Monogram

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of a healthcare technology startup.

For what projects/services did your company hire Monogram, and what were your goals?

We partnered with Monogram to develop the first version of our website based on our startup thesis and market research. Our goal was to craft a clean and sleek website but have it up and live quickly so that we could engage with potential customers and iterate on the messaging.

How did you select Monogram and what were the deciding factors?

We selected Monogram following a strong referral and based on their thorough engagement in understanding our business goals and project scope.

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

We had a kick-off meeting to discuss goals and objectives and from there the team went quickly to work. We had an upcoming deadline for a particular conference and Monogram was able to deliver the work in that short time frame.

The objectives included:

1. Build the website using JAMstack architecture
2. Create a headless CMS that is intuitive to use
3. A fast and extremely secure website
4. Core Web Vitals score are all green and ready for Google's new search criteria starting in May 2021 (this was done by early March)

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

Several team members worked behind the scenes.

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

We have a great website that served our purpose during our early launch and outreach phase. We are able to update the website on our own thanks to Monogram's setup using a CMS.

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

Fast and efficient communication by email.

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

We were impressed with their great design, efficient communication, and ability to work with tight timelines. (when needed).

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

None

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a venture fund.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

We wanted to attract new companies conducting various types of business. Although we’re in the business segment, we sell to a wide spectrum of people. We needed to attract investors and raise funds too. We wanted to portray a certain image and needed help.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Monogram helped with market research and took the time to understand us. Their team gave us a few options and then built a method for us to communicate the image we wanted to portray to the market. Often we would propose ideas and then their team would come back with suggestions that made more sense. Their team ensured our pitch deck was also in sync with this image.

Their team designed the website and managed backend development. They used the Jamstack to build the architecture because we wanted architecture that is future-ready when google changes its approach to SEO later this year. We also got an easy-to-use CMS as well. We still send them requests if we want to make changes on the website, but the content is managed by our team through CMS.

What is the team composition?

We worked with an account manager, a developer, and a designer. I primarily spoke with their account manager.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

I found them through a recommendation when we wanted to create a new website. I was just exploring, so I decided to call them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between September–December 2020. Monogram quickly launched the website’s first version and then it only took another 30 days for them to align it with our new image.

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

Monogram has a knack for knowing how to present a business. We're satisfied because they helped us portray the friendly image we need when approaching new companies along with maturity when approaching seasoned investors. Their team took the time to understand our intent. We were very impressed and they certainly exceeded expectations.

Our website’s core vital scores are all in the green, hitting around the high 90s. The architecture’s good and secure, and I’m so glad we didn’t use WordPress or Drupal. Monogram provides traffic information. I’m secure there because we receive 1–2 inbound requests almost every few weeks from the website, which is pretty high for our type of B2B businesses.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Monogram took the time to understand what we wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As they’re awesome, Monogram will grow. I hope that as their team grows, Monogram doesn’t lose their current touch.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to build an inspirational website, choose Monogram because their team wants to understand your goals. If you just want an informational website, you could probably go elsewhere.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a play-by-play sports and entertainment app that allows users to predict and select the upcoming play in major sports games or the upcoming scene in entertainment such as TV shows. 

Accurate guesses earn users points, allow them to climb the leaderboard, and ultimately win free cash prizes and entertainment experiences. We’re not a gambling platform because there’s only money to be won— users don’t need to put down a single penny to play. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

They’re our sole developer, so they’ve created our web experience and are working on our native mobile app experience.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re developing native mobile apps for both iOS and Android. Additionally, they have a branding team that has taken control of the design for each platform. On the branding end, they’ve written content and created videos for the platform. 

What is the team composition?

I work with four people, two developers, a sales-focused CEO, and a website creator.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

My co-founder had worked with them in the past, and Monogram is currently developing for a few entities of his. It was an option and choice that he pushed for. After meeting them and speaking with the team, we realized that we didn’t need to talk with any other providers.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since July 2020. In terms of development, we’re about a week out from completion on the mobile apps and will be in the queue for app store approval in December 2020.

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

This engagement exceeded all my expectations for a development experience. When we have requests, large or small, they put changes into action the same day. The amount of rigor in the testing stages provides a clean and easy experience. They’ve tested time and time again to ensure that the user experience is fabulous. We haven’t caught any bugs in the experience to this point.

Their branding work and efficiency really went a long way as well.    

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is incredible. We’re always communicating, despite the remote work environment. We had regular meetings over Zoom and communicated throughout the day using Slack.

During our Zoom calls, they’re always engaged and showing their face on video. Other partners of mine prefer written communication, but this team can really engage over video meetings.   

