PatientBoost™

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner, founder, and principal dentist of Dickens Yard Dental which is a dental practice based in West London.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dental Brands Grow?

Since we were a brand new business, we wanted a new business that would allow prospective patients to do their homework and learn a little bit more about us. Our main goal was to increase the number of new patients coming in.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a brand-new website from scratch. I’d say that 70%–75% of the copy was from them. The rest of the content came from me and it involved information about our business and values. They’ve launched the website and are currently managing it.

What is the team composition?

We only work with Mike (Founder & Consultant).

How did you come to work with Dental Brands Grow?

We were looking at potential website designers for some time, and we spoke to prospective web designers for a year. Since we weren’t in any rush, we took our time speaking to different companies. In the end, we probably spoke to 8–10 companies. We came across Mike’s company on a Facebook forum. When we reached out to him, we felt he was the only person who actually cared.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2021, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website and business have only launched in the last couple of months, so we haven’t really had much time to assess the impact in terms of raw numbers and conversions. However, we seem to be doing pretty well.

I like our website, and my external customers and dental colleagues appreciate it too. Thanks to Dental Brands Grow’s work, the vast majority of our inquiries come from the website, and we’re getting bookings through the platform too. Above all, they're very good at understanding the essence of our business and the image we want to get across.

How did Dental Brands Grow perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management skills have been perfect. We communicate through emails, Zoom calls, and WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They care about us, and they’re willing to understand our business and target market before presenting solutions. On top of that, they’re willing to learn about our problems compared to other companies who just outright provide solutions without addressing our problems. Furthermore, they’ve been highly interested in building rapport with us, and they’re focused on our needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve been pretty happy with their process. I have no issues and concerns since they’ve been keeping me well informed. Overall, everything has been good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a chat and keep in touch with their team because Dental Brands Grow will get the best out of you. We don’t need to do much because Mike is very thorough. We've only needed to provide him with all the details about our business, values, and objectives.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am one of the owners of Toronto Family Doulas, which is part of Ottawa and Hamilton Family Doulas. We provide birth, postpartum, and lactation support for expectant and new families.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mediavandals?

Our previous website had multiple people working in and out of the backend and nothing was working well with each other. The hosting company we were using was also not doing the things we asked but had continued to charge us anyway. We needed a complete website rebuild so we hired Mediavandals to help us out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mediavandals outlined in their proposal what we would get from their services. They walked me through what they needed and created a sort of bare-bones schematic. From there, we had an idea of what we were going to do. I provided the team with all the content and the website was completed page by page on WordPress. 

In the end, Mediavandals did a walkthrough of the site with me since I was doing most of the website editing and management within the company. The entire walkthrough was recorded and given to me so that I could refer to it again in the future. Mediavandals also created a sandbox website where I could make big changes without totally messing up my site. 

We have since ended the project, but we did hire them to do monthly hosting and maintenance services to ensure that it was out of our hands. They send us monthly reports detailing the website’s analytics and any updates that have been made.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three individuals with whom we touched based throughout the whole process. Different people contacted us over different things. 

How did you come to work with Mediavandals?

We are a female-owned and female-oriented business, so we were specifically looking for a female-owned agency to partner with. It wasn’t a requirement, but it was something we had leaned towards for sure. It was important to us that they were local, as it would be easier to work within Ontario versus having to go outside. 

We put out a few RFPs and Mediavandals had the best proposal in terms of the quote, the cost, and what the finished product would look like. Besides being recommended to me by a parenting group, a couple of people said that they had a very good experience with Mediavandals, so we decided to go with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

Their services were at $100 a month, so for two years’ worth of work, we spent around $2,400.

What is the status of this engagement?

It took about six weeks to finish the website, but it took longer due to the number of changes I asked them to make last minute. We began the project in January 2019 and launched the website in April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was a bit harder to read the analytics this year since everything was out of whack. However, using and updating the website on our end has become much easier. From a usability perspective, Mediavandals made a huge difference. 

I can’t say that their work has resulted in sales since a website isn’t necessarily what closes a deal, but our clients have appreciated and approved of the site. I’ve gotten a number of compliments about how clear, accessible, and easy it is to navigate

How did Mediavandals perform from a project management standpoint?

