Usman Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at MindAptiv, a technology development company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group because we needed brand and web presence development services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our company had a lot of old materials on our website, so I came in and helped update what we were doing and how we were presenting ourselves online. While we were discussing these, we decided to have a new logo and change our branding a bit. That was where Usman Group worked. They redeveloped our website from scratch using WordPress.

For features and functionality, we wanted the website to be more contemporary and interactive. Users visiting the website should be able to interact with the information there. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates from Usman Group, namely Naveed (Principal & CEO), Chris (UX Director & Designer), and Adam (Senior Web Developer). 

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I found Usman Group on Clutch. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $30,000–$35,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from February–June 2023. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our technology was hard to understand, and trying to do so was extremely difficult, especially for teams in a creative environment. However, Usman Group was great at coming up with concepts that met our expectations right out of the gate. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group was timely when it came to delivering tasks and meeting our budget. Our team was slow since I was new in the company, and there was a lot to understand. Fortunately, Naveed was brilliant. I called him our website coach and therapist because he was great at fleshing out our ideas. This helped us find valuable ways of doing things. He helped me figure out how I could work around the technical stuff. To communicate, we used Basecamp and email.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity was valuable to us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had a little tussle on the landing page design. Creative assets weren’t as important as messaging for us, but the creative team wanted to prioritize the assets before messaging. This was something I noticed in all other advertising and marketing teams. Nonetheless, Usman Group nailed it in the end, and the result was great. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Usman Group is great at delivering tasks, and it’s much better if you’re prepared to deliver what you need to deliver to them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the development director of CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties, a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer advocacy for children in the child welfare system.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We needed help building a new website for our organization and creating graphic design and marketing materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties helped us create a mobile-friendly WordPress website, enhanced the UI/UX of the platform, and carried the site's design needs. They focused on making a website that allowed users to contact us, get informed about our organization, learn how to volunteer and donate, and get to know more about our team members in a fun and interactive way.

Regarding the process, they started by interviewing our stakeholders, donors, volunteers, board members, and other supporters. After that, they asked us to send examples of what we wanted for the site, and then we sat down to make a map of how we wanted the platform to look, including buttons in the toolbar and the type of pages. In addition, they did a deep dive into SEO and keyword research to incorporate them into our site.

From there, we started the design phase, where they led a patient process in helping us get the exact look of what we were looking for. We went through different iterations until we landed on a beautiful design. From there, our internal team started developing content and working with a copywriter that Usman Group referred to us.

After that, we started working on interesting all the content to the platform and creating the backend to launch the website, which they also helped us host and maintain.

What was the team composition? 

We mainly worked with four members of Usman Group’s team, including Naveed (CEO), who walked us through the entire process. In addition, we had contact with Adam (Developer) and Chris (Designer).

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We put out an RFP, and among all the respondents, Usman Group stood out to us for their approach to interviewing stakeholders to see what types of volunteers and donors we were looking for in a website. They also seemed experienced and able to provide guidance on how to get a high-quality platform.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $62,000 with them on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2022–April 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to Usman Group’s work, we now have a consistent brand for our program. Moreover, we received a lot of positive feedback on the site’s mobile-friendliness, the UX, and the content — they were incredibly professional.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group was great at delivering on time and staying within budget. In addition, they were comedic and responsive to our emails. We had a communicative process to share our feedback and questions throughout the project. Regarding tools, we used Zoom for weekly meetings, Basecamp, email, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usman Group’s communication was outstanding because they kept us updated on the project’s progress. Additionally, their expertise was unique; if we requested something from them that wasn’t a good decision, Usman Group’s team wasn’t afraid to let us know, which was what we wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t think there was anything they could improve on — working with them was a great experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Usman Group is a great team if you’re looking for something unique because they take a lot of pride in their design and the effort they put into it. Be prepared and willing to let the reins when appropriate because they know what they’re doing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the operations manager for Language Access LLC. We provide interpretation and translation services in Colorado and beyond.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We had an existing website, but it was very subpar and didn’t even reflect our services. We wanted to reach a broader audience and showcase our services better. We were particularly interested in clients looking for experienced, high-end providers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group upgraded our website. We initially had an idea; Usman Group helped us define our market and the message we wanted to get across. They used Webflow for web design and Shutterstock to get the images we’d use for the site.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates: Naveed (Principal & CEO) and Jeanie (Content Strategist).

