Equalize Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director at Austin Local Business Alliance. We’re a small chamber of commerce that only has locally owned businesses as members.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equalize Digital?

We needed to update our website and make it look more modern. With our site’s old UI, it was hard to get new members to join our chamber. Local businesses can buy a subscription with us to have their profile on our website. My goal was to develop ad sales analytics and function as a local business database. 

I also needed assistance to keep our organization’s social media updated with news about our members. Overall, I needed a complete rehaul of our organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Equalize Digital updated our organization’s website using WordPress. We gave Equalize Digital access to our previous site code since it hadn’t been updated in a while. They stabilized it, and we asked them if they could upgrade it too. For instance, our previous site had 165 pages, many without any valuable information, so they were lagging around. Equalize Digital helped us pare everything down.

At the same time, I was taking demos of membership management software and realized I wanted a bespoke one. Equalize Digital developed and integrated one to our new site using WordPress plug-ins. Additionally, we had recently concluded a rebranding project with another service provider, and Equalize Digital designed our new site following our new brand guidelines.

Some of the plug-ins Equalize Digital integrated into our site are an events calendar, WooCommerce, Elementor, Advanced Ads, WP Mail, and JetPack, which lets me publish members’ blog posts to our organization’s Facebook, Twitter, and other social media channels. 

Equalize Digital also created a function called the benefit report, which creates a list of the deliverables I must send each member when they first come in. This function allows me to put check marks once I’ve completed each task, and members can see this list on their dashboard as well. For instance, some high-level members have six publications in our newsletter across the year, and this function helps me organize and manage all our responsibilities with our members.

I asked to Equalize Digital for the site to be user friendly so any user, no matter their tech skills, could interact with it. Equalize Digital used Accessibility Checker to track the site’s UI, Slickplan to structure the site, and Flywheel as a hosting platform. 

Moreover, I leaned heavily on Equalize Digital for their branding and SEO marketing knowledge. I created most of the site’s copywriting with Equalize Digital’s advice, and they optimized my texts for SEO best practices. We constructed a keyword search list together, and Equalize Digital also advised me on how to expand our members’ SEO; for instance, our members’ names are indexed in our URL. 

Lastly, Equalize Digital also designed badges and icons for our members’ profiles. We’ve used these badges in our print materials and sales sheets. Equalize Digital also designed a background using my logo as an element.

What is the team composition?

I worked with about six teammates from Equalize Digital, primarily with Chris (COO) and Amber (Founder & CEO). I occasionally spoke to the engineers when I experienced technical difficulties. 

How did you come to work with Equalize Digital?

I worked with Equalize Digital at my previous company. I initially found them while searching for B Corporations since I’m interested in alternative organizational models. I found Equalize Digital online and realized they were one of the few B Corporations in Texas.

The previous project was also related to web development, although it wasn’t as complex as this one. When I took my current position and realized all the work I needed to do, I contacted Equalize Digital again.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $38,000 with Equalize Digital.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Equalize Digital from August–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our board members are happy with the new site’s functionality and growth possibilities. However, we haven’t started tracking the new site’s traffic and other metrics due to my hold-ups. I’ve had some personal situations and haven’t integrated Google Analytics into the site and other functionalities. We’ve just recently placed our first ads, so that will show how much revenue they generate. 

Moreover, I was very pleased with Equalize Digital’s transparency and ability to understand my ideas. 

How did Equalize Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Equalize Digital’s project management was excellent. We had weekly Zoom meetings and used Basecamp for project management. During our meetings, Amber took notes and posted them to Basecamp almost immediately after the meeting. Chris created the necessary tasks and assigned each to the responsible teammate. 

Equalize Digital’s organization really stood out. They shared their work method before we started the engagement, and I was able to review it and ask them questions. Equalize Digital also ensured their work and design elements were accessible on Basecamp.

