Keeping You Tech Savvy
eGuide believes in helping small business with a technology-minded approach. We work with our clients to create efficiencies in their business using either their current technology systems or introducing and onboarding a new system into the fold.
We are a support system for anything digital including Web development and design, CRM and ERP systems, sales and proposal software, or cloud-based operating suites like Microsoft 365 and G suite.
We combine analysis and creative problem solving to present solutions that impact the business and avoid taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Focus
Portfolio
Small businesses with 1 - 25 employees to nonprofit organizations with a similar scale. // Industry Scope: Service-based businesses | Hospitality | Retail | Professional & Educational Services | Construction | Real Estate
Truth Be Told | IT Support
How eGuide streamlined mailbox management, file management, collaboration, and reduced cost by implementing a market-leading solution and best practices development.
Overview:Email management, file storage, and collaboration are essential activities for every organization and can become time-consuming and have a severe impact on productivity, employee, and constituent experience. With our continued partnership with Truth Be Told, we have been able to advise, advocate, and help maintain a clear understanding of systems and their impact on the organization. Approach:
Analyze Current Systems: Originally, Truth Be Told was utilizing an unreliable white labeled email service provided by a third-party provider and storing files both on DropBox and local devices. Users trying to access files simultaneously and multiple versions of the same file were impacting productivity and employee experience. In addition to collaboration,, sharing files with board members, volunteers and facilitators required many additional steps and made it difficult for all interest groups to access files.
By combining our observations with employee feedback from the client we were able to determine the key performance indicators that the new systems would need to address:
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Reliable email communication.
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File Sharing
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Collaboration
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Integrations between platforms
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Cost-effectiveness
Leveraging our technical expertise and learnings from previous implementations, eGuide was able to identify Google Suite for Nonprofits as the ideal solution for Truth Be Told. Google Suite offered the reliability, flexibility, and security of a cloud solution while being cost-effective by leveraging the nonprofit special pricing model.
eGuide developed a comprehensive implementation plan that covered file clean up, migration, and deployment of Google services such as Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail. Providing the client with a clear understanding of how the new solutions would address previous challenges, a detailed timeline, and constant updates along the process allowed us to conduct a full migration in approximately 2 weeks with minimal disruption to the team’s work routine.
User Training and Best Practices:Completing a platform tour and being able to draw parallels between the old and new systems was very important in helping users understand how the systems worked and established how efficiencies could be created by drawing on the collaborative capabilities of G Suite.
Most of Truth Be Told users were already familiar with Google Apps for consumers, making this a natural adoption and quick transition.
Conclusion:After 2 months since Truth Be Told has been completely working with their technology tools, they have been able to see a tremendous improvement in the reliability of their email communications, the ease of collaborating with teammates, volunteers, and board members. On the financial side, the organization went from paying for multiple different platforms to taking advantage of the free Google Suite for nonprofits program. And on the technical side, we have seen a drastic reduction in the number of incoming support tickets related to email service issues and file storage.
Proposal Design | Truffleberry Market
When Truffleberry Market merged with Paramount Events, they adopted the same systems Paramount already had in place. eGuide took this as an opportunity to streamline their proposal process with Proposify. By creating easy-to-use, aesthetically pleasing templates and organizing menu sections in the content gallery we were able to create a more efficient proposal process. Design
With Truffleberry Market being known for their attention to detail and ability to produce highly customized events, we wanted their proposals to be able to showcase that range while also providing the necessities of the proposal in an organized, straight-forward fashion. The goal here was to show rather than tell. Events, especially Truffleberry’s, are a highly visual experience and their proposals should be no different. Content Galleries
The saved content galleries of specific offerings such as, passed hors d'oeuvres, plated dinners, and dessert stations, allowed the sales team to drop in overall menu pieces and then customizer from there, rather than rewriting entire menus with each new proposal that came through. With such a focus on the high customization of events, these content galleries allowed the sales team to focus on the individuality and small details.
