Bop Design

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of an information services provider with a specialized focus on construction equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

We were long overdue for a new website and new branding, so we sought a website agency that could help us design a site that adequately tells our story and has the quality level that matches the work we deliver.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We held a series of introductory meetings so that we could outline our vision and state our preferences and the style features that speak to us. Otherwise, we entirely relied on Bop Design to build our website on WordPress.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about five people, a group that included the head of the agency, a lead designer, and content specialists.

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

We searched online and identified five potential firms for the project. We held 1–2 phone interviews with each of them to lay our vision and determine which company would be the best match.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $25,000–$30,000

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned November 2018–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our previous website was out of date and inconsistent with our current brand and profile, and our new one is a great upgrade. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from people across our organization. Our customers who have had the chance to see it also enjoy the new look. Bop Design delivered a big upgrade from our legacy website!

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We selected Bop Design because we thought they would provide a high-quality experience. From a project management standpoint, they were on target with what we were looking for. We can always nitpick details, but we never questioned our decision. We knew all along that we were going down the right path with the right partners. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

In the early stages of our vetting process, they were one of the few companies that were more willing to hear our story and appreciate what our business is so that they could tailor their recommendations to fit our needs. Other firms offered cookie-cutter options and didn’t spend much time listening. Having a partner who is interested in understanding our business and formulating a design project to fit that was advantageous for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think the content writers hit a wall at a certain point in terms of delivering relevant material, but I’m likely to chalk that up to the specialized field in which we operate.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the senior account manager at Picnic People, an event planning company in San Diego, Calif.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

We reached out to Bop Design to redesign our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bop Design submitted a proposal after we reached out, detailing their design process. They then met with us at our office for a discovery meeting, learning about our business and going over expectations for the website. From there, they developed a timeline and the scope of work, provided wireframes, and ultimately redesigned our website on WordPress.

They redesigned our logo per our request, but we ended up not using it. They did, however, provide a new font and a lot of copywriting. They also developed a manual, so we'd be able to go back in and make changes to the site on our own, and created some downloadable PDF menus that we use to email to clients. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with about six people in total, including a project manager, sales rep, designer, and copywriter. 

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

They were recommended to us by a videographer we'd worked with previously.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested close to $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching, the new site experienced a significant increase in traffic and received a lot of positive feedback from clients. Our home page better showcases all that we offer. They particularly did a great job with copywriting, effectively capturing our voice while helping us speak to a broader demographic. 

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great overall. Once the site was ready, they walked us through everything and provided training and ongoing support as needed. During the design phase, we didn't hear from them as much as we would've preferred but they ultimately delivered what we wanted and did it on time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their initial proposal process and follow up was great. They obviously were able to sell us on their services, and we were ultimately very happy with the end product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would've been nice to hear from them more regularly during the design phase and to also give us more of a heads-up to get them the materials they needed when we did hear from them. I've worked with other design firms that were the opposite and overly communicative, so somewhere in between would've been better for us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the relationship with a good idea of project goals and any information that can help their team better understand the brand. Other than that, I'd recommend following up with them throughout the project on a regular basis if status reports are important. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the managing director of my family's energy company focused on oil pipeline construction in Saudi Arabia. Our operation has expanded to include oil and gas, engineering construction, and agriculture. Once I came in, I launched two startups: a solar energy services company and an agriculture technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

I hired Bop Design to create a new website and branding materials for the startups and the other subsidiaries of the family business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Given the fact that I came into this project with tasks for five different businesses, Bop Design was immensely helpful. For the overall family business and some of its established companies, Bop Design modified the web design to match the existing logos. Because the startups were brand new, we relied on Bop Design to create the websites and coordinate all of the branding materials, including presentation templates, business cards, and a style guide. Once all of the websites and brand guidelines were in place for the startups, Bop Design led our content marketing efforts.

What is the team composition?

My main points of contact included Kara (Creative Principal, Bop Design), Jeremy (Business Principal, Bop Design), Emily (Web Development Manager, Bop Design), and Robin (Web Content Director, Bop Design).

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

Because we are an engineering business in the Middle East, we need to be able to explain our company at a very high technical level, and frequently in Arabic. I found Bop Design through an online search and was impressed by their portfolio of high-tech companies.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $6,500 per month with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned January 2018–March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Bop Design’s work with our startups has fostered significant website traffic and successful lead generation. We’re experiencing a lot of growth on the strength of their blogs and content marketing efforts.

The family business has always been well-known in the sector and the region, but we never had much of a web presence. Our old website was simple, and the content wasn’t descriptive enough, so we never felt as though we made a good first impression with clients. Now, new clients are impressed with the website because its design and content match the level we want to operate at. We’re far more reputable now.

