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    Austin, TX
    888.744.0464

Award-winning Digital Agency

4.9
11 reviews

We are an award-winning digital agency that fuses marketing intelligence and creative problem-solving to produce the most creative, memorable, and effective communications possible for our clients. Our team consists of passionate entrepreneurs, brand strategists, visual designers, strategic developers, and top-of-the-line consultants who stay up-to-date with new business strategies, and are committed to supporting your business day-in and day-out.

Whether engaged on a single project or your entire marketing initiative, we consider ourselves members of your team—working with you as if we were building our own brand.

Our proven methods take stock of the obstacles in your way, and consistently arrive at a viable approach to effectively eliminate them. From initial concept to finished execution, we collaborate with you to visually charge your message with the authenticity of your own unique and memorable voice, to stand out from the crowd, in the way only you can.

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$10,000+
 
$100 - $149 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2003
Show all +
Austin, TX
headquarters
  • 3809 S. 2nd Street, A-200
    Austin, TX 78704
    United States
    888.744.0464

Portfolio

Key clients: 

HMG Creative has partnered with hundreds of brands including: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Texas A&M, OriGen Biomedical, Humco, Capital Factory, The Marriott, IKEA, State Bar of Texas, Cox Communications, OnStream Media, Brinks Security, Terminix, Retail Me Not, The Art Institute, among other notable clients.

RetailMeNot

Project Overview

Last year, RetailMeNot came to HMG requesting web design and development assistance for a new Customer Appreciation Campaign. The project had very detailed specifications and guidelines for converting the current RetailMeNot blog interface into styled-out blog pages that highlight the new campaign, the company’s bloggers and recent articles as well as the integration of a live Q&A chat section, reader polls, advertising and of course all social media platforms.

While the timeline was tight and expectations were tall, the entire web project was completed ahead of schedule and the end-result was a design and development approved by the highest standards, our client’s.

About RetailMeNot

With more than 500,000 active coupons and 140,000 stores, the daily-deal site is the leading destination for online coupons. By encouraging users to upload deals and help grow the site, RetailMeNot has established a...

Texas Bar College

Project Overview

Texas Bar College partnered with HMG Creative to revamp their online presence for their honorary society of Texas lawyers. This was truly a “content first” project, our initial focus was on the overall user experience. The new site is fully responsive and was developed on the WordPress framework. In the end, we delivered a website that is aesthetically pleasing, functioning and a better representation of the organization’s current positioning.

About Texas Bar College

The Texas Bar College is an honorary society of lawyers who continue to enhance their professional skills through continued education well beyond the minimum requirements. Members of the organization consist of qualified attorneys who are interested in both high ethical standards and improved training for all Texas attorneys.

The Spa Mart

Project Overview

The team at The Spa Mart knew to approach their new spa distribution venture with a strong emphasis on technology, and that’s where HMG Creative came in. We worked together to create a bold, fresh brand and build their overall marketing strategy. Following this, we designed and developed their website into a Magento eCommerce platform—the world’s most popular eCommerce content management solution. The new website acts as a long-term web solution for The Spa Mart, providing an authentic representation of the organization and its impact on the spa, salon, wellness, and spa education industries. HMG also provided launch and post-launch support and continues to support The Spa Mart’s ongoing marketing needs.

About The Spa Mart

The Spa Mart is a wholesale spa distribution company exclusive to the spa, wellness, salon and spa education industries. The Spa Mart is dedicated to serving the spa...

Humco Compounding

Project Overview

Humco Compounding partnered with HMG Creative to consolidate its web presence into a single and cohesive customer resource. The aim was to create a seamless user experience that is aesthetically pleasing, fully responsive and mobile-friendly. HMG Creative planned, architected, designed, developed and supported the new, unified website to meet the needs of Humco Compounding and to cater to their audience. The new site allows mentors, staff, and general visitors to seamlessly navigate the site and easily locate desired information and transact online.

