Ember Method

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner & photographer/videographer at Leo Sideras Photography. I specialize in outdoor/travel/lifestyle photo & video creation for national brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ember Method, and what were your goals?

I reached out to Ember Method & hired them to build my website, which includes my photography & videography portfolio and print shop.

SOLUTION

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

I searched for web design in the Denver, CO area (I'm local to Denver.) I came across Ember Method, noticed they had great reviews, and decided to reach out. Charlie (owner & founder) replied with enthusiasm to my project proposal - he communicated confidence in executing my vision, and even taking it a few steps further than I could have imagined myself.

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

Ember Method and I worked in a few phases. The first phase was to gather inspiration for my website. Charlie and I then met to discuss the pros and cons of the inspiration and case studies I gathered. We decided on elements to implement and used that as a guide for the project. Charlie then delivered a first round design, which was nearly on point from what we decided upon during the inspiration meeting. After two rounds of fine tuning the website Ember Method designed was live and online e-commerce print shop fully functional.

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

I worked with one person from Ember Method - Charlie Harmon, Founder & Owner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After the launch of my website I was immediately able to take orders for photography prints and have them shipped nation wide. Additionally, I'm now able to point potential clients to my portfolio, which comes across with a good balance of professionalism and creativity.

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

Charlie's communication along the way was consistent and reliable. He was able to answer any question I had in a timely manner, and kept firm dates for deliverables along the way. Additionally, he took time to teach me routine site maintenance and how to navigate the back-end as I look to expand my portfolio and print offerings.

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

Ember Method was able to collaborate and help guide my vision for the website, and execute that vision to complete satisfaction. Ember Method approached this project with expertise and in a collaborative manner.

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

After the launch of my website, I had some difficulty navigating the back-end - for example, uploading prints and adding to my portfolio. Ember Method was quick to reply and sent over detailed instructions on how to accomplish such tasks.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a wholesale window distributor, selling mainly to contractors and builders. I’m the VP of operations. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ember Method?

We needed a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a basic template for the site worked out but relied largely on their team to build the site from scratch. They brought design skills and expertise on website building the create a product that made sense with our requirements. Their team handled the development and design of the WordPress website. They created an input form, a fresh look for the platform, a Spanish language input, and handled on-site SEO.    

What is the team composition?

We worked with Charlie (Owner). 

How did you come to work with Ember Method?

When our old site was under attack by malware, I found someone on Craigslist who helped me fix the problem without charging me a dime. I told them that once we redeveloped the site, I’d reach out to them first. I followed through on that, and they were great to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $3,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the site from September–December 2020. They’re still working on SEO services, however.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s still early since the website’s launch, but the platform is definitely better than before. People have said it looks good and is helpful in meeting their needs.  

How did Ember Method perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Dropbox to coordinate image uploads and otherwise communicate via email. There were a few phone calls early on to discuss logistics, but we didn’t have routine meetings. They communicate very well.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall responsiveness and design skills stood out. They came up with great solutions for us.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust the process and be as detail-oriented as possible. They’ll deliver.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

About 5–6 months ago, I started a small company with the goal of creating an interactive social media website specifically for pharmacists and pharmacists by trade.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ember Method?

I was looking to establish an online community where pharmacists from around the world could congregate and collaborate, ask questions, share content, and other similar things. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Essentially, I was able to come across a software platform plugin to use with WordPress that was a little bit more complex than just developing a standard website. In addition to customizing a pre-made software program for the type of network that I wanted to have online, Charlie (Owner) also made a separate login page as well as pages for terms of service and privacy policy. The team also created a donations page and other multiple pages that were placed in the same style across the board. 

They did all our design and they were in charge of making my platform readable and inviting so that more people could engage on the site. They also implemented our brand logo and utilized it across the site. Charlie is now in charge of maintaining my site and he’s now focused on making sure that everything runs smoothly and everything is updated as far as software updates are concerned. 

What is the team composition?

I only worked with Charlie.

How did you come to work with Ember Method?

I originally found them online. At that time, I was looking for web design people in the Denver area and I was just searching through the internet for local people. It was important to me to have a good and dynamic relationship with whoever I was going to work with. That’s why I wanted to physically meet the person who was going to work for me. In addition, I had originally been in touch with a company based out of Chicago and their original bid was probably at least 10 times higher than what I ended up being able to get with Ember Method. 