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a few delays on both sides, but overall, they did well. They responded promptly and generally gave deadlines they could keep.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s impressive how quickly they were able to understand a completely new field. They did a great job of producing high-quality content based on relevant topics in our industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When I started with them, I know they were a relatively young company. I’d suggest that they keep growing by continuing to add staff and service lines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Maybe my experience is unique because I had projects for five different companies, but I’d advise future clients to be prepared to invest the time necessary to make sure the project is successful. They will likely dedicate more time to it than they initially expected to.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of sales and marketing for a technology company that makes flexible circuits and does laser micromachining and thin film deposition.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

We wanted a partner to update our website and web presence to better inform the marketplace about our services and to serve as a lead generation machine.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had some difficulty determining our target customer, so Bop Design walked us through the process of identifying our typical customer persona. We provided them with some pictures of our custom products and references to our prior and current websites, but they developed everything else from scratch.

They conducted extensive interviews with key members of our technical staff, senior management, and customer base to derive opinions about what they shop for and how they see our company. From there, Bop Design used those insights to build the design and content of the WordPress website. They also used content from our old site, updating it to make everything sleek and modern.

What is the team composition?

We worked with up to seven people.

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

I did an online search for technical marketing and web design companies, including some of the firms that our competitors and suppliers used.  After about 20 interviews over phone and email, we selected three companies and then chose Bop Design based on their price and the accuracy of their proposal.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from October 2016–January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received numerous comments from suppliers, customers, and prospects that the site looks modern and tells the right story. We’ve also seen an increase in lead count.

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They kept us on track and focused, finishing everything in a timely manner. We mainly communicated via email and conference calls, and they were highly responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re proactive and ensure project goals are met without being overbearing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should try to develop more experience within their domain, but the partnership was great.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Know exactly what you want and how Bop Design can help you accomplish it. Be prepared because they’ll ask a lot of questions to understand the scope of work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a nonprofit charity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

As a smaller nonprofit, we have smaller and inconsistent revenue streams. We hired Bop Design to provide web development and marketing services to boost our performance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project started with a meet-and-greet between our leadership and Bop Design’s staff. Bop Design rebuilt our charity’s WordPress site from scratch. After the website was built, the team provided a manual—which enabled us to make modifications in house. They then implemented the marketing program, leveraging MailChimp and Google Analytics. We’re also using an AdRoll strategy including blogs and e-blasts. Our team provides the blog content for the 600–800-word posts and they format and curate the text.

What is the team composition?

We work with 3–4 developers including a lead, as well as marketing resources Jeremy and Chad (E-Business and Digital Marketing Specialist, Bop Design). They have a larger team working behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

I'm on the board of directors of this nonprofit and I had used Bop Design for a company that I had owned for 35 years. They did such a great job that I approached them about working with this nonprofit to achieve the same results. I wrote them a letter and provided more information about why we should partner together for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent approximately $26,000 on web development and $3,000 on marketing.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2018 and the partnership is ongoing. Bop Design has been doing marketing since late 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Web traffic has increased by roughly 85%, but that hasn’t equated to more revenue at this time. We have things planned out, which will help the revenue stream. We’re picking up the momentum on being more specific about what we need donations for.

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We rejected their first swipe at our website. We gave them constructive criticism and ideas on what we were looking for. I thought they’d want more money and that they wouldn’t be cooperative, but it was just the opposite: they jumped on it and did it.

We held weekly in-person and teleconference meetings during development. Bop Design kept us on schedule and maintained productivity on both sides. They give us constructive and reflective assessments. Last week, it came back that our AdRoll was getting a 100% bounce rate, which is very bad. It was alarming and we didn’t know what was happening or what we needed to do to change it. But we all had great ideas and took care of it. I love their accountability, quick reactions, and constructive criticisms and fixes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is efficient and cost-effective. Unlike other vendors, Bop Design cares about their work, as opposed to just the bottom line.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No one’s perfect, but I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have detailed goals and plan. Going to a company like Bop Design will only hinder effective communication between teams.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a wine industry production management SaaS company. I oversee all operations and strategic direction for the firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bop Design?

We had a custom public website that supported us as a startup, but wasn't scalable. It didn't have any digital marketing intelligence, and it didn't service our product or mission. We needed a new website that generated more interest and increased exposure to our target audience.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to direct more leads to our site and build more creative content that matched our modern product offerings. We hoped to capture the interest of our website visitors and convert them to opportunities by completing our forms, requesting a demo and/ or reaching out.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I looked for B2B agencies that specialized in SaaS products, and Bop Design was at the top of the list. I interviewed three companies before ultimately choosing Bop Design, which clearly aligned best with our goals. They were highly focused on content development, which is where we needed the most support. They were a turnkey firm that had all the services in-house that we were looking for: content, web design and development, SEO, Adwords/AdRoll experts, etc.