About Humco Compounding

Humco Compounding is a global pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing pharmaceuticals and high-quality over-the-counter medicines. Humco works with pharmacists, physicians, healthcare providers and patients in order to provide the best possible treatments to patients around the world.

Capital Factory

Project Overview

Capital Factory partnered with HMG Creative to revamp their entire online presence and build a scalable, long-term web solution. Capital Factory had evolved as an organization, so the goal of the new design was to provide a more authentic and accurate representation of the brand and its values. To achieve this goal, we utilized WordPress to create a user-friendly interface that is aesthetically pleasing, fully-responsive and caters to the needs of the startup community. The new site allows mentors, staff, and general visitors to seamlessly navigate the site and easily locate desired information.

About Capital Factory

Capital Factory is a community for entrepreneurs and startups to work in a creative environment and build their businesses. Capital Factory offers hundreds of events and resources throughout the year to present its members with opportunities such as meeting their investors, partners, employees...

Raise Your Hand Texas

Project Overview

HMG was thrilled to partner with Raise Your Hand Texas to help develop their new website. The new, fully responsive website was developed via WordPress, incorporating the latest in visual design best practices and technology. What’s great about this site is that it is very modular and we purposely built a custom, intuitive WordPress admin that allows Raise Your Hand Texas to easily design and layout their own engaging, nicely designed pages, moving forward. The new site was designed around Raise Your Hand Texas’ branding standards to ensure brand consistency. We incorporated full-width background videos across multiple pages to enhance the viewer experience. We also made it very easy for the user to find and connect from all of Raise Your Hand Texas’ social media accounts, in one simple place. Finally, this new website has been optimized using SEO best practices to ensure success among their target audience.

About Raise Your...

The State Bar of Texas

Project Overview

The State Bar of Texas came to HMG Creative with a goal of revamping their online web presence. This redesign project was far larger than anything we had ever worked on before, but we were eager to get started as soon as we got the offer! The State Bar of Texas has always served as the first place that bar members and the public go for information about Texas lawyers, the State Bar and laws in Texas. Keeping that in mind throughout the whole project, we created a fully responsive website that enhanced the overall user experience, simplified their current web offerings and enriched the member/public value overall. We were responsible for creating all the visual design on the site including: typography, color palettes, layout of elements, gird systems and the usage of imagery within the entire design. Unlike most projects, we created the final website code renderings for all the designs and then sent them over to The State Bar of Texas to be...

Texas A&M

Project Overview

Even though we’re Austinites and Longhorns at heart, HMG Creative was thrilled for the opportunity to tackle a website redesign project for Texas A&M University. The university’s online Student Activities Portal needed a facelift to create a more engaging and better overall user experience. We began building the new fully responsive site with our primary audience in mind – the students. The fresh, modern design provides quick access to the most popular sections on the site, with easy-to-navigate pages and a rich color scheme that promotes and enhances the Texas A&M University brand.  We built the site on the WordPress CMS – fast, strong, and more than capable of supporting the high traffic and plentiful content of the site. 

About Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University (or TAMU) located in College Station, Texas is the sixth largest university in the country. Known for their 12th Man...

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Project Overview

HMG Creative partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to support and augment their email marketing team. The engagement has since expanded to include large-scale web production, UI/UX design, and over a thousand HTML email production projects. HMG Creative also actively assists several different businesses under the Thermo Fisher brand. Together we have created an ongoing, long-lasting partnership.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenues of $18 billion and more than 55,000 employees globally. Their Scientific’s innovations help scientists around the world from solving complex analytical challenges to pioneering discoveries, in a way that caters to their needs and preferred methods. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s product base includes lab equipment, lab plasticware, mass spectrometry, chromatography, molecular biology,  protein...