When I spoke to Charlie for the first time, he sounded competent and knowledgeable, and he seemed fit to what I was looking for. He was a very personable individual and we talked about things even unrelated to the job. Furthermore, he just seemed very easy to talk to and I was able to ask some great questions about what I was looking for.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent probably around $1,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement ran from July–November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were great and the team successfully finished all our deliverables. Ember Method was very quick and good at building something that was pretty much what I was looking for. They made sure that everything was cohesive on my site. From the initial conversation I had with Charlie until the end of the collaboration, he was a great person to work with. They just created a fully functioning social network and not just an outlier for a business to sell things. Overall, everything really went well. 

I was very satisfied with the work that he did in terms of getting the site up and running for me and maintaining it. He was very helpful in determining what the best hosting services would be for the capacity of the bandwidth that we needed for the site. There were just a couple of minor hiccups we encountered along the way, but they were able to iron out things promptly and figured it out with no problem. Currently, we don’t have a lot of users yet, but maybe we just need to push it through marketing strategies and other things so that people would be interested to use the site itself. 

How did Ember Method perform from a project management standpoint?

We just communicated primarily over email. In the beginning, we also had phone calls about once a week to touch base and set our expectations for each individual, specifically on what needs to be completed, and the period needed to get it all done. Whenever I reached out to them, they promptly responded.  

Charlie also helped me understand where things go. If I wanted to change a topic in one of the forum channels, he showed me where to do that and how to do it. Not only did he help me build this site, but he was also helpful in introducing the basics of managing my site. Thanks to him, I am now capable of modifying and changing things such as heading, announcements, or categories. Overall, they went above and beyond in helping me understand the inner workings of my site.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ember Method’s approach with their clients was unique and good. They didn’t show a rushed effort or tried to pump out as many sites as possible — he really took the time to listen to what people want, what they’re looking for, and what their expectations are. Moreover, he was really calm and collected and did everything in a professional manner. Above all, he was responsive.

I would be really happy to work with him again on anything, especially if I need to work with another website again in the future. If I were to come across folks who are trying to build a website for their business, I definitely feel confident in recommending them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything that stands out in terms of what I think he could’ve done better. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I didn’t really know the answers to some of the initial things that would be important to know. It would be nice if they could share the specifics of what clients should share at the beginning of the project, in order to have a more fluid conversation from the get-go. I think that just goes back to me for not having a clear picture of what I was looking for. However, if you also don’t know the answers to some of their questions, that would be fine too since that was my situation and it worked out fine. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Nest Egg Strategy. It's a not-for-profit service directed at the millennial generation. The purpose of the website is to inform millennials of their retirement financial options.

The website also provides online calculators where users can put in their own information and determine how much 15 years of mortgage payments are really worth, and how much they will be able to withdraw, and how much it will provide them every month for 20 years in retirement.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ember Method?

I needed web development and web design services for my website. I have created websites in the past but I am way out of touch with modern technology and also, most importantly, what the millennial generation expects to see in a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Charlie (Owner/Founder) helped me create the website. I had a website before but it was old, so Charlie has been provided technical support for all the modern aspects of WordPress.

He's also helped with the design aspects in terms of what's expected, what is usual, what the millennials want to see, and what they don’t want to see. I provide all of the editorial material, the calculators, and the subjects, and then he puts it all together.

What is the team composition?

I just work with Charlie.

How did you come to work with Ember Method?

I interviewed a number of people, and Ember Method had an understanding of what I was talking about and of WordPress. I wanted a partner who was going to use WordPress in all its modern aspects and then through time, I would be able to take over the housekeeping. 

How much have you invested in them?

I've spent a few thousand dollars.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together before the pandemic in February 2020, and we have done it all long distance. We are currently still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched yet. The site is posted but I haven’t told the world anything about it. I haven’t started any influencer marketing or worked with any financial bloggers for the millennial generation. From a personal standpoint, I think the website is the best it can possibly be.

How did Ember Method perform from a project management standpoint?

I am the type of person who is inclined to start with my own idea of the solution to a problem that I perceive or an ambition I want to accomplish and then take it from there. Charlie came in and interpreted and translated what I needed to manifest.

It would be a lot better if we could sit down and talk in person, but we do quite well long-distance over the telephone and by email. I tell him what I want to do via email, and he responds. Once in a while, we talk on the telephone to clarify some nuts and bolts, but the communication has been good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Charlie has a lot of unteachable qualities such as goodwill and good humor. Those qualities and attributes show up in innumerable ways in every aspect of our working relationship, including the technical, financial, and intellectual aspects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and principal of a consultancy that does branding, marketing, and public relations for organizations that drive social change.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ember Method?

