Sayenko Design

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of a nonprofit organization.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

Our website hadn’t been updated in at least a decade, so we wanted to completely revamp it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the first phase of the project, we talked through our objectives and what we were trying to achieve by redesigning our WordPress website. We also gave them a lot of information about our organization, what our values were, and who we were trying to reach through our website.

Then they designed the site, chose a color scheme, planned the layout, and created wireframes. They worked closely with my team to make sure that their designs met our needs.

We also needed to rewrite a lot of content, so they gave us advice on what would be effective and how we could use it to improve our SEO.

Then we worked with their developer. Once they completed the development, we fine-tuned some things, made sure everything worked properly. The links worked, the menus and submenus were functional, and we had all the content we needed. They taught us how to use the admin side of the website so we felt comfortable using the site on our own.

As we went through that, we asked them to do a few more things to improve the site even further before launching it. Now we’re beginning a new phase and are planning to build an e-commerce site.  

What is the team composition?

First, I worked with Mike (Web Designer) to discuss our strategy. He stayed involved throughout the project and I felt like I could reach out to him whenever I needed to. Then I worked with a designer on the wireframes and homepage. Once that was set, we worked with the developer.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

I did an online search and narrowed it down to a few web design companies. Their reviews on Clutch were a major factor in my decision-making process. I reached out to them and asked them to submit a proposal, so we selected them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $16,000–$18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2020 and our partnership is ongoing.

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

We recently launched the site, but we’ve already received positive comments about how elegant the site looks and how easy it is to navigate. Even our board members have commented on what an improvement it is. We think it will have a big impact on our organization.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was one of their strong suits. They laid out the whole process and provided a timeline for us. Then they used a project management tool to remind me what needed to be done. It was easy for me to go into their portal and see their progress. I was also able to upload documents and comment on their work through that portal. Overall, it was a very effective tool. They really helped keep us on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

First, they were very strategic about our design and helped us think about what we were trying to achieve.

Second, they had amazing project management skills. They were flexible and responsive no matter when we reached out to them.

Third, their entire team was awesome to work with. Overall, they were skilled, knowledgeable, and insightful. Their developer was amazing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think they need to improve anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

New clients should be prepared to work closely with them. I didn’t realize how much time we would have to dedicate to the project on our side.

They should also leverage all the talent Sayenko Design has because they’re very skilled and insightful.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a nonprofit foster care placement agency that operates group homes for young foster men as well as licenses and places youth in foster homes. I’m the administrative manager, so I handle grants, community engagement, and development. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

When I took over, I inherited website maintenance responsibilities. It’s been a desire of ours for the last few years to upgrade the website, so I volunteered to take that project on. We hired them for a full website redesign.  

What was the scope of their involvement?

Starting with our existing site, they examined our platform and delivered a list of steps for updating and improving the site. Their recommendations encompassed updating messaging as well as creating a UI that led to an easier path to action. They were responsible for brainstorming and coming up with key ideas for the final site design.  

What is the team composition?

There was a team of people that I interacted with at the start of the project, but as the development progressed, I worked mostly with one developer.  

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

They had very good reviews. We wanted to work with a local company, so we were only searching for partners in the Seattle area. I did a Google search and saw that they’d done some work with nonprofits, which encouraged us to reach out to them as well as a few other businesses. They put together a very nice pitch and were the fastest with response times, so we hired them.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere between $15,000–$18,000.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since around September 2020.

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

We haven’t launched yet, but it’s been a wonderful engagement so far. I’m not a very tech-savvy person, so I didn’t always know what to ask for from them. They were great at being intuitively prepared for each step of the process. Even when I couldn’t articulate something I needed very well, they were able to deliver. It was like having someone working inside my brain. They did a great job of getting everything we wanted across in the final website.  

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent with meeting deadlines, using a seamless project management program that made it easy to track their progress on tasks. We were able to stay on top of the work that way. We sometimes held tasks up on our end, but they kept things moving.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Despite their expertise in tech, they never sounded condescending or talked down to us at any point. They communicated in a clear, helpful way. I really liked their communication style. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It was sometimes easy to miss an email or update through the project management system if there were many tasks being worked on at once. However, they did a great job. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Respect their timeline by putting your own time aside to engage with the materials they provide for you. They sent very thoughtful ideas for content and helpful information. They’re always communicating, so your engagement is important. Putting some time aside every day to devote to the project will give you the best possible results.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired them to design and develop our website. After that, we expected them to give us best practice guidance on how to optimize the site for search.