Mediavandals had infinite patience especially when I made him go through around 50 different backgrounds to find the one I liked. Everyone we worked with was on the ball in terms of listening and making the changes we requested, even the last-minute ones. They were really good at offering suggestions when we were stuck.

The team also collaborated with me to ensure that I didn’t have to work while I was on my vacation in Mexico. They are very good at meeting our timelines or, if the timelines changed, telling us what the new deadline was and why. When we emailed them, they always had an answer by the end of the day. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Mediavandals was very willing to work with us and walk us through the project. They explained the pros and cons of our options, what the possibilities were, and brought their own ideas and design suggestions to the table. We felt comfortable having understood everything, which was huge for us especially after our previous experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They were absolutely fabulous and I would definitely hire them again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to Mediavandals’ suggestions, but also have an idea of what you’re looking for. Be open to their suggestions as well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Credit Valley Golf and Country Club is a family-oriented golf club in the heart of Mississauga. I am the Director of Technology and Administration.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Mediavandals to update and improve our public-facing website. Our goals for the project were to improve our public site in order to be able to better compete with other golf clubs in the GTA and better present our story to the public.

SOLUTION

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

Selecting Mediavandals was based on a comparison of 2 other proposals as well as a recommendation from one of our training providers. The deciding factors were cost as well as the positive interactions with their team as we discussed our project.

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

The project involved completely redesigning our public facing website, re-organizing the content and delivering a mobile-friendly site that was visually appealing as well as well-designed for users. Mediavandals provided us with several drafts through the process and delivered the final site according to the approved design using Wordpress. They also provided training for our team in the use of the Wordpress platform.

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

We worked with 2 individuals: Ian, who was the lead developer on the project and Sheila who is the owner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything that was completed by Mediavandals was excellent. Once we launched the new site, we received wonderful and positive feedback related to the design and the ease of navigation of the site.

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

They were very proactive with communications and timelines. They were very clear about what the deliverables would be and the timelines they would be completed in. Sheila was always accessible by email or by phone for any questions or revisions that we wanted to discuss and both Ian and Sheila were very knowledgeable and helpful when we had questions about best practices.

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

They were always available and always great at listening to our questions and concerns. If we had a suggestion that was not considered a best practice, they were patient in describing to us what the best practice was for what we were asking. They were always willing to take the time to explain everything that was involved in the project to ensure that our team understood everything along the way.

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

Working with Mediavandals was a great experience. Nothing I would change.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an illustrator, and I run a stationery and gift company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mediavandals?

I hired their team to create and design an effective online store that could engage my potential customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mediavandals used Shopify to build my online store. I provided them with the content that I needed to be showcased on the website, and they incorporated that into the end product. Apart from building my store, they also provided digital marketing services. They were in charge of generating online marketing strategies through emails and blogs to help get my brand out there.

Their team now focuses on formulating my email marketing campaigns — they regularly conduct research on how to promote my business effectively.

What is the team composition?

During the development stage of my online store, I mainly worked with Ian (Developer) and Brandon (Graphic Designer). Currently, my main point of contact is Dallas (Project Manager), and I get in touch with Sheila (Owner) to discuss marketing strategies.

How did you come to work with Mediavandals?

Mediavandals was recommended to me by one of my professors who had previously hired their team for his business.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $4,483 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off in January 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My business has been constantly growing because of their work. I haven’t done any major changes to my website because it functions really well as is. Mediavandals has created a simple and straightforward platform that my customers seem to enjoy.

How did Mediavandals perform from a project management standpoint?

We typically use email and Dropbox to communicate and send files to each other. We use Google Meet for updates and discussions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Mediavandals has been very patient with me. There are times when I ask repetitive questions just because I don’t really know how website building works, but they simply walk me through the process and make things very clear for me. Through their team’s reliable guidance, I am able to figure things out on my own.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I don’t have anything to say against their team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Mediavandals is very open to conversation, so don’t think that you are bothering them with your time. Other larger companies may tend to brush off people, but their team is willing to work with you as a partner — so pick their brains. They have a lot of resources and information to share with you if you only let them. Mediavandals is always ready to help.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is Capital Concrete Finishing, and I’m the office manager. I manage the company with Derek, my business partner, who runs the whole concrete side of the business. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mediavandals?

