The Free Website Guys

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a Virtual Assistant, owner of 2M Creative Solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

I had never had a website before and was nervous about creating one. I had tried (unsuccessfully) to learn how to create my own Wordpress site and was frustrated and overwhelmed.

Being a virtual business, a website is imperative but I lacked the resources to hire someone. That’s when someone referred me to The Free Website Guys.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

I was referred by someone in one of my networking groups when I sent out a plea for recommendations. I checked them out, as it seemed too good to be true. I applied right away.

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

I chose a Wordpress theme from Elegant Themes. I set up through BlueHost. I sent them a screen recording of all the adjustments I needed to make to the theme (there were a lot) and they made the changes and set up recommended plugins and deleted unnecessary ones.

Then they sent me videos of how to upload my content.

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

I worked with Sven who was amazing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The theme looks beautiful and just how I requested and I can’t wait to enter in my content and see it go live.

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

They sent me constant updates on where we were in the process and what I needed to do. There were video tutorials explaining my role and reporting created throughout to let me know the progress.

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

Apart from the cost (as the name implies, it was free as long as I used BlueHost for the hosting, a very reputable company), I was blown away by their professionalism. Sven’s kindness and patience throughout the process was much appreciated.

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

I was concerned about a Wordpress update but I reached out to Sven and he was great and found the answer for me. The video tutorials for entering in my own content were pretty basic and would have liked a bit more information on that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a brand new business called The Essential Canine, which is a dog wellness brand. I am a canine nutritionist that teaches people how to feed their dogs a healthier, more natural diet.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys?

To build my website.

What were your goals for this project?

To have a simple, clean website that was easy to navigate and read, yet still had all the information for clients and potential clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys?

A colleague recommended them to me.

Describe the project in detail.

Building a website from the ground up.

What was the team composition?

I communicated with the Lead Developer, Sven, at TFWG directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

These Guys Are Great! I am the first to admit that the prospect of building a website was absolutely daunting as I genuinely have less than no idea how to go about it all, and as a brand new business, I just don't have the funds to get one built.

I thought a website was something I would have to put on hold, and organize later when my startup becomes more financial, but then I was recommended The Free Website Guys by a colleague, and I'm so grateful she sent me their way.

So, I made contact, put in my application, kept my fingers crossed, and was just thrilled when I was selected! The process has been so easy - even for a complete newbie to it all like me.

Not once did I feel overwhelmed or worried, and was walked through each step of the way, which made it so much easier for me to understand. What an amazing company The Free Website Guys are!

So efficient, so easy to deal with, nothing was a problem, and all communication was clear and simple to follow. They've saved me time, effort, and endless amounts of stress and I'm so very grateful.

Huge thanks to Sven and the team! With gratitude, Ess The Essential Canine

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Easy, even for me - and I know nothing about this process!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

How easy they made everything.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of a small rental vacation company with three rental properties. We’ve been doing this for five years now, and we’re about to add a fourth property. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Free Website Guys?

We promote our business through Airbnb and Vrbo, but we’re trying not to be reliant on them. As a result, we decided to build a website to get more direct bookings. 

We’ve been keeping track of all our customers through QuickBooks. As such, if we have a website, we can start getting back to our clients and bring them in as return customers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Free Website Guys built our website on WordPress. We chose another company for the website’s template since we preferred a bed-and-breakfast-type of theme. Meanwhile, Sven (Lead Web Developer) and his team put plugins on the site’s backend, including Google Analytics and tools for email marketing, such as MailChimp and Constant Contact. 

While they’ve already built the website, we still have to design it, which was a bit of a surprise for us. On the admin side, we’re populating the site with content and pictures from our existing listings. However, neither my wife nor I would consider ourselves creatives. As a result, we’re planning to work with a sister company of The Free Website Guys to design the website.

In the next couple of weeks, we’re buying another property, and we’re going to load all of that content on the website, too. We’re not rushing, but the goal is to complete the website in the next two months. 

What is the team composition?

We’re working with around two people, and my main point of contact is Sven.

How did you come to work with The Free Website Guys?

Somebody from The Free Website Guys contacted me via LinkedIn on a couple of occasions. Initially, I was very skeptical — I’m pretty untrusting by nature, especially in this day and age of social websites — but I did a little bit of research, and they seemed credible. After that, I was put in contact with Sven, and we went from there. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $400 since we’re paying for hosting services from Bluehost. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website is not active yet; it basically says, “coming soon,” but we’re almost done. The Free Website Guys has given us a 23-paged handover package. However, neither my wife nor I are really tech-savvy, so I was a bit overwhelmed even though they’ve finished creating the website. The changes and things that we have to do are a lot of work. 

Anecdotally, The Free Website Guys has been easy to work with. They’re organized in the information and instructions that they provide. The way they put everything together was very streamlined; they’ve even given me tutorial videos. They also have well-written instruction guides. 

