Jo to the Web Solutions — Out of Business

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner at Venor. We are an Atlantic Canadian Recruitment Firm that helps companies hire the best employees. We specialize in recruiting tough-to-find talent in Information Technology, Accounting/Finance, Engineering, and the Executive ranks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Jo to the Web Solutions, and what were your goals?

Our website was created a few years ago, and we needed a refresh + a number of new features + functionality. We also wanted to optimize for SEO.

SOLUTION

How did you select Jo to the Web Solutions and what were the deciding factors?

I've known Jo for a number of years (we were actually coworkers) and I kept seeing her put out content that was relevant for us. From my time working with her, I knew that Jo was capable, talented and someone we could trust with this very important job.

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

We had a kickoff meeting where Jo did a deep dive into understanding our business, our current website, and what our future needs were. She consulted with us throughout the process, making recommendations and bringing new ideas to the table based on her experience.

This resulted in a brand new, highly optimized website built on Wordpress with customer features built in PHP. Jo then trained our team on the new site and related processes.

How many people from the Jo to the Web Solutions team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Jo was our sole point of contact throughout the entire process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's still early but our website is optimized for SEO, has a new careers page that showcases new searches our firm has taken on, and has stronger calls to action which has resulted in more calls and job applications.

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

Zoom calls, googe docs, emails, and everything in between. Jo was accessible the whole way through and managed many channels of communication coming from multiple stakeholders in our firm.

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

Their new ideas, high-touch customer service, and quality work were impressive throughout the workflow. Really went above and beyond.

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 transformation coach, author, course creator and the founder of the Raising Resilience Movement. My aim is to support, inspire and empower women in carrying the weight of life’s challenges.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Jo to the Web Solutions, and what were your goals?

With the upcoming release of my book, Heavenly Seas: A Memoir, I began working with Jo to have her redesign my website to improve its functionality and aesthetics.

SOLUTION

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

Shorty after meeting with Jo for a consultation, it was apparent that she was the individual I’d been searching for to work with on this project. She brought fresh ideas and her excitement about what my website could be was evident during our conversation. Her energy, knowledge and creative suggestions were definitely a key contributor in deciding to move forward.

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

We started with meeting to go over what specifically I was hoping to achieve through working with Jo. What I really appreciated was that prior to this meeting, Jo asked me what my goals were for my website - none of the previous designers I had met with asked me this question. By identifying these main goals and discussing the redesign of each page, we were able to come up with a game plan. Jo created an elegant layout for my website and incorporated some much needed visually appealing graphics to capture my audiences attention. She also took the time to show me the ins and outs of how to manage my site and make changes in the future.

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

I worked with Jo the web designer and developer who is certified in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and response web design.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have received so much positive feedback from individuals about my website. From Visual appeal to functionality and layout. I too feel more confident in managing my website as Jo was sure to share the necessary information for me to participate in the maintenance and upkeep of my site. I am excited to see the conversion rates and traffic increase once we go live!

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

Communication with Jo was always timely and done primarily through email between our regular video meetings. On the average video, meetings would occur approximately once per week or as required, depending on what pages were being developed at the time. Jo was quick to respond to written communications and had a very timely turnaround for developing pages. So long as I kept to my timelines and shared the information she needed, she often would have tasks complete within a couple of days.

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

I absolutely love working with Jo. She had a down-to-earth personality, the knowledge base of the systems, and a creative mind. She made the web design process seem simple and fluid.

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

Working with Jo was such a pleasure and there are not any specific areas for improvement that I experienced. The only challenge I encountered was on my end due to time zones, though Jo was absolutely amazing and remained flexible throughout our partnership on this project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the principal and owner of an interior design company. I specialize in designing custom homes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jo to the Web Solutions?

I never advertised during my 25 years in business so my primary goal was to have a site when I hired Jo to the Web Solutions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we had a phone consultation that lasted about an hour. Their team had some questions for me which involved identifying my objectives and what I wanted to include on my website. I then sent photographs of my portfolio to Jo to the Web Solutions, and I gave them some ideas about the look of the site that I was after. 

They also designed the entire platform, and they formulated everything on their own. We also had some back and forth regarding the content of the pages. They currently perform website analytics once a month, and they maintain our platform.

What is the team composition?

I’m directly working with Jo (Web Designer & Founder).

How did you come to work with Jo to the Web Solutions?

They were highly recommended by a friend who had used their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began collaborating together in February 2021, and we continue to partner with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been amazed at how fast they’ve developed my website. Jo really knows her stuff and because of her, people have been finding our company on Google. She certainly knows how we can get quickly recognized.

It’s hard to share metrics, but we’re given the summary of their web analytics efforts and that tells me how many people visited the site each month. So far, 85 people have visited our website and that’s a pretty good indication that they’re doing things right.

How did Jo to the Web Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We strictly have phone consultations, and we send each other’s notes by email. Jo has steered me in all the right directions from start to finish. I can’t say enough about her professionalism, creativity, and project management skills — I highly recommend working with her.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re young and creative which allows them to be in tune with trends.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have an answer for that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to relay your wants and needs to Jo to the Web Solutions. Most importantly, you’ll see your ideas come to life.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a technical consultant for CloudTalk, a phone company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jo to the Web Solutions?

I helped the company’s owner find a web developer and other resources to freshen up their website, and I found Jo to the Web Solutions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Jo to the Web Solutions not only to help us program the website but also to walk us through scenarios that helped us understand how the site should function. We didn’t want a static, one-paged website; it had to be interactive for us to help our customers better. We also asked them to create a new store within the website where the company could sell products. 

At present, they continue to support the website and implement updates. The owner of the company and I aren’t web-savvy people. While I’m an IT person, Jo to the Web Solutions handles everything about the website. 

What is the team composition?

We only work with Jo (Founder & Web Designer), who’s our main point of contact. Other people work in the background but we don’t interact directly with them. 

How did you come to work with Jo to the Web Solutions?

I looked at a website that showed people and their job descriptions, and that was where I found Jo. We were searching for a local partner in North America because we wanted them to truly understand our unique needs in Canada and the US. We did an interview with Jo and asked her a bunch of questions, and she answered all of them correctly.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and the website went live in June 2021. Our partnership is ongoing since we have a monthly subscription with her. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the website is live, I’ve asked a couple of my friends to look it up, while the company owner has sent it over to customers. So far, the feedback has been quite positive. Jo has also implemented the new store feature, setting it up with an automated process.

Overall, Jo to the Web Solutions has been truly instrumental in building the site. They’re honest in telling us whether our ideas are good or not. They also have a great understanding of our customers’ wants. Overall, they’ve helped us create a UX that’s more beneficial to the customers than a static website.

How did Jo to the Web Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

To communicate, we typically use Zoom. We set up a few calls with the company's owner as Jo gathers information. When communicating, the company’s CEO tells us the high-level view of what he wants, and Jo and I convert that into a technical language in our discussions. Throughout all of this, Jo has been organized and truly professional. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Jo’s personality is the best part of working with their company. I’ve interviewed quite a few other developers. Comparing them to Jo, she hasn’t only been highly knowledgeable but also welcoming and friendly. We’ve had such a great experience with her that I’ve hired her for my own startup. Moreover, we like her not only because she’s personable but also because she’s creative and can understand her clients well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. We’ve done a fairly small project and only engaged her for a couple of months so far, and we haven’t had any issues. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Prepare all the scope of work ahead of time so that you can move forward as quickly as possible. This strategy has helped us out; we’ve understood what the company requires so we already know what needs to be done. To that end, provide as much documentation as you can to help Jo out.