What is the status of this engagement?

Sayenko completed their work in October and provided files for our team to stand up the site on our server. The team at Sayenko was very helpful and responsive when our developer had questions or challenges and made sure that our site was deployed correctly (even though they were not hosting it).  When we had questions or the site needed a few tweaks a couple months after launch and they were very responsive.

When our original review was posted, the owner and head of Sayenko (Mike) reached out to us immediately to get further clarification and see how they could help rectify any areas of the project or final product for which we were not completely satisfied.

After discussion it was clear that there was simply some miscommunication and a few open items, which they immediately resolved. It wasn’t because of the review, it was clear that the Sayenko team was genuinely concerned about making sure that we (as their client) were happy with the work they did for us and that the relationship at the end of the project was in a good place.

I respect how persistent they were in following up and making sure that we were satisfied and ended on a positive note.

(Note: They never asked us to update our review. I was so impressed with how determined they were to rectify the situation that I couldn’t leave the review how it was originally posted.)

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

Our relationship evolved because Sayenko followed up to make sure that we were pleased with every aspect of the project. They provided extra support after they handed over the project files and remain responsive to questions.

How did Sayenko Design address the challenges that arose?

We didn’t have any big challenges, just some minor bumps. I respect the fact that Mike reached out directly to truly understand the challenges and offered appropriate solutions to resolve any issues or miscommunication that occurred.

He never made excuses but took ownership when appropriate and found ways to resolve everything to ensure we were happy in the end.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

We increased the # of visitors to our site by over 400%.

How was project management handled?

They have a good project management platform in place to help centralize all communications, deliverables and timelines.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

(Beyond what was written previously…)

Their focus on customer satisfaction is admirable.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

If you have any questions or concerns during your engagement with Sayenko, feel free to reach out directly to the team. They are open to feedback and striving to deliver a good experience.

This review was published on Dec. 1, 2020

CMO, Education Company

Education

11-50 Employees

Charlotte, North Carolina 

$10,000 to $49,999

July - Oct. 2020

Project summary: 

Sayenko Design was hired to design and develop a website for an educational software development company. They were also expected to optimize our site for SEO and host the platform.

Feedback summary: 

Although they created a strong backend, Sayenko Design delivered WordPress templates that didn’t meet the client’s expectations. Unfortunately, the project scope was not well-defined, leading to some communication issues. On top of that, they generally were disconnected from the client.

This review includes the vendor's response.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of an educational software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We were rebranding, creating a new logo and color scheme, and launching new product lines, so we needed to update our online presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired them to design and develop our website. After that, we expected them to optimize our platform.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Mike (Web Designer) and a developer.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

We searched online and looked at several referrals to narrow it down to a number of different firms. Then we conducted initial screening interviews and asked for a proposal.  

At the time when we spoke to Mike; he seemed to have some good ideas. We thought he was very SEO-savvy and would be able to optimize our site.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July and completed the project in October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered web templates. We expected a fully complete website with all of our content uploaded on it already, but we had to upload all of our content.

We also expected them to optimize the site, but that didn’t really happen. We originally planned to have them host our site as well, but we decided to go in a different direction because there were hidden expenses.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We did have a couple of video conferencing when we first started, but they prefer that all communication goes through their project management tool. We largely communicated via email and didn’t have a lot of face-to-face contact unless we requested it. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our developer was customer service-oriented and easy to work with. He did his best to make the project successful.

He was experienced and knew how to build a solid backend and WordPress theme. He even suggested some best practices and made sure our site was consistent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were a few times when communication slipped so we asked to get together on a teleconference to go over things.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend that customers carefully go over the contract and consider how things are worded. That will help them understand what services are included and what’s not.

Ratings

Overall rating: 3.5

Quality: 4

Schedule: 4

Cost: 3

Willing to refer: 0

The vendor responded on December 7, 2020.

