Alliance Interactive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President of a nonprofit

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our organization is a national nonprofit that strengthens initiatives to create a better future through science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alliance Interactive to accomplish?

• Develop a new website
• Maintain our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Alliance Interactive?

Online Search

Why did you select Alliance Interactive over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Technical expertise

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

We initially worked with Alliance Interactive to design and develop a new, primary site for our organization that could manage several different content types containing tens of thousands of individual pieces of content. Post launch, Alliance Interactive maintained the hosting and updates to the site, and executed several projects to add significant new features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was not involved in the initial site development and do not have access to metrics from that time. For our management and upgrade agreements, we have had excellent uptime and added tens of thousands of additional records to the site.

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

They delivered projects on time. Generally, they were responsive to our needs. Often, we were able to take care of basic site improvements through our management agreements.

The one issue we had is that when we were interested in improving our site search capabilities and were told that we needed a new site and (more expensive) management agreement instead -- the age of our site at this point likely made their response fair, but, as a long-term client, we would've preferred to have been presented with this problem earlier and as part of a web strategy, and not in response to a site improvement request. 

What was your primary form of communication with Alliance Interactive?

Email or Messaging App

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

Alliance Interactive was responsive to our needs and made the process easy.

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

The biggest change we would have liked to have seen was addressing our aging site needs as a partner, instead of the issue hitting us a bit unaware. 

Otherwise, I am not sure they ever entirely appreciated our B2B (really nonprofit to government/nonprofit) business model, and some of the site improvement suggestions we received seemed much better suited for direct-to-consumer models.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Space Machine & Engineering

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

As a global leader in waveguide design and development, we’re on a mission to help companies take the lead, and, using the power of waveguides and satellite communications, stay ahead with innovative solutions. Space Machine offers custom waveguide and RF solutions for specific needs and challenges. Our products have been used in many prestigious projects, such as battlefield radars, Direct TV constellation, Space X and US Navy’s aircraft carriers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alliance Interactive to accomplish?

• Increase our branding footprint
• Create new website
• Drive traffic to our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Alliance Interactive?

Online Search

Why did you select Alliance Interactive over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Other

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

Alliance Interactive redesigned our logo, developed a branding strategy, created a new website, and developed a comprehensive digital marketing plan. They manage content creation and email campaigns for our contact list. Additionally, they designed a display booth to align with our brand and provided support at trade shows to generate leads.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increased traffic to our website; Increased foot traffic at trade shows; Increased quoting activity

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

Alliance interactive was always ontime.  They were always nimble and listened to our ideas and always took our opinion and ideas into consideration. They are great to work with.

What was your primary form of communication with Alliance Interactive?

Virtual Meeting

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

Alliance Intereactive wants to learn our industry. They are taking time to see how we can fit into markets.  They are also trying to introduce us to companies that we can do business with.  They're an extension of our business. 

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

There is not anything I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director, Information Technology of CADCA

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Since 1992, CADCA has demonstrated that when all sectors of a community come together, social change happens. CADCA represents over 5,000 community coalitions that involve individuals from key sectors including schools, law enforcement, youth, parents, healthcare, media, tribal communities and others. We have members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 30 countries around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alliance Interactive to accomplish?

• Redesign our web presence.
• Improve the experience for users.
• Give the CADCA team an intuitive interface to create and updates pages

SOLUTION

How did you find Alliance Interactive?

Request for Proposal

Why did you select Alliance Interactive over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

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

We were looking for a vendor to redesign our website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Several remarkable, measurable outcomes demonstrated the progress and success of the project. First and foremost, we significantly increased efficiency, reducing operational costs by 25%. 

Additionally, our customer satisfaction ratings surged by 75%, reflecting the improved quality of our products and services. The project also resulted in a 20% reduction in delivery time, allowing us to meet customer demands more rapidly. These measurable results validate the project's success and position us for continued growth and excellence in our industry.