Reviews

4.9
11 reviews
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Web Design & Branding for Construction Company

“They have outstanding customer service and made the process very easy for us.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Feb. - July 2018
Project summary: 

Assisting with a rebranding campaign, HMG Creative redesigned a website, created a new logo, and updated the designs for hats and shirts.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Travis Howard
Owner, Howard Steel LLC
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The website looks professional and the sales are on the rise. As a full-service agency, HMG Creative was able to meet every need, while their exceptional organizational skills helped them establish a smooth process from the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Howard Steel. We're a commercial construction company that is a steel fabricator and installer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HMG Creative?

We were looking for a vendor to update our website and help us with rebranding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, they met with me and went over everything we wanted to accomplish. Then, they redesigned our website, sent their own photographer to a lot of our projects, and updated our photo gallery. They also created a new logo and took care of all of our hats and shirts.

What is the team composition?

I worked with 2–3 of their team members, including their owner.

How did you come to work with HMG Creative?

I was referred to them by a friend who had worked with them previously. We liked the fact that they were a full-service agency and could help us with all of our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between February–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients can look at our website and see that we're a legitimate company. Also, our sales went up 30%.

How did HMG Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very professional and organized. We mostly used email to stay in touch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have outstanding customer service and made the process very easy for us. Also, they sent us a bill every week, so we didn't have to pay in advance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. It was a very smooth process.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were very punctual and delivered everything on time.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They have competitive rates.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Everything was very well organized.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I've already recommended them.

Website Redesign for Coworking Incubator

"Their professionalism, attention to detail, and desire to see our project succeed were remarkable."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Jan. - Aug. 2017
Project summary: 

HMG Creative revamped an obsolete website using WordPress, focusing on making it easy to update for internal staff. They handled its entire design, development, and testing, as well as staff training.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Marketing Manager, Capital Factory
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The new website has boosted yearly sessions by 16%, which speaks to the redesign’s success. HMG Creative conducted a smooth workflow with regular feedback. While they could assign a dedicated resource to projects, their attention to detail and commitment their client’s success make up for it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing manager at Capital Factory, the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas. Last year, more than 100,000 entrepreneurs, programmers, and designers gathered day and night for in-person and online for meetups, classes, and coworking. We meet the best entrepreneurs in Texas and introduce them to their first investors, employees, mentors, and customers. According to Pitchbook, Capital Factory has been the most active investor in Texas since 2013.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HMG Creative?

We came to HMG Creative wanting to redesign our website, which was old, outdated, and complicated to update.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to concentrate on the UI/UX of our website. We also wanted it to be easy for anyone on our staff to update it.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found HMG Creative through a friend that had a great experience with them. We loved their portfolio and knew they could come up with something great for us!

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

HMG Creative designed, developed, tested our website, and trained our staff on navigating the WordPress admin. They walked us through the strategy of our site in a way that was simple to understand. They also did everything in steps, which made it easier to give feedback and receive updates.

What was the team composition?

My CEO and I were involved in the project. Most of the communication was with their creative director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

HMG Creative took our ideas and concerns into account and helped us create a beautiful website both on the backend and frontend. We’ve seen our yearly sessions increase by 16% since its launch.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They used Google docs, which made giving feedback and updates easy.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism, attention to detail, and desire to see our project succeed were remarkable.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There's very little they could improve on. If I had to suggest something, having an account manager that follows up and keeps everything on time would be helpful. It would also be beneficial to have in-person design meetings throughout the project. Sometimes it's hard to explain what you want in text or over the phone, especially if you aren't a developer.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They gave us a very fair price for this project.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Website Update & Graphic Design for Large Contractor

“Their team went out of their way to get all the details right.”

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
May 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Helping update an online presence, HMG Creative added new features to a website and oversaw graphic design work. They continue working on new products.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Executive Assistant, Large Contractor
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The internal team loves the look of the website and the customer service they received. HMG Creative went above and beyond to understand all needs, while their ability to address quickly and efficiently any issues that came up during the rollout made them a reliable partner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive assistant to the CEO of a large federal contractor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HMG Creative?

