Out of Business - Astash Web Design and Marketing

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Jacques Family Construction

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a General Contracting company for Residential Construction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Astash Web Design and Marketing to accomplish?

• Build a Website
• Manage our Company's SEO

SOLUTION

How did you find Astash Web Design and Marketing?

Online Search

Why did you select Astash Web Design and Marketing over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Astash Web Design and Marketing were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We hired aStash to create our company website as well as manage our companies SEO. Over the several months we have worked with them, we have had multiple meetings to give direction on website development and have worked together to create a website that meets the needs of our company. They have attended to developing our SEO and have helped us continue to rise on the ranks of Google.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One outcome from this project has been a website that is designed well and looks great. Another outcome has been the reception of leads from customers viewing our website which has led to increased business.

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

The project managment was done well on this project. I recieved updates on my website and was able to reach out to check on the status of my SEO at any point.

What was your primary form of communication with Astash Web Design and Marketing?

Email or Messaging App

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

They have multiple tools that allow us to see how we're doing with our online presence, which really helped me see what areas needed improvement.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Astash Web Design and Marketing could have done differently?

One item that would have been helpful would be a monthly digital update that showed where everything was at with our SEO.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an aid for the Denver City Council District 10, a government agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Astash Web Design & Marketing?

We needed a partner with experience in WordPress and user-friendly website development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Astash Web Design & Marketing provides website design and development for our company. The team has helped us reorganize our pages based on traffic and design a new layout for the platform.

Regarding the process, we’ve started with check-in calls to review our requirements and needs for the website to establish the project’s scope and set priorities. The team has also presented us with mock-ups to see how the site could look and what features can help improve the website. Moreover, the team has constantly contacted us to review feedback and change requests until we reach the final product after final edits.

In terms of features, the site has integrated social media channels with our most recent posts and a place where users can submit contact messages through email. Currently, they’re helping us with platform maintenance.

What was the team composition? 

We’ve only worked directly with Kateryna (Founder).

How did you come to work with Astash Web Design & Marketing?

We found them through an online search.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent $9,000 on the site and an extra $2,000 yearly fee for maintenance.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2023, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Astash Web Design & Marketing’s work has helped us increase the number of people using our contact forms on the website. Overall, Astash Web Design & Marketing has met our expectations in terms of delivering a functioning website and following through on their promises.

How did Astash Web Design & Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

Astash Web Design & Marketing has delivered on time, within budget, and communicated well with us. Regarding tools, we use email and phone calls.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review? 

Kateryna has been responsive, receptive, and reliable in addressing our inquiries.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Astash Web Design & Marketing’s customer service is their biggest strength.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are recently launched Colorado CBD company and I am the co-founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing, and what were your goals?

We hired aStash as a full service digital marketing agency for the branding & graphic design work, ecommerce design and development, social media marketing and SEO

SOLUTION

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

We looked at the vendor locally and aStash was recommended by my fellow business owner. We researched their work and was very please with their portfolio and that is why we chose them.

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

We started with a mood board and research for branding, Brand guidelines, and logo design. After we were satisfied with overall brand look and feel we continued to product packaging for product boxes, labels, shipping boxes and print advertising such as mailers and post cards. After that the website was designed and developed and we are still working with them on SEO

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

One account manager was always in touch

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are happily receiving positive feedback on our brand and products and were able to easily get in to retail stores. We are please with website looks and functionality and already seeing the website ranking in very competitive markets

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective communication and workflow

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

I feel like the game changer for us was how much they care about you and your brand. I could tell that they are doing everything possible to please us and finish the project above expectations

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

This project ended up being a little pricier that we expected and we would benefit for better scheduling process so it is easier to find the time to call or meet

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Co-founder of Big City Burrito in Fort Collins, CO. We are a local restaurant and have been serving burritos to the local university and city residents since 1994.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