Mediavandals created our website, and they currently support us in terms of social media management. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mediavandals built our website from scratch. Then, they created an Instagram page, which is directly linked to the website.

Initially, Derek and I sat with Sheila (Founder & Digital Marketing Specialist) and Brandon (Creative Lead & Graphic Designer) to go over our vision, what we wanted the site to look like, and what functions were needed. 

They jotted down all of our thoughts and then started the process of website creation. They sent a whole bunch of samples, and we went back and forth with them to build the final version of the website. 

What is the team composition?

I primarily deal with Sheila, who handles all my needs and concerns. She then delegates them as necessary. I also work with Dallas (Project Manager), who sends me monthly updates and maintenance reports. She does the ongoing maintenance of the website and has also been my main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Mediavandals?

Mediavandals was a client of my father, who is an accountant in our area. When I spoke to him about starting a website, he recommended getting in touch with them. As a result, I reached out to them, and we started working together from there. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested close to $3,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2019, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re totally thrilled with the results of Mediavandals’ work. The website and its functionality are amazing, and the way it links to our Instagram page is fantastic. It gives me the ability to keep the website up to date in terms of showing customers the recent projects we’ve done. That connection between the two platforms has been key to our business’ success.

Moreover, the team has had great input in terms of how to make our website work. For instance, the site allows customers to contact us in several ways, which has been truly beneficial. On top of that, potential customers can ask us for free estimates through the website, and this has been unbelievably amazing. At present, we have a ton of work that comes directly from the site.

How did Mediavandals perform from a project management standpoint?

Mediavandals has been fantastic and exceptional. They’re continually sending us updates about the world of technology and how to continually make ourselves better, providing us with helpful pointers here and there. Overall, they’ve been great at giving continual support, and I feel very safe and comfortable working with them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re super personable, which is an important building block of any good working relationship. The media and technology world sometimes has a different language, but Mediavandals never speaks down to us like we don't know what we’re talking about. They always speak to us in layman’s terms so we can understand them. Apart from that, they’ve been truly helpful and very much involved in what we do. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. They’ve excelled in every aspect of our working relationship. From my point of view, there’s nothing they could do differently or better. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Start the conversation, and Mediavandals will take it from there. In other words, if you’re thinking about working with Mediavandals, start it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder & lead website consultant at Dental Brands Grow, a website consultancy helping private dental practices attract and retain more patients with beautiful, clear websites that get found on Google.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mediavandals?

Mediavandals helps me with homepage design for all of my website projects.

What were your goals for this project?

I'm competent at building websites, but design isn't my strength. For the very first project and future projects, I needed help with homepage design, so I could focus on the website build while impressing my clients with amazing design.

SOLUTION

How did you select Mediavandals?

Mediavandals had a track record for delivering great web design projects. I was also very impressed with their lead designer, Brandon. He's a super talented graphic designer with the added bonus that he can also build websites. You don't often get that combination of skills. I knew Brandon would be able to design a homepage that I could actually build!

Describe the project in detail.

I tasked Mediavandals with creating a homepage design based on a wireframe I provided them. They were asked to incorporate my client's brand colours and preferences.

What was the team composition?

After initial contact with the brilliant Sheila, I dealt directly with my designer, Brandon. This was great because it meant there wasn't a middle man and changes could be made quickly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From the very first homepage design project, Mediavandals has delivered exceptional work. The homepage designs I receive are amazing. They meet the brief, match the client's branding and are easy to build in WordPress. My clients are always impressed when I show them the design for the first time. Working with Sheila & Brandon has saved me a lot of time and stress!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with Mediavandals was easy and straightforward.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Sheila & Brandon were so lovely to work with. They really take the time to understand my requirements and go above and beyond to deliver brilliant work. They feel like an extension of my own team!

Are there any areas for improvement?

No improvement needed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the co-owner of CrossFit Cobourg, a fitness facility that offers group fitness classes as well as personal and sports-specific training.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mediavandals?

We hired Mediavandals to design a more user-friendly website for us to attract more potential clients. They also design and create posters for our events and competitions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially had a sit-down meeting with Mediavandals to go over our ideas for the website and what we wanted to feature, which included our group classes as well as our sport-specific training programs. We also talked about other smaller features that could attract more members. 

