Baunfire

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former production manager for a magazine.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

Our website was outdated, and we needed a thought partner to help us redesign it. We wanted a story-driven website that focused on our articles and promoted our memberships and subscriptions.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire created a custom website from scratch. The process was quite collaborative; we gave them a few ideas for the homepage, and they created the concepts for the other pages. They ultimately built our new website and integrated it with our email and social media platforms. The team also connected it to Square, Stripe, and Big Cartel. I believe they used Wix. 

Additionally, they’ve helped market our annual events. They produce all the marketing collateral, including videos, giveaways, and other things. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve interacted with three team members for the website and two team members for the events.

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

We decided to partner with them because we’d built a close relationship with their partners. Erik (Art Director) and Juan (CEO) are local to our area and attend many events. After a few conversations, we felt a good vibe from them, so we decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We have an annual $12,000 trade agreement. In total, we’ve spent around $72,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working on our website in January 2018, and we launched it in December 2018. The partnership is ongoing. 

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

We’re pleased with the website; it’s been extremely valuable for our organization. We trusted Baunfire with our ideas and shared our desired outcome, and they created a design aesthetic that is unmatched in our local area. The visual display is far beyond what we imagined it could be. 

They’ve also made the website much more user-friendly, especially on the backend. We don’t know how to code, but we can update the website ourselves. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great collaborators who communicate progress and meet deadlines. We meet via Zoom and communicate via phone and email. 

During the website development process, they were willing to iterate whenever we changed our minds, which was great. We met regularly to ensure the project stayed on track. The team also granted us access to a platform that enabled us to comment on the project and share our feedback.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been most impressed by their collaborative nature and forward-thinking approach. Additionally, they’ve paid close attention to detail when designing our website’s aesthetic and functionality. They’ve gone above and beyond to engage our site visitors and provide them with a unique experience. The team has considered all the little design details the average partner would overlook.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, our website has a lag time, but it’s hard to tell whether that falls on Baunfire because we’ve loaded it with several articles and photos. Whenever we report a lag time, the team fixes it right away.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I encourage you to be present and open to meeting in person. If that’s not feasible, I recommend screen sharing to collaborate on visuals. Show up and bring all your ideas to the table; you can trust that Baunfire wants the best for you.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a restaurant bar in Palo Alto, California.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

We needed to build our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire designed and developed our WordPress website from scratch. We initially shared our ideas, examples of what we liked, and the content we needed. Then, we worked through multiple drafts until we finished the design. From there, Baunfire moved on to build the site.

The website allowed customers to make reservations, look at the menu, and get essential information, such as the restaurant’s operation hours.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates.

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

I knew the owner; he was one of our customers.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March–June 2014. They did a whole website update in March 2020.

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

The restaurant is very busy and successful. We often get asked who did our website, so we’re happy with their work.

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent. We changed a couple of things as we progressed, but they were always able to accommodate us quickly. We usually communicated through phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stood out for their speed of response and willingness to listen to what we wanted. Baunfire brought their own ideas, but they weren’t ego-driven. They didn’t push back, and we had fluid communication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there wasn’t anything to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them all the information you can about what you’re looking for.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a general contracting company, and I also manage marketing strategies for tech companies.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

We needed to adapt our company’s website for our unique buyer personas, which are mostly men. We wanted to highlight our millwright and piping processing needs service, give the site a cool feeling, and show our company's value upfront. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire designed and developed our company’s website using WordPress. In the beginning, we met with Baunfire and came up with an outline of what we wanted to include on the website. Then, Baunfire worked on the site’s design and content. They created a storyboard for us to approve, and once we did it, Baunfire created a draft for the website's design and asked us for feedback. 

The site developed by Baunfire features a main page with a video that showcases our team members working with our heavy gear. We also asked Baunfire to highlight our company’s awards and create navigation bars highlighting our services and the industry areas we focus on.

Moreover, Baunfire also provided us with web maintenance and created the site’s SEO and service engine marketing (SEM) strategies with the keywords I provided.

What is the team composition?

