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Custom Website Development

4.9
7 reviews

Pixel Jar offers a wide range of custom web development services to help you provide a great online experience for your users. We can take you from ideation through development and into optimization. Building a website is often the start of a bigger journey including social media services, digital marketing, and staged growth. 

• Web Development

• WordPress Plugin Development

• WordPress Theme Development

• Website Support

• Web Consulting

Pixel Jar started in 2004. It grew out of the desire to be free to choose projects that challenge us, work with clients that inspire us, and support our communities.

We service clients all over the world and from all walks of business. We’re able to handle self-managed websites for local businesses who want to gain exposure and legitimacy by developing an online presence that represents their brand to large projects involving third-party integrations, large-scale multi-sites, and demanding media needs.

READ MORE...
 
$5,000+
 
$100 - $149 / hr
 
2 - 9
 Founded
2004
Show all +
Tustin, CA
headquarters

Portfolio

Key clients: 

Dallas Mavericks, Harbour Surfboards, Krochet Kids, JWC Environmental, Innovation Institute, City of Tustin

Reviews

4.9
7 reviews
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Logo & Website Redesign for Music Society

"They helped us not only implement what we wanted, but make it better."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Apr. 2018 - Feb. 2019
Project summary: 

Replacing an outdated website, Pixel Jar designed a new WordPress site that provides a mobile-first approach and an ability to schedule events. They also created a logo and assisted with branding.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Beverly Hills, California
David Das
Technology Director, Society of Composers & Lyricists
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The website received very positive feedback and the in-house team is happy with its capabilities. Knowledgeable and professional, Pixel Jar guided the entire process, while their exceptional listening skills helped them accomplish all goals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the technology director at the Society of Composers & Lyricists. We're an organization devoted to composers and musicians working mainly in the film and television industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

Our website serves as our hub of both our database and marketing, housing our membership, announcements, events, resources, archives, and outreach. We previously had an outdated website built on an obsolete framework, so we were looking for a vendor to help us rebuild it and bring all our systems into the modern era.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pixel Jar began with a wonderfully creative rebranding process, then once the rebranding was done, started working on the site, starting from the wireframes and then into the development and production of the new site. It's a WordPress website built around the MemberPress plugin allowing us to manage our membership. We also use a number of third-party plugins, Beaver Builder being the most notable of them, because it allows even non-technical people in our organization to make minor changes to the website. The website also interfaces via API to Eventbrite and MailChimp. 

We essentially made a list of features that we wanted in our website and Pixel Jar implemented those features. The new site provides a mobile-first approach, a secure payment gateway, and the ability to schedule a variety of events. We also wanted to have segmented communication with our membership roster. 

What is the team composition?

We mostly worked with four people, including our project manager, a branding expert, and two developers.

How did you come to work with Pixel Jar?

We were referred to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2018, and the project was completed in February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has now launched and we've received nothing but positive feedback about it. Our entire membership infrastructure is dependent on the website, so it is robustly handling our membership administration. We are already seeing a significant uptick in new memberships, renewals, and traffic to our site. It enables us to market much more effectively. It was a complex project and we had to make changes to the scope along the way, but Pixel Jar was very flexible and professional throughout.

How did Pixel Jar perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly used email to communicate and Pixel Jar was very responsive. We also used Zoom and phone calls if we needed to talk through issues them. They were always available and demonstrated a high degree of understanding of our needs as well as the technical resources to implement them. Occasionally a discussion went beyond our original scope/budget/agreement and they were very helpful in letting us know our options in moving forward. In every case, I found their approach to be clear, honest, and reasonable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very methodical and thorough. Once we agreed to do the project they had a very specific set of steps to follow. We started the project looking at a bigger picture, but Pixel Jar took care of all the details as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They were open to just listening to us talk. They helped us not only implement what we wanted but make it better.

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

Web Development for Patient-to-Physician Medical Platform

“More people are reaching out to us to learn about our product than we'd been receiving from our previous site.”

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4.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Nov. 2017 - Mar. 2018
Project summary: 

Pixel redesigned and developed a website on WordPress, including frontend and backend. They continue to provide maintenance and general support as needed.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Mountain View, California
Jessica Lam
Marketing Manager, HealthLoop
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Pixel's efforts have increased web traffic and conversion rates. Communication is one of their greatest strengths and they are readily available to provide maintenance support. Their input along the way has helped successfully engage more potential clients.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the marketing manager at HealthLoop, a platform that connects patients with physicians.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

We wanted to redesign our website, which was very text-heavy and not generating many leads. Many of the leads we were receiving weren't converting, so we wanted to modernize and update it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pixel designed and developed a new website for us on WordPress, including the frontend and backend development. They implemented a Beaver Builder plugin, which allowed us to easily make changes or edit any content after it had been posted.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Pixel Jar?