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their branding team has exceeded our wildest expectations with their speed and efficacy in development. From concept to beta, they only took about four and a half weeks. It’s amazing what they were able to develop within that timeframe.

From a testing perspective, their diligence and attention to detail have been second to none. Their work is very high-quality.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything that I could ask them to improve upon. They speak both the language of sales and code. That’s not easy to find in a partner. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to feedback and ideas from them. As a startup, our ideas and vision can shift. They’ve elevated our experience past what we thought was possible in this timeframe.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a business analyst for a genetics laboratory.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

We needed to increase the ease of processing documents for users, so an end-to-end user integration on the website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Monogram developed a portal where users can upload their documents. We previously built our WordPress website, and their team built an integration into the developed website. They managed the integration with DocuSign and WordPress. Their team continues with the integration of different application platforms.

What is the team composition?

We work with about three people from Monogram but have one point of contact.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

We found them through networking in our area. There were a variety of reasons that drove us to partner with Monogram. Their website, client base, and customer service catalyzed our decision.

How much have you invested with them?

Thus far, we’ve spent a little over $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our partnership in July 2020, and we’re still integrating and developing with Monogram.

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

Monogram addressed our pain point by enabling customers to process forms with relative ease. We’re extremely satisfied with our customers’ ability to upload their documents, which we can make too. We also have all documents signed in one centralized location.

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

We coordinated a development standard with which all parties on our team felt satisfied. We communicate via email, texts, and phone calls. Despite COVID-19, we've safely met in person too. Their communication’s clear and direct. They also have great turnaround times.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Monogram’s a great company that performs well. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to develop a product. Their level of development’s great, and their team’s motivated to reach higher standards.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We all have room for improvement, but I don’t have a recommendation at this point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be driven and give them a clear idea of what you want to develop. Have a vision board and mission statement for where you want to go with Monogram

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of a nonprofit in memory of our son. We raise money for families that have been impacted by pediatric cancer or special needs.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

We hired them to create our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us create our website and small index cards that tell our story and explain our services. We’re still in contact with them about the website design and updates as needed. They were responsible for all of the site design and programming. I provide them with content and links to social media sites. From there, they implement the content into the website. At this point, they make small updates and SEO adjustments.

What is the team composition?

I work with DJ (Managing Director), TJ (Creative Director), and Claudio (Director of Technology). 

How did you come to work with Monogram?

We met another one of their clients in the hospital because their son was also battling cancer. They recommended them, so we reached out to DJ who was able to help us out. I was considering other providers but thought that they could deliver long-term for us and had impressive experience in web design. 

How much have you invested with them?

They work with us to meet our needs as a nonprofit. At this point, we pay a small monthly rate for updates and SEO work. In total, we’ve spent about $5,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since the summer of 2018.

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

We launched the site in August 2019, and their team has followed through on all of our requests. They’re easy to brainstorm ideas with because they’re very knowledgeable when it comes to design work. That allows them to foresee needs, recommend direction, and help us grow. They’ve been helpful in setting up our donations portal on the website, setting the groundwork to allow us to grow.  

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

Unless I reach out, I don’t hear from them too often. Sometimes, we are challenged with communicating our ideas to them because they’re often thinking about the big picture. Because our organization is very personal to us, we had specific requirements that may not have been communicated to them as well as we would have liked. 

However, I get quick responses to my emails, and they’ll set up a meeting if I request one. I would like for there to be a bit more follow up. Sometimes we go a few months without speaking.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They believe in our organization and our story, seeing our vision and working with us on our budget. Their team has been able to make our mission come to life with what we had available. We’ve built a genuine friendship, rather than just a business relationship. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I need information, I have to follow up with them. It would be great to see them take initiative on that front.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have your logo, images, and vision fleshed out before starting the project. They’re able to tweak things here and there, but they aren’t necessarily the team to approach with a blank canvas.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software company called WyzeGyde. We offer a software application for real estate agents. I run the day-to-day sales operations of the company, selling the app to real estate agents.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

I also own a real estate brokerage and the software package started as a tool for my real estate agencies. Eventually, we decided the software could work for agents outside of my firm. We wanted to build software for agents to be able to offer options to sellers such as traditional listings or getting multiple offers on their properties from different buyers.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Monogram developed our web application, which was a SaaS system for real estate agents. All of their development took place in the Cloud. We gave them an idea of our big picture, but their team did all of the design work.  

To this day, they're adding to the platform. We give them a concept and then they create wireframes as well as estimate the price. We then make a decision on whether or not to move forward.

