Designzillas

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an aircraft manufacturing company that builds about eight different aircraft. I’m a digital marketing specialist, so I’m responsible for our website and maintenance. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designzillas?

Our previous website wasn’t user-friendly. Because we offer eight different products that suit various needs in the industry, we needed a way to tell a story about our products. Ideally, that would help customers find the right aircraft for their needs. At that time, we weren’t ADA or GDPR-compliant, so we needed to handle those legal issues as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed an interface that could easily be updated to accommodate the many changes we see with our products. Additionally, we needed a way to publish legal documents, technical publications, and other service bulletins on our site. So, the site had to be user-friendly for our customers, but also for our internal team. 

They redesigned the entire website and enhanced our SEO. Their team also made it both ADA and GDPR-compliant. Because we sell our products through dealers, they created a dealer and service center locator. They also introduced automation to our site, integrating APIs with the CRM that we use while creating aircraft. For instance, contacts that sign up for our newsletter immediately get sent to our database, so we don’t have to manually take care of that. 

What is the team composition?

Maddie (Account Manager, Designzillas) was our primary point of contact throughout the whole process. However, we worked with designers and developers who were most specialized at different points in the project. We worked with Marc (Web Developer, Designzillas) and Jonathon (Web Designer, Designzillas). Since the launch of the site, we also have been working with Amanda (Agile Project Manager & Scrum Master, Designzillas).  

How did you come to work with Designzillas?

I found them on Google after creating an RFP. They weren’t just on a search results page but listed as one of the top website developers in America. They had great reviews and were based in the same are. The proximity really encouraged me to reach out to them.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $70,000 in their work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2018. The site is officially launched, but we have them contracted for continuous maintenance and SEO work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have specific metrics right now, but I’ve received extremely positive feedback from users. Our dealers are impressed with the clarity and navigability of the site. Our users’ ability to interact with the site helps our dealers during their sales process. We often hear that our website is being used for a quick reference because it’s easy to pull up for information. It’s fantastic on mobile devices, which wasn’t the case before. That’s been a huge improvement over what we had, in addition to its style and design.   

How did Designzillas perform from a project management standpoint?

Maddie has been very consistent throughout the project, but we’re able to contact more specialized team members as well. It’s been nice to have a clear contact for any and all of our questions. They use a project management system called Teamwork. That’s been beneficial because all of our messages are recorded, so I can reference conversations in meetings. We can upload files to them through the system as well. It keeps all of our communication in one place. It’s an easy platform to use.

In addition to the project management tools, Maddie was a thorough communicator. In addition to sending meetings notes after our weekly meetings, we still communicated multiple times each day about the project. Whenever we hit challenges, they’d provide recommendations that were often better than our initial plan. They’re very responsive through their internal communication system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to collaborate and listen to our needs has really made a difference. In the event that it suits our needs, they’re open to change. They were accomodating, creative, and innovative. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything because they roll with the punches and were able to accommodate our needs and timelines.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’m so happy with their service and will continue to work with them in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We contracted with Designzillas over a decade ago to build a better website as the internet exploded. Today we just finished a overhaul and we are 100% satisfied with the results. Our site continues to dominate our industry for user experience and amount of users that visit our site daily. We have continued SEO through out the last decade. The crew at Designzillas is as good as it gets and we will continue our relationship for many, many years to come. Thank you Desigzillas for having our back all of these years! Tom Kohm President and CEO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Designzillas?

Website development and SEO

What were your goals for this project?

New website maximizing SEO and back end usage.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Over a decade of work together.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

New website maximizing SEO and back end usage.

What was the team composition?

There were so many hands on our project we lost count. But we had a key group of four that we constantly had meetings and check ins with. Nothing was left to chance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Excellent website activity .

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

100% EFFECTIVE!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Level of care.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Nationwide Transport Services. We’re a third-party logistics company servicing the auto-transport and the freight brokering industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designzillas?

We’d acquired a new website with a high-value domain. While we had an internal team, we already had several projects to complete. We needed a partner to develop a website and implement digital marketing strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Designzillas designed and developed a WordPress website for our new domain. Initially, we agreed that their team would continue to manage platform updates in addition to digital marketing efforts such as social media and Google Ads campaigns following the launch. Since we didn’t receive the quality we’d expected, we didn’t pursue marketing and ongoing development services.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 teammates, changing throughout the year when we worked with them. Their roles were based on different platform needs such as content or graphics. There was also a project manager who changed more than once throughout the collaboration.  

