Cogo Interactive

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Principal Owner of Lifson Law, a solo practice where I offer legal services related to families, estates and trusts, and mediation.

For what projects/services did your company hire Cogo Interactive?

I was looking to update my website and to understand better the options available to me to improve my digital marketing.

What were your goals for this project?

To improve my website so that more potential clients could find me online, and to provide a clear overview of the services I offer to those who found it. I also wanted to encourage potential clients to call me and set up an in-person appointment.

How did you select this vendor?

I received a referral from a previous customer of theirs.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They evaluated my current website presence, offering recommendations for updates and SEO. In later phases of the work, they developed additional recommendations to be implemented.

What was the team composition?

I worked closely with my assistant and with Peg (Owner, Cogo Interactive).

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

I’ve not yet received a significant amount of telephone calls from people who have seen my website. However, I am aware that more people are finding me online and clicking on the site. I anticipate that I will get more telephone calls as it continues to develop.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I’ve been pleased with the workflow between my office and Cogo Interactive. Peg was timely and very considerate if any adjustments to our schedule were required. We were given appropriate direction in managing our tasks for the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I decided to continue my engagement with Cogo Interactive to monitor my website and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Two days before a brief vacation, I had an issue with the website, but when I got in touch with Peg, she immediately came to my rescue to fix the problem. I’m so grateful and appreciative of her competence and care for my business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I am hopeful that the work done with Cogo Interactive will yield more conversions to actual clients in the future.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of a CPA firm. We provide outsource accounting for small businesses.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

I wanted a complete redesign of my website. I wanted to present myself better in cyberspace and take advantage of SEO to attract and retain new clientele and employees.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We took some content from our previous website, but otherwise, it was a fresh start online. And aside from their SEO work, they also designed a trade show banner. We continue to engage when the site needs updates.

What is the team composition?

I generally work directly with the president. They have a team for the services, but I don’t interact with them much.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

I met the president several years before we started working together. At that time, I wasn’t ready in the life cycle of my business to engage someone for a project of this size. We stayed in touch, and when I was finally ready to get a more professional website, Cogo Interactive was my first call. I didn’t look for anybody else because I trusted that they would be right for the job.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began in February 2016 and continue working together on updates when necessary.

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

The new site has received generous reviews. As a result of the SEO, I’ve had significantly more contact with people searching for our services. It has brought us more paying customers.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was quick to respond to any questions I had. We communicated mostly through Basecamp and secondarily through email. Basecamp was easy to use, and it kept everything organized in one place.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The breadth of their skills is impressive. They don’t just know web design or SEO. They are well-versed in graphic design and are able to advise content decisions.

Any advice for potential customers?

Anybody unfamiliar with online project management tools will need to embrace Basecamp and trust that the system will work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive assistant at Annandale Millwork and Allied Systems Corporation. We supply building materials for production builders as well as multifamily construction jobs.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

Our website was about a decade old and needed updating. We wanted a company to modernize the site content and design.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did a complete overhaul of the site. Peggy (President & Founder, Cogo Interactive) presented us with a plethora of available themes and made recommendations for options that would suit us. She really shaped how our website would display our core strengths and what we supply.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work directly with Peggy.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

Peggy gave a talk at the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce discussing how to optimize your website for exposure and lead development.  Peggy also spoke about social media and its importance in our marketplace. We were intrigued and started the conversation with her.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed a contract with them in summer 2016. We couldn’t dedicate all our focus to the site, so it took about a year to complete. Peggy still sends quarterly reports and keeps the site updated and current. The reports show organic and deliberate site visits and our search engine rankings in comparison to our competitors.

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

We were established in 1952, so we’re well known in the industry in our area. Numerous individuals comment on how beautiful the new site is. The images are bright and clean and the updated content really encompasses what we do. Our employees and customers all give us favorable feedback.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They kept the process moving steadily and stayed in touch. They understood that the site wasn’t always our highest priority and were okay with a flexible schedule. They extracted all the information they needed to create the site and make our content relevant. Their management skills throughout the build were great.

We had a tracking system and an email solution. They kept track of our meetings and we took time to compare notes and talk about the needs that needed to be met.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never tired of the almost unending stream of questions from us. We had weekly meetings to make sure the progress continued and didn’t stagnate. They never let us go too long before they established the next steps. They’re great organizationally and know what products and services work best.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I relied on their expertise to get the project done.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be ready to work. They will do everything you need them to but be prepared to be committed and put the work in. You are the expert for your company, use your knowledge to drive the project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Serendipity Wellness Studio. We offer massage and skincare services.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

We needed to hire a team for our social media marketing. I didn’t have the desire to do this work in-house, nor did I have necessary writing or creative abilities.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cogo Interactive writes and manages our company’s blog. For our social media channels, they create and post content on our Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus accounts. When I sat down with their president for our first meeting, she asked lots of thoughtful questions about my business. After the whole team was adequately informed, they started taking action on the plans we’d made for our digital campaigns. 

