Arrow Root Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the former senior director of corporate communications for a residential solar and energy efficiency financing company for homeowners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arrow Root Media?

Our website was very out of date and our competitors were outpacing us. We wanted a WordPress specialist to help us build an eye-catching new website that was easy to edit in the backend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a WordPress site that included some custom solutions and met some of our specific visual needs. The site included a scrolling feature on one continuous page, with pictures and text blocks in the configuration we requested. The entire site was bespoke and geared toward users that are not WordPress experts.

We provided some of the information architecture and whiteboards and they gave us feedback on best practices. They were very collaborative and shared their expertise while catering to our understanding of the technology. They sent mock-ups and gave us tutorials on the backend so we could take over site maintenance easily.

What is the team composition?

We had a primary point of contact and a team that made themselves available to us.

How did you come to work with Arrow Root Media?

We put out an RFP and had several recommendations from our head of design. My colleague got Arrow Root's name initially from Yelp and suggested we include them in our RFP. We liked Arrow Root’s website and their WordPress proficiency. We spoke with them and decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about $20k-$30k with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around December 2016 and they project was finished by April 2017. It was a tight timeline and they delivered the entire redesign within about four months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Arrow Root did an admirable job, but our company’s standing was already too far gone. Most of our internal team left shortly after we finished the project. All of the issues were purely circumstantial and not Arrow Root’s fault. They definitely provided a site that was simpler, more modern, and more consumer-friendly. It was a very collaborative process and Arrow Root delivered an improved look and user experience.

How did Arrow Root Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They were professional and also empathetic. We had a couple instances where we wanted something that was either prohibitively difficult or not a best practice, and Arrow Root did a good job of explaining their reasoning to us. They also were helpful in walking our team (not Wordpress experts) through how to manage the custom site on the backend. We rarely had to wait for an answer and got responses even when our main contact was on vacation and we didn’t expect an immediate response.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to deliver within an incredibly tight time frame and within our budget distinguished them. They fulfilled some very demanding requests and we really enjoyed working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It helps to have a clear idea of what you want and your time frame. Be direct about your needs and they will come up with appropriate solutions. We had a specific set of deliverables and dates that we found helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Daxor Corporation. We’re a medical diagnostics company headquartered in New York City.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arrow Root Media?

We needed a partner to update our digital marketing efforts and bring us up to speed with industry trends.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Arrow Root Media helped us improve our outreach efforts across various digital messaging channels. In the first phases of our partnership, the team evaluated our current technical capabilities and noted areas for improvement. We collaborated to plan the optimal strategies to target and engage with our desired audience.

Since we’ve engaged with Arrow Root Media, they’ve provided a wide range of services. The team rebuilt our existing website and programmed a corresponding mobile app. They designed a new digital outreach campaign that included newsletters, emails, and other collateral to share with our customer base. In terms of social media, Arrow Root Media opened new accounts on both Twitter and Facebook. They also put us in contact with a production company to create video content for the accounts and any other online platforms.

What is the team composition?

I work with the head of the company.

How did you come to work with Arrow Root Media?

A mutual friend recommended their services.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2014 and it’s an ongoing partnership. The workload has varied in intensity since the beginning of the engagement. We completed the bulk of the work within the first two years, but they continue to provide support and assistance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Arrow Root Media’s digital marketing strategies modernized our customer-facing digital presence. With the growing importance of a company’s digital engagement levels, their work has been instrumental in our business.

How did Arrow Root Media perform from a project management standpoint?

We speak on a weekly basis and track projects through Podio. Arrow Root Media is organized, responsive, and consistently engaged in our partnership.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate the relationship between our two teams. They proactively seek out the intricate details of our business so that they can highlight what makes us unique. Their work is far from cookie-cutter.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they’re great. I wish they had a New York location. It would make communication a little easier.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should think about their partnership with Arrow Root Media from a holistic point of view. They can do one-off projects, but they can deliver the best results when working with multiple channels.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the program analyst and administrative coordinator for SFMade. We are a nonprofit based in San Francisco that supports the local manufacturing sector. We promote growth for businesses of all sizes to help create jobs and keep the local market diverse. My main responsibilities include managing our operative systems, databases, and websites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arrow Root Media?

Initially, our main goal was to migrate our website to a WordPress dedicated server, which would solve a number of our site’s problems.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To overcome problems with our form collection processes, notification alerts, and other methods of client communication, Arrow Root Media suggested we move our website to a WordPress dedicated server. This was the first project the team completed. In addition to the site migration, they also made bug fixes, plugin adjustments, and provided some troubleshooting services. On a second project, The Arrow Root Media team worked on improving our digital membership application. The code was old and the program was no longer performing as it was supposed to. The team rewrote the code from scratch and reintegrated it into our website and database. Fixing these elements helped us in our efforts to secure potential clients.

Currently, they are working on two more projects for our company. First, Arrow Root Media is developing a custom job board plugin with integrations to our website forms and our Salesforce CRM platform. This will automate some of our operative processes, save our staff time, and give our system some longevity. They are also designing and developing a new website for our sister company, which also falls under the nonprofit umbrella. We collaboratively test each product to make sure they are up to standard.

What is the team composition?

I work mainly with the CEO, who manages a larger team.

How did you come to work with Arrow Root Media?

I first found them on Yelp. Our original website was set up by a number of out-of-state companies, but for this project, I was eagerly looking for a local partner who I could interact with in person. Arrow Root Media had five-star reviews and it sounded like they provided a well-tailored service. After some introductory phone calls, I decided they were a good fit. We had a nice rapport and I could already tell they would be a valuable resource for my organization.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, I estimate we’ve spent about $20,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Arrow Root Media successfully completed each project we gave them. Their efforts solved a lot of our internal operative obstacles and improved our performance. Their current work will increase our efficiency and help our business grow.

How did Arrow Root Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I am very happy with their approach to project management. Arrow Root Media is very responsive. We mainly communicate through email or Asana, with additional phone calls as needed. Each project starts with a proposal, then we have some initial meetings to set expectations and requirements. We schedule in-person meetings throughout the process to track our progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really liked the fact that Arrow Root Media was both a development agency and a help desk. There is a cost for subscription, but the team offers ongoing support if you need it. It is comforting to know that they’re always available to troubleshoot issues. It’s a full package deal in terms of the services they offer.

Any advice for potential customers?

I recommend clients take Arrow Root Media’s lead on the project because they have a great sense of where to begin and how to help you reach your goals. Also, clients should set aside time to personally collaborate with the team so that both parties share an understanding of the project.