Lily (Project Manager) was our main point of contact with Baunfire's development team, which consisted of around 3–5 teammates.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $50,000 with Baunfire. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Baunfire from December 2021–March 2022.

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

Baunfire exceeded my expectations. The site they developed was in the top ten pages in our division’s SEO and SEM ranking. 

Moreover, the number of prospects that contacted us through the site asking to connect and get bids increased. I told Baunfire I wanted to get quality leads since we addressed a very specific solution. In fact, we just recently completed a project with a client that contacted us through the site. 

Overall, the website developed by Baunfire communicated our brand's value, and the development process was seamless. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

Baunfire’s project management was great. We had a project’s scope, and every time a deliverable was met, we had a call with Baunfire. They were also great at staying on budget. 

We communicated with Baunfire through email and phone calls. They responded quickly to our feedback and understood our requirements. Overall, Baunfire managed the entire project and our relationship excellently.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Baunfire’s creativity and ability to understand each of their client’s needs. The solutions they bring forward are great, bar none.

Moreover, Baunfire had a good team with expertise in different areas. They had a strong cybersecurity and backend development team. I’ve worked with Baunfire on several projects, and I like that whenever I call them, they usually have the staffing and expertise to resolve whatever challenge I’m facing. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Baunfire to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on what you’re trying to accomplish and the timeframe you have. Baunfire is flexible and will adapt to your team’s project and skill set. If you’re starting out, Baunfire has a really good team to help you visually go through that navigation process. On the other hand, if you’re more of an expert, Baunfire is good at taking the information you give them and transposing it into something incredible. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP at Imwalle Properties, a real estate development company in the Bay Area. We focus primarily on retail in the South Bay.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

We needed to redo our website because it had been a while since we updated it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire has completely redesigned and redeveloped our website. We initially had a meeting with them to go over what we had envisioned. We had a good brainstorming session, and they provided positive suggestions and feedback on how we could accomplish what we wanted to do. After the initial meeting, Baunfire did a mock-up of what they were suggesting. Then, we provided them with all the content they needed for development.

The website provides an overview of our company, including a staff and a FAQ page about our projects. Baunfire has also added links to the properties, which is the key feature. When we have vacancies, people can see if we have spaces available.

What is the team composition?

Our team includes a project manager and a web developer.

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

An associate referred them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent approximately $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2015, and our partnership is ongoing.

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

We’re very happy with the end product. People can see what properties are available, so we’ve seen an uptick in leasing. We’ve also seen more people reaching out to us for potential development opportunities.

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

Baunfire has been ahead of schedule; they’ve met deadlines and stayed on budget. Moreover, they’ve provided ways to do things we hadn’t thought about. Overall, they’re responsive and fantastic to work with.

We communicate through email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity is outstanding. Baunfire’s team thinks outside the box to present creative ideas and solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re extremely happy with their customer service. They do what they promise.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d highly recommend Baunfire to anyone who needs web design and development services. They’re a pleasure to work with.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager for a full-service upscale casual restaurant.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

We wanted a memorable experience for guests discovering us through our website. In the restaurant world, businesses utilize review sites to introduce customers to what they do, and the next step is usually the restaurant’s website. We wanted folks to get a next-level experience when they came to our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire designed and developed our website from scratch using WordPress. First, Baunfire met with us to discuss our goals, design work, and other sites that were doing things we wanted to do. They put together a proposal with ideas they thought would work for us. From there, they executed those ideas and our requirements. We went back and forth on things we wanted to adjust. Finally, Baunfire rolled out the website. 

The site shows what we are as a restaurant with pictures and graphics that give customers an idea of what to expect when they come in. Baunfire built a careers page and an events page where users can submit events inquiries. Additionally, Baunfire provided us with web maintenance. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Juan (CEO) and another 5–6 teammates from Baunfire. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Baunfire around July 2012.

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

Everything Baunfire provided for us was perfect for what we needed. We use the careers page regularly, and it’s great.

