The Free Website Guys

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Brainy is a concept that builds a bridge between science and creative entrepreneurship.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Web development; to provide a professional look to our blog, content, activities, and products.

SOLUTION

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

We have applied to the web development contest. According to the information provided, our concept/project has shortlisted for the 10 first projects to win the web development.

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

First meetings for step up the goals and projects objectives; follow the guidelines through the YouTube videos; fill the forms;

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

3 persons from web development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet, but I can report it later;

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

The Free Website Guys has provided such an amazing opportunity for our project. I appreciated their updated feedback on the workload flow, the customer-friendly attitude, and professional insights. Besides, the video instructions are clear and extremely helpful.

I strongly recommend their services to my friends and contacts. I hope we can have more opportunities to collaborate in the future, and thanks so much again for selecting our concept to work with. I wish all the best to the FWG team! 

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

Very clear message; Very professional; Customer-friendly attitude;

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

So far nothing to report.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Social Media Influencer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

As a social media influencer, I have had a blog for years. I have used the FREE themes that come on WordPress. It was okay but I wasn’t 100% pleased with it. My host package was ending soon and I knew I wanted something new but wasn’t sure exactly what.

SOLUTION

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

When I saw a Facebook post on one of my influencer pages for a chance to get a website built for FREE through Free Website Guys, I decided to sign up. I was not sure how much of a shot I would have because several other applicants signed up as well.

So I was excited when I got an email saying: "We receive around 250 applications every month and yours was one of just 10-ish that we’ve selected for this week to give the green light to."

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

Website design.

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

Unsure

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All I paid for were the hosting services which I needed anyway as my hosting service was ending, and this hosting service was actually way less than my current one, and an upgraded theme package at a great discount, so my blog can look “fresher and cleaner” and give me more ways to change it up if I want to, as opposed to the free themes in WordPress. I can’t say enough great things about the Free Website Guys. I am very pleased and impressed.

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

Through the process, I communicated with Sven Nielsen and I have to say he and his team were a delight to work with. The whole thing lasted about 2 months as there were some hiccups along the way, more on my end with death in the family, starting virtual learning with my kids, and the everyday life of a working mother, I wasn’t able to stay on task like I would have liked.

However, they were patient and worked well with us throughout the entire process to make sure we were happy with everything and we got things the way we wanted. They were very efficient.

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

Very efficient

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 the founder of Pathfinder Solutions, LLC, an executive and personal coaching company dedicated to helping professionals and small businesses achieve their goals and live their highest potential.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

To redesign my business website quickly and painlessly.

SOLUTION

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

They were very responsive to my project and my goals, and their transparent business model of providing a high quality website for free, with an opportunity to earn my business later, greatly impressed me.

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

They broke the project down into understandable and doable steps, emailing me each step along with way with my part to do. They built my website in WordPress, and recommended quality hosting and design templates, and other web tools to create a secure, user-friendly and easily modifiable website.

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

I worked directly with the lead developer, Sven. He was fantastic! Kept me up to date on progress and answered all my questions in a timely fashion. He walked me through the entire process step-by-step and made it so easy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I will copy/paste my response from the last question here as Sven gave me a 5 star experience! I worked directly with the lead developer, Sven. He was fantastic! Kept me up to date on progress and answered all my questions in a timely fashion. He walked me through the entire process step-by-step and made it so easy.

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

Their project management style is very efficient and organized. I kept in touch with the lead developer by email on a weekly basis. Each time I completed a step in the process, he responded within a day or two, and quickly moved me on to the next step.

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

Their transparent business model of providing a high quality website for free, with an opportunity to earn my business later. This approach greatly impressed me.

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

Not directly related to my experience. However, I have a background in basic web development, hosting and design. Without that I might have been quite overwhelmed with trying to understand all the steps that were mine to complete.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the manager of a legal consultancy organization based in Bucharest, Romania.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I wanted to create a website for my organization.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They used WordPress for the website, and I bought the theme separately. They recommended that we go with Bluehost for hosting the website because they have an affiliate program with them. These were the extra costs for the website they created for us. It was mentioned during the development.

What is the team composition?

I only worked with one person, Sven (Co-Creator & Lead Developer). As I understood, there was a team of two or three people who developed the website itself.

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

I contacted The Free Website Guys after I saw an ad on either a Facebook page or group here in Romania. We got in touch via email and I sent them my idea and request and need for the website and they replied very quickly and professionally.

