Drio, LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the HR director for Sojourn Consulting, a small consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

We had an initial website, but we hired Drio to refresh and redesign it so that we could launch a second version of it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Drio has redesigned our website. Our former website was built on WordPress, so they’ve also used WordPress for our new site. We’ve used a combination of the images we already had on the other site and Adobe Stock images for its content, and Drio has provided us with recommendations on what images fit our site better.

The website redesign is now complete, but Drio still provides us with hosting services on a yearly contract basis.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three people from Drio: Rachel (Co-Founder & Left Brain), Hazel (Owner, Partner & Right Brain), and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

We reached out to Drio through their online submission form. We set up a call to understand more about them and their company, and they also asked questions about us and our project. Then, they sent us a proposal and a project management plan, which we accepted.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $12,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've measured the project’s success by comparing the progress with our schedule. Drio did a great job of outlining how long the project would take to complete, and they met the website’s launch date we expected.

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Drio has been great at communicating throughout the project, and they’ve let us know about any challenges encountered along the way. They provided us with a project plan upfront, highlighting our responsibilities and input through each stage.

The project manager has been great at following up with us via email, virtual meetings, and phone calls to ensure the project’s progress, requesting documents from our team when necessary. Additionally, she has updated us along the way, and Drio has delivered the assets within the agreed deadlines. They use a couple of different tools to manage the project and gather information from us.

Drio’s budget management is very straightforward; they initially provided us with a fixed fee plus any additional fees for imagery or licenses needed for the site. Additionally, they made this fee payable in two partialities, one as an initial deposit and the other one payable upon completion of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Drio has a unique approach. As they’re also a small company, they want to ensure that they know their customers very well to provide them with individualized projects and deliver products that capture their essence.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been great if we had had more specific information and technical details upfront for some specific stages of the project. However, we’ve already talked to Drio about that, and they’ve done a great job at walking us through those details. Our conversation has been very positive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ensure that you communicate regularly with Drio and ask them any questions you have. Their team is very responsive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive VP of a real estate firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

We needed help with web development and strategic marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Drio, LLC built our site on WordPress and provided suggestions in terms of its design. Regarding features, the site showcases our general information and allows people to contact us.

For the marketing, they’ve done a strategic session with us to identify the issues we were having and work up what we were doing well to improve them.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three members of their team, including a project manager and marketing people.

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

I went to college with Hazel (Partner).

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2015, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everybody in our team is delighted with their work; our website looks great, and we’re 100% satisfied with their involvement. Overall, they understood the assignment and have delivered very well — they’ve exceeded our expectations. 

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is right on point. We use phone calls, emails, and texts in terms of communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They do a great follow-through to the project and put a lot of effort into what they do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — I’m pleased with them as a partner. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Ensure that you know what they’re capable of doing; they’ve done some strategic work for us that ended up being helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and owner of Erika Holmes Creative LLC, a website and email copywriting business. I write mainly for personal brands, solopreneurs, and smaller organizations. I help such businesses write website and email copy that aligns with their brand messaging, voice, and tone to help them sell their services or products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

I started my business in 2014–2015 and had a website that was decent and solid; I sent people there to let them know I had legitimate business. Once I started generating more revenue and clients, I started to realize my specialization and what I wanted for my brand, but my website didn’t represent those. As a result, I decided to take my website to the next level and hired Drio to help me make that transformation. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Drio overhauled my website; in total, we worked on 5–7 pages. The project started with a discovery call where Drio asked me about my vision and business goals. They also asked me how I was tweaking my services. For context, I was also reworking my services with new packages at the same time that I was launching the overhauled website. In any case, the discovery process helped them understand my vision. 

After that, Drio continued working with me to create a sitemap that focused on the end users’ journey. I did photography work separately, but Drio jumped on a phone call with me so we could choose photos together. In this process, we strategize where best to put the photos. Likewise, I wrote my own copy for the website. We again hopped on a call to figure out where the pieces of copy fit best. 

What is the team composition?

Hazel (Owner & Partner) was my main point of contact, but I also did several calls with Rachel (Co-Founder).  

