Skyhound Internet

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization supports actors in a few cities around the United States. I’m the IT director at the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

We had a web site but required a lot of things to be done with it. We needed to be able to auto reply to a lot of different situations, and institute a little bit of AI to do it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed several features for our website. One of the main additions was an even registration feature where we can input an attendance max, and from there the software will send out a notification about the event, take registrations up to the limit, create a waitlist, and then manage the waitlist based on people dropping out of the event. It also emails reminders about the event and any other notifications to those who have expressed interest.

We also have fee processing capabilities on there, and the whole thing has been designed to be mobile accessible as well. They continue to help us manage the site and make tweaks whenever we come up with new feature ideas or have an issue.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Tom (Owner, Skyhound Internet), but I know he has several other team members working on our account as well.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

Our director was recommended their team by somebody in the LA area that had worked with them before.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December of 2014 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The infrastructure that we have in place now allows all of these processes to be almost completely hands-free for us. We do some tracking and reporting on the back end, but otherwise, just sit back and are able to monitor how everything is going through the Integrated API. They’ve been completely responsible for us getting that up and running and it’s saved us a lot of time and money in the long run.

How did Skyhound Internet perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team has been very communicative and supportive throughout the project. We communicate primarily through email and a ticketing system to track tasks within the project, and things have been running very smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would say their responsiveness is their most impressive trait. They stay on top of things and get back to you extremely quickly. Our deadlines have always been met, and they’ve been great about explaining things to us as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really don’t have any complaints. Everything that we’ve asked of them, they have either already been working on or start for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend, especially if you are part of a larger company, that you get multiple departments to buy into the solution. That way you can invest more resources into the project, and when you come to the company you can have a plan prepared and be ready to meet with them so that you hit the ground running.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an editor at Long Beach Business Journal. We're a bi-weekly publication covering Long Beach and City Hall business news.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

We were looking for a vendor to design a user-friendly website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a good idea of what we wanted our website to look like, so we had a meeting with their founder and asked him to design a mock-up for us. They were very accepting of our feedback and made all the changes that we requested. Then, they designed a WordPress website. We wanted to change a couple of things after we launched the site and they addressed them very quickly.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Tom (CEO, Skyhound Internet), who had a team underneath him.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

We used them in the past and they host our email server. They're easy to work with, so we decided to hire them for our web design project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between July–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new website looks more attractive and professional than our old site. Previously, we'd used a free Wiki platform. All the feedback has been very positive.

How did Skyhound Internet perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive and easy to communicate with. We mostly used email and phone to stay in touch, but we also met in person. They met all of our deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were committed to bringing our ideas to life. They provided their feedback and made recommendations, but they didn't push us for a design that was different from what we wanted. Also, they're easy to work with and have affordable rates.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I suggest meeting with Tom and his team in person or over Skype. Face-to-face meetings are always best if you're discussing design.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of My Baby’s Brain and Me!, an educational website that teaches young parents about infant brain development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

We wanted to find a reputable web designer who could help convey our vision into a functioning website; our goal was to craft an effective message to young new parents.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Tom (CEO, Skyhound Internet) provided a selection of design concepts, and we selected the best option. After we made our final edits, they built the website according to our requests. It was a collaborative effort as a team together, but Tom and his team were a great inspiration for this process, expanding our ideas to a higher level through his great experience.

What is the team composition?

Tom was the liaison between our teams.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

They were one of the six companies that I found through a simple online search. Skyhound Internet had the most impressive portfolio, and we were impressed with his creative approach to telling each company's story, especially for nonprofits. After meeting Tom, we knew we found our vendor. Not only was he very approachable and communicative, but he also didn't hesitate to go out of his way to extend great ideas for consideration.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in August 2018 and commenced a month later.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re thrilled with the website, and many educators who study infant and early childhood development have shown similar admiration. Young parents were our original target audience, but we’re now experiencing a significant amount of traffic from both professors and students. Many of my professors have even introduced my website as a presentation to their classes, praising it as a one-stop-shop for parenting information.

How did Skyhound Internet perform from a project management standpoint?