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We searched for companies that provided this type of service. Usman Group was very attractive because they catered precisely to our kind of company, and their services weren’t for mass consumption. When we looked up the country's top 10 providers or website developers, they offered 3–4 levels of service. It was our problem if we didn’t fit those categories, but none of them were what we sought.

On the other hand, Usman Group’s services were a good fit. Our first conversation revolved around our needs and goals, and the product adapted to that.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $11,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first conversation was in January 2023, and we wrapped up the project in March 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s a little early for metrics because we just finished the project. However, potential and previous clients have complimented Usman Group’s work. Moreover, everybody in our company is pretty upbeat about it.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was outstanding. Usman Group set the deadlines ahead of time and met every single one. During the project, we had to attend to some family matters, but they were understanding. Overall, we completed the project on time and were happy with how Usman Group handled everything.

We sometimes communicated via telephone or had Zoom meetings to review the progress and discuss what we needed to adjust or change. However, our main project management tool was a dashboard they’d built. Everybody had access to its information; we got a message every time someone completed a task, and the same was true for them. Whenever we posted something on the dashboard, they were immediately notified.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were patient and flexible enough to work with us and give us time when we needed extra time due to our workload. Overall, we were happy with Usman Group’s service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t know if they could’ve improved the service. Some things could’ve been anticipated and included in the initial discussion, but that’s hard to determine because neither of us knew.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Senior GIS Data Analyst in the R.A.I (Research, Analytics, and Insights) at the YMCA of the USA (non-profit)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Usman Group?

The purpose of this user experience review is to ensure various internal user group needs are being met. The YMCA of the USA employs a number of tools and with its most recent launch of its Insights Hub, it attempts to consolidate a host of internal and external tools, however various user groups are either unable to locate these tools, uncover key functionalities or perform critical tasks when accessing these tools.

Due to the desired deadline of December 2022, Usman Group recommends a highly focused engagement to quickly uncover user needs, pain-points and visualize a path forward for the following YMCA digital properties.

1. Insights Hub
2. Science of Strengthening Community Tool
3. Community Insights Tool

We will interview a variety of user groups to understand their key needs, challenges and perceptions for each property listed above. We will then match up what the GAP is between actual user needs and organizational assumptions to arrive at some basic truths. Shortly after our interviews, we will define a handful of composite user profiles, which will be based on the interviews performed earlier.

These profiles will articulate each user groups motivations, frustrations and prioritized functions. To ensure the best possible communication experience during this project, we will assign a dedicated project manager to your account. We will also establish a password-protected online project management area (called Basecamp) that will serve as our central hub for all project communications, tasks, milestones and supplemental files related to this project.

This will enable all parties involved to be more closely aligned and better informed on project achievements and obstacles – 24/7. If you have any questions, or need further clarification on items covered in this proposal, please feel to contact me directly. I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to building a trusted business relationship with the YMCA of the USA!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My supervisor discovered them, talked to them, and she decided on them.

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

Expert Review: Review the current Insights Hub and identify potential changes to enhance the UX. We will also review select tools, including the Science of Strengthening Community and Community Insights, to identify possible changes to improve UX.

Stakeholder Interviews: Facilitate and summarize up to (9) recorded interviews for assumed stakeholder groups. • Network Partners (3) • Local Y Leadership (CEOs, COOs) (3) • Local Y Power Users (3)

User Profiles: Creation for up to (3) composite user profiles, which will guide which types of functions or content that need to be clarified or created for each tool.

Findings & Recommendations: Synthesize key findings into a portable findings and recommendations document to articulate our recommendations for increased tool usage and adoption.

We will produce low-fidelity wireframes to help visualize suggestions and findings. Furthermore, this document will serve as a best practices guide for Y-USA Insights staff to develop future user friendly digital tools.

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

We worked directly with the Naveed U. (Principal + CEO)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With what was provided (final deliverables) we plan on putting these into action by the end of the year, if not, earlier.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow was great! Very organized, structured, and timely.

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

They were very patient, nimble, and great to work with!