Sitewide pageviews were up 13%

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

Absolutely! Their project management was impeccable. They consistently delivered timely items, a huge relief for our team. Whenever we had specific needs or requests, they were incredibly responsive and proactive in addressing them. Their commitment to meeting deadlines and willingness to go the extra mile to accommodate our requirements truly made the project successful. We were thoroughly impressed with their professionalism and dedication throughout the entire process.

What was your primary form of communication with Alliance Interactive?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Alliance Interactives unwavering commitment to innovation impressed me the most. They consistently pushed the boundaries, introducing creative solutions that set them apart from others in the industry. Their ability to adapt and stay ahead of the curve was genuinely remarkable.

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

Nothing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a national school district. I am a manager at in the district who specializes in project management and digital communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Alliance Interactive?

Our website was created 13 years ago with no design update previous to Alliance Interactive’s redesign. We finally set out a budget for a redesign and hired Alliance to do a complete redesign of our website for us. Our goal was to make it easier for prospects/educators to find information on a role they were interested in or wanted to apply to. We wanted an easy-to-navigate website to house all the various facets and content we needed displayed. The JoinDCPS website was designed and built to maximize conversion opportunities and provides a streamlined pathway for educators to learn, apply, and join DCPS.

SOLUTION

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

We looked for DC certified companies who focused on web development, design, with digital marketing experience--which was crucial in the vetting of vendors. We decided on Alliance based on this, as well as its ability to create modern, clean designs, and the charisma and enthusiasm of its Managing Partner, Adam.

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

After an introductory meeting and a gruesomely slow procurement approval on our agency's end, we met to discuss the needs of the redesign. Our team conducted creative intakes from the stakeholders whose work was crucial to the website's content. The project was broken into the following stages: project launch, design, content, programming/development, and final launch. We worked with Alliance heavily during the design phase, as most of our existing written content was to be used.

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

In total, we worked with just one person, Adam, the managing partner and creative director, throughout the project. He was our main point of contact, sent over any feedback to his team and was our point person for everything.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Website page views are up 1,112.08% since August. It has also been praised for its design and functionality with our leadership team. Other teams have asked who our vendor is as they are looking for a team to also redesign their website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was great! During the bulk of of the work, Adam communicated thoroughly and efficiently. This work was done much quicker than I thought it would be. They were very flexible when our team had to change priorities and couldn't provide content to them as quickly as we would've liked. They had a great team to work with.

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

I was impressed by the enthusiasm to identify areas of improvement and collaborate. I appreciated the brainstorming and collaborating so much. All ideas were met with open ears and they did so much to meet our needs. The Alliance team brings so much to the table, both creatively and technically.

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

I think there could be improvement on following up post-launch with stats, reports, meetings, especially to improve the website.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior marketing manager at a law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We wanted to revamp the frontend of our website and improve our conversion rate. We also wanted to have receptive pages to improve the overall branding of our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of the things they changed on our Drupal website’s frontend was our contact us form. It was a very complicated process, but they managed to simplify it. On top of developing the frontend, they designed and organized our website.

The team also helped us integrate more features by adding pictures and videos to various pages. In addition, they made it easier for us to access the information we need. They completed the redevelopment within 5–6 months. Alliance Interactive continues to manage our web development and maintenance efforts.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with Alliance Interactive virtually, so I’m not sure how many people on their team are working for us. I’m just dealing with whoever is corresponding to me, but everything has been seamless.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