I'm not sure how our company originally found them, but I know we hired them based on customer testimonials of their work and the fact that their price point worked for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from around November 2017 to March 2018, but they continue to provide five hours of maintenance and general support as needed on a monthly basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're very happy with the modern look of the new site. Any minor issues that have popped up have been addressed quickly.

Since launching the website, we've seen a spike in traffic as well as more prospects converting through our online forms. More people are reaching out to us to learn about our product than we'd been receiving from our previous site. We've also received a steady flow of demo requests.

How did Pixel Jar perform from a project management standpoint?

We never had an issue with them missing deadlines. They stayed in contact with us, mostly through email, to keep us updated throughout the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm most impressed by their level of communication compared to other vendors I've worked with. They kept us updated on everything along the way and remained responsive to any concerns we had. They also provided valuable advice and feedback as we built the website. I didn't feel like just another customer—they genuinely wanted to see our website succeed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would only suggest that they consider other forms of communication, such as the use of a project management tool. Sometimes things can get lost in emails.

4.0
Overall Score Aside from minor areas for improvement, the experience was positive and I'd work with them again.
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    There were a few times deliverables took longer than anticipated, but they were timely overall.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They're competitively priced.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They always delivered finished work to us and paid attention to detail.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We never felt left in the dark in communications, so I'd definitely recommend them.

Web Development for Online Education Company

"They're trustworthy, honest, dedicated, and great communicators."
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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Oct. 2015 - May 2017
Project summary: 

Pixel Jar built a WordPress website, managed the frontend/backend development, and assisted with the shopping cart feature. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
New York, New York
VP of Business Operations, Education Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

They delivered high quality products on time, while proving themselves as exceptional problem-solvers committed to accomplishing outstanding results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a VP of business operations at an education organization. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

We were looking for a company with expertise in web development to build a website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a WordPress site and CMS [Content Management System] for us, did the frontend and backend development, and helped us with the shopping cart.

What is the team composition?

Brandon [Dove, Co-Fonder, Pixel Jar] was our backend developer and Jeff [Zinn, Co-Founder, Pixel Jar] worked on the frontend.

How did you come to work with them?

I was introduced to them right when we were looking for a new development team. We felt safe working them and trusted them to do a great job, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project happened in October 2015–May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They developed a number of websites for us, helped us solve complicated problems, and were always there for us when we needed them. 

How did they perform from a project management standpoint? 

We used Asana, Slack, and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're trustworthy, honest, dedicated, and great communicators. 

5.0
Overall Score We loved working with them.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were always on time.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    The cost was fair.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They delivered great products, which we really appreciated.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Design for WordPress Plugin Producer

"Great cost, great quality, great scheduling, great project management – they've basically got it all."

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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
 
Sept. 2016 - May 2017
Project summary: 

Pixel Jar modernized the branding of three plugins. They sent their logo designs through an extensive review process before incorporating them into custom WordPress themes.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
South Jordan, Utah
Blair Williams
Owner, Caseproof LLC
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Pixel Jar went above and beyond to guarantee customer satisfaction. Combining stellar design with technical know-how, they produced quality results at exceptionally low prices. Friendly – but firm – management ensured a strict adherence to deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Caseproof. We produce WordPress plugins, including MemberPress, Pretty Links, and Affiliate Royale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

I wanted to redesign our plugin websites and modernize the branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial call to outline the project, after which they provided cost and scheduling estimates for each phase of the project. From here, they drafted designs for both the plugin logos – including three review rounds for each – and each plugin’s website. Pixel Jar then implemented their designs through custom-built WordPress themes.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with Dave Margowsky [Project Manager, Pixel Jar]. Robert Nienhuis [Owner, Nien Studios] did the design work, while Brandon Dove [Co-Founder, Pixel Jar] and Jeffrey Zinn [Co-Founder, Pixel Jar] handled the coding aspects.

How did you come to work with Pixel Jar?

I've known Brandon and Jeff for years, and in that time I've seen the quality work they do. I not only knew they were trustworthy, I also knew they produced top-notch results.

