Structure

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-founders of Just The Power. We’re a solar energy development company that focuses on solar PV with battery storage.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Structure?

We built our website on a budget initially, so Structure came on to update our online presence and content, as well as to initiate an advertising campaign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the site on a WordPress platform and integrated a number of legacy systems that were also built on WordPress. Our hosting is on another platform, though, and Structure tied everything together.

We wanted a landing page for an ad campaign for the principal product of a private equity fund we managed. There also had to be an education page with a blog and content that we needed to host with another company. There was also an explainer video that we wanted to host on the site, as well as forms to capture interested customers. The questions on the forms help us weed out perspectives that wouldn’t be a good fit for us.

We scrapped everything we had at the start, and the design work was very collaborative. Our team was hands-on for a number of reasons: we wanted to be part of the process and we wanted to own the language and make sure the content was conveying the right message.

Structure has also done a first pass of SEO and set us up with a studio in town with a videographer and an editor. They created six one-minute videos for us, as well as a 20-minute webinar. The studio was a contract resource they use pretty regularly.

What is the team composition?

Simon is our primary point of contact. They also have a social media contractor and a principal design resource.

How did you come to work with Structure?

Structure jumped out at us because of their strong portfolio and design aesthetic. They also seemed very competent with technology and were interested in building our platform on a WordPress system, which is something we were both familiar with. Finally, they were good communicators and understood our vision.

The other vendors we spoke to wanted to throw us into a box, thinking that what we did was irrelevant. They just wanted to pepper a bunch of Facebook ads out there and not pay attention to the actual message.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $25,000, and the projected budget is around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since October 2021. The relationship will continue with them managing our ad strategy through the end of the year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our LinkedIn profile page is up, our post impressions are up 16,000%, and our new followers are up 630%. Additionally, our unique visitor metric has risen nearly 200%.

I don’t have any issues with how Structure has conducted themselves. We launched the ad campaign about 1–2 weeks ago, and it remains to be seen if all this will come to fruition, but on the development side, we’re very happy with their work.

How did Structure perform from a project management standpoint?

We pushed them hard to get things done quickly. The goal was to get the project rolling sooner than we were able to, so we put some kind of pressure on them, and they managed it well, including leveling our expectations into something reasonable. You could also tell that they did a lot of work in a short period of time without skimping on quality.

We communicated over a number of tools, including phone calls, email, Zoom, and Google Meet.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

If I had to boil it down to one thing, I would say their integrity is their best quality. I get a sense of honesty and quality from them; they take their work seriously and do it in a professional manner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were probably a few services left on the table because they may have been too slow to suggest them. It was clear that they didn’t want us to sell us anything because I had to ask if there was anything more we could be doing to make our sales strategy work. not pressuring people is good, but from our perspective, it would have been nice to get the full low down on the best-in-class approach.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear in advance about what you’re trying to achieve and your mission and message. We had a good sense of what we wanted, but there was a lot of work to be done in terms of being clear and concise with it. Part of the process involved them writing example copy and us letting them know if they hit the mark. Any time you’re working with someone from outside your organization, they won’t necessarily know their internal thought process in advance.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a producer and distributor of crane mats and lumber products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Structure?

We needed an outdated website rebuilt with all new content, a fresh look and additional features, while maintaining all SEO progress from the original site.

SOLUTION

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

We worked with two different designers previously who were unable to complete our needs. After finding Structure and reviewing their proposal, they appeared to offer solutions to every problem we had encountered thus far as well as suggest additional improvements we could make along the way.

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

There was a full overhaul done on our original site including new color schemes, layouts, pages build, contact forms, chat added, etc. Structure presented us with various options along the way and was extremely receptive to any feedback we had. There were continuous check in video calls to go over progress and hear our input. In the end, Structure produced a website well beyond what we had even hoped for.

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

Although there were numerous people working behind the scenes on the project, all of our interactions were solely with Simon Villeneuve. Having only one main point of contact made everything much smoother throughout and Simon was always an absolute pleasure to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We asked for quite a few things that were beyond the scope of a simple website design (integration into our CRM, specific chat functions, etc.) and every time we figured a roadblock would be returned, a solution was instead.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I cannot think of any way the workflow effectiveness could have been better. Between an open forum space where we could collaborate continually to the check in video calls, everything went even smoother than we could have hoped for.

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

After working with two other companies on this project prior, I can say Structure is leaps above any others I've seen from their customer interactions to the results they produce. Their continued efforts on everything we threw and their abilities to overcome extremely challenging problems were incredible.