After the initial meeting, they took the information we provided and started designing the website and creating content. When they forwarded the first version of the website, they walked us through what they did as well as the reasoning behind the site’s design. After we made minor tweaks and adjustments, they sent us the final version. We went over it again, and then we approved it. 

We’ve done two websites with them so far. We did the original website 5–6 years ago, and then we completely revamped and restructured it in the past six months or so. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with around three people from Mediavandals. 

How did you come to work with Mediavandals?

Mediavandals was highly recommended by a friend who had worked with them in past. He was super happy with their work.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested approximately $8,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together on this specific project in September 2020, or around six months ago, and the project is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re super happy with the website. Its traffic has definitely been up, and the number of people reaching out to us through it has increased. Based on the feedback we’ve received, the website is now much more user-friendly — users can navigate it more easily than its previous versions. 

Overall, the traffic, phone calls, and emails coming in through the site have increased since we started working with Mediavandals.

How did Mediavandals perform from a project management standpoint?

Our communication with Mediavandals has been easy; when we write down the changes we want on the website, the information will be right in front of them. 

We use a tool that lets us make minor changes that the team can see in real-time, so they get our exact comments and feedback. I don’t know the exact name of this system, but it has been a user-friendly tool — this has truly been handy for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service and communication skills distinguish them from other providers. Whenever we have questions, or if we have any issues or comments, Mediavandals listens to what we say and makes changes along the way. They let us take charge while they do their job, putting on a truly great service.

On top of that, they give us good value for the money we’re spending. I get quotes from other providers, but Mediavandals has been the least expensive provider value-wise. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. We’re happy with them in terms of customer service and price. The quote we receive is very similar to —  if not a little under — what we actually end up spending. The way they communicate with us has also been very professional. 

I highly recommend them to friends and family members, and I continually use them on my projects. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear vision of what you’re looking for, and Mediavandals will pretty much take care of the rest. During the initial meeting, be clear about the information you want to highlight. As long as they have that information, they’ll do a good job creating something that you’ll like.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of Mom Mode — I like to refer to myself as the “mom” in Mom Mode. I've been in the fashion industry for 20 years. After giving birth, I felt overwhelmed by my wardrobe and the transition I was going through.

I didn’t feel like moms had enough support, so the goal of Mom Mode is to work one-on-one with moms as they transition back to normal life and ultimately, shift their wardrobe. We want to help them understand and embrace the bodily changes caused by pregnancy because their bodies aren’t going to transform back in a snap.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mediavandals?

I wanted to build a website about a service I wanted to offer — the objective was to start the one-on-one services by going to my client’s homes and looking through their wardrobe, teaching them about fashion and how to understand their body silhouette. COVID-19 put a grinding halt to my initial idea, but I still wanted to push through with the website, so I hired Mediavandals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The entire website was built from scratch. The initial layout of the site was open-ended at first because of what was happening in the world with COVID-19, but we continued to build the site on a very loose timeline.

They first created my landing page and then a page dedicated to the different service packages I offered, as well as a bio page with a video that talked about how the concept of Mom Mode came together. 

Eventually, I decided to launch an online course that was basically a virtual version of my idea so they shifted the focus of the site to be about the course and what clients could learn from it. 

The course was something I created independently; I just approached them with the idea to integrate it into the website and they built a dedicated page for it along with testimonials. I have future plans to include a blog, so they’ve also created pages that are hidden for now. 

What is the team composition?

I work with three people in total, but I communicate mainly with Sheila (Digital Marketing Specialist) and Dallas (Project Manager).

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested $6,000 into this project. It’s a retainer fee for 18 months of work that includes the development of my website and one year of maintenance.

What is the status of this engagement?

Though our conversations started earlier, our engagement started in March 2020, and it’s still ongoing. We went live in September 2020, but they continue to do all the upkeep for my site and will do so for another year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been very happy with everything they delivered. The logo, colors, and layout are all excellent — I'm really happy with how it looks. We’ve launched the site and I’ve run the course twice now, which is amazing.

I feel like it came together well and they really understood what I was looking for — the process was very quick and smooth because they always got it right from the get-go. 

How did Mediavandals perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re super easy to work with and I am really happy with their project management. The team is awesome and their turnaround time is great — they’re really rigid in following the timeline. If they’re updating the site or working on a page, they're always very transparent with how long it will take. I’ve never really had an experience where they set my expectations too high and didn’t deliver.

