Digital Sales

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Iveagh Trust is the oldest housing charity in Ireland, providing c. 1600 homes across Dublin. The Trust offers a range of housing options including general needs housing for families, supported housing for older people and accommodation for men experiencing homelessness at the Iveagh Hostel.

Our Mission Our aim is not just to provide homes, but to put in place the supports and services to help our communities thrive. A team of dedicated estate managers and caretakers are on hand to help make our communities great places to live. My position as IT officer is to maintain the Trust's IT systems and processes.

For what projects/services did your company hire Digital Sales, and what were your goals?

The Iveagh Trust approached Digital Sales for the following services:

• Technical Website Changes
• Website Design Changes
• Elavon and Merchant Embed
• Technical SEO Improvement
• Assistance with Website Relaunch
• Full Migration Digital Consultancy

The goal was to work with Digital Sales with the re-launch of our website that included new features for our tenants such as payment services, an interactive tenant centre as well as an improved look and feel for visitors with more responsiveness and compatibility for mobile devices.

How did you select Digital Sales and what were the deciding factors?

After contacting several development companies before contacting Digital Sales, the deciding factor was first and foremost - their excellent communication and customer care.

We felt that they had our needs in mind and we felt that Digital Sales would be an excellent company for us to work with as they seemed to understand our goals and issues we were experiencing with finding a payment solution that worked for us. Along with their fantastic knowledge and experience, excellent level of care and the quality of their previous work, we felt that were the right choice for us.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Initially we spoke to Digital Sales looking for a payment integration solution that we could tie into our website but after speaking with them a few times and learning what they can actually do for us and realising the quality of their work, we asked them to partner with us in the development of our new website.

Digital Sales devoted a lot of time and effort to our project in the areas mentioned in the previous section and they greatly improved the design of the web site, resolved quite a few bugs it was experiencing along with other technical issues. The SEO was of particular importance for us as well as the final migration and relaunch to replace our old website.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We dealt directly with Diarmuid Haughian who is the Sales and Business Development Director of Digital Sales.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our Feedback: We cannot thank Digital Sales enough for the invaluable work they put into the project. The website and its payment facility has been a great addition and is already helping to improve communications with our tenants.

Visitor Feedback: We have received quite a few compliments from tenants describing how easy it is for them to pay their rent and navigate through the new tenant centre. Information is now available to them more easily than it was before, working very well on mobile devices.

Our website has seen a very large jump in visitors. During the first month after the official launch, the site received between 2000 and 4000 visitors per day. (Compared to around 30-50 on the older website)

The majority of visitors initially were visiting the story and history pages of our site. Whereas now, the majority of visitors are availing of the payment facility developed by Digital Sales as well as the communications forms and tenant centre on our site.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We had constant contact with Diarmuid right throughout the project who would have relayed our requests to his own team. Diarmuid was excellent to deal with and would talk us through every change or issue we encountered as well as coming back with solutions quickly.

For our communication we used email and phone. Management style was proactive with Digital Sales pre-empting issues or demands we may encounter in the future as well as dealing with the tasks and issues that presented themselves during the project.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I felt that it was most impressive that we didn’t have to go through several people or departments to finally be assigned a project manager. The person I dealt with right from the very beginning to the very end and indeed including the support provided after the project was Diarmuid. This made it a lot easier to deal with them as a 3rd party but also very much sped things up for us.

The unique thing about Digital Sales was that they understood what we did, what we were about and what our needs were. And this was as soon as I mentioned that we were a housing organisation as they had already worked with a similar housing organisation that isn’t too far from us in their requirements.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I can honestly say that I cant think of any areas that should improve upon.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of M.E.W.P. Services, a small startup company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

I needed a website made.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diarmuid (Sales & Business Development Director) designed our logo before moving on to the site. He did a keyword analysis to ensure the site was optimized.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Diarmuid.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

A former employer of mine recommended them. Diarmuid built their website. After checking on their pricing and meeting him, I knew they were the right fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Digital Sales started in March 2020.

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

I’m blown away by what Digital Sales was able to produce. The website just went live. Diarmuid designed a top-quality, nice, and clear logo. It’s on a completely different level than our previous one. He exceeded expectations.

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the process, Diarmuid kept me involved. He sent updates on the site for my input. He also gave honest feedback when my ideas weren’t the best choice. We communicate by phone. He’s always responsive and available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Diarmuid is approachable, always willing to answer questions. He explains things well and delivers far and above his promises. He went above and beyond what I’d imagine the website would be.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I couldn’t fault him for anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t try to force your ideas on Diarmuid. Let him be the expert that he is, and give him the opportunity to make the website you need.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a law partner at a boutique legal firm. We specialize in criminal law and we also do property law, human rights, and family law.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We had a very dated website. We wanted a new website that was modern and attractive to bring in business as well as enhance our profile in the marketplace.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our new website.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one person who had a larger team behind them.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

I found them through an online search. I sent an email and they responded very quickly. They were quick to understand what we were looking for and what we needed.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $5,000-$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020 and we would have been finished if it weren’t for the COVID-19 restrictions. They’re not able to do the last part yet which requires an in-person training session. They’re continuing to give support to the website. As soon as we can have in-person meetings again, we’ll have a final meeting and the process will be finished.

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

They were very focused on presenting a strong image. They were really proactive in committing to help us and making sure we got a good end-product. 

They also informed us about ways we could get government funding towards helping our redesign. They booked a training course that showed us how to apply for grant funding. As a result of the funding, we could justify a bigger spend on our website than we initially thought we could afford. We got a lot of added value.

They’re very committed to delivering high-end results. They were very engaged throughout the process. The end results exceeded our expectations. 

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all the targets. They broke the work into sections which was efficient. There was never a long delay when waiting for a response. They were focused on getting the site up and running as soon as possible. 

They’re also very pleasant to deal with. They’re approachable and always available. The work progressed quickly and moved along smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very personable, ambitious, and hardworking. They deliver a very good product. Customer service is excellent. They’re highly skilled and give their all to their customers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set aside ample time to work on the project. It’s also helpful to spend time engaging with them and listening to what they recommend. The training course that we did with them put us in the right frame of mind for engaging with the new web design and marketing strategy. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sales manager for Mackenway Wines. We’re a B2B wine distribution company. We sell to restaurants, wine shops, and some grocery stores.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We needed an updated website, as well as to increase our online presence.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled every aspect of the website, including layout, specs, design, content, and development. They modernized and updated us with the latest technologies. They also did some digital marketing to improve our presence.

What is the team composition?

Diarmuid (Sales & Business Development Director) is my point of contact.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

I met Diarmuid several years ago. We considered several companies, but felt Digital Sales would carry out what we needed, had great communication, and great pricing.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $5,000 - $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in January 2020, and it’s almost finished. We’re just doing some final tweaking.

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

It’s pretty early to give any statistics, especially given the situation with COVID-19. However, we’re very pleased with the process. They walked us through the plan, step by step, explaining in non-technical terms the reasoning behind the strategies. We had a clear idea of what needed to be implemented, and why.

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate mainly via phone and in person. That suits our needs, as we require hands-on interactions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Diarmuid is personable, listens well, asks good questions, and gives us what we want. He didn’t try to dictate what we wanted but really listened. He adjusted what was needed, came back with a proper plan, and executed it well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit down and have a coffee with Diarmuid. Build the brief properly, in the beginning, to save time later. Make sure you understand the full scope, especially if you’re not well-versed in technology.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of BM Stairlifts, a stairlift installation company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We wanted to get more traffic to our website and, in turn, more inquiries.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Digital Sales began by redesigning our website to make it mobile-friendly. They implemented a PayPal payment system onto the site as well. Next, the team set up our Google Ads campaign, and once the project was completed, undertook SEO and digital marketing activity for over a year after the website design project was completed.

What is the team composition?

I worked primarily with the owner and founder.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

I went to school with the owner, so I’ve known him for years and we kept in touch. When I reached out to him for this project, he was very hands-on and made an impressive proposal, so I decided to partner with him and his team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $5,000-$10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was from January 2015–March 2016.

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

We’ve grown massively in the last three years. Now, we see a lot of inquiries come in over the web and receive a number of comments praising our website.

The team does an excellent job of simplifying the concepts behind SEO, so our team can really understand what we’re doing. I’ve learned a lot from them.

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

Digital Sales’ project management style is good. The owner, who acts as our project manager, nearly always answers his phone. He’s reliable and has provided good communication across the board.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Digital Sales is passionate about what they do. They’re knowledgeable and hardworking, and we find them very easy to work with. We’re confident that we can leave our campaigns in their hands and they’ll bring success. We have a lot of trust in them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve learned a lot from them. Digital Sales should be putting their services out there to more people.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend hiring Digital Sales. Follow their advice, especially about not ignoring the Google side of things. You have to do it.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at Accord Windows, a window and glass replacement company

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We wanted to get more visibility online, to increase both calls and sales.

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start of the engagement, we met with Digital Sales to discuss expectations for the project. The team collected some photos to put together our website. Next, they sent examples along to us for approval, and they implemented whatever changes we requested. 

From there, Digital Sales developed the entire website and hosted it. The team offered support with digital marketing, launching Google Ads and consulting on strategic keywords.

Currently, Digital Sales remains onboard to maintain the site, tweaking it for optimal traffic as needed.

What is the team composition?

I only work with Diarmuid (Sales & Business Development Director).

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

A friend recommended Digital Sales to me, and they were a great fit for our business needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $5,000 - $10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2018, and the work is ongoing.

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

We’ve seen an increase in calls of more than 50% since working with Digital Sales.

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

Diarmuid performed very well. We communicated via phone, and he was available to collaborate whenever necessary.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Digital Sales’ detailed knowledge of the industry was extremely helpful. Diarmuid explained details and concepts along the way, so we could have an understanding of why he was implementing certain strategies. He was very obliging and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest with Digital Sales and tell them exactly what you need.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the proprietor of Catering365. We’re an event catering company based in Dublin, serving the surrounding areas.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We needed to update our website because all new business comes through there. We didn’t have a proactive strategy in place so we hired Digital Sales to help us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Digital Sales completely rebuilt our website from the ground up: backend, frontend, imagery, etc. The imagery on the old website was quite bad, so the team incorporated great images from the events we had done. They put in a payment portal as well. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Diarmuid (Sales & Business Development Director) and another teammate.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

A local commerce organization put me in touch with them. I did consider a few other companies, but I was won over by the personal touch and attention to detail we experienced with Diarmuid.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project from December 2019–March 2020.

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

They delivered a quality product and we’re very happy. Our customers have even commented on the new website. We signed off on the work quite happily. However, we did come across a couple of minor details in the emails afterward. The team worked on fixing those even though we had signed off on the project. 

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

Diarmuid is always available to come to our office on short notice and discuss any issues. He also answers all of our calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, or emails. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The personal touch Diarmuid extends really sets this company apart. He went above and beyond and was able to explain the technical side in very basic terms for a non-technical person like me. The team’s capability and technical ability are exceptional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Diarmuid is very good, and he’ll get it done.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of an electrical contracting company. We do boiler repair, breakdown, and replacement.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

I wanted to broaden my client base since a lot of my customers were being drawn in by word-of-mouth.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They've helped with marketing, advertising, made suggestions for my website. They've also helped with my site's SEO.

What is the team composition?

I have one point of contact.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

I've known them for a long time, and they were recommended to me by another person in my industry. I saw what their model had to offer and decided I wanted to take my company to the next level and implement something like that, too.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested $5,000 – $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in April 2018 and wrapped up in July 2018.

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

The results have been excellent; nearly too good, in fact. In addition to the leads I've already gotten from word-of-mouth, my workload has increased, which is great. Overall, I've seen the fruition of my investment with them. I can easily get five referrals from one online inquiry or one Google search. It opens up a whole new avenue outside of my already established customer base.                                                                   

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very detailed and we kept in regular communication. They were very prompt in answering any questions I might have.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm impressed with how they applied themselves in regard to their strong attention to detail. That also translated into a higher quality for my website.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, honestly, I couldn't ask for more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I can't speak highly enough of them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of TM Plumbing and Heating Contractors.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We wanted to upgrade our website to get more traffic. We’d worked with another company but weren’t happy with the quality of the customer service.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a brand-new website for us.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one person.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

A friend of mine knew them and said they were very good.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2018–February 2019.

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

They’ve been very good to work with and we’ve seen good results. They did blog posts that created a lot of traffic to our site and increased the leads too.

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was very good. They communicated with us regularly on a weekly basis, and if there were any changes or proofs to send over, they were on it. They’re easy to deal with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is so much better than our previous company. They got back to us, often replying to emails the same day, and they were personable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re happy with them. They provide good service.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They should continue with the good customer service they offered us.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for a dance retailer. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Sales?

We were building a website from one of the Magento templates that we found and had a company that was supposed to help us. They didn’t do a very good job and things took a very long time, so we decided to find someone else. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Diarmuid (Sales & Business Development Manager, Digital Sales) helped us implement an online store to our website and assisted with PayPal and Braintree plugin integration. Digital Sales did so well that we went through the website to see what else needed to be fixed.

Diarmuid gave us a brief review of what else we should be looking at, and step by step, he took care of little jobs for us. Eventually, we moved the entire website over to their care. He also advises us on the next steps we should take.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Diarmuid.

How did you come to work with Digital Sales?

We did a Google search and spoke to a few of the companies that popped up. Diarmuid was really fast and professional, so we decided to choose his company. It was a big change for us from the previous company we worked with.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $5,000–$10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in February 2018, and it’s an ongoing relationship.

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

Digital Sales has delivered on every promise. Diarmuid works super fast and if we ask him about something, he will advise us and be completely honest if it’s something we really need to do or if it can wait until later. This has been really important to us. Overall, we’re happy with Digital Sales’ work.

How did Digital Sales perform from a project management standpoint?

Although we didn’t start the project with Digital Sales, they came in as a savior at the end. They slowly helped us get our website up to the standard we needed. They always complete tasks within the agreed-upon timeframes. If there are any delays, Diarmuid is upfront about it and provides updates every step of the way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Diarmuid is an honest and nice guy, which is very helpful. We have the same vibe and it’s easy to work with him. I think he likes working with us as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re really happy and I don’t have anything for them to improve. We work together daily and if they know something, they will share it with us even if it’s something that isn’t going to bring in money for their business.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just give Digital Sales a call.