Cynexis Media

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the chief manager for an online national tile supply store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cynexis Media?

We hired them for web design, digital marketing, SEO, and content creation.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to build a robust site with a smooth checkout process. The backend also needed highly customizable features.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Cynexis through online research. They offered fair pricing and a well-drafted proposal.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

The project began with online meetings to promote screen sharing and collaboration between the project manager and my team. Cynexis delivered every item from the intial scope document.

What was the team composition?

Cynexis provided a project manager to oversee the project from start to finish. We also utilized their content writers and social media specialists.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

My company has continued to grow since hiring Cynexis. Their SEO services have made the business easily to find on Google and increased our website traffic dramatically.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We interacted with our project manager from the first call to the last. She scheduled and attended weekly progress meetings, which were very helpful. Cynexis used a project management software that allowed us to share files throughout the process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciated their communication, care, and attention to detail.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There was a large time difference.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and president of a fashion website and app called WearThisOne! I created it as a place where users can post pictures of themselves in different outfits and have a community of members vote on the best look.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cynexis Media?

I’m a creative person but have absolutely zero tech skills. I needed help with turning my idea into reality by designing a website and mobile app.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I contacted several web design companies both locally and across the country. I was most impressed when  Jason (Managing Partner, Cynexis Media) called me immediately after I emailed his company. His confidence, ability to answer my questions, and willingness to work with a very low budget appealed to me even though he wasn’t the closest in proximity to my location.

Describe the project in detail.

I met with Jason and his team to begin a strategy and timeline for developing a comprehensive website and mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms. The main project manager—Mike—walked me through all the steps of creating and designing the app and website.

What was the team composition?

There was a development team that did all the programming and was coordinated by Mike. He was instrumental in handling every aspect of the project, from helping me deliver better screens and better text for the app to understanding my needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just completed the mobile app for iOS and updated the website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Mike was excellent at handling every one of my change requests and addressed each issue directly with the development team. He stuck with every challenge until it was resolved. I truly cannot say enough good things about him. They’ve been a pleasure to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As with any project, sometimes you want an item handled immediately.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Galena Lawn Care. We provide high-quality landscape maintenance to local residents.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cynexis Media?

We brought in Cynexis Media to help develop and design a visually pleasing and accessible web interface. They also produced content for, and helped manage, our blog and social media accounts.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We researched a few options and Cynexis was the clear winner.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Their creative team designed a website that complements our brand and culture. The tech team delivered a well-functioning, user-friendly site. They also contributed content for the site and our social media accounts.

The success of the initial website launch led to a lasting partnership with Cynexis. The SEO team works to improve my company’s visibility, and they continue to produce and manage the content for our blog and social media profiles.

What was the team composition?

I work mostly with the project manager, but many others work on projects for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Since the website launch, client engagement and local visibility are up significantly. They always do a great job, so I expect to continue to see positive results as we continue to work with them.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project manager (PM) is highly communicative. My calls and questions are answered thoroughly and transparently at any time of day. They understand my vision and can bring it to life.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Each individual is amiable and attentive. Cynexis regularly exceeds my expectations through their impressive work ethic and consistent communication.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the sales and marketing manager for a company that manufactures equipment for the quick-serve restaurant industry, including drive-through windows and windscreen systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cynexis Media?

We wanted to revamp and optimize our website with a more modern, user- and mobile-friendly design. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cynexis redesigned our website from scratch on Wordpress and introduced some new features, including a blog and a more advanced section that allows people to obtain quotes on our products. They used existing logo and brand elements, and we provided them with the necessary materials to post to the site in the process. They also manage PPC campaigns and we're currently working with them on a month to month basis for maintenance, SEO, and content development.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is Michael (Project Manager, Cynexis Media), who manages about half a dozen staff assigned to our projects. We've also been in contact with Jason (Managing Partner and Solutionist, Cynexis Media).

How did you come to work with Cynexis Media?

We found them through an online search and came across a few sites that recommended their company specifically for SEO services. Compared to others we were considering, I liked Cynexis' portfolio of work the best.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested around $20,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started discussions with them around October 2015 and they started developing the site a few months later, which launched in August 2016. Our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Cynexis helped us achieve the build out of complex tools for our site that have become a fundamental piece of our business. We get at least one to three inquiries per day from our quote request page. In terms of SEO, our website traffic has doubled and continues to consistently grow.