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

I would say one area they could improve on would be to fully understand our tools (at least the ones that were part of this project.) This makes it easier to have a more in-depth discussion about them. However, I think it speaks to this project and the feedback we received that Naveed himself found the tools a bit robust\overwhelming.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a department manager at Circa, a SaaS company that provides solutions for HR teams. We basically help companies diversify their workforce.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We needed an alternative homepage layout for our site, as well as a new global treatment across our interior pages that would prioritize content while maximizing space. Our previous web designs had produced unintended actions by users, negatively impacting our marketing objectives. Thus, we hired Usman Group to help us out with those challenges.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group helped us redesign our homepage and some other elements across our website. Initially, we provided them with some heat maps, A/B test results, and data from Google Analytics. Still, their team helped us conduct stakeholder interviews and perform A/B tests as well because we wanted the new design to be backed up by data.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from Usman Group, including Chris (UX Director & Designer), Naveed (Principal & CEO), and Adam (Lead Web Developer).

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

We’ve worked with Usman Group on a variety of web design and development projects. Originally, the VP of my department had worked with them at a previous company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from April–August 2022. However, we’ve been working with them since August 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we launched our site with Usman Group’s designs, our organic traffic has increased by 11%.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group was better at keeping up with the project schedule than we were, which was great. We needed them to manage us because we were busy. Throughout the project, they also kept us accountable for the dates on which things were due.

Moreover, Usman Group was very responsive and great at listening. Our collaboration was virtual; we communicated via email, phone, Slack, and Zoom, and we managed the project on Basecamp. Whenever there was confusion, we jumped on a meeting.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usman Group works smarter than other companies. In the past, we worked with companies that delivered inconsistent work and never backed up their design decisions with research. However, Usman Group did a lot of research and backed up their designs and ideas with statistics and data before presenting them to us. Moreover, they were excellent at communicating their research findings in a friendly and understandable way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Usman Group was great at sticking to deadlines. However, it would have been good if they were more flexible toward us in that regard, especially when we got busy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Utilize their research capabilities to help you make informed decisions; they’re very good at it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Gordon Salon; we do hair and makeup at our locations throughout the Chicago area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We hired Usman Group to build a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we had numerous meetings about our goals and provided Usman Group with preliminary documentation. We also shared our original website with them, which they used to help us develop a new concept. Once we decided on a concept, the team built the website from scratch using Java and WordPress. They also optimized the site for SEO and created innovative graphics for our landing page. Additionally, they connected us with a third-party domain company to host the site. 

Apart from the website development project, Usman Group helped us with branding, product development, and business development initiatives. They coordinated different projects and made sure everything worked according to our needs.  

What is the team composition?

We worked with Naveed (Principal & CEO) and five other team members.

How did you come to work with Usman Group? 

We found Usman Group through our local chamber of commerce. They had built websites for significant publications in the Chicago area, so we decided to engage them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Usman Group from June 2010–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Usman Group team built a modern, fast-loading website that met our expectations. They also helped get our website on 70 different online directories. The team guided us through the process from start to finish, touching on the technology, business, and creative aspects of the project. Furthermore, they facilitated valuable connections with other knowledgeable resources, which helped us succeed. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Usman Group wasn’t cheap, but they were very thorough in terms of project management. They responded to our needs, met deadlines, and communicated effectively via phone. Naveed and the team were exceptional; they had a relationship-focused mindset, which made us feel valued.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed by Usman Group’s relationship-building skills and business acumen. They not only understood our goals from a technical standpoint, but they also knew how to help us reach them in a practical way. Additionally, when they couldn’t help us, they’d connect us with the appropriate resources who could, which was immensely helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I had to choose one area for improvement, I’d say the pricing, but the value of the partnership was well worth the money. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend being specific about your goals for your website. Usman Group will be transparent about the cost and feasibility of your project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at a stock exchange in formation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

I was looking for somebody to help me start the process of putting together our website. Specifically, we needed help with internal planning and an initial discovery to reach a point where we could begin to approach copywriters, designers, and developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group provides us with website consultancy services. In the beginning, we did several calls so they could understand our business plan at a holistic level. Then, we went through our target audiences, for which they provided insight into audiences’ motivations and frustrations and how our business will impact them. 