They offered me the opportunity to create this free website. I had this legal consultancy business that I wanted to develop, mainly for ex-pats in Bucharest. I didn’t have a clear budget for developing the website, and having this in mind I thought it was a great opportunity to develop the website and for them to promote their services to the ex-pat community and also help me with finalizing this website.

How much have you invested in them?

I spent less than $100.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2020, and we wrapped up in October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was done within one month. In the near future, the main idea is that the main batch of clients will come from the website.

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

It was top notch. They also sent me mid-term reports based on what they had done and what they developed. We exchanged some emails back and forth and I wasn’t always as fast as them in replying. I think the drawback was the fact that we communicated only via email. For me, it took a while before I paid for the theme, hosting, and so on. I think that was the drawback for me as well as for them because I didn’t have that prepared in a timely basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I liked the fact that they were very pragmatic and they offered very intuitive options and solutions on the criteria that I asked for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they have good services. Although they are creating a free website, it would be better if they give the client a heads up that the web development is free, but there may be some additional costs for the theme, hosting, and so on, just to prepare them before starting the project. Or they could offer different alternatives for hosting, themes, and other things.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I definitely recommend them. They can fully take a project from A–Z. If someone has a theme in mind or a theme based on what they want to structure their website, present it to them beforehand. Or choose a theme that is easier or more dedicated to their needs before starting the project. If they would have a structure or map of the website, I think it would be helpful and easier for The Free Website Guys to understand and create it from scratch to the end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a flight instructor and commercial pilot with my own LLC for my work as an independent contractor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

The Free Website Guys built a website for me to advertise my pilot services. My goal was just to have a nice-looking, basic website to provide information and contact info to potential customers.

SOLUTION

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

The Free Website Guys were recommended to me through a Facebook female pilot group. As a new business without a lot of capital, they offered professional-quality web-building services at no cost to me other than what I needed to pay the different web applications to purchase a domain and set up a professional theme in Wordpress.

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

The team built a Wordpress site for me from the ground up with various functional plug-ins and a sophisticated theme, far beyond anything I could build myself.

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

One person from the team (Sven) worked with me. He's a (the?) lead developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don't have any metrics yet because I'm still finishing my portion of the work (customizing my site) but I'm very pleased with the quality of the site and the ways in which they customized it to suit my needs.

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

We communicated via email, but a lot of the emails included links to instructional videos so I knew what I needed to do. Honestly that worked great, and the one time I had a question, an email was more than sufficient to answer it. The team was very responsive (arguably far more than I was, even) and I really appreciated their dedication.

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

I think the quality of work they offered me for free was really impressive and very much appreciated for how it can help me get my own business off the ground.

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

It might have been nice to see a whole summary of the project from start to finish as a review at the end, but honestly, I have absolutely zero complaints.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a yoga teacher, running my own business myself via online and in person group and private classes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I hired The Free Website Guys to develop my website, as I have no knowledge in that field my goal was to understand the process and have easy editing access afterwards.

SOLUTION

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

I selected The Free Website Guys, because as someone starting my own business my funds were limited. I tried my luck by submitting my application to them and was amazed that I was chosen. So my deciding factors was to be looked after, create a great simple website and also have easy communication between me and the company.

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

I filled out the application via their website - I was then chosen by them. We had constant communication via email about all the steps to be taken from my side and theirs. I was kept in the loop of what was happening in the background, and was given clear end dates.

All of my questions were answered quickly and professionally. They provided me with clear video instructions as well, so it made it even easier to understand. When I wasn't sure on certain things, they provided me with very clear thoughts and ideas.

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

I worked directly with one awesome guy called Sven Nilsen. He was my point of contact, but I know there was a great team behind him making all the magic happen.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website is super easy to use. I can edit anything I want to. The design is super clear and easy to manipulate.

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

We had regular email check ins, weekly sometimes even more often depending on the stage of the project.

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

Their communication, professionalism and how helpful they were to all my tiny questions. As I am not savvy in this area at all.

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

Seriously... nothing at all. I loved it all. Maybe a phone call or zoom call in the beginning but then on the other hand I understand why this isn't offered. Being a free project, spending extra time on a call is not justifiable. I think it would just be amazing to meet the team 'in person' as I am super happy with the whole project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a consulting business offering diversity and inclusion workshops for youth and non-profit organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My business is very new and I was looking for affordable options to develop a website to boost my reach and clientele.