We needed a company to help us improve our online presence and modernize our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They updated our website and did some design work and infographics. We outlined the timeline and what we wanted, after which a lot of the work was done remotely. We continue to work with them on new features and products.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with 2–3 people.

How did you come to work with HMG Creative?

We did a lot of research on Austin-based companies, and we liked what HMG Creative had to offer. They had the most comprehensive set of services out of all the companies we talked to.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $30,000–$35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We love what they've done and the feedback from our internal team has been very positive. We don't have a user base, so it was done for the aesthetics.

How did HMG Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive (we usually use email and text to communicate). If there are any issues, they're always available to troubleshoot with us. Also, they took their time to reach out to us to make sure they understood what we wanted on the smaller features. Their team went out of their way to get all the details right.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We hadn't worked with any other company on a similar project, so they were great at guiding us through everything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some issues with the rollout and some features were not functioning properly. I'm not sure if it was their fault, but it wasn't a smooth rollout.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    I don't know how long these things usually take, but it took a little longer than we had expected.
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They've done a great job and it's been worth the money.
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    There were some issues with the rollout.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Organizational Website for Education Nonprofit

"They answer our questions patiently and are willing to work with people that aren't frontend development experts."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. 2015 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

HMG Creative redesigned a website, introducing a responsive design and upgrading its UX/UI. They managed the full development process, from sketches to troubleshooting. They now provide ongoing support.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Visual Design Strategist, Education Nonprofit
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The site receives nearly double the visitors it used and keeps them on-page for much longer. HMG Creative instituted an effortless collaboration and shares their considerable expertise with internal resources. Customers can expect a responsive partner that provides tangible brand growth.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a visual design strategist for a nonprofit that identifies and pilots promising ideas to improve public education. We support the conditions and public policies necessary to scale proven approaches that benefit all Texas students. Our goal is to reinvent public education for the 21st century. I handle graphic design, visual animation, photography, videography, and digital storytelling.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HMG Creative?

We were going through a complete rebrand, and our website had limited functionality and flexibility. We needed to redesign our organization’s website to showcase our work in a clean, modern, user-friendly way.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our brand awareness and the amount of time users spent on the site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We went through a pretty thorough interview process and spoke with several agencies. We had considerable internal talent surrounding visual design, videography, and writing, so we were looking for an agency that would come alongside us as a true partner—one that saw our contributions as an asset, rather than a nuisance. Many agencies were unwilling to forgo complete creative control, so we cut them right away. 

Describe the project in detail.

Since our strategic priorities shifted, we needed to change our entire site. We were telling stories with rich videos and photographs, but our search function and our content sorting were in shambles. To bring the site into the 21st century, we needed to rethink our UX/UI and introduce a responsive design. Finally, we’d spent no money on SEO, so we weren’t present or easily searchable on Google.

We worked through sketches, UI prototypes, troubleshooting, and execution, and HMG took the lead on populating pages with our content. They drew inspiration from the websites of large, international nonprofits and a monthly magazine.

Our team is mainly self-sufficient now, and we have contributors adding content to the site almost daily. We continue to lean on HMG Creative for special projects, heavy coding support, and issue troubleshooting.

What was the team composition?

The HMG Creative team consists of the co-owner of the organization, the art director, and an SEO specialist. We interact a little with the developers, but the art director is our main contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clients said our old site was clunky and hard to navigate. Now, they tell us it’s clean, modern, approachable, and stands out from both our competitors and our partners.

Users have nearly doubled every year and share our content on social media (Facebook, Twitter) much more than they used to. Though users visit fewer pages, we attribute that to our content being easier to find, since they also spend more time on each page.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their art director, Johnny, is easy to work with and highly knowledgeable. He’s always accessible and focused on finding solutions. Our internal team communicates with him through a liaison. The two of them communicate well and make sure all requests are understood.