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

Not a single one that I can think of, and I tried to find them as often as I could along the way!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing director at Western Interlock. We are a medium-sized manufacturer of paving stones and retaining walls based in western Oregon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Structure?

Our website was over a decade old and we had reached the end of its capabilities. We hired Structure to help us realize our goal of taking our site in a completely new direction because we lacked the skill and bandwidth to do it ourselves.

SOLUTION

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

I worked with Simon at a creative agency years ago. I knew that he was more than capable of spearheading our project and bringing it to a successful conclusion.

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

We worked with Structure on a whole cloth revamp of our site. I realized that most websites approach a customer from the standpoint of knowledge instead of from a place of ignorance about a given product. With this in mind, first, we went through our customer's journey and reworked the messaging, UX, and UI on the entire site. Then we updated thousands of pieces of media and content to give the site more visual interest. We have been working on refining the site since its launch to make it even better than ever.

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

We worked directly with Simon on this project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were concerned that since we were doing such a major rework of the site that traffic would drop off for a time. We never even saw a dip. Since then, our site has experienced an increase in sessions, bounce rate is down and we've seen a definite increase in the number and quality of leads.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As a company, we struggle to meet deadlines as a general rule and Simon really helped us to keep on task and on track.

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

They are the only vendor that I've ever met that gets down and dirty to make sure work gets done well and on time. We also work with Simon on video production and he is always willing to get right in there beside us to work to make it happen.

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

Not that I can think of

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO and co-founder of a precision agricultural company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Structure?

We needed someone to revamp our whole website and develop a targeted marketing strategy for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we worked with Structure on our marketing strategy. Additionally, we also collaborated on developing our mission, vision, and goals for the company. The next phase involved overhauling the site to reflect our updated strategy. We completely scrapped our old website, and they designed and developed a new one. The team used WordPress, and they also created graphics and copy. Currently, Structure is producing some videos for us and conducting photoshoots at our site.

What is the team composition?

We work with Simon (Principal), who acts as the project lead.

How did you come to work with Structure?

They were recommended by another business owner who had worked with them. We were impressed with their previous work, and after we interviewed them, Structure felt like a good fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$15,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Upon launching our site, we’ve noticed a significant uptick in our Google Analytics. Our site is appearing higher on web searches, and more people are finding us. Additionally, we’ve gotten calls from customers who found us through a simple Google search. Overall, our visibility has increased.

How did Structure perform from a project management standpoint?

They manage the project really well — the team creates comprehensive, detailed plans with measurable goals and accurate budget limits. In terms of communication, we have weekly calls through Google Meet and small chats on Slack. We also use Google Drive for document sharing and Asana for task management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with the team’s eye for design. Additionally, the team works with integrity — they’re committed to working at their highest potential.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything critical to say about the team. I’m pretty happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to have honest conversations and be open to suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Product development specialist, we create products to help safe proficient in handling firearms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Structure?

Our website was never what we hoped it would be. It was cumbersome and did not help our customers find what they needed. We wanted customers to be helped but our old website was only a hindrance.

SOLUTION

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

We asked around for recommendations, we received several. Structure was the most professional, responsive and personal of them all.

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

We first meet with Simon so he could get to know us and our products. He then went through our outdated website and removed some road blocks so our customers could understand our product better and be able to make purchases. Simon suggested that we needed to have a new website developed. We told him we were willing but that we wanted to see his suggestions first.

Simon provided suggestions and an easy to follow strategy for the development process. Simon meet with us through the development to make sure it was on track and coming together the way we wanted. He encouraged us to make suggestions so he could make changes that helped us get the site that we wanted.

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

We had one point person in this project Simon! This kept things simple and we never wondered if we were talking to the correct person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had multiple positive comments on the new site!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team at Structure were very responsive and easy to work with.

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

The people at Structure were very helpful and spent a lot of time getting to know you so they could portray you and your product.

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

No, they are a great team!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I founded my company 14 years ago to have an impact in the leadership of executives and directors in global companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Structure?

The branding I had was not current with the work that I was doing. I need Structure to develop and design new language for the work that my company was engrossed in.

What were your goals for this project?