Describe the project in detail.

Their proposal laid out a firm three-month plan, plus a rolling four-month plan that kept my company at top-of-mind for our target market. The first two months involved wireframing, design, and development. We finalized a site map, after which they presented two home page designs. My team was intimately involved in curating the content and refining the design.

They were always positive and accepting of our suggestions, regardless of how many times we requested changes. Then they built the remaining pages, interviewing our team to ensure that they understood our intentions and goals. They assembled an incredible video as part of the scope. The project lead at Bop Design released our website ahead of schedule to prepare for our sales season.

What was the team composition?

A website design lead and her team worked with us through the design phase, after which they handed us off to the web development lead. She oversaw the backend and frontend developers, along with a video editor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

During the first month our website was live, leads jumped significantly. Organic search traffic rose by 61% and referral channels rose by 391%. Our search result rankings were higher and better aligned with our keywords. We began effectively tracking traffic for the first time. Their keyword management and SEO efforts clearly paid off.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were easy to communicate with and incredibly responsive. The point person was always clear. They kept my team accountable and our projects on schedule, which we needed. Every tool augmented the product development process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were quite inexperienced with digital marketing, but they educated my team about the value it brought and its importance to the overall strategy. It was critical that our agency specialized in B2B, since it's an entirely different animal from B2C. Bop Design employed the best and brightest in not only B2B marketing, but also in client and product management.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Honestly, I have no suggestions. The process was so streamlined and the quality of work was so high. They delivered the project on time and at a fantastic price. We couldn't have asked for anything more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and founder of Federer Performance Management Group (FPMG), a management consulting firm based in Tampa, Fla. I have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and I generally consult family businesses and provide leadership coaching to senior executives at Fortune 500 companies. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

I initially reached out to Bop Design for branding and marketing services. My website was very basic, and I didn't have much of a social media presence, so I turned to their team to strengthen my brand online.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bop Design provides branding and marketing services that have included a redesign of my website, SEO, and content creation for my blog, newsletter, and social media accounts. They initially discussed my goals, target audience, and became familiar with my business over the phone to suggest a strategic path forward. Throughout the process, they've helped guide and educate me. They've also redesigned some workbooks, along with a lot of my previously posted content to ensure it complements the new brand identity.

What is the team composition? 

Initially, I worked with Kara (Creative Principal, Bop Design) and Jeremy (Business Principal, Bop Design), but have also been assigned a project manager as my main point of contact over the years. They bring in different staff as needed depending on the work being done (i.e., web design, content creation, SEO). 

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

After a presentation I gave for a large financial institution, I was approached by a woman on their marketing team who told me she was very impressed by my talent, but that my website was in horrible shape and likely holding me back from attaining work. She recommended Bop Design, so I decided to take a shot with them and see if investing in my online presence would pay off, and it's been worth every penny.

How much have you invested with them?

I probably spend about $25,000 per year on their services, so I've invested over $100,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

I've been working with them since 2012, and they continue to update my website and provide SEO services as needed. I plan to continue to the relationship for the long term since they're such a hugely valuable partner. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Bop Design has had a huge impact on my business by helping make my online presence much more professional, modern, and engaging. By investing in their services, I've essentially invested in my own business and seen a significant improvement in leads as a result of their work. They've also helped establish my business on a more national and global level. I'm now ranking at the top of Google for certain key words, and my reach has extended beyond the local market.

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They're outstanding–timely, efficient, and clear in communications. We connect at least once a month, but they're responsive regardless of when I reach out either via email or phone. They suggest a lot of great ideas on ways to continually improve my online presence. They don't wait for me to tell them what I need, but rather they anticipate what I need and regularly set new goals for the website.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've had tremendous growth, and I attribute most of that to the work they've done for me. I'm also very impressed by both their technical abilities and emotional intelligence. Their team has been very understanding about some of my fears around investing in certain areas, so their ability to communicate in a way that makes me feel comfortable and informed about what they're doing has made all the difference.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I was reasonably skeptical about hiring someone for these types of services in the beginning, but it's made so much sense for my business in the long run. They did a great job of convincing me every step of the way and being sensitive to my needs without trying to oversell me on anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest about your needs and be willing to listen and try what they recommend for your business, even if you're unsure if it will be worth it. Once I was willing to take their feedback to heart, they helped take my business to the next level. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Respond Software, an IT security software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

We’re in a crowded market and hired Bop Design to build a professional website that focuses on what we do at the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bop Design created our WordPress site, starting with outlining, copywriting, copy editing, and design. Their team produced various designs. We picked one, and the engagement evolved from there. Laura (Art Director, Bop Design) spearheaded the design efforts. They implemented different overlays to the site, which makes it easier to customize and make changes from our end as we grow.