To provide a complete redesign of our website for both functional and design related reasons because it was riddled with functioning errors and bad aesthetics that we couldn’t change ourselves. We were unable to make changes to our original site and needed the redesign and different server hosting to maintain ownership of the website and be able to update it whenever we wanted.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a fresh, up-to-date website that was mobile-friendly and responsive to any screen type. We also needed the additional functionality of ecommerce implemented onto the new website so customers could purchase merchandise and get our items shipped to their door.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them online and ultimately chose them for this project after reviewing several other similar companies. We researched each potential vendor’s previous work and reviews, and ended up holding interviews as well. This company differentiated themselves by providing a free web design mockup so we could see what our website could potentially look like. Kateryna was very thorough and I fell in love with the level of creativity and originality in the design she came up with.

Describe the project in detail.

Initially we met with Kateryna to discuss the overall project agenda and get into detail about the current state of our website. Then, we met again about a week later to go through the website duplicate they created for us. After that, we began the contract, discussing the menu and website structure over the course of several meetings. The website was ready in a month and Kateryna assisted us with every change we wanted to make including transferring the website to a new hosting service and email setup. It was a pleasing, productive, and professional experience overall.

What was the team composition?

The aStash team arranged and managed the project very effectively. We were able to meet in person over 5 times since our restaurant is located around the block from their office. Kateryna had a strong and straightforward communication style. There were no language barriers and their team met all of our deadlines.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website is functional, updated and beautiful. We are pleased with the look, structure and usability, and feel of the website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Kateryna was easy to communicate with in-person, by email, or by phone. She was very helpful any time of day and even on weekends.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We had our website totally revamped by this company. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish!! Can’t recommend them enough!! Kateryna was very easy to work with and incorporated our ideas along with her professional input. Five stars!!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not sure

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the managing partner of Stag Building Solutions based in Pearland, Texas. We are a construction company that covers both commercial and residential properties

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

We were referred to them for providing a new logo design and custom new website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to finally have a stable, highly-scalable, and well-developed website with an appealing design. Our goal was to attract new customers and support our sales processes through this new custom site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

This company was referred to us by our partner who had previously worked with them on another project.

Describe the project in detail.

It began with a call to make sure that we were a match for each other and ended up really talking in-depth about our goals. They actually had a really good process that helped me fully visualize what I was trying to accomplish in my head. Then, they presented it back to me with how they interpreted it and how they thought the process should flow.

They discussed everything like brand development, what market we were trying to reach, and the type of content that I wanted to put up there. Their work included search engine optimization, blogging, and analytics involving my website. They introduced us to targeted AdWords and how the process works on both Facebook and Google.

From start to finish, they helped us not only create a new brand, look, and logo, but gave our team a refreshing perspective on what we could be. Aside from my website and graphic content, they created my new logo, business cards, stationery, and everything from scratch. The website was done completely in WordPress. They added some plugins to WordPress for scripting like MailChimp.

What was the team composition?

We worked with 2-3 people from their team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Astash project management was efficient. We communicated mainly in-person as well as through Google Drive, among other tools. Their responses were very prompt.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was very professional and saw eye to eye with our founders. They listened to our vision and feedback and took this project seriously.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Bringing their team's creativity and attention to detail into every challenge, they definitely heard my ideas and also gave consistent advice from a marketing perspective. This collaboration resulted in a beautiful product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Marisa Beaver and I am the owner of Sewer Experts. We provide water and sewer repair, replacement, and installation in the Denver Metro area and other Colorado regions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

We were looking for SEO and Google Ads originally and hired Kateryna and her team to achieve those goals. During our initial meeting she informed us that our website was not built well enough to reach our goals so we added their services for web design and development as well.

What were your goals for this project?

Our primary goal was to improve the visibility of our website across every search engine in order to increase traffic to our website that would result in increased calls and ultimately increased sales for our business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through Google, and after interviewing over 10 similar companies we decided to follow through. My assistant met with Kateryna in person initially. Kateryna was able to provide a clear and detailed explanation to her regarding what needed to be done to surpass our competition and bring our website to Google’s first page. Ultimately, the deciding factor was the actual explanation of her SEO strategy. She told us exactly what they would be doing to our website and how it would affect our rankings.

