The Sher Agency

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a director of UX at a design agency in Los Angeles. I typically work with large corporate clients from around the world. On the side I manage a few of my own sites and take freelance work here and there to work with new teams This project with the Sher Agency involved making updates and tweaks to my uncle's law firm website out of Boston (Wordpress).

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency, and what were your goals?

The law firm website uses Wordpress. I needed someone to add new images/logos, QA the whole site to look for problems, and to adjust spacing and font issues. The site was in messy shape, and I needed to get things tightened up.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I put up a post on Upwork and got a ton of responses. I went through all of the candidates, and took my time deciding. Max and his team stood out from all of the others. I liked the way he presented himself, his agency, and his services. Max even took the time to create a video walk through of his process. As someone who is in the same industry, I was able to tell right away that he knew what he was doing. Max said all the right things and I was impressed thoroughly by his approach. And his portfolio links were excellent.

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

As soon I as picked Max, he got back in touch with me right away and he schedule a kickoff call for us. On that call, I knew I had made the right decision. Max has such a good personality and is very patient and likable. He took notes the whole time, offered excellent advice on how to move forward, and again - he has a process. And process is everything.

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

I worked with 2 people. Max and his developer Joseph. Joseph was wonderful as well. Always available, and did excellent and fast work. Between the 2 of them, I was treated like a king. You'd think I was paying them tens of thousands of dollars, but I just had a small project. When a big one rolls along, they will be the first team I call.

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

I hired Max and his team on behalf of my uncle's law firm. So the client (the law firm) was extremely happy with the changes. These were just simple website updates, but they were important to the client and to me - and Max and Joseph came through for us.

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

The Sher agency shines when it comes to process, including project management. Max uses all the right tools and is proficient with them. As someone that used to be a project manager, I can tell you that you will be in very good hands with Max and his team. They are at the top of their game, in terms of process and management.

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

I was surprised at how good they were, for the hourly price. I did not expect to get a full blown agency, with all the right tools, process, and experience. I was going to settle with a freelancer and got an agency instead. And as someone that works for an agency, I can tell you that in terms of accountability, you want an agency - there is more on the line for them, and more to lose - a freelancer can sometimes be flakey - but an agency is typically playing to win - and Max and his team are winners.

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

No areas for improvement. They hit my project out of the park and I will use them again and again.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Development Manager of a nonprofit organization, the Osteosarcoma Institute, which funds research to develop new treatments for children with the most common form of bone cancer.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency, and what were your goals?

Our website was created long before we began to amplify our outreach efforts, and no longer suited our needs in terms of being a resource for both patients, doctors, researchers, and potential donors. We hired the Sher Agency to create a completely new website for us that was useful for all of our constituent audiences. Our goals were to increase website traffic and to launch a blog on our site, establishing ourselves as the expert in the field.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I located the Sher Agency on Upwork after reviewing around 65 applicants for our job posting. I found them to have the most applicable work experience, glowing reviews, and by far the most reasonable pricing. For this same job, we were quoted $60,000 by an agency. We were relieved that the Sher Agency was able to do it for less than a fraction of that cost. Additionally, Max from the Sher Agency provided me with the contact information of a previous client as a reference.

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

This was a very detailed job as we were adding a significant amount of content to our site. The first step was the Sher Agency helping me organize the content into areas on the website that would make for a good user journey. We had an intake meeting where we discussed my end goals of the new site, and what we wanted our look and feel to be. The project was extremely organized from start to finish.

The Sher Agency team sent me a spreadsheet with the website's page names where I could go through and add feedback for each of the edits they had made. There were times when I wasn't even sure what I wanted from a page and just explained my feeling about it- and they were able to translate my thoughts into actionable ideas and designs for the page. The key deliverable was a new site and we did three revision rounds.