We didn’t have previous metrics because we were an emerging business at the time. However, once the website launched, we received many more calls, questions, and interest in the restaurant. Almost 11 years later, our restaurant is still open, partly attributed to the website Baunfire built. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

They were under budget in terms of their original estimation. As for timeframes and deadlines, everything worked out well for us. We were on a deadline to launch the site around our opening date, and Baunfire was very helpful in setting up the timeline we needed. 

We communicated through email and phone calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with how comfortable Baunfire made us feel throughout the process. Although we weren’t tech-savvy, we knew what we wanted, and Baunfire was able to execute that for us. Throughout the process, they gave us the certainty that they were doing exactly what they were supposed to and that we would be happy with the product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing Baunfire needed to change. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in knowing what you want and communicate with Baunfire. They’ll be great about interpreting what you’re looking for and completing the project based on your needs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former VP of sales for Pulse Secure, a technology company that offers remote access solutions.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

When we first engaged with Baunfire, our company had just originated from a spin-out of another brand. We didn’t have a digital presence and needed help creating our website and digital marketing strategy.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire has designed and developed our company’s site and provided SEO and search engine marketing (SEM) services. Initially, we only had our company’s logo and product information, and Baunfire has designed our brand guidelines and site. 

Baunfire has also developed the site’s data architecture from scratch. They’ve assisted us with the site’s launching and continued to offer maintenance and web optimization services after. 

Moreover, Baunfire has worked on our site’s SEO, including keyword research and backlinking. Baunfire has also worked on our digital marketing and SEM strategy; however, I haven't been directly involved in that project.

Occasionally, Baunfire has also created visual content for our sales kick-off presentations. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve mainly worked with Baunfire’s project manager, creative director, and technical director. We’ve also interfaced with Buanfire’s design and development teams at different project stages.  

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

I had previously worked with Baunfire at other companies. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $200,000 in website development with Baunfire. However, I don’t know the budget for the other projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Baunfire in August 2014. By the time I left the company in 2017, the partnership with Baunfire was still ongoing. However, the company was acquired by another business, and I’m unsure about Baunfire’s engagement status. 

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

Baunfire has designed a useful site that hasn’t been redesigned since we launched it. Overall, Baunfire’s work quality is second to none — they’re fantastic to work with. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

Baunfire has met deadlines and stayed on budget. The project manager came to our office to work from time to time because we had a short period of time to develop the site. Baunfire’s team has felt like a natural extension of our staff. We mainly communicate with Baunfire through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with Baunfire’s world-class team. They’re knowledgeable and easy to engage with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing for Baunfire to improve. I’ve worked with other digital agencies in my career, and Baunfire is at the top of the game. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend giving Baunfire access to your company’s staff and information. You have no reason to distrust them or their work because Baunfire is wickedly smart and creative. You won't regret engaging with Baunfire so do it as soon as possible.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a founder of Van Dahlen Dunne Group, a real estate company. I’ve been practicing real estate for over 20 years and have a team working for me.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

In the real estate world, many companies use cookie-cutter websites with monthly sign-ups, resulting in many websites looking the same. We used one of these services, and one client commented on our website not being good for a Silicon Valley real estate company. Therefore, we hired Baunfire to create an outstanding website. 

We wanted our users to be wowed when they visited our site and to ensure it didn’t look like everyone else’s. Additionally, we wanted a landing page where users could get reliable information on what to expect when purchasing a home.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire has designed and developed our custom website. We asked Baunfire for a good-looking website; our requirements included featuring our team and our business book. They helped us understand what we could expect from a website and what we needed to define for them to create it. We worked together to determine all the site’s requirements. They’ve built the site from scratch. 

Our staff isn’t tech-savvy, so we asked Baunfire to build the site so our team could easily make changes to the site to feature different properties. We also asked for a page where customers could find the questions to ask when picking a home. Baunfire has built a form that allows our customers to fill in what they’re looking for and enables us to interact with those customers. 

Additionally, Baunfire has made major changes to the website. Although they don’t handle day-to-day updates, the team helps us with significant changes, such as adding or removing team members. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve interacted with three Baunfire teammates, including Lily (Director of Design). 