We also communicated closely through email and used Google Drive to share documents. When Equalize Digital delivered the new website, we had training through Zoom, where they showed me all its functionalities and recorded it so I could access it at any time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Equalize Digital’s skills — they were great at what they do. Equalize Digital really cared for me during the process. I’m new at my company, and management change can be hard. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Equalize Digital to improve. They’re the best company I’ve worked with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend following Equalize Digital’s lead and listening to what they’ll ask you to do. Read the project timeline they create at the beginning of the engagement and ask questions. I referred to that document several times throughout our engagement and got used to their work model.

Just keep in mind that Equalize Digital will guide you through each step of the project, and if you need to record the meetings, you can do it to have them as a reference.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner and VP at Minerva Strategies, a boutique communications consulting firm. We work with nonprofit organizations, philanthropies, and values-driven businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our principles as a company include communicating with inclusion. We wanted our website to reflect that value by being accessible for people with disabilities. Equalize Digital builds in accessibility from the beginning of their build process ensuring the site is both well-designed and easy to use.

SOLUTION

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

We requested recommendations from our network, and then selected the firm that best fit our needs.

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

We had a kickoff meeting to determine our preferences, created a site map, decided on the designed pages, submitted content, and then the team built the site. We then had time to test and review to ensure the site was working properly before launch.

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

We connected directly with our lead designer and project manager. The communication between the designer and developer was also transparent through Basecamp.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

the site is beautiful and accessible. Demonstrates who we are as a company.

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

They are very thorough and clear. We relied on Basecamp for most tasks and communication.

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

I don't think I've ever worked on a web development project that launched when it was supposed to launch! They delivered on time and on budget!

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

No, things were very smooth.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager of a commercial real estate company. We provide property management services and office, retail, and industrial space leasing. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equalize Digital?

We hadn’t updated our website in the last 7–8 years and needed to update its design and branding. Although we don’t have an e-commerce website, we do have property listings and information about our company, so it was important that our site had good search results. Equalize Digital also assisted with our site’s mobile responsiveness, accessibility, and usability. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Equalize Digital updated our WordPress site with the design we provided. The team imported content from our old website and built the site’s functionalities. Equalize Digital provided an initial survey to understand our project’s goals and define a timeline. 

Our site’s main functionality was property search and listing. On our site, users can search on a map and use filters to find a specific property. Equalize Digital also created a login functionality and a PDF document downloading functionality. The team also enhanced some of the existing functionalities.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Chris (CEO) and Amber (Founder & CEO). I also worked with Steve (CTO) and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Equalize Digital?

We contacted Equalize Digital through our last web developer when we contacted them for a project they weren’t able to fulfill. We talked to two other web development companies and chose Equalize Digital because they were the most responsive. One of the companies we talked to was cheaper, but they planned to outsource work, and Equalize Digital was able to perform all necessary work in-house.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $42,000 with Equalize Digital.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between March–October 2022. We started conversations in December 2021, and we initiated our contract in March 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although I don’t have quantitative metrics at the time, we received positive feedback for our website. 

How did Equalize Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Equalize Digita met deadlines and was very organized through Basecamp. The team was responsive and was on top of every line of communication we had. We had weekly Zoom meetings, and we also communicated through text messages and Basecamp. Equalize Digital responded to our needs and provided assistance after launching the site. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Equalize Digital’s organization — they kept track of everything and didn’t let work fall through the cracks. The team also kept us accountable and was responsive. I felt like I was in capable hands with Equalize Digital.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Equalize Digital to improve — I was satisfied with our engagement. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend potential customers be ready when they approach Equalize Digital because they meet deadlines. If they have the necessary materials, their project will go smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of WorkForce Solutions Panhandle, a local version of a state agency. We serve employers and job seekers throughout several counties in Texas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Road Warrior Creative?

We needed to update our website since our old one was outdated. We also wanted to have the ability to work with remote customers. We cover a large geographical area and didn’t want customers to have to drive to our office.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a brand-new WordPress website for us. They also created a web portal where customers can log in and share documents. Since we handle sensitive and confidential information, they focused on ensuring the security of the platform.

They made the website easy to update and manage locally. By interviewing our department managers and understanding our processes, they built user journeys and customer pathways that are customized to our business. This model might be beneficial for other organizations in the workforce development field.