What is the team composition?

There were three fulltime people from Monogram who worked on this project in addition to a part-time teammate who wrote code.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

They built the website for my real estate brokerage back in 2017.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started on this project in February 2019, and it wrapped up in December 2019. It would’ve wrapped up quicker, but we made changes throughout the process.

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

It’s an amazing product, so we're satisfied. Right now, we have about 750 users. Everybody absolutely loves the design. Agents who use the platform love it too.

Their team over-delivered. I have zero complaints about our engagement. 

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via Slack and Zoom. We also had monthly face-to-face meetings.

They delivered on every timeline. We had situations pop up when we put them under pressure to deliver products. Their team never missed a deadline and pushed hard to get tasks done when we needed them to be done.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We like that we can come to them with real estate ideas. Their team then paints a clear picture of what that idea would look like from the tech side. Their team was creative when giving us options that worked within our budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve done an amazing job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Monogram did everything that we asked them to do. They threw in features that we didn’t even request.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing at Delaney Hardware, a door hardware company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

We needed to completely rebrand ourselves.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Monogram helped with the complete redesign and overhaul of the website and the architecture of our product database. We had an existing site, but we needed to start from scratch. They used Prismic for the backend as a headless CMS and built a responsive design on the frontend.

Everything is customized from the font to the color-coding and style. They also implemented add-ons, data, web hosting, and security to reassure investors. Lastly, they created a Google Analytics dashboard for me to share that data with my management team.

In addition, Monogram worked with on a lot of the creative. They brainstormed elements such as our patterns and colors and created business cards, notecards, and other print media. It helps us step up to the professional polished look we’re going for.

What is the team composition?

DJ (Managing Director) handles the account side, ensuring that the timeline and management are going smoothly. TJ  (Creative Director) works on the graphics when we’re doing design elements. Claudio (Director of Technology) does the coding, such as creating the analytics dashboard for us.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

Our CFO knows TJ and had recommended that I reach out to Monogram. I reached out to four companies for a quote on our first job – the rebrand and website – but I felt a level of comfort talking with Monogram. They were very professional with a good portfolio, but more importantly, they had experience working with companies in our industry. They also came highly recommend from their references, which put me further at ease.

What is the status of this engagement?

The major website project started in November 2017, but we did some little projects prior to that on our design elements. We’ve done many projects over the last couple of years. They also provide consulting about our family of brands and our work there.

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

The main thing we’re looking at is our brand perception. What Monogram has been able to create is fantastic. Their brand work elevated our brand presence for current customers and potential customers. We’ve had fantastic reviews about our website and what we created from a design standpoint with them.

There has been an increase in traffic, but we’ll likely see more growth in those metrics once we start our lead generation and digital advertising efforts internally. At this stage, it’s more about brand recognition, perception, and elevation.

I can’t say enough good things about Monogram. I’ve never met a company before that cares about their work over time. They really take care of their clients. If I need a new feature or a change to the site by tomorrow, they’ll get it done. Even if we have just a small request, they make sure that they would take care of us. It’s great to have a trusted brand partner from a digital perspective. I would recommend Monogram to anyone.

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

DJ handles that aspect very attentively. He will make sure he returns every call and text and that nothing goes unanswered. The team is collectively on it as well. If they promise a timeline, unless I hold them up, they will deliver in that timeframe.

When we have ongoing projects, they keep me updated weekly. For a larger project, like the one we’re about to undertake, we have more regular communication — daily or every other day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very trustworthy. Monogram always has our back. They have pride in their work and make sure our success is their success. They won’t let something go undone even if it’s on their time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I just want them to continue doing what they’re doing. I’ve worked in companies in the past that do great in the beginning and then fall apart over time. Monogram hasn’t done that at all. I hope they continue doing a great job, bringing us leading trends, and thinking of the next thing and project we can improve on.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a keynote speaker launching a speaking brand.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

I needed a website to advertise my speaking services and capture interest in my upcoming book.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Monogram built my website on AWS. I gave them some sample websites and benchmarks for a successful speaker’s website. For example, it needed to be easy to navigate and to find a contact form. Click-through rates are very important. Once I gave them my goals along with a list of required pages (along with some pages I want to add down the line), Monogram took it from there.

About 90% of the work they do is around web development. However, they’ve also helped with a few videos. I gave them some film, and they cut them up into clips. They’ve also integrated some marketing tools like MailChimp into the website.

What is the team composition?