How did The Free Website Guys perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through email, and they’ve given us instructions to ensure their emails don’t go in the spam folder. Sometimes, it gets a little difficult to track down specific information, especially when we have 40 emails in a thread. Still, it works. I’ve put everything in a folder on the desktop and Google Drive. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The fact that they offer their services for free distinguishes them from other providers. A couple of years ago, I received an estimate for web development, and it cost over $2,000. Now, we have an actual website, and we only have to design it. It’s well worth it, and it’s been a good experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their instructions can be written in layman’s terms, especially for people who aren’t tech-savvy and don't have an understanding of websites. Unless a person has a decent understanding of building websites or is familiar with their terminologies, the instructions can get very confusing. 

They’re a millennial company, so maybe it’s normal that they assume everybody has a basic understanding of such things. However, not everybody has the same comprehension level in terms of this subject.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just stay organized, create folders right off the get-go when documents come in, and start saving them either on a thumb drive, in a folder, or in the cloud. This works better than having to go through 30 or more emails looking for a particular instruction. 

Sometimes, they'll send 5–6 attachments in one email on how to do something. Start saving things so you can retrieve and find them easier. I didn't do that until I was 10–12 emails deep. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Elena Pellicano Essentials. A natural skin care and essential oil line.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys?

To design and build a website.

What were your goals for this project?

To have my own website, one that could not be shut down or where my profile could be removed for reasons out of my control.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys?

I actually found their ad on a facebook group page from Czech Republic (a place I used to live).

Describe the project in detail.

To design a life coach themed website.

What was the team composition?

I solely worked with a team leader.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Freewebsiteguys were absolutely amazing! Before getting started I had not a clue what goes into building a successful website as I am not a tech savy person. They walked me through the entire process and were able to answer all my questions.

Even when I didn't understand something my main contact always took the time, and had great patience, to deal with me in a professional, prompt manner. Throughout the process they usually even send little tutorial videos in email threads when there was a process I needed to complete on my own. That made it much easier. I love my website and could not be happier, thanks team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective, as there were many back and forths in order to exchange information and complete tasks.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The fact they were always on the cutting edge on what platforms , or plug ins, were most in demand and popular. Both relating to the actual building of the site, and even how to communicate (i.e. create a video explanation)

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would just probably would have liked to know more about my participation upfront.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm self employed, working on photography and not for profit projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

I'm starting out and needed help to develop a professional website, as I have no experience in doing this myself. The goal is to try and attract clients through the website and eventually to create awareness around the social justice issues that I'm focussing on.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

I had heard about the free website guys through a recommendation and that I might have the opportunity to receive their services for no charge if they accepted my application. I had read the reviews and they had lots of great feedback so they seemed like the right fit for me, so I applied and was very fortunate that they accepted my application.

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

The Free Website Guys had a very efficient way of communicating everything via email and videos that went through each of the steps required.

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

I only worked directly with one person throughout the whole process, and he was the Lead Developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven't launched my website yet, but I'm happy with outcome of the work done.

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

As above, the Free Website Guys had a very efficient way of communicating everything via email and videos that went through each of the steps required.

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

The way they provide the opportunity to have a website produced for free! They had a very efficient process and everything ran smoothly.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Wellness Site - Founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

I made my yoga website with the help from The Free Website Guys.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

I found out about them through an online recommendation/ referral. I decided on them as I am on a budget to make my own website.

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

Since I am an expat, I need my website to display in multiple languages. This problem was resolved beautifully with a nice plug-in, which would have taken me a long time to research and find all the relevant information in order to make it myself.

In addition, the team has helped me to integrate my site with e-commerce and blog, which is essentially customized exactly based on what I need.

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

My main contact is Sven, but there is a team of website developer behind him to guide me step by step, via video clips and recordings.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Essentially, The Free Website Guys' efficiency saved me a lot of time and money to customize my website.

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

Method of communication were email correspondances, video recordings, and youtube instructions

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

The team is very knowledgeable and super professional. I am extremely happy with the final product. I would hire them again, and I would highly recommend their service to anyone considering to make a website.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a freelancer that is working in the lead generation industry via online marketing

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

I needed to create my website and since I have no expertise on that matter I hired the freewebsite guys.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

They only charge you for the hosting of the website and everything else is free. They also had many good reviews so I decided to give it a go

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

You send them an email explaining them what your project is about and if they are interested they will take you on board. After that all communication is done via email.

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

One, position: Lead Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Still early days, not sure

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

They send you emails with all the steps that you need to take and including video recordings. If I need something I just had to email them and they usually replied fast. They also send you pdf documents with everything they did

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

I was impressed with how easy it was for them to follow instructions and how quickly they managed to complete the job.

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

They could have a bitter more attention to detail. At the end I had to make some changes in the website myself because but nothing too major

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of Artezia Jewelry, a Company that produces and sell sustainable handmade Jewelry from Brazil.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

Since I didn't have a website for my business yet, I hired The Free Website Guys to develop a Wordpress Website for me. My goal was to have an online store in order to be able to sell my jewelry in the U.S.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

The Free Website Guys were recommended by a friend called Jackie Gillliland and she convinced me that their work is great.