What is the team composition?

There were probably 6–8 individuals on the project at different times. My main point of contact was Amber (Owner).

How did you come to work with Road Warrior Creative?

We were using government funds to develop this new site, and they had responded to a formal RFP. We’d scored Road Warrior’s proposal highest of all the ones we’d received.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $90,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started early September of 2019, and the project wrapped up in February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a secure solution within an important timeframe. Since the virus outbreak, it’s been critical that we can work and do business remotely, and the platform has allowed both ourselves and our customers to do so. On top of that, their customer service was phenomenal. They went above and beyond to meet all of our expectations.

How did Road Warrior Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They were wonderful to work with. They had a variety of individuals who were experts in different areas. We used Basecamp to manage the project, and it was a very effective way to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was very impressed by the extent of their organization and the talent they have available to help solve problems.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind, no.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a great company to work with. Even if they’re not local to you, there’s really no need for them to be located close to you. Their high level of organization allows for a seamless process. They leverage the right tools to keep everyone connected and up to date.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the associate director of the STEM center at Colorado State University (CSU). We're a small center within the entire university.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Road Warrior Creative? 

Our previous website was fairly static. There are a lot of STEM education and outreach events on campus. We needed the capability to easily direct people to various opportunities based on who they are and what they want to know. To do that, we need to use several different types of databases and filter them based on a specific set of criteria.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Road Warrior Creative helped us think through what exactly we were looking to accomplish. We had a vague idea of what we needed. Beyond being a clearinghouse, we didn't know how to engage multiple and diverse audiences. They helped us think about how we engage these different groups and what resources do we need for each. 

They built the new site in WordPress. Road Warrior Creative developed several of their own templates and plug-ins. They also created an admin page for us. In terms of the frontend design, they had a set of required colors from CSU. CSU has a brand style for any new websites. There's a lot of leeway but there were some requirements that they had to follow. Beyond that, we gave them free rein on the design. They met with us and gave us their ideas. We shared our feedback and they’d come back to us with a new iteration until we were satisfied. 

What is the team composition? 

There were a total of five members of their team. I usually flagged Amber (Developer, Road Warrior Creative) in all of my communication.

How did you come to work with Road Warrior Creative?

We’d been looking for a vendor for a long time. Road Warrior Creative was developing a website for the CSU Office of Diversity. We talked to the Office of Diversity they sent us a mockup of what their site was going to look like. It looked like a design that would really work for us. We met with Chris (COO, Road Warrior Creative) in person to explain what we were looking for. He had some great ideas for us so we decided to move forward. Our other option was to go through CSU Creative Services but their backlog meant it would have taken a long time. Road Warrior Creative was available and we felt their team was a good fit. 

How much have you invested with them?

The initial contract was $10,000. We needed them to add something, which did increase the cost a bit.

What is the status of this engagement?

The start of the design was in October 2018 and the new site went live in April 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t officially launched the website. We're waiting for the summer to make sure we have everything ready to maintain it. However, we’ve had feedback from a variety of different groups. Our Deans and our Vice Provost have been extremely pleased with the website. We've had a few users to the site and the general consensus has been extremely positive. It’s much improved from our previous site. 

How did Road Warrior Creative perform from a project management standpoint? 

Road Warrior Creative was extremely organized. I always knew what was going on. They used Basecamp as their communication system so we could contact anybody on the team. I generally would contact everybody and the right person would respond. That was great because it allowed us to see exactly what they were working on and to assign tasks. If they had a question for us, I could either log into Basecamp or it would send me an email. It also sent me reminders if they were waiting for me to complete tasks. I knew exactly what they were working on because I could see all of their communication. 