We have little interaction with the developers themselves, but communication is pretty smooth. We submit all requests through a ticketing system, and their response rate is fairly quick. Emergency situations are tackled with a simple phone call to their main office.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They answer our questions patiently and are willing to work with people that aren't frontend development experts.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s always room for improvement, and it goes both ways. There’ve been times where we made unreasonable requests with little notice, asking for tasks to be done a certain way. However, if I had to say anything, I’d suggest they improve their ticket response rate. We typically wait for 2–3 days for an answer to a ticket, and I’d like that rate to be a bit quicker. That being said, they resolve the issue quickly and to my satisfaction when they do respond.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    It's quite reasonable.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They're a great organization, with good people, that delivers high quality.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Marketing for Global Life Science Organization

"Collaborating with HMG Creative has enabled our business partners to successfully meet their digital needs."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

HMG Creative leads an online marketing initiative centered on developing new website content and updating existing content. They provide ongoing website maintenance to match internal digital style guidelines.

The Reviewer
 
10,000+ Employees
 
San Diego, California
Jacquie Benini
Global Digital Content Process Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

HMG Creative’s accessibility and professionalism has fostered a successful long-term engagement. The team’s passion for its work is clearly evident in its creative approach. Their organization and workflow make for a stress-free atmosphere.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the digital content process manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermo Fisher Scientific is the world leader in serving science. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HMG Creative?

We contracted with HMG Creative for a series of email and web-based marketing tasks.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thermo Fisher initially contracted with HMG Creative about 3 years ago to aid in the execution of a large volume of email template requests for our internal businesses. As a result of this excellent partnership, we extended the engagement to further assist our global web production team functioning as an extension/surplus resource for web-based project needs.

What is the team composition?

The HMG Creative team consists of the managing partner, the creative director, two visual designers, and a developer.

How did you come to work with HMG Creative?

I’ve known the managing partner for more than 10 years, so I’m very familiar with his work. We’ve worked together on a number of projects over the years while I’ve held positions at different companies.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost for the web projects is well over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2016 and have ongoing projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a web perspective, it’s been tremendous to have them as an extended resource. They are a dedicated, trusted resource for Thermo Fisher, and they’ve been a life-saver on many projects!​

​​​​​​How did HMG Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re accessible and always willing to make time for meetings despite the time difference between our offices. It’s been a stress-free engagement with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The reason that we’re able to achieve our own goals is due to HMG Creative’s own institutional organization and workflow. They have a healthy working atmosphere, and they’re passionate about their work. They’re very personable and creative.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of. They’re very much on top of things from a business and communication standpoint.

5.0
Overall Score We have had a successful engagement.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They work well within our time zone and schedule.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They offer a competitive price.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The quality of their work is exceptional.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I have recommended them several times.

Logo Design for Financial Planning Startup

“I was most impressed with their team approach and the depth that they wanted to get to know me and my business.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Less than $10,000
 
July - Aug. 2018
Project summary: 

HMG Creative designed a logo and marketing collateral, including business cards and an email signature.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Scott Ela
Founder & Managing Member, Avant Financial Advisors
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The logo is expected to boost brand recognition and has received positive feedback on its striking design. HMG Creative’s thorough and collaborative process fostered positive results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a new financial planning firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HMG Creative?

HMG Creative created our logo and our business cards.

What were your goals for this project?

My goal was for our logo to be simple, but bold.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After talking to a few companies, I went with HMG Creative because of their reputation.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

To start the project, HMG Creative had me fill out an extensive questionnaire about my business and my clients. Using that information, they developed three potential logos. I selected the one I liked best and went through multiple variations of that logo. Once we selected our final design, HMG Creative sent me brand guidelines and helped me set up my email signature. They also created and printed my business cards using a similar process.

What was the team composition?