Website Design | West Town Chamber of Commerce
How eGuide redesigned and streamlined West Town Chamber of Commerce’s 10 sites into two user friendly, thoughtfully designed sites.
OverviewWest Town Chamber of Commerce had a custom coded string of sites that hadn’t been redone in nearly a decade. With the West Town neighborhood of Chicago gaining popularity among locals and tourists alike, the Chamber decided they needed their network of sites to be more streamlined and user friendly. Approach:
After having multiple meetings with the entire chamber staff to compile their wishlist of what a new site would have to not only be easy for users to navigate but also to streamline operations for staff on membership applications, community requests, and more.
Instead of having all information for the Chamber of Commerce, Special Service Area, Street Festivals, and more live on individual sites, eGuide and WTCC made the decision to compile all of the information into two sites, one Chamber member facing site, and one community member/tourism centered site. All of the street festival information was downsized to fit into one page per festival on the current site and the Chamber information, Special Service Area information, master plan, and other loose sites were broken into their own sections on the current site.
Donor Management Platforms | Surge Institute
How eGuide streamlined donor management by implementing a market-leading solution and focusing on user training.
Overview:Fundraising and donor management are crucial to a non-profit organization’s success and can become time-consuming and challenging as the organization grows. Database management, information access control, and establishing best practices are essential to properly track individual giving, grants, and major gifts. With our continued partnership with The Surge Institute, we have been able to advise, advocate, and help maintain a clear understanding of fundraising efforts for the organization.
Approach Analyze the Current ProcessThrough our 4 year partnership with The Surge Institute, we have seen the organization grow into 3 different cities, receive funding from major grants, and run successful annual individual giving fundraisers. With each expansion, the core staff for the organization has grown. Knowing where the organization was, where they are, and where they plan to go, has allowed us to ensure that we are advising and training new hires with the best practices for keeping their donor database clean.
Prior to eGuide’s involvement Surge implemented eTapestry, a donor management program built for lean non-profits. This all-in-one solution intended to make managing your organization easily has some traps that The Surge Institute fell prey to. eGuide was able to deep analyze how data was being entered, tracked, and reported. Following eTapestry best practices, we were able to isolate changes and updates that would allow for cleaner reporting, better engagement tracking with individual donors, and cleaner financials.
Standardization & Quality ChecksWhile eTapestry does have some limitations, the platform does allow for fairly robust customizable reporting through queries, but without proper training, users are left to name and save queries as they see fit. To kick off the project, eGuide worked in conjunction with Surge staff to ensure that there was logic, and best practices established for all custom reports both in Queries, DIY Forms, and Email Lists.
In a similar fashion, we took a keen eye on cleaning up donor information, to ensure that individuals, businesses, grant providers, fellows, and employees were inputted in a uniform fashion and tagged with the proper unique identifiers within the database.
Most importantly, we took a look at individual gifts, grants, and matching. Prior to our implementation, all grant disbursements were being tracked via external spreadsheets, and there were no parameters to major gifts or corporate matching. eGuide was able to synthesize the data and establish a best practice for utilizing eTapestry for this type of tracking moving forward.
Finally, we customized access levels based on roles or departments a very important step for a growing organization as it ensures teams have access to critical data for their everyday tasks while maintaining sensitive and confidential information safely.
Client OnboardingeGuide puts efficiency at the core of what we do, and this translates into our on-boarding and training as well. For any new hire, and for re-training of existing staff, eGuide recorded an onboarding session that would be accessible by any staff at any time. This hands-on training approach allows users to refer back to information covered that is specific to the actual instance the organization uses.
Organizational change can be difficult, especially for a rapidly growing organization, and eGuide understands that sometimes re-training staff that may have been operating under improper assumptions takes twice as much time as training someone new from the ground up. For these users, we dedicate an additional 1:1 time to review and explain the why behind the newly implemented practices. We find that if users understand the reason behind the changes they are more likely to adapt to them.
