Zadro Web

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Operations, Development and Programs of Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation preserves and teaches the extraordinary history of the Jewish partisans of World War II. Drawing on their courage and resilience, we create educational resources and train educators to empower learners to stand up against antisemitism and hate. www.jewishpartisans.org

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Zadro Web to accomplish?

• Build a new website with interactive student WebQuests.
• Migrate an existing website to a new platform.
• Host and upgrade three websites regularly

SOLUTION

How did you find Zadro Web?

Referral

Why did you select Zadro Web over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Zadro Web were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

JPEF has been working with Zadro for nine years on a wide range of projects, including the development of a new interactive website for educators and students at resist.jewishpartisans.org. Zadro migrated JPEF's original website to a new platform and also developed its Jewish Partisan Community site. www.jewishpartisans.org and www .jewishpartisancommunity. org. Zadro was instrument of JPEF's online photography display museum.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Excellent functionality, ability to build new resources, and advance with the changing landscape for learning. 

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

Always. Zadro is very responsive. They are clear in their communication and always meet their deliverables in a timely manner.

What was your primary form of communication with Zadro Web?

Virtual Meeting

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

Zadro is a consummate team player with the client's best interests at heart. Always going above and beyond to meet our needs and fully committed to the project. Zadro makes suggestions for improvements and shares our goals of providing quality and making an impact.

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

NA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Surge for Water partners with communities to deliver safe water, sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health solutions to help end the cycle of poverty. I'm the Founder and Executive Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zadro Web, and what were your goals?

Our website needed to be revamped as we felt like it was limiting our growth. We worked with Zadro Web to recreate a beautiful site that more accurately reflected our brand. We also wanted something that was simple for our team to keep updated.

SOLUTION

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

Zadro Web was passionate about our mission. They understood our story and goals, and we trusted that they could bring it to life. It was also the right price point.

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

Our organizations worked closely together to clearly scope out the work, project steps and key deliverables. We decided to use WordPress with minimal plugins as it was important for us to have an end product that was simple to maintain.

We also wanted to carry out specific themes throughout the site, which Zadro Web did an excellent job of representing. We worked collaboratively on designs and content. We would share our wish lists and the team did a great job bringing it to life. They were also highly accommodating with making tweaks to meet our needs.

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

We worked directly with 2 main people from Zadro Web but we know there were more team members supporting the project from behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We loved the end product and we're already seeing an increase in organic traffic. The new site also makes us look more credible and appealing to our donor base

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

We had regular calls to discuss key themes, ideas and decisions. All other communication was managed via Trello and email. We always received very clear and detailed action lists that we were responsible for and we also received detailed timelines that were always met.

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

Their deep understanding of our vision for this website and their ability to translate that vision into a beautiful and highly functional website. There were often times that they pushed back on some of our ideas that would have hurt look, user-experience or functionality -- and we believe that. Their expertise really helped create a superior end product.

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

No, we honestly have no suggestions. Creating website can be a long, painful process and Zadro Web made it enjoyable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the project manager and digital lead for China Furniture and Arts, a B2C retailer specializing in high end Asian style furniture and decor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zadro Web?

We needed help to ensure a successful relaunch of our ecommerce site, ChinaFurnitureOnline.com, as well assistance with migration of all existing site content (over 2000 unique pages). Zadro Web provided SEO consulting and assisted with technical implementations.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to ensure that our migrated content would retain all existing SEO equity and continue to grow in SERP rankings post launch.

SOLUTION

How did you select Zadro Web?

We searched online for local businesses in the Chicago area that had experience with site migrations, website audits, and SEO. We came across Zadro Web's site and were very impressed with their audit tool and the offerings featured.

After talking with Dario and getting familiar with his background and knowledge, we were extremely confident that him and his team were an ideal fit for our project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Zadro Web conducted a full site audit and provided highly detailed reporting on site usability and errors, meta tags, canonicals and structured data. They assisted in fixing any web crawler issues, provided tips for improving UX, helped with CMS and server configurations, and helped setup all 301 redirects.

Additionally, they helped create and configure the XML sitemap and robots.txt file.

What was the team composition?