What is the team composition?

Initially, Peg (President, Cogo Interactive) was my main point of contact. A content creator produces all our copywriting.  

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

I met their president through Business Networking International (BNI) group.  Since I didn’t even know where to start, I needed an informed expert. At the time, I was overwhelmed by how much work I had ahead of me.  Based on our first discussion, she seemed to know what exactly she’s doing. 

It was a match made in heaven; Cogo Interactive offers precisely what I need, right when I need it most. I didn’t feel compelled to do much research to compare and contrast other vendors. The president seemed enthusiastic about working with me, so we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $500 a month on our partnership with Cogo Interactive.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2013, and our project is ongoing.

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

Cogo Interactive helped me establish the online visibility I was after. Rather than dramatic results, my real goal was to have a substantial brand presence on Facebook to help customers find us. I don’t know if I’ve gotten any business from their fantastic posts yet, but their content definitely keeps me relevant. 

The team’s copywriter has gotten to know both me and my business pretty well at this point. Even though I’ve never met him, he seems to get the gist of the creative we need. Cogo Interactive writes excellent posts for our blog and social channels, and I’m satisfied with the work they’re doing for me.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve never had any issues with their management style. They regularly send emails for me to review and make any corrections I need.  Their whole method works very smoothly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Even though I don't provide any ideas for them to work from, Cogo Interactive always manages to conceptualize great posts and content.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a CPA firm called Gilliland & Associates. We provide traditional services, including bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and accounting.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

With the advent of digital marketing, we needed to update our advertising channels. Previously, we posted in phonebooks but weren’t getting a good ROI. As a result, we wanted to find a new way to generate leads and expand our business.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve mainly focused on developing and implementing SEO strategies to increase our search rankings. Their approach involved tweaking our site to target certain keywords, incorporating videos, starting a blog, transitioning from a paper to digital newsletter, and sending a monthly email blast. They also established our digital presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to open new channels. Currently, they continue to track our Google Analytics and provide suggestions to improve our visibility.

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with Peg (President, Cogo Interactive).

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

I met their president at a BNI group where participants meet once a week to pitch their businesses and hear testimonials. After seeing her presentation, I felt like she could help my business and hired her team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $42,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work began in December 2009 and is ongoing.

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

Over time, we’ve built a strong online presence with consistently high rankings for our key terms. Their strategic recommendations have generated a steady stream of leads with a third of all new clients coming from our digital channels.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

In general, they’re responsive and keep us on task. If we encounter any issues, they’re quick to address them and offer good suggestions. Once a month, we review a Google Analytics report and discuss any changes that need to be made, which they help to implement. In terms of communication, they respond promptly and are generally available. We speak via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to their reasonable pricing, I appreciate that they go over our analytics with me and check on everything as opposed to doing all the work behind the scenes. This ensures that everyone remains up to date and understands any changes. They consistently stay on top of new strategies to make sure we’re well equipped to maintain our rankings.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to give a criticism, there were times when they could have responded faster about our analytics, but nobody’s perfect.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Customers should have a clear way of tracking their results to see the ROI. This is the best way to gauge Cogo Interactive’s value and shows just how much they can grow a business.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Pond Roofing Company. We do exterior remodeling on homes, including roofing, siding, windows, doors, and gutters.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

We had an outdated website and our SEO was poorly managed. We were working with another company and wanted to find a new team.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started out by redesigning our website and taking over our SEO. We’ve gone through a couple redesigns with them now and they’ve taken over our social media campaigns as well. They write content for our blogs and daily social media posts. Once we approve the content, they manage the whole process. They help improve our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts through Hootsuite.

We recently added a payment system to the website. They designed a page that integrated with our credit card processor and allowed customers to securely enter their information and make payments online.

What is the team composition?

We generally deal with Peg (President, Cogo Interactive). There are times when we talk every day and others when we don’t need to speak for a couple of months. We scale back and forth depending on our need, but always go through Peg.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

Our previous owner met Peg through Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce. They developed a good rapport right away, so we invited her to meet with us. She was knowledgeable and responsive and we decided to work with her team.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the years we’ve worked with them, we’ve definitely spent more than $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around May 2012. It’s an ongoing engagement.