How did you come to work with Designzillas?

We searched for the best design companies in Florida because we wanted a local partner. We talked to several different companies. However, after meeting with the Designzillas team, we felt that they were the most competent candidate and concluded that their team was the best fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $60,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted between May 2018–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were happy with the design of the website but didn’t receive results of any significant value. From the minimal traffic we received, the conversions were good. But we bought the domain from another company, which meant we had search traffic from the get-go.

Also, their team lacked quality control measures. We received substandard work that we had to address in order for them to make necessary changes.

How did Designzillas perform from a project management standpoint?

The initial conversations went well. However, once we started development there was a disconnect with their team. The turnover of teammates caused lapses in progress and inefficiency. When we had any changes or asked them questions, it would take Designzillas a week or two to respond.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We weren’t impressed with anything besides the initial design. Since we haven’t engaged with any other providers, there’s nothing I could say that distinguishes them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Communication and quality control could definitely be improved. Due to their delayed responses, we wasted a lot of time.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t let too much time go by before hearing back from them. Stay on top of them to encourage efficiency.

Company Responses

The vendor responded on August 13, 2019.

Thanks for the feedback. Our team is proud of the website built and the results of our marketing services through the partnership. We do acknowledge that we were transitioning roles during the early stages of your partnership and apologize for our lapse in communication. Since then, we have expanded our department to ensure that we can provide VIP client experience and communication every step of the way.

From the beginning, we set goals together to launch a custom-designed website under a new domain that we would be increasing the keyword rankings for on Google. Not only did we exceed those goals, but we also accomplished the following:

• Launched a fully responsive website with a conversion rate that well exceeded industry standards
• Achieved first-page keyword rankings on our targeted keywords, which were highly competitive
• Added 250+ new keywords on a brand-new site within three months of launch
• Increased organic traffic by 845% within three months of launch—and by four months, it had reached a 1,325% increase

That being said, we understand that there’s more to a partnership than numbers.

When we compensated you for the final month of the retainer, we believed it would help end our partnership amicably.

We know that we always have room to grow and areas to perfect, and we are committed to learning from our mistakes. If there’s anything else we can do to salvage this relationship, please give us a call so we can have a conversation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing director of Sweetwater Episcopal Academy. We’re a co-educational, independent Pre-Kindergarten–8th Grade school. We offer academic excellence in a nurturing, Christian environment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Designzillas?

We needed to build a new website for our school that accurately conveyed our brand values and highlighted our unique offerings, separating us from the competition.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the site to act as an effective recruitment tool. Specifically, we wanted to increase the number of unique visitors to the site and increase the number of tours we give to prospective families.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We sent an RFP to several different web providers and narrowed the field to three. After interviewing each, Designzillas seemed to offer the best fit.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed and developed a new website geared towards prospective parents rather than current families. It highlights interesting features of our school and its picturesque location. They also manage our SEO and will do so for one year to ensure all issues are addressed quickly.

What was the team composition?

We dealt with several teams throughout the process. During the initial phase, we dealt with their marketing director and director of accounts. Then, we were assigned a project manager who had a five-person team behind them. They worked on development, architecture, SEO, and content management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re only two months into the deployment of the new website, but we’ve already received five new families. They came to us directly through the website and we’ve been able to track their progress through our landing pages. We’re very excited with the results so far and expect inquiries and conversion rates to continue to grow.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It’s high quality. Designzillas is efficient, responsive, and patient. Acting as true partners, they’ve walked us through every step of the process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication and flexibility are their greatest strengths. Regardless of the day or hour, they deal with my requests. They’re also highly solution-driven.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They should continue to strive for excellence in all they do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CMO of Fun Spot America Theme Parks. We have three amusement park locations—one in Georgia and two in Florida.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designzillas?

We engaged Designzillas to help us develop creative assets for our digital advertisements and digital marketing campaigns.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially worked with Designzillas to create a fresh look for our digital advertisements. We were impressed with their creativity, so we discussed ways we could form a stronger partnership. Those meetings ultimately led to Designzillas making design updates to our WordPress website. They also performed some backend work to improve the speed and performance of our site. Further, we’ve relied on Designzillas to lead our implementation of sponsored advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, as well as managing specific Google Ads campaigns—our spring, summer, and company birthday sales events.