They were very timely but there were a couple of setbacks on our side. They would schedule deadlines for me. Quite often I couldn't meet that deadline for one reason or another. When I went back to them, they would immediately switch the due date to something that was doable. They also had to work through CSU on security issues, which took longer than anticipated. Road Warrior Creative made sure that we were aware of all issues. They put us in touch with the team at CSU so that we were looped into the conversation. Because of their organization skills, it was a very positive experience.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their communication was excellent. They knew how to communicate with us not just in terms of when to communicate but how they communicate. They’re very conversational. It's easy to talk to them and easy to ask questions. Road Warrior Creative was open to our ideas and tried to incorporate them wherever they could. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I'd never worked with any website developers other than through CSU. Road Warrior Creative was so above and beyond my expectations that I don’t have any constructive criticism. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their suggestions. Give them the opportunity to show you their ideas. We had some pretty solid ideas about what we thought we wanted. They were able to incorporate our ideas together with some of their concepts. I think we ended up with a stronger website than if they had just solely followed our lead.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of Fare Isle where I serve as a private chef and food blogger.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Road Warrior Creative?

We needed a website redesign.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted our site to have an entirely new look and have better organization.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I knew Amber (Founder, Road Warrior Creative) personally, and had seen her previous work.

Describe the project in detail.

We began the project with a series of calls to define the scope and vision for the project. We set the deadlines and established a detailed to-do list. From there, they created and launched the site, providing individual training on using the administrative end.

What was the team composition?

Amber was my weekly contact for design updates. Chris (Founder, Road Warrior Creative) was my point of contact for logistics and scope. They provided members of their team for various parts of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because the site has only launched recently, the statistics can’t be used for comparison yet. However, I’m very pleased with the site, and our user metrics have remained consistent.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They used Basecamp to keep track of communication and progress. The team was accommodating with deadlines, and I was satisfied with their timeliness and organization.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Road Warrior Creative went above and beyond for the entire project; I learned a great deal from working with them. They were timely, professional, and had deep knowledge of design and UX principles.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

A Woman’s Healing Center is an OB-GYN medical practice in Fort Collins, Colorado. We specialize in obstetrics, gynecology, and aesthetics. My position is head of communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Road Warrior Creative?

A Woman’s Healing Center’s branding is based on personal service which we define as deep listening to each patient and giving her time. We offer treatments that are not only medical but emotional as well because often, patients need to talk as much as they need to be examined. Because that’s what differentiates us, we needed someone who could get out that message. I needed a smaller creative marketing company that would understand what we’re doing because they’re similar to us in being small and providing personalized service. I needed someone who had the expertise to carry it out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The scope of their work includes website creation, social media, creating ad campaigns, and helping us put together a promotional video. They provide consultation for our marketing and branding. For example, they recently gave me good counsel on creating a new ad campaign as the holiday season approaches to help promote the aesthetics practice, which can be quite lucrative. They write our Google ads, Facebook posts, and blogs.

What is the team dynamic?

I work directly with Chris Hinds, the Chief Operating Officer. Having that direct contact helps because that means I don’t have to go through a bunch of bureaucracy. That plays into what we have at the medical practice because patients don’t have to go through a large bureaucracy. I also work with his wife Amber Hinds, and she is spectacular. I’d hire her in an instant. She helps with the creative and strategic side. I count on both of them for their counsel and advice.

How did you come to work with Road Warrior Creative?

One of our employees knew Chris and Amber. We had one meeting, and it became obvious to me that Chris was prepared. He knew who we were and what we did. He took the initiative to familiarize himself with our website and already had ideas, which impressed me. When I met Amber, she had analyzed the website, developed creative insights and told me some weaknesses and how we could improve, which was also a deciding factor. Additionally, I liked their cost structure because you can buy different services at different rates so we had a predictable understanding of what the costs were going to be.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $1,000 per month. There are no surprises on their bills due to their cost structure. I would like to spend more with them; we’re definitely not going to spend less.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with them since mid-2015, and we plan to continue. The next big step is redoing the website to take better advantage of videos and aggrandize current and older content.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since February, monthly traffic on the website grew by 24%. Our organic search traffic went up by 18%. We realized 30% increase in pages visited on Facebook and 500% increase in time spent on the site. The Google ads gave us a significant improvement as well.

