and advertising and to promote what we were doing. They exceeded our expectations of building an engaging and visually pleasing site. 

When I can afford to bring in a digital agency, I won’t shop around. There is no one else in town that I would want to work with other than WDG - Web Development Group. My goal is to get there as quickly as possible.

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s as structured and disciplined as I have ever seen. Nothing slips through the cracks. They did a great job of addressing requirements up front, and they are good at addressing and documenting risk. They are platform-agnostic, which gives them an ability to serve as consultants and subject matter experts, and they bring that expertise to the table when they are talking with their client. 

Everything was done in person, either over the phone or at the office. We often spoke weekly. If I wasn’t in touch for a week, they helped me catch up. They are extremely responsive and on top of their game. They are as responsive as the client requires them to be. Every step of the way, a member of their team was in constant contact. 

I’m a fairly technical person, and I like to do a lot on my own, and I didn’t get any pushback. They always came back with ways to support and ways to best equip me for success.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have an awesome balance between creativity and productivity. WDG - Web Development Group is ridiculously talented when it comes to the creative, but they are also disciplined in how they get things done. They stay on schedule and on budget, and they have a great pragmatic approach to the business side of the agency, but they don’t do it at the sacrifice of the creative. They’ve figured out how to build a culture that values both.

Anyone can build websites, handle SEO, and do digital advertising and identity, but the team at WDG - Web Development Group takes the users along for the journey. They are awesome people and they treat everyone like every problem is important. Ab did a great job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Ab is a phenomenal entrepreneur and businessman. They have built a fantastic company. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have an open mind. If you know exactly what you want, they can do that for you, but that might not be taking advantage of their strengths. If you have a vision but not an exact blueprint, they are a phenomenal and creative firm to work with. They can take a vision and help bring it to life in a way that I don’t think most people are capable of doing. Leverage them for their strengths, which is their ability to execute creatively. Don’t go in thinking you know everything. If that is what you are looking for, you can go anywhere. Anyone can build a website, but WDG - Web Development Group builds brands and experiences.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the web communications and multimedia manager for an international affairs company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

We engaged WDG - Web Development Group to help us with our overall digital strategy and online presence. We wanted to refresh the look and feel of a lot of our websites. It had been a number of years since we redesigned the sites; they needed to be updated, more mobile friendly, and tell our story more effectively.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WDG has worked on a number of projects for us, including redesigning and developing a website. During an initial kickoff meeting, their team met with us to go over our goals and requirements before going into development. They provided wireframes and mockups in the process.

What is the team composition?

On the most recent project, we worked with about five people, including strategists, designers, developers, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

We evaluated about 10 vendors and selected WDG based on their price, the quality of their previous work, and the capabilities they were able to offer as a full-service vendor.

What is the status of this engagement?

We'd worked with them on other projects dating back to 2016 but officially made them one of our preferred vendors in June 2017. The relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although I don't have any specific metrics to report, WDG has made our lives much easier by creating a template for our site that could easily be adapted to other sites. They created a flexible platform that presents our content in a unique and interesting way. It looks amazing overall, and we've received nothing but positive feedback.

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They're great at keeping us on track, sticking to deadlines, and following up using the latest project management tools.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The strategy sessions they provide upfront sets them apart. They've helped our team hone and identify goals before going into development, which encourages our team members to think from perspectives they'd never considered before.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I've been very happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Identify the goals of the project in as much detail as possible to make the strategy sessions more productive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the former director of marketing communications for a government data solutions firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

Our website was outdated and the company was going through a rebrand, so I decided to take the opportunity to rebrand and update our website as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WDG - Web Development Group redesigned our website after doing a site audit and meeting with our team to go over our goals and requirements. They presented different options for us to choose from and worked collaboratively with us through each milestone of the redesign.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a design team, some developers, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

We found them through an online search for local vendors in the DC area. Other colleagues of mine within the industry had also recommended them. Out of the three companies we considered, WDG offered the best total package at the most competitive rate.

How much have you invested with them?

I can't remember the exact amount, but I remember they were much more reasonably priced compared to others we'd considered. Not to mention, they were willing to work within our budget.