How did Cynexis Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Cynexis' team provides monthly performance reports regarding both SEO and PPC campaigns. Although we had some initial challenges with the first project manager assigned to our project, everything's been smooth sailing under Michael's watch. They continue to be very responsive and make themselves available whenever we have questions or concerns. We communicate mostly through Basecamp and occasionally by email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very flexible and always willing to work out a solution. They're not set in their ways; they've been able to work with us around our budget and come up with creative solutions to help us achieve our goals. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of top20.com, a curated open access general internet directory that focuses on education and healthcare. We have a network of over 800 websites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cynexis Media?

Cynexis was hired for website design and programming.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to provide an integrated platform with excellent design, programming, SEO, and marketing for a network of over 800 active domains and websites.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted to work with a local company in Columbus and we chose Cynexis based on their portfolio, designs, and pricing.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Cynexis helped with the design of the platform and integration of our 800 websites. Their team also helping us build out top20medicalschool.com, which will provide materials for the first two years of medical school online.They are designing the site to be globally used and is developing the site's content. 

They are also currently working on a mobile design, SEO, and digital marketing for all our sites.

What was the team composition?

Cynexis provides a dedicated project manager along with marketing, design, and programming resources.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Cynexis helped us create the best internet and application directory. Our sites are going to be used globally and their team is crucial in developing our content.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I meet with their project managers weekly in person. They use Basecamp for any additional communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to provide quality at a reasonable cost impress us. 

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They could be better at their affiliate marketing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Anxiety Sisters, LLC is a not-for-profit organization designed to help people cope with anxiety and destigmatize mental health issues in the United States. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cynexis Media?

We had a website from another company that we were unhappy with. It wasn't functioning correctly, and we weren't pleased with it, so we decided to try another company and see if we could get a website that matched our vision. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

With this new website, we wanted people to join a community for anxiety sufferers. We also wanted people to feel like they weren't alone and have a resource for answers to questions that wouldn't cost them any money.

There are 21 people on the project. Some of them are just programmers and tech support. Others are creative people who did our logo and designed some of the artwork. Our project manager is doing a lot of advertising for me on social media and SEO. Cynexis does everything; they’re a 1-stop shop.

Our website is in WordPress. (I don't know exactly what plugins they worked with.) That was actually something that we requested. Because we're not really technologically inclined, we felt like WordPress would be the easiest solution, but I think they’re willing to use any format.

We offer different types of assistance on the site. We publish blog posts twice a week and do podcasts. We also provide all kinds of techniques and guidelines for soothing anxiety, as well as information about medications. We offer a little yoga book that's specifically designed for anxiety sufferers.

How did you come to work with Cynexis Media?

Cynexis was working with my co-founder on a project for her husband, so she recommended them. We interviewed them and explained our goals for the site and beyond. I liked that they're a smaller Midwestern company. We felt that they would be more in line with our vision than a big New York or Los Angeles firm.

I spoke with the managing partner, Jason, who was incredibly generous with his time. He listened to our vision. I told him that we didn't have a lot of money and that we wanted to just get as much done as we could. He suggested really interesting ideas right away, and we had a long conversation. Within a few days, we had a proposal that we signed.

How much have you invested with Cynexis Media?

Even though we originally had $5,000 to spend, the website cost around $6,000 because of the complexity. They would have honored the original price, but we asked them to do animations and other additional tasks, so we approved the price increase. Now that the project is over and we've launched, we spend about $100 a month on support.

What is the status of this engagement?

I called them in June 2016, and we launched at the end of February 2017. Our collaboration is still ongoing. We ended up being a large client of theirs, but we didn't think that would be the case. Eventually, we’re thinking of asking them to build an app, and they're going to be doing some new animations soon. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've been incredibly successful as far as people joining the website. As of today, we have 7,600 members, which is pretty exciting. We've had excellent feedback from everyone who's seen the website. We just came back from a conference for mental health organizations, and people were tremendously impressed with what we've done.

We've really branded ourselves with the logo. Cynexis did such a great job. Now, we’re able to do workshops, connect with foundations, and present on college campuses. We're moving much quicker than we ever dreamed, and I believe that Cynexis has a lot to do with that.

How did Cynexis Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Basecamp, which acts as a warehouse for everything that we do with them. There's an audit trail of every conversation and file. To this day, we still have access to that: we can go all the way back to the first day of the project and see what we talked about. That platform has been absolutely invaluable.