We made a great team. I was the developer, and Tom was the architect. I was the plan checker, and Tom was the contractor. While their efficient planning contributed to the smooth project, their effective communication skills added to our harmonious partnership. They were highly responsive to our questions and concerns, and they were consistent in producing a high-quality creation at a rapid pace. They were also always on time if not early, which completely impressed us, having dealt with other vendors in the past.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Skyhound Internet has great communication skills and exceeds in time management capability. When you don't have time to build a website, which is usually, the case, their commitment to your time and schedule means everything. They enhanced our original concept with their brilliant ideas, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Encouraging people to learn is a difficult task, but their appealing designs make it easy to inspire our audience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Changes aren’t necessary; they exceeded our expectation in all areas.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Developing a website is a major brand investment, so don’t rush the hiring process. It’s important to find a partner whose skills and philosophies align with the project’s goals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications director for Crittenton Services for Children and Families, which is a child advocacy and mental health nonprofit in Orange County, California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

We wanted a web firm to redesign our website and serve as our IT team for when we have security issues and other issues that come with having a digital presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were involved from the planning stages through our launch. We wanted a site based on WordPress, because that’s what we’re comfortable with, and they created that and customized everything to honor our brand and our mission. The biggest success of the project is that the site is much more responsive on mobile platforms than our old site. Skyhound Internet now provides security updates and troubleshooting services every month.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one main project manager, a client services manager, and a graphic artist.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

We sent an RFP to a number of local vendors, including Skyhound, that we found through a Google search. We looked for firms that could work within our budget and had experience working with nonprofits. Skyhound has a number of clients in that realm, and they were really knowledgeable.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in November 2017, and it is ongoing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I coordinate a binational conservation partnership of federal and state agencies from both the U.S. and Mexico. We work with researchers and academic individuals to conserve bird habitats in the desert Southwest and northern Mexico.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

We had an extremely basic website. It was old and outdated and we didn’t have any capacity to add communication tools. We wanted a team that could help us through a rebuild and incorporate some necessary functionality. We had a very tight window of opportunity and needed to complete the project before some of our funding expired.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started from scratch. They understood our internal and external communication needs and built a website to match. They built a mirror site so we could display the content in English and in Spanish. We provided content in both languages to cater to our binational partnership. They set up options for priority audiences and made the content fit the messaging. They provided custom programming and developed a forum for our partners to communicate with each other.

Potential collaborators can search for experts or individuals with similar interests on our message boards. They can also share information about different methodologies or technical field equipment. Skyhound helped us refresh a logo for one of those partnerships.

We had an in-person training day to learn how to manage the site and access all the new functionality.

We’re still looking through all the content to make some final tweaks before we get board approval, so will launch the site in the very near future.

What is the team composition?

Tom (CEO, Skyhound Internet) acted as our project manager and worked very closely with us to understand our needs at every stage of development. We also spoke with other team members about a couple of specific features.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

When I was building the RFP for this project, we reached out to our partners and asked who they worked with. Skyhound was on our list as a positive option, so we sent them a request.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in early July 2017 and finished that September.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re governed by a board of directors. Our board and communications staff from various partner organizations have seen it and all gave positive feedback. The site looks completely different from the rudimentary presence we had before.

How did Skyhound Internet perform from a project management standpoint?

We had calls with specialists on design and development details. They did a great job and provided us with options. They used their own project management tool on their side. They showed it to us, but most of our communication was through phone and email. We also shared ideas and collaborated via Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide a personalized level of service and their attention to detail is excellent. They were the most reasonable offer we received and were extremely affordable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything; we had a really good experience. They were patient and delivered positive results in a short period of time. I only have good things to say about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be really honest and clear with them. They take constructive criticism well and will find ways to meet your needs. They respond well to feedback and will make any changes you need, big or small.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Fastbender. We provide a conduit bending product for electricians.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

I wanted to upgrade the company website and logo.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Skyhound rebuilt our site on WordPress and utilized a parallax-style design. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to the other technologies they used for the web redesign. Additional deliverables include a new logo and two informational pitch videos that explain our company and product.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with the CEO. He was our primary point of contact.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

I searched online for local companies. We considered a couple of different firms and vetted their websites. I appreciated the design of Skyhound’s site and was impressed by their testimonials. As a result, I moved forward with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from June–July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve gotten positive feedback from customers regarding every aspect of the new site. Our logo looks significantly more professional than it did previously. The informational videos are quick, engaging, and communicate all the necessary information. Skyhound listened to my ideas and delivered them in an easily digestible format. Customers take my business more seriously thanks to them.