To be able to have a container for what was currently our purpose in our company and to expand the work by creating a broader platform for others to connect with.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met with Simon and found his companies values to be aligned with what was needed for the work. Also, I saw in Simon a level of insight that is rare in the market and asked for him to facilitate this branding process for our company.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

First was contracting to understand the scope of work needed in relation to the outcome we were looking for. Then Structure developed a brand framework for our company. In that process. the language used in that framework gave us new definition for the how we were marketing our services.

The next step was to create an accessible Website template that incorporated the elements of the brand framework that Simon facilitated. Then Structure designed a new logo and color palette for the website and to use in our externally facing materials. Lastly, a website was constructed that pulled together all the brand development that Structure had created for us.

What was the team composition?

Simon as the facilitator. Simon's design team. Myself as the founder. My partner as the contributor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have in my branding what I was missing. And I am able to represent in a new way the work that I am doing. Also, the platform that Structure created for our company is expandable and adaptable for our growth in the future.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very timely and the communication was consistent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Simon, he is the best part of this process and the glue to his team. In them, you find a unique branding professional that helps you see blindspots in your marketing and gives you a wholistic plan for your brand expansion.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of any thing I would improve in this process with Simon. It was fantastic.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Supportist, which is an integrated community support and local perks platform. We have a website and an app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Structure?

We’ve worked with Structure on an ongoing basis for quite a while now. Initially, they offered their consulting services to support our marketing services, which led to design work. They've been involved in and consulted on many different projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Structure has provided consulting services. Basically, they gave us ideas and advice as our business moved forward. Their team helped us to identify our voice, tone, and the archetype of our business as we wanted to present it. Then, their team handled our website and our app design. They were involved in the entire process from UX/UI to messaging. Their team also directed our social media effort and helped us to source other contractors as needed. They connected us with certain designers and experts to complete projects or to expand our network.

What is the team composition?

Simon (Founder, Structure) was our main point of contact. We worked with him as if he was an internal team member. He worked with other folks including contractors.

How did you come to work with Structure?

Their team was recommended to us personally. I discussed our needs with a colleague who referred me to Structure. After I’d met with them a couple of times, they seemed like a good fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000­–$100,000 over the course of our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2017 and the collaboration wrapped up in October 2018. This was the longest relationship that we had with a contractor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had good feedback from the pieces that Structure handed in. We get compliments on our site. We’ve also had good feedback on our app, especially on the UX for its simplicity. That was our goal: to have a clean and intuitive platform.

We had a good relationship with Structure. Their team helped us whenever we needed it and executed on a lot of projects. When we needed sales or marketing materials, they put together a PDF, design collateral, and worked with us on messaging. Structure was professional, detail-oriented, and produced high-quality work.

How did Structure perform from a project management standpoint?

Over the two-plus years that we worked with Structure it was rare that a product wasn’t delivered on time. If that happened, it was because changes popped up. They were consistent, reliable, and detail-oriented. Generally, we had an idea and Structure would help to execute it. But Simon also had the knowledge and experience to be part of the conversation. He provided direction and it was valuable to bounce ideas off of him. There were even times when Structure ran meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

For a smaller organization, Structure delivered services similar to a larger marketing agency at a much better rate. They were a good bang for our buck. The quality of their work was always good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It wasn’t a negative, but their team would stand up for their ideas if they thought it was the best way to proceed. That’s what we wanted. We had good discussions because they weren’t afraid to speak their minds and challenge an idea. That might rub certain people the wrong way but it certainly didn’t for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Structure’s an option worth considering. Don’t just put them into a specific bucket because they have a lot of value to add in different areas. If a company doesn’t know which way they want to go, Structure can provide direction. Even if a company knows what they want to do generally, it’s worth bouncing ideas off him.

Try to figure out what works for your business and what you’re looking for, then have a conversation about arranging that agreement with Structure. Their team isn’t locked into on specific process. They’re flexible and there’s a good chance you’ll end up with a mutually beneficial scenario.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I have a non-profit Christian ministry in which I speak, teach and support spiritual leaders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Structure?

Simon developed my website, gave advice on communication strategies, developed a bookmark, etc.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a more contemporary and user-friendly website and I wanted help with various technological skills.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

He was recommended by a pastor friend.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

A website was developed, bookmarks were designed, an analysis was made about how I use social media and various forms of communication.

What was the team composition?

This was Simon working with me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

i became more aware of how pastors might use my services as a result of the analysis. The website continues to be very viable.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We consulted on the phone and each of us followed up with the necessary tasks required.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Simon was very competent in website development, social media and technology. He was friendly, helpful and available.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I was completely satisfied.