I personally collaborated with Dario on all project deliverables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within 1 year of site launch, monthly organic clicks increased by over 400% and total keyword rankings improved dramatically. This helped contribute to record online sales in 2020.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their work was consistent and thorough and their team was reliably responsive in all communications. Deliverables were timely and Dario and his team were a joy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They provided everything they promised and more, exceeding our best expectations at a great price compared to competitors. Their combination of technical expertise, knowledge of web technologies, and strong communication is truly remarkable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were completely satisfied with all the work that was done. Dario even followed up on several occasions following the completion of the project to provide further assistance and consulting.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Executive Director of the Prairie Center Arts Foundation (PCAF). The PCAF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Schaumburg, Illinois, dedicated to the growth and excellence of arts and culture in our community. The Foundation created and administers three community outreach programs to bring people in need to experience the transformational power of performing arts. It also supports performing arts programs for youth and the season of arts and entertainment at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zadro Web?

We contracted with Zadro Web to design, create, and host a new fundraising website.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a more dynamic fundraising website, where donors could quickly learn more about the variety of programs available for support, and easily contribute to the program(s) of their choice. Our wish list also included robust reporting and data function, and a clean, elegant design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed a few web design companies, and Dario with Zadro Web was the clear choice. He understood the scope of our project from the start, and guided us through the process step-by-step.

Describe the project in detail.

Dario provided examples of previous work that were similar to the kind of project we were seeking. He worked within our timeline, keeping us involved each step of the way, providing opportunities to test and refine as his design unfolded. The result was exactly as we had hoped.

What was the team composition?

Dario was our guide and contact from start to finish - from concept to the published project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've received several donations through the new site, and it has worked seamlessly with all peripheral programs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was consistently timely, thorough, clear, and professional. Any questions or clarifications were dealt with quickly and effectively.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their friendly professionalism and deadline crushing timeliness were remarkable. The finished product features an elegant design.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of anything that could have been improved.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner and co-founder of Norton Basu LLP. We are an estate planning and probate law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zadro Web?

Web development, web design, web hosting and technical SEO.

What were your goals for this project?

To increase our online presence and website traffic.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through a referral. However, we interviewed several companies before selecting Zadro Web to assist us with our project. We wanted a results-oriented company that would provide excellent customer service.

Describe the project in detail.

The first phase of the project consisted of increasing our local presence online through the use of directories and other technical SEO tools. The next phase has focused on increasing our overall website traffic and social media influence while also increasing our national exposure.

What was the team composition?

We were always in direct communication with the owners. They were incredibly responsive and took the time to make sure all of our questions were answered.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have seen a significant increase in our website traffic and the number of calls we are receiving.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team has been very pleasant to work with. They were always available for our questions and provided timely updates.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Zadro Web is in a league of their own for web development, web hosting, and technical SEO. They delivered high-quality work and created a huge increase in our online traffic. Our website has never looked better and we will partner with them for years to come. Hiring Zadro Web was one of the best decisions we made!

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are completely satisfied with the level of work and customer service we have received from Zadro Web.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm one of the directors at Black Mountain Products. We sell fitness and outdoor equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zadro Web?

We do a lot of third-party selling, but we’ve never had a big online presence. We were looking for a company to redesign our website and help us with digital marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They completely redesigned a website for us and optimized it in Google. It's an e-commerce website, so we use WooCommerce and WordPress. They're currently helping us with social media and content creation, doing SEO on the background.

What is the team composition?

We work with three of their team members.

How did you come to work with Zadro Web?

My business partner found them online. We met with them and decided they’d be a good fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've been happy with their work. We're just starting the marketing and Google AdWords, but the website has already received positive feedback.

How did Zadro Web perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive and get back to me within a day whenever I have a question.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It can be tricky to find someone who understands how an e-commerce platform works, especially from an SEO standpoint, but Zadro Web is very knowledgeable about WooCommerce. They can quickly find a solution to any problem.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I've been pleased with everything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a basic knowledge of what you're trying to achieve and what audience you're trying to target. The more information you give them, the better return you're going to get.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and creative director of Sidecar Creative, a small graphic design agency. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zadro Web?

I wanted to find a team or another person who could handle programming. I mainly do design, and I have other designers on my team, but we needed programming help. When I started the company, web design was becoming more mobile, so I needed to find a team who could help with that. I reached out to Dario [Web Strategist and CEO, Zadro Web], and he basically filled that entire gap. Now, for every project I get, I have the missing piece. He’s partnering with me to give my clients everything they need to build a complete website. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sometimes, I need them on client calls with me to go over projects. Dario’s done SEO work and a lot of programming and WordPress sites. He sets the work up in Bootstrap and puts it into WordPress, making sure that my client can easily use it once the project ends. I know I can call him with a client’s needs, and he will answer my questions promptly. I feel like he does everything.