SOLUTION

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

I found The Free Website Guys through a Facebook group for women-identifying entrepreneurs and freelancers. I picked them because the web development is free and they had amazing reviews.

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

Working with The Free Website Guys was incredibly efficient and easy. They took me through the process step by step and offered videos and tutorials to help me understand the work they were doing and what they needed from me to get it done.

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

One of their Lead Developers, Sven, acted as my main point of contact throughout the entire development process. Sven was extremely communicative and kept me updated every step of the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I am still working on refining my content before sharing my website with the world, but I am looking forward to jumping in and am grateful to have a beautiful looking website to do it.

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

The Lead Developer was able to provide me with bite size chunks of tasks that I could do to get the website up and running. Each step was communicated via email with a video tutorial outlining what needed to get done. Once the tasks were complete, I would follow-up and get an update on next steps shortly after.

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

Their process is incredibly detailed and they make it super easy to understand and navigate. Step by step, their team was there to offer tons of support. And, they did it with such patience and grace. Would highly recommend these folks. They’re awesome!

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

No, not at all. I think everything was great!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a social dining platform, we enable cooking lovers to start their own home based restaurants and host guests on their own dining table.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

we asked the free website guys to build our website from the scratch. our goal is to launch the website locally then we want to expand regionally and internationally.

SOLUTION

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

it was from social media post, someone talked about them, and after connecting them and knowing more about their services and their offers, I decided to work with them.

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

the team of web developer helped me choosing the web host and the theme, also they helped me in each step of choosing and registering. they start building the site and then they asked me to describe what I want to be modified, then they worked on it, they provides me with videos on how to complete each thing I supposed to do.

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

I were in contact with the team leader and from his side, he was connecting with the development team, actually i do not know the exact number of team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

now, after developing the site, i can work on the content and i can share it with people so my business will come to life.

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

I were involved in each step they proceed, they were in contact with me and any help i needed they were supportive and they helped me immediately. and everything was on time, and any time after agreeing on something, they tell me how much time it would take and if it might be delayed they let me know before.

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

Their customer service, kindness, commitment and professionalism were their most impressive traits.

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

nothing actually.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a coaching business and help women with self acceptance and self worth.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

To build my website.

SOLUTION

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

I heard about The Free Website Guys from a friend of mine and I really like their concept. Plus who doesn't want a free website? I'm just starting my business so for me this was the perfect opportunity.

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

For me the whole world of building websites is completely new, so I am super grateful that I had the Free Website Guys to guide and support me in the process. They build the whole back-end of my website and installed everything needed.

They explained every step on the way and with their instruction video’s it was super easy for me to provide them with the information they needed and to get more knowledge and experience myself.

They also taught me how to edit and make changes to the website so I can put all content in myself.

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

My main contact was with Sven, lead developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet. I'm still in the process of uploading my own content.

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

The communication was really good. We had weekly email contact. Their instruction video's are super helpful. Plus they explained every step on the way and sent me regular updates about the process.

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

Their concept is amazing and I really like how friendly and supportive they are.

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

I don't have any recommendations about the process, I really liked working with them and am super grateful for all the work they did for me. The only thing is that is still takes me a lot of time to really make the website look like I want to, in the design and content.

That's totally fine, I like working on it. But my expectation was different so it would be helpful to have that more clear in the beginning of the process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am ThriveOnData LLC Founder and CEO. We provide mid-size through Fortune Global Corporations Management Consulting Services enabling our clients to transform the way they manage data into a weapon for competitiveness and increased profitability

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are a start-up, with limited investment resources. The Free Website Guys allowed us to start our marketing and business development operations by providing us, for free, with basic site infrastructure and software platform. And left us ready to grow our portal as well as in a position to collaborate on other projects in the future

SOLUTION

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

Cost and referred through my Professional Network

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

Web-Site hosting, set-up, themes selection, key initial content, publication - And most importantly, knowledge transfer to update content on our own moving forward

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

(2): Sven. Technical Leader and another resource who supported the process of delivering for us

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have already some presence online which was our original goal. Not in a position yet to provide metrics but measurement of site traffic is an ability we have now as it was included on the deliverable we are using now

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

Very effective, quick, clear and proactive. We definitely look to work together in the future

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

The clarity to communicate how the process would take place and availability to answer questions when they were due

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

I think their business growth strategy is very clear and effective. I would recommend continuing it and expanding it