Simply Stated Solutions Inc.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a freelance creative services director and production manager. I’ve just left my position at a youth engagement and support network; it’s a region-wide partnership of organizations and agencies that support children, youth, and families.

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Stated Solutions Inc.?

The project required a visual identity, social media campaigns, video editing as well interactive webpages to engage survey takers across an entire region. We hired Simply Stated Solutions Inc. for website development, content management, and maintenance of our website prior to the youth survey, but the website was one component of the project. Simply Stated also offers graphic design, content development, video production services and social media management. To ensure brand and messaging continuity across numerous media and to strengthen project coordination across different media, Simply Stated was brought on as part of the team to handle creative services and social media for the project as well as website components.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, I worked with a graphic designer and Oliver (President) to create a visual identity. This included all the graphic design files needed to implement a campaign to engage community agencies. 

Second, Simply Stated developed web pages with our provided content, applying the visual identity we developed. They also added a number of online resources youth could use to promote the survey among their individual networks, like social media cards, taglines, and media files to be used on social platforms.

One of the services that stood out was Simply Stated’s editing of raw video provided to us by youths. We posted those refined products on YouTube and social media to further reach youth.

The relationship also expanded to official social media accounts — managing Instagram and Twitter accounts in the background for both industry professionals and youths.

We ran into a hiccup with our incentive program, where youth could be entered into a drawing for gifts and gifts certificates. A large number of the entries were spoiled, but Simply Stated went through and cleaned everything up to ensure there were no legal issues with the winner.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with the graphic designer and Oliver, but there may have been other people in the background.

How did you come to work with Simply Stated Solutions Inc.?

I met them way back in 2000 when I was working for an arts firm and needed a new website.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000–$50,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The website development and branding project ran from January–June 2021.

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

The project was a tremendous success. We received over 2,500 survey responses, not to mention millions of hits to our website. In terms of social media, engagement was high and sustained on both Instagram and Twitter.

How did Simply Stated Solutions Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated over email, Zoom, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have found that working with Simply Stated over the years, whenever additional effort is needed to address challenges, they participate in creative and collaborative brainstorming.

Anecdotally, they have spent their personal time to ensure a deadline was met. That’s the result of a 20-year relationship.

Simply Stated is dependable, creative, flexible. They go above and beyond to ensure the top standard of service for their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. It’s always a partnership. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide comprehensive project descriptions. Collaborate and be open to their using their knowledge and expertise.