Tag Team Design

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m in charge of operations for an asphalt paving company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tag Team Design?

We wanted to improve our digital presence with a new website and online marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked with us to develop an online strategy, offering a range of options for us to choose from. We wanted our website to be informational and highlight the story of asphalt, so they designed a site using WordPress.

In addition to providing graphics work, they set up a number of features. They added a chat function, created a form for potential customers to submit proposal requests online, and set up an interactive map to help customers locate our business. They established our blog and provide content. Users can also download informational documents like material safety data sheets.

Tag Team Design continues to provide SEO services and manage Google AdWord campaigns.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Kyle (Taggart, Vice President, Tag Team Design), as well as one other individual who works on the blog.

How did you come to work with Tag Team Design?

We worked with a larger company previously, but found they were more interested in receiving a paycheck than the success of our business. Tag Team Design was a local company recommended by a friend, so I reached out to Kyle.

He was very personable and seemed genuinely interested in our website. Rather than push expensive solutions, he presented me with options based on my budget. This created trust right away.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $10,000. Given their success, we’ve increased their marketing budget slightly each year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2014 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We receive a lot of compliments from customers who find the website very informative. This was our priority. We’ve been in business for 30 years, so our story is well known in our community. People know less about asphalt, so we wanted to explain the industry to give customers a better sense of what they’re investing in.

Based on the success of the digital marketing campaigns, we’ve almost entirely abandoned Yellow Page ads. This was a big step for us, as it was our primary marketing method.

The website generates new leads, so we’re currently focused on balancing our attention between our existing customers and new clients coming in through the online portal.

How did Tag Team Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I speak with Kyle at least once a month and he shares our website statistics on a weekly basis. We also meet annually to discuss long-term priorities. We communicate mostly through phone and email, and he’s very responsive.

Tag Team Design has accomplished every goal they’ve set out to do. Any delays are usually caused by my end.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They didn’t know much about the asphalt industry when we started, but they listened carefully and took time to understand our business.

Unlike their larger competitors, they never try to push expensive solutions. Instead of insisting on a pricey, flat fee, Kyle carefully explains our marketing strategies so we understand where our money goes. He’s patient with us and offers a variety of solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm satisfied with their work. Every company can improve, but I can’t think of any suggestions at this time. We provide a niche service and they’ve done an excellent job of marketing our brand.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them and give them a chance. Start with a small budget, as you should with any marketing vendor, and let your relationship grow as you see results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a golf strategist and one of the leading researchers in the golf industry. I’ve flown 2.7 million miles around the world guiding golf courses and creating value for customers at a foundation level, optimizing the financial performance of their courses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tag Team Design?

As an author of 5 books, it was important for me to create a brand via a website which people could visit and use to digest our intellectual content.

For a number of years, we had been using another firm which was insisting we use Joomla! as the backend of our website. It required them to be highly involved, and any changes we made to the site took days, weeks, or even months. The site wasn’t flexible enough for us, so we were looking for a new web design firm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was Tag Team Design’s suggestion that WordPress should be the backbone of our site and that we could get it hosted through Cloud3. We were interviewed around what our vision for the site was, after which Tag Team created a series of storyboards. They also used a software tool which monitored the project.

As they continued to develop the site, they not only created a place for me to post blogs but also made a secure location where my books and research material could be bought online. Tag Team trained me in writing, editing, and posting our monthly newsletter and blog posts, which only further convinced me that we made the right choice in choosing them.

I believe we have 200 different pages on the site. For example, we’ve created a test bank of questions for universities. Students can log in to the site, download a case study, and complete a series of online questions and answers as they read our book. Students are immediately scored and a professor receives the result.

We’ve integrated various analytics tools like SumoMe, which were optimized based on Tag Team Design’s expertise. I have worked directly with Kyle Taggart, their VP. He has several other people in place to whom he can delegate the tasks I send.

How did you come to work with Tag Team Design?

We interviewed 4–5 firms and selected Tag Team Design because we were impressed with their flexibility. They were also a local firm in Colorado, so we would be able to meet with their team.

How much have you invested with Tag Team Design?

The cost of their work over 2 ½ years has been between $20,000–$25,000. Considering that we’ve generated over six figures in income from the store, it’s been a great investment, irrespective of the positive impact it’s had on our brand.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Tag Team Design in January 2015. The site was up and operational within three weeks. We’ve continued to make changes and updated to it, interacting with Tag Team on an almost monthly basis. The majority of the work, in terms of the site’s online store and blog, was completed by April 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We have six-figure sales per year, and we can do this securely based on the tools put together by Tag Team Design. What really impresses me is how my brand is presented through the graphics used, and the way in which they captured the essence of who I am.

I am an independent expert in the field; my books are used by 16 different universities and I’ve traveled to 49 countries. For Tag Team to capture that I’m one of the top-10 golf consultants, and convey that message with a simple flow of photographs and bios, was impressive. Tag Team produces a top quality product at a fair price within an appropriate timeline.

Tag Team has integrated a reporting tool called LeadLander into our site. When I create a blog post, I will have anywhere between 200–4,000 views on it. Our open rates on the newsletter are greater than 25%, and the click-through rates exceed 4%.

How did Tag Team Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I can write a book and post things to a website, but I’m not a technician. If I’m struggling with something, I can send Tag Team an email and receive a response in the same day. They will take care of it for me as I’m traveling. While their design is very good, their support is amazing.

They use a whiteboard tracking tool on which every task is posted. I can go in and see the status of the project, the cleared items on the task list, and test the work done. If I think that more work is necessary, I can comment on the item.

What did you find most impressive about Tag Team Design?

The responsiveness and support from their team are unbelievable. I can send a question or a change request for the website and hear back from Tag Team within the day, with the change implemented.

My prior experience with web development firms had been impersonal. Tag Team has made me feel important and special, and I can’t speak towards their responsiveness and personal rapport highly enough. Tag Team Design cares about the client’s company and project, and they’re very proud of what’s being created.

Are there any areas Tag Team Design could improve?

I live in the Microsoft world, while Tag Team uses Apple computers. Sometimes, when we have a GoToMeeting session, we will struggle to get connected. This might happen regardless, so I can’t really say that there is something Tag Team could do differently.