Thank you — we greatly value your feedback! Our company prides itself on delivering high-quality work, and we make sure that if we do mess up, that we make things right. From a project delivery standpoint, we delivered the technical and on-site SEO as outlined in the proposal – Sitemap, SEO keyword analysis, SEO homepage copywriting, and 301 re-directs. The website is ranking better than ever after going live with the new website. 
 
Beyond this, we provided additional website training and design mockups above and beyond the scoped work. We made sure to follow up along the project with calls and messages, and we called after the site was launched on the client’s server to help fine-tune a few more items. 
 
As far as content uploading, this is something the client didn't select in the proposal "add-ons." We didn't add this to the project because of the client's budget constraints. We really wanted to deliver as much of the heavy lifting for them as possible — SEO, UX design, WordPress development — and leave the content uploading to the client, as it's the easy stuff where you can save some money doing it yourself. 
 
Lastly, our contracts clearly outline the hosting & maintenance as just one simple fee with a table of services provided and annual value that may have been mistaken for hidden fees.
 
We value transparency and, above all, want to make our clients happy. We look forward to seeing this company continue to grow and disrupt the remote teaching and learning space.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former marketing and communications director at a boys and girls club. Recently, I left the position in December 2020.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We had an existing website that was no longer relevant to our goals and vision. The site was supposed to generate leads and content. We wanted the design to be more dynamic and needed a knowledgeable team to handle WordPress redesign. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Prior to our engagement, our website was rather static. They kept our existing site but made substantial updates to the platform.

Their team first helped us update the site with image carousels, a content calendar, intuitive links, and accessible sign up pages. They were helpful in creating a path for leads on our website in the redesign of the site. 

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with Mike (Web Designer) and a few developers. 

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

The previous marketing director selected them as the vendor. I believe they were connected through a recommendation. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since January 2020 to add features and functionality to the website they built.

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

They listen to customer needs, crafting our vision while keeping the user journey in mind at the same time. We were very happy with them. 

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They were quick to respond to questions and emails. Additionally, they integrated a project management tracking system that was easy to us. If a bug or issue popped up, they were there to support me. They addressed issues very quickly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re on top of the game with their response times, clarity in communication, and transparency. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be helpful for them to provide a bit more context in their communications. Understanding the vernacular across industries would help us gain more insight from them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want and build out a detailed RFP. That will help them be the experts you need them to be.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re the master association for a city. We own and maintain 21 parks, and we put on the majority of community events, such as concerts and movies in the park and different holiday events. I am the recreation director, so I oversee the events that we put on, as well as field allocations for our sports user groups. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

Our former website was really outdated. One of the things our board president wanted to do during his term was to develop a new website. He wanted it to be more modern and easily accessible. He also wanted the site to feature FAQs and highlight the great things that we do.  

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko Design designed a completely new WordPress website for us from scratch. They continue to maintain the site, so they help if any bugs or issues come up.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a couple of people, but most of the communication was done through Mike (Web Designer). On our side, a couple of our board members, our general manager, and I were involved.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

We went out to bid on different website companies. Our board president at the time was actually in the tech industry himself, so he provided a few companies to reach out to. Sayenko Design was one of the recommended companies, so that’s how we initially reached out. We chose them based on their organization and willingness to work with us. It seemed like a good fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $10,000–$25,000. The monthly maintenance fee is $100.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in September 2019. We went live with the website in June 2020. Now, we pay a monthly maintenance fee.

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

We’ve been able to make information more easily accessible and available for our staff and residents. For instance, we added more electronic forms, so things that had to be downloaded and filled out before are on our site now. Our ‘contact us’ is a lot easier. 

In general, things are clearer and better laid out on the website. We’re getting fewer calls and questions because most things can be answered on the website now; it’s all right there.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I thought it was organized and well done. From the beginning, it was easy. When we started out with the bidding, they had their proposal and PowerPoint ready. We had that first proposal meeting, and then once we decided to go with them, we had meetings where they got our input and ideas on things. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their process. It was organized, and we were able to provide our input. They listened to our needs and adjusted things as needed. We have a fairly unique business, and I don’t think they’d created websites for any community associations. This was a new challenge for them, but the end project turned out really well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not necessarily. There were a few hiccups because this project was new to everyone, including on my end — I don’t have a background in web design.

Any advice for potential customers?