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

We have more followers and engagement on our social media accounts, which drives customers to our website. Their work on our SEO and social media brings enough traffic to our site and we don’t need to spend money on PPC campaigns.

The site redesign is clean, informative, easy to use, and mobile-friendly. It’s easy to make changes with Cogo. Recently, we were inundated with calls after a windstorm and couldn’t keep up with the voicemails. We asked Peg to post a notice on the site for customers to email us. Within hours, she posted a message to our homepage that explained the situation and directed customers to an estimate request form. It streamlined the process and helped us build a queue.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They respond quickly and always with the right results. They’re top-notch. We usually start each project with a phone call or email to Peg, then we move to a project management messaging tool to collaborate on each piece.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like that I’m dealing directly with an expert owner. She knows what she’s doing and can hand pieces over to her team when she needs to. She gives the process her personal touch.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. Sometimes, it might be easier to deal directly with a graphic designer for some of the web design. As an owner, I appreciate going through the proper channels and letting the project manager keep things on track. Our arrangement works well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t go in with too many preconceived notions of how the process should work. They are experts and will tailor a service to fit your needs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Alternative Resolutions. We provide conflict resolution services, resolution facilitators, and training.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

After two iterations, our previous site felt outdated. We needed resources to create and design a mobile-friendly WordPress site that was SEO compliant. We also needed people to teach us how to navigate WordPress functions and post content.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built and designed a new mobile-friendly site in WordPress, ensuring that the backend was SEO compliant. They also established a blog and newsletter and educated our internal stakeholders on creating SEO content, including navigating the WordPress functions and basic blog maintenance.

Since the site launch, they’ve conducted biannual reviews to present the SEO report and offer suggestions for future blog content and site adjustments. Currently, they’re finalizing updates for the site, which entails refreshing the UX/UI and ensuring site security.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with their president.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

At the time, we were considering multiple vendors for our project, but none seemed dedicated to achieving our project goals. We then met Cogo Interactive at a networking event and bonded over our mutual New York roots. Their responsiveness, strong work ethic, and expertise impressed us, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We prefer to keep the cost confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began in June 2013 and is ongoing.

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

Strategic design choices and updated functionality have yielded a 74% increase in sales conversions.

Besides the quantitative metrics, we’ve greatly appreciated Cogo Interactive’s customer-centric approach to the project. Not only have they guided us through the learning phases of WordPress, but they’ve also provided sage business and marketing advice. They’ve strived to understand our business, empowering us to curate our digital content independently.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

As we’ve mentioned, we have biannual follow-ups to assess site performance. We also communicate through Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their business acumen and deep understanding of our business needs allow them to appropriately advise us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While we value their commitment to perfecting the site, they could be more cognizant of project timelines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Nothing comes to mind.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of Four Sales, an appraisals company for estate sales, auctions, and personal property. Founded in 1972, we are the largest professional appraisers in the Washington, D.C. area.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cogo Interactive?

We hired them six years ago for SEO, which had been managed internally. Since then, they’ve provided marketing and maintenance services to increase web-driven inquiries.

What was the scope of their involvement?

In addition to ongoing SEO, they manage our blog and author content. We review their work for accuracy and fit before they publish.

Cogo Interactive does regular monthly maintenance as well. More recently, they redesigned the website’s wrapper and added CAPTCHA protections.

What is the team composition?

The president is my primary point of contact. I also interact with various technicians as needed and the main blog writer on a weekly basis.

How did you come to work with Cogo Interactive?

I met them through a variety of local networking groups.

How much have you invested with them?

I prefer to keep the amount confidential. However, I can say that it’s substantial and in the five figures.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in February 2012 and is ongoing.

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

Consistently, we appear in first-page results for our area’s most relevant industry searches. The enhanced wrapper resulted in substantial increases for detailed online queries. Specifically, the web inquiry form generates between 7–21 new leads on a weekly basis. Many of these new queries have resulted in closed business deals.

Their blog content is accurate because the team understands our needs. New protections such as CAPTCHA have decreased the number of issues we encounter.

How did Cogo Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic; we’ve developed a long-term relationship. We use Basecamp to input queries, which they respond to quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take the time to understand our business, which is slightly out of the mainstream. As a result, the team creates responses that are specific, tailored, and relevant to the business we pursue.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are no downsides to working with them. They address small issues immediately and ensure that same problem doesn’t happen again. That thoroughness is a highlight of the engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Cogo Interactive has been a fantastic partner. Their services are priced fairly to the quality that’s delivered. There are cheaper vendors, but they won’t provide the same cost-effective result. I highly recommend them to anyone needing digital marketing, web development, lead generation, and maintenance services. We’re very satisfied customers.