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

I knew Hazel personally. Meanwhile, as a copywriter, I’d worked with a lot of website designers, so I also had a lot of other choices. What made me choose Drio wasn’t only because of my personal relationship with Haze but also because I’d collaborated with her on other projects. When working on a project, she’d get personally invested. She could be driving her kids to school, but she would stop to call me if she had an idea for the website. Moreover, she was also generous with her time and a strategic thinker. As a result, I hired her and Drio for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

I invested around $12,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project lasted from January 2019–January 2020. It was divided into two phases; the first phase was in 2019, and we updated it in 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had several success metrics. For one, the new website has gotten leads on a weekly basis; people would submit requests through the form that Drio created for my website. On top of that, my conversion rate has been around 85%–90%. That was partly because people already knew they wanted to work with me once they landed on my website, at which time they’d already been 80% sold. In other words, I already made back my investment easily within a month.

For comparison, I had my old website for around four years, and I never had one lead from it. It had a contact form, but nobody actually ever used it. 

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Out of all the people I worked with, Hazel was one of the most communicative. She was highly proactive when it came to communication. We always had regular contact, so I always knew where my project stood. To communicate, we used a combination of emails and phone calls. 

We usually hopped on Zoom calls where Hazel and Rachel shared their screens to show me their work on the website; we’d then review their outputs together. Moreover, if I had a question for them and wanted to hop on a call, I always felt welcome. I could shoot them an email and get in touch with them quickly. 

In terms of deadlines, if Drio said I could expect a draft by a certain date, they always met that timeline. If they couldn’t, they always informed me; I was never surprised and left looking for the deliverable. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Drio was highly strategic in their approach. Many other designers would just do what I tell them. If I asked for five pages, they’d give it to me. By contrast, Drio took into account my business goals, ideal customers, and target audience, so our engagement was truly a collaborative process. 

Moreover, Hazel didn’t simply give me what I wanted; she also pushed back and asked whether I'd carefully thought about something. She’d tell me what could work better based on my goals. Overall, Hazel brought her expertise and best suggestions to the table even if they were different from what I originally wanted, making the final product a lot stronger. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on your goals before going into any project with Drio.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and sole proprietor of Erica Holmes Creative LLC. I’m a website and email copywriter, and I help companies with their brand messaging, voice, and tone. I write mostly for personal brands and, occasionally, for small organizations to help them sell their services or products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

I started my business around 2015, and I had a decent website that I had created to show people that I had an established company. However, once I started generating more revenue and getting more clients, I figured out which area I wanted to specialize in and how I wanted my brand to be, and my website wasn’t representing that.

I was ready to take my website to the next level, and I knew in which direction I wanted to take it, so I hired Drio to do that transformation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Drio did an overhaul of my entire website, which had 5–7 pages in total. Initially, we had a discovery call, where they asked me about my vision, my business goals, and how I was tweaking my services.

After the discovery process, Drio worked with me to create a site map, focusing on the user journey. I did some brand photography separate from Drio, but I really liked that they were very involved in the whole process.

After I got my photos, we had a call where we reviewed them together, strategizing which photos went better on each part of the site. We also had a call and worked together to determine which copy fit best in which part, all done in a very strategic approach.

What is the team composition?

Hazel (Owner & Partner) was my main point of contact, but I also had several calls with Rachel (Co-Founder & Left Brain), who did most of the designs.

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

I knew Hazel personally beforehand, and we had collaborated on a lot of other projects. I had also worked with many other website and graphic designers, so I had a lot of options to choose from. However, I selected Drio over their competitors because I knew that Hazel got very personally invested in her projects.

She’s the type of person that calls whenever she gets an idea for the project, no matter if she’s busy with her personal life. She’s really generous with her time, and she’s a very strategic thinker, even thinking about things outside her scope.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2019, and my site was launched in January 2020. However, this project had two phases, and the second phase was an update during 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had had my older website for four years. It had a contact form, but I never got a single lead through it — no one used it. With my new website, however, I get leads on a weekly basis from people submitting requests and inquiries.

Additionally, my conversion rate once I get people on a call is now around 85%–90%. This result is largely due to the fact that people already know that they want to work with me after they land on my website. By the time they get on a call with me, they’re already around 80% convinced about my services.

This project wasn’t economical. However, I made my investment back within a month.

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They were a very collaborative partner from start to finish. Hazel has been one of the most communicative persons that I’ve ever worked with. She was very proactive in her communication, so we had regular contact.

