First Rate Marketing

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and director of JFR Design Ltd. As a sole trader, I manage all projects from the design stage through to the manufacture construction, and installation stages.

For what projects/services did your company hire First Rate Marketing?

To set up and design a comprehensive website for JFR Design Ltd

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

Through email advertisements, I came across FRM who seemed very warm and helpful. They listened to what was required in order to project satisfaction and complete what was required of the website design.

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

The website design required to reflect the vast amount of experience JFR Design has in various sectors of the architectural field. From design stages through to manufacture & construction.

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

I was in constant communication with two people. Sam and Sean, both guided me in the construction of the JFR Design Ltd Website. Both were very helpful, clearly understanding and projecting what was required giving me great satisfaction and confidence in what was been completed.

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

The Website of JFR Design Ltd speaks volumes for itself. The design and construction reflect the professional services that it provides.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective, always clearly understanding and guiding you to reach the goal that was required.

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

The understanding of the design of the platform to present positive marketing goals.

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

They were simply very helpful

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a bespoke and made to measure suit company with the hope of expanding into a brand, selling mens accessories and all things mens satorial.

For what projects/services did your company hire First Rate Marketing, and what were your goals?

My company hired frost rate marketing to develop and manage my website.

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

I met the vendor through a networking event in devonshire club and he was very passionate and knew his stuff. The deciding factor for me was his understanding of my vision and also the service that were included in the development of the website.

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

We had several meeting online, sending informations back and forth. I trusted his ability that I handed the reign of the project to him.

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

The project manager was my main contact but there was another person involved who designed or put my ideas together..

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

To be honest I am still waiting to see any action through the website.

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

The project manager and I had several phone calls, online video meeting at my convenience which made everything easy. This happened during covid so there was no way of meeting up. All our meeting was online till the completion of the project.

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

The ability to use their initiatives to help a non tech savvy individual like myself. Introducing new ideas and helping to monitor and push for the success and reliability of the website.

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

From my point of view, the project manager is doing more than I expected so I'm very happy.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Train Primal is an online personal training company focusing on delivering training programmes and 1-1 coaching as well as producing audio and video educational/entertainment content. My main role is director of the company.

For what projects/services did your company hire First Rate Marketing, and what were your goals?

Our first website was initially created using WIX as an easy/cost-effective way of creating an online presence. While rebranding we wanted to have a more professional/clean presence and ensure that things like SEO were taken care of. We hired FRM for an entire website redesign with the primary goal being ranking higher on Google.

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

The reason we chose WIX, to begin with, was the low cost (monthly payments) as a small business this was ideal. So when we decided we needed an "upgrade" we were ideally looking for something similar but without the "do it yourself" approach. First Rate Marketing ticked all the boxes.

A reasonable upfront fee with an ongoing monthly cost ensures constant support and help with any future changes. Apart from the cost another factor that helped us choose these guys was the focus on the "backend" Something often neglected - if the website looks good it's great right? Apparently not, FRM made it a priority to ensure that things like Google ranking and user experience were prioritised.

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

We had an initial design meeting where I and the lead website designer explored competitor offerings and discussed what I liked and didn't like and using this information he got to work on a first draft. The job was an entire website build so I was required to provide numerous pieces of media for the new site. This was done using cloud storage which made it really easy.

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

Our main point of contact was Sean, one of the team's website designers and he is still our "go-to guy" for any issues/changes that need doing.

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

After launching we have seen an increased ranking in Google already and website speed has increased. Using GTmatrix it shows that our "fully loaded time" is now 2.8 seconds whereas before it was over 10 seconds so this is a huge increase! While this may have not been obvious to the user, Google uses this data when ranking.

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

We had numerous meetings via Zoom and would occasionally communicate over email. It was a very stress-free process on our end. We were told a timeframe and kept updated when necessary. All timings were met so no complaints there.

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

How they managed to do literally everything we wanted - perhaps we underestimated their ability but in some cases, we were asking for quite technical design things and it clearly wasn't a problem and didn't affect the timelines at all.

Since starting we've also loved the swiftness in response to emails etc. If we've had an issue or needed a change we've had a response and estimated timeframe within 24 hours every single time. In most cases, the actual issue/change had been done within 24 hours. I think having the monthly sub-model really helps ensure this premium ongoing support.

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

I really can't fault them. We've asked and they've delivered every single time without delay. Brilliant.

Please describe your company and your position there.

OMG Brand Story is a brand development consulting agency designed to unleash purpose-driven brands. We dare business owners to believe in the power of their story and then help them develop their brand voice and visual identity by waking up the heart of their brand. As the CEO and Chief Brand Strategist, it is my vision to create more meaningful, inclusive, and engaging brand experiences for all through our work at OMG Brand Story.

For what projects/services did your company hire First Rate Marketing?

Our website was created "in-house" as a start-up business, and with rapid growth over our first two years, we knew that we had to create a significant improvement in our online brand presence. While we owned the voice and the visual components, our expertise was not in web design and development, and it certainly was not in SEO optimization. Through a mutual business colleague, we were thankfully introduced to First Rate Marketing and have never looked back.

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

We're a fast-paced, fun, and charismatic group who loves to work with other brands who share our values and bring some magic and synergy to the project.

We can find excellent web designers anywhere, but could we find the excellent web geniuses who were the right fit for our brand? Could we find those elusive and savage unicorn bad asses who could hang with the best of us? Indeed, we could.

Our initial interactions with First Rate Marketing were top-notch, professional, fun, engaging, and meaningful. They "got" us, and we knew it would be a perfect match to meet our needs on all fronts.