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

I first met Juan (CEO); he said he designed websites and had very nice-looking products, so I asked for a quote. With previous providers, we needed an open checkbook, whereas Juan was very clear about how much the site would cost and what we would get. 

I felt very comfortable with Juan because he understood where we were and knew which questions to ask. After talking to him, I knew I would get what I needed from Baunfire. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Baunfire in 2017, and the engagement is ongoing. Although we’re not working together regularly, we call them when we need changes, and they provide us with a quote.

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

The website Baunfire designed is better than I had hoped; it looks really good and rivals major brokerage companies' sites in quality. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback about the site, including from other realtors. Our previous website was cookie-cutter; we could only put a picture and bio, and it looked the same as everybody else's sites, which cost us credibility. Now, our site is completely custom. 

We asked for the site to be 75% for our existing clients and 25% for lead generation, and that's what Baunfire has delivered. Most of our leads come from potential clients seeing our signs, looking us up online, and calling us. Previously, customers didn't have a good experience when they tried to find us online because we didn't have a good web presence — that has changed. 

As for our existing clients, they can go into the site and find the information they need for their transactions, which saves us a lot of time since we don't have to be on the phone with them. 

We want to have long-term relationships with our customers, so I need to continue attracting a younger audience, which we discussed with Baunfire. They've done a phenomenal job choosing the site's colors; it looks modern and attracts a younger crowd. Baunfire's work has given our site a timeless feel, which I really like. 

Moreover, Baunfire has been able to walk me through the process and explain what I need to know for the project to be successful. Some companies ask us to accomplish something without giving us enough information, whereas Baunfire tells us what we don't know. They were very patient with me during our first six months of working together to define what we wanted. As a result, I always knew we were going. 

Additionally, Baunfire's staff is always prompt, and they never push us even though we've had to reschedule with them often. They're very professional and willing to take the time to listen so they can understand me and advise me properly. I plan to continue working with Baunfire. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

They're always on time. Although it took nearly a year to finish the website, the timeline was on me. Since our prime selling season lasts from February–November, I had to take a break from the website project. Therefore, we took a while to deliver the information Baunfire needed, such as teammate bios. 

We communicate via email. During the initial development, Baunfire sent me regular status updates. Lily would tell us where the project was and what they needed from us, and after we sent them that information, they told us the next steps. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Baunfire knows their business. I appreciate how they've guided us through the process — that's not easy to find in any area. While other service providers might brush me off, Baunfire knows what I want because they're very good listeners. As a result, I've been very comfortable throughout the process. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any complaints about Baunfire. Although we found a glitch on one occasion, they fixed it right away. If anything, they could check in with me regularly to see what changes we need if they want more business from me. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Baunfire is a very good company, and I have no qualms about recommending them. I advise you to schedule an appointment with them and talk to them; you'll see how easy it is to work with them. From my first meeting with Juan, I knew Baunfire could get me from point A to point B.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former head of marketing communications and branding of a B2B semiconductor company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

We needed to revamp our company’s website to give it a new look and improve its functionality and UX.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Baunfire revamped our company’s site and redesigned our branding. They designed our site’s UI/UX using InVision and Adobe Creative Suite. For web development, Baunfire used WordPress. 

Initially, we had an extensive discovery phase to define the project’s requirements. Baunfire asked us for a lot of information about our company to understand our vision and determine our site’s functionalities. 

After the discovery phase, Baunfire came up with the project’s plan and timeline. For our rebranding, Baunfire first created a comprehensive slide deck with branding examples and visual references. They also gave us recommendations to follow branding’s best practices. Baunfire overhauled our brand guidelines and helped us define our overall brand architecture since the company has smaller business units. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a large team from Baunfire. Our first contact was with Juan (CEO). Then, during the project development, we had two main points of contact: a project manager and the head of design. 

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

Our company had already worked with Baunfire. The first time we contacted them, I believe it was through a referral from a PR agency we had worked with. We chose Baunfire because they demonstrated web and UX design expertise.