We have an ongoing relationship, but they've also provided specific work for one of my clients as a major part of our collaboration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Most recently, we built a website for a small business. They helped with functional design and SEO. They covered some of the more technical features that would improve the overall UX and provide better efficiency and convenience for the end-user. Reviews play an important role for this client, so we wanted to feature those reviews without overwhelming the site user. Ember Method created an API plugin that allowed for a rotating wheel of reviews. The site is built in Squarespace, so their work had to be compatible.

What is the team composition?

We had one main point of contact who managed the rest of his team.

How did you come to work with Ember Method?

They reached out to us to get acquainted. We appreciated their proactivity, and they presented themselves professionally. We have similar businesses and complimentary services. They have deep knowledge and expertise in areas where we have some weaknesses. Together, we could more comprehensively serve client needs, so we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2019, and they still help us occasionally for various projects. We don't have anything planned for the future, but they are happy to provide support after projects are completed. I would certainly work with them again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's too early to have any hard metrics for the major project, but the client is very happy. Optimization has improved search traffic and online referrals, and the results are definitely worthwhile. They executed our vision, and they were happy to provide counsel and recommendations, based on very good research. They were a helpful partner.

How did Ember Method perform from a project management standpoint?

They're well organized and very supportive, and they make themselves available for any cleanup tasks. Deliverables and communication are always very timely, and most of our interaction was through phone and email. We also met occasionally in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're really easy to work with. They're friendly, responsive, and affordable, which are all important traits I look for in a business partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a strong strategic vision and a solid understanding of industry trends and technology forecasting. Bring that knowledge to the partnership, especially if you plan to direct the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a local artist who was working on an online art piece and business card.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ember Method?

I needed some very specific coding done that would allow my art piece to function without being based on a template.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had the design about 95% conceptually complete, then I worked with Charlie (Web Designer, Ember Method) to turn it into a functional and realistic deliverable. We iterated on a few ideas and discussed different aspects to come up with a feasible product. We worked together to develop a clear vision for the project and to create something that was customized and not built off of a template.

The final product is simple but has lots of complex components, like three different timers and over 100 images in rotation. The load time was a big concern, but Charlie was able to work it out. He also helped figure out the domain hosting of the website.

What is the team composition?

I only worked with Charlie.

How did you come to work with Ember Method?

Charlie is roommates with one of my colleagues. I wanted someone local who could meet in person.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from June–August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone who has seen the activated poster loves it, although it takes them time to adjust to it because it’s not clickable (which was intentional). It’s a customized design that meets my expectations.

How did Ember Method perform from a project management standpoint?

Charlie was timely and clear about what he was working on and the upcoming phase. We used Dropbox to manage assets and email to communicate when we didn’t meet in person. We had a consistent schedule, so I always knew when I’d hear from him next.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Charlie was always willing to try new things, even if he hadn’t done them before. He had a positive attitude and a strong working methodology, which made me comfortable around him. He was honest, communicated well, and seemed genuinely interested in the project and its success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any ways he could’ve improved.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Provide sketches, flow patterns, and lists to clarify what you want and organize your ideas. It’ll make the partnership much more productive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own two businesses that have used Ember Method. My first is a network cabling installation integration company, which has been running for 25 years. I also own a machinery and equipment appraisal firm that evaluates assets for different organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ember Method?

For my appraisal company, I wanted to grow my name within the industry. It's a unique business where a website isn’t necessarily the standard, but I wanted an online presence to get my name out there.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ember Method built the site from the ground up. They tackled the website design, content creation, creating a client base list, and logo design. Their work also included domain registration, web hosting, and backend development.   

What is the team composition?

I worked solely with Charlie (Web Designer, Ember Method), who handled the entire project.

How did you come to work with Ember Method?

My operations manager and partner for my cabling company originally found Charlie. I’m not clear on how they met, but I loved the cabling web site they made. The success we had there encouraged me to hire them again.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $3,000 with him.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from February–March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I first launched the site at an appraisal conference and received a ton of great feedback. Users praise the site for being notably clear and informative. Anyone can look at the site and know exactly what we do. I’ve been able to send out email blasts to my existing client base, bringing an incredible amount of attention to my site, name, and services. I’m able to expand more easily by referring people to my site.

How did Ember Method perform from a project management standpoint?

Charlie is super responsive to my needs and calls, staying in touch with me about the process timeline regularly. We communicated face-to-face, over the phone, and through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ember Method has a personal touch that can be rare with larger firms. I value that in-person representation.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, he was great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My biggest challenge was figuring out exactly what Charlie needed from me to deliver the best product. I’d recommend having information regarding your project and services ready to provide him upfront to get the most out of the engagement.