For SEO, a lot of my clients just want the initial SEO setup before taking it over in-house. Dario does a lot of SEO stuff with other people. That initial SEO setup is really important for my clients because a lot of them are new companies.

Some of my existing clients, who have their own in-house development teams, don’t really know what to do with email marketing. I’ll design an email blast or a newsletter for the client, and then Dario will set it up and either shoot out the blast or hand it over to the client. There are so many newsletter and HTML rules, and it doesn’t work in Outlook. Dario takes care of all that.

How did you come to work with Zadro Web?

I used to work at a big agency in Chicago. After I left, a designer friend of mine found Zadro Web and was doing some work for them. Zadro Web also needed more designers on their team. We started talking, and it ended up being a good partnership because we filled each other’s needs. By that time, I had worked with so many developers. Coming from a large agency, my standards were high. I want my designs to be pixel-perfect and match exactly. I want the functionality to be very specific so that, when I show a design to a client, I know exactly what the final result will be.

Once I started my own company, I went through many terrible developers. They either didn’t know what they were doing and tried to offshore the work, or they tried to just buy a template. As a result, I eased into my relationship with Zadro Web slowly because I didn’t want another bad experience. They matched my designs exactly. If I needed something changed, they would find a way to make it happen. We’ve been partners for years, and I won’t use anyone else for development.

How much have you invested with Zadro Web?

Our typical project is around $20,000, but we also pay for small email blasts. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership started about 4 years ago and is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Whenever we look at the Google Analytics for a client, we notice that they’re getting more clicks because of the SEO. When creating a modern website, having robust SEO at the start is vital. We don’t just give them a website that’s programmed; there are so many other things behind it. My clients are always happy because they’re getting more traffic.

Many of my clients are startups with a small budget. They don’t really have much to go on, and that gives us a good advantage. We get to do all the branding and really give them a voice. When you compare our clients’ data over a year or 2 with their competitors, they’re gaining and gaining because we’re continually trying to work with them.

How did Zadro Web perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re really on top of the work, which makes me feel like I need to do better project management myself. They definitely respect deadlines and like to stick to them. Sometimes, I’ll be late with sending designs, and I get a reminder call from them because they don’t want to fall behind on the project.

What did you find most impressive about Zadro Web?

I appreciate their attention to detail. Sometimes, clients want something that won’t translate to the best user experience. However, Zadro Web will come back to me, or we’ll call the client together, and explain our concerns, instead of just doing whatever the client wants.

Last month, we had a client for whom we were doing a lot of backend strategy. The client wanted multiple items in a form that wasn’t possible. We could’ve just put in all the data and given them the form. However, once we started going through the UX and the UI, we realized that what they wanted didn’t make sense. It wasn’t working on the backend. Zadro Web really thinks about things like that; they don’t just finish the work to get paid. We called the client and explained to them that we needed to change some things to keep users from getting confused.

They’re not just here for a paycheck. They actually want to do a good job, and they care about their work. Even if I’m late giving them files, they never miss a deadline. That’s why I’ve stuck with them.

Are there any areas Zadro Web could improve?

It’d be great if we were in the same state so we could have in-person meetings. I think we overcame all the initial challenges in the beginning. Over time, we’ve learned how to run a good partnership with the 2-hour time difference, but I don’t have anything negative to say. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Assemblies Unlimited Incorporated is a contract packages company that fully turnkeys our customers' projects by using vendors and partners throughout the United States and Mexico.

What is your position in the company?

I am the Customer Service and Office Manager of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Zadro Web?

At the time we began working with Zadro Web, we had an IT guy that wasn't performing well. We need the people working for us to feel they have a vested interest in Assemblies Unlimited. We'd like them to feel like they're a part of the team as well. We were not getting the latter from the other provider. Often our computer had trouble and we could never locate our IT guy to fix it.

Our goal with Zadro Web is to obtain more business and market information through their services. We were looking to partner with a full-service agency that could cater to any of our IT and marketing needs.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We have been doing business with Zadro Web for close to ten years. Since our business relationship started, Zadro Web has helped with software and hardware maintenance, installing servers, and took care of our backup data. It's a one-stop shop for all our IT needs. We have them both come in the office and also dial into our network to make sure our system is running at optimal speed at all times.

As far as the web portion, Zadro Web makes sure our name comes up first when searching relevant keywords. They also take care of social media ads and Pay-per-Click for us. Because of that, we feel our business has been more successful over the last five years.