How did Skyhound Internet perform from a project management standpoint?

We met in their office and would frequently communicate via email. We sent feedback and revisions back and forth throughout the process. They did a great job refining my ideas into professional products.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re always available and open to new ideas. The collaboration aspect of this engagement gave me the opportunity to put forth my best effort. The logo they designed exceeded my expectations. They also walked me through how to use WordPress so that I can update the site in the future. Skyhound could’ve charged me significantly more for the quality of work they produced.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone could improve on something, but I’m thoroughly impressed after my experience. They gave me exactly what I wanted. I’ll definitely use them in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the communications director at Playa Lakes Joint Venture, a nonprofit that works to conserve bird habitats across the Western Great Plains region of the U.S. We work across six states and collaborate with many partners and organizations to promote practices that are beneficial for birds.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Skyhound Internet?

We needed a partner to help us create websites that communicate complex subject matter in an engaging format. Our original website, built on Joomla!, had some major issues and could no longer be updated without a major investment to fix the coding. We wanted to transfer our main site to a better, more stable platform that would make it easy for internal staff to change and update over time and to create new websites for some of our partner-based initiatives.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Skyhound transferred our organization's website, built on Joomla!, to WordPress, updated the design and made it mobile friendly, which allowed us to easily access and make changes to the content as needed. They've also designed and developed other new websites, including logos and customized features, again using WordPress.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Tom (CEO, Skyhound Internet) and I've had discussions with some of the designers working on our projects as needed.

How did you come to work with Skyhound Internet?

A friend of mine referred me to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since 2015. The first job, which was the biggest, took three to four months from start to finish. Although we don't keep them on a retainer, they continue to be available whenever we have any questions or need help. Sometimes, we engage them for a couple hours of work to help us fix a bug or incompatibility that has come up due to a new WordPress or plugin version. Other times, we hire them to add a new feature to the website or create an entirely new website for a project or initiative.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Skyhound's redesigns helped us effectively communicate complex subject matter through engaging, easy to navigate websites. Each site has seen a steady improvement in user traffic as a result.

How did Skyhound Internet perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fantastic—both quick and affordable. We mostly communicated through email and phone, and Tom handled the rest. Whenever there was a change in the scope or timeline, he was transparent about it. We never had any issues with a project being delayed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was a pleasure to work with Tom. He understood exactly what I wanted and was very clear in communications throughout the process. He was also a great person to bounce ideas off of when I wasn't entirely sure about the direction I wanted to go.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. All of my interactions with them have been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do a lot of research and pull as many examples of what you want before meeting with any vendor. It will help set expectations for what you want and get a product you actually like in the end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director, Learning & Development for Reid Dugger Consulting Group, a leadership development firm where we build leaders and transform organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Skyhound Internet?

The time came to update our site to be “mobile friendly”.

What were your goals for this project?

To keep the branding of our company while remaining relevant in today’s digital age.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Skyhound and Reid Dugger entered a partnership in 2010 initially to renovate our website. Our past and ongoing wonderful experiences propelled us to stay with Skyhound.

Describe the project in detail.

Skyhound took us through a step-by-step analysis and project assessment as we went forward with our designs. Each contributor took the time to explain the process, answer our questions, and anticipate our needs. Their expertise is what we rely on. 

What was the team composition?

Tom was out point person. He handled every detailed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We continue to receive compliments of our mobile friendly site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was fluid and easy. Every part was explained and broken down for clarity.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Skyhound continues to check in with us to make sure that our website is where we want it to be as well as giving us suggestions on what the new trends are.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.