Knowing what you’re looking for is really beneficial. They were open to listening to us and what we thought would be best. Then, they made it happen.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I have a consulting software development and training and support business that focuses on project scheduling and support.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

I’ve had three web sites over the last four years. I developed each one using a variety of different tactics. I’ve worked with graphic designers who then off-loaded the project to offshore developers. As a result, my sites were very unstructured and didn’t have a deliberate message or theme.

I decided to reach out to US-based web developers that would take a more holistic approach to web development. I wanted them to create a theme, and work on marketing and branding the site.  

What was the scope of their involvement?

They analyzed my competitors’ websites and looked at SEO rankings for certain keywords. Using that information, they tried to find the right messaging for my site, based on the gaps in my competitors’ messaging and opportunities to rank for keywords.

The message wasn’t too detailed or technical, but captures the interest of three ideal buyer personas. The branding appeals to a beginner in the industry, and intermediate person, and higher-level decision-makers. They took a very structured approach to my branding.

What is the team composition?

I interacted with two people— Nik (web Strategist/SEO) and Mike (Owner and Chief Designer).

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

It was a referral. I reached out to a few different companies that specialized in web design. I did a consultation with one company, but they were out of my price range. When I explained what my budget was, their owners pointed us to Sayenko designs. Their owners worked with Mike on other projects in the past.

They specialized in WordPress design and offered everything I was looking for within my budget. I brought them on because they focused on the site’s message, and not just the design.

How much have you invested with them?

It was roughly $17,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020. The site is done, but I continue to work with them on maintenance and support.

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

Before this project, I didn’t like to share links to my site on LinkedIn or in an industry group because I wasn’t happy with the site. Since the project ended, I started posting content that links back to my site, including blogs, social media, and a webinar.

It has completely shifted my business mindset. I can proudly bring people to my site. It feels more like a company instead of just a one-man show.  

I was very concerned about how they were going to tailor content for my niche market. I was definitely amazed by how well they learned about my industry and competitors. As a result, all of the messaging is clear and appropriate for the industry.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They used a project management tool for tracking tasks. It was a one-stop-shop kind of portal for content and back-and-forth messages. We also shared screens a few times to review content together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There were certain things I wanted on the site, and they accommodated that. There was never a point when I felt like something was a no-go. They would try to steer me in the right direction when needed. Most importantly, the messaging was on-point.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. I was very happy with our engagement, and I plan to keep working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s definitely a team effort. They have their portion of the responsibilities, but as you do as well. For example, I had to write my own content for certain pages. They’re phenomenal, though, and will guide you through the whole thing. They walked me through sentence structure, how many lines it needed to be, and things like that. I had to put a lot of time and energy into the project as well.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the principal of Data Revelations. We teach the grammar and vocabulary of data visualizations so that an entire organization can have informed discussions about data and make better decisions faster.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

Our website was put together in 2014, and the nature of our business had changed significantly since then. The site looked dated and was not a reflection of the good work that we do. Six years ago, I wasn’t thinking at all about the site working well on a mobile platform. I needed to find an organization that could present what it is that we do and the value we provide as effectively as possible via a website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko Design went through a pretty rigorous fact-finding exercise. We had a whole questionnaire to fill out, and there were questions they needed to answer. It wasn’t just about making the website look pretty, but focusing on what it was that we did, why someone would hire us and not someone else, and what we could do to showcase that and establish credibility. I realized we hadn’t thought about those things. They pushed me in what I thought was a very productive way.

Sayenko Design built out a WordPress site. There was a lot of content that needed to be ported over. It wasn’t just information about why my workshops were great and why the book was wonderful. Part of the service and of the covenant I have with people coming to the website is offering them good content that will help them. All of that had to remain readily available and easily found, which was certainly a challenge. Sayenko Design also made sure that the site functioned effectively on both desktops and smartphones.

What is the team composition?

There were several people assigned to this, and the main point of contact was Mike (Owner). He spearheaded a lot of the design. Nick (Digital Marketing Manager) was responsible for the copy, formulation, and flow, as well as what the main pages were going to be. There was someone else working behind the scenes, but I barely had any interactions with them.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

A respected colleague had used Sayenko Design and been pleased with the experience. That was the catalyst. Sayenko encouraged me to check out Clutch, and I did. I called a whole bunch of the other highly-rated entities at Clutch, and decided that Sayenko was the best fit.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Sayenko between December 2019–February 2020. I believe I signed the contract at the end of November.