They also keep me on track, which is important because it's easy to get sidetracked and just fall into the minutia of certain elements that don't matter. I’m assured that if there’s anything I end up wanting to change, we can always do it.

They’re great at taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture — the team knew the goal was to get the site up and live, so their focus was on making sure everything was functional and the interface was user-friendly.

We primarily communicate via Zoom calls, but we also exchange emails and phone calls. They're very approachable and always respond very quickly — if I have a question, I can just send an email and I know they’d immediately take the time to give me a quick phone or Zoom call to explain anything that isn’t clear. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m really impressed by their efforts to help me understand the ins and outs of the site. I have absolutely no experience with building websites, so it’s so amazing that they take the time to guide me on what my priorities should be and what I need to give them. 

It’s been a great learning experience and they’ve sent me so many useful resources on understanding the elevator pitch, how the site should look, and how people browse a website. The team never makes me feel overwhelmed or pressured to do everything in one shot — they make sure there’s room for me to build up the website when I get around to creating content, which is important to me.

Other agencies wouldn’t have taken that time and would’ve just given me a workflow and a list of requirements, but Mediavandals really goes above and beyond. For example, they’ve sent me video tutorials on YouTube to help me which is very much appreciated on my part. It isn’t something they need to do — they do it because that's just that's who they are and they're very kind people. I don’t feel like I’m just a project, because the experience is very personal. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they could improve. They’ve taken my project as far as they can considering we’re still in a pandemic. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to build a website, but you're not familiar with the process and you want that extra care, this is definitely an agency to consider. Aside from a well-designed website, they’ll also help you understand the hows and whys, and give you encouragement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Boomer Brand Management. We are a Brand management company for legal Cannabis companies. We offer packaging service, web design and development and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mediavandals?

We have hired Mediavandals for Graphic Design, Web Design, Web Development and more.

What were your goals for this project?

I needed a one-stop-shop for all design and development. Their team is filled with experience to make it just that.

SOLUTION

How did you select Mediavandals?

Mediavandals went over and above in their bidding for this job. They were the only company to hit the nail on the head and actually listen to us as a customer and get us traction on all things they helped with from the moment of inception.

Describe the project in detail.

We were tasked with creating a brand identity, wholesale platform for e-commerce, fulfillment build-out for warehouses and e-commerce, full brand design, and every single one of the packaging designs. They delivered everything earlier than the due date and even worked further with us to make it more ingrained for the customer.

What was the team composition?

Project manager, Web Dev and Graphic design as one.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project and website is now doing over 4 million dollars in sales a year and growing. The website has been smooth working from the start.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless. I thought they were my team!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Mediavandals was fast and reliable. When I say fast, I mean they are on time or before on time. If another customer is looking to pick them up, you will be so relaxed knowing they can hit due dates.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I just want to work with them again on another large project!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Oncor Solutions, and we are a marketing agency. We also do advisory, consulting, and investment work for multiple verticals and brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mediavandals?

As with any agency that’s trying to scale their business, we wanted to bring in resources to do very specific things. It tends to get very difficult to scale as an entity that has to wear multiple hats. Originally, we went and looked for a web development team and graphic designers, but we found that that the people we brought on as typical employees, just didn’t work like myself and my business partners.

We quickly figured out that the best way for us to scale, is to find resources of developers and designers that work like us — and that’s what we did. We needed someone who can build websites through specific platforms, we needed someone who can do hosting and create web care plans, and we needed to have good resources that we can trust.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mediavandals designs and develops a range of websites for our clients. We would have a variety of clients with different needs, so we brought in Mediavandals to get the look and feel of the website — or the UI/UX design standpoint. After figuring out the design, they’ll come up with the technicals like which CMS system is needed for the specific site.

Additionally, most of our clients only need designs for offline marketing materials like fliers. It would depend on the needs of the customers. We would bring them in the initial meeting or when we bid on a project, and that would sort of be the process that we would go through with them. Shiela (Founder & Digital Marketing Specialist) would always be with us as part of our team and do the appropriate scope of work. After that, Brandon (Graphic/Web Designer) and another person from their team would design and help with the actual build.