In addition to video training and 1:1 training we also created a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document to ensure that as the team grows, new members are receiving the necessary training documents that can be used to their preferred style of learning.
Conclusion:The relationship between eGuide Tech Allies and Surge Institute is beyond just a technology consultant or an MSP. We are technology partners with a deep understanding of the organization processes, culture, and have the same passion for the organization’s mission as any other member of the team. This allows us to operate at the same capacity of an internal IT team whether it is providing technical assistance for everyday technical issues, vetting and implementing new platforms, developing IT budgets and technology roadmaps and most importantly helping our teammates at Surge Institute improve their relationship with technology to better fulfill their mission.
Reviews
the project
Squarespace Dev & Design for Food & Lifestyle Publication
"They were in-tune with my needs, responsive, and made sure I was satisfied."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the owner of a lifestyle publication.
What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?
I wanted to create a website for my interest in food.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They were essential in shaping, designing, and building the site. It started with a concept from me, but they helped grow and evolve the platform over time. In the beginning, we opted for a blog-style site that was meant for me to share my experiences with food. We used Squarespace to create the site.
They helped determine three major categories that my site would cover: gastronomy, travel, and wellness. In addition to setting up the site, they assisted me in finding my brand voice. I’m not a writer, so they did a few exercises with me to determine my authentic voice for the site.
What is the team composition?
I worked with Gregory (Owner) and Lauren (Project Manager).
How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?
I attended a class, and they were presenting. Their presenter was great. I’m not a tech-savvy person and knew that I would need help from a team to build my site. I reached out to them to see if they could translate my ideas into a platform.
How much have you invested with them?
I spent about $900.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project spanned March–June 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The reception of the site was great. People admire it for its aesthetic appeal. Lauren understood my vision and personality, translating it brilliantly into an elevated website. I’m happy with my readership and performance on Google.
How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re very professional. Everything was on time and delivered in a professional manner. We used Excel to exchange information.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were in-tune with my needs, responsive, and made sure I was satisfied. I was impressed with how easily they were able to guide me through the process and educate me on managing a Squarespace site. They were willing to teach to make sure that I would be able to update the site on my own moving forward.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It would be nice for them to provide some flexibility in their offering and pricing packages.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be honest and transparent with your needs. If you’re being your authentic self, they can take the project forward in a professional manner.
the project
Website & Logo Design for Event Management Firm
"I'd absolutely recommend them to any of my small business/nonprofit colleagues any day."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the founder and CEO of Scurry Street Meeting Management, a full-service event management and consulting firm. We work with corporate and association clients to design in-person and virtual event experiences that facilitate learning, influence behavior, and elevate brands.
For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?
When I first started my company I created a logo and website just to have some sort of digital presence, but they were far from what I wanted them to be.
What were your goals for this project?
To completely redesign my logo and establish a "brand", and also redesign my website to create a professional, but approachable digital presence.
How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?
I met Gregory P. while we were both working on an outside project, and when I learned what all they could do for a small start-up like mine, I knew he was the guy to help me.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
Gregory and his team worked with me to determine my "brand personality" and what I wanted my corporate identity to convey. They created a logo, a logo mark, a style guide, and completely redesigned my website from scratch.
What was the team composition?
I worked directly with Gregory for most of the project, with some assistance from Lauren R. on some of the technical details.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
I now have a corporate identity and web presence I can be very proud of! They captured my "vibe" so well and I've received so many compliments on their work. One person even expressed that they thought my company was much larger than the one-woman shop it really is, based on how professional my website looks. I have recommended them to all of my small biz colleagues!
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Excellent! Gregory and his team are so responsive and helpful. Even well after the project was completed, he is always willing to answer questions or help me get through quick fixes. True customer-centric service.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Gregory is one of the most informed and professional people I know when it comes to technology and small business needs. Plus, he's an excellent teacher and is so patient. He really takes the time to listen and understand and doesn't "geek-speak" you to death - he makes sure you are comfortable and understand everything that's going on. Plus, he's just an all-around super nice guy and a joy to work with.