Before starting this project's engagement, I met with Juan to discuss our scope and goals. He also gave me a comprehensive quote and list of the services Baunfire could provide. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $150,000 in the website design and development. However, I don’t recall the budget for the branding project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project with Baunfire in January 2021, and we had a hard deadline to launch the new brand by January 2022.

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

We’re a long-tail business, so it’s hard to talk about sales since acquiring a customer can sometimes take up to 3–5 years. However, we definitely saw an improvement in website traffic, lead generation, and SEO score. 

Baunfire was able to translate our engineers’ technical requirements into an easy-to-use website with great functionality and design. They also improved the site for better tracking on Google Analytics. 

Overall, we received positive feedback from our colleagues and customers about the new site’s usability and design. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

Baunfire met deadlines and stayed on budget. They used a project management tool for their internal team; however, we weren’t familiar with it. Baunfire translated the information from their task management platform into a Google Sheets file they shared with us. Overall, Baunfire’s project manager made sure everything was on task. 

For communication, Baunfire set up a Slack account for my team and me. We also communicated through email and Zoom meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Baunfire’s design capability. They have a lot of experience in UX design and implement the best practices. 

Moreover, I was also impressed with Baunfire’s ability to translate our technical needs into a pleasing design and a functional website. I’ve worked with other agencies before, and it can be easy to have misunderstandings with design teams even after explaining the requirements several times. Baunfire understood our engineering team's requirements, and I’m considering working with them again. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only issue we experienced with Baunfire was an unexpected personnel change on their team due to a teammate’s personal matter. The project’s handover with the new team member wasn’t as smooth as I expected. We had to backtrack in our previous conversations to make sure we didn’t miss any date or deliverable.

I’m aware this situation was beyond Baunfire’s control; however, I would’ve preferred to work with one account manager. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend potential customers be upfront and transparent with Baunfire from the early stages of the project about their goals and expectations. This is important for any design project to avoid misunderstandings halfway through the project, which wastes a lot of time and energy.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a photography studio.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

I hired Baunfire to create a website and to help with branding.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a discovery phase, and Baunfire interviewed me to understand what I was looking for and wanted my brand to look like. They created a logo and collateral and designed mock-ups that helped visualize the final product. 

Baunfire was responsible for website design, development, and content for the WordPress site. They created a sitemap and portfolio pages categorized by session type so I can easily post new photos or switch the order of the sessions. Baunfire offers maintenance and hosting services.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Juan (Founder), Jenny (Operations Manager), Heidi (Former Senior Project Manager), and Lily (Director of Design). 

How much have you invested with them?

I invested $75,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between October–November 2021.

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

They provided high-quality designs, and the coding provides smooth transitions. I wanted the website to look elegant and editorial, and they achieved that. The project was rushed, and they still delivered at a top-notch level. The logo is easy to use and very recognizable; I’ve seen an increase in leads and received many contact inquiry forms through the website. 

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

I was on a tight timeline and wanted to launch very quickly, and they sped up the process to stay on that timeline. We met once a week, and they responded quickly to feedback. Baunfire was extremely organized and responsive, and if I ever had a question, they got back to me quickly. Their customer service was incredible. 

They stayed on budget and helped me to stay grounded throughout the engagement. We communicated over Zoom and email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have no development background, but they made everything easy to edit. They took the time to educate me on how to use the website and its functionalities. The team from Baunfire was personable and patient when they walked me through everything. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can come up with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on your expectations and communicate them. It also helps to be on top of the timeline.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former VP of product marketing at Centrify, a privileged access management (PAM) solutions company. They went through a rebranding process last year, so they’re now called Delinea.

What challenge were you trying to address with Baunfire?

In January 2020, we rolled out a brand-new website; it was a project that our then-CMO had started. For this project, she wanted to completely rebrand the company after we got acquired by a private equity firm, so we worked for four months with another agency and spent close to $500,000 to get everything done.

Throughout this project, I noticed that this other agency lacked experience, but we still pushed through that. However, once we launched, we were very disappointed. The site was not self-manageable, had a lot of flows we didn’t ask for, some content elements were missing, and some modules didn’t work properly. Therefore, we realized that we needed to go back and fix things. Based on my previous experience working with Baunfire, I proposed looking at them to help us do that.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Baunfire focused on assessing and fixing the elements of our site that were broken and the other agency had left behind. This process included updating its look and feel, fixing some UI/UX issues, and working on front- and backend development to ensure that the site was self-manageable and focused on conversion.