What is the status of this engagement?

They worked on the project from January–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

WDG turned our website into an improved lead generation tool. In addition to making it more user-friendly, visitors were spending more time on the site, and traffic significantly increased.

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job despite the fact that we had to change project managers a few times. However, this was due to unforeseen circumstances. There were no issues getting the new resources up to speed, so nothing was impacted in a negative way on our end. They were organized, responsive, and documented their work well throughout the engagement.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very genuine and sincere. Whenever they had feedback or suggestions, they never hesitated to let us know how we could improve certain elements of the site. But they weren't pushy either. They helped educate us throughout the process without sounding condescending because they genuinely wanted to help us improve the final product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. Despite the staff transitions on their end, it didn't take away from our product or outcome.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communication is key, so always keep an open line of contact with their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former VP of a government communications firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

I reached out to WDG - Web Development Group to redesign outdated websites: once while at the consulting firm and again when I was working at another company. For both projects, we wanted a more modern platform that our current customers and potential customers would find easy to use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They completed two projects with me for different companies, both concerning very old, outdated websites. WDG came in, redesigned the sites, and put them on WordPress where we could make updates.

We began with a design kickoff and talked to them about what we were looking for. They created mockups for us, going through the typical design phase with a little bit of back and forth to pinpoint exactly what we wanted. After we settled on a design, they went into the development.

The projects weren’t terribly complex. There wasn’t a lot of customization that needed to happen, but it was still a large upgrade for us and involved a new platform. They trained us on how to use it and set us up with their customer support.

What is the team composition?

I worked with 3–4 people.

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

I’m friends with Ab (CEO, WDG - Web Development Group), so I didn’t consider any other company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000–$199,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from 2007–2008 for one of the sites, and the other was done in 2012–2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both sites got rave reviews. Customers found them really easy to use and navigate. The sites were modernized and brought into this century.

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were top notch. We communicated 3–4 times a week—sometimes daily—using email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their staff is some of the best in the business from the get-go. I find them to be world class.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was so pleased with how everything went. It was all really smooth.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust your project manager. They know what they’re doing, so let them help you get the best product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a web developer at a nonprofit think tank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG – Web Development Group?

We wanted to redesign our Drupal 7 website, updating the platform’s look and feel.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project was split into two phases. First, WDG worked with our communications department to draft a new design for the website. Together, they created mockups and CSS files that detailed the new interface and how it should operate.

Then, the team shared those documents and helped me code the backend, optimizing the site for reliable performance on all major web browsers. By the time I started working with WDG, they’d already completed most of the project, so it was a pretty straight-forward process.

What is the team composition?

In all, there were about 5­–6 people working with us, one of which acted as the project manager. During the development phase, I communicated with the team on a daily basis.

How did you come to work with WDG – Web Development Group?

Ab (Managing Director, WDG – Web Development Group) is a friend of mine, but we still requested proposals from a few of the top development companies in our area. Following a presentation from WDG, during which Ab explained the company’s services and provided examples, we decided to hire them. He was clear and detailed in his approach, and they offered a good price.

How much have you invested with them?

I estimate we spent between $20,000­–$30,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone is happy with the site’s updated look, feel, and performance. With the new build, we’ll have an easier time migrating the site to Drupal 8 in the future. Overall, it was a successful project.

How did WDG – Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

I think they did great. Throughout the development process, we openly collaborated to generate impeccable code. Because of their responsiveness, it was a quick and smooth process. With the communications team, WDG provided weekly and daily alerts explaining their progress. They also used a project management system, but I wasn’t involved in that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very detail oriented in their creative process, prioritizing responsiveness for screens of all sizes. It’s clear that they think about the development work as they plan their designs. When I started working with them, we were able to speed through the coding because everything had already been meticulously drawn out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re very happy with them.

Any advice for potential customers?

I recommend working with them, especially for a Drupal project. Our site was pretty complex, but they successfully completed each task. In initial discussions, give them clear goals, and they’ll let you know the possible ways to get there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CMO of Pockitship.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG – Web Development Group?