Describe the project in detail.

Kateryna sat with us to go over our needs to help build our website. Our website is clean and professional looking. Outside of sitting with us to understand our business, she did her own research on our industry and familiarized herself with what would be needed to compete with companies that have been established longer and are bigger in size. When we initially started our company, I tried to keep costs down by building our website. We had zero presence and were unable to be located on any search engine. She completely revamped our website and within six months, we were in the top five companies on every search engine. Our presence on the internet has helped us to grow our business significantly and has kept our phones ringing. The more jobs we have booked, the more reviews we have gained helping to continue our credibility.

What was the team composition?

Kateryna acted as the sole point of communication, playing the roles of sales rep, team lead, and project manager. Behind the scenes, I know that she works closely with her family as her support team to complete our website and SEO needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our phones are ringing off the hook! We are receiving 15-30 calls every week and another 5-10 new visitors to our website daily within our service area. We are moving well ahead of our industry competition in regards to domain strength and visibility. I can run a quick search on Google for our industry and I immediately can see our website at the top, not to mention showing up in equally high Google Maps, which personally I find impressive.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Almost instantaneous communication! Whether it was weekends or outside working hours, their response time to emails, calls, and texts was fast and always responsive. Customer service with a digital smile. Beyond building our website and growing our presence, Kateryna has met with us quarterly to review our progress and help us understand where we stand against our current competition.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kateryna and her team are absolutely amazing. Within six months, we were in the top five companies on every search engine. She is professional and is one of the best investments we have made.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is almost nothing that I can think of that didn’t end up being trivial in the end. One thing that came up was my initial lack of understanding around the nature of SEO. I would see the rise and descent of our call volume and search engine presence and get frustrated with the volatility. Kateryna ended up clearly explaining to me all of the factors that go into SEO and our rankings, and that while there were hills and valleys, overall we would continue to climb positively. And she was absolutely right! She probably could have provided a clear and detailed explanation of this volatility at an earlier stage, but she managed to do so by the end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own an e-commerce store that focusses on selling socially responsible and sustainable bath, body, accessories, home goods and gifts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

We hired aStash to help build our online presence through SEO and content management.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals for this project were to increase our site traffic and organic sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The Vendor was referred to us by a former coworker.

Describe the project in detail.

We had originally built our e-commerce store in Squarespace and wanted to work with a reputable SEO company to get our traffic and sales up. Our rep did a deep analysis of our site and determined to get the best results, we should rebuild the site through Wordpress.

Our rep worked with us to first recreate our site and transfer of our products and content over to Wordpress. Once that was completed, they started in on the optimization. Our rep worked on optimizing all of our pages and products through content management and coding.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Kateryna Quinn, mostly through email, to coordinate all of the changes and updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before we worked with aStash, we were not getting any organic traffic or sales. since the project has been completed, our organic sales have been up 100% and we are ranking on pages 1-3 on google for various keywords. Kataryna also helped us to learn a totally new platform through the process so we can manage and update our own SEO moving forward. We are very happy with our results and would highly recommend aStash to our friends and family.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our team and theirs was very effective. We communicated mostly through email and any time I had a question or needed help - Kataryna responded typically within the hour.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I really found the traffic results most impressive about this project and company. We went from receiving no organic online orders to 4-5 per week and those continue to grow.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only thing I might have like to see more of is periodic updates. Kataryna did send updates here and there, but I would have liked to have seen that a little more frequently and with more detail (for the laymen.)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Pearland Neighborhood Center provides a foundation of effective services and responsive programs to facilitate the development of individuals and families. Some of our programs include utility and emergency assistance funds, health and medical care, food & baby pantry and more.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

We are working with Astash on website maintenance and development.

What were your goals for this project?

Our nonprofit website was long overdue for a redesign. We also wanted to change our old platform to WordPress for a better optimization and functionality.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our board members suggested them. Her company has been working with them for their website

Describe the project in detail.