As for the technology stack, the previous agency had built our site on Drupal. Drupal isn’t a tool that Baunfire necessarily uses; over the years, they’ve created their own CMS. However, we were now bound to Drupal, so Baunfire worked within it.

Among other features, Baunfire created particular modules within our site that allowed us to do things that the other agency had told us weren’t possible. For example, they built an integration with Seismic, an asset management system that allows users to share assets with buyers and track their interactions with those assets.

The other agency used a traditional approach to asset management, posting them in a repository within our CMS. However, this approach didn’t allow us to see the interactions with those assets. Thus, Baunfire worked with our business applications manager to leverage Seismic APIs and create that integration within our site.

Once Baunfire fixed and enhanced the site, we kept them on to augment our in-house team and fine-tune things. They ran monthly analyses to see which customer journeys were working and which weren’t, and we fine-tuned our strategy accordingly.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a whole team from Baunfire, including a project manager, a creative director, a content strategist, and supporting designers.

How did you come to work with Baunfire?

I had already worked with Baunfire on other projects, so I recommended working with them. Still, the company vetted four companies in total, and Baunfire really stood out from the rest for how they presented themselves and how they would fix things.

The first time I engaged with Baunfire, a new CEO came into a former company I worked at as an executive, and we were rebranding the company at the time. The CEO had previous experience working with them, so he told me to look at them and listen to what they had to say. Still, I didn’t rely on talking with one person only, so we looked at three different agencies.

Baunfire was better both from a cost perspective and for how well-rounded their proposal was. Thus, we hired them for that project and had an amazing experience. After that, I used them again for two other startup companies. When this project arose, I brought them in to fix things.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February 2020–January 2021. The first six months were focused on fixing things, after which we switched to a retainer model to fine-tune the site.

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

Baunfire delivered one of the best-performing websites I had seen in my 28-years career — we could clearly see a before and after. For example, after the site relaunch, our conversion rate increased dramatically. When the other agency delivered the site, our conversion rate was around 2.8%, and we had a high bounce rate.

Upon further investigation, Baunfire found out that our site had some dead ends that didn’t allow users to complete a full customer journey on the website. Once we rolled out our new site, our conversion rate increased to 18%–21%, which was very high for our industry. Additionally, the Seismic integration gave us insight into how our users engaged with our assets, giving us a huge advantage from a marketing perspective.

How did Baunfire perform from a project management standpoint?

Baunfire delivered on budget and was very collaborative. Although they had a content strategist and a creative director, our team contributed heavily to the content creation portion of the project. We were pleased to sync up and align to define the content we would put into the site.

Basically, we treated Baunfire as our own team members and embedded them 100% into our processes. That approach was very helpful, especially during the first six months, because everyone was very disappointed with what the other agency had delivered.

Baunfire’s team was part of the weekly team meetings with our creative team. Our senior director of creative brand worked closely with them, and she had a fun time, which is what a website development project should be about. As for collaboration tools, we used Slack and Zoom.

Teammates who had never worked with Baunfire noticed a big difference working with them compared to working with the previous agency. They listened to our needs and guided us on best practices and how to build certain features.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Baunfire knowledge went beyond traditional web development. Our previous agency constantly told us that they couldn’t do certain things to the site. However, when Baunfire came in, they told us that, in reality, the other agency didn’t want to do them. Those requirements were doable, but they required putting in a little more effort.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing Baunfire could have improved on; they were close to perfection. Since I first engaged with them, they’ve evolved into a company that delivers best practices, so I don’t see any flaws in their work. Next time I have the opportunity to work with them, I won’t even bother to interview other agencies.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as open as possible, explain your objectives clearly, and go into details. When talking about website design, a lot of people focus on the look and feel. However, Baunfire has a great project kickoff process, during which they’ll ask you questions you might not have thought about but should be thinking about.