The team documented all of the functional requirements we’ll need for our site. Additionally, they’ve done a lot of keyword research. Their deliverables consist of documents we’ll need to develop our site. Currently, they’re helping us shop for designers, developers, and copywriters; we’re looking for each function rather than hiring an agency. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve only worked with Naveed (Principal & CEO). 

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

I found them on Clutch. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2022, and the partnership is ongoing. We’re about to finish the project this week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Usman Group is a good strategic thinker. 

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve met all the deadlines and stayed on budget. We use Basecamp for project management and email for communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand what we’re doing and give us what we need instead of just a product they’re trying to sell.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have suggestions for improvement. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just talk to them!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Nicerink, an ice rink manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group?

We wanted to get a new website for our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Usman Group did web development and design for us from scratch. They’ve taken care of everything, including wireframe development, art, graphic design, backend customization, and customer experience efforts. The site they created is aimed to educate people on our services and products in a user-friendly approach.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working directly with Naveed (Principal), and he delegates to a team of 5–6 members.

How did you come to work with Usman Group?

They were referred to us by a friend.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent around $100,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with their work so far — they’re taking us close to where we need to be.

How did Usman Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Navid is great in terms of controlling all the different aspects of his team to ensure that everything’s set up. He keeps an organized process and track of everybody’s tasks to avoid things falling through the cracks. Regarding tools, we’ve used Basecamp, Trello, email, Zoom, texts, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They keep tabs on everybody and everything — their ability to keep track of the whole project is outstanding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — they took over our project to make everything work, and I don’t have any complaints about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask them for suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of The Eden Alternative, an elder care nonprofit organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Usman Group, Inc.?

We contacted them to redo our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the web development project with Usman Group, Inc. by scoping out the needed work through video chats. After that, we went through a design phase where we redid all of our content. In terms of technologies, they’ve used Figma, where they do wireframes for us to review and tweak until we get the desired product. Consequently, we moved into the coding phase to build the actual website.

Currently, we’re scoping the next phase of the site.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with a project manager who helps link the designers and us. We’ve also worked with Alen (Senior UX Designer) and Naveed (CEO).

How did you come to work with Usman Group, Inc.?

We sent out an RFP, and we chose Usman Group, Inc. from a list of around eight providers based on our conversations with them and their desire to work with a nonprofit organization.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent $30,000–$35,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our site just went live, so we don’t have actual metrics. What I can say is that our Google Analytics and overall traffic are good, and anecdotally, people are impressed with the site, our board of directors loves it, and we’re all excited about the new face of our organization — the partnership has been a great success.

How did Usman Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve been using email for communication. We've talked about improvements, the site's strengths and weaknesses, and other opportunities to make our product better — they initiated that, and I like it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their positive spirit and willingness to work with a nonprofit organization are phenomenal; they’ve been very energized and excited about the project, and I can tell that they care deeply about communicating what we’re doing.

Also, they came up with a striking design that’s very unconventional, which is great for me because our website doesn’t look like everybody else’s.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve talked about getting their developers involved earlier in the process to ensure that everyone is on the same page once we start with the site’s coding. This will also help to avoid time-wasting by explaining the whole thing to their development team all over again. 

Nevertheless, they were totally on board with that and identified the issue themselves.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Develop your content before engaging with them to save time and lean on them for their great expertise — they have a lot of experience in WordPress.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the managing partner of a branding and marketing communications firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Usman Group, Inc., and what were your goals?

We worked with Naveed to co-develop a digital strategy with our client, in order to increase engagement on the corporate website.

SOLUTION

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

We have had a long-standing relationship with Naveed so there was no question who we would partner with for this engagement.

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

We worked with Naveed's’ team in the development of the sitemap and wireframes and our designers collaborated on design concepts initially. From there, their team helped to integrate the new site into their applicant tracking system, so new jobs would be displayed each day.

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

We worked directly with Naveed, as he served as the project director. He had various other developers assist with key components to the project as the level of difficulty increased.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website continues to generate impressive conversions for contractor applications and resume submission on a daily basis. We also have seen a considerable rise in organic traffic due to SEO and job schema best practices as well as from our paid search efforts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective workflow between Naveed's team, our team and our client. Regular check-in meetings are always productive and illuminating.

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

Naveed's knowledge and expertise on digital strategy are excellent.

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

No.