How did Road Warrior Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They usually get back to me within a business day, sometimes sooner than that. They’ve made a move from the town we live in, Fort Collins, to Austin, and I haven’t noticed any glitches because of that. As long as I can still deal with the principals, things are running smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In medicine and especially in our practice, we understand empathizing with patients and their healing process. Patients want to be heard more than they really need treatment sometimes, so we try to build empathy, sympathy, and human kindness. What I like about Road Warrior is that they have that sympathy and kindness in doing business with us. You can tell they care, and that is refreshing. They provide us with a personalized mothering through things.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Every now and then, I haven’t felt like the blogs have been written to the standards that I might set. When I complain, they patiently listen to me. If necessary, they make changes or explain that they had to write it that way because of SEO. Lately, they’ve added unique graphics to the blogs, which has changed the quality. They’ve listened and improved, so I’m less critical now of their writing. They had hired out the writing to people who weren’t interested in getting into the deeper issues of medical questions. It’s a challenge that we’ve solved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be humble and lay out what you need and what your problem is. Then, listen to what they have to say, and they’ll give you choices. Follow their advice. That’s what we’ve done, and we are pleased with the results. Listen to your doctor; listen to Road Warrior.

BACKGROUND

I’m the vice president of partnerships for an organization with a global community of 30,000 people, which holds events in 37 cities around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Road Warrior Creative?

The first and more immediate challenge was securing dedicated technical support for an existing site, which contains general and event info as well as corresponding registration forms.

The second but larger challenge was creating a platform to better connect with community members and allow sponsors to access event data. Implementing something generic wasn’t a possibility; our needs demanded something completely customized to help with sponsor retention.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Road Warrior created a WordPress site including its infrastructure and backend logic. Supplying finished design templates let them replicate the theming across multiple platforms. We're now in the midst of a redesign to increase web traffic.

They’ve also developed a sponsorship portal enabling 200+ partner accounts to login and access a wide range of valuable data. The tool, which uses a plugin or API, pulls registration data from Eventbrite for our two annual technology summits. If attendees opted-in, their info is aggregated in a database and available within the sponsorship portal almost immediately.

The team now maintains and supports both the WordPress site and sponsorship portal.

What is the team dynamic?

We work regularly with both Chris and Amber [Hinds, co-owners of Road Warrior Creative]. The former more extensively with the portal and the latter when it came to technical maintenance.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement preceded my arrival in July 2016 and it remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The portal launched a few months ago and user feedback has been positive. Sponsors considered it especially praiseworthy given how valuable the attendance data could be as a recruitment tool.

How did Road Warrior Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They were easy to work with and highly communicative. Basecamp and emails were used to communicate and organize activities.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rapid deliveries and open-mindedness when it comes to experimentation were major strengths. The portal was unproven but they took the risk building it, nonetheless.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The flexibility and speed exercised during the portal project should be exercised across every project. That’s not the case when it comes to website redesigns, though, which tend to unfold less favorably.

Advice for potential customers?

It’s important to be honest about project expectations and transparent about the end goals. It’s difficult for any partner to deliver meaningful outcomes without those things solidified.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of Marketing of Zight (formerly CloudApp)

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SaaS Screen & Video Recording Application

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Equalize Digital to accomplish?

• Performant Website
• Easy to Use Backend
• Accessible
• Smooth Migration to new domain

SOLUTION

How did you find Equalize Digital?

Referral

Why did you select Equalize Digital over others?

High ratings, Pricing fit our budget, Great culture fit, Referred to me

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

A highly performant, easy-to-use and flexible wordpress website based on designs provided.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• It launched on schedule. High-performance website scores High scores in core web vitals Passing accessibility scores

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

Super responsive. Delivered on time. Very communicative and transparent throughout the whole process.

What was your primary form of communication with Equalize Digital?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

We were impressed with the quality of their work and communication. Working with Equalize saved many people hours reviewing and re-QA items. If an issue was identified, it was quickly resolved and at a high standard of work. The team was always responsive to requests right away and throughout the whole process was in constant communication and transparent about what they were doing on their end so I had full visibility into how things were progressing.

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

None. Keep being awesome!