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

I mostly worked with Emily from Max's team. I cannot say enough good things about Emily. She is understanding, patient, and highly knowledgable. I'm sure there were many times my requests and indecisiveness could have been frustrating but if so, Emily never showed it and was highly professional and skilled. I also worked with Max for the actual launch of our site. He is highly knowledgeable on the tech side of hosting and making sure your old site and new site don't interfere with each other. I briefly met another team member named Laura, but my main two contacts were Emily and max.

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

After launching our new site, we have seen an almost 900% increase in traffic-- yes 900%. Our time on site has also increased significantly and sessions are up by over 1,400%. The most telling thing about the Sher Agency's performance should be that we have returned as clients of theirs two times already for the development of a landing page for fundraising campaigns and to add even more content since we have seen so much initial success.

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

At the beginning of a project we meet with the Sher Agency to discuss the vision for the job. Afterwards they're very transparent about when they can fit that in theirs schedule, but we have never waited more than one week to get our project started. From there, once the site is ready for review, we get an email (I would hear from Emily usually) to check out the site with a link to the spreadsheet for our feedback. I let Emily know when my feedback is complete and she gets to work right away on implementing changes. The workflow was very organized, and they were easy to communicate. They are also incredibly fast to respond to email.

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

They are able to understand your wishes for a website even when you don't know the terminology or technical language to get your vision across. They were able to translate it for me and that has shown in the success of our site. Second, they are super fast. Our entire new website was up and running in 4 or 5 weeks. Third, they make themselves available for follow up work at a very reasonable cost.

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

I can't think of anything major. The only minor thing we experienced in all of our iterations of the site was that some filler copy was still present, which would have resulted from copy-pasting my new content into the site without removing notes. But once that was noticed the team removed it within minutes.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and managing member of a financial planning firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with The Sher Agency?

We just needed a website to function as our virtual storefront and virtual office.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a WordPress website that was professional but still targeted our market — Gen X and millennial professionals. Our site needed to help us build trust so we could get our information and content out there as well. The site is hosted on WP Engine.

What is the team composition?

There were four people on our first call, but I worked primarily with a project manager and Max (CEO).

How did you come to work with The Sher Agency?

I found them through Upwork. We received several proposals, but they were very process-oriented. Unlike the other proposals we received, they used videos and outlined their process.

How much have you invested with them?
We spent $4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–June 2021.

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

We haven’t completely launched the site yet, but those who have seen it have been impressed. The Sher Agency met all of the goals that I set for them.

How did The Sher Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They utilized some great tools to keep the project organized. They used spreadsheets and Google Docs to communicate changes to the site throughout development. They also created video tutorials to show me how to do stuff on my own. I really appreciated that they used video and other screen-sharing tools.

What did you find most impressive about them?

During the project, I always knew what stage they were working on. It was really easy to follow because they had a clearly defined process with clearly defined goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, they did a pretty good job, but they didn’t have a ton of experience working with financial services. We went back and forth a bit to dial in on what they needed, but it didn’t create very many issues and I was very happy with the result.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want. Generally, people assume that others know what they’re thinking, but that isn’t always the case. You need to provide clear, concise guidance and that will save you time on revisions.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work as the executive director for Vivida Dermatology, and we provide general dermatology services and Mohs skin cancer surgery. We also have a medical spa, where we do facials, lasers, and injectables.

What challenge were you trying to address with The Sher Agency?

We hired Sher to develop a website that was taking forever to build. We needed them to turn it into a professional-looking site. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Apart from developing our website, they also make sure our online presence is effective and up to date. They help us respond to patient requests through Facebook, Instagram, and other channels. 

Sher is also constantly reviewing our website and social media activity, making necessary adjustments to them. We also consult them for better business practices, online efficiency, and maximizing online presence. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Andrew (Former Creative Director), who did the web design. Currently, we work with Xena (Content Manager), who does all of the social media postings, and Max (Owner & Website Specialist), who we consult with for higher visibility, effectiveness, and everything else. 

How did you come to work with The Sher Agency?