What is the team composition?

Our team consists of Jessica (Project Manager, Designzillas), Gage (Digital Marketing Analyst, Designzillas), Danielle (Marketing Lead, Designzillas), and Ryan (Frontend Developer, Designzillas).

How did you come to work with Designzillas?

During our initial search, Designzillas was not on our radar, but we met through a chance encounter and scheduled a follow-up meeting. We felt comfortable selecting them for this work after learning about their company and their history.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in January 2018 and remains ongoing. We extended their contract in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Designzillas helped us to drive leads and increase conversions in several vital areas. We’ve always done relatively well on social media, but their work with sponsored ads took our performance to another level. Our posts are now more engaging and feature better calls to action. That combination drives traffic to our site and converts into more sales. Designzillas also implemented an e-newsletter to promote our sales campaigns better. Our Black Friday 2018 yielded the best sales numbers we’ve had for that day. Designzillas’ work drove a lot of that success.

How did Designzillas perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate effectively using the Teamwork software, but we also regularly meet in person to brainstorm before starting any large campaign. We gather at one of our offices to strategize and vet everything that will be involved in the work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve been very accessible to us, and I’m sure that carries over to their other clients. During our company’s 20th birthday sales event, the Designzillas team was on-site around the clock to help us manage what turned out to be the most successful online sales day in the history of our company. Designzillas has been with us in the trenches—so to speak—which has helped us form a strong bond.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve done everything to meet our expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend that future clients put their ego to the side and learn about the Designzillas process. You have to understand that their feedback is not necessarily criticism. They are trying to make the campaigns better, so you must trust their skill set.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at a personal injury law firm. I’m an attorney and am in charge of the marketing for the firm as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Designzillas?

Our goal was to obtain new clients through internet marketing, so we hired them to help us.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We hired Designzillas based on their reputation and talented employees.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

From the moment we hired Designzillas, we were blown away by their hard work and dedication. They designed a new website for us and currently work on our organic marketing as well as SEO, paid Google Ads, and Facebook Ads. We were their first personal injury law firm client, and to see them immerse themselves into our field and learn all aspects of it was simply amazing.

What was the team composition?

There’s a full team assigned to our campaign. Everyone has been very supportive and a delight to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As previously stated, we were very impressed with the amount of effort Designzillas put into learning our field of law as well as researching the online advertising trends of our competition. They’re also working hard to find a new way to edge out the competition and have been very helpful in obtaining new clientele for us.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We have a monthly meeting regarding our campaign to discuss what worked, what didn't, and what we plan to do in the future. It gives us an idea as to what we’re paying for since we’re not completely familiar with the online advertising world.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What I find most impressive about Designzillas is how quickly they became familiar with the ins and outs of personal injury law. It’s not an easy thing to just pick up and understand. Within the first couple of months, they were writing blogs for us that contained no errors, which made it extremely easy for us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't name anything at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We import natural architectural materials from around the world, and sell it back to lots of theme parks, zoos, restaurants, [and] consumers on the island.

What is your role?

I am the owner and president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Designzillas?

We wanted to increase our visibility on the Web. Our website was also a little outdated. We wanted to move to a more modern look. At the time, I was terrified, because I had tried it once before with a company, and they nearly closed our business. Unfortunately, they didn’t know what they were doing, so I was very nervous to try it again.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

It was to take our existing website, not to change any of the content really, but to give it a face-lift. Our pages had already been written, we just wanted a completely new and fresh look. We also needed a program or a website that we could get into the backend and edit ourselves. We didn’t want to rely on a company to do all of our edits. We switched to Drupal, and they migrated all of our content to the new system.

How long did the project take?

About four months, and that was probably four years ago.

What was your process for selecting Designzillas with which to work?

We interviewed three or four different companies, and I just felt the most comfortable with them while talking to the owner and team. They were a group of young people, which certainly helped with new ideas. It was fresh life, so to speak. I can honestly say that because I was so nervous of what I was about to put the company through, I think they just really settled my mind and assured me they would stand responsible for anything that happened. They got my business that way.

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

About $40,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

The initial project [the website redesign] was completed four years ago. The second project [search engine optimization] is ongoing. It’s been almost a year that we’ve been with them again.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

We’ve gotten positive feedback from our customers. We’ve always had such a nice, positive response that it’s a very clean site. It’s easy to see, easy to read. So, that is one good indication. We didn’t drop rankings at all. We maintained where we were, and got better. Then about two years later, we thought that we could do better with our SEO [search engine optimization]. We kept the same website but we started looking at another company to do the SEO. We went with another company for about a year.