My business partner had a company that served as the end client for this project. We hired WDG – Web Development Group to rebrand and relaunch the end client’s website. The site was outdated, static, and not very SEO-friendly; it needed a complete refresh.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The partnership started with brainstorming and ideation. My business partner and I showed WDG – Web Development Group several corporate websites we wanted to use a guide for the end result. The team then created wireframes and designed the look and feel in compliance with the end client’s brand color scheme.

The team overhauled the site on WordPress and created a slider to highlight the end client’s four core competencies, which included white-glove home delivery. WDG – Web Development Group generated new keywords and created search functionalities that the previous site lacked. They also used an improved CMS to change content and make updates. Our team created copy for the designer. We then collaborated on editing and streamlining copy for the various webpages. Finally, they launched the site after we approved all of the deliverables.

What is the team composition?

I worked with the project lead, a designer, and a programmer. The owner was also involved at a high level. All four people participated in each meeting.

How did you come to work with WDG – Web Development Group?

I was familiar with WDG – Web Development Group from another company I worked at. For this project, we searched local design firms, and I recognized their name. We then put WDG – Web Development Group on our RFP list of seven agencies. Next, we narrowed the prospective vendors down to 2–3, including WDG – Web Development Group; they were the middle vendor in terms of cost. When we did face-to-face interviews, we found their team easy to interact with. As we sat in their conference room and discussed the project, we felt comfortable about the process.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $35,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from October 2014–February 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

WDG – Web Development Group kept the budget in check to build the website we needed rather than the one we would’ve unnecessarily wanted. The new site had relevant keywords and was an improvement over the old static one. The end client’s Google search results have at least tripled post-launch.

How did WDG – Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Basecamp to track updates and submit approvals. We interacted twice a week and met every other week. During the in-person meetings, we reviewed the site on a large screen and discussed the placement of multimedia content. The team made everything happen through free-flowing conversations. Delays were our fault because we were indecisive on several issues. The team did say they could have finished the project faster if we made decisions more quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team provided exceptional guidance. They held our hand as we figured out our budget. That approach—especially during our conversations—kept the scope in check, which we appreciated in the end.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, because they did a good job. We never had disagreements and the team was highly professional.

Any advice for potential customers?

During vendor searches, contact the team and meet them in person. A face-to-face meeting will give clients a feel for their people and company culture. That familiarity is important because site launches are lengthy processes. In our case, the team was easy to get along with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of digital technology at a creative agency in DC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

A client contracted us to build a website, but we needed the assistance and expertise of a subcontractor to build it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first step was an introductory meeting between WDG - Web Development Group and our internal team. They got everyone on board with the breakdown of tasks and responsibilities before we introduced them to the client. They then led the discovery phase to find out the client's needs. In the design phase, they produced wireframes and mockups. The team launched the site after a build phase and QA in addition to providing 30 days support after launch.

The site was built on WordPress but also incorporated more complex relationships. They created a dashboard and administration interface to allow the client to manage the site. The backend included a search function for thousands of articles and interrelated content that dynamically populate the site. The client can connect items by setting categories; they can also manually create relationships by typing in the first few letters of the item title, clicking on the autofill, and dragging the item.

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with a project manager and two other people. At most, we worked with about seven people on any given day.

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

I met Ab (Managing Director, WDG - Web Development Group) when I was with another company. We didn't end up working together until now but continued to stay in touch.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from February–October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was tremendously impressed with the way they executed the site. As a WordPress developer myself, I appreciated that their process was incredibly streamlined. The site was very clean, professional, and way better than what we could have come up with on our own.  

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team performed really well. We communicated on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times a day. We were essentially on each other's teams for the duration of the project. We could reach out to several people and expect an immediate response. Ab was always available to help as well. We had some project management issues from our side, but they worked with us to solve it. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

What did you find most impressive about them?

All of the members of the team were solid in their respective roles. I was impressed with how the entire team collaborated; it’s easy to work with smart people. I’ve dealt with people in the past where I wasn’t sure they actually got what I was saying.