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

I’m happy with the overall quality of the work, and I can endorse Sayenko Design without hesitation. The site just had a soft launch, and I’ve done the only promotion. It’s way too early to speak about whether increasing the number of bookings is going to work. If it doesn’t, I can’t know whether it’s because of the site or because the universe as we know it has changed. 

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They know what they’re doing. The project management was top-notch, and the communication was excellent, which forced me to be diligent on these things. They had it figured out in terms of what, when, and how things needed to happen. They tracked and communicated what was being done. They had a combination of discipline and flexibility.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The value add was them recommending certain things that would add credibility to the site. It wasn’t just a matter of what I had in mind. For instance, they recommended having attributed testimonials with logos, so that we wouldn’t just have quotes from some person, but from an important member of an organization that everyone respects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Like anyone, if there’s a mistake, I want it fixed within 30 seconds. Their responsiveness is within expectations, and I have high expectations.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should defer to Sayenko Design’s areas of knowledge. They’ve built a lot of websites and have a good sense of the area. If they’re giving pushback, there’s likely a reason for it. They probably know more than the client about certain aspects, so it’s good to listen to them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director of an educational nonprofit.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We were moving our 23-year-old print publication to an online environment. We hired Sayenko Design to build the platform from scratch.

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start, Mike (Seattle Web Designer, Sayenko Design) performed an analysis of our needs and direction. From there, we filled out a questionnaire on what we wanted to achieve, any roadblocks, and inspirations we’ve seen from other websites. We also gave them access to our competitors’ sites.

We were trying to launch in September but met with Mike in June or July. Because of that, we had an aggressive timeline in place. Their team put together the initial wireframes and main page mockups. We had conference calls and multiple rounds of work. After two rounds of design, their team began developing the WordPress platform. We also had a few rounds of bug testing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Mike and Kyle (WordPress Developer, Sayenko Design). Kyle led the backend development.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

We found them through Clutch. We talked to four different companies and a couple of sole proprietors. Our team decided to go with a firm as opposed to a one-stop-shop because we would have more help that way.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe it was around $22,000, but with add-ons, it came to about $25,000–$26,000. For hosting & maintenance, we pay $300 monthly.

What is the status of this engagement?

The plan was a three-month timeframe. We started development in July 2019, and the platform launched in mid-October.

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

We were a few weeks off of our timeline. It’s been a slow rollout to get users to adopt newer visions. We still have around 6,000 members. Initially, there were good response rates to our email campaigns, which is our primary method of reaching people.

Our site has between 300–400 subscribers, which isn’t bad for six weeks. A few events are coming up where people can subscribe in-person. Our top-performing posts and articles are getting about 600–700 views.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, their team did pretty well. We communicated with them weekly in the beginning. Since we were on a tight timeline, we sometimes only had a few days to review and give feedback. When we were in the development stage, I spoke to Mike and Kyle daily.

They also kept our side on track. When we were reviewing the design and performing bug testing, they were excellent at pushing me to use the proper channels. That ensured that everything I reported could be tracked and noted when completed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their real strength is in backend development. While they put together a nice design, their backend development work is what we’re most impressed with. It was clean and well-thought-out. Their team developed it in a way that anyone could run it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were looking for something cutting-edge, so we had to push their team a bit. It’s a straightforward website, but their team could be more open to experimentation and pushing the design envelope. I know that their team understands what works and what doesn’t, but I think they could push the boundaries a bit more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The processes that Sayenko Design has in place are excellent for people looking for a nice and clean website.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a fitness training gym located in central Pennsylvania.    

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We specifically wanted to develop a new website to increase lead generation and audience for our business. Our business had hit a lull, and it was clear that this area was where our business was lacking over the past year. That was our main goal. They provided remote web design work.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sayenko Design built a new WordPress site for the client. The site was in poor shape and didn’t even have a proper contact link. We were not receiving any leads through the website.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three different developers in the process.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

I have a lot of experience in the industry and built several websites with other companies, none of which ended well. Having said that, we didn’t shop around much. Initially, we had contacted our original web designer who strongly suggested we engage Sayenko Design.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work began in April 2019 and ended in July 2019.