How much have you invested with them?

Each of the three logos cost $1,500. We spent $30,000 for the three websites, bringing the total to roughly $35,000. This was a bargain; I expected to pay at least $10,000–$20,000 more.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in September 2016 and they finished in May 2017. Our contract stipulated that we were responsible for site migration, which we didn’t get around to until October. Still, even though they completed the job months prior, Pixel Jar made themselves available when we had questions during the launch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the designs, and their rebranding efforts led to a significant increase in conversions.

How did Pixel Jar perform from a project management standpoint?

I feel that a project manager should be firm to ensure team members – and clients – stay on task. Dave kept all of us on schedule, but did so in a friendly, professional capacity. If they were waiting for something on our end, he sent gentle reminders to ensure they met their deadlines.

We communicated primarily through email and Slack, though we also did screen conferences through Zoom. Design proposals were sent to us as PDF packets. They also used Bidsketch during the bidding process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re WordPress experts, which was the most important thing for me. A lot of vendors offer quality design work, but lack the technical ability to incorporate those designs into the website. Pixel Jar is the full package, combining stellar design with technical know-how. They also pay attention to small details, like how a site will perform from an SEO perspective.

Their integrity is hard to beat. We had some difficulty deciding on a design for one of the products, but Pixel Jar went out of their way to provide additional options at no extra charge.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. As far as I’m concerned, they’re excellent.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

In order to meet deadlines, make sure you hold up your end of the bargain. Most of the problems we faced were caused by my own slow response time.

5.0
Overall Score Great cost, great quality, great scheduling, great project management – they've basically got it all.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They came in either on time or ahead of schedule with every deadline.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    We got an absolute bargain.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They exceeded my wildest expectations.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I tell everyone I can about the Pixel Jar team.

Web Design for Surety Bond & Insurance Agency

"They helped us realize what we actually wanted our website to look like, and what we wanted it to do."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Nov. - Dec. 2016
Project summary: 

Pixel Jar fully redesigned a business website to increase visibility in the marketplace. Further efforts focused on SEO and lead generation.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Orange County, California
Matt Coats
CFO & Producer, Coats Surety
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Thanks to Pixel Jar's beautiful design, the site is much more aesthetically pleasing. Web traffic has increased, resulting in more phone calls and potential leads.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Chief Financial Officer for a surety bond agency, which markets an insurance product to contractors in the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

We wanted to extend our online footprint in order to increase web traffic and generate more leads.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with phone and in-person meetings to discuss the business needs, and to brainstorm what they could do to help us achieve our goals.

I had a very ambitious wish list, which they priced out. We couldn’t afford to do everything on the list, so we picked the most important pieces.

Along with the design and construction of the website, the team created a plan to increase traffic to the site, including an SEO [search engine optimization] strategy to appear higher in the Google search listings.

What is the team composition?  

I primarily worked with Jeff [Zinn, co-founder, Pixel Jar] and David Margowsky.

How did you come to work with Pixel Jar?

They came to us via referral. We chose Pixel Jar after interviewing them and two other firms.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began in September 2015 and was subsequently completed by December 2016. The website launched in June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Web traffic has increased, resulting in more phone calls and potential leads. It's definitely given us more visibility in the marketplace.

In terms of aesthetics, the site looks much better and we've got a lot of compliments on it.

How did Pixel Jar perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. I was always aware of what was going on. The team provided very clear dates of delivery, and they met all deadlines. In fact, it would have been completed sooner but they were waiting for us to provide some of the content.

While we primarily communicated through email, they used Google Docs and Google Hangouts to show us various attributes of the site design.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Compared to the other firms that we interviewed, they were more focused on our business and how they could help us versus just providing a product.

Also impressive was how they helped us realize what we actually wanted our website to look like and what we wanted it to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Being new to the world of web design, I had some sticker shock at their prices, although they were very competitive with other firms. I would have appreciated a breakdown of costs for each deliverable to better assess the costs of the design and any future improvements.

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

Web Development for Machinery & Manufacturing Company

“We look to them as web dev experts.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jan. 2013 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

As a longstanding partner with a manufacturing company, Pixel Jar improves functionality, provides front- and backend UX solutions, and acts as an advisor. They recently participated in a full site renovation.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Santa Ana, California
Perla Lozano
Senior Marketing Coordinator, JWC
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Thorough, organized, and transparent, Pixel Jar goes beyond their vendor role, operating as a trusted partner. Their additions and improvements contribute to an increase in new leads, and their work ethic and reliability drive their efficacy.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a manufacturing company, specializing in wastewater treatment and product destruction equipment. I am the senior marketing coordinator and am in charge of digital marketing, web content development, UX [user experience], and customer journey.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

They are a longstanding partner. We call on them for SEO insight and web improvements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve assisted with two website renovations. A minor one first, and a complete overhaul more recently. They optimized the site to include a new business unit, and improve our UX for customers and web admin. We look to them as our web dev experts. We oversee our own day-to-day site management, but they work behind the scenes on our website's functionality.

What is the team composition?

The company has grown since we first started working together, and I’ve worked with almost everyone there.

How did you come to work with Pixel Jar?

We transitioned to them from the previous service provider around the time I joined the company. We briefly shifted away from them while they worked with another team, but we missed them and jumped at the opportunity to bring them back on.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2013, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We went from around 30­–50 leads each month to roughly 80–120 monthly leads now. Some of that can be attributed to my team’s work on SEO, but there has been tremendous improvement over the last few months. The website’s UX is part of that.

How did Pixel Jar perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re super thorough, organized, and transparent. I look for a partner in a vendor, and they go beyond just following directives. They’re on our advisory panel and go through strategic planning with us when our website is involved. Dave is really good at managing our account and taking detailed minutes. If I ever have any doubts about past actions or discussions, he can pull up his notes and answer my questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re confident in their work and their abilities. They are serious about the success of our company, they have a good work ethic, and are reliable. Their turnaround times are quick, and they’re cost effective. We consider them a partner and trust them completely.

5.0
Overall Score They’re really easy to work with.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Their turnaround times are quick, and they provide lead times for specific pieces. They’re very good at alerting us to any changes to the schedule.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They provide value for our money spent.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They are always looking for the best for their customers.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’m very likely to recommend them.

Web Development for Headwear & Accessories Brand

“They went above and beyond expectations. They possess great work ethic and are of quality character.”

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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
 
Aug. 2013 - Jan. 2014
Project summary: 

Pixel Jar built an e-commerce website on WordPress and provided server support. The site was designed to accommodate the company’s unique goal of narratively connecting customers to the product’s crafters.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Newport Beach, California
Kohl Crecelius
CEO, Krochet Kids Intl.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

They built a successful website and continued to support it through several variations. With extensive knowledge of WordPress, Pixel Jar provided solutions to issues thought previously insurmountable. Their passion and proficiency shined through any opposing challenge.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Krochet Kids intl, a social apparel company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pixel Jar?

The unique thing about our company is that we specifically employ women in impoverished communities to produce all of our goods. Additionally, every one of our products is hand signed by the person who made it. The challenge was to build an e-commerce website that sold products, but more importantly, connected customers to the individual makers of their goods.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the site in WordPress and outsourced some of the frontend design. They continued to maintenance and upgrade servers as the site went through various changes.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked predominantly with the co-founders of Pixel Jar, Brandon and Jeff.

How did you come to work with Pixel Jar?

We found Pixel Jar through a business advisor’s referral who had done work with them in the past. Their competence and passion for our specific project made it an easy choice.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$49,999 over the course of the engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from August 2013–January 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We didn’t have an e-commence website prior and they did an awesome job building one. The site went through many iterations and they always performed phenomenally. There were critical moments where the site started crashing because of increased traffic in the wake of PR activities, and Pixel Jar was on top of it. They did everything they could to solve problems, upgrade the servers, and generally help us not miss a beat.

How did Pixel Jar perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always communicative and on top of things. For correspondence, we used email, phone calls, and video calls when necessary. Throughout the process, we never had an issue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their problem-solving ability and knowledge of WordPress are incredible. They often came up with solutions that I didn’t think were possible. That being said, the most commendable aspect of Pixel Jar is a clear commitment to seeing their client’s vision come to life. They gave our brand the time and attention it deserves. I never felt like a second priority to them. They went above and beyond expectations and made a site we were proud of. On a personal note, an ongoing relationship with them has proven to be a vital asset. They possess great work ethic and are of quality character.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I only have praise for them.

5.0
Overall Score They produced great work and their ongoing support is invaluable.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They did everything in their power to meet deadlines.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They operate with a lean team.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They always delivered what was asked and were proactive problem-solvers.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    It depends on the client’s needs.