Are there any areas for improvement?
I cannot think of one! I'd absolutely recommend them to any of my small business/nonprofit colleagues any day.
the project
Website Revamp for Nonprofit Organization
"We have gotten many compliments on the new site."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
The West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization with over 200 small business members. The Chamber’s mission is to strengthen its business community so that West Town Chicago continues to be a destination for shopping, dining, professional services, nightlife, and culture.
For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?
Our main website was very much outdated and we also had other individual websites for all of our special events/festivals. eGuide Tech totally revamped our main website and also organized it to house all of our events/festivals.
What were your goals for this project?
Our goals were to have everything done before our first "virtual festival" of 2020.
How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?
eGuide Tech Allies is local business, they were easy to communicate with, and they were able to work within our budget (we're a nonprofit) to get the project done on time and within our means.
Describe the project in detail.
The main purpose of the project was to overhaul the main West Town Chamber website and supplementary event pages. We had to decide between Wix and Wordpress, and per eGuide's recommendation, we went with Wix.
Once eGuide got the new site's up, they provided training to Chamber staff to learn how to operate the back-end of the site.
What was the team composition?
The Chamber initially met with the whole eGuide Team, but mainly worked with Lauren and she was great!
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Our new website is up and running and Chamber staff feel like we have the tools to know how to keep it updated. We have gotten many compliments on the new site.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
It was effective having one main point of contact at eGuide and we will continue to work with Lauren (on retainer), incase anything pops up that we can't handle.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I was impressed by eGuide's clear communication and quick turnaround. Redoing our websites was not as scary as I thought it might be, thanks to their help.
Are there any areas for improvement?
N/A
the project
Web Design for Online Pop-Up Store
"They truly want their customers to be happy with the experience."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I founded GØØDZ, an online pop-up store featuring handmade products created by an international coalition of women. Goodz is partnered with The Pad Project, a not-for-profit that distributes menstrual products to girls, women, and other menstruators who otherwise could not afford them.
We sell products from all different artists around the world, each of whom has her own description and personal shopping page. The organization seeks to empower women through a two-pronged approach. It supports female artists in their creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, while also championing the fight against period poverty.
For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?
I needed help with the backend of my website.
What were your goals for this project?
Setting up an efficient website that was scalable so that I could add new artists.
How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?
Friend recommendation
Describe the project in detail.
Once we started, eGuide helped me choose my branding colors/font/aesthetic and we created a mood board together. They then helped me build up the website and have supported me ever since with any tasks or questions.
What was the team composition?
I was initially working with the head manager and I was then passed on to a helper who was specialized in my aesthetic and style. She was extremely helpful and super responsive.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Within three months of launching, I have had 3, 774 visitors to the website and over 5,000 sales.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Extremely effective!
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They were incredibly responsive and accommodating. They truly want their customers to be happy with the experience. They were very transparent about pricing and very reasonable. Loved working with them!
the project
Trello Set-Up & Training for Event Planning Company
"eGuide Tech Allies were so flexible to the company's needs, and took all of the really daunting work off the plate."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Olive Fine Weddings & Events is an event planning company based in Chicago. I am the owner and lead planner.
For what projects/services did your company hire eGuide Tech Allies?
I hired Gregory to help me figure out the best CRM platform for my business. I'm often managing many clients at once and was feeling like I needed one place to manage workflows. He ended up recommending Trello and setting it up for me.
What were your goals for this project?
Find a product that could help me stay organized and on top of client deadlines.
How did you select eGuide Tech Allies?
Gregory's name was shared by a trusted fellow planner.
Describe the project in detail.