The majority of the time we like to stay within WordPress. For the past 15 years, we’ve used almost every CMS from Drupal, Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix. if a client asks us which one we would choose to go through, we always prefer WordPress.

For the key features and functionalities we develop, it would always depend on the client. Most of the time there’s always going to be a media component to it. Sometimes they would ask for specific functionalities within the blog, or they would ask for a specific plugin to use like Yoast or RSS Feed. For the most part, however, our most traditional clients are only going to be looking for basic functionalities. They’re not going to be providing backend access to users, or it won’t be a membership type of website.

Most of the time they only want a media side to produce ongoing content, and ensure that it’s compliant with Google, Bing, and Yahoo! In terms of SEO algorithms. Additionally, they also look for the right security, optimal performance, and the necessary plugins installed.

What is the team composition?

For the most part, there are always at least three people we work with. We have Brandon working on the design side, and Shiela who helps us and our clients. Together, we’ve probably built over 50 websites in the last couple of years.

How did you come to work with Mediavandals?

A gentleman that used to be our business partner, introduced us to Mediavandals.

There were two things that made us want to work with them. One is they speak the same language as we do in terms of how we look at building websites, not just from a design perspective, but how it has to function for the customer value journey. We look at what an individual prospect has to go through to pick up a phone with a client, or purchase a product.

Secondly, and as I’ve said they’re very much just like us, is because they’re business owners first. If you have to call them on a Saturday, they will pick up the phone. If I send them an email on a Monday night, they will answer it. That is really important for us because that’s what we do for our clients, and they match it very well.

How much have you invested with them?

We've probably invested at least $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2014, and our partnership remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The way we look at everything is through stages — from awareness to somebody becoming a promoter. For all our clients, the number one asset that they have is the website.

I don’t know if you could put a metric on the ability of uptime and one of the things that we love about them and that people take for granted, is we get a report every month, on each of the websites that they host and manage. That’s over 50 different website reports on a monthly basis that show us uptime, backups, technical errors, fixes, and timeliness. I can’t put a metric answer because everything they’ve done for me between building the website, hosting, upkeep, security updating, is like life or death with all our clients. 

We’re a performance-based agency, and most of our clients have been with us for more than seven years. We wouldn’t have any of these clients if we didn’t have Mediavandals. If anything goes wrong, they are able to fix it in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. They’re invaluable to me as a resource.

How did Mediavandals perform from a project management standpoint?

All our projects get laid down in Asana, and it's our standard project management tool. I can’t recall the name of the tool we use for developing our websites. Basically, it allows us to communicate within that system by leaving development notes on each page, instead of sending emails back and forth. We also use Google Docs for sharing information and setting the workflow.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What we normally saw from developers we worked with in the past, is that they’re very design-oriented, and they don’t understand the business aspect of it. I think one of the best things about Mediavandals’ team is they have a really good balance of both design and understanding how it’s got to fit within the business. You can’t just make something look pretty and function well if it doesn’t actually match the goals of the business.

Business owners usually think of expenses and revenue, and that’s how everything needs to be built. We normally deal with small to medium-sized businesses that earn anywhere from a million–ten million dollars in sales. They do a really good job of dealing with the decision-makers of the businesses and that’s important to me. They’re also very open to respond to us whenever we reach out to them. They do the things business owners do, which is accommodating needs 24/7.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My only qualm is one of their project managers could be a bit of a stickler on specific tasks. We sometimes struggle to deal with multiple people. Sometimes I would bring in a client who’s going to bring a couple of team members, and it would cause a bit of a delay because it would be difficult managing two teams at once.

We would miss due dates that they didn’t sign off on, and there would be updates to the project that I didn’t know about because I missed them. Life doesn’t work that way, sometimes you got to move it. Just because you have a project that was supposed to launch on a certain date, doesn’t mean it’s going to launch on that day. Therefore, my only bugaboo would be how some projects were handled.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My first advice would be to be black and white — don’t beat around the bush and get straight to the point because Sheila and Brandon are that way. Be very upfront with them, and they’ll be upfront with you. Which for me, cuts through a lot of the nonsense, excuse my french. My second advice would be to lean on them, that’s what I’ve done. I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room, because they’re the experts at what they do. They’ll be able to give you some insight that’s going to allow you to scale or get your project up in a timely manner.