I’ve known Max for a while. When I told him about the situation we were experiencing and the inability to get the website to where we needed it to be, he asked if we could give him a shot.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $7,000–$8,000 on the website, and we’re spending around $2,500 a month for their social media services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around May 2018, and it’s ongoing. 

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

It’s worked out really well. We’ve received about 7,000 leads a year through our social media, thanks to Sher. We also get a lot of feedback on our website about how we present the company. We’re attracting good providers, good staff, and good patient volumes. 

Now, we’re just making sure that we’re current, relevant, and doing what we need to do to stay where we want to stay online. 

How did The Sher Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Monday for project management. In terms of the website development, everything was timely and the feedback process was constant. They question us all the time about what we should and shouldn’t be doing. They’ve been working closely with us from the very beginning.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The deliverables are impressive. We’ve gone from having little to no web presence to being active and effective online. They’re honest, cost-effective, and timely. They’re also updated about what’s happening in the market. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think there are any. Max is very good at letting us know if they’re getting overwhelmed and if timelines are going to be delayed, which is very rare.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a technology consultant for the school. We advise and consult on projects for small/medium-sized education institutions to implement technology and integrate it within their operations.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency, and what were your goals?

We hired Max and his team to design and develop a new website. The goal was to have a more substantial web presence and compete with nearby competitors.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We met with several web design agencies. We decided to go with Sher Agency after researching their project history, customer satisfaction, and learning about their process.

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

We initially had a meeting with Max to obtain a proposal. After delivering a detailed proposal and what was to be expected for the project, we had a kick-off meeting with Max and his team, where we developed a scope of work and timeline. At every milestone, the project manager delivered a detailed update to our team on what was needed to continue to the next milestone. After all, the steps were complete; we evaluated glitches with a prelaunch.

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

The project manager (Emily) was our main contact. We work with Max on several occasions to clarify any questions we had.

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

This has been a significant rise in web traffic.

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

Weekly communication and detailed videos from the project manager were provided.

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

The process. The Sher Agency team followed a well-defined process that kept the project organized and within schedule.

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

From the Scope of Work and project objects, The Sher Agency did excellent. My only advise would be to schedule a mid-project video conference so that expectation are clear on both sides.

Please describe your company and your position there.

A creative environmental design consultancy, we offer a full-service approach for high-end, custom designs for donor recognition. I am in Marketing and Design.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency, and what were your goals?

Our website was outdated and we were due for some upgrades in both design and function. We hired The Sher Agency to design and develop our Wordpress Site. We are hoping this helps increases leads and conversions.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We interviewed a handful of consultants and The Sher Agency surpassed all candidates. He had wonderful reviews on Upwork and we decided to take the leap.

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

We started with a kick off meeting to review what the project needs are. Max provided us with wireframes that are UX friendly. Then we moved on to design phase where we found an appropriate design direction. From there they developed the new site with the last phase being post – launch.

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

We had three team members work with us. We had a designer, developer and project manager.

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

Website launched today so we do not have results yet.

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

They used Monday.com for project management. They were effective with our timeline and communication.

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

Communicative skills and flexibility.

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

They could do a deeper dive in the design phase.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Socialistics is a social media agency and I am the CEO.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency?

We hired The Sher Agency to redesign our website.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We did a thorough search for a web design agency and ultimately we went with Sher as we were most impressed with their proposal/pitch, overall design portfolio, and responsiveness.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We hired Sher to redesign and develop our website using an original design. We were taken through an in depth discovery phase, and multiple stages throughout the process to ensure we were happy with how the project was progressing. We went through design phases, feedback phases, content adds, and ultimately a launch.

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

We worked with Max the owner and Emily a project manager.

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

Ultimately we get a new website that we are thrilled with. Unique, not templatized, and looks and works fantastic.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

This may be the most impressive part of working with Sher. They are extremely buttoned up when it comes to workflow. We knew exactly when something would happen, what was needed from us, and always responded to quickly.