I met with Gregory in September 2019 to talk about one platform I had heard a lot about. He walked me through my process - from sales to booking to planning to execution - and took significant notes. He guided me through solidifying my process and ended up suggesting another product.
He then set it up for me based on existing documents I had. This was the most valuable part! Setting up a new product / software solution is so daunting. Not only do you need to learn how to use it, but you have to organize it to match you needs simultaneously. He took all of the guesswork out of the process and set it up and trained me on it.
What was the team composition?
Just me and Gregory.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
I use the product he set up every. single. day.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Incredibly effective! Gregory was responsive and incredibly knowledgeable. It was a straightforward enough project that we just worked on it over email and with a few in person meetings.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
eGuide Tech Allies were so flexible to the company's needs, and took all of the really daunting work off the plate.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Nothing! I enjoyed my experience immensely. So much so that I'm bringing Gregory back to train my staff.
the project
Project Management Advising for Reviews Platform
"The personalization sets them apart."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a senior field marketing manager and small business expert at Yelp.
What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?
We were specifically working on project and team management in the beginning. I was overseeing a team of seven people and running project management for projects for our team, as well as some cross-functional products across the country.
We were also working on some content development for blogs, video stories, and webinars we were hosting.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We predominately were working on getting set up on Trello. They created the customization for how we were going to outlay all of our different cards for different departments, and then actively help me track deadlines for those projects and communication between my employees involved in each stage of the projects.
We were working on taking spreadsheets and word documents to put into Trello, and then creating templates to use as a team moving forward.
In April, we went through a decrease in workforce, so that changed a lot of what they were helping me with. My team was completely downsized to just me. Then I was working on project management and execution and prioritization of those roles.
What is the team composition?
I mainly worked with Greg (Chief Executive Intern), but there were a few different projects that he would have someone else work on.
How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?
Greg and I met through networking. Two years ago, he attended a Yelp for Business Owners event that I was hosted. We’ve stayed in the same network, and then when I was in a position where I needed some services, I was able to bring them on.
How much have you invested with them?
We spend $500 a month.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in February 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
All of the projects have been delivered within deadline.
We were able to complete the blog project that I had. That involved taking all of the assignments my team was working on and executing them into my calendar. We were able to hit all of our metrics in Q2 in terms of blog content creation.
eGuide Tech Allies makes sure we stay on track for deadlines. Most of the time, we would check the frequency of deadlines being moved and how often they were hit. We’re trying to eliminate any pushback or back and forth. For the project management work, we had to pivot because of COVID-19. eGuide Tech Allies continued supporting me with that.
How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?
Their communication is great. We touch base two times a week. We’re definitely on the same page and are able to move the ball forward to get things prioritized. We use Trello as our main platform for communication.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The personalization sets them apart. They know what’s going on in each project because they’re heavily involved. When I have things like spreadsheets that I need to send their way, they give me the right level of support.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I don’t think so.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Going into it knowing what you’re hoping to get is great. But stay in open communication with them. Trust them to be involved in some of that information you normally wouldn’t share. They’ll go the extra mile and use that to help better the project.
the project
IT Management & Consulting for Leadership Nonprofit
"There’s never been a moment where I’ve felt like the team wasn’t listening to what we had to say."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the COO of Surge Institute, a leadership education nonprofit. We do leadership development and acceleration for education leaders of color.
What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?
We were looking for IT support.
What was the scope of their involvement?
eGuide is our outsourced IT support partner. They’ve helped us organize ourselves so that we can use better technology and tools to support our operation.
One of the first things they helped us do was to set up and organize our Google Drive. We’re a coast-to-coast organization, so it was important that we have a shared drive that met our needs. They helped us develop an organization and a taxonomy within that organization so that we could use the resources we’ve built over time.
The team also helped us identify which small business software would best help us manage our operation. They introduced us to a project management tool, and other tools like Zoom. eGuide also handles our hardware, so whenever we have any hardware issues, we can call them to help us troubleshoot and solve the problem.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with four different people. Our primary contact is Gregory (CEO), and as we scaled up, we’ve worked with a client liaison and two others.