I found them on Clutch. I saw their reviews and they were near to our location. On top of that, they worked with businesses in the same industry. Above all, they had experience with Drupal, which was the most important thing for us.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership began in June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results that we receive from the contact us form have increased by 100% or more. Previously, we only receive answers from our contact us form once a month or less. Currently, we’re receiving answers from people approximately 10 times a day. We’re very happy with our platform’s look, and we appreciate that their work stays within our budget.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly use InVision to collaborate. Alliance Interactive is very receptive and prompt; they get things done in a timely manner. More importantly, urgent deliverables are taken care of within or less than 24 hours. Sometimes we just need to clarify some things, but that’s part of the pitfalls of having virtual interaction.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like that I don’t have to hunt them down to do things because they’re always accessible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be a little bit more transparent on the work they’re doing because sometimes it’s not always 100% clear.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire Alliance Interactive because they know what they’re doing. They can also answer your questions in a manner that you can understand things. On top of that, they can back up their recommendations with data and results. Once you decide to hire them, make sure you know what you need, and communicate it clearly to them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a communication specialist at an international financial organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

I joined the company in 2019, and they had a very old website with very old technology. We couldn’t edit it ourselves but had to ask for help from IT. The template was very simple, which made it hard to promote and highlight our research. I proposed to have a new website developed and the team agreed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive built our website from scratch, building the front- and backend and even helping us create a new domain. The old website has been archived and is in the process to be redirected to the new domain. There are different interactive platforms included in the site, as well as a database of 125 countries.

The site is built on the latest version of Drupal. For us, it was very important to create a backend that allowed anyone on the team to update data, ensuring we didn’t have to be dependent on the vendor forever. Alliance Interactive did a very good job of creating a site that’s simple for us to update it.

Alliance Interactive also implemented email marketing for us with a Mailchimp database. Every time people want to subscribe to a newsletter or download reports, they have to put in their email.

What is the team composition?

One main person acted as the account manager, and there were several engineers and designers. Alliance Interactive assigned a data person as well.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

We went through a competitive process that involved the identification of at least four vendors and a team of five people within our company. I looked online for the best providers and came across Alliance Interactive. They’d created a lot of very good and interesting websites featuring interactive maps and databases. They also had a competitive advantage in that they’d worked with very big organizations.

Additionally, Alliance Interactive’s experience was full of digital marketing, strategy, SEO, and keyword tasks. Their price was really good as well. Other vendors cost about $20,000–$30,000 more.

I contacted them and said that we were very interested. After sending them our raw data, they responded with a mockup of the platform look. We immediately decided they were the company we wanted to engage with. Finally, we saw that they had a good rating on Clutch and that they were credentialed.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $60,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2020–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Alliance Interactive delivered the project in record time, even with all the information we had to migrate into the interactive database.

Our site had around 11,000 visits in 2020, and the new website already has 13,000 in 2021. Now, we have a system of keywords that makes it very easy to find the information on the website. Regarding email marketing, our mailing list has grown by more than 500 contacts so far.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They used a sales management platform called Ambition to show us how the mockups and the tools worked. We approved their work and included comments and change requests in this environment. It was very collaborative and easy to use, and Alliance Interactive always addressed our comments. The collaboration was very smooth.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their digital marketing experience on top of their design and software experience stood out. Alliance Interactive brought new strategies to the table and showed us how beneficial they could be. The other vendors we analyzed were limited to website design skills.

Additionally, our backend was very complicated but Alliance Interactive always communicated in simple terms, never overwhelming us with technical jargon. We have a sustainable website that’s easy to edit by people who don’t work in the technology field.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Alliance interactive delivered everything we needed. They were very responsible. We’ll definitely hire them for the next project we have as they were responsive to any glitches that arose on the website.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a very clear idea of what you want to build. They’ve will provide you a very nice flow of what they need to build and when they need to build it. This will help you check items off the list.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our organization acts collaboratively and consistently on vital issues confronting the Church and society; fosters communion within the Church under the leadership of the Holy Father Pope Francis; and offers assistance to each U.S. bishop in fulfilling his ministry in the local Church. It is organized around 17 standing committees that are staffed by lay people, priests, deacons, and religious sisters located at the Conference headquarters in Washington, DC Director of Communications Operations

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Alliance Interactive?

Complete redesign of our website

What were your goals for this project?