What is the team composition?

I primarily interacted with Robin (Web Content Director, Bop Design), Kara (Creative Principal, Bop Design), Emily (Project Manager, Bop Design), and Laura.

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

I did online research and then interviewed three companies. After meeting with Jeremy (Business Principal, Bop Design), I was impressed with Bop Design.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Bop Design between October 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site recently launched. Users are staying on the webpage longer. The overall feedback from our founder and existing customers has been positive. They’ve commented on how simple it is to find information and messaging.

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Bop Design managed the whole project. We didn’t trust them entirely in the beginning, but they ended up doing a fantastic job. Emily was in charge of production. I was impressed with the testing aspect of the process. I’ve worked with a lot of websites in the past and know how hectic the last couple weeks can be. But Bop Design had a seamless and smooth process to get our company through it. Their team used ContentGatherer and BugHerd.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their excellent communication and their ability to hit deadlines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should trust their team and listen to their input.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm a director at a forecasting services firm. We help people anticipate the future with greater precision by providing them with the best probability forecasts money can buy. Among other things, I'm responsible for technology and communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design? 

We offer many different services and part of our pitch involves changing the way organizations think about the future. That can be a tough thing for people to wrap their heads around. Our marketing challenge was to tell a cohesive story about who we are, what we do, and how we can help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Bop Design started out with several in-depth discussions with myself, as well as our CEO president, and CTO. They took time to understand who we are, and then they proposed language to describe our various services. We worked together to refine that language, and then they packaged that language into a set of brochures. 

From there, we elaborated on the brochure content to produce a new website. Bop Design built the platform from the ground up. They borrowed some existing content from the old site and rebuilt it on WordPress. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager who oversaw a team with a variety of skills. Their copywriter helped us come up with snappy language. We also worked with a visual design expert who helped with the brochure color scheme and fonts, as well as the website layout. A technical team leader worked with us during the website phase. There was also a sales lead who got me on board in the beginning.

How did you come to work with Bop Design? 

I found them on Google by searching for marketing and branding agencies. Their pitch was that B2B marketing is different. That seemed right to me, and the fact that they led with that message helped them stand out. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $32,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We worked together from August 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re just now starting to put all their hard work to good use. We've received substantial interest in our services after we distributed the brochure at a large dinner for over 500 people in San Francisco. 

Switching to a content management system for our website makes updating it easier, and it allows us to publish new content without involving our IT staff. Many people have said that the new site is a dramatic improvement over the old one. They describe it as clean and professional, and one that tells a coherent story. 

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was great—very responsive to my requests for assistance. We used BugHunter for the website, which was helpful. It let us drop pins on the staging site to say where things should be fixed. We also used shared files and Dropbox for the copy editing. We communicated through email, as well as video calls so they could share their screen. I always prefer to communicate by phone. They were okay with that and would call me. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their flexibility was excellent because this was not an easy marketing job. We’re not a cookie cutter company, neither a consulting firm nor a research firm. It's a tough thing to articulate succinctly and coherently. Bop Design was a helpful adviser for a tough task.

I wasn’t an easy client. Sometimes it took a while for me to get feedback to them. I also was picky in my comments. They rarely pointed out the scope of our agreement and instead rolled with the punches to get the job done. For that, I am very grateful.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I don't think so. I can think of lots of things I could have done better on our side, but I think they did a great job. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

In the beginning, Bop Design will send questions designed to stimulate creative thinking. Take that discovery phase seriously. Make sure to provide thoughtful answers, and find consensus with the key stakeholders in the project. Then share a clear direction with Bop Design. Don't send them mixed messages.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for EngineeringPeople, a company that develops augmented reality (AR) applications, primarily at the enterprise level.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bop Design?

Our website was extremely outdated and didn’t reflect our current AR offerings. We needed a partner to refresh our site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated closely with Bop Design, answering their questions about what we wanted the site to look like and how we wanted it to function They helped with the entire dev process, including copywriting, designing, SEO, and creative content. The site is on WordPress, and Bop Design integrated analytics to measure improvements.

What is the team composition?

We mainly worked with three people.

How did you come to work with Bop Design?

I found them online. I liked the work they’d done previously, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project lasted from February–May 2018. We’re currently making plans for them to update our website soon.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site has amazing UX/UI, and it’s incredibly easy to navigate. Unlike before, it now reflects all of our offerings and matches current digital trends.

How did Bop Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via email and phone, whichever was easiest for us. They often provided biweekly reports and were highly responsive, thoroughly explaining their answers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work exceeded our expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

They’re the experts, so trust them and don’t micromanage.