How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?
We found eGuide through our network and became acquainted with Gregory.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent about $125,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together since June 2017.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
eGuide is extremely trustworthy. We trust them to handle the things we’re not experts at. We trust them to help us solve things efficiently, cost-effectively, and appropriately for an organization with our mission and size.
Their work has had a great impact on our operations. The tools they’ve introduced have, with very little exception, quickly became the de facto way we work.
How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re really well trained and customer-service oriented. There hasn’t been a time where I’ve gone more than 24 hours without hearing back from them about a question, and the team always works to meet deadlines. We have a monthly call, where they do an annual report of the state of IT, which helps us a lot during budget development season.
They’re proactive in communication. There’s never been a moment where I’ve felt like the team wasn’t listening to what we had to say. We have a great relationship with them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I talk about them as a partner constantly. When we’ve looked for other vendors in other areas, like accounting, eGuide has been the model of the relationship we’re looking for. It’s been a relief to have someone working with us rather than feeling like the partnership is another thing to keep track of.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The one thing they could improve on is their research skills. We’ve asked them to think about what we should do as we grow, and it’s the only thing I can think of where I wasn’t impressed with how they responded. They do everything else so well, though, that it in no way puts the relationship in jeopardy.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear about what your goals are and invest in the relationship with eGuide.
the project
Consulting & Hiring Support for Event Planning Company
“I was busy running my business, and they made sure I considered the candidates that were the best fit for my company.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We are a wedding planning company. I'm the owner and lead planner.
What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?
I needed assistance to grow my business. I wanted to hire additional planners and expand as a company.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We first took a deep dive into my business. I wanted to work with people who aligned with my business model and had a similar mindset to me. They took time to get to know my methods and helped me through all the steps.
They helped me build the job description, gave recommendations on where to publish it, and guided me through the various applications I received. They gave recommendations for best practices in a phone interview, and they interviewed my top three candidates. I was busy running my business, and they made sure I considered the candidates that were the best fit for my company.
What is the team composition?
I work directly with one contact.
How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?
I heard about them through other industry professionals. Based on positive referrals, they were easy to hire.
How much have you invested with them?
I've spent around $2,500-$3,000 on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
I started the hiring process around January 2019. I've already hired one person, and I'm about to send an offer to a second person. Now that I’ve hired the individuals I need, I'll still work with eGuide Tech Allies on systems, processes, and training.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I found the first hire on my own, but there was a definite difference in my second hiring process. eGuide Tech Allies wrote a very good job listing, which helped attract more qualified candidates. The second process was slower, but it was much more focused and, ultimately, more fruitful.
How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?
We don't use any special tools to manage the project, but they have introduced me to Trello. I used Google Sheets and Google Docs for training and procedural documents, but they're helping me transfer those documents and scripts into one easy location.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I really appreciate the time they took to get to know my business. They have a background in the event industry, which saved time. Their approach fit my needs, and their passion for small businesses helped me grow.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't think of anything they should improve. I've worked with other companies, but none of them did as well as eGuide Tech Allies did.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Know your needs at the beginning. I told them what I struggled with, which helped us focus on the project.
the project
Consulting and Web Dev for Creative Artist Business
“He has become a person I know I can count on for advice on just about anything.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I own a business called Reenie Rose and it’s a creative business that's primarily in the wedding industry. I do commission-based work like signage, calligraphy, and lettering for individual’s weddings.
What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?
I started out looking to form a budget for my business for the first time, but as I started to work with eGuide Tech Allies, it became more and more about just developing the business in ways that I couldn’t on my own.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We started by developing a budget, and from there started developing goals and specific systems within the business. Gregory (CEO, eGuide Tech Allies) has kind of guided me throughout, helping to look more deeply at what was working and what wasn’t.