We needed an event management platform allowing us to create and manage events and sell tickets. Also we needed a sponsorship page that allows visitors to choose a sponsorship amount for a specific event and pay online for it. Above all, we wanted to inslude a donation form where users can choose an amount they would like to donate, the frequency of donations, and where donation should be made. Astash also has developed a custom volonteer form allowing users to sign up online to request to volunteer.

What was the team composition?

We only interact with Katrina only.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform change was absolutely the right thing to do. Our website looks so much more professional than before. It also made our day to day operations a lot simpler since we have added the desired online functionality. We get most of our ticket sales online which saves time for our staff. We also found it easier for users to sponsor events applying and paying through our website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They are always available through the email and all the changes or updates are done within 24 hours or less. We are very happy with the communications.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The result was really impressive! Our board of directors really liked every element. PNC website looks great on all the devices and delivers what we've asked for - donations, events management and tickets sales, and brings our values to the users!

Are there any areas for improvement?

I'm not sure what could be improved. We are satisfied with the work that has been done.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own Burlap & Lace Soap Company. We are Colorado local business that strives to create natural and beautiful soaps, shampoo, facial bars, and scrubs. The goal for our products not only be easy on the skin, but also to brighten up our customers' bathrooms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

We have hired astash for a website design for an online store

What were your goals for this project?

The initial designs Kateryna showed us were beautiful! I was also hoping to add some functionality to my online store such as subscriptions and gift boxes

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met Kateryna through a networking event and she seemed nice and professional

Describe the project in detail.

Kateryna came up to meet me in person. She showed me a few print outs with the design of the home page of my new website and I absolutely loved it. The only change I had was an adjustment of the color pallet as I wanted for soap products to pop more compared to the website itself. When design was finalized, she have helped me to set up my hosting and email. The website went live in about 2 weeks and was beautiful in the end. Subscriptions and gift boxes were set up and I do get occasional orders for both

What was the team composition?

I have only worked with Kateryna.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've noticed my online store is getting more orders since the new site was live, and overall look and feel of the website is more professional. I kept working with astash for another project recently and I'm happy with their work.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

AStash is a professional and talented company. Easy to communicate with and Kateryna is available any time of the day and on the weekends.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They brought wonderful designs to the table and were quick to add in or change anything I wanted. My website is beautiful and I am thrilled with the results. Love supporting another local business!

Are there any areas for improvement?

The initial website transfer from my previous website on Shopify to WordPress was very hard. Kateryna did her best on working with me and making it as clear as possible. Unfortunately, I did not expect the this system to be so different and even after a year of using it I still find it uncomfortable. I wish I was shown the dashboard and how things would work before I changed the website, so I was better aware of the consequences.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm one of the owners of Front Range Pool Table Company along with my husband. We are a billiards supply store located in Fort Collins and we sell everything for the game room.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire aStash Web Design & Marketing?

We have used them for Malware removal and web design and development

What were your goals for this project?

First project was to remove the virus we have had for over a month, where our website did not work properly. Then, we hired them again to completely redesign our website and give it a fresher look.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through the search and after meeting in person, I knew we wanted to go with them.

Describe the project in detail.

First Project: - Virus was removed - SSL was set up - Structure and navigation was improved - The website was showing in the search results again - Security was improved

Second Project: - Website was redesigned - Content was developed - Photography was taken in our store for the website and digital marketing use

What was the team composition?

All the communication was done with Kateryna

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Kateryna was fast and efficient and had my Malware removed very quickly. She found things from 2016 to recently and made everything look great and secure. She fixed problems with my SSL and the website is beautiful, fast and works properly.

We have not had any issues with it after the project was over. The photography compliments the unique design and it is nice to be able to see so many pictures of our store on our website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Kateryna was fast and efficient. Everything was done very quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kateryna gave me better explanations than any other web person I have used over the past 20 years. I'm so happy to have found someone I can trust in my local area.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything was great