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

Our site went live in July with a new lead capture function. In conjunction with a separate Google Ads campaign, we started getting one new lead per day almost immediately. Prior to this, we had gone months without a lead through our website. In the first full month, we had 28 leads from the website and added nine new clients. Due to their efforts, we broke our all-time sales for the company. The website helped reignite our technological and digital marketing strategy.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They worked through a portal. Everything was assigned to Sayenko employees through that portal. They pushed us to only work through the portal so that the process would be streamlined and efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This redesign process is never fun, but we feel that they completely achieved our goal.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think the next time I do a project, it’ll be a lot easier to work through the portal. Going forward, we’re a relatively small company and don’t have too many extra resources for digital marketing. Learning how to navigate the new technology was a bit clumsy for me, but I got it and I don’t think there’s a better way to do it.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Access Laser Company. We’re a CO2 laser manufacturer based in Everett, Washington. My title there is application sales engineer, and I’m the project lead for our website relaunch and rebranding initiative.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sayenko Design?

We were looking to update the functionality of the website to handle cross-platform browsers more effectively. We also wanted to improve our SEO and be more intentional about the way we were presenting ourselves online. It’s a website redesign project, but also a rebranding process. We’re trying to change the way we position ourselves within our market.

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the outset, Sayenko went fairly deep into discussing our business and our competitors. They met with me and our sales and marketing manager to better understand our company’s value proposition, specifically how we differentiate ourselves from others in our space.

That process involved their team doing keyword research to see which terms our existing website was ranking highly for. They also chose keywords to emphasize during the rebranding process.

The next phase of the project was less focused on working with their leadership team, and more geared towards solidifying expectations. We collaborated with their team to implement our vision for the new website.

What is the team composition?

I interfaced directly with four different people at Sayenko. They had a different specialist for each stage of the process. For example, one person was focused on the SEO keywords, and another was responsible for the backend of the site. We also had a frontend developer who implemented the designs.

How did you come to work with Sayenko Design?

We first contacted Sayenko while we were evaluating a series of different potential vendors. We narrowed our list down to about five options before having an introduction call with Mike (CEO, Sayenko Design).

He walked us through Sayenko’s experience working with other companies in our field, including some who work in the same manufacturing environment. He told us about their approach during those projects and how they were able to focus on our specific industry.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from April to August of 2019.

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

We haven’t fully launched the website yet because we’re still adding some of our finished content. In terms of internal feedback, we think the site elevates the professionalism of our digital footprint. Aesthetically speaking, we’re in a much better place now than we were at the beginning of 2019.

How did Sayenko Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I thought they performed well. Their team had a very transparent project management schedule. Also, their project management portal was browser-enabled, which let us track their milestones and see where we were intersecting. Their work was always visible, and we were able to see which tasks were being addressed at any moment.

They were very open about the information and resources we needed. They also gave us notice of new requirements well in advance to avoid potential bottlenecks. We were never bogged down by poor communication, and all of the expectations were extremely clear.

Phone calls and meetings were held on an as-needed basis. We ended up speaking with them about every other week. Typically, we would escalate to these conversations if emails or messages in the portal weren’t sufficient, or we needed some quick clarification.

There were a few instances where there was miscommunication and things weren’t executed in the way we initially envisioned. But once those were identified, they were able to quickly address the issue. In the end, I felt that it was a fairly streamlined process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The thing that we were initially impressed with—which heavily influenced our decision to move forward with them—was their high-level viewpoint of our website goals. They understood that it was more than an advertising tool and that we were trying to shift how people perceived us both internally and externally. Having that broader view—understanding the purpose of the project as it relates to our strategy moving forward—was something that other developers weren’t exhibiting.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would have liked a clearer feedback cycle where they could better understand the importance of particular milestones. A few situations occurred where we were trying to be a bit more personalized with the products, making them better suited for our industry, and we had to keep reiterating requirements.

There were also several instances when they tried to start with a boilerplate structure that was based on their previous experiences. It was sometimes a struggle getting them to understand our ideas and why we wanted to be different from some of their previous clients.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a solid understanding of your company objectives, and write out milestones and timelines for fulfilling those goals. Give them a template that they can put their framework around. They do a great job of bringing their experience to the table.