We’ve been able to expand aspects of my business such as rentals and shift my focus to vendor relationships to help build my brand’s presence. His help with those issues built trust between our businesses to the point where I asked him to help me upgrade my website.
I had a very outdated website; because of how scattered my business is, it had been difficult to put together anything cohesive. Gregory and his team sat down with me several times and we really combed through what was going to be the most logical and useful way to present my work. Now I can actually direct my clients to view all of those services and products on my site rather than just having it out in the world for SEO.
What is the team composition?
I work directly with Gregory for the most part, but Lauren (Project Manager, eGuide Tech Allies) has also been an integral part of my website rebuild as well.
How did you come to work with eGuide Tech Allies?
I heard about them through some of my colleagues in the wedding industry who he had worked with before. I liked that they knew the industry a bit but were also knowledgeable about other things, so I decided to start working with them.
How much have you invested with them?
I spent about $800 on the website redesign, but in total have probably spent closer to $2,000–$3,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked on the website from January–July 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I think the biggest benefit to the website update has been that I now have a page for rentals rather than having to send my clients to a Pinterest board or my Instagram and hope they’d find what I was wanting them to look for. Direct access to everything in my inventory allows me to put a link in their email or otherwise direct people right to what they want, which has really benefited my ability to make sales.
How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicate with a little bit of everything. For the most part, we use email, but if I need to reach them more quickly, I can always hop on a phone call, and we have regularly scheduled video calls for meetings to go over the website and other visual aspects of the business. They’re very straightforward and always keep me updated on things.
What did you find most impressive about them?
If I have a question or a problem, whether or not it’s really within their wheelhouse, they always do their best to solve it. Because of the friendship we’ve developed over time, I reach out with pretty much any business problem I run into. He has become a person I know I can count on for advice on just about anything.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t have any specific improvements besides that I’m excited to see their business grow. They’ve streamlined their work a bit over time, and I think that they are continuing to do that all the time.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would just advise that anyone going into an engagement like this have as much clarity as possible on what you’re really looking for to help you achieve the best results.
the project
IT & Business Consulting for Wedding Events Company
"They've managed almost everything I've thrown their way incredibly well."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the owner of Clover Events, a boutique wedding and event planning firm based in Chicago, Ill.
What challenge were you trying to address with eGuide Tech Allies?
I reached out to eGuide for some IT and business consulting services after recently starting my business.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Initially, eGuide learned how to use the CRM tool I preferred, Dubsado, optimized it for my business purposes, and taught me how to use it in the process. They also set up internal workflows and uploaded content to my site.
I now meet with their team each month to go over other projects they help me with, including a mailing list on MailChimp, blog, and other general technical issues.
What is the team composition?
I work directly with Gregory (CEO, eGuide Tech Allies), as well as Lauren (Project Manager, eGuide Tech Allies).
How much have you invested with them?
We probably spend about $500 per month on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
We've been working together since April 2017, and I now work with them on a monthly retainer.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Gregory was able to successfully hone in on the capabilities of the platform and effectively translate that information to me, streamlining my business workflow. They've helped improve my overall online presence, which has, in turn, helped attract new clients.
How did eGuide Tech Allies perform from a project management standpoint?
They're very organized and responsive. We track project milestones through Trello and Google Suite, which has helped improve the way I manage client tasks.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They're incredibly knowledgeable not just in their field of expertise, but in my specific industry as well. Their team has a lot of valuable expertise in technology, SEO, and other website tools that have been hugely beneficial to my business.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can't think of anything.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Ask a lot of questions. If you don't have time to learn about a new tool or technology, don't assume that they can't walk you through it. They've managed almost everything I've thrown their way incredibly well.
With a strong understanding of the client’s concept, eGuide Tech Allies was able to build a website that has performed well. Visitors to the site appreciate its aesthetic. The two partners maintained a professional relationship throughout the engagement, with all milestones being met on time.