I worked mainly with one of their visual designers, but I also had input from their managing partner along the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a quality project in a short time frame for a fair price. We've received great feedback on our logo from clients and other professionals in the industry. We're looking forward to using this to create our identity in the community.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had constant email communication during the process, and they were always quick to respond. I could pick up the phone and call my designer directly when I had questions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed with their team approach and the depth that they wanted to get to know me and my business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

While some things are easier to see in person, we did not have any in-person meetings because of the short time frame. Scheduling an in-person meeting would have likely slowed down the process.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Design for Financial Firm

"HMG made a point to sit down with all the decision makers and go page by page through the proposal to be sure that we understood what they were offering."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Sep. 2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

HMG Creative assisted the client as they refreshed and redesigned their website. The agency also provided training and education for the client’s staff.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Austin Metro Area
Certified Financial Planner, Finance Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

HMG Creative contributed to a more effective website with a lower bounce rate. The agency has been excellent at receiving feedback and improving from it. The client praises HMG Creative for their thorough, yet personal, approach to solving problems.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are a financial planning and wealth management company. We’re located in West Lake, in Austin, Texas.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m a financial adviser as well as an adviser assistant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with HMG Creative?

We had a website that was several years old and very much out of date, so we needed to do a website refresh and redesign.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

We were able to handle the content and the information architecture in-house. HMG was good about using most of the copy and content we developed to customize and design a WordPress website for us, including accommodating a number of revisions needed as the project developed. They’re also continuing to help us by completing a brand style guide and some branded templates for our use in some marketing endeavors.

They’ve been very hands-on about training some of the people here in the office on how to make updates to the website directly. The fact that our site is on WordPress factored into the decision of choosing them. Our previous website was built in such a way that anytime we needed a change, we had to contact a webmaster, so there was often a significant delay. It was not a very streamlined process. HMG came to our office and spent some time with a couple of our employees, myself included, and trained us on how to make our own blog posts, update profiles and add new employees as we attract more advisors to our company.

What was your process for selecting HMG Creative with which to work?

We sent out an RFP [request for proposal] in the fall of last year and began our research by looking at the Austin Book of Lists, which is put out by the Austin Business Journal. We contacted a number of the website design and development agencies that we saw on the list after poking around on Google and looking at their websites and at their different portfolios.

We wanted to work with a company that had experience working in the financial industry. There are some regulations and compliance standards as well as visual standards that we face, and we wanted to make sure they had a grasp of what we were trying to achieve and what companies like ours do. Some of the design agencies that we had contacted were out of our price range. When one or two of them referred us to HMG, which we had also uncovered through our own research, we felt pretty good about asking them to submit a proposal. Ultimately, they gave the best presentation and proposal. They were within our budget and seemed to offer what we were looking for.

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

We’ve spent about $15,000 working with HMG.

When did you start working with them and is the relationship ongoing?

We started working with HMG in September 2014, and the website went live earlier this year [2015]. We are still working with them on the brand style guide and some of the branded templates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any stats, metrics, or general feedback relating to the services that were delivered?

Their work has been great. We’re very happy with them, and they were very accommodating with all of the feedback we provided and revisions we suggested. They’ve been extremely patient and helpful throughout the entire process. We’re still a little new at looking at metrics, but we received a great deal of positive feedback from different clients through email, in person, and on the phone.

Part of the reason that we wanted to update the website was that we’re trying to get ramped up with our social media and content marketing. So, having a website that supported a blog was a big factor. We’re also looking at producing more original content, which is starting to ramp up as well. Once we start getting a bit deeper into our content marketing and social marketing initiatives, we anticipate metrics that reflect higher engagements. Previously on our first website, the bounce rate was extremely high, something like 60 percent off the front page. Just by doing the redesign, we’ve already seen that reduced.

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

They have a personal approach to working with us individually and as a company. They were the only company to present their proposal to us in person. HMG made a point to sit down with all the decision makers and go page by page through the proposal to be sure that we understood what they were offering. Any amendments or questions we had were addressed at that time.

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?

I don’t really see anything that we might have done differently.

What advice would you give to a future client of theirs?

Shop around and make sure you’re meeting with the people who are going to be working with you. Making sure you can communicate clearly and be understood is critical.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Design for Health Care Benefits Company

"I would say their design work was absolutely beautiful. Overall, I’m happy with the relationship."

