97 Switch

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of sales and marketing for Hotel EMC2, which is an Autograph Collection hotel affiliated with Marriott. I joined the pre-opening team in July 2016 and the hotel opened in May 2017.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We wanted to create a website that’s independent of the Marriott booking site. We wanted to find a firm that could capture our brand and be able to do multiple things for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a standard Marriott template as our booking engine for all reservations, but we wanted to create a site that was customized to our brand. We wanted the new site to have a very different look and feel from the booking engine so 97 Switch focused on telling our story through photography. They also put a social media game plan together for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They integrate blog posts with our website and our social media in order to create SEO value for online searches.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Jeremy (founder, 97 Switch).

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

I’d worked with them in a previous job and thought they would be a good fit for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2016 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the challenges of creating a new website is that we didn't have any existing keywords to give the site traction or visibility. They had to start from scratch and were able to build it exponentially, which is extremely impressive. There’s a big list of keywords and they’re continuously growing it every week.

They've also created quite a bit of traction on social media. When they started, we had only a handful of followers on Facebook. Now we have over 135 reviews on Facebook and about 5500 followers. Our average post reaches between 10,000–14000 people each week.

They're also regularly testing out new marketing techniques. For example, they've tried posting different types of videos on Google as well as using advertising dollars to boost posts on Facebook. 97 Switch is quickly able to see if something is or isn't working. They use analytics to see what kind of ROI they can get. They’re very adaptable and able to quickly change direction to keep us moving forward.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very good at juggling the multiple projects that we have going on. Jeremy sends a weekly recap every Monday. We email back and forth and talk by phone at least three times a week. He's willing to come to our office wherever possible. We probably meet in person at least once a month. He's very receptive and quick to respond. They finish projects in a timely fashion, sometimes even ahead of schedule. They're very adaptable and take criticism and direction very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their response time is excellent, always within the same day. I've had to constantly follow up with other vendors to make sure that deadlines were met. I never have to follow up with 97 Switch or double check their work. The reports and analytics are very detailed and accurate, which enables them to quickly make decisions if things aren't working.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their strength is building websites and the back-end analytics, and they really immerse themselves in understanding the brand. This allows them to create social media posts and captions that are unique, relevant, and timely. Right now, we provide much of the content, and have 97 Switch share and boost the posts.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know the type of services that you want or where you need help because they can do it all and offer everything from soup to nuts. If there’s anything that you're unsure or less confident about, 97 Switch will be able to fill those gaps. Through clear communication, they can give recommendations on how to make your business more successful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of strategic planning and business development at Viper Alley, an industrial private events venue located near the North Shore in Chicago, Illinois.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We were looking for a company to revamp our website, manage our social media, and oversee our digital advertising efforts. We were shifting from a live music venue to a private events venue and needed our site to reflect that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

97 Switch works within an allotted budget every month. We have regular meetings to discuss ongoing campaigns and major business focuses for the month, and they create specific ads/posts for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google AdWords accordingly. They also provide blog content creation and SEO services. Their work helps us increase our visibility and create more leads.

When we engaged 97 Switch, we were pivoting from live music to private events. A major goal of the project was to create a site that was in line with that shift and reflected our edgy, warm, music-driven approach. That was our first project, and we continue to add photos and banners as necessary. They’re also writing two blogs a month and posting to various mediums including LinkedIn, which helps us draw more event planners, meeting planners, corporate bookers, etc.

What is the team composition?

I work primarily with Jeremy (Founder and Web Designer, 97 Switch), and we speak at least once a week.

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

They were recommended to us and after looking into their services, we decided they would be a good fit and reached out to Jeremy. He understood what we were looking to do and started testing out some of our ideas right away.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $18,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2014, and we still collaborate regularly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has worked out tremendously well. We’ve seen a huge return on investment with 97 Switch in the number of leads that come through the site. They track all of our advertising campaigns and determine which strategies/investments are most effective for our audience, so our numbers are constantly improving.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

I can reach out to them 24 hours a day and they generally respond immediately. We communicate weekly, sometimes more, primarily via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I feel like Jeremy is part of our team. He understands our goals and he’s invested in our success. The team prioritizes your vision while constantly improving the process to achieve optimal outcomes. They take pride in the work they do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we haven’t experienced any issues with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to completely immerse the 97 Switch team in whatever your goal is. Once they understand your business, you can trust them to excel on your behalf. Allow them to be part of your team and they’ll make it worth your while.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the spa director for the Spa at the Wit, located within the Wit Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We needed a website for the spa separate from the hotel's main website in order to attract more clientele within the general Chicago area.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

97 Switch designed and built our website from scratch and continues to maintain it and make any requested changes monthly.

What is the team composition?

