Geeks Chicago

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We're a consulting and software development firm. We're located in New York City, and we work with organizations to help them manage their data, things like audio-visual content and still-image photography. Our clients range from large organizations like the Library of Congress and HBO to small nonprofits.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I'm the founder and president.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Geeks Chicago?

Software development is critical for us and is something we offer our clients to help them achieve their goals. We provide the subject matter expertise to identify their needs and define requirements. Then, we look to the Geeks to be the folks who can actually do the development to make those things happen. Geeks Chicago is the primary development force behind the software aspect of our work.

Please describe the scope of their work.

In addition to software development, they offer general infrastructure support. They help maintain our servers, both internal and cloud-based, and they provide general IT [information technology] support. They're the first people we call when things are going wrong with our information technology.

SOLUTION

What was your process in selecting Geeks Chicago with which to work?

The previous team we'd been working with had left us high and dry. I did some research and reached out to a few people who looked like they were the types of people we would want to work with. I was originally very reticent about working with offshore firms due to prior negative experiences, and I originally thought the Geeks were out of Chicago. However, after talking with them a couple times it was clear that they knew what they were doing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of their work?

They did a great job. The initial project went well, and we've worked together on several other large projects. We've been working together for three or four years now, and we're still currently working with them.

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback to show the success of their work?

Their performance has been fantastic. I can't say enough good things about the two primary people we have been working with. They're great and very dependable. There were a couple of others within the firm that didn't do a good job, and we had one project that I thought went poorly. Geeks Chicago stepped up to the plate and made things right. They did a bunch of work without charging us to bring that project to where we all agreed it should have been. That was admirable and good. Overall, I'd give them an A+ for quality.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

They've grown as a company, and the people I'm used to working with aren't as accessible as they used to be. I don't feel as in touch as I once did.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

The name of our company is the Homestead Group. We’re a real estate brokerage that specializes in residential leasing. We’re located in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m one of the owners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Geeks Chicago?

We needed them to build a website for us and help us with marketing. The website we’re on now is the second website they’ve built for us, and we’re about to revamp it once again.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They’ve done the website design, and they’ve helped us with marketing. They have implemented a bit of SEO [search engine optimization], and then recommended different courses of action we should take.

What was your process in selecting Geeks Chicago with which to work?

I was referred to one of the owners. I met with him, and he just seemed like a very knowledgeable guy, very hands on, always reachable. I went with them, and I’ve been thrilled that I made that choice.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We’ve probably spent somewhere in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 on the website build, and now we have them on a monthly retainer.

When did you start working with them?

We’ve been working with Geeks Chicago for about six or seven years. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback to show the success of their work?

They’re fantastic. They have a good team, and they’re always available. I’m thrilled with them. The quality of their work is superb. One of the main things I really like about them is that they understand our business. I didn’t have to take time to bring them up to speed. They grasped what we do and how we do it very quickly, and that helped tremendously with building the websites.

Is there anything unique about Geeks Chicago that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

Probably that would be the scope of the technology they offer. They’re just a good company. They understand what we do, they’re always suggesting ways of making our site better, and they’re very hands on.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

No. We’re totally happy with them.

What advice would you give a future client of theirs?

I would say hire them. They’ll work with you, and they’ll make sure you get a great website. Another thing that’s important: they deliver on time. We haven’t really run into any unforeseen circumstances that have delayed anything.