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4.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
3.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Sep. 2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

The client hired HMG Creative to assist as they rebuilt their website in order to adjust their pitch and appeal to a new target audience.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Austin Metro Area
Kami Haynes
Director of Marketing, Tango Health
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

HMG Creative delivered excellent design work in a direct and confident manner. The client noted that the agency is stronger in design than they are in technological expertise. Regardless, the project has been successful and HMG Creative is recommended to others.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a startup company in Austin, Texas. We’re specialists in helping companies make more effective use of their health care benefits by getting their employees into the right plans, saving the companies money and providing affordable care compliance.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m the marketing director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with HMG Creative?

We had recently made some changes in our overall messaging, and we needed a new website that reflected that. We had changed our target audience and our overall pitch. Based on the messaging documents that I created, we went to HMG and said we wanted a website that reflected both the messaging plus the competitive landscape that we were in. We wanted to look a little more modern and up to date, a little less like a tiny startup company.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

We had been using WordPress, so we wanted to stay with that platform. We host the site on our own servers, and we wanted to make sure that they could handle the design and functionality using WordPress. We also needed the site to be compatible with tablets and smartphones. So, we were looking for both site design and, to a certain degree, WordPress implementation. We also wanted to make sure we could work on the site after the development was complete. We wanted HMG to set up the site with themes and basic page layouts so we could pick it up from there. HMG did the initial 20 pages of site design.

What was your process in selecting HMG Creative with which to work?

We did a pretty extensive RFP [request for proposal] process. We wanted a company that was in the Austin area, so we started our search looking at agencies in Austin. We looked at their portfolios online to see if they had experience in health care or the insurance industry so that they understood our business. We narrowed the selection process down to five different agencies here in Austin. They were all smaller agencies because we don’t have a huge budget, but it was important to us to have someone local, someone who did great design work and someone who could address our issues with WordPress. We narrowed our search down to three finalists, and we selected HMG because their design work was so great. We also felt they understood the technical challenges we were facing.

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

We have spent between $20,000 and $30,000 working with HMG.

When did you start working with them and is the relationship ongoing?

Our relationship started in September of last year and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any stats, metrics, or general feedback on the work they’ve done?

I would say their design work was absolutely beautiful.

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

Unlike many agencies that present two or three different concepts or options, they presented only one. That was a little surprising to me at first, but I discovered that it was much easier for me to get buy-in from my executive team because I didn’t have to deal with a variety of responses to multiple options. With one concept, it was very easy for me to say that this is what HMG wants to do. Fortunately, my executive team loved what they did design-wise.

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?

In terms of the actual implementation of the project I felt that once I had given them the project, they kind of went away and didn’t come back with updates, status reports or drafts of where we were in the work. We also fell a little bit behind schedule because of the holidays and some technical issues, and I didn’t feel like they did quite as good a job as they could have keeping me up to date on the schedule. That was a little disconcerting.

However, we got everything we wanted in the end. But, I would still say that their expertise is more around design than technology because we did hit some technology snags. I had people on my team who needed to work with them to fix some of the technology issues. But, overall, I’m happy with the relationship. I would just suggest to HMG that they be sure to communicate throughout the process on a regular basis so the client doesn’t wonder what’s going on.

What advice would you give to a future client of theirs?

Be as clear as possible that you as a client know what you want before you go into a relationship.

4.0
Overall Score
  • 3.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Development for Linens Distributor

"Everybody there is super competent and knows what they’re doing."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Less than $10,000
Project summary: 

HMG Creative provided platform development services for the client with the goals of improving their online presence and increasing sales.

The Reviewer
 
2-10 Employees
 
Temecula, California
Alison Whisnad
Purchasing Manager, Taylor Linens
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

HMG Creative streamlined the client’s online process and increased their exposure which led to more traffic and sales. The client is extremely pleased with the agency’s work and praises them for their attentiveness and responsiveness.