Another thing that I really liked about her was that she suggested new ideas and approaches based on our goals. She wasn’t afraid to bring her expertise, even if her suggestions were different from what I originally thought. This made the final product a lot stronger.

I also had good communication with Rachel. We had a few calls where we reviewed her progress on the website design, and if I had a question for her, I always felt welcomed to send her an email or get in touch with her.

I always felt that I knew where the project stood, and Drio always met the deadlines that they promised. We communicated via email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Drio was very strategic in their approach. A lot of designers just execute what the client asks them to do, but Drio takes into account their client’s business goals, ideal customers, and target audience, and they’re really strategic in their recommendations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything that they could have improved on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear about your goals before you go into a project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the owners of Photographic Memories, a photography management company. We scan and digitalize printed photos, as well as organize and restore digital photos.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

Companies today are judged by how their image and website look. Thus, when I started this business, I knew that I wanted to jumpstart it by giving it a very professional look. I had already worked with Drio in my last business, so I wanted to start working with them again right away and ask them to build a website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Drio first sent us an electronic document with some questions to fill out. Then, we spent some time talking on the phone, discussing our business, the market, and our targeted segments. They not only wanted to understand our business but also our feelings about it and the emotional side of what we wanted it to convey to people.

From there, Drio put together a front-page draft, and we went back and forth on it several times to ensure that we were comfortable with its design. Then, they proceeded to build out the rest of the pages for the site. We also went back and forth on that, making edits as needed until we were satisfied, and finally, Drio launched our website.

What is the team composition?

We worked with the two founders of Drio: Hazel (Owner & Partner) and Rachel (Co-Founder & Left Brain).

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

Several years ago, we heard about Drio from someone whom we were working with on the development of a piece of software. They were recommended to do the UI and the look and feel parts of that project, and I worked with them on and off throughout the whole time I was under my other company.

I chose them for a number of reasons. The first reason was that they focused on small businesses. Their goal is to make small businesses stand out by looking professional and having an amazing internet presence.

The second reason was that they demonstrated to be very easy to work with. Drio’s approach to projects is very structured, but it also allows getting in the feeling and understanding of the business.

Finally, they tend to focus on service-based businesses, and they do that very well. They understand how to communicate their clients’ business and mission to other people.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $7,000–$8,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in February 2021, and they finished the site in July 2021. Since then, we’ve been working with them on our social media strategy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is still early to see the impact that this project will have on our business, but Drio set us up to be able to understand the traffic coming through our website and use Google Analytics to understand its success.

The feedback about our site has been positive. For example, I’m part of an association with other photography managers, and I’ve received comments about our website looking professional and being easy to navigate. Additionally, Drio helped us with our logo and branding, which have received positive feedback as well; they look interesting and engaging.

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Drio managed the project exceptionally well. They outlined a calendar prior to the project’s start, and they walked us through it and its various deadlines. When we had questions, they got on the phone or on a Zoom call with us to make sure that we understood what we were doing.

They offered a very structured approach, which was very helpful. As a business owner, I was juggling many different things at the same time, but they ensured that we stayed on track and hit the targets that we had agreed upon.

Drio also used a lot of online tools, and they used them very well. For example, we had to pick images and go back and forth to define the language that we would use. They used a tool that made it very easy to upload the images and collect the language used. Overall, Drio uses the tools of their business very well so that projects go very smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Drio’s overall approach to the project was impressive. They were very enthusiastic and positive about it, and they proved to be very capable. It was very easy to work with them because they knew what they were doing.

We didn’t have to follow up on the process. From the start, they came at it with the right questions and requirements for us, which made all the pieces fall together easily. They were so organized and thoughtful that they made this process simple for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I can think of that they could have done better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

One of the key aspects of working with them is to listen to what they’re saying rather than coming in with your own idea of how the project should be. Drio really understands what you need to have a great internet presence.

For example, we had already done a logo, but they were honest and said that it wouldn’t work for what we wanted, and the project was delayed because they had to redo our logo. However, the end result was so much better than how it would have been if we had continued down our own path.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chairman of the board at William E. Schmidt Foundation, a private foundation with an emphasis on vocal arts. We also support other educational and self-help programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

We hired Drio to revamp our website called Schmidt Vocal Arts, where we ran the majority of our vocal arts programs. Our organization wanted to make the website more accessible, and that involved updating its content. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We already had a website, and Drio updated it and changed some of its texts. Meanwhile, another consulting firm updated the site’s copywriting, so Rachel (Co-Founder) and Hazel (Owner & Partner) spent most of their time changing its format. They worked on giving it better navigation and focused the content more on Schmidt Vocal Arts. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Rachel and Hazel.