However, from the first moment, I always felt like we were in sync with WDG - Web Development Group. Being a subcontractor to a contractor can be difficult. They handled not being able to directly interface with the client well and still managed to deliver on all of the clients’ needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think so. They handled everything well. If I were to nitpick, I’m sure I could find some issue since projects never go perfectly. But there's nothing institutional or fundamental that they could improve. They should continue bringing on new team members who meet the standards and the expectations of their more experienced staff.

Any advice for potential customers?

Give them a shot. Some offshore companies charge half of what they do, but you get what you pay for. They deliver true added value for what you spend.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the EVP of corporate development for Emagine IT. Our organization is an IT management consulting firm that’s been in operation since 2005. Most of our business is in the federal government. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WDG - Web Development Group?

Our existing website was slightly stagnant and didn't truly reflect our organization's capabilities. We wanted it to appeal to our clients and attract specific demographics like millennials to our organization. As we pursued more development contracts, we also needed an accurate representation of our cutting-edge software and web design services. 

Even though we offer IT consulting and have website developers on our payroll, we lacked the bandwidth to work on corporate initiatives. These limitations extended to implementing new websites, so we reached out to WDG for help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started off with a meet-and-greet for all the stakeholders who were involved with the process. WDG spent time learning more about our organization to get a better idea of our ultimate goals for the website. We visited them on site to go through exercises to define our vision. During these planning meetings, we reviewed feedback from our clients on what they found appealing or disliked. 

We assessed some of our competitors' websites to find aspects to model. During this phase, we determined what our competitive landscape emphasized. The team invested a lot of research into the requirements before creating mockups for the site's structure. At that point, we delegated responsibilities. Our company took ownership of the actual content and wording that would appear on site pages. WDG considered our comments from the research and planning sessions to create the right tone and graphics as they worked through layouts.

After they presented several options, we made decisions about how to move forward. Once all the site mapping matched up our discussed plans, WDG conducted a handover for all the page templates. They helped us add these developed pages to the domain we had set up so that we could start development and add content. 

What is the team composition? 

We interfaced with about 4–5 people from WDG at any given time. 

How did you come to work with WDG - Web Development Group?

Somebody within our organization knew one of the developers from WDG. We met with and requested quotes from four other website designers in the area. WDG came through as the most cost-effective. The examples they provided were more in line with the type of website we wanted to put in front of our clients. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $40,000 or more. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with WDG from January–October 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don't have any specific results to share, but WDG got our website up and running with no issues. We've seen increased traffic based on the metrics we track through Google Analytics, even though that wasn’t our primary goal. We mainly wanted to modernize the site and align its presentation with our users' preferences. Now, it engages our clients and potential employees. 

We've had nothing but great feedback from our clients and internal resources about the ease of navigation through the site. Aesthetically, it's much more colorful and filled with clean lines and real photos of our employees at volunteer events or around the office. The old site was more boilerplate, templatized, and leveraged many more stock photos. We tried to make the new version more in line with our culture and engaging for our employees. 

How did WDG - Web Development Group perform from a project management standpoint?

WDG performed excellently. They leveraged project management tools and maintained great communication to ensure the project went smoothly. They kept us aware of what we needed to do, reminded us of approaching deadlines, and engaged us to take actions whenever necessary. On occasion, they even had us visit their offices or came to ours. 

In the beginning, we communicated almost daily through the project team site WDG set up. We discussed upcoming activities and completed tasks. During the middle of the project, we spoke every few days as we each got our respective work done. Towards the tail end, we ramped back up to daily communication as they prepared for the handoff.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our companies have very similar cultures, so we feel welcome working in WDG’s office space. They never judged anyone based on their comments or questions about the website. WDG is committed to understanding the client. They took measures early on to envision the end product from the user perspective.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. We worked very closely with them and appreciated all their efforts. We would definitely use WDG again in the future. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your homework to determine which web design company will best suit your needs as a partner. Based on what we saw from WDG's sample projects and their existing client base, they were the most in line with what we wanted to portray on our site. Getting multiple quotes was also helpful. They were right in the range we wanted to spend on our website redesign.