How did you come to work with Zadro Web?

We searched the internet and found Zadro Web. We had a couple of requirements. We wanted to make sure that the person we hired was not working remotely, that they could actually come in. We wanted the company to be close to our office so that they could drive here in little time if there was a problem. After talking to a couple of people, we found Zadro Web. We were immediately comfortable with Dario, owner of Zadro Web. He quickly learned both our industry and needs. We have been very happy ever since.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our costs are anything from storage, to servers, to new computers that are installed, to on-site time, to away time. The invoices, for a month, go anywhere from $100 to thousands, and we’ve been with them for many years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Zadro Web did an impeccable job. Now, we can tell at any moment who's on what part of our website, who's interested in what type of packages, and where these IP addresses are coming from. Aside from those capabilities, we can also print reports, request a quote on our website, and are able to track leads. Currently, we don't track leads but we are able to if we’d like.

Before we worked with Zadro Web, we were getting far fewer hits on our website and business.

How did Zadro Web perform from a project management standpoint?

Zadro Web performs very well. Just the other day, I had a question and had an email back in 15 minutes. If my main contact at Zadro Web goes on vacation, they always tell me ahead of time. They make sure I have an available contact during my main contact’s absence. Correspondence between us is very clear and timely. I have never had a problem with response time with Zadro Web.

What distinguishes Zadro Web from other providers?

I've been with Assemblies Unlimited for more than 13 years. Before we partnered up with Zadro Web, we had three other IT services. Our past partners and Zadro Web cannot be compared. Our past IT partners knew what they were doing, but there was no customer service. They answered our problems when they had time, and if our computer went down at 4 in the afternoon, we would be down for the next day or two. This has never happened with Zadro Web. In a similar situation, if our computer was down at 4 in the afternoon, Zadro Web would come in and fix it that day.

Is there anything Zadro Web could have improved or done differently?

We don't have any outstanding issues that they could be doing better or more of. They've tailored their services to our business.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is called Eye Am Social. We work with all kinds of different companies, smaller startups to larger corporations, helping them with their digital marketing efforts and their social media marketing efforts from management to campaigns to the actual strategy.

What is your position?

I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Zadro Web?

I was looking for a web developer for one of my clients.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Zadro Web was responsible for end-to-end web development and rebrand of one of my clients, Benchmarc Display. It was a custom-made WordPress website. All the graphics were sourced from them as well.

How did you come to work with Zadro Web?

I met Dario [Zadro], who's the CEO of Zadro Web, when I was working for another company, and we were in the same office building. There, I met him and his designer when they were working in the same office building as me. We started attending networking events, and then he actually outsourced some of his social media needs to me. I was able to learn a little bit more about what he did, and I had never met a designer and a developer that knew as much as he did and was as passionate as he was. As a passionate person myself, I want to work with someone who is equally passionate for my clients, so I naturally will choose him for any of my development or web design needs.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It cost less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It's an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Dario Zadro [owner at Zadro Web] was a huge asset when it came to the actual rebrand of the company. His role in creating an entirely new face of the brand was very prominent. He was able to help me transform this company's brand. Essentially, they didn't have a brand at all, anything that was consistent, and he was able to help me establish that.

How did Zadro Web perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management perspective, you won't work with anybody who responds to emails and fixes problems faster than Zadro Web. They're extremely proactive and responsive. Dario's just passionate about his work and pleasant to work with. Who doesn't want to work with someone like that? From the actual execution of the overall project itself, my vision and the vision of Benchmarc came together almost perfectly. It was the replica of the vision that we had in our heads.

What distinguishes Zadro Web from other providers?

They stand behind every single project that they work on. Many people get their websites done by someone, and it just doesn't really feel like their own, but they're proud of every single project that they do. They will spend those extra hours to make it right for you. Essentially, they're an extension of your brand.

Is there anything Zadro Web could have improved or done differently?

Honestly, no. There's nothing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Curriculum Director of JPEF

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

JPEF develops and distributes educational materials about the Jewish partisans of WWII.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Zadro Web to accomplish?

• Build an interactive educational website

SOLUTION

How did you find Zadro Web?

Other

Why did you select Zadro Web over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Professionalism

How many teammates from Zadro Web were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Build a 100+ page website based on wireframe designs and discussions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Produce various sections of the website by agreed upon due dates

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

Yes, the project components were always on time, often ahead of schedule.

What was your primary form of communication with Zadro Web?

Email or Messaging App

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

Creative talent and problem solving 

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

No