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

After being selected to become a free Website, we started to communicate about the project steps through e-mail. First of all, the Guys worked in setting up the back-end of my website and have configured my WordPress environment. After that, they explained in detail how to chose a theme and I did it.

I created a video explaining how I would like my website to look like and sent my logo. Next step was to finish my domain name set up with Bluehost So, they loaded in the theme, set up the page structure, uploaded my logo, and created the main menu. After that, they did set up with automated daily backups, Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

After completing the final stage of my website, they sent me videos explaining how to customize the website and create and edit products on my site. The whole communication was done by email and they were just amazing, they gave me details of each step that was done.

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

I am not sure.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was created and right now I am customizing it. I did never have experience with websites before, and the Free Website Guys made me feel secure and ready to finish it.

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

I had daily stand-ups with Sven, who communicated with the rest of the team. He always explained about the timelines and work progress.

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

By giving us a professional website for free (other ways we could not afford it), they delivered much more than that. They gave us hope to move on with our business, to achieve our goals, to follow our dreams.

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

For me it would have being nice if we could talk over the phone sometimes, just to make my understanding process faster about some particular issues that were new for me.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founding visionary and concept architect of a social impact entertainment project.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

I received the services of The Free Website Guys, to build me a website for the project. My goal was to have a strong foundation of a website built which I could then deeply customize over time.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

A friend of mine had applied for their invitation and was in the process, and shared on social media The Free Website Guys. I thought it was an interesting offer and business model, it made sense to me.

So, being that they were offering to build a website for free, and had great reviews, and being that I resonated with why they do what they do, those were all deciding factors. I didn't have a budget at this time for a site so it was a win for me.

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

The Free Website Guys have a standardized, easy to use, and yet personalized process of working with their client from beginning to end. They walk you through what they need from you, what they will be doing, and they report back on their progress. They have great tutorials to help the process.

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

I worked directly with the lead developer via an email thread, and was aware that there were possibly other teammates who also may have been carrying out some of the website build.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As far as the product goes, these guys know what they are doing, from front end to back end, from hosting to wordpress, and beyond. I was given exactly what I was promised, a beautifully set up and working website which can be the foundation for me to either go live or continue building out to more refined degrees.

There's no question for me that the Free Web Site Guys deliver, and again, more so, they deliver with friendliness and class.

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

My experience with the Free Web Site Guys was top notch. Before I get to the 'product' I like to begin with the people, which is the most important thing to my experience. In this regard, Sven and the team were brilliant. From generosity of spirit to patience they helped me from beginning to end.

They are deliberate, prepared, and are clearly experts at what they do. It was a smooth, clear and fun process. From a personal perspective, I couldn't be happier nor give a higher recommendation.

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

As I have alluded to, I found the personal warmth and attentiveness to be most impressive. Within the bounds of offering a free website build and the time allotted for that-- I felt like 'the usual' paying customer in that me and my project mattered to them.

In other words, 'free' did not come with shortcuts or being a sideline gig. I felt respected and supported, and that they cared about helping me. All of this added up for me to being a unique feature for this company. Alongside of that personal feeling, the professional skills and abilities in the actual website dev was impressive.

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

At this time, I would say no, and as I mentioned, I was given exactly what I was promised, a beautifully set up and working website which can be the foundation for me to either go live or continue building out to more refined degrees.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

ContentSolvers is a digital marketing agency and I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Free Website Guys, and what were your goals?

Website creation and development.

SOLUTION

How did you select The Free Website Guys and what were the deciding factors?

I discovered the Free Website Guys from a referral post on Facebook. The Free Website Guys offer a service to build custom websites free of charge. All I had to do was submit an application for consideration. After successfully applying they accepted me. From the very first email, Sven and the team were professional, attentive to detail, excellent, and thorough. I knew my website was in good hands.

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

1. Select a domain host - Bluehost was purchased
2. Select a theme - a Divi theme was installed
3. Customize theme
4. Set up automated daily backups - Updraft Plus installed
5. Set up Google Analytics
6. Set up Google Search Console
7. Handover

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

One person - Sven, the Lead Developer for The Free Website Guys.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My website is not only responsive but mobile-friendly and professionally created. Excellent customization and thorough front and back end development. Sven is an absolute pleasure to work with. The entire team has my highest recommendation. Hire the Free Website Guys if you need responsive web design, website development, mobile-friendly websites, and SEO-friendly websites built.

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

Their follow-up emails, updating me every step of the way, helped me to understand what they were doing on the back and front ends. I am amazed by their patience and how they took care of the project. Deadlines were met and the entire team worked in a timely manner. We used email as the only form of communication.

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

Their professionalism, attention to detail, responsiveness, and overall excellence.

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

There is nothing I would do differently. They have perfected their service and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for custom website development.