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

I really love that they have a more balanced team in regards to gender. Most web agencies are dominated by males, and the fact that they have this balance allowed us to get some great balance in our design aesthetic that ensured our look and feel wasn't too masculine. I also appreciated their incredible attention to detail around process and workflow.

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

I really have no complaints. It was an incredible experience end to end. Highly recommended.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of an affiliate marketing website.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency, and what were your goals?

My business partner and I were looking for a web development team that could build a website from the ground up within our budget. Our goal was to get a functional, fast, and well-designed website running to support our affiliate marketing business.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We conducted a deep search and engaged with several agencies before finding The Sher Agency. Right from our first interaction, we were impressed by their communication, professionalism and punctuality. Their transparent pricing structure and well though out development process made us feel comfortable working with them.

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

The scope was to build an affiliate marketing website in WordPress that would support several internal pages and post types, each with their own unique design and features. The Sher Agency employed a 5-step process that became the backbone of our website build. We felt well informed of where we were at in this process at any given point. Max and Emily put forth high quality deliverables at each step of the way.

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

We worked most closely with Max Sher, the founder of the company and Emily Howard, Creative Director.

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

The project deliverable was a v1 website and we are very happy with the result. The website they created has a professional look and presents a wide array of features.

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

The Sher Agency is extremely professional and maintains excellent communication with their clients. In the case of video calls, the team was punctual and prepared for the conversations. With email exchanges, the team was responsive and thorough. As far as project management, the team matched the pace with the client. We never felt rushed or slowed down at any point.

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

This is a truly capable and thoughtful team. My business partner and I appreciated the depth of their knowledge and their willingness to take the the time to discuss any and all details. The Sher Agency always made great recommendations for our path forward and leaned on their extensive collective experience in making those recommendations.

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

We are completely satisficed with their work.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Digital Marketing Manager. I oversee all of the firms online marketing efforts.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency?

We hired them to design new templates, to replace all of our old outdated templates.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I put out an ad on Upwork. I looked over around 100 applicants, literally I looked for hours. The Sher Agency stood out because they made an impressive video sharing the ideas they would implement into our design. I chose them over the other applicants.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Instead of having someone build us a completely new website, we decided to take an approach where we would just replace each template on the entire site with a new one. We would meet with The Sher Agency once a month. At that meeting I would share with them the template we wanted them to redesign. They would share ideas, we would discuss them, and select one. Their team would then send us over a new design of the template. We would have occasional revisions for them but for the most part they did an unbelievable job.

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

We worked with two of their designers, and the owner.

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

They were very creative. Their ideas and designs were unconventional, ahead of the curve for their industry, and professional. It has helped our website look sharp, and it resulted in more traffic. We specifically saw our Google search rankings increase after they worked on our local pages.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They have a very simple work flow. They don't forget about your project, and they follow up if you do not respond so the project keeps moving forward.

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

Th creativity. We would take a really boring page and implement such creative ideas. It would make it so the page had life, and was interesting to be on.

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

I wouldn't change a thing about them or their process.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a software company that provides management solutions for home health care companies.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sher Agency?

Our website was not producing results, and we needed a change.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We interviewed several designers, but the Sher Agency was clearly the best. Max and his team really listened to our challenges, and came up with a great deign to better target our audience.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The Sher Agency has a great process of discovery and design that got to the heart of what we needed to do. They also didn't give me a "to-do" list like so many other marketing firms have done in the past. They asked great questions and gave insightful suggestions throughout, and were great about communication milestones. We ended up with a website that better captures what we do, and for whom we do it.

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

We worked with 3 people, 2 designers and the agency director.

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

Our site has been well received so far. The digital marketing firm that handles our day-to-day is excited to deploy and base all new efforts around pages that speak to our customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent.

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

I loved their responsiveness and innovative approach to the work.

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

Not really.