I generally work with Jeremy (Founder and Web Designer, 97 Switch).

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

The VP of the company that owns the hotel referred them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested almost $11,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2016. The website launched in January 2017, but they continue to maintain the site for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Jeremy and his team have been responsive to our ideas and goals, providing great feedback on how we can best optimize and improve site performance as we build our reputation in the city. Their work has been incredibly informative to us.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very efficient and quick to respond. Jeremy is very flexible and operates with an open door policy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide necessary feedback to ensure that our requests are in line with what's best for our business. They make sure we get exactly what we ask for and then some.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I haven't had any issues with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open about all of your ideas, so their team can work with you to make the best decisions and provide the most valuable feedback for your business.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the office manager of a private equity firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

Our firm needed a new look and user-friendly solution for our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

97 Switch redesigned our website in WordPress. We wanted it to stand out within the private equity world and to new investors. They also helped us achieve our presence in terms of Google SEO.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jeremy [CEO, 97 Switch] on a regular basis. He was always responsive and helpful.

How did you come to work with  97 Switch?

We researched some options and then found out about 97 Switch through a referral. We were impressed with their professionalism and what they had to offer, so we decided to go with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2016 and the web design took about 2–3 months. Jeremy continually helped me improve different site features through the incorporation of different plugins or programming. We now work with a different firm because our security and compliance needs have changed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The redesign helped our company gain additional exposure through our online presence.

How did  97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

Jeremy managed our project professionally and within budget. We communicated via phone and email, as well as through regular update calls during the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is diligent and cares about their work. Jeremy understood our needs and incorporated them into a clean design. He worked well in understanding any modifications that the site needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I recommend that they expand their services beyond WordPress, but that wasn't a problem for our engagement. We would have enjoyed working with him further.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want and communicate well with your project manager.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of Bandura Games.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 97 Switch?

Bandura Games hired 97 Switch to build our website, maintain it, and perform SEO services.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to quickly construct a website that would provide information to prospective customers, investors, journalists, and other interested parties. We wanted a sleek website that promoted our brand. Features like a live Twitter feed, blog, and news section helped us update our customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I've known Jeremy Greenberg for a long time, and he's one of the most hardworking and honest people that I've ever met. As a non-technical founder, without a sense of how much things should cost and how long it should take to develop a website, I knew that I could trust Jeremy and 97 Switch. I'd also heard great things from friends who had used 97 Switch before. Since working with them, as well as with other vendors on other software products, I'm grateful that I decided to hire 97 Switch. Their communication, honesty, and service far outweigh that of other software providers.

Describe the project in detail.

97 Switch built our entire website from scratch. I worked closely with Jeremy on the layout and design, explaining what I wanted to convey with our website, and Jeremy took my input and delivered the product. The working relationship was seamless. Jeremy didn't do anything without checking with me first, and he built a website that was easy to change. The process was very iterative. He took my feedback incredibly well and incorporated it into the site. Every time I needed an update or wanted something changed, I emailed him, and the changes were typically made within a few hours.

What was the team composition?

I had my own in-house artists develop content, but Jeremy handled all of the layout, development, and implementation of the website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Of all the products that I developed as CEO of Bandura Games, our website is the one that stands the test of time. It is the most visible marker of what our company does and what we stand for, and is actually more valuable than some of the web and mobile apps we developed. Bandura Games builds video games to bring people together across social divides, and our website serves as a strong message and a beacon of hope for the people who come to our page. The website is a great success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

One word: seamless. I’ve worked with about 8 outsourced teams on a variety of software products, but this was the easiest software/web development experience I've ever had.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing was the level of communication. It's not just their speed when responding to emails and phone calls, but it's also the understanding that accompanies those responses, and the quick action to make requested updates and changes.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wouldn't have changed a thing!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work with WindStar Media, an agency that services mid-marketing companies. I primarily do business development, but I also take on side projects like this one with 97 Switch.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We wanted our website to be more modern and visually appealing, and we needed it to effectively communicate our message to potential clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned our website and also provided SEO assistance. Since then, they've continued to manage our site for us.

When it came to the redesign, we didn't necessarily know how we wanted the final product to look when we started out. We knew we wanted a change, but that left a lot of areas to explore and develop. They were really helpful as far as advising us on our options and integrating our viewpoints until we reached a design that we liked. Their expert insight really brought our ideas to life.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Jeremy Greenberg, their founder and web designer.