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

After an initial consultative meeting where they got to know us and we got to speak to their designers about our style and expectations, we were provided a few design options within a week's time. They were stellar and make it difficult to choose the direction - which is always a great problem to have.

They were able to quickly take our likes and inquiries to create a phenomenal design that was reflective of our energy, representative of our brand, and aligned with our forward vision of the company. We provided the necessary copy and feedback along the process, and after a few short weeks, they delivered an outstanding site. Every interaction was polished, yet sincere and always a pleasure. The team offered an elevated experience that exceeded our expectations.

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

We worked with three different individuals; however, we were assigned one designer to handle the entire process which was a huge plus for us. It made communication fluid and easy. Our initial contact, Sam, was generous with his time, knowledge, and expertise, and he made it easy to understand the overall process. Our web designer, Sean, was an absolute gem, eager to support our needs and incredibly responsive.

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

Our site has brought in an flurry of positive comments about how much it reflects our brand energy and personality. Our clients love how fun and easy it is for them to engage with us via the site, and we love it, too! In addition, we are finally ranking on Google! That's a huge win for us, as our "in-house" efforts never made a dent with SEO.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was outstanding, and communication was fluid and easy. Communication was always open, and they were extremely responsive. There was never any doubt or concern regarding timing or updates. We loved their attention to detail and attentiveness to our inquiries and needs. Most importantly, they were able to execute requests effectively and expeditiously.

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

First Rate Marketing is the perfect combination of professionalism, expertise, and charisma. They are easy to work with, a trusted resource for all things web design and SEO optimization, and just damn good people.

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

The quality and level of attention given throughout the entire process could not have been improved. It was a wonderful experience.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an independent travel agent. I’ve created an agency, and my website will encourage people to do quotes for me so I can call a date to them.

What challenge were you trying to address with First Rate Marketing?

I was new to website development, so I didn’t know anything about it. I needed help with web development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we scheduled a time. Since I work in hospitality, my schedule changes every single week. We started about eight weeks ago, and First Rate Marketing did the development from scratch. They built the whole website in seven weeks.

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with Samuel (Director) for the first two weeks. He then introduced me to someone else who was equally brilliant. They both brought me to reality when I talked about all the amazing things I wanted. Then, they’d come back with a better solution.

How did you come to work with First Rate Marketing?

I came across them online. Then, I did a marketing event where I spoke to a couple of friends. Samuel gave me a phone call and went step by step. He really wanted to help and make sure my business went well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $4,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership was from April–May 2022.

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

I have an Excel spreadsheet with 50–100 people to send out whatever I do. If I have something promotional like a logo or slogan, I have these people to get constructive criticism and keep it private. I sent the website out to everybody I knew would give me trustworthy feedback, and they came back saying it looked amazing.

How did First Rate Marketing perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a meeting every week to discuss the progress via Microsoft Teams. Also, they were very accommodating. The team always made sure that the time was good for both of us, and they were very patient with me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been in situations where I don’t know much about a subject as someone else, and other companies have made me uncomfortable. However, First Rate Marketing never did that — they made me feel comfortable in any situation. By weeks 3–4, I felt like I had made friends.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any negative comments about them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do it.

I am the Director, Studio Grey of Studio Grey

Professional Headshots

• Create Website
• Improve SEO
• Deliver Leads

Other

High ratings, Good value for cost, Company values aligned

2-5 Employees

In-Person Meeting

Design of the website: completely new schema, pages and strategy. The website included video, copy, integration of forms and reviews plus linkage to all our social media pages. The site was built to accommodate existing blogs and articles, links and went live without effecting our presence. The team also put together an SEO strategy that enabled us to start landing significant larger clients.

• Web presence - position on Google search
• Number of enquiries
• Domain Authority

Project management and communication was fantastic: they more than delivered on the project. It came in earlier than expected and on budget.

Their knowledge. This company really understand SEO, they can help you leap-frog your competitors.

Everything was great, if they could recruit more excellent staff then I'm sure we would use them more.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a chain of rock schools for adults and children. We teach our students how to play electric guitar, bass and drums.

For what projects/services did your company hire First Rate Marketing, and what were your goals?

We needed a new website that appealed to both adults and children and that encapsulates our message and ethos.

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

First Rate Marketing approached us. I looked at their CV and liked what they had done for previous clients.

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

To completely re-design our company website making it more user-friendly and adding some new elements like a "backstage" area for our customers to access.

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

Two - web developer and director

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

Too early to see results as it's just gone live but the site looks great! We've had a number of website in our 14 year history, but this is definitely the most professional.

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

Great communication and patience with my constant changes!

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

I have a brilliant new site that I can be proud of for my business that functions properly and will hopefully attract lots of new customers!

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

No - everything was smooth, efficient and on point

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-founder and Legal Consultant working daily within the business.

For what projects/services did your company hire First Rate Marketing?

Our website was created when we first started up so was a little outdated and needed refreshing after implementing some new services. We hired FRM to complete a full website redesign

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

We had had some business with the Managing Director before and found him professional and their service offering refreshing and relevant.

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

After a few discovery calls and some in-depth emails, the team got to work. They kept in constant contact and were very accommodating given our busy schedule. They embodied our vision almost perfectly, they needed little direction from us once they got going which was perfect for us.

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

A total of three, the MD and two account managers (following the departure of one on to pasteurs new)

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

Thorough discovery calls and efficient methods of working. the website was ready really quickly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Fantastic. the team is always super quick to respond and very attentive.

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

The speed of the project was what stood out the most.

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

A copywriter on board may have been beneficial as it's something we struggled with.