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

We used two other consulting firms to put together our program format for the Schmidt Vocal Arts, and those companies directed us to Drio. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $11,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from June–August 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I didn't know the business impact of the project, but our board and employees were pleased with the website. I also liked the ease of navigation, which was important because we wanted end users to click through the holding website easily. 

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was good. Originally, we set the deadline on July 15, 2021, but we had a late start. We had to revise the timeline because so many people were on vacation. In any case, Drio worked on our revised schedule, though we couldn’t respond to them right away. When we provided feedback on the layouts they did, they were willing to extend time limits; they always responded to us promptly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Drio was flexible and responsive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Drio didn’t quite grasp right away what we wanted to do or where we were headed. However, that wasn’t a major problem. Once they understood our concept, we were all set. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Respond in a timely manner to what Drio is saying or doing. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run a nonprofit and am a media trainer at Banister Media. We do general consultation of everything related to public speaking, presentation skills, camera training, and so on. Basically, we advise people on promoting themselves and their message to stakeholders, colleagues, the press, and the public.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Drio, LLC?

We had a 10-year-old website, so we were trying to develop and expand it, as well as mesh my two levels of expertise under one umbrella.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I write, so I like to control the message. However, Drio guided us and opened the door to do everything we needed. We worked as a team to create a product that represented me as an individual and a consulting firm. They built the website and set the imagery, tone, color, and graphics, combining them with my writing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Rachel and Hazel (Owners & Partners).

How did you come to work with Drio, LLC?

A marketing associate recommended them. Also, Drio built my nonprofit website in 2015. I’d never developed anything to that level before, and they were spectacular. The team brought my vision to light and really helped me grow it.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began this project in December 2020, and it was finished by February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They had a wonderful sense of our tone, messaging, and style, and they brought the full circle together. Drio gave us direction; they knew how to run and promote our vision. I trusted them without question.

We also got great responses and feedback. A former colleague looked at the website and said it looked just like me. Moreover, we made more money in a couple of months than we did in two quarters in 2019.

How did Drio, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They were exceptional. I felt they were part of our ongoing team. The project was a strong, collaborative, and energized effort. They were highly responsive and accessible. We could work remotely from different parts of the world, and they’d always acknowledge our messages.

Additionally, Drio let us dictate the timeline, but they worked hard to get it done and delivered the website very quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was their creativity. They knew how to take our message, create the image that we’d envisioned, and make it attractive for the people who look at our website.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any complaints; I constantly recommend them to people. They could add somebody else to handle updates, but they could lose some of the quality control.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their ideas. If your vision is different than what they’re suggesting, sit back and listen to it. They know what they’re doing, so take their advice.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at United Way of Central Maryland

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

United Way of Central Maryland strengthens lives and neighborhoods across Greater Baltimore by promoting equity and increasing access to basic needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Drio, LLC to accomplish?

• Build a new website for uwcm.org
• Make the site engaging and easy to navigate
• Make the site accessible

SOLUTION

How did you find Drio, LLC?

Referral

Why did you select Drio, LLC over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• Minority-owned

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We hired Drio Duo to complete a website overhaul -- architecture, design, etc. The site needed to be easy to navigate for our complex work and be accessible in all ways. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Site launch 
• Accessibility software added
• Site easy to navigate
• All donation forms embedded and working 
• Not broken links 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes, and if anything was slightly delayed, they communicated quickly and worked with us on a solution.

What was your primary form of communication with Drio, LLC?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We loved that Drio is local and women- and Hispanic-owned. They're small and nimble; we liked being about to work directly with the principals. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Drio, LLC could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own an auction company, we help market high end personal property for individual and business clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Drio, LLC?

We hired Drio to design and build a new website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I was very impressed with a website they had developed for one of our industry partners.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We met a few times to outline the project and what our expectations were. After that they presented a plan with various project milestones.

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

My main POC was Liz.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Lots of positive feedback on the site already!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Liz was awesome at keeping the project on track.

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

They listened to what we really wanted about the website and turned it into a beautifully designed product.

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

I was very pleased with the process and finished product