The goals included developing a responsively-designed website re-oriented to primarily serve our key constituencies: the bishops, their diocesan staff, the 17 standing committees and the 17 subcommittees while continuing to be a key resource for Catholics seeking daily and seasonal spiritual and liturgical resources.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through responses to a Request for Proposal that was shared with a select group of vendors.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Complete redesign of our website

What was the team composition?

I led a team of 4-5 staff on the project including our Director of Marketing & Episcopal Resources, Director of Digital Strategy, Web Developer and Social Media Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Our organization and website are very complicated and specific to the religious and charitable work that we do. The vendor did a thorough analysis of traffic to our existing website and suggested solutions to balance our most-visited content by placing it on a separate server.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project was managed entirely by the principal staff of the vendor's company and effectively carried out through ongoing consultation and regularly scheduled meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to think through our unique needs and requirements and come up with solutions stood out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were sometimes lags in communication and delays in the original schedule.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for The Halldale Group, a publishing company. We specialize in simulation and training for three industries: health, defense, and civilian aviation. I’m the business manager and lead programs for business development and industry awards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for The Halldale Group, a publishing company. We specialize in simulation and training for three industries: health, defense, and civilian aviation. I’m the business manager and lead programs for business development and industry awards.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

As part of a defense industry awards program, about 500 companies that specialize in simulation and training for preparing soldiers for combat submitted nominations. Alliance Interactive built the Drupal platform that handled all those submissions. They also developed the actual application process, where we provided a link to companies that led them to a page to answer questions and assess if they fit our requirements.

Alliance gave the judges (our editorial panel) separate logins so they could evaluate the nominations and pick our finalists. As the manager, I also received a login that let me instantly see who had submitted nominations and their contact information, as well as insert website banners and logos and modify their profiles for them.

They also built a separate awards website for notifications that’s completely functional. When I made announcements or status updates about the awards process, Alliance made the changes quickly so the companies that submitted were aware of what was going on.

What is the team composition?

Adam Aloi (Managing Partner, Alliance Interactive) was one main contact, and the other was one of Adam’s associates.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

Our awards program has been happening for almost 20 years. when I came on board (after my company bought them out), they’d already hired Adam. I continued the relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about 60,000 since I came onboard.  

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve been working with them since March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can’t recommend them enough. Throughout the project, they’ve come up with smart solutions and ways for us to get revenue from the awards platform and website. The ease that everyone can access the site with, companies submitting, judges, or me— I didn’t have a lot of stress because they took care of everything.

My company has gone through several iterations of the awards program over the years and made the submission process more intensive to make the award more prestigious. Despite this, we’re still getting great feedback about how smooth the process is for the companies that submit bids. The intensiveness of the process hasn’t stopped people from submitting, thanks to Alliance Interactive’s skill. People are glad to participate and be recognized.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. I’ve been surprised by their response time for changes or problems on our end—they’re fixed immediately. As a publishing company, we work with a lot of different platforms and manage lots of websites, but I’ve had a very easy time with Alliance than my colleagues have had with their development partners. Alliance makes my job easier and makes me look good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their responsiveness, for sure. With some other companies and developers I’ve worked with, it’s hard to get minor changes done. Getting something developed or changed can take weeks. With Alliance, I get same-day responses and action.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would tell people to give them a try. They’re a small business, so making customers happy is really important to them. They focus on building a relationship so it’s not like you’re emailing a mystery person on the other side of the screen.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the senior brand and design manager for a cybersecurity technology company. I'm in charge of all the graphic and web design across the company globally. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We came to alliance interactive with a big project to help migrate our website from a Drupal platform to a WordPress CMS. I wanted a solution that was easier and more forward-thinking than our previous site and design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive has been working on this project for about six months. We initially started talking about ways that we could maximize conversion opportunities. We want to provide our clients with customized pages that are easy to navigate and work on all devices. They partner with me to work on the design and development of the new WordPress site. Our Drupal platform was pretty outdated. We had to analyze the old content and decide what was important to keep and how to restructure the navigation. They help us think about the end user experience, how they would come to each page, and where they click first. 

