ChopDawg.com

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

The current UI we have is just a new iteration of what we built with them. It hasn't needed a full overhaul because we built it with great longevity. It’s something our customers like. It’s almost three years later and we’re still iterating and using that same version. 

How did ChopDawg perform from a project management standpoint?

We collaborated on HipChat and Jira. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

There was good communication. Communication is very key in a small team in terms of hitting project deadlines and communicating properly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing I can think of. At the time, our requirements perhaps weren’t stringent enough. We were in the early stages of our company, so I don’t think we hit the top end of what they were capable of. We didn’t see any red flags or problems. 

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

The app hasn’t been launched yet and the only people who have seen it are my business partner and me, however, we’ve been very pleased with everything we’ve seen thus far. They’ve been very collaborative in presenting different color options, fonts, and layouts based on our questions. They’re also very open to feedback.

All in all, we’re really appreciate what we’ve put together on the site, including the marketing and branding.

How did ChopDawg perform from a project management standpoint?

From the very beginning, they’ve been open about the schedule. We fell behind at one point and they quickly let me know so we could make up some of that time and launch according to plan. Josh has been incredibly helpful with getting everything in order, including things like SSL certifications, bank accounts, finding the right accountant, getting the company incorporated, and more.

They don’t really have a formalized project management tool; we communicate mainly through email. They provide updates on progress, agendas for upcoming meetings, and any materials I need to review. Josh provides a lot of guidance, especially with the things that could potentially delay a launch if they’re not in place on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I didn’t expect their support on the marketing aspect. It was probably two months into the project when I got very nervous about my ability to support a marketing plan and subscriber acquisition, to the point where I asked Josh to consider shutting the project down. He assured me that they would put together a plan and help me come up with a way to execute on that plan such that subscriber acquisition wouldn’t be as big of a challenge as what I had anticipated.

While we haven’t gotten to the point of actual subscriber acquisition, the plan we put in place thus far has made me feel much more confident. It’s given me something to work on in the interim so that I’m not just waiting for the project to launch, but rather documenting blog content and preparing information so that when we do launch, there’s actually a rich site behind the services and not just an empty shell.

The marketing guidance that they’ve given has been really invaluable to me and made me feel much better about the overall project, especially since all the expenses are coming entirely out of my own pocket. It’s been really helpful to have their feedback and guidance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their expertise, at this point, is really in web page development and in communicating during the whole process the work that’s being done. They’re slowly becoming a more marketing-centric company as well, which is the one area of improvement that they could pursue. I know Josh would like to offer more marketing-focused services to startups like myself and other entrepreneurs, but they’re still refining that process.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our clients are thrilled to have our agency provide value through Chop Dawg. We always make it clear they’re our development partner. We stay within our expertise, and we don’t want to outsource to just anyone. Our clients understand that we selected Chop Dawg due to their first-class outcomes, professionalism, thoroughness, and ability to deliver a high-quality product. I can’t give specific metrics, but I would say that we have 99% satisfaction with their work.

How did Chop Dawg perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve adapted to the systems we or our clients already use; in some cases, we’ve adapted to the platforms they use. We’ve used everything from Dribbble to Slack to Google Hangouts. Their project management is top-notch. They always assign a key officer to each project, and that person handles reporting and interfaces with their project managers. We have our preferences with the project managers they have, and we’ve been able to keep those with whom we built a rapport. They’re always on time, professional, and accommodating, and they take criticism very well. Our goal is the absolute satisfaction of our clients, and Chop Dawg allows us to meet that every time.

What did you find most impressive about Chop Dawg?

They have a real passion for their work, and they’re always innovative. They’re able to educate us, so that really gives us an edge, both operationally and executively. Chop Dawg is never late. We can put them in front of our clients confidently. We have a partner we can rely on to keep us current, guide us, and provide consulting in certain areas to add value for our clients. Overall, we’re very satisfied.

Are there any areas Chop Dawg could improve?

With any other partner, I would have a lot of feedback in this area. With Chop Dawg, it’s hard to find something they need to fix. They’re very disciplined and have a lot of energy. When our clients want to add to the scope, increase complexity, or change directions, Chop Dawg is quickly able to accommodate them.

They have an extensive discovery process, so there’s no wiggle room for interpretation on what the outcome or product will be. They take on the cost and the time to do that. It makes such a difference, and we’ve been able to incorporate some aspects of their onboarding process to create an ultra-efficient, end-to-end service on our side.  

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

With our product, we were able to have people sign up and use the service. We attracted around 1,000 people within the first 30 days. We pitched the platform at LAUNCH Festival and got some direct feedback from one of our investors, as well as from other people interested in our business. Without a product, we wouldn't have had anything to show.

How did Chop Dawg perform from a project management standpoint?

I don't think that we used any project management software on our end. We had weekly calls with Chop Dawg and set up agendas for all our tasks. We were in constant communication via email, and Chop Dawg's principal was always accessible. I don't think Slack was a choice at the time, but that has changed since then. Project management wise, Chop Dawg was pretty good.

What did you find most impressive about Chop Dawg?

I liked their down-to-earth approach. I have remained friends with Chop Dawg's team to this day since I was able to work with them on such an intimate basis. It always felt more like a friendship than a business transaction. Chop Dawg gave me advice and feedback on everything from how we were branding ourselves online to how we could get the product out and reach the press.

Are there any areas Chop Dawg could improve?

I'm sure that Chop Dawg has grown since, but, at the time, they were only building in PHP. It's a great language, used by sites like Facebook, but it would have been interesting to have other options like Ruby on Rails, which are now becoming more common. Besides this, I had no qualms.