BACKGROUND

Could you give us a brief description of your company?

We’re a small family-owned company. We are wholesale distributors of linens and bedding items. We’re located in Southern California.

What’s your role and responsibilities within the company?

I’m the purchasing manager. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Before you went to HMG Creative, what was the business challenge that you were trying to address?

We wanted to update our system to the umbrella platform so that our website was more user friendly and more efficient.  

What was your company’s business goal for the project?

Increase our presence on the Internet and our online sales.

SOLUTION

Can you talk a little more about the scope of the project?

We needed a website that accommodated both retail and wholesale subscribers because we primarily work with retailers, but we also sell to the public. The project included development of a special platform that allowed wholesale customers to log in and get their orders processed. 

What was your process for selecting HMG Creative with which to work?

HMG Creative was a local company here in Southern California before they moved to Texas. We decided to go with them because they’ve always paid attention well and are very detail oriented. That’s really important to us with the website.

Can you give us the size of the project in dollar terms or is that confidential?

About $8,000.

Do you know when the project was completed?

The project was completed early 2012. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results and feedback, can you give us some specific improvements that happened on your website because of the work that HMG Creative did?

We no longer have to mail out our 100-page sales catalog for our wholesale customers to use in their shops anymore. Now, they’re able to download it off the website. It’s hosted there. Also, all of our customers are able to make online profiles with us, which has really helped with orders. We’ve seen a huge increase in our orders online and our online traffic. They’ve also helped us with social media. Our online presence is completely revamped with the website. It really helped our business.

How well do you think they performed?

Really well. Every project has obstacles, and they work to make it right and see it through to the end. Whenever we have a question on something, they’re always getting back to us extremely quickly. Everybody there is super competent and knows what they’re doing.

When you were working with them, was there anything unique or special about them that’s different from other companies you’ve worked with in the past?

They’re always there, and they’re always super attentive, which is very distinguishable. The owner is very detail oriented, and he takes the time to figure out what kind of look we wanted. They did revision after revision for us. They really bent over backwards to make sure it was exactly what we wanted.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Development for Internet Marketplace

"We selected them because they were the most competent firm out there. They have an incredible skill set and many capabilities."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
Project summary: 

HMG Creative provided design, development, maintenance, and support services for the client as they updated their website.   

The Reviewer
 
2-10 Employees
 
Austin Metro Area
Gary Forni
CEO, TuffWerx
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 
The client is extremely pleased with HMG Creative’s contributions, which have led to an improved website that receives excellent feedback from its users. There have been no issues throughout the partnership and HMG Creative is recommended to others.
BACKGROUND

Could you give a brief description of your company?

The name of our company is TuffWerx. We’re based in Texas, and we are an Internet marketplace. We focus on simplifying the process of selling used heavy equipment, [such as] bulldozers, excavators, and backhoes. 

What is your role and your responsibilities with the company?

I’m the CEO. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge you were trying to address when you contacted HMG Creative?

The design of our website has a significant impact on our business. So, we needed to create a new website design and provide a strong, positive experience for the customers that visited our website. 

SOLUTION

Can you give more specific details about the scope of the project?

The project included design, development, maintenance, and support.

Why did you select HMG Creative?

We selected them because they were the most competent firm out there. They have an incredible skill set and many capabilities. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of the results from the project completion, can you give us specific improvements that happened on your website, such as how it’s better overall because of the project?

This is one of the reasons we are very happy with them. I literally had customers tell us they have chosen our service because they think our site, specifically our website is head and shoulders above the competition. We clearly look like a cutting-edge company. We get business because we work with HMG.

When working with HMG Creative, is there something unique about them that kind of differentiates them from the competition or other companies with which you’ve worked?

What I found working with HMG Creative is we’ll have a sit down, we’ll get a wireframe out of what we’re hoping for, and then the execution on their end is very much what we discussed. 

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer