RainCastle Communications, Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO at a small life sciences company that developed an online marketplace for human biospecimens. We connect life science researchers who need samples for their research to healthcare providers and other organizations that have patient and sample flow. We use technology that ingests data from the healthcare systems and makes it searchable and available to the researchers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We were doing a complete rebranding, changing everything but our logo. We needed new collateral, videos, PowerPoint templates, and website. We wanted to refresh our look and feel.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had RainCastle in for a kickoff meeting and initiated the web project first. We started with the sitemap to show the content it needed to have. They came back with a few comprehensives layouts (comps) in terms of look and feel, but we didn’t really like any of them. The marketing director, our CEO, and I iterated a few more designs with RainCastle until we realized it wasn’t meeting our requirements. We’d told them we wanted a literal approach, but what we actually wanted was a more abstract concept. When we told RainCastle that, they were incredibly understanding and listened to what we were saying. They took our advice and created entirely new comps.

We continued with the web design, including the copy and secondary pages’ layouts. The site is on WordPress, but it looked outdated and didn’t emphasize the marketplace we had just launched in the middle of the year. We wanted to get users to sign up for our services to be able to search for samples online. A lot of RainCastle’s work centered around awareness and messaging. They made sure that the marketing website and the marketplace had a consistent look and feel.

They also developed an animated video. We collaborated with their copywriter to make a script, and then their team created the storyboard and animation. For the new PowerPoint templates, they converted our existing presentations into a new look and feel. They updated our existing collateral and messaging architecture, inserting it into all of our assets. We also had them build a new exhibit booth design.

What is the team composition?

For the web project, they brought in a copywriter, creative person, infrastructure person, and project manager. They also brought in an animator for the video. The staff is consistent and loyal, which is one of the reasons I went back to them.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

I worked with them about 18 years ago when I was at a different startup. I tried to reengage with them when we first started this company, but we weren’t capitalized enough.

For this project, I went through a formal bidding process that included our incumbent firm, RainCastle, and a few other agencies and freelancers. RainCastle listened to our needs and came back with a proposal that had all the elements within our budget. They had the creative ability and we liked their proposal, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2017–March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I give a lot of pitches to healthcare providers who are trying to sign up and investors who are looking to raise money. I’m much more confident now because we have a brand that’s cohesive and makes sense. The presentations look professional, as opposed to my old and outdated ones.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They did great. In the middle of this project, my marketing director left. I filled the role until we were able to bring another person on, but I’m sure it wasn’t easy to make all those transitions. They adjusted to our timetables and managed their own schedule well. We had weekly or bi-weekly meetings and emailed constantly. Their program management is great; I always know what I can expect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creative and copywriting is cohesive and great. We were probably a tough client because we changed our mind on the look and feel, but they handed it well. Most firms wouldn’t have put more hours in that weren’t part of the original budget, but RainCastle’s owner was extremely gracious and wanted to give us something we liked.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project took a long time, although it wasn’t entirely their fault. If they were a larger firm with more resources, perhaps they could’ve gotten things done quicker, though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend time coming up with examples of the types of look and feel you want. From a copywriting standpoint, a firm messaging architecture is also really helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an engineering and environmental consulting firm for the solid waste industry. We were purchased by another company after we worked with RainCastle, but still operate the site they built for us. At the time, I was the acting marketing director and currently act as a regional vice president for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We wanted to increase our visibility within our market space. The first thing we wanted to do was update our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially focused on changing our logo and updating the website. We wanted to modernize our visibility and the industry’s perception of us. We also wanted to change the way we marketed our services on the site.

This was our first experience working with an agency and the process was very interactive. In our initial meeting, they asked what we wanted to achieve, what we wanted to change, and how much we were willing to spend. They came back with a plan and set up a schedule. We chose to generate most of the content for the site ourselves to save money and reduce the number of meetings. Once we had a draft of the site—which I think they built in WordPress—we had a webinar that included our management team. RainCastle walked us through all the pages and showed us how the final product would look. After that, we tested it and went live.

They set up visuals and features that we liked, including a carousel effect on a landing page. They wanted to entice visitors and encourage them to click through the site to find out more. To showcase our people, we focused on our About Us page and added pictures of our staff. We had other action items we wanted them to do and initiated a second phase.

Before we hired a permanent staff member, they did SEO for us for the first year or two after we launched. They reviewed our content to make sure our word choices were optimal for search visibility.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager who drove the schedule and set up meetings. Paul (Owner, RainCastle Communications Inc.) was our creative lead, and we also had a technology lead.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

I met Paul at a marketing and business development conference. We had a number of conversations and he educated me on websites. When I pitched the idea of updating our site, we requested bids from RainCastle and a few other companies. They spent time to help me understand what the industry was doing. We appreciated their creativity, suggestions, and their ability to review materials and build good relationships.

How much have you invested with them?

Our total investment was near $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2012 and launched about a year later. We elected to save money by writing our own content, but that extended the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The analytical data showed an increase in traffic to our site. We also made a much more concerted effort to keep the site current and involved people within the company to enrich our content. I’m not sure the exact impact they had on bringing us new clientele, but the data speaks for itself.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They communicated well, had great ideas, and met all our expectations. We enjoyed working with them and were happy with the product. They were patient with us and told us whenever something was going to cost extra. We were pleased with their professionalism.

We had phone calls or meetings every couple of weeks, depending on what was going on. There was no hesitancy if we had a question or needed a follow-up. They made themselves available and were very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ideas, creativity, and execution are all really valuable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their process allows you to get to know them and get their insight. Have a face-to-face meeting to discuss your ideas. Look at their past projects and ask about the stories behind them. Paul remembers the details behind each project in their portfolio. They’re good storytellers and want to know your background.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a principal at an architecture and planning firm based in Boston, Mass. We work with colleges, universities, and municipal clients across the Eastern U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle?

Our website was about 10 years old at the time, so we needed to rebuild and update it. We were looking for a Boston-based firm with somewhat of an understanding of our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RainCastle designed and developed our website from scratch, working with content we provided and some content from our previous site. Initially, they spent several months learning about our firm, our culture, and what differentiates us from others, asking lots of questions and meeting with our senior staff in the process.

After this brand clarification exercise, they started designing the site. They presented us with various options to choose from and we provided feedback and iterated from there. They also designed a new logo and identity program that included graphics, letterhead, email signatures, etc.

They updated everything from the website's navigation to its responsiveness on mobile devices. Likely built on WordPress, we've been able to maintain and update the site on our end since it launched.

What is the team composition?

We worked with their creative director, a project manager, a writer, and a couple of designers. They were all pleasant to work with.

How did you come to work with RainCastle?

We sent out requests for qualifications and interviewed about four or five vendors. Ultimately, we chose RainCastle because they seemed to take a genuine interest in our business. They impressed us with their approach and how they seemed to really want to get to know us more than just superficially. We also received glowing references from other firms that had worked with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them in 2013 for about a year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've been happy with the website—it's professional, distinctive, and represents us well.

How did RainCastle perform from a project management standpoint?

They stayed on budget and on schedule, except for the times that we held them up. Any additional services they needed to perform were justified and reasonably priced. I definitely think we got our money's worth. We communicated with their team weekly, with the majority of the year-long project taking place within a six-month period.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Although it's been many years since we worked together, I remember them as being thought-leaders in their industry. They created thoughtful content and it felt like they were more than just web designers or brand creators.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's been too long since I've worked with them to remember, but nothing stands out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When it comes to any vendor, it's important to evaluate their skills and make sure the relationship is a good cultural fit. Make sure the team is listening to you and creating something appropriate and not a website or brand that looks like someone else's.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: I am the executive director of a state health organization.

Respondent 2: I am a senior project manager for the center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle?

R1: They’ve worked on a number of projects for us, including building our website. We’re a relatively new organization and needed help in this area. RainCastle has been our only visual design and web development contractor.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

R1: RainCastle built our first website and are currently redesigning parts of it. They’ve also developed a number of online applications for our constituency. Our first project involved design work for a large event including a website, posters, and other materials.

R2: We also contracted with them for visual design services in the form of communication tools. These include infographics, newsletter templates, and a patient safety navigator aimed at helping providers learn about response situations.

We had a training session to learn about the functionality of the CMS.

R1: They created all our visual design and branding—everything except the written content on the site. The patient safety navigator was a novel tool for helping healthcare providers report adverse events to various state and federal agencies and figure out their reporting obligations using a decision tree. There are other supporting materials that go along with this.

R2: They’ve also provided SEO services for the site. We let them know what kinds of keywords we were looking at to make our site more visible.

R1: RainCastle created content for video production and made the three animations on our site.

R2: They also made an infographic related to a cataracts expert panel. The team translated information into visual aids meant to help people follow best practices.

The website is powered by Craft CMS, based on the requirements we had for the patient safety navigator tool. Our target audience is healthcare providers, not patients. The aim of the tool is to guide them through reporting requirements for medical errors and other adverse events.

What is the team composition?

R1: We’ve worked with around five of their members, three of which we’ve met with regularly—the president, a project manager, and a database expert. We’ve also collaborated with the head designer and a scriptwriter for the video production work.

R2: We’ve also worked with the two backend coders.

How did you come to work with RainCastle?

R1: I had worked with them on various projects over the last 10 years. We had other companies bid on the project, but we were pleased to have the opportunity to work with RainCastle again. Two differentiating factors were their good interpersonal communication and project management skills. They’re also a creative team, which was important because we were building a fairly novel product. RainCastle was willing to work with us as a creative partner.

How much have you invested with them?

R1: The total cost of their work has been around $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

R1: We started working with RainCastle in September or October 2014 on some design work. The main site launched in May 2016. Development for it started six months earlier.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

R2: The users of the navigator report that they like the tool’s concept and the visual design used for presenting its process flows and information.

R1: Stakeholders have called our website and newsletter template fresh, professional, and engaging. They convey an appropriate look-and-feel for our particular area. As a non-regulatory state agency, we’re somewhere in between a nonprofit and a regular business so our materials have to look professional and give us credibility while also remaining readable and not overly-technical. The anecdotal feedback we’ve heard confirms that we’ve achieved that goal.

How did RainCastle perform from a project management standpoint?

R2: We met regularly to discuss the website requirements. We had final sessions for the validation and testing of the website’s functionalities and content. We’ve always had a good communication rapport with them.

R1: They’re exacting and well-organized. Our project manager keeps us on track and is good at communicating expectations upfront. We have a mutual understanding that each party needs to deliver. They’re good at running meetings and make sure that we get the right outputs during them.

R2: RainCastle has been very flexible with us. We can be demanding in requiring high-quality outputs, but they’ve usually met our demands. We have deviated from the scope of work at times but they’ve worked with us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

R1: Our field is a bit obscure and technical, but we’ve been impressed by RainCastle’s ability to come to speed with what we’re doing. Designing our patient navigator involved understanding a complex regulatory system and simplifying it for end-users. We’ve done research and organized the material, but turning that into a usable tool for others required a level of understanding. They quickly developed a fluency in some very obscure material.

Are there any areas they could improve?

R1: We don’t have a large budget, so it can be harder for them to deliver smaller work products within our budget. RainCastle has high standards for the work they deliver, which makes it harder for them to give us lower budget alternatives at times.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

R1: Overall, we would highly recommend RainCastle for all of the reasons stated above, with the caveat that they may not be a good fit for small, low budget clients/projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president and CEO of Feldman Surveyors, a surveying firm in Boston. We help launch commercial real estate projects and our clients include developers, owners, construction managers, architects, and engineers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

We wanted a new website to accurately reflect our brand and highlight the services we provide. The designer of our previous site wasn’t always responsive, so we needed a reliable vendor to support our business as needed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a series of meetings so RainCastle could learn about our business. They listened to our needs, took notes, and laid out a schedule. They then produced templates with a range of design options. After we fine–tuned and finalized the design, they coordinated with our content providers.

Our previous website was largely informational and didn’t draw people in, so RainCastle advised us on call to action buttons. They included places for users to click to learn more about our company or contact us directly. They also included keywords to improve our SEO rankings.

Now that the website is complete, we continue to hire RainCastle whenever we need new marketing materials. This includes the creation of print ads.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a team of five. We communicated weekly, depending on the phase, and they were incredibly responsive. Someone was always available to help.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

I did an online search for local firms. The SEO work they did for their own site clearly drew me to their page, and I was impressed by their previous work. On top of this, I asked a friend with marketing experience to provide a recommendation and he suggested RainCastle. That cemented my decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000–$30,000 for the website and spent an additional $12,000 on marketing materials.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the website between June 2016–January 2017. They could have completed the job sooner, but I adjusted the timeline because I was also involved in the acquisition of a new headquarters at the time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The goal was to make a website I could finally be proud of. They exceeded my expectations. RainCastle provided a beautiful design that tells the story of our company in a visually appealing way. Users respond positively to our new site and we’re attracting new talent, as our professional website highlights our position as high-quality firm.

How did RainCastle Communications, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job. We weren’t able to give our full attention to the website due to our building acquisition, but RainCastle was very accommodating in allowing me to adjust the schedule as needed. Their team also played a key role in coordinating with the content providers, allowing me to focus on my business priorities

I'm a fairly low-tech person, so we primarily communicated through phone calls and email. I also visited their office for in-person meetings. They were very responsive to feedback, especially when we requested minor changes toward the end of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide a quality creative service. They created a beautiful web design that reflects our professional brand. Even those unfamiliar with our business or industry would agree that our site features an eye-pleasing layout.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. They took care of everything we needed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit down with them in person and teach them about your company. As great listeners, they’re able to identify your priorities and work independently, allowing you to focus on your business.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I worked with RainCastle when I was CMO with AirStrip Technologies, a healthcare mobility company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RainCastle Communications?

We were in the process of repositioning the company from one that provided healthcare mobility applications to one that managed a platform. That decision was made 90 days before a major tradeshow that we had to prepare for. Our objective was to reposition the company and make sure everyone was ready to support the new strategy.

I was the first CMO. AirStrip had used in-house support previously but we needed to work at a new level of maturity overall in terms of sales and marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over that 90-day period, RainCastle managed the repositioning process to prepare us for the tradeshow, including the strategic thought, the creative, the backend, and the project management. They developed our website, designed the tradeshow booth, and developed the collateral materials we needed to go along with that.

They walked us through a process at the beginning of the 90 days to make sure that everybody signed off on the positioning and messaging that were required for the strategic shift so that we were all on the same page. Once we had articulated the strategy, they kept us all on it, whether internally or with, for example, external content writers that we used to write material and website copy.

They developed a new website for us with illustrated graphics, infographics, and video. Those elements made it cutting edge for the time in 2012. They replaced a WordPress site with a more sophisticated Drupal one so we could more easily and quickly update content. They connected the backend to marketing automation systems and CRM.

For the rest of that year, following the tradeshow, we went through a major overhaul. They helped us update the website with additional content like case studies and sales tools. We needed to retrain some of the sales team so they developed materials and slide decks. They even helped with some direct mail.

What is the team composition?

The president and creative director was our lead. He had a program manager we worked with as well as a contract writer, a developer, and a designer. They brought in whatever help we needed.

How did you come to work with RainCastle Communications?

They were partnered with my PR firm, who introduced RainCastle to me. We looked at a couple of other firms but they didn’t seem to be as flexible as RainCastle. I wasn’t confident they could get us through the 90-day period as smoothly. We didn’t have much time to think about it so I took the recommendation and we dived right in.

How much have you invested with them?

I can't remember at this point but would guess that the whole engagement was in the six figures.

What is the status of this engagement?

We probably started in November 2012 because the trade show was in mid to late February.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I left AirStrip in 2014 but I do know that based on their work—not just the tradeshow but also the activities afterward—AirStrip was able to achieve $2 million of new qualified leads. Some of that success resulted from internal efforts but they contributed to it.

How did RainCastle Communications perform from a project management standpoint?

Because we were on such a short timeframe, we had weekly status calls. I could reach out to their lead anytime I wanted. We worked as a tightly-knit team in terms of sticking together and making sure things were going well.

From a project management standpoint, they were very good at making sure everybody knew what the deadlines were, like when our executives needed to review materials and turn them around. They stayed on time and within budget.

There were a lot of people in the company with strong opinions who felt they needed to review things. RainCastle did a great job of making sure that, on one hand, people were satisfied by providing their inputs while, on the other hand, we kept to the tight timeframe. They found a good balance—which was a delicate task given that some of those providing inputs were company founders and the new CEO. People were able to give their input without slowing down the process. The tradeshow deadline helped drive things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The seamless integration of their processes across strategy, creative execution, and project management. You’ll find agencies that are good strategically or creatively or that can drive a schedule. It’s rare to find an agency who balances three. They do really good work, on budget, and according to strategy.

They were able to accomplish a lot in a very short period of time because they made sure we all agreed on the strategy, positioning, and messaging. They ensured everyone was on the same page strategically, from signoff throughout the project. They get high marks for making sure the strategy is well articulated so that everybody can march in parallel and get things done.

They're very good creatively. Technologically speaking, they also use more sophisticated tools. Beyond the good creative resources and solid project managers, they’re very adept at the backend web work.

They were very attentive to what we needed to be done. Some people will cut corners, especially if you go with the cheapest option. RainCastle made sure to do a thorough, well thought-out job with everything.

I've recommended them several times and, to me, that's the ultimate compliment. I would absolutely use them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. The only problem we ran into was managing timeframes when our executives traveled. But that was more on our side than a result of their project management.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared for a good deal of rigor because, not only are they a very strong creative agency, they're strong strategically as well. They’ll make sure that your strategy is well articulated and that everyone can agree to it—because that keeps everything on track. Otherwise, they're very easy to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Marketing of a chemicals & biotechnology company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a biotech focused on saving lives and reducing the socio-economic burdens of cancer through the development and commercialization of innovative cancer early-detection tests.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire RainCastle Communications, Inc. to accomplish?

• Develop New Website
• Create Iconography and Graphics

SOLUTION

How did you find RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

• Clutch Site
• previous client

Why did you select RainCastle Communications, Inc. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from RainCastle Communications, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Website design and development
• graphic design services, including iconography and design elements
• copywriting 
• brand messaging

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Website delivered
• copywriting delivered
• banners and tradeshow booth delivered
• graphic design elements delivered

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Raincastle is great to work with and has a project manager who helps move things along and organize clear deadlines for each deliverable. Any changes to the deliverable deadlines were communicated in advance.

What was your primary form of communication with RainCastle Communications, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

This company continually delivers an outstanding product for incredible value.

Are there any areas for improvement or something RainCastle Communications, Inc. could have done differently?

N/A