They created a platform in WordPress that allows us to keep our information organized and easy to update. I'm the one who normally does the updating and design work. I wanted someone else on my team to easily be able to go into our system, make changes, quickly produce updates, and push them live. Alliance Interactive started by restructuring our product and services pages and coming up with ideas on the most relevant information to display and link to other pages. Our previous site had a lot of miscellaneous orphan pages. We spent a lot of time discussing organization and how users navigate from start to finish. I helped guide the design and they did a lot of execution, but they also provided suggestions and design assistance. 

What is the team composition? 

I work with the managing partner and the director of development. 

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive? 

I was unhappy with our previous vendor. I wanted to find a vendor in Washington, D.C. that could not only help us build a new website but also partner with us for future projects and provide security support throughout the year. I researched vendors and brought multiple agencies in to meet with us in person. Alliance Interactive understood what we were trying to achieve and how we could maximize conversion opportunities. They got that we wanted to be self-sufficient and were willing to work with us to create a true CMS. We selected them even though they’d never worked with a cybersecurity company before. I was confident that their skills could bring us to the next level.  

What is the status of this engagement? 

Work started in October 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website launched last week. Navigation and accessibility of pages on the site have already dramatically improved. The new site works well on all different platforms. They built flexible templates so we can update information or change statistics as needed. We have the ability to more easily and frequently change out assets on the site. 

We don't have statistics on this yet but, anecdotally, clients have an easier time figuring out where to access support or how to become a partner. They can clearly see our products and services and how we can help them. It was easy to get lost on our old site. The new site is organized with the client’s navigation in mind. Alliance Interactive continues to work with us on future development products and design enhancements. We're happy this will be an ongoing partnership. 

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team provides excellent project management. At the beginning of the project, I worked solely with the managing partner on design, structure, and content. Then I worked with the director of development on our requests and specifications for the build. I also worked with some of their design team in the InVision collaboration tool. They’d post their designs and we'd go back and forth on any changes.

We speak pretty regularly and I get weekly updates. If I have any questions or want to know an item’s status, I can pick up the phone or shoot an email to the managing partner. He always responds quickly. The project took a little longer than we anticipated because the project scope changed and we needed to do more than we initially thought. Alliance Interactive is very flexible and accommodating in terms of scope changes. They’re so organized, which is super helpful. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They're a small team that gives us individualized attention. They don’t have us work with a bunch of different people or pass us off to different account representatives. I really appreciate that we work with the owner, managing partner, and the lead developer. Alliance Interactive has a design, digital, and development background so we get excellent help on every question. They're honest if they think our idea might not be the most practical solution. They make solid recommendations that are super helpful. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I really don't have anything. It’s been a good experience. We can always use more support with QA. They did assign another person to help us when we were getting close to launch. That's always helpful so I don't have anything negative to say. I highly recommend them to other companies looking to rebrand or to get a new CMS.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing manager at Silver Diner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alliance Interactive?

We wanted to revamp the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alliance Interactive is a full-service partner. They have done web design, paid ads, and SEO. However, some digital media projects have moved in house.

What is the team composition?

We’re in contact with three people.

How did you come to work with Alliance Interactive?

I was not involved in the search process, but know that Silver Diner’s hiring was based on several criteria.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late 2015 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our web traffic is up 25% due to Alliance Interactive’s SEO efforts. Since 2018, unique page views have increased by 36% and bounce rates have decreased by 50%. The exit rate is also down by 75%.

How did Alliance Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

The team works quickly and we have a great relationship with them. We are impressed with their overall management skills.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have exceeded our expectations as an accessible partner that is fun to work with. Alliance Interactive is robust in every aspect. They have an extensive knowledge base.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven’t run into anything yet that I’ve been upset with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Alliance Interactive wants collaborative relationships. The client’s knowledge of the digital space would benefit the partnership.