Designzillas called us and wanted to know why they had lost our business. I was very explicit about exactly why, because we’d dropped in the rankings, and we couldn’t really get a hold of people when we wanted them. They came back again and did a superb job, and we are doing round two with them right now. Technology changes so quickly, and they brought a brand new perspective to the website. The website hasn’t really changed that much. We tweaked it, but it’s all about now the SEM [search engine marketing]. That’s why we’re with Designzillas right now.

How would you describe their performance?

It’s always a work in progress. We never quite know, with marketing, what the results are going to be when we try different things. I think they are definitely a company that’s ahead of the game. They listen to our needs, and they respond quickly. I just love working with them.

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

We worked with a very tight team. You really get to know those team members. They know my business inside and out, more so than the other company did. They have really invested a lot of time learning our business, customers, and products. I think that’s what holds their value for me, as a business owner. They know my business already.

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?

The problem areas that we have, they are getting better and better at. So, there’s nothing that I would say really needs improvement. We have monthly meetings where we talk about it, and within a month it’s improved. I think they’re doing a good job. They should just keep doing what they’re doing.

BACKGROUND

Could you provide a brief description of your company?

We’re a seasonal agritourism business. We’re a farm that also has attractions, activities, and petting zoos.

What is your role at the company?

I’m the vice president. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenges you were trying to address?

We really needed to update our website. I could have just gone to one of those cookie cutter websites and filled in our information, but we really wanted it to be functional with a variety of capabilities like ticket ordering and scheduling, so we wanted to get some experts.

SOLUTION

What is the scope of their work?

They’re developing a whole new website. They are pulling some of the text and pictures off of the old website, but a lot of that is just placeholder until I get around to giving them more information.

They gave me a very detailed, 10 to 15 page summary of the work that they would be doing for us. It was a really nice presentation they gave us. All the technical specifications were in there.

How long have you been working with Designzillas?

Our first meeting was in May [of 2014].

Do you have an approximate completion date?

Right now, we’re aiming for September 1 [ of 2014].

Why did you choose Designzillas with which to work?

We did a lot of Google searches for Web designers. We really liked their portfolio.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in monetary terms or work-hour figure?

It’s $15,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results so far, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the effectiveness of the work they’ve delivered?

It’s very good. The designer took a lot of time with all of our concerns. I sat down and went through it piece by piece and told them how we thought it would be better, be more functional. He took those comments and really incorporated them and fixed that home page up very nicely. We were very pleased with the results. We’re only done with the home page. He’s working on the other pages right now.

How would you describe their performance?

I like their energy. They’re young. They got really excited about what our business is, and we could tell that they would put a good effort into letting our customers know what it’s all about.

Is there any area that they could improve on or that you would do differently?

As this point, I don’t think so.

BACKGROUND

Please give a brief description of your company and your role there.

We’re a commercial real estate company based in Orlando. I’m the managing director of the office here in Orlando.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

When you approached Designzillas, what was the business challenge that you were trying to address?

We were a new company. We needed a website that people could go to and we wanted it to look professional and look like we know what we’re doing. That was the main challenge. 

SOLUTION

Was Designzillas responsible for delivering the full solution?

Yes.

How long did the project take?

I think it took almost three months. It was in the first quarter of 2014.

Are you still working with them?

Yes, we are working with them currently. They are updating our site to a mobile site.

Why did you select them to work with in the beginning?

We met with a couple of folks and liked what they had done. Tonio [Bianca, strategy consultant with Designzillas] is who we met with. We liked him. We thought the pricing was reasonable and their work was good. That’s why we chose them.

Can you give a sense of the size of the project either in a cost range or personnel work-hour figure?

Less than $10,000 with them originally, [and] $2,500 with them now. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of the results, are there any metrics or user feedback that you can share that indicates the effectiveness of their work?

We’ve had a great response from our clients and people that have visited our website saying that it looks really professional. We’ve had a really good response thus far. They did a really good job.

How would you describe their performance?

Performance was good and what I expected. They were responsive. We’re happy with the result.

On the other hand, is there any area that you think Designzillas could improve upon or that you would do differently looking back?

Not that I can think of at the moment.