As far as project management, we had 1 project manager, Kathleen, until we launched. We worked with her from June or July 2016 until February 2017. She was fantastic. I never had to call her because she always texted or emailed me back within seconds. After our project was over, she went to work for another company, but we're still in touch because she joined our website. Michael, who's our new project manager, has been unbelievably great.

They’re incredibly responsive. We don't wonder if they're going to be able to help us; they will.

What did you find most impressive about Cynexis Media?

Because I've had bad experiences with other companies, I was amazed at how they stuck to the price. They never nickel-and-dimed us. If something was going to cost more money, which happened a couple of times, they explained how much and why and then gave us a choice. That clarity was really nice. We never worried about that stuff; we trusted them implicitly.

Are there any areas Cynexis Media could improve?

I'm sure there are faults; I just haven't found any. Everything is functional and working. If we need help, they respond immediately, even from their company barbecue.

They’ve treated us like we are their only client, which made us feel good. Our prior provider made us feel like their least important client, even though they charged us over $12,000 at the time.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cynexis Media?

If they're lucky enough to work with Jason and the project managers, they're going to be golden.

Both my partner and I are very good communicators. We're clear about our vision and what we wanted. We have a cartoonist who works for us who lives in England. He provided some artwork to share with Cynexis initially, so they had a head start in terms of figuring out exactly what we wanted, but that doesn't take away from their initiative. They did a great job. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner, owner, and photographer at a photography company that specializes in boudoir photography, lifestyle and corporate photography, and headshots.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cynexis?

It was SEO, internet marketing, social media management, and web design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, I wanted to rank my 1st through 5th keywords on page 1 of Google search results. I also needed a general working website to direct my clients to that also included my portfolio and pricing. Lastly, I needed a company to manage my social media and make my regular daily posts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

We started with a discovery of what my needs were, and then we went into web design on the WordPress platform. I showed them what I needed and what I wanted my website to look like. Then we worked together in getting my website implemented, getting my design finalized, and getting the website up and running. They also trained me in WordPress so that I was able to take the lead on blog posts, update my work portfolio on a regular basis, and edit content on the site.

There were 6 or 7 people assigned to this project. For web design, I worked with a designer, project manager, owner, and partner. We interacted several times a day. The team scaled down as needed throughout the project.

How did you come to work with Cynexis?

They are friends.

How much have you invested with Cynexis?

I'd say about $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It began in April 2016. The project is ongoing. They still manage my SEO and social media.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I owe much of our success to Cynexis Media. If it wasn't for the dedication and knowledge of the Cynexis SEO team, our phone would not be ringing nearly as steadily. Within a few months, our google ranking for keywords like “boudoir photography Columbus Ohio” went from around 14th place to 4th.

Their web designers are very skillful and continuously educated on the latest requirements, techniques, and design trends. They knew exactly how to execute our vision for the website. As far as social media, we have several hundred followers now instead of 0. Cynexis' social media managers have eliminated the stress of daily postings to all of our social media accounts so that we can focus on delivering our product to our clients and completing all other responsibilities as a small business owner.

Overall, I would highly recommend Cynexis Media to any business owner for all aspects of digital marketing, SEO, design, and software development.

How did Cynexis perform from a project management standpoint?

Basecamp is where we communicate project goals and deadlines. They were also in constant communication back and forth through email, phone, and Skype. Deadlines were met, and they continue to be met.

What did you find most impressive about Cynexis?

Their knowledge of web design—they know what they’re doing. They were constantly learning new software and design techniques, and introducing me to new trends. I was really impressed with the software that they use to manage all of the social media accounts for my company. They're very friendly and great to work with.

Are there any areas Cynexis could improve?

I don't think so.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cynexis?

I couldn’t give any advice to them, but I would highly recommend Cynexis to anyone.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We have 4 retail music stores: three in Ohio and one in West Virginia. I'm the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cynexis Media?

We wanted them to create an e-commerce site for our store. We were hoping to make sales online to complement our store and list our inventory that was available at the retail locations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were to create an e-commerce site from scratch. We requested that they write it in Magento. We were possibly going to explore some other things later, like Search Engine Optimization, Google stuff, etc.

How much have you invested with Cynexis Media?