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

We'd been exploring the marketplace. As a media agency, we had a lot of relationships to other people in the industry, and someone recommended Jeremy and his company to us. After we looked at some of his work, we decided to get in touch. We saw some really great things from his initial efforts, so we decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

Probably between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our site redesign took about three months, starting in September of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen a significant increase in organic traffic and in people reaching out via our contact page. I want to say it's been about 300% growth. The site's also cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing, and we've been able to see through our analytics that traffic flows more smoothly on the site and people are more likely to land on pages with information relevant to their needs.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

They offer great customer service. We communicate via phone and email on a weekly basis, although we'd talk more frequently at certain points in the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was really beneficial for us to get effective answers to our questions, and then also to get advice from somebody who's been doing this far longer than we have. One of the key components of this partnership has been having somebody who's approachable but also an expert, and I think that's the primary value we gained.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Knowing what you want initially and being able to communicate that effectively is important. We had a lot of back and forth that maybe wouldn't have been necessary with a clearer plan upfront. What was great about 97 Switch was their ability to roll with the punches and implement our suggestions as the project progressed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Runn Chicago, an indoor running gym.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We needed support to create a website for our brand-new company that looked professional.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I asked 97 Switch to create a site that was very user-friendly, simple, and clean. Even though we're small, I wanted our web presence to have a major impact. The website is built on a WordPress platform. At times when I asked him to add certain images, he'd fix placement problems I didn't even notice originally. Making very small tweaks helped the image pop a little more. The team also performed basic SEO for digital marketing purposes.

What is the team composition?

I worked exclusively with Jeremy Greenberg [Founder, 97 Switch]. I know he has a team that works behind the scenes, but I would never have guessed that. He conveyed the progress effectively, and it looks like he's doing everything.

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

My wife met Jeremy at a BNA meeting for business networking. We had reached out to him a year prior, long before we knew what we were doing. I initially wanted to pay him the minimal amount for a landing page, but he told me that probably wouldn't work. After we defined our project’s scope and compared them with other web developers, we hired 97 Switch.

How much have you invested with them?

We paid $5,000 for the website.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first started working together in May of 2017. We completed and launched the website within a month, and have a monthly service agreement for maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're very happy with the work that they've done, and it meets all our expectations. We get compliments on our website once a week, at a minimum. Users comment on how simple it is to navigate, and on the clean look and feel. I'm always pleased when our customers tell me how much better and more professional our site is than that of a local competitor. The team’s responsiveness ensures I never have to worry about anything

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

I usually talked with Jeremy once or twice a week during the month-long site build. We had a face-to-face meeting and regularly scheduled phone calls. 97 Switch is super responsive. Any changes that I needed were done on the same day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

97 Switch’s communication is very clear, and they’re never overbearing or burdensome. Whenever I'd ask Jeremy to change something, he would either call or email me to recap the request and make sure we were on the same page. He’d then accomplish the task without asking me about it again.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the village manager for a small village in Illinois.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

Our old site was too rigid, and we couldn’t easily navigate it or make changes, so we needed a new one that was more user-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

97 Switch had to transfer all of our data and information from our old site to the new one. That included minutes from our meetings, ordinances, directories, links to different entities, etc. All the documents had to be transferred simultaneously, and it was a huge task that 97 Switch did seamlessly. Now, they maintain the site on a regular basis and work on small projects when needed.

Not only did 97 Switch build our new WordPress site, but they also provided marketing work. They created three videos we put on our site and on YouTube, and they’ve been a huge success. Whenever we have special events taking place in the village, we use 97 Switch for marketing.

What is the team composition?

When we were launching the website, Jeremy Greenberg [Founder, 97 Switch] would come to our office regularly and was always available via phone.

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

Another community had just done their website in WordPress. Upon reviewing what the community did, we decided that we wanted to redo our website as well. We contacted 97 Switch after reviewing some of their websites and, after speaking to them, we decided to hire them to change our website to WordPress. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $9,000 or $10,000 initially, and now our monthly fee depends on the types of projects we have them do. It usually lands somewhere between $150 to $500 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered with them four years ago. Now they do maintenance and updates to different pages since our website changes a lot. It’s an ongoing and fluid project; the creation of the website was just the beginning.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After 97 Switch built the new website, we got a lot more traffic, especially to our special events pages. In fact, it drew so much attention that we had to change some things because our events were drawing too big of a crowd; we had too many people coming, which is a good problem. The marketing efforts are fantastic, and the website conversion was done quickly and thoroughly. The new site is much more user-friendly, and everyone is happy with how it turned out.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

They were extremely responsive and had phenomenal follow through. Whenever we needed something, they responded promptly, and we mostly communicated via phone and email. We also had a few in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with a lot of contractors, and not everyone is as responsive as 97 Switch. If you need something, they’re attentive to that need and promptly deal with it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we're happy with the service.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Make sure they know what you want. It'll save time, and you'll be able to work together as a team to create the best product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Executive Vice President of Operations for Topicz. We’re a distributor of convenience store goods, supplying food items to gas stations, gift shops, hospitals, cafeterias, and universities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We hired 97 Switch to design and build a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They assisted in our rebranding efforts, designing a site that accurately reflects the services we provide. With attention paid to improved user experience, the website allows our clients to place orders online. They also provided SEO work to improve our brand recognition. 97 Switch continues to host and maintain the website.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Jeremy Greenberg (Founder/Web Designer, 97 Switch) and communicated on a daily basis.