I work with three people. TJ (Creative Director) is my contact for web creation and is also in charge of the relationship. We meet every now and then to discuss how things are going.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

I found them through word-of-mouth, which is a really important factor for me. A close friend of mine had seen Monogram’s stuff, and when I asked him for places to work with, he recommended them. 

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in April 2018 and is ongoing.

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

I don’t have the data I’d like to have because my brand is not mature enough to track my return on investment. What I do have is anecdotal feedback. Everyone who sees my site absolutely loves it. I get so much unsolicited positive feedback, it’s incredible.

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re really flexible and committed. Monogram does a good job of making sure that I’m successful, which is important in any business. If your customers are successful, then you’re successful as their partner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I want to emphasize their dedication. I see Monogram putting in late nights and weekends and juggling a lot. I didn’t expect that of them, but it’s good to see that level of commitment.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I were being picky, I sometimes have to send them an email more than once because it gets lost the inbox. However, I wouldn’t ding their score for that. I’m still happy with what they’re doing.

Any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you need, and be honest and direct. I’ve recommended them to a number of people. I’m very pleased with what they’ve done.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of two healthcare companies. One company provides clinical services to hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The other is a Saas company, manages a healthcare employee's lifecycle of onboarding, managing, and educating them.

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

We needed a new website for a national marketing campaign. We wanted a robust website that was twenty notches above what we already had beforehand.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created our new website using a Prismic CMS. They focused on the design and the layout, and we focused on the content. From the business side, we told them what our vision was and how we wanted things to be lined up.

What is the team composition?

We had contact with a salesperson and a designer.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

One of my contacts is a brother-in-law of a really good friend.

How much have you invested with them?    

We’ve invested $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in February 2020, and we wrapped up in April 2020.

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

We did a poll at our company and everyone gave the new site a 9 or 10 out of 10. They understand the client and their design needs. We’re completely satisfied and they did a fantastic job.

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and text. They’re available 24/7.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a laid-back group of guys, but they’re very talented and hard-working. They go above and beyond. They give themselves pretty short deadlines and they push to meet milestones. I definitely valued that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they should start using a consistent project management tool so everyone can be on the same page.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to go to them with an open mind so you can get their professional input. Give them the freedom and they’ll be a beneficial partner.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive producer and co-founder of Form Films, a production company. We engage in story-based marketing for companies of all kinds, nationally and internationally. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Monogram?

We wanted support with developing a brand that expresses our values to our customers. We decided to do so primarily through web development, which Monogram supported us with.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our approach to work is very holistic. We help companies investigate themselves, creating strategies around their culture and messaging to ultimately craft videos that support their brand. We wanted a website that would do the same thing for our own company. 

From the start, we knew we didn’t want to go with a templated approach. We engaged Monogram to create something more custom and curated for our brand. We had an idea of what we needed to communicate, but didn’t have the specific design in mind. The team listened to our pain points and desired outcomes, and we collaborated together for the first phase of design. 

They built the site from the ground up in Prismic and integrated it with Amazon Web Services. The team has several capabilities in areas like mobile apps and other softwares that we can take advantage of to create a better, cleaner experience for our clients.

What is the team composition?

We know their whole team, but we’re in touch with two members primarily.

How did you come to work with Monogram?

Our own office was right down the hall from theirs, and we met them as we were moving offices. We had an organic business relationship from there, and we decided to bring them on to develop our website.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent less than $10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in July 2019 and the engagement is ongoing.

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

We don’t have a lot of metrics, but anecdotally we’re very pleased with the site. We’ve seen very little downtime, if any, on the website and the speed is fantastic. Because everything Monogram has built was custom, we have no difficulty going back into the site and updating or revising certain things.

Visually, our clients find the site to be professional, which is very important for our industry. It represents us well. Monogram implemented a little detail, a custom film grain, that plays over the top of content. It was a small touch that went a long way to separate us from a standard, templated site.

How did Monogram perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve taken a very personal approach. We use Slack to engage when we’re not on phone calls or text messaging. They feel like an extension of our own team. We feel capable when we know we have Monogram in our corner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There’s a lot of talent in the world, but Monogram brings a high level of personability to the engagement. They’re not only technically proficient, they’re fun to work with. They don’t take themselves too seriously and they really enjoy what they do, which is something we relate to and appreciated. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

As with all companies, as Monogram grows there will be capacity constraints. I think that will be their biggest challenge moving forward. They have a tight team, but as demand grows, it will be tough to stretch them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t overthink it. Be yourself, be real, and don’t be a jerk. As long as you have a high level of character and integrity as well as a collaborative spirit, you’ll be in great hands. Trust them to do what they do and be open to their feedback, and they’ll deliver an excellent end result.