Well, the agreement (which we signed in the beginning of April 2015) was that they would create a website for us: an e-commerce website will all our inventory on the website. They were going to download everything. It was to be completed in 16 weeks. The total cost of the project was $18,000. I paid them a third upfront, and when the project was about half done, in June of 2015, I paid them another third. And then, things started to stall. So that's what we paid them so far: two thirds of the $18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Yesterday, after 16 months, I pulled the plug for good.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've got the results, and they are really poor-looking. It is not a professional site at all. It's a complete mess. The shopping cart doesn't work, locations don't work. There's a lot of stuff that doesn't work properly. Yesterday was their final deadline after multiple promises of completion, and they threw this site at me. This is my finished product, supposedly.

Time delay doesn't help as far as us trying to get a viable website up-and-running. We were promised 16 weeks, and 16 months later, we're still left with a faulty website that doesn't function properly and is not professional-looking.

I probably have about 300 man-hours providing information that's been requested from them, and a lot of threats from the owner. I don't know what you call them, bullying tactics or what, but the guy's a real piece of work.

He can't admit that he can't complete my project, and even though he agreed to give me a refund if he didn't have it completed by August 9th, due to a separate contractual agreement I had written up by my attorney, he still won't provide us with a refund. Because, as poorly as it is, he did provide us with a website, so he says he has contractually fulfilled his obligation.

How did Cynexis perform from a project management standpoint?

After 16 months, when we were promised a 16-week completion, everything was blamed on us for time delays. Eventually, it came down to the fact that the owner of Cynexis said we were sabotaging his contractual duties. It's a joke to deal with this guy. He's basically an egocentrical maniac. Just my opinion.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company.

We sell carports and prefabricated metal buildings nationwide. We're based in Mount Airy North Carolina.

What is your role and responsibilities, please?

I’m the president and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Cynexis?

We needed to find a web design company that took the time to actually visit our facilities, and be able to understand what we’re looking for. Most companies wanted to just give us a cookie cutter website based on a few conversations.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They built a website with a fully functioning e-commerce store, and the ability to configure and price buildings, carports, and garages right on the website. 

It’s become a partnership now, because we’re growing together, and we’re evolving. They've also started doing SEO work for us and email marketing.

What was your process for selecting Cynexis to work with?

I did a lot of research online. I chose from about 18 web design companies, narrowed it down to five, and they were in the top five. They were not the cheapest, but I felt comfortable with them because they took the time to understand what my vision was.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The project was around $70,000.

What was the timeline of the project?

They did it in 12 weeks in 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any stats, or metrics, or general feedback to show the success of the project?

I’m very, very excited about the outcome. The site looks great, and all of our numbers are up.  In particular, the SEO work they've done for us has made a significant difference in our bottom line.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

The human element they offer is unique. They’ve been to my facility on two different occasions. They brought their team and sat down with me for several days. That’s the main thing.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

No, not at all. It’s been a great partnership. They have a great team.

What advice would you give a future client of theirs?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

I’m initiating a startup website where users can join, and then as members they post images of themselves in different clothes, in up to four different looks or outfits. Then the user community votes on which one they think they should wear. It’s the place to go for when you have no idea what to wear, and it can be for all ages. We’re still in beta-testing stage, and are hoping that we will get a lot of users.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Cynexis Media?

Our initial meeting was very nice. We sat down, and their team was very patient. The principle [Jason Howard, managing partner at Cynexis Media] took a lot of time and listened to my expectations, and then he set me up with a local project manager, Karen. She would meet with me in person sometimes, we had WebEx meetings a lot. She has literally walked me through this whole project, [and] she keeps me going. She helped me expand my vision for the website, and she was so patient. She took my ideas and focused them into a plan.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

The services were programming, project management, design, and beta testing. Developing a mobile application was the overall goal.

What was your process for selecting Cynexis Media with which to work?

In February of 2014, I decided I needed to hire programmers, so I got four estimates. I sent out an email request and got a call right back from the owner. We discussed it, and had a nice chat about our goals and what he could do for me. In my mind I hoped that they would quote a competitive price because we had a good rapport.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The cost is between $10,000 and $50,000. I’m probably closer to the $10,000 mark now, but these projects always grow when you add enhancements at the end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

The project is ongoing, [and] beta testing started two or three weeks ago. The expected launch is in September [of 2014].

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

First off, just the integrity and honesty is unique. If they say they’re going to do something, they do it. They’ve made everything very seamless and easy. They have walked me through the whole project. Someone has personally taken care of me the entire way. I didn’t just hire programmers, I hired an entire team that has made my vision a reality.

They’ve truly done what they said they would do. I even added and changed some things, and they didn’t charge me for that. They’ve been wonderful to deal with. Cynexis was truly phenomenal.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

I can’t think of anything.