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

We conducted research on a number of vendors we discovered through references and word-of-mouth. We were familiar with 97 Switch’s past work and were intrigued by their designs, commitment to their customers, and their dedication to quality.

How much have you invested with them?

Around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in June 2016 and completed in November 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen tremendous growth and exposure. The website has generated a number of new leads and we’ve received tons of cold calls from potential clients. This is thanks to 97 Switch’s efforts to increase our digital exposure.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate primarily via phone and email and they’re highly responsive. I receive a response to emails within minutes and they get back to me within half an hour if I request a phone call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're able to conduct face-to-face interactions in order to truly understand the goals and business culture of their clients. This allowed them to create a design that accurately represented our brand.

I've had nothing but positive experiences with 97 Switch and I’d recommend them to anyone.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a keen sense of your goals, but be open to suggestions. They’re experts in web development, so be receptive to their insights.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the office manager at the Environmental Community Development Company, a real estate management company based out of Chicago. We have properties on the hospitality side of the business, as well as offices, restaurants, and music venues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 97 Switch?

We hired 97 Switch because our website was badly dated. Originally created in 2003, it had never been properly updated since. Our goal was to showcase our vision and energy via a fresh, new, energetic website that highlights our ongoing projects and the properties we own and manage. In particular, we'd opened a management company called SMASHOTELS around the same time we began this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The most important function of this website was to display our variety of offerings without confusing our customers. We finished an office building renovation a year ago, just opened a new hotel, and are currently working on an apartment complex and hotel renovation. We wanted to enable our clients to easily locate both existing projects and new developments that are currently in progress. I found our discussions about the designs very informative; I hadn’t known what this type of website should look like, or what information to include. 97 Switch made it easy to read, approach, and navigate.

Recently, they incorporate basic company information, including updated contact information and gallery photos. We periodically upload pictures taken by an aerial drone, and they’re very skilled at photography. The team is responsible for monthly or as-needed updates. Since we always have new projects and ideas, they’re constantly making changes to showcase property makeovers and renovations.

What is the team composition?

Jeremy Greenberg is in charge of our project and has been absolutely phenomenal and extremely easy to work with. He’s always responsive to our requests and stays on top of our sometimes-crazy ideas. We really value his input. He has an excellent way of explaining what will work best on our site, and what’s not as well suited. The team’s knowledge base and great ideas have helped us create the exact product we wanted.

How did you come to work with 97 Switch?

After considering several different agencies, the fact that 97 Switch was a new company was a big selling point. We wanted to work with somebody young and fresh since our company is over 30 years old. Unlike many companies we interviewed, they promptly sent us a full proposal. Compared to several significantly higher bids, they offer an excellent price, as well. The accessibility they've provided since the beginning has made them the right fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

Our project cost around $5,000, and we pay them a $250-$300 monthly maintenance fee. In total, we've spent around $12,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together three years ago and launched the website in November 2014. Right now, we're focusing more on monthly quarterly maintenance than major new projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was quickly completed in just a couple months, and we’ve seen markedly positive results from 97 Switch’s efforts. It's a new marketing feature that we use on a daily basis. The improved quality has facilitated our communication and made things much easier. We’ve received great feedback from our vendors, investors, and customers who want to view our properties. Internally, our staff is excited to see what's going on in our company.

We are definitely proud of our new platform. Our executive team is excited to be featured on the new website; previously, they didn't even want their picture shown. Before this redesign, we were almost embarrassed to send out the link. Now, we can comfortably share it with our investors, potential investors, and landlords so they keep track of our updates on a monthly basis. We love how this site presents the face of our company.

How did 97 Switch perform from a project management standpoint?

They were extremely responsive and met all our requests in a timely manner. They always promptly responded within a 24-hour window. We didn’t experience any significant issues throughout the whole process. Ultimately, the project turned out to be quite easy to complete.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication skills were key to our project’s success. As a young company, they’re very creative and easy to work with. They propose cutting-edge ideas that are always in touch with current market trends. Their entire package was a great fit for our company.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Although they’ve very prompt, please don’t expect them to answer within five minutes of sending an email, because they need time to build your requests. Patience is key. Have fun working with them, and don't be afraid to express